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Chapter 19 ~ Enchanted, Indifferent, and Bewildered
The Fitzwilliam Ball
May 31, 1813
A short time before the first guests arrived Lord Matlock was informed of the shocking letter his daughters' had received. He had been understandably enraged at the woman's audacity, but his anger soon cooled when his daughters' reassured him that, although Mrs. Bennet's thoughtlessness had at first hurt them, they had since resolved to not allow her to spoil their evening.
Viscount Allington and the Colonel were also made aware of what had transpired and, like their parents, were greatly angered. They were rather incredulous at their sisters' composure, but they remained quite unaware of the tears Janet had wept over the letter and the strange guilt that had been felt by Elisabeth.
In this short time the Fitzwilliam family grew closer still; the Earl and Countess found themselves quite unable to believe their daughters' resilience at such an occurrence but, all the same, they were relieved at their girls' ability to cope with the event with tolerable equanimity.
Janet had been very distressed by Mrs. Bennet's inconsiderate letter but was pleasantly surprised to find that, after a comforting talk with her sister, brothers and parents, she was able to regard it as hurtful but of little importance to her life now. However, with the new freedom in her family, Janet was able to confess that the welfare of the Bennet sisters concerned her and was glad to learn that Elisabeth had much the same feelings as her own in that regard. The sisters, since being reunited with their real family, had lost some of their former familiarity - partly due to the fact that they were both certain one another's views would differ and they did not feel comfortable attempting to justify what they thought to the other.
Elisabeth, though still angered by the letter, was quite upset over a rather different matter - namely, the slight problem her cousin had experienced in addressing her while they were in the music room.
Elisabeth's warm smile concealed a sigh of irritation as she exchanged some short pleasantries with yet another passing guest. She had lost count of the minutes that had gone by since the first guests had arrived and she had been presented with no alternative but to stand in the line to receive them, nor had she been granted an opportunity to dwell on the rather surprising turn that her feelings for Darcy had taken. Furthermore, she feared to think of the great number of names she would be forced to remember and in her mind's present distress she was certain she would make a fool of herself at some point during the evening.
"How much longer have we to stand here?" Lady Elisabeth whispered teasingly to her mother before pasting a false but lively smile on her face and greeting another guest.
"Not much longer... With any luck!" Lady Matlock whispered back, smothering her urge to laugh and turning her attention to another guest. "Ahh, Lady Mellor... I'm so glad you could come."
Elisabeth closed her eyes in preparation for if Lady Mellor was there so, too, was Alexandra. She smiled absently at Lady Mellor, welcomed Alexandra with insincere pleasure, frowned upon seeing the young man she heard addressed as Mr. Julian Mellor stare with great admiration at Janet, and gasped in shock when a voice in front of her muttered 'Sickening display!' Elisabeth's eyes darted upward towards the handsome gentleman just in time to see him turn from regarding Janet and Mr. Mellor. He noticed with great embarrassment that she had heard his comment and quickly moved on to address Thomas.
"Who is that, Mama?" Elisabeth asked.
"Oh... Jonathan Mellor, the only one of the Mellor children not dropped on his head during infancy."
Lady Elisabeth's eyes opened wide in shock at her mother's words while stifling her laughter as best she could. Elisabeth turned her eyes back to Jonathan Mellor. She smiled, thinking, 'Sickening display? I could not agree more!' Elisabeth's attention was then drawn away from her entertaining thoughts by the appearance of Caroline Bingley before her.
"Oh, my dear friend!" Caroline cooed. "I do believe this is the most charming ball I have ever been so fortunate as to attend!"
Elisabeth smiled, sweetly. "Indeed. I'm flattered, Miss Bingley, considering you are barely in the door." Viscount Allington coughed abruptly upon hearing his sister's words, thus drawing Caroline's attention to himself. Elisabeth, now free from the bothersome presence of Miss Bingley, was able to look down the line and smiled in relief when she saw Janet and Mr. Bingley standing together. Janet's light voice managed to reach her sister's ears,
"Mr. Bingley, I'm so glad to see you again. It has been too long." To anyone who may have heard the statement it might have been taken as a common pleasantry. Elisabeth, however, detected the sound of hope in Janet's voice, a hope that Bingley would have a good reason for not calling in such a long time.
"Indeed, it has," Bingley answered reservedly.
Elisabeth frowned. This was not the Mr. Bingley that she knew. The man standing not far from her was somber, distant. The look of love and longing directed at Janet was obvious, but the rigid and indifferent greeting was all evidence to the contrary of those feelings.
An unwelcome and wholly unpleasant thought then entered Lady Elisabeth's mind. 'Mr. Bingley does not know she loves him! Oh Lord! Cousin Darcy you have to be the most wretched man on earth. You have not told Mr. Bingley of your involvement in separating him from Jane. To think I was stupid enough to fall in love with you! Well done, Lizzy!' She continued to focus upon this disagreeable thought, struggling to maintain her calm, as the number of guests who continued to pour into the townhouse served to unnerve her further.
Elisabeth was able to admit to herself that she did love Darcy, very dearly in fact, but she knew she loved the man she had seen recently, the one who so affectionately teased her. However, in light of what she had just discovered, he was quite obviously not cured of his abominable pride, a circumstance that made her incredibly angry with herself for falling in love with him when he had not even mended his ways, as she had hoped.
'I see that amongst family he can be entirely at ease... He can be charming and good! Yet, Cousin Darcy still hasn't changed from the proud and arrogant man I knew before. Oh... How can a match between Jane and Mr. Bingley possibly upset him now? Jane's station has improved remarkably, if one has to look at it from such a mercenary point of view! How could he be so heartless as to cause a member of his own family such pain, especially when it is as plain as day how deep a regard Jane holds for Mr. Bingley? Hateful man!'
Fortunately for Elisabeth, she was soon pulled away from her disturbing thoughts by her mother whispering, "We can abandon our posts now."
Elisabeth started in surprise. She was so wrapped up in her rather nasty musings over her cousin's supposed behaviour that she had barely noticed the dwindling numbers of people entering the house. Although she did love him very dearly, Elisabeth could not prevent her deeply felt anger, nor could she prevent herself from thinking how tempting it would be to slap him for persisting in dividing Janet and Mr. Bingley.
The Countess regarded her daughters, both of whom were wearing rather perplexed expressions as they made their way to the ballroom. "Are you girls quite well?" she asked in concern, fearing the distress that they had felt earlier in the evening was now starting to haunt them.
Elisabeth glanced at her sister and noticed Janet's woeful expression. It occurred to her that she might look just as sad as Janet but, not wanting to alarm her mother any further, Elisabeth lied, "I think we are a little nervous."
"There is really nothing to fear. For the most part they are harmless." The small twinkle of humour in Lady Matlock's eyes slightly relieved her daughters and helped to set their minds at ease for the time being.
"Where is Edith?" Elisabeth suddenly asked of her mother when she noticed that her friend had not yet arrived. "For that matter, where are the Gardiners?"
