The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (28 page)

“And my father?” Elizabeth felt she was desperate, expecting her father to rescue her from this determined man, but if Mr. Fenton would not listen to her, he might give more weight to her father’s words.

“Oh, your father told me anything you will agree to, he will give his consent for.”

Elizabeth could well imagine her father saying such a thing in an offhand way, knowing she would never accept someone like Fenton. But she wished, for once, that he was less amused by such irritating people and more interested in exercising some authority.

“And I am
not
agreeing,” she said emphatically, trying to hold her anger in check.

“Nonsense, m’dear. I know you will. Don’t play coy! You mother and father want it. I told myself you might be a little shy – why, I almost expected it. Young girls like you never know their own minds – or what is good for them.” Elizabeth closed her eyes, trying to suppress the desire to lash out at this man. He was too stupid to know how much he has insulted her.

Although she spent the next few minutes trying to convince Fenton that her refusal was in earnest, he would not believe it. Finally, she insisted that she must return to the house. “Very well. But we must discuss it further. We have many plans to make if we are to organize a wedding.” Fenton smiled complacently. “I have but a fortnight left at my sister’s before I return home.” Elizabeth did not know how to address this man in terms he would understand.
He literally will not take “no” for an answer!

On that note, Elizabeth turned on her heel and strode into the house. Shaking with anger, she immediately climbed the stairs, having no wish to confront her mother, and did not stop until she reached her room. Miserably she recalled that her mother had invited Mr. Fenton to dinner that night, so she would have to suffer through more of his conversation.

Once William arrived, she reasoned, all would be put to rights. Once she explained the situation to him, he would undoubtedly have some thoughts about how to deter such an obtuse suitor. She sighed as she pictured his face in her mind. He could not arrive soon enough.

The next day Bingley and Darcy arrived at Longbourn earlier than expected. The roads were good and they made very good time. Darcy could hardly contain himself, imagining Elizabeth’s face when she saw him, the shine in her eyes and the smile gracing her lips. He busily concocted schemes to obtain some time alone for just the two of them. Bingley was no less excited to see Jane, but was more anxious about his reception. Before even considering a proposal he would have to prove his devotion to her.

Hill showed the two gentlemen to the drawing room and announced them, but to their disappointment, only Mary and Kitty were present, conversing with a gentleman Darcy did not recognize, whom Mary introduced as Mr. Fenton. She further explained that their mother was too indisposed for visitors and had sent Jane and Elizabeth on an errand in Meryton. They were expected back soon.

The news was a blow to Darcy. Although he would not have to wait long for Elizabeth’s return, every second seemed to weigh on him. Bingley looked similarly unhappy. However, the gentlemen did not want to miss the opportunity to see the ladies as soon as they arrived, so they acquiesced to Mary’s rather awkward invitation to sit. A servant brought in tea and they participated in desultory conversation about the weather and the state of roads.

Neither Kitty nor Mary was a good conversationalist. Kitty did tease Bingley a bit about giving another ball at Netherfield, but she was in awe of Darcy and dared not address any remarks to him. Darcy’s black mood prevented him from devising good topics for conversation, so it fell to Bingley to engage the other guest in conversation. They established that he had an estate in Surrey and was in the area visiting his sister.

What the deuce is he doing at Longbourn? Darcy wondered. He can hardly have paid a call on Elizabeth’s parents since they are not present. Does he have some affection for Mary? He observed the two and saw no signs of particular regard.

Fenton was rather quiet when the gentlemen were first introduced, but warmed up as Bingley asked him questions about himself. In fact, his conversation became downright plentiful, but he never seemed to say anything of substance. They heard a great deal about the state of the crops on his estate and the names and lineages of his horses. Bingley was too polite to stem this flow of self-absorption and so continued to ask questions. At one point, Bingley asked him if he lived alone at his estate.

