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Chapter 9
August 6, 1812
The next morning was bright and sunny. Georgiana woke up feeling much more optimistic than she had the day before. "Everything will go smoothly," she reassured herself, as her maid brushed out her hair. "And if it doesn't, at least it will not be dull."
On her way downstairs, Georgiana encountered Mrs. Reynolds who informed her that Mr. and Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley had all requested breakfast trays in their room. The housekeeper also informed her that the Mr. Darcy had risen early and was currently meeting with his steward.
Georgiana quietly entered the breakfast room. Neither Mr. Bingley nor her cousin appeared to notice her presence.
"Bingley, now that we are alone, you must tell me the story of your sister and Hurst. You left me dangling all night. Is it a sordid tale?"
Although, she was intensely curious to know what her cousin was speaking about, Georgiana felt that good manners demanded that she announced her presence. "Good morning."
Both gentlemen leapt to their feet. They greeted Georgiana and remained standing until she was seated.
"It is a beautiful day is not?"
"Yes, just as your brother predicted. You would never know that it was pouring down rain last night." Georgiana looked surprised, "It rained last night? I had no idea." She picked up a piece of toast that had suddenly appeared before her and started buttering it.
"Yes, Darcy, Bingley, and I were out walking at the time and got quite soaked. We were beginning the think that Miss Bingley was able to predict the future, but as she predicted it would rain today, not last night, it seems she is not prophetic, after all."
Georgiana nibbled delicately on a piece of toast and studied the two men out of the corner of her eye. Mr. Bingley was rather subdued compared to his usual exuberant manner. His almost perpetual smile was absent and he seemed preoccupied with private thoughts. He was behaving rather like her brother, thought Georgiana. This in itself was incredible because Mr. Bingley and her brother were extremely different in temperament. She was more convinced than ever that Mr. Bingley, like her brother, was suffering the effects of love. Whether they were both in love with the same women, Georgiana did not know, but was determined to find out.
Her cousin on the other hand appeared very much his usual self. He whistled off tune as he read the newspaper, looking up occasionally to smile at Georgiana. Georgiana was aware that the colonel's whistling was a great source of displeasure to Aunt Catherine, who had frequently told the colonel that it was ill mannered to whistle in company. Georgiana usually found the colonel's habit of whistling endearing, but this morning she found it oddly irritating. At least he did not appear at all to be a man in love. Unlike Bingley and her brother, he appeared, in fact, to be in even more high spirits than usual. As she observed the little smile that played on his lips as he put down his paper and picked up his coffee cup, Georgiana had a sudden thought. "Perhaps, he is indeed in love with Miss Bennet and is in good spirits because he knows his love to requited." She gave a start at this thought that caused her to rattle her coffee cup.
The colonel immediately turned his attention to Georgiana. "You must have slept well last night, Georgie, if you did not hear the rain. It rained like the very dickens for several hours."
"Yes, I did sleep quite soundly."
"I am glad to hear that," replied the colonel. "You have a lot on your hands today, entertaining all of us, and having additional guests for dinner. Do you need assistance with any of the plans for our entertainment?"
"No, thank you. I was thinking that since the day is so lovely, that we could play games out of doors. Perhaps Pall Mall? We have a new set. Or archery for those that don't care for Pall Mall?"
Mr. Bingley looked up and his pale face brightened slightly. "Pall Mall is a capital idea. Even Mr. Hurst plays it. I must warn you, however, that my sister Caroline excels at the sport. She's quite good at knocking balls out of her way."
The colonel stood up. "I believe I will go for a ride before it gets too hot. I will return before too long."
Georgiana was left alone with Mr. Bingley. She wondered if it was proper for her to be alone with him. She looked around her, the breakfast room doors were open and two footmen were in the room, so they were hardly by themselves. In any case, Mr. Bingley seemed so much a part of the family that it seemed silly to wonder about propriety around him. Thoughts of propriety aside, she was glad for the opportunity to speak with Mr. Bingley alone. Before she could think of a way to broach the subject of Miss Bennet, however, Mr. Bingley spoke.
"Miss Georgiana, I must ask you. When you spoke to Miss Bennet yesterday, did she happen to mention her eldest sister, Miss Jane Bennet?"
"No, I do not recall her mentioning that name. She did say, however, that all of her family were well and all but one of her sisters were at home."
Mr. Bennet blanched. "All but one?"
"Yes, she mentioned that her youngest sister was visiting friends in Brighton, I believe."
Mr. Bingley lit up like a candle. "Ah," he said. "Did she? "
Georgiana wondered why Mr. Bingley cared so much about the younger sister visiting Brighton. His next comments indicated, however, where his interest lay. "I wish you could meet Miss Jane Bennet, Miss Georgiana. You would like her exceedingly, I believe. She is an angel on earth."