"Oh Lord! I meant to tell you girls. I was distracted by that little incidence earlier on. Mrs. Gardiner sent a note around saying they would be unable to make it. Kate has come down with a cold. As for Edith, I don't know." The Countess dropped her voice to whisper conspiratorially, "They were probably delayed by one of Lady Bramley's fits of nerves!"
The sisters expressed their concern over Kate's health and their disappointment over the Gardiners absence, but a small smile spread across Elisabeth's face at her mother's words regarding the habits of Edith's mother. However, her smile turned into a frown when she saw Julian Mellor approach Janet and ask for the first dance. She also noted, with no kind feeling towards Darcy, that Mr. Bingley quickly looked away from the scene he had just witnessed, a pained expression on his face.
Lady Elisabeth, much to her displeasure, soon found herself being drawn into conversation with the irksome Lady Mellor, whose unfortunately discerning eye saw that Elisabeth was not quite herself that evening. Lady Mellor was not above inquiring as to the reason for her melancholy.
"Why, my dear Lady Elisabeth, I declare you look rather ill. Are you well?"
Elisabeth disguised her anger with a sweet smile that made her look much like her older sister. "I assure you, Lady Mellor, it is really only the excitement of this evening."
"Ahh... I am glad to hear it, my dear!" cried Lady Mellor before turning around and tapping the young gentleman behind her with her fan. He glanced over his shoulder and Elisabeth smiled, realising he was Jonathan Mellor, the gentleman who quite clearly shared her view of his brother's infatuation with Janet.
"Allow me to introduce you properly, my dears! Jonathan, you have met our dear Janet but I know you have yet been presented with the opportunity to become acquainted with the lovely Lady Elisabeth Fitzwilliam. Lady Elisabeth, may I present my son, Mr. Jonathan Mellor."
"My lady." Jonathan shifted uneasily. His earlier muttering within the hearing of Lady Elisabeth did not put him at ease with her and now his mother's blatant attempt at matchmaking did nothing to improve matters.
"Sir." Elisabeth smiled when she saw Lady Mellor lightly dig her elbow into her son's ribs. It came as no surprise to her when Mr. Jonathan Mellor resignedly asked her for the first dance of the evening.
Elisabeth was quick to accept the offer, especially when she beheld, out of the corner of her eye, Darcy making his way in her direction. She smiled charmingly at Jonathan Mellor, refusing to meet the inquiring, not to mention, jealous gaze of her cousin who had heard her acceptance of Jonathan's offer with no small amount of confusion and disappointment. Elisabeth was unaware that her actions were under the keen observation of her sister, who watched her behaviour with a degree of disapproval that was not often felt by the sweet Janet.
To the very great relief of both Elisabeth and Jonathan, they were soon able to part ways until the first dance of the evening commenced, as some of the later guests, which included Lady Edith Laurence and her family, had arrived. Lady Edith immediately made her way over to her friend whereupon she whispered her apologies, saying her mother had been the cause of their late arrival. It would appear that Lady Matlock had been quite right on that point.
"Oh, Edith!" exclaimed Elisabeth once they were free of the nagging presence of Lady Mellor. "I am so glad to see you. I've so much to tell you!" Elisabeth's voice held a note of something that alarmed her friend.
"What has happened?" asked Lady Edith, pulling her towards a small alcove where they could speak quietly away from the crowd. She continued with a discreet whisper, "You do look upset, Elisabeth."
"In all likelihood due to the fact that I am, indeed, upset!" Elisabeth muttered. "Edie! You would not believe the evening I have had thus far! First, Janet and I received a 'congratulatory' letter from the woman who kidnapped us! She even dared to blame my parents, Janet and I for her present situation, which is working in a house as a companion to an old friend of hers."
Edith stared at her friend in surprise. Although Elisabeth was obviously affronted by this action, she did not seem near greatly distressed. "How can you bear it?"
Elisabeth further surprised her friend by saying, "Quite easily, actually! For that, although it concerned me at the time, is not the worst part of my evening." Elisabeth glanced around her and lowered her voice still further. "I am a fool, Edie... I... have fallen in love with man who I believed was honourable and now I find that I was mistaken. Well, not entirely... He is a gentleman and honourable in every way, but for one thing and it was that one thing that he and I have argued over in the past. I was under the impression that he had, or was going to, try and mend that mistake. I admit that I never had a word of promise from him but the way he has been acting seemed to indicate..." Elisabeth trailed off and looked helplessly at her friend. "What can I do? How can I love him when he has perhaps ruined my sister's happiness forever?"
Lady Edith blinked as she tried to make sense of her friend's words. "Elisabeth, I cannot make head nor tail of what you just said. I realise that you are in love and I must say that I am surprised to learn that you have fallen for someone... I did not know you to be that well acquainted with anyone. Also, I comprehend that you have previously argued with this man and that he has done a wrong to Janet but it makes no sense to me at all."
Sighing, Elisabeth reluctantly confided her history with her cousin Darcy; she told of his proposal to her at Hunsford, the few facts she knew about Mr. Wickham, but excluded Georgiana's involvement with him, and finally the role Darcy had played in separating Janet and Mr. Bingley. "And now I see that he cannot possibly have told Mr. Bingley the truth. Why else would the poor man look as if he is madly in love with her yet afraid to court her?"
"Lizzy... don't take this as a criticism, but if you really love him as you say you do then you oughtn't jump to the conclusion that he hasn't told Mr. Bingley, at least not until you know the whole story. As I see it your previous misunderstanding with Mr. Darcy arose from a failure to learn his side of the story. I don't think you want to repeat that mistake, especially in view of the fact that the two of you have been getting along famously these last couple of weeks. Don't spoil that."
"I know, but Edie... How can you explain his justification if he hasn't told Mr. Bingley?"
"And how do you know that he hasn't! Consider, it is entirely possible that Mr. Bingley is unsure of her affection and Janet, as you said yourself, hides her feelings very well! Mr. Darcy may even have told him but Mr. Bingley for some unknown reason has decided to not pursue her. And think, Mr. Bingley... although very sweet and kind, you must admit is not very perceptive. Pray, don't think ill of your cousin, nor let it spoil your chances of finding happiness with him!"
"I shall try, but..."
"Shush! You shall try!" Edith sent a warning glance at her friend, daring her to interrupt. "Elisabeth, you will not ask Mr. Darcy about this until you know more. Do not run the risk of angering him with your distrust of his goodness. Just allow things to play out! Janet and Mr. Bingley can solve their own problems and you do not want to go foiling any chances you may have with your beloved cousin."
"Yes, Edie. I shall be on my best behaviour. I cannot promise to be so welcoming as I have been with my cousin but I will try to keep myself from being so very judgmental or jumping to conclusions as far as he is concerned. And while I am at it," Elisabeth paused to laugh at herself. "I shall stop acting the part of 'match-maker' for my sister!"
"Excellent plan!"
"What is?" asked Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, surprising both girls.
"Oh... Richard, you have found us out. Edie and I were hatching all manner of evil plots for catching a very rich and handsome husband." Elisabeth's eyes twinkled with some of their normal mischievous gleam.
Laughing, Richard said, "Well, in that case I shall be on my way!" He turned to leave but stopped and addressed Edith, "I know I am not very rich but I have been told I am very handsome. Would you care to dance the first set with me, Lady Edith?"
