The Houseguest A Pride and Prejudice Vagary (21 page)

Chapter
18

Darcy was sufficiently surprised when he entered the drawing room and saw
everyone. Georgiana was beaming with the triumph of having planned an entire
dinner party, with Lady Matlock’s assistance, of course. She ordered all of
Darcy’s favorite foods and planned the seating arrangement – something she had
enjoyed a little too much. Lady Matlock had checked the menu and helped send
out invitations, adding Sir Malcolm to the guest list. 
At dinner, Elizabeth found she was seated between Colonel Fitzwilliam and Sir
Malcolm, Mrs. Gardiner on his other side. Caroline Bingley sat across from
them. After the first course, Georgiana peeked around Fitzwilliam to whisper to
Elizabeth. 
“What do you think?”
“I think it’s lovely! Did you do it all yourself?” 
“Mostly, though Lady Matlock helped with the menu and invitations.”
“I am very impressed. Did Mr. Darcy suspect anything?”
“He seems to be completely surprised! I can’t believe he didn’t figure it out
sooner. Though he has been distracted of late,” she added thoughtfully.
“It truly is impressive, Georgiana! Well done!” Colonel Fitzwilliam joined the
conversation.
“I’m surprised I didn’t hear of it before tonight. You were very good at
holding your secret!”
“I’m afraid that was my fault, Miss Bennet. I told Georgiana it would be fun to
surprise you when you came to town.” Fitzwilliam smiled guiltily at her.
“You accomplished your mission, Colonel Fitzwilliam, I am certainly surprised.”
She wondered what the Colonel was up to, but decided there was nothing to be
done for it now and settled in to enjoy her dinner and company.
Conversation continued on happily between Fitzwilliam and Georgiana, and
Elizabeth turned her attention to Sir Malcolm on her right. 
“Miss Elizabeth, are you pleased to be back in London?”
“Yes, Sir, very pleased. I have missed my sister immensely,” she said with an
affectionate look towards Jane at the other end of the table.
“I understand congratulations are in order. When is the wedding?”
“Thank you. A date has not been set yet, but I believe they are hoping for some
time in May.”
“That is not that far off. Will they be joining the party at Pemberley this
summer then?”
“I cannot say.” Elizabeth searched for a way to change the topic, but he beat
her to it.
“I must say I am glad your sister is here this evening.”
“Why is that, Sir?”
“Now I may call you Miss Elizabeth. I have always liked that name.”
Elizabeth flushed slightly. “Have you? It is only fair; after all, I have
always called you by your given name.”
“Have you given any thought to riding?”
“Pardon me?”
“At the Matlocks’ ball, you said when the weather improved, you would consider
learning to ride again.”
“You have an impressive memory, Sir! I did say that. Well, I suppose I should
be true to my word.”
“Now we need only find you the proper mount and teacher.”
“That may be hard to come by, Sir Malcolm. I’m afraid I can be a rather
difficult student.”
“I cannot imagine that.” He looked at her teasingly.
“It requires a very patient master to offset my lack of the quality. And I
doubt I will have much natural talent for riding.”
“I doubt that very much, Miss Elizabeth. I’m sure the right teacher could have
you riding in no time. And I am sure you are very talented.”
“You are too kind, Sir. First, I must find a teacher willing to take me on.”
“I am such a teacher. And I am very willing.” He gazed at her pointedly.
Elizabeth blushed and smiled nervously. Something in his look spoke of more
than innocent dinner flirtation and she found it unnerving.
“We shall see, Sir Malcolm.”
Seeing her discomfort, he swiftly changed to a neutral topic and they continued
speaking pleasantly for the next half hour.
Caroline Bingley was not pleased with her seat. She was at the very end of the
table, between Mr. Hurst, who never had anything of interest to say, and the
empty hostess chair at the foot of the table. She was as far from Darcy as was
possible and several seats away from Georgiana or anyone else in Darcy’s
family. She was left to converse with Mrs. Gardiner, who sat across from
her. 
She couldn’t help but notice how Sir Malcolm, on Mrs. Gardiner’s left, was
completely wrapped up in Eliza Bennet. Why was he bothering to pay attention to
that country chit anyway? Didn’t he know she had absolutely no dowry? Her
thoughts tended thus for quite some time, during which she inserted jagged
barbs into her conversation with Mrs. Gardiner about living in Cheapside and
having a husband in trade, conveniently forgetting that her own fortune was
similarly tainted. 
She was about to interrupt Elizabeth and Malcolm and insist on her due of
attention from the gentleman, when she looked up to the head of the table at
Mr. Darcy. It wasn’t difficult to see that his eyes kept wandering back to
Elizabeth and her dinner companion. His expression was unreadable, but he was
watching her nonetheless, and it did not go unnoticed by Caroline. 
She remembered how he had watched her in Hertfordshire and had called her eyes
‘fine’. He had been drawn into more than one conversation with the vixen, quite
to the exclusion of everyone else in the room. She did not like the attention
he paid her, even if it wasn’t openly romantic. 