Georgiana smiled warmly at Mr. Bingley. She was greatly relieved. It appeared that Mr. Bingley was in love with a Miss Bennet, but it was not Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
"I am sure I would her. I liked her sister immensely. After only knowing Miss Elizabeth a few minutes I felt that I could speak with her as if she were an old friend. I rarely find such a connection to anyone." She wondered if she was being too outspoken.
"Yes, Miss Elizabeth is charming. She and Miss Jane Bennet are very close." Mr. Bingley proceeded to prattle on about Miss Jane Bennet for the next ten minutes. Georgiana wondered why, since he was so obviously enamored of Jane Bennet, that Mr. Bingley had not made an offer for her. "Perhaps, he did" she thought "and she turned him down. Surely, if she had done so, however, he would feel some resentment towards her." Mr. Bingley appeared to have no rancor towards Miss Jane Bennet at all and seemed delighted that her sister would dine with them this evening. The whole thing was a puzzle, one that interested her, but that she did not have time to dwell on at the present.
Fifteen minutes later, the whole party was assembled on the lawn. They decided to play Pall Mall, using two teams, instead of three. After much discussion, it was decided that Georgiana, Darcy, and Mr. Bingley would be on one team, with Bingley as the captain, and that Miss Bingley, Mr. Hurst and Colonel Fitzwilliam would be on the other, with the colonel as the captain. Louisa Hurst had opted not to play Pall Mall, proclaiming that even with her bonnet and parasol, she could not abide the sun.
Consistent with Mr. Bingley's earlier warning, Caroline with a mallet in her hand was a force to reckon with. She seemed more focused on knocking Darcy's ball afield than on winning the game. At one point, she whacked Darcy's ball so hard that the ball went clear across the lawn and frightened a flock of geese into the air.
"Try not to kill anything, Caroline," called Bingley, "it is not hunting season, you know."
Darcy was wondering if he had done anything to offend Miss Bingley. His nerves were unsettled by thoughts of the evening ahead and these inexplicable signs of animosity from Miss Bingley increased his anxiety. He was glad, he supposed, that she was no longer fawning over him. Her behavior was so unpredictable, however, that he feared that Miss Bingley might do something extreme, such as pour a tureen of soup over his head tonight at dinner. He was mortified enough at having encountered Miss Bennet while he was still dripping with pond water. The idea of trying to converse with her with soup dripping down his face was insupportable.
Darcy glanced at his cousin who had just knocked his own ball into Bingley's with a whack that sent Bingley's ball careening off course. Colonel Fitzwilliam leaned against his mallet with a smug expression. Darcy suspected that Fitzwilliam had something to do with Caroline's strange behavior. If his cousin was behind this, the object of his plan was not clear. "I must be prepared for anything to happen tonight," Darcy thought.
It was Georgiana's turn next. She raised her mallet in the air and with a graceful arc, swung the mallet so it sent her green ball flying neatly through the red wicket. "Nice shot," exclaimed Mr. Bingley. Darcy smiled at his sister and then, once more, went to search for his ball.
While the colonel's team was busy trying to knock her teammates' balls off course, Georgiana quietly set about shooting her ball through wicket after wicket. It was Georgiana's skill that eventually caused her team to win the game. Bingley was delighted with the win, holding Georgiana's hand in the air with one hand and waving his mallet wildly in with the other. Darcy tried not to look too pleased by his team's win, but he couldn't help feeling a certain amount of triumph that his team had bested his cousin's.
The rest of the day passed quickly and uneventfully. Soon it was time to dress for dinner. After careful consideration, Georgiana decided to wear a pale yellow dress and matching ribbons in her hair. After she was dressed, she went downstairs for a final survey of the place settings. She then went looking for her brother. She finally located him in the library. He was dressed in black evening attire, and looked, to Georgiana's eyes, quite magnificent.
Darcy kissed Georgiana's cheek. "That color becomes you, Georgie. Have our guest come downstairs yet?" Georgiana informed him that everyone was downstairs and that sherry was being served to them in the front drawing room.
"I suppose we should join them." As they exited the library, a footman approached them and bowed.
"Sir, your carriage has returned from Lambton. It has just entered the drive."
Darcy nodded and held out his arm to Georgiana. "It seems our other guests have arrived." His eyes gleamed with sudden emotion. As she placed her hand lightly on his arm, Georgiana's hand trembled slightly. Darcy put his other hand on top of hers to steady it.
Georgiana looked up into her brother's face and smiled. His composure steadied her nerves. "Let us go outside and greet them."