“No,” the other man replied. “I have seven lovely children. I am, alas, a widower. My darling wife died two years ago. My sister, Hortense, said to me, ‘two years is long enough to mourn. Go find a wife.’ That is what she said all right. Now, I don’t always do what my sister says – in fact, truth be told, I usually do the opposite, if you take my meaning! But, this time I said to myself: ‘maybe she has the right of it! I should take a wife.’ But, there aren’t many unmarried women in my part of Surrey. So, my sister says – well, she wrote it in a letter: ‘Come visit me. There are the Bennet girls – five and all unmarried. And many other pretty girls in the neighborhood.’ So, I came and met all five – hearty girls too!” He smiled as he paused for dramatic effect. “And now I am engaged to Miss Elizabeth!”

Chapter 11

Darcy felt his eyes go wide with shock and his jaw literally dropped open. Bingley’s head swiveled toward his friend, horror written on his face. Then Darcy started to laugh. As he attempted to smother the laugh behind his hand, it sounded more like a cough. Mary hurried to pour him more tea, which Darcy drank more to cover his smile than to quell his nonexistent cough.

Darcy supposed if he had been merely courting Elizabeth, Fenton’s pronouncement would have been distressing, but he knew Elizabeth could not have possibly have accepted this man. He could not even be jealous of him. Everything about him was so ridiculous and overbearing that he would never hold Elizabeth’s interest. How had this man fallen under the delusion that he was engaged to her?

He took another sip of tea to quell his faux coughing fit and gazed levelly at Fenton. “May I ask when this felicitous event took place?” Darcy now noticed that Mary and Kitty seemed a little surprised at Fenton’s announcement, although they did not contradict it.

“Yesterday afternoon right over there in the garden!” Fenton exclaimed rapturously. “She is quite a sensible woman. She will fulfill the requirements for lady of my manor admirably.”
I suppose that is high praise in Fenton’s mind. How romantic.
Fenton went on to describe how Elizabeth would care for his seven children and leave him to the business of running the estate – and to go hunting as often as he wished.
He does not want a wife, he wants an unpaid governess!
Darcy realized.

“And I told her last night at dinner – I was sitting next to her, you understand – I would utter not one word of reproach about her parents’ neglect.”
How generous of him
, Darcy thought. Fenton carried on pompously: “Neglect which allowed her sister to behave so shamefully. It is the weakness of the parents, not the sister, that should be faulted.” Darcy wondered how the two Bennet girls felt hearing their parents described thus. Kitty shifted uncomfortably in her chair, but Mary’s expression was unreadable. Darcy wanted to castigate the man for even raising the subject, although it was obviously on everyone’s mind. “It is a shameful business, but I reassured her that no one in Surrey will have heard of it.”
What an insufferable boor; I am sorry Elizabeth had to endure even one dinner with him.

Bingley frequently shot sympathetic looks at Darcy, believing the other man to be heartbroken over losing Elizabeth. Darcy returned smiles, trying to indicate there was no cause for worry, but Bingley only frowned in confusion.

Given free rein on the conversation, Fenton took to boasting about his property and his house. He knew from the Bennets that Bingley had only leased Netherfield and, in Fenton’s mind, that made him the better man. Ancestral lands, he declared, were the backbone of England. He then turned to Darcy, apparently hoping to best him as well, so Darcy took great pleasure in describing Pemberley and his holdings. Fenton admitted to having heard of Pemberley and then appeared a bit awed of Darcy. He soon turned the conversation to another topic.

Finally, Mrs. Bennet came downstairs, effusing over Bingley and Fenton. She spared little attention for Darcy, who recognized her encouragement of Fenton as a probable reason the man thought Elizabeth might accept him. The irony struck him forcefully as he thought how differently Mrs. Bennet would behave if she knew how matters truly stood. On the other hand, perhaps he was better off if she remained unaware; he should enjoy her neglect while he could.

Mrs. Bennet made a fuss over serving tea to Fenton, but then fell victim to a monologue about his latest fox hunt. Bingley took the opportunity to lean over and speak with Darcy in a low voice. “What a shame you had your hopes for a future with Miss Elizabeth dashed in this way. Though I must say you are taking it remarkably well. Perhaps you did not have that great an attachment to her?”