She had known Darcy for years and had never seen him look at any woman for any
length of time, regardless of the expression on his face. She also had never
seen him willingly enter into conversation with a lady, especially one he
appeared to enjoy. She did not think he would ever do anything as ridiculous as
court or offer for her, his sense of honor and duty would forbid it, but she
was certainly a distraction and Caroline had waited long enough. 
Miss Bingley was coming into her fifth season and she had had her sights set on
Mr. Darcy since her second. She thought her brother’s close friendship would
cement her chances and in many ways it had; after all, she was here at an
intimate party in his home. But even though she was included in more
invitations than she previously had been or was entitled to by rank,
personally, she had not gained any ground. 
She knew next to nothing about Mr. Darcy’s person. She could not name his
favorite books and had no idea what he did when he was not in her presence.
That was why she had become so bitter toward Eliza Bennet: Mr. Darcy had begun
to reveal himself to her. He had told her of his thoughts on more than one
subject and even described his temperament. What did she have that Caroline
didn’t? Why could he not confide in
her
?
Everything was going so well until Charles found out about Jane’s presence in
London. She had thought she was rid of the Bennets forever; now she was to be
inundated with their presence for the rest of her life. The sooner she married
and got out of her brother’s house, the better. 
Seeing Darcy looking at Elizabeth only strengthened her resolve and she was
struck with an idea. Darcy may never actually do anything, but he was certainly
wasting time being distracted with her. And who knew? Perhaps he would go so
far as to ask her to be his mistress. As a country girl with no prospects, Elizabeth
would be a fool to say no. 
If she were truly honest with herself, Caroline wasn’t sure that she herself
would say no if the opportunity presented itself. But Caroline had never been
known for her honesty; to herself or anyone else. 
She knew a man with a mistress, especially one he cared for, might wait years
to take a wife – what would be the need? She could not afford any more delays.
Elizabeth Bennet needed to be taken out of the way, and Sir Malcolm seemed like
just the man to do it.
“Sir Malcolm,” Caroline purred, “have you heard Miss Elizabeth play and sing?”
“I have not had that pleasure, no.” He smiled at Elizabeth.
“You have missed a great pleasure indeed, Sir! Miss Eliza, you must play for us
after dinner – I insist!”
“I would like that very much, Miss Elizabeth,” added Sir Malcolm. 
Elizabeth looked at Caroline dubiously and shot a sideways look to her aunt
before answering. “Of course, I will be happy to oblige you Sir Malcolm, Miss
Bingley, if our hosts do not have something else planned.” 
“Sir Malcolm, I assure you, Miss Elizabeth is indeed a very accomplished
musician. Never will you have heard such a – pure voice.” She stumbled a bit on
the compliment but covered it well with a sickening smile and heavily batting
her lashes. 
“Thank you, Miss Bingley. Such praise coming from you is a compliment indeed,”
Elizabeth said graciously. Caroline merely nodded as Elizabeth wondered what on
earth had happened to Miss Bingley.
Malcolm turned his attention back to Elizabeth. “How long will you be in
London?”
“We are to leave for Kent tomorrow and will be gone six weeks. Then I will be
back in town for a week before returning to Hertfordshire. However, depending
on the date they set, my sister’s wedding may change that.”
“I imagine you would never miss such an important event.”
“No, I would not. I am to attend her, so I’m sure she would be upset with me if
I was not present,” she replied.
“It is too bad you are leaving so soon after your arrival. I would have liked
to see you again.”
Elizabeth smiled openly. “Perhaps you will. Lady Matlock wished me to visit
with her for the season, but I have told her I must stay with my sister until
the wedding. She was not pleased, but I told her there was nothing I could do.
She just may work a miracle; I would not put it past her.” 
He laughed – a deep, friendly sound. “I would not either, Miss Elizabeth.
Perhaps I will see you at Matlock House later in the season then.” He smiled
into her eyes, and she noticed how clear a blue they were, not stormy or
brooding, just clear and open and endless.
Due to the lateness of the hour, the gentlemen did not depart after dinner but
went with the ladies directly to the music room. Caroline was asked to play,
and to everyone’s surprise, she deferred to Elizabeth. Confused, Elizabeth took
the seat behind the pianoforte, and Sir Malcolm offered to turn the pages for
her. 
She chose a simple song with a pleasant melody, and each time the page needed
to be turned, Sir Malcolm would rise and reach across her, his sleeve and then
his side lightly brushing against Elizabeth’s right arm. She got a whiff of his
cologne when he moved so close to her. It was a mixture of a fresh, grassy
smell that she could not place, and a touch of a warm kitchen flavor. Vanilla
maybe? It was not unpleasant, and she felt it suited his character –
interesting, but uncomplicated. 
A girl
wouldn’t spend hours trying to understand
 