Edith blushed, quite pleasantly surprised by the Colonel's gallantry. "I should be delighted, Colonel." Lady Edith Laurence gave her hand to him as the music for the first dance began and Jonathan appeared at Elisabeth's side to lead her onto the floor.
The couples in the first dance consisted of Lady Janet Fitzwilliam and Mr. Julian Mellor, Lady Elisabeth Fitzwilliam and Mr. Jonathan Mellor, and Lady Edith Laurence and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam. There were also a number of other couples, amongst them Viscount Allington and Miss Alexandra Mellor. The poor Viscount, after receiving numerous hints from young ladies and their Mamas that he should dance, had finally given in and asked Miss Alexandra Mellor to dance, much to the delight of that young lady and her mother who went around whispering the likelihood of a match between the two.
During the dance, Elisabeth observed with a pang of remorse that Darcy had taken to his usual habit of stalking along the edge of the dance floor. However, for the most part she thoroughly enjoyed herself, as Jonathan Mellor - once he realised Elisabeth wasn't angry with him for the words he had spoken - proved to be a very agreeable partner and they found that they had similar tastes in both music and books. Thus the dance passed quickly whereupon Jonathan reluctantly relinquished Elisabeth to another partner.
Darcy watched jealously as yet another young man led Elisabeth onto the dance floor. He would have to gather the courage to ask her for a dance else he might have to give up on the idea for that evening. He found the thought of asking her worrisome as he could not quite face how he had very nearly lost his composure earlier in the evening and he could not risk that in a room full of people.
There was another matter that concerned Darcy: Bingley and Janet. So far, Janet had danced with nearly every eligible gentleman in the room, yet Bingley had not been among that group. Darcy watched his friend enviously observing Janet dancing with a young Viscount and the thought occurred to Darcy that Bingley looked very much like he often did, himself, when attending a ball. This realization gave Darcy an idea and without further delay he walked over to his friend, who was leaning against the mantle piece, and exclaimed,
"Come, Bingley. I must have you dance! I hate to see you standing about in this stupid manner. You had much better dance!"
Bingley looked momentarily startled before muttering half-heartedly, "I certainly shall not." Sighing, he dropped the charade and continued. "Especially when the lady I most wish to dance with is engaged and I am determined that I shall not ruin her chances of making an advantageous match."
"I wouldn't be as fastidious as you are for a kingdom!" Darcy went on, still hoping to win a smile from his friend.
"Darcy, I appreciate your efforts on my behalf, I really do, but I assure you they are pointless." Pushing himself away from the mantle, Bingley murmured, "I'm going to go play a game of cards. I'd rather not torture myself by watching her dance with gentlemen of greater consequence than I." Smiling slightly, Bingley made his way through the crowd and disappeared into the cardroom.
Darcy silently cursed his horrible mistake in separating Janet and Bingley in the first place. He vowed he would set things to rights between them but for now he would leave Bingley be and give him a chance to think longingly of Janet.
Taking a sip of wine from his glass, Viscount Hamerton settled himself into a corner of the ballroom where he indifferently watched the goings on of the ball. The Viscount was in a foul mood, the discussion he'd had with his father some days previously had not gone as well as he had hoped it would and the details continued to haunt him that evening. He wished, not for the first time that evening, that he had declined his invitation to the ball. It was one of the most insipid events he had ever attended and so far he had not beheld any young ladies he found even remotely interesting.
Hamerton was about to abandon the ballroom in favour of a game of cards when his sister discovered where he was hiding himself and moved to join him. "Oh, Edie!" he sighed in boredom. "Why did I have to come?"
"No one forced you, Phillip! I fear it is merely a case of you lacking the strength of character to refuse the invitation and, no matter how much you choose to deny it, you are just as curious as most of the ton to see how Janet and Elisabeth behave themselves."
"Touché!" he grumbled, a movement not far from him drawing his eyes away from his sister. Hamerton's gaze came to rest on a beautiful young lady speaking with the hosts. "Edie... Who is that?" the Viscount asked his sister breathlessly.
"Who, Phillip?"
"The stunning creature standing with Lord and Lady Matlock? Who is she?" Viscount Hamerton ran his eyes appreciatively over her figure; she appeared to be very charming, indeed.
"Oh! She is..." Edith stopped suddenly, hitting her brother's arm rather forcefully with her fan and momentarily gaining his attention. "Leave her well alone! She is much too good for you." Lady Edith ended this warning with a stern glare at her brother.
In his defence, the Viscount cried hotly, "Edie, for goodness sake... I only want to know who the beauty is. I assure you that I have no intention of become leg-shackled to her!"
"That is precisely what worries me!" muttered Edith, frowning at her offending sibling.
"Edie," grumbled Hamerton. "Who is she?"
"Not that it really matters to you but she is merely one of the ladies this ball is being hosted for, you imbecile!" Edith cried sarcastically. "Lady Elisabeth Fitzwilliam."
"Oh-ho! So, that is one of the Fitzwilliam ladies. That one is your friend, is she not?"
"Yes, why do you ask?" Edith regarded her horrible brother suspiciously.
"Introduce me to her, Edie!" implored Hamerton. The Fitzwilliams' ball suddenly held much more interest for him.
"Never," exclaimed Edith firmly. "I would not willingly put a person who has become a great friend of mine in your way."
"I'll go ask Mother, then!"
"Do, for all I care, but I will not be the one held responsible for making you an acquaintance of Lizzy's! Besides, you are wasting your time; Lizzy is wise enough not to fall for you and as a matter of fact she is already in love." Edith cringed, regretting her rash action - her brother was not the best person in the world to have entrusted that information.
"Who is the lucky gentleman?" Viscount Hamerton asked with interest.
"I have not the smallest idea," lied Edith. Hamerton shrugged at his sister's secrecy and purposefully walked over to where his mother was talking to another of the other matrons.
To say that Viscount Hamerton was over-confident when it came to what he believed to be his power over the ladies would be a great understatement - Hamerton was a man who was used to having his own way in every matter, especially where ladies were concerned. His tall and strong build, brooding countenance, harsh grey eyes, rakish smile and his power to charm had allowed him to worm his way into many a female heart with often devastating results.
Lady Bramley was overjoyed when her son asked to be introduced to Lady Elisabeth Fitzwilliam. She quickly performed her office and, once introduced, Hamerton asked Elisabeth for the next dance. This was much to Lady Bramley's delight as she had almost given up hope on her son noticing the handsome brunette. As far as she understood, the youngest daughter of the Matlock's was more to her son's taste than their other daughter. However, it was a well-known fact that Hamerton was less than choosy on some occasions.
Viscount Hamerton, until the next dance began, remained with Lady Elisabeth, ignoring the discouraging glances he was receiving from her parents. He engaged in cheerful conversation that so expertly contrived to include the Earl and Countess and then left them with no opening to try and warn him off their daughter. The Viscount was greatly impressed by Lady Elisabeth, not only for her looks but also her wit and intelligence, and by the time he was able to lead her onto the dance floor he was bewitched.