The carriage had just come to a stop when the Darcys stepped outside. Georgiana held her breath and closed her eyes as the door was opened. The Gardiners alighted first. As Georgiana waited for Miss Bennet to appear, she gave way to the sort of superstitious guessing game that she had engaged in since she a child. "If Miss Bennet is wearing blue, she loves my cousin. If she is wearing any other color, she loves my brother and will marry him." Georgiana opened her eyes, just in time to see Miss Elizabeth step down step from the carriage, supported by Mr. Darcy's arm. She was wearing a pale blue gown. Georgiana tried not to let her dismay show as she stepped forward to greet Miss Bennet.
Miss Bennet stood in front of the carriage, with her hand still resting lightly on Mr. Darcy's arm. Their dark heads momentarily leaned close together as they greeted each other. They looked so perfect together that Georgiana almost forgot about her childish superstitions.
An hour or so later
All of Darcy's worries had come to naught. His cousin had not interfered when Darcy escorted Elizabeth into dinner and seated her next to him. Mr. Bingley had ceased asking questions about the absent Bennet sisters. Even Miss Bingley was behaving quite graciously. She had greeted Elizabeth coolly, but with civility, and she had been distant but respectful towards Mr. Darcy himself. He was now seated, at the head of his dinner table with Elizabeth sitting to his left. Despite his amazing good fortune, Fitzwilliam Darcy was miserable. The problem was Hurst.
Darcy had deliberately placed Hurst on Elizabeth's left, thinking that of all of his guests, Hurst was the least likely to pose any competition for Elizabeth's attention. Darcy distinctly recalled that when Hurst had been seated next to Miss Bennet at Netherfield, he had shown no inclination to talk to her at all after she had espoused a preference for plain dishes over a ragout. This evening, as soon as they had sat down, however, Hurst had immediately asked Miss Bennet her opinion of white soup. She had responded that she liked it, but preferred brown soup. Hurst greeted this statement with consummate approval. He decried the use of anchovies in white soup, and praised the brown soup above all others, excepting turtle soup, of course. Hurst then launched into a long discourse on turtle dishes of all kind. From there, he moved to the subject of fish, from Dover sole to cod to carps. He harped on sauces of all sorts, giving especial praise to corbullion. Elizabeth was silent throughout Hurst's monologue, nodding occasionally as politeness demanded.
Darcy listened closely to the conversation between Hurst and Elizabeth, if one could call it that, but could see no unobtrusive way to call Elizabeth's attention away from Hurst. Mrs. Gardiner, who sat at Mr. Darcy's right, made occasional gracious comments to Mr. Darcy about Pemberley, but her attention was chiefly taken up by Mr. Bingley who showed a remarkable interest in the Gardiners' children, of which there appeared to be a large number. Mr. Darcy divided his attention between listening to Hurst's ramblings about food and listening to Mrs. Gardiner talk about her children.
Finally, he got the opening he needed. Hurst had finally seen fit to include Darcy in his conversation. "Well, Darcy," he asked, "what is your opinion of mackerel with fennel and mint?"
"I care little for it."
"Nor do I," said Miss Bennet after Mr. Hurst had looked quizzically in her direction.
Mr. Hurst looked at Elizabeth and Darcy in dismay. "Don't care for it?" he asked incredulously. With that, he turned his full attention to his dinner.
Elizabeth looked at Darcy with an impudent lift of her eyebrow. "Well, Mr. Darcy, do you have anything to say else to say on the subject of mackerel or should we move on to other topics of conversation?"
"I think enough has been said on the subject of fish." Darcy paused and Elizabeth looked at him expectantly, waiting politely for him to direct the conversation. There was so much he wanted to say. How beautiful she looked in her blue dress. How wondrous it was to see her sitting at his dinner table in Pemberley. How much he regretted his words at Kent. He took a sip of wine.
"Miss Bennet, do you have an interest in air balloons?"
Elizabeth tilted her head to the side, and looked bemused. "Is that a new dish Mr. Darcy? I do not believe I have tasted it."
Darcy smiled. "No, although there may be such a dish. I was referring to hot air balloon flights, however."
"I have heard talk of such things before. I have even had dreams about riding in one. The idea of soaring through the air propelled by a balloon sounds almost too fantastical to be true."
"I bring up the subject because I have just gotten a letter today confirming that two days from now there will be an attempt of a air balloon launch in Darbyshire. The starting point is only a few miles from here."
Elizabeth clasped her hands to her breast. "How wonderful. I should love nothing more than to see such a thing. How did you come to learn of it?"
"For several years now I have invested money in the science of air ballooning. It appeals to me for many reasons. I am generally kept apprised when there is to be a launch in England."
Elizabeth looked directly at Mr. Darcy. "I never knew you had such interests," she said quietly. Darcy wiped his moth delicately with his napkin and then looked into Elizabeth's eyes.
"I plan to go and see the launch. My sister is coming, as well. Would you care to join us? We would have to depart quite early in the morning, I am afraid, but I believe it would be worth it."