him
.
Darcy had never been more frustrated in his life. Elizabeth was finally here,
back at his house, and he had barely been able to say two words to her. In the
drawing room before dinner, he had been so surrounded by well-wishers that he
hadn’t been able to speak to her beyond a thank you when she wished him a happy
birthday. 
He was sure his aunt was responsible for Sir Malcolm being invited and seated
next to Elizabeth, who was irritatingly placed at the other end of the table.
He tried to be attentive and polite to his guests. After all, Georgiana had
gone to a lot of trouble for him, and he was proud of her and touched that she
would do something for his birthday beyond a gift. His aunt was on his right
and talking about something meaningless – he couldn’t even remember the topic.
She finally turned her attention to Mr. Gardiner on her other side, leaving Darcy
free to watch the others.
At first Darcy was surprised she was sitting next to a tradesman, but it didn’t
take long to realize what she was doing. He could hear many of the questions
she asked Mr. Gardiner, and was pleased when he answered intelligently and
correctly, as he knew he would. 
She was interviewing him –  and it wasn’t difficult to guess why. As
Elizabeth’s self-appointed patroness in society, she was assessing the supposed
weakest link in her family. Darcy laughed silently to himself as he imagined
his aunt’s impressions of Mrs. Bennet and Elizabeth’s younger sisters. He
chided himself for being uncharitable, but could not help the irony of the
situation.
‘Surely Sir Malcolm would not find fault
with Mr. Gardiner! He is so genteel and intelligent!’
 Darcy
could see the thoughts as they ran through his aunt’s mind, having been on the
receiving end of her matchmaking machinations several times before. He had to
hand it to her, she seemed to be doing an excellent job; Malcolm did appear
quite taken with Miss Elizabeth. Which of course only made Darcy more agitated.
When they removed to the music room, he had decided he would sit near her and
possibly turn the pages for her when she played, if Georgiana didn’t. That
would allow him a chance to speak with her and assess her feelings. She had
seemed distant and unhappy when he first saw her that evening at the
Gardiner’s, but as the night wore on, she mellowed into being merely cold to
him and subdued to everyone else. 
When they arrived at Darcy House, she had actually seemed happy, like she was
coming home after a long time away. It pleased him to no end that she felt that
way about his home, and he had wanted to prolong the moment of intimacy between
them, but it was not to be with a house full of guests and a dinner party to
host.
Now, Sir Malcolm was ruining all his plans. Of course, Darcy had had no idea he
was to be there, not knowing anyone but the theatre party was coming for
dinner. And now here he was, sitting next to his Elizabeth at the pianoforte,
turning the pages for her, brushing against her arm as he did so. Darcy fought
a feeling of revulsion as he saw Elizabeth blush the first time Malcolm leaned
across her. 
She can’t be falling in
love with him, can she?
 
And was it his imagination, or did Malcolm smirk at him as he sat back
down? 
I am losing my mind!
 
Malcolm was one of his oldest friends; they had only ever been competitive in
the sporting field, never with women. Of course, they had never before been
interested in the