As the dance began, Hamerton smiled deeply into Elisabeth's eyes before saying with a sigh, "So... I finally get the opportunity to dance with the lovely Lady Elisabeth."
Chapter 20 ~ Dance of Deception
Elisabeth raised her eyebrows, seeing clearly what the Viscount Hamerton was attempting to do. However, she was determined to enjoy the dance and if in the process she could indulge in a teasing banter that would communicate her lack of interest in him, so much the better. Thus she spoke, "Finally, sir? I hardly think that is the correct phrase!"
"Have I gone and said something entirely improper, then? I thought I was speaking a well-known truth. Was I wrong in doing so?" asked Hamerton, observing with some interest the look of undisguised jealousy and hatred that was directed at him from his partner's cousin. Smirking, he now realised who it was his sister had meant when saying Elisabeth was already in love and, with this realisation, the days that stretched tediously before him were suddenly filled with promise; namely the quest of getting Lady Elisabeth Fitzwilliam to transfer her affections to himself.
Hamerton did not know why he found such an opportunity so very enthralling, but in some strange way he knew that he never wanted to see Lady Elisabeth Fitzwilliam as the wife of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
"Not entirely improper, Lord Hamerton. Yet I see you have mastered the art of deceptive conversation very well, indeed. The way you said it, accompanied with that small smile, would indicate to one who is not a close observer of all human beings that you were well within the bounds of proper decorum and proving that you are an honest creature, even saintly."
"I assure you I am no saint, my lady."
Elisabeth choose to ignore his remark. "Furthermore, I have it on good authority that you were wholly unaware of my existence 'til three days ago when you returned home and only then was informed of the Fitzwilliam family's most famous story. Is not that the truth?"
"I cannot deny that, Lady Elisabeth." Hamerton smiled again, quite intrigued by the way this young lady behaved. Elisabeth Fitzwilliam saw through him in an instant, that much was certain, but what caught his attention was the clever way she deflected his possibly forward comments with words spoken in a jesting tone while still being of a serious nature. Curious to see how long she could continue on in this manner Hamerton asked, "But pray, why is it so very difficult for you to believe that I have been dying to meet you ever since I learned of your existence?"
Elisabeth laughed, not knowing how much pain it caused Darcy to hear her laugh at something the womanizing Viscount Hamerton had said. "Dying, my lord? Don't you find that a little extreme?"
Grinning rakishly he replied, "It is a little, isn't it?"
"Quite, sir."
The dance momentarily separated them and when next they met the Viscount asked, "What next?"
"I beg your pardon?" asked Elisabeth, regarding him quizzically.
"What next? Books? Music? Theatre? Weather? State of the roads? Politics? The follies of today's society?"
"Oh, so many to choose from!" Elisabeth paused as the dance separated them again. "Yet, I fear none of them will do."
"Well, then I do believe we shall just have to lapse into silence, as the only remaining subjects I can think of would be quite shockingly unconventional for polite conversation."
"I have been led to understand that you favour the unconventional and are not so well-mannered as to care what was proper."
"Not well-mannered! My lady, I am mortified that my character has been so misrepresented you. Who has besmirched my good name?"
"What good name, Lord Hamerton?" asked Elisabeth sweetly.
Hamerton opened his mouth to reply but found that the dance was ending and, before he was presented with a chance to lead his fair partner off the floor, his sister rushed up, delivered a disapproving glare to her bother and pulled her friend away, whispering,
"Lizzy! I must speak with you."
The Viscount watched them go, a bemused smile clinging to the corners of his mouth. It was clear that his sister was trying to upset his plans and that amused him all the more. He knew very well that he had made an impression on Lady Elisabeth Fitzwilliam, perhaps not the best impression he had ever made on a young lady, but one that would remain in her mind. When next they met he would take the opportunity to try to improve himself in her eyes and correct the wicked sketch of his character that Edith had given her friend.
Having succeeded in pulling her friend well away from any of the gossiping crowd, Edith cried in horror, seeing the amusement that beamed in her friend's face following her dance with the disreputable Viscount Hamerton, "Oh please... Don't let my brother charm you, Lizzy!"
Elisabeth smiled absently and observed with a small laugh, "I can certainly see why he has been the undoing of so many... Your brother is charming, isn't he?"
Resisting the urge to shake her friend and box her brother's ears, Edith murmured, "I don't believe I'm hearing this." She frowned angrily at her brother who was stationed across the room from her. He smiled back, knowing the reason for his sister's anger; her pretty friend had fallen under his spell.
"Edie," Elisabeth soothed. "Neither of us meant anything we said and this is probably the first and last time I shall ever dance with him! Do not fret, it is a small flirtation that I have no intention of allowing to go any further!"
"It is never a small flirtation with my brother. I pray you will remember that... Hamerton, is..." Edith's voice halted as Darcy appeared beside Elisabeth and asked, looking more than a little perplexed, if she would honour him with the next dance. Elisabeth, remembering her promise to her friend, consented, much to the relief of both Darcy and Edith who hoped Mr. Darcy would be able to distract her friend from Hamerton.
Chapter 21 ~ The Dance
A short time later Darcy and Elisabeth's dance commenced and Darcy, with great relief, stood across from her waiting for the music to begin. The only two things that were presently concerning him was his knowledge of how affected he was by her mere presence and, even more disturbing, that Viscount Hamerton was stationed at the side of the dance floor with his eyes fixed on Elisabeth.
The first few moments of the cousins' dance was conducted in silence, each dwelling on their own private thoughts. Lady Elisabeth was distracted by attempting to clarify her cousin's character, 'He is a great enigma! One moment the man is teasing me, the next he is nearly kissing me, and now he looks as he did in Hertfordshire; proud and uncomfortable.' Adding further to Elisabeth's distraction was Viscount Hamerton. He was lurking about the edge of the dance floor and whenever she happened to glance his way, which was fairly often, he was in plain sight and aiming his perfected charming smile at her, much to the chagrin of Darcy.
Darcy, noticing Elisabeth look towards Hamerton for what seemed to him to be the hundredth time and then look away wearing a smile that he did not like at all, cleared his throat and asked in a voice that he schooled into good-humour, "I believe we must have some conversation, cousin."
Elisabeth started and looked up at him before laughing quietly and sending a surreptitious look at Hamerton.
"A very little will suffice," squeaked Darcy, sounding as if his cravat had suddenly constricted.
"Do you talk by rule when dancing?" Elisabeth asked, making a discernable effort to focus on her cousin. The Viscount Hamerton had the rather nasty ability of being able to invade one's thoughts even when one was dancing with the man she loved.
"Yes," Darcy muttered, reworking the rest of the conversation. "One can hardly spend a whole dance gawking at some useless cad."
'What is his problem?' Elisabeth thought absently, not really hearing his comments. Her cousin did not seem to be himself at the moment. The thought that she really should be more concerned for what irked him did occur to her and she realised with a great feeling of guilt that she was still incredibly angry despite the calming talk she had had with her friend and the promise Edith had extracted from her. 'Stupid girl! You are trying to hurt him by flirting with Lord Hamerton. Oh! What must he think of me? What kind of impression am I giving Lord Hamerton?'