"Of course, it will be worth it," Elizabeth cried. "I would love to go, even if we had to travel the entire night. I would give almost anything to see such a sight."
Darcy took a sip of wine and gazed at Elizabeth's lovely face. He had never wanted her more.
"You accept then? Your aunt and uncle are invited, of course, as is all of our company. I have not yet informed everyone of this event as I have just learned of it myself."
"Yes, Mr. Darcy." She sounded joyful. "I accept your kind invitation. I am quite sure my aunt and uncle would be thrilled to accept as well."
At this point, Mrs. Gardiner joined the conversation.
"I could not help but overhear part of your conversation, Sir. Is it true that you are offering us the opportunity to observe an air balloon launch?"
"Yes," replied Darcy.
Bingley greeted this plan with glee and soon the whole party was informed of the upcoming event. This news caused a great deal of excitement. Even Hurst dragged his attention away from his food and looked at Darcy with interest. "We must have champagne for the launch, you know, Darcy."
Mrs. Hurst chimed in "Champagne at balloon launchings is all of the thing in France, you know." Darcy assured the party that champagne would be served.
Darcy did not have the opportunity to converse privately with Miss Bennet for the remainder of the meal. He was not too disappointed, however, because Miss Bennet occasionally looked at him and smiled in such a way that made his heart leap.
Towards the end of the meal, Miss Bennet leaned towards Mr. Darcy and said softly, "You have given me much to look forward to, Sir. I thank you." Darcy's heart pounded strongly at those words and her accompanying smile.
His happiness would have been complete if he had not glanced down the table at that moment and observed the rather predatory look on Miss Bingley's face. He then glanced at his cousin who was gazing intently at Miss Bennet. "The night is far from over," Darcy realized with an inward sigh.
Chapter 10
August 6, 1812
When dinner was over, the entire party moved into the blue salon. Miss Bennet ended up on a settee next to her aunt. Miss Bingley, eager to show Mr. Darcy that she be could quite magnanimous when it came to mingling with people of the lower classes, sat down next to Mrs. Gardiner. Miss Darcy sat on an adjacent settee where Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Bingley quickly joined her.
Miss Darcy and the colonel soon entreated Miss Bennet to play the piano. Miss Bennet blushed slightly but obligingly stood up. "Will you do me the honor of turning the pages for me, Miss Darcy?"
Before Miss Darcy could respond, however, the colonel sprang up. "It would give me great pleasure to assist you. If you recall from our time in Rosings, Miss Bennet, I am rather proficient at turning pages."
Miss Bennet could do nothing but acquiesce and Colonel Fitzwilliam soon found himself sitting next to her at the pianoforte. He proved to be rather slow at turning pages owing, perhaps, to his tendency to gaze with great admiration at Miss Bennet's swelling chest as she sang throatily to the assembled company. Despite the colonel's shortcomings as an assistant, Miss Bennet sang quite beautifully. Everyone remarked on it, even Miss Bingley.
"Why, Miss Eliza, I do declare your singing and playing has improved immensely since you performed for us at Netherfield. Would you not agree, Mr. Darcy?"
Everyone turned towards Mr. Darcy, who looked at Miss Bennet and then looked away. He had not been able to keep his eyes from Elizabeth during her performance, but he had felt uncomfortable while she played due his cousin's proximity to Miss Bennet on the piano bench. Not only had this sight aroused Darcy's jealousy, but it had reminded him of their visit to Kent last spring which had culminated in his disastrous proposal at Hunsford. He wondered if Miss Bennet was reminded of that dreadful event, as well.
Darcy realized with a start that everyone was still looking at him and expecting him to respond to Miss Bingley. "I have never heard anything wanting in Miss Bennet's performance, but her singing this evening was magnificent."
Miss Bennet cast her eyes down modestly and stood up from the piano bench. "Oh no. I play tolerably well, but I am far from proficient." Miss Bennet approached Miss Darcy and smiled warmly. "It is your turn, Miss Darcy. Please do play for us. I entreat you."
Miss Darcy turned pale and seemed for a moment to shrink against the settee. Miss Bennet touched her arm lightly. "Please, Miss Darcy, I have so been looking forward to hearing you play. I was hoping, in particular, that you would play that sonata of Mozart that we discussed yesterday. I will sit next to you and turn the pages, if you like." Miss Bennet glanced at the colonel and said laughingly, "I promise I will be more attentive at turning the pages than my erstwhile attendant." The colonel laughed delightedly at this teasing remark.
With Elizabeth's kind encouragement, Miss Darcy stood up and made her way, arm in arm with Elizabeth, to the pianoforte. She played the Mozart sonata that Elizabeth had requested. Her performance was greeted with delighted applause.
Elizabeth looked at Georgiana and squeezed her hand. "Oh, your playing is truly wonderful. You have that combination of proficiency and feeling that few performers have. I would give much to be able to play like that. Please, Miss Darcy, do play once more."