Darcy’s smile was unperturbed. “I am completely unconcerned about this man’s claims. I know that Elizabeth would not accept him. He is mistaken.”

“It is not the sort of topic one is usually mistaken about,” Bingley said tentatively.

“Unless one is a fool,” Darcy responded.

“You seem very certain about Miss Elizabeth. Do you have some sort of secret understanding with her?” Bingley asked with a suspicious look at his friend.

Darcy realized he must reveal some information to the other man. “Something like that.”

Bingley shook his head. “Even so, I do not know how you can be so certain. If he had said that about Jane, I would be heartbroken.” Darcy shrugged, knowing he could reveal nothing more and Bingley was soon drawn into the conversation about hunting.

Soon thereafter Elizabeth and Jane returned from Meryton. They were very surprised to see Darcy and Bingley already in the drawing room speaking with their mother and Mr. Fenton. Darcy could not tear his eyes away from Elizabeth and reveled in the complete rapture on her face as she gazed at him.

The men rose when the sisters entered the room. Elizabeth curtseyed to Darcy and Bingley, coloring a little. It was all he could to refrain from grabbing her and kissing her right there, so acutely had he missed her. As he continued to stare, Bingley coughed slightly and Darcy realized everyone was sitting down once more.

Elizabeth seated herself next to her mother on a small settee. Darcy wanted to sit on the other side, but her mother made a show of having Fenton take that spot, placing him far closer to Elizabeth than Darcy was comfortable with. On the other hand, he would not have been happy until Fenton was in a different house. Although he did not see Fenton as a serious rival for Elizabeth’s affections, that did not stop him from wanting to punch the man in his smug face and warn him away from her for the rest of his life.

Darcy ground his teeth in frustration, attempting to content himself with sitting across from Elizabeth and gazing on her. Everything about her was enchanting: her laugh, the unruly curl that fell over her forehead, her long eyelashes veiling her eyes as she gazed at him. Knowing firsthand how passionate she could be only made it harder for him to be so tantalizingly close, but unable to touch her.

Although he did not wish Elizabeth any unhappiness, he was pleased with her obvious dislike of Fenton’s presence. His boorish conversation made her wince, although he did not dominate the discussion as much as he had in a smaller group. She avoided talking to him or looking at him – at one point in the gathering, Fenton leaned closer to her and she pulled away. All of this was not lost on Darcy. Although he had no doubts about Elizabeth’s fidelity, Fenton’s presumption was testing his self-control. He wanted to smash that supercilious expression off the other man’s face!

Unable to bear it any longer, Darcy finally said, “After being confined in the carriage at such length, I experience a need to stretch my legs. Mrs. Bennet, I would like to take a turn in your garden.” She nodded curtly, uninterested in what he did.

“Mr. Darcy, would you mind if I joined you?” Elizabeth asked.

“Not at all.” He smiled warmly at her, wondering if there was any chance they could find a secluded spot.

“Nonsense, child!” Mrs. Bennet cried. “You just returned from a walk to Meryton. What need have you for exercise?”

“I would like to show Mr. Darcy the roses. They are particularly fine now and I was telling him about them when I saw him in London at my aunt and uncle’s,” Elizabeth said.

“Very well, if you must!” Mrs. Bennet washed her hands of her second daughter, but then a thought occurred to her. “Mr. Fenton, perhaps you would like a turn in the garden as well?”

Darcy cursed inwardly; his entire design was to avoid Fenton’s presence – especially since the man was one of the topics he needed to discuss with Elizabeth. He saw his dismay mirrored in her eyes.

“I am not much interested in gardens,” Fenton said. “I prefer woods. So I think I will forego this excursion.”
More the fool you
, Darcy thought, exhilarated at the reprieve. Fenton would never win Elizabeth’s regard that way, but then he seemed more interested in wedding her than wooing her.