Feeling heartily sorry for her actions she turned to him, prepared to respond to his last remark, when she realised that she was so involved in causing him pain that she had not heard what he said. Dropping her guilty gaze to the floor, she asked, "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"I asked how you were enjoying the ball?" Darcy lied, not wanting to repeat what he knew would make no sense to Elisabeth as she had previously been paying but minimal attention to their conversation.
"Oh, the ball is wonderful."
"No other dance partners making this night even more important... I mean, I am glad to hear it." He mentally kicked himself for allowing his jealousy to rule what came out of his mouth.
"And you... Are you enjoying it?"
"As you may have supposed, I am not a great fan of such gatherings..." Darcy began darkly. "Yet, this one has slightly more to offer than others I have attended."
"Oh."
"You and Janet certainly appear to have caused something of a stir with all the other gentleman." 'Why? Why! Why do I have to torture myself like this?'
"Well cousin, it is a ball held in our honour. Is there not some rule in society that states we have the right to be admired? Still, Janet is the beauty and I am only the pretty sister."
"If that be the case, any gentleman here who thinks that is blind." The light suffusion of colour that spread across Elisabeth's face caused Darcy's heart to give a little leap of joy.
"Flattery does not suit you, cousin!"
"What does suit me then?" asked Darcy tentatively.
"Straightforwardness, the moments when you are incurably blunt and honest - They suit you best."
"Pray, what makes you think I was flattering you? I was being entirely honest... You are the most handsome woman of my acquaintance." Elisabeth stumbled and nearly missed a step when her eyes met those of her cousin, gleaming with such sincerity.
A small teasing smile crept onto Darcy's face. "It was my understanding, Lady Elisabeth, that you were born with a good deal more grace than Mr. Collins."
Elisabeth laughed at his comment and a degree of ease was restored between the cousins, but they both knew there remained much to be said before they could ever be perfectly comfortable in each other's company. The remainder of the dance passed with little, insignificant things being said on both sides.
As Darcy returned his cousin to the protection of her parents, Viscount Hamerton watched the exchange with a frown creasing his brow. 'I see you are quick to recover lost ground, Darcy! Yet, I wonder if you really do stand a chance against me.'
Chapter 22 ~ Game of Calculation
Promptly after leaving Elisabeth with her parents, Darcy beat a hasty retreat to the safety provided by the cardroom. It was there he found his cousin, Viscount Allington, quietly engaged in a game of cards with his friends and moaning about being stalked by senseless girls who weren't much more than children. Alexandra Mellor, no doubt, was the lady being discussed.
Darcy also found Bingley engaged in a game of cards and apparently losing more than he was winning. He thought that a reckless Bingley was about the last thing he needed. Determined to do something that would at least allow his friend and his cousin Janet happiness, Darcy proceeded to draw his friend away from the table when the hand they were playing finished and Bingley paid out the amount of money he had lost.
Standing behind Bingley, he slapped a hand on his friend's shoulder while applying enough of a strong grasp that he was able to drag his friend away from that table and push him towards an empty one, saying as he did, "Let us have a game, shall we?"
"Why not," sighed Bingley, taking a seat and grinning somewhat stupidly.
'Damn! He is half foxed!' Darcy thought, frowning severely.
"Wine, gentlemen?" A servant asked while preparing to pour them each a glass.
"No, thank you. My friend and I need clear heads for this," Darcy answered sternly.
"I'll risk a glass, Darcy!" Bingley put in, but the glare that was levelled at him and the servant communicated that Fitzwilliam Darcy was in no mood for any kind of opposition.
"What are the stakes?" Bingley asked. He was suspicious as to what his friend was planning. Something told him that he ought to be careful but in his befogged state of mind this kind of caution was not easily employed.
"Very high," murmured Darcy, cracking open the deck of cards and shuffling them expertly.
"I don't mind telling you, Darcy," began his friend, somewhat uncomfortably, "I can't afford to lose much more."
"These are very different stakes, Bingley. Although, you stand to lose just as much, if not more." Darcy dealt them each a hand.
"I beg your pardon?" Bingley asked in bewilderment, trying to shake off the haze that surrounded his mind.
Darcy lowered his voice before he replied, as he wanted no more attention than they had already drawn due to the odd way in which he had been speaking to his friend. "There is but one stake; Lady Janet Fitzwilliam. When you lose, you will stop being such a halfwit and dance with my cousin! Bingley, your intentions are very honourable and further prove how much she means to you, but at the same time it is senseless..."
The confusion of Bingley's mind had cleared considerably as his friend spoke and, instead of bewilderment, all Bingley could feel was anger with his friend. He was normally an affable gentleman but like any human being he did possess a temper, although it rarely made an appearance. "Darcy," he muttered, keeping his voice under a measure of control. "Once already you have interfered in my affairs. I would advise and appreciate that you do not do so again. I love her and it is because I love her so much that I am willing to step aside and let those who are her equals court her."
"That is admirable but how can you be certain Janet will be happy? In despair over you not returning her feelings, or so she thinks, she might consent to a marriage with a man she does not love! If you love her as you say you do, her happiness should be foremost in your mind," Darcy attempted to point out diplomatically.
"Her happiness is foremost in my mind!" Bingley hissed, preparing to leave the table.
"Wait! Perhaps we can come to an agreement?"
Sitting down unwillingly, Bingley asked quietly, his anger draining away, "What do you have in mind?"
"Shall we alter the stakes of this game slightly and agree to both be satisfied with the results?"
Bingley nodded, not feeling up to refusing at the present moment.
Darcy sighed in relief. He had feared for a moment that he had really botched the whole scheme. "If you win you can continue on as you are, in all your misery, and I will not say a word against it." 'Matchmaker Darcy, will just try another tactic!' he promised himself, feeling more than a little ridiculous for his pathetic attempts at matchmaking thus far.
"And if you win, I still have to dance with Janet?"
"No. If I win you will agree to court Janet, along with all the other men that are certain to attempt to gain her affections and, should you see that she does hold a greater affection for you than any other, you will waste no more time and propose! Also, bear in mind that my cousin does not show her feelings very clearly. It is the curse of a majority of those with Fitzwilliam blood in them... I am a prime example!"
"Very well. However, while I promise to remember that she does not show her feelings openly, if I can see without a doubt that she loves someone else, nothing will prevent me from stepping aside."
With a finality and solemnity not often observed between the two friends, they shook hands on the agreement. "We'll play three games. Best out of those wins."
The game began between them, the determined set of their faces earned more than a little attention from the other people in the room. Darcy let his friend win the first game, giving Bingley the feeling that he had a chance in this bet. As the second game began Darcy perceived with no small amount of relief that Bingley played half-heartedly, almost as if he wanted to lose and Darcy certainly obliged him. He effortlessly won the second and third hands and Charles Bingley was forced to admit defeat.
"Bingley," Darcy said as they stood up from the table. "I pray that you will one day thank me for that."
Chapter 23 ~ A Drive in Hyde Park
The morning following the ball found Lady Elisabeth awakening only a little while after her usual hour. She dressed herself and rang for her maid to style her hair. Elisabeth doubted that the rest of her family would be awake but when she asked her maid if any of the family was stirring she learned that Lord Allington was already in the breakfast room.