Miss Darcy, who had never before played more than one piece of music in company soon launched into another piece - a stormy, passionate piece that moved Mr. Bingley almost to tears. Everyone applauded and nodded in appreciation.
As Miss Darcy and Miss Bennet arose from the piano, Mrs. Gardiner turned to Miss Bingley and said, "That was an exceptionally lovely piece, was it not? I found it quite haunting." Miss Bingley nodded rather coolly. "I am glad to get a chance to speak with you, Miss Bingley," continued Mrs. Gardiner. "It has been months since I have seen you. Not since you and your sister visited my niece, Jane, at my home in London this past spring."
Although Mrs. Gardiner spoke rather softly, Mr. Bingley immediately sat upright. "What is this, Caroline? You visited Jane in London?" Although Miss Bingley did not answer, her response was clear from the bright spots of red that instantly appeared on her cheeks.
Mr. Bingley leaned closer towards his sister. He looked extremely agitated. He spoke loudly and with a higher pitch than usual. "Look at me, Caroline. Do you deny that you knew that Miss Jane Bennet was in London, that you paid a visit upon her, in fact? How is it possible that you never informed me of this?"
Miss Bingley looked around her for assistance, but no assistance was forthcoming. Mr. Darcy looked distressed and kept his eyes averted from the Bingleys. Mrs. Gardiner also looked distraught. She was inwardly berating herself for broaching the subject of Miss Bingley's visit to her home.
Miss Bingley looked directly at her brother with a haughty expression. "Charles, I will not speak of this with you now. I will say that everything that I did with respect to Miss Jane Bennet, I did with your best interests in mind. Mr. Darcy knows all about this and he was in complete agreement with my actions. I acted with his express approval. Is that not so, Mr. Darcy?"
Mr. Darcy stared with shock at Miss Bingley and then his eyes quickly moved to Miss Bennet. She was standing as if frozen next to Miss Darcy by the piano. The stricken look on her face revealed to Mr. Darcy that she must have heard the conversation. She did not look up at him.
With a sinking feeling that he had just lost almost everything of value to him, Mr. Darcy looked at Mr. Bingley. "Charles," he said softly, "I did mislead you. I was completely in the wrong. There is much I must tell you. Please allow me to explain everything to you when we have some privacy."
Mr. Bingley nodded tersely and the subject was abruptly dropped. The conversation concerning Jane Bennet had put a pall on the evening and the lighthearted mood that had prevailed during dinner could not be restored.
Even the subject of the upcoming balloon launch had lost most of its appeal. Mrs. Hurst brought up the famous but ill-fated attempt at crossing the channel in a balloon years ago which had resulted in the balloon exploding in midair. "I hope that you can assure us that this hot air balloon will not explode before our eyes, Mr. Darcy. My nerves could not bear such a sight," said Mrs. Hurst. Mr. Darcy could make no assurances of the sort, although he assured everyone that the science of air balloons had progressed since that infamous incident.
Soon, the Gardiners and Miss Bennet excused themselves, saying that they had had a most delightful time, but that the Gardiners had plans early the following morning. Mr. And Miss Darcy went outside to see the Gardiners and Miss Bennet off. Mr. Bingley and the colonel followed closely behind them.
Mr. Darcy held his hand out for Miss Bennet to assist her into the carriage. She placed her hand on his, but did not look directly at him. Darcy felt a momentary sense of panic as she released his arm and stepped into the carriage. He wondered if he would ever see her again. Then he recalled with relief the plans to view the balloon launch.
"I will see you, then, in two days time for the air balloon launch?" asked Darcy, leaning slightly into the carriage.
Miss Bennet looked at him. He saw her expression clearly in the lamplight. There was a hint of wariness and of sadness in her eyes that had not there doing dinner. "Yes, Sir. I have not forgotten our engagement."
"I will send my carriage for you and your family at six a.m. Until then, I bid you good night."
"Good night, Sir. Thank you again for your hospitality." Elizabeth's voice was perfectly civil, but there was no warmth in the parting glance she gave Mr. Darcy.
Mr. Darcy stood for a long time watching the carriage depart into the gloom of the forest beyond the lighted drive of Pemberley. He did not notice when Mr. Bingley and his cousin returned indoors. Georgiana stayed by his side, but he seemed unaware of her presence until she placed her hand lightly on her arm. He looked down into his sister's face.
"It is time to come inside, Brother." She whispered. Soundlessly, he put his arm lightly around her shoulder and together they returned to their company. When they entered the salon, they found Mrs. Hurst and Colonel Fitzwilliam eating sweetmeats. Mr. Hurst was slouched in an armchair and appeared to sleeping soundly. There was no sign of Mr. or Miss Bingley.
Mrs. Hurst looked at the Darcys. "My sister and brother have both retired Mr. Darcy. They are quite exhausted, it seems. I, for one, am not at all tired. Shall we play cards?"
Georgiana knew that her brother cared little for cards and she was not particularly fond of playing cards herself. She felt, however, that a game of cards might distract her brother from his sudden gloomy mood. She looked over at her cousin, who seemed quite unperturbed by the events of the evening.
"I play a wicked game of piquet, Mrs. Hurst, if you care to take your chances," responded the Colonel. Mrs. Hurst assured him that she was a superior piquet player. The colonel turned to his cousin. "Darcy?" Playing cards with his cousin and Mrs. Hurst was very low on Darcy's lists of interests at the moment, but he did not have the energy to refuse.
Mrs. Hurst dealt out the cards with the frenzied energy that she usually reserved for piano playing. Darcy eyed his cards blearily while the hopes that had lifted his spirits so high earlier in the evening sank to ground like a deflated balloon. His cousin was quiet and appeared to be focused on his cards.
Georgiana played poorly because she was preoccupied with thoughts of the evening. "Things had been going so well," she brooded, "until the subject of Jane Bennet had arisen. The mention of Jane Bennet's visit to London had seemed to drive a wedge between the intimacy that had been growing between Elizabeth and her brother. Georgiana felt thoroughly disparaged. Unwelcome thoughts of George Wickham flew through her mind, as she placed several cards down on the table. Georgiana recalled how utterly thrilled she had felt when she thought that Wickham loved her, and how meaningless her life felt when she realized that her fortune was his only motivation for wishing to elope with her. She looked at her brother's sad expression and sighed. "Perhaps, my brother and I were not cut out for romantic love," she thought with a dull ache in her heart.
Later in the evening after everyone else had gone to bed, the colonel found himself pacing Pemberley's long corridors. There was much to occupy his thoughts. He had been highly irritated at dinner when Darcy had brought up the hot air balloon launch. He had not missed the look of joy on Miss Bennet's face as she smilingly accepted Darcy's invitation to view the launch. It appeared to him that his cousin was dangling the idea of a hot air balloon launch before Elizabeth as another man might dangle a diamond bracelet before the woman he desired. And the opportunity to observe a hot air balloon launch would appeal much more to a woman like Elizabeth than expensive jewelry, he thought. The colonel realized now, more than ever, that his cousin's immense wealth put Darcy at a huge advantage over him. The colonel was generally resigned to his role as second son, but at the present moment he bristled with the unfairness of it all.
The colonel's thoughts turned to the confrontation between Mr. Bingley and his sister concerning Jane Bennet. He did not fully understand the significance of the revelations about Miss Jane Bennet, but he suspected it was related to Darcy's statement last spring that he had rescued Bingley from an unfortunate liaison. It was clear that there was some painful history between Elizabeth Bennet and his cousin that involved her sister, Jane. The colonel had observed that Elizabeth's manner towards Darcy had definitely cooled since the topic of her sister's visit to London was raised.
He had also overheard the last words exchanged between Miss Bennet and his cousin as she was leaving. It appeared that Miss Bennet still had plans to attend the balloon launch with his cousin in two days, but Darcy had made no plans to visit Miss Bennet tomorrow. The colonel also recalled hearing the Gardiners state that they had an early appointment in the morning; they had made no mention of their niece joining them on this engagement. It was possible that Elizabeth would remain at the Inn alone tomorrow morning. Colonel Fitzwilliam abruptly stopped pacing and walked swiftly outside and to the stables.
When the colonel strode into stables, he found a teenaged boy crouching in the hay. The lad was busy combing through strands of his hair as if looking for nits. Much to the colonel's irritation the lad did not stand up when the colonel approached him. "Step to, Lad," the colonel. The lad simply stared at the colonel with a blank look on his face. It occurred to Colonel Fitzwilliam that the boy was half-witted. He softened his voice and spoke slowly. "Saddle up my horse tomorrow morning early. I attend to ride before seven." The lad nodded and then returned all of his attention to combing through his matted hair.
Chapter 11
Elizabeth bid the Gardiners good night and retired to her room as soon as they returned to the Inn. She sensed that her aunt wished to speak of the evening's events, but Elizabeth felt herself unequal to conversation on any subject. She undressed quickly and lay down, but she found herself unable to sleep. Her reflections were agitated; her feelings were in great tumult. Her thoughts centered on one man. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
After reading his letter at Hunsford, Mr. Darcy had changed in her opinion from a man she despised to a man who was worthy of respect. She had acquitted him of cruelty, but her feeling that he was a man who she could never love had not changed. But her feelings in both respect had recently undergone a marked transformation. Ever since she had met him at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy had revealed tantalizing glimpses of himself. She now recognized so many good qualities in him and so many tastes and interests of his that were compatible to her own, that she could barely fathom why she once found his company so objectionable. More than that, his tenderness to his sister, his rare but infectious laughter, his sharp intelligence, and his passionate gaze had all slowly worked at her heart.