Having made this discovery Elisabeth then made her way to the room, entering it and greeting her brother with a cheerful, "Good morning, Thomas."
Lord Allington, in some surprise, peered over the top of the paper he was reading when Elisabeth addressed him. "Good morning, Elisabeth! I did not expect to find anyone else about the place so early in the morning."
"Yet here was I thinking it was the normal breakfast hour. Very silly of me is it not, Tom?" Elisabeth laughed as she poured herself a cup of tea and filled her plate. "I do assure you, I am not like the other young ladies of high rank. I like to awake in the earlier hours of the morning." Lady Elisabeth neglected to inform her brother that she had been thinking on two very distressing matters; one being their cousin, Mr. Darcy, and the other being Viscount Hamerton.
"The ball did not end until well into the early morning hours. No matter how much you may dislike waking late, I would have thought you would sleep for a long time yet."
"Indeed, but I rather fancied being up and about and I, too, may enquire why you are here," Elisabeth said teasingly.
Allington chuckled and conceded, "Much the same reasons as you, I suppose." Elisabeth smiled wryly at the idea. She very much doubted that his thoughts were dwelling on Mr. Darcy and Lord Hamerton.
Pausing to finish off his breakfast, Allington then asked, "I was going to go for a drive in Hyde Park, would you care to accompany me?"
"Oh, I would enjoy that very much," Elisabeth replied, slightly inattentive. The thoughts swirling around in her head demanded so much attention that only a little could be spared for her brother.
"Finish up your breakfast, then. I'll have the gig brought round to the front and ask Mrs. Patrick to inform the rest of the family where we have gone. Would you like me to have your maid bring your things down?"
"If you wouldn't mind, Tom, thank you." Allington nodded and quitted the room, leaving his sister to her breakfast and her thoughts.
The short hours of sleep Elisabeth had been able to gain had left her in a better mood than when she had retired and in the clear light of day she was able to see some of the error in her quick judgement of Darcy. For the gentleman to be entirely forgiven, that was too much, but Elisabeth admitted to herself that she had judged him very wrongly in the past and that she was capable of doing so again. Lady Elisabeth's one remaining concern was the uncharacteristic behaviour of Mr. Bingley. It had left her with some suspicions but she was determined to give her cousin the benefit of the doubt; she only wished that her heart would not be broken in the end if she had misplaced her trust in him.
Elisabeth ate her toast feeling quiet pleased with this resolution in regard to her cousin, but her thoughts would turn to the other gentleman who had caught her attention the night before; Viscount Hamerton. The warning from Edith about her brother was appreciated for Elisabeth saw the truth in it. However, try as she might, Elisabeth was unable to entirely remove Lord Hamerton from her thoughts.
The lady firmly told herself that she would not fall prey to Lord Hamerton, as she did have strong feelings in that direction for Darcy, but after the previous night she had come to realise that she was obviously not as attached to her cousin as she had thought only a few moments before the ball began when they had been in the music room. If Elisabeth loved him as dearly as she thought, surely she would not have been so quick to judge him and doubt his goodness.
The discovery that her heart did not belong so completely to Darcy worried her, as Elisabeth saw that it made her more vulnerable to Lord Hamerton than she liked to imagine. Viscount Hamerton was an attractive man who was well aware of the fact and used it to his advantage in every way he could. Elisabeth could not help but feel a little flattered at his noticing her, but at the same time she was aware of the danger he presented.
It was at this moment that Elisabeth's maid timidly entered the breakfast room to help her mistress prepare for her outing. On the front steps of the house some minutes later Elisabeth met her brother who promptly helped her up into the gig before the two of them set off in search of some fresh air. Lady Elisabeth Fitzwilliam looked everything that a young lady of fashion ought to be; she wore a gown of white muslin, a dark green pelisse with white fringe, a chip bonnet of matching colours and tan gloves.
The sight of brother and sister drew a number of appreciative comments by all those who saw them and it was agreed by a number of people they passed in the park that of the Fitzwilliam family, they were the two who most resembled their mother's side with their dark hair and engaging eyes. It was also remarked that they really were just as handsome as their fairer siblings.
Lord Allington and Lady Elisabeth paused a number of times to chat with people of their acquaintance. They had just left the presense of one matron who was trying to draw Allington's attention to her rather meek and plain daughter but without much success, when Elisabeth said,
"I must admit, I failed to realise what a catch you were among the young ladies and their mothers in London! I see that Alexandra Mellor has her cap set at you but I did not see how popular you really are."
Allington groaned, shaking his head. "Pray, don't mention it. I do try and forget. I much rather prefer staying in the country. I can either hide away at the estate or if I am forced into company I can usually terrorize them."
"Do you find that employing the terrorizing tactic actually works?"
Laughing, Allington said, "I fear you sound rather like Richard there, talking about courtship as some sort of military strategy. And yes it does work, but only on the young country misses. I have no such luck with the ladies of London or Bath."
"It is certainly not military strategy, but a strategy nonetheless!" Elisabeth smiled. "Tom, can I ask how you live with yourself when you frighten these poor young ladies out of their wits?"
"Easily, for they never had any wits to be frightened out of in the first place," Lord Allington answered ruthlessly.
"Thomas! In the words of one of my dearest acquaintances, 'Shocking, abominable reply!'."
"When did Miss Bingley become one of your 'dearest acquaintances'?" Allington asked with a bemused smile playing over his features.
"However did you guess I was referring to Miss Bingley?" exclaimed a much surprised Lady Elisabeth.
"The odds were with me. It sounded like something she would say and you don't know many of the society ladies well enough to know any who would say something like that."
"Indeed, that is very observant of you, Tom... Oh look! There is Viscount Hamerton - It is about time we met with someone I actually remember." Lady Elisabeth did not see the look of strong disapproval that her brother threw at her.
"How do you know Lord Hamerton, Elisabeth?" he asked curtly.
"I met him last night at the ball. He arrived late. I think you had already disappeared into the card room when he danced with me."
"He danced with you!" Allington hissed, but he could say nothing further as Hamerton rode towards the gig and he had to stop it.
"Hello, Allington." Hamerton called, riding up to them.
Lord Allington nodded tersely, barely acknowledging the other gentleman's presence.
"Good morning, Lady Elisabeth. It has been far too long since I last had the pleasure of looking into your enchanting eyes." Hamerton ignored the enraged glare of the lady's brother; a glare that increased tenfold when Elisabeth laughingly replied,
"Lord Hamerton, you only saw me a very few hours ago."
"Indeed, but it seems ages to me, my bewitching girl." Lord Hamerton smiled at her; an action that caused a deep blush to spread across Elisabeth's face.
Viscount Allington cleared his throat in evident annoyance and, fixing his stern, cold gaze on Hamerton, spoke, "I am quite surprised at your being in the Park at this early hour." In the presence of his sister Allington dared not elaborate on Hamerton's well-known habits of often going 'elsewhere' after an evening's festivities.
"As am I, Allington. Yet you see I somehow knew your charming sister would be here. I ask you how I could not pass up the opportunity to see her again?" Hamerton saw no reason to dwell on the company he had kept after the ball, or the fact that he had only returned to the townhouse for a change of clothes before leaving lest he have any run-ins with his family.
Lord Allington used all of his self-control to prevent himself from saying and doing something to Hamerton that would cause a scandal. Hamerton grinned, knowing he had gotten the better of the brother and succeeded in placing himself once more in the foremost thoughts of the sister.
"Good day to you both! I hope to see you very soon, Lady Elisabeth." Nodding to them, he turned his horse from the vehicle and continued down the avenue, leaving an uncomfortable silence between the brother and sister.
Chapter 24
"We should be returning home." Allington's words were spoken in a harsh manner as he urged the horse to move forward. It was then that Elisabeth truly noticed her brother's stormy mood. She was not in any doubt as to the cause of it. Elisabeth opted to watch the park pass by rather than try and ease the dark mood of her brother. After a slight hesitation, Lord Allington broke the silence, saying to his sister,
"Elisabeth, I must advise you to avoid the company of Viscount Hamerton. He is just the sort of man who can prove very damaging to a young lady's reputation."
"So everyone keeps telling me!" Elisabeth laughed, not seeing how her flippancy alarmed her brother further.
"I think you fail to realise the seriousness of the situation. Even such relatively harmless things as talking or dancing with him are hazardous to your reputation. This is not something to be taken lightly. I have seen the reputations of many young ladies damaged beyond repair, all thanks to Hamerton."
"I do not take it lightly. I assure you, Thomas, you need not fear anything for me. I am well aware of Lord Hamerton's tendencies. He is a terrible flirt..."
"Flirt? I dare say that is the least worrisome of his bad qualities. The instances, which are certainly not fit to be mentioned in great detail, where his guilt lies are far more reprehensible than his being a flirt. I ask you to bear that in mind," Allington exclaimed vehemently.
"I shall, Thomas! What do I have to say to convince you that I am aware of his bad character? Edith has warned me of her brother's ways; now you are telling me what I already know. The idea that I shall fall for him is ridiculous. The only kind of feeling I will ever have for him is a wish to be out of his company." Elisabeth felt it necessary to say this out loud, not only to convince her brother, but to convince herself. "Next I shall have Mama and Papa impressing on me what a deplorable person he is and, as much as I appreciate the concern expressed for my well being, I am not stupid, as seems to be the common belief!"
Lord Allington attempted to calm his anger that had arisen from the exchange with his sister before asking, "Mother and Father have not said anything on the matter?"
"No," Elisabeth replied crisply.
"I cannot believe it," he muttered, turning the carriage into one of the less used lanes. "Elisabeth, that kind of behaviour is not like our parents."
"What 'kind of behaviour'?"
"Blithely ignoring Hamerton's interest in you, not warning you as Lady Edith and I have."
"I am afraid that I fail to see the significance..."
"Well you would!" Allington replied harshly. "The blind ignorance they have displayed is not at all like Mother and Father, but you do not see that. They are unknown to you in many respects - the dream of having their little family together again is a thing they had thought impossible. It is so dreamlike to our parents that they indulge you and Janet as if that will make the dream last longer. The indulgence shown to Janet and yourself would not have been conceivable if you had stayed with us. Lord and Lady Matlock's daughters would have been raised like their sons; given a strict set of rules to abide by and should one cross any boundaries he would have been met with a punishment that prevented him from doing so ever again."
"I trust you are not blaming Janet and I for being taken!"
"Don't twist my words like that. I cannot blame you!" Lord Allington cried in exasperation.
"Yet, you do think Mama and Papa are being indulgent to Janet and I?" Elisabeth angrily enquired.
"To a faulty degree," Allington answered candidly.
"Therefore, in your mind Janet and I are undeserving of the dresses, the trinkets and the ball we have been given? Are you of the opinion that Janet and I should live as paupers in such a rich family?"
"What a stupid thing to say! I do believe I am right in assuming that Hamerton has already caught your attention, Elisabeth. That is just the sort of attitude that he is famous for; wealth and appearance take precedence over anything else."
"Is that what you really think? Perhaps, Tom, you should take a look at yourself, for at this very moment you seem a hundred times more bothered by wealth and appearance than either I, or Lord Hamerton! Also, if you had let me finish before immediately accusing me of having fallen for him I would have told you that I dislike the attention lavished upon Janet and myself as much as you apparently do! Why do you resent us so much?" Elisabeth turned away from her brother, trying to calm herself by looking at the scenery around her.
Lord Allington pressed his lips together in irritation, checking the admonishment that was on the tip of his tongue. "I do not resent you or Janet. Pray be reasonable, Elisabeth."
"I am being reasonable!" Lady Elisabeth was shocked at the sudden tears that sprang to her eyes as Allingtom sneered at the idea. "Would you just stop the gig?" Elisabeth asked in a strangled voice and when her brother willingly brought the vehicle to a halt she jumped down, saying quietly, "As my company is so very disagreeable to you, I shall relieve you of it."
Lady Elisabeth walked away from the gig, trembling with rage and repressed tears. Her brother's anger had surprised her but her surprise was nothing to the hurt she felt at his words. Allington indifferently watched his sister walk, almost run, down the pathway before turning his eyes from her and feeling suddenly remorseful; the last thing the had wanted to do was upset her. He had found the last weeks strange, but that would have been nothing to what Elisabeth, or Janet, felt.
Lord Allington sighed and commanded the horse to move again. He turned the gig around in the direction Elisabeth had gone only to see Lord Hamerton standing beside his horse, talking to her. Allington's hatred of that scoundrel reached new levels upon beholding this sight.
Viscount Hamerton grinned at his good fortune upon seeing Elisabeth Fitzwilliam walking briskly down the path. Pulling on the reins of his horse, he exclaimed while dismounting and coming to stand beside her, "Well, my bewitching girl, I must have been behaving myself lately to be rewarded with the opportunity to see you again so soon and without your brother looking ready to murder me."
Lady Elisabeth frowned, "If you are attempting to be humourous I would suggest you stop. I am in no mood for such nonsense."
"Oh dear!" cried Hamerton, stepping back in mock fright. "Let me guess; your dear ol' brother there tried to warn you of my wicked ways but, delightful creature that you are, you would not believe a word! After all, how could such scandalous actions ever be linked to my name?" Upon seeing the astonished expression on his companion's face, Hamerton said, "I am right, aren't I? Indeed, he is not the first brother to try and protect a sister from me. Me! if you can imagine such a thing, especially as I am always such a charming, honest and trustworthy fellow. It must be understood that my powers of such crystal clear observation come from years of experience, Lady Elisabeth."
"It is my understanding that your 'experience' has nothing to do with such intellectual observation, Lord Hamerton. Would you be so kind as to let me pass?"
"No." Hamerton grinned. "I shall let you pass when you can account for leading me to think that you did not believe such nasty things as your brother must have said about me. Now I learn that you think the worst of me!"
"Not the worst, Lord Hamerton, but if you continue pestering me I will come to think like that very shortly!"
"Come now, you can't leave, for here is your brother coming to retrieve you from my evil clutches, without doubt... We meet again Allington!" Hamerton received no more than a cold glance from Lord Allington.