As she lay sleepless in her bed, she could not escape the truth. Fitzwilliam Darcy was, indeed a man that she could love. Unhappily, she also realized that she could not acquit him of cruelty, after all.
"For he is the cause of Jane's and of Mr. Bingley's suffering even now," she thought miserably. It was one thing for him to raise objections to a possible marriage between Mr. Bingley and Jane when he thought Jane's heart to be untouched, but, why had he done nothing to counteract his earlier discouragement of Mr. Bingley's courtship of Jane once she had apprised him of Jane's true feelings? Not only this, but it seemed that his actions regarding Mr. Bingley and Jane may be worse than he had admitted to her in his letter. For Mr. Darcy did not deny Caroline Bingley's statement tonight that all of her actions in regards to Jane had been with Mr. Darcy's express approval. Elizabeth recollected that it was Jane's belief that Mr. Bingley was aware of Jane's presence in London and had deliberately avoided her that had caused Jane particular pain. It was Caroline Bingley that had fostered this belief, and now it appeared that Mr. Darcy may have approved of this deceit. It was bad enough that he should have deceived Mr. Bingley, but if he had played a hand in cruelly deceiving her sister as well, how could she ever forgive him?
Tormented by these wretched thoughts, Elizabeth lay awake for most of the night. She slept for less than an hour, before the relentless crowing of a cock woke her up. She lay awake in bed once more with her unhappy reflections until she heard her aunt and uncle stirring in the next room. Not wanting to reveal that there was anything amiss, Elizabeth reluctantly got out of bed and got dressed. She knew her aunt and uncle had planned to walk out early this morning to visit the gravesites of Mrs. Gardiner's parents and she wanted to greet them before they left.
Elizabeth joined the Gardiners for their early breakfast. She was relieved to see that Mrs. Gardiner was too preoccupied with recalling memories of her parents to notice Elizabeth's fatigue. After breakfast was finished, the Gardiners bid Elizabeth good-bye and set off for the cemetery. As soon as they left, Elizabeth collapsed on the settee in their private parlor.
"I must talk to him," she thought suddenly. "I must give him a chance to explain himself in person. I will not repeat the mistake of judging him harshly on insufficient information." She felt much better after resolving this. She was in hopes that the outing for the balloon launch would afford an opportunity to speak privately to Mr. Darcy. It was even possible that he would visit her today, she thought, remembering his intense gaze last night as he bid her good evening.
There soon came a knock on the door that made Elizabeth's heart beat loudly. She was both relieved and disappointed to find that it was only the maid delivering their mail. On discovering two letters for her from Jane, however, Elizabeth's spirits revived a bit. She clutched the letters to her chest and took them into her room to read.
Elizabeth was not the only one who had slept poorly the night before. Colonel Fitzwilliam had been unaccountably restless the entire night. It was still dark outside when he arose from his bed. He shaved himself and dressed quickly by candlelight. The cocks had just finished crowing when he went down to breakfast. When he entered the breakfast room, Darcy and Bingley were standing by the door engrossed in conversation. The colonel was surprised to see them up so early, but assumed they had risen early to discuss the matter concerning Miss Jane Bennet. Darcy gave his cousin a sharp, inquisitive look, but said nothing to him other than a polite "Good morning." Darcy and Bingley headed off in the direction of Darcy's study leaving the colonel to eat alone.
The colonel quickly disposed of his tea and toast and headed off to the stables. When he arrived at the stables, he called for the stable boy. A burly man, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, appeared. When the colonel asked him if his horse was saddled and ready, the man nodded in assent. The man called out "Neddy! The gent is here for his horse," The colonel was relieved to see his horse saddled and looking well groomed. He had had his doubts about the abilities of the stable boy, but it seems they were in vain. "Oh course, Darcy would never have anyone in his employ who less than competent," he mused, knowing his cousin was a fair but demanding employer.
Soon, the colonel was galloping across the countryside. It felt wonderful to leave behind him the heavy atmosphere that lately seemed to pervade Pemberley.
When he was within a quarter mile of Lambton, the colonel slowed his horse down to a trot. It occurred to him suddenly that it may be too early to pay a respectable call on Miss Bennet. He toyed with the idea of stopping at a tavern and having a glass of ale and playing a game of draughts to while away the time. Lambton, although a small village, had several taverns that were open at all hours. He decided against this idea, however, fearing that he might make a bad impression upon Elizabeth if he appeared on her doorstep smelling of ale. He knew himself well enough to know that he was not likely to stop at one tankard of ale. "Better to arrive too early, than to arrive in my cups in the morning," he thought with a grin.