"Elisabeth, I have to return you home," Lord Allington addressed his sister only to find Elisabeth was steadfastly ignoring his presence.
"Lady Elisabeth, take my advice, return with your brother," Hamerton suggested gently and in a moment of true sincerity. "No good can come to an unchaperoned young lady in London." After a slight hesitance, Elisabeth allowed herself to be helped back up beside her brother.
"Good day, Lord Hamerton," Elisabeth called hastily behind her as her brother urged the horse into a fast paced trot. "Well, Thomas, you must own that even for Viscount Hamerton that was very kind and proper of him, was it not?" Elisabeth could not resist another barb.
"Not another word on the subject, Elisabeth. Not another word."
"Very well, not another word on that subject, but how would you like to explain what you said about our parents indulging Janet and I?"
"It appears that you are bent on misunderstanding me," Allington said quietly. "Elisabeth, after all you and Janet have been through they do not dare run the risk of upsetting either of you. Mother and Father live in fear of disturbing this delicate, surreal balance in the family and it would be disturbed by digging so deeply into the twenty years we have missed of each other's lives. We dread how painful it will be to the other parties; but painful or not, it ought to be done. Janet and Elisabeth Fitzwilliam were kidnapped. Nothing will change that fact, but twenty years are missing from our family history. We should do something to discover those years."
Elisabeth said nothing in response to this. Even though her brother's words were sensible and truthful, her anger had not abated in the slightest degree. The indignant words they had exchanged had left her feeling very alone and unwelcome in her own family that was made up of people who were still so very new to her. Even Janet, in some respects, had ceased to be a familiar face.
In the past weeks she had seen how her parents endeavoured to shelter herself and Janet from anything unpleasant, but at the same time not depriving them of a normal life in London for young ladies of their age. Lord and Lady Matlock had also welcomed them into the family with what seemed more like tokens of affection than any actual love; Elisabeth knew that her sister and herself were treasured by their parents but it seemed that they held back in letting their children know. 'Mama and Papa fear your continued regard for the Bennets. They don't want to be rejected.' Elisabeth told herself and fought back her tears for the remainder of the journey to the townhouse.
Chapter 25 ~ Growing Apart
Lady Elisabeth Fitzwilliam raced up the staircase with more quickness than was befitting to a young lady of her station, rushing into her room where she closed the door with great force. Elisabeth pushed herself away from the door, ripping her bonnet from her head and throwing it onto the bed, in the process undoing the work on her hair so that it tumbled in disarray down her back. She buried her face in the bed and started to sob.
Lady Janet was in the dressing room preparing to go downstairs for her breakfast when she heard the fast paced footsteps and the slamming of the door caused by her sister. Janet stood in the middle of the room, momentarily frozen in surprise, before the sound of Elisabeth's crying reached her ears and she hastily went into the adjoining chamber.
"Lizzy, dearest, what has happened?" Janet exclaimed, moving around to the side of the bed where her sister had collapsed in tears. Elisabeth's only response was a slight whimper in between her sobs.
"Elisabeth," Janet whispered, placing a gentle hand on her sister's trembling shoulder.
Elisabeth shrugged off Janet's hand. "Leave me be."
"No. Tell me what has happened." Lady Janet spoke with the determination few knew she had.
Elisabeth answered this with silence, save her tears.
"I shall get Mama, then." Janet stated walking to the door.
"Janet, don't you dare get our mother!" Elisabeth angrily exclaimed. "I do not want her to know anything of this; she cannot be told. No one can be told and I would rather you just left me in peace!"
Janet Fitzwilliam stepped back in surprise. She was used to her sister's temper, but to her memory it had never been directed at her. "What can I do for you?" Janet asked, even more concerned for Elisabeth.
"Nothing!" Elisabeth's eyes flashed with anger.
"Elisabeth, I can see that you are upset. It may make you feel better if you talk about it." Janet said gently, trying to ease her sister's harshness.
"If you really insist on knowing," Elisabeth began bitterly, "I've had an argument with Thomas." Upon hearing Janet's gasp of surprise, Elisabeth said, "What is this? No gentle reproach? You are not going to tell me how ill advised I was to quarrel with my precious brother? I am surprised!"
Janet ignored Elisabeth's words. "What was this quarrel about?"
"Lord Hamerton, Edith's brother. I danced with him last night and our dear brother does not approve of the Viscount."
"And you think Thomas's interference to be wrong? Lizzy, I have heard that Viscount Hamerton is not at all a proper young gentleman. Tom was only doing what he thought best."
"Pray, do not start insulting my ability to judge characters! I know what Viscount Hamerton is."
"I am only trying to help you see this from Tom's point of view. Lizzy... What of Cousin Darcy? Surely, your drawing the attention of such a man as Viscount Hamerton cannot improve your relationship with him."
"I would not go so far as to say Thomas was actually trying to be helpful! As to Darcy, that is solely my concern. I cannot believe that our brother actually said half the things he did!"
"I am sure everyone has their little disagreements," Janet soothed, masking the hurt she felt at Elisabeth's angry words that were both directly and indirectly aimed at her.
"Little disagreement?" Elisabeth laughed. "Those words are putting it mildly, I dare say. If you had heard what Thomas said, perhaps you would understand my situation instead of taking his side."
"I am not taking sides! I am sad that you and Thomas have argued. I am very sorry that you are behaving so childishly as to say it was all his doing. You could have avoided the argument. I am even more sorry that, as you are hurt by what he said, you feel that gives you leave to take your anger out on me! Elisabeth, I assure you that it does not. I have enough troubling me without the one person I thought I could turn to for comfort and help suddenly hurting me so." Janet spoke with increasing sharpness.
Elisabeth stared at Janet in amazement. She had never heard her gentle and serene sister speak in such a manner. Janet took advantage of the situation to say in the same severe tone of voice,
"As for Cousin Darcy, you did say that you loved him, but I saw you flirting with Viscount Hamerton..."
"I was not flirting with that man, Jane!" Elisabeth cried defensively, recovering from the shock of Janet's temper and intent on fighting back.
"Well, it most certainly looked that way to me and I had ample opportunity to observe you. I really am beginning to doubt the depth of your feelings for Cousin Darcy - At least you can be certain that he still has some feelings for you. Mr. Bingley was actually avoiding me. He paid a polite and proper amount of attention to me so as not to appear rude. He did not ask to dance with me and all the other gentlemen that I danced with could barely hold my attention for more than a minute as a result!"
"Jane..." Elisabeth began, only to be cut off.
"Don't, Lizzy. Do not say anything, I will not hear you." Lady Janet squared her shoulders and marched from her sister's bedchamber.
Elisabeth sat in shocked silence as the door closed after Janet, all her anger draining away from her. She had never suspected that Janet had such a temper. It was also with a great feeling of remorse did Elisabeth see how selfish she had been, thinking that it was only herself whose life was in constant confusion. Janet was right; she did have some assurance, however small, of Darcy's continued affection for her, while Janet was left to wonder if Bingley felt anything for her.
Lady Elisabeth sighed, laying down on her bed. "This is such a mess," she whispered into her pillow.
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