It was just after eight o'clock when the colonel arrived at the inn. The young maid who opened the door for him appeared a bit startled to see him, but did not refuse him admittance. The colonel smiled at her disarmingly and asked to see Miss Bennet. "I'll show you up, Sir, " she said in a thick northern accent. The maid led him up two flight of stairs and then knocked on a door at the top of the stairs.
"There be a gentleman to see you, Madam." The girl announced, and then quickly departed down the stairs. The colonel waited outside the door for several minutes. He was beginning to wonder if Elizabeth was within, when she flung open the door. One look at her face instantly informed the colonel that something was wrong. She looked pale and drawn and her eyes had lost their sparkle. She looked directly at the colonel, but seemed not to recognize him. "I thought I heard my uncle. Where is he? I must speak him at once."
"Miss Bennet!" exclaimed the colonel "whatever is the matter? Are you ill?"
"I am quite well, Sir, there is nothing the matter with me," said Miss Bennet. She suddenly broke into sobs and covered her face with her hands.
The colonel reacted immediately. He gently clasped Miss Bennet's arm and led her to a small settee in center of the room. He then went to the sideboard and poured her a generous glass of the wine that he saw there in a decanter. He sat down beside her with the glass in his hand.
"I am sorry, Colonel, for not greeting you properly." said Elizabeth between sobs. "I am distressed by some dreadful news which I have just heard from my sister."
The colonel gently took on Elizabeth's hands and wrapped it around the wineglass. Once she clasped the wineglass, he released her hand. "Drink this wine, my dear. It will calm you and then you must tell me everything. I have strong shoulders to cry upon. Most of the men in my regiment have cried upon them at some time or other, although I am sure they would rather die than ever admit it."
Miss Bennet ceased crying gradually. When her tears subsided, she looked up at the colonel. Her gaze was initially guarded, but soon her expression became more trusting. She lifted the glass to her mouth and drank slowly. After she had taken a few sips, she handed the glass to the colonel who reached behind him and set it on the table.
"Now then," he said softly, "tell me what is troubling you, I will do everything in my power to help you." Elizabeth took a deep breath and slowly began telling the colonel the terrible truth that Jane's letters had just revealed to her. The colonel seemed surprised but not at all shocked to learn that her youngest sister, Lydia, had eloped with Mr. Wickham. Elizabeth mentioned to the colonel that she had been aware of Wickham's history with Georgiana and she blamed herself for not doing more to protect Lydia from him. Elizabeth was greatly relieved that the colonel was already familiar with Mr. Wickham's history with Georgiana so that she could speak of it. She knew that he knew of Wickham's propensity to seduction and was thus, less likely to judge her sister harshly. Elizabeth herself judged Lydia harshly for her rash behavior, but she could not bear for anyone outside the family to do so.
Colonel Fitzwilliam listened very carefully while Elizabeth talked. He was astonished to learn that Elizabeth knew of Georgiana and Wickham, Darcy had never told him that he had confided this family secret to Miss Bennet. The colonel did not betray his surprise to Elizabeth, however. When she finished telling him the story, she concluded, "My father has gone to London, and Jane has written to beg my uncle's immediate assistance, and we shall be off, I hope, in half an hour. But nothing can be done; I know very well that nothing can be done. How is such a man to be worked on? How are they even to be discovered? I have not the slightest hope. It is in every way horrible!"
The colonel reached out and clasped Elizabeth's hand within his own. "I assure you, Miss Bennet, that they can and will be discovered." The colonel's voice was gentle but confident. "I know Wickham. I know his haunts and his habits. And I know his weaknesses. I will find him and I will see that he marries your sister."
The colonel then raised Elizabeth's hand to his lips and kissed it gently before releasing it. Elizabeth showed no reaction to this gallant gesture. She looked at the Colonel with a slightly fevered look in her eyes. "I promise you, Miss Bennet," the colonel continued. "I will not allow Mr. Wickham to dishonor your sister. "
"It is already too late," Elizabeth thought, "The damage is done and she is surely lost forever." Still, she considered the colonel's words with growing hope. It was true that he knew Wickham well and would likely know in what part of town Wickham had chosen to conceal himself. It was also possible that he understood Wickham's character sufficiently to know how to convince him to marry Lydia. But how could she ask him to leave his family and search out Wickham, a man he must surely despise.
"I appreciate your generous offer, but it is too much to ask of you, Colonel. My family and I must find some way to resolve this affair on our own."
The colonel stood up. "How can you say it is too much to ask of me? You have asked me for nothing. I have volunteered to do this for my own sake. My cousin and I made a decision to tell no one of Wickham's scandalous behavior concerning Georgiana in order to protect her. I do not say we were unwise to do this, but if we had not concealed his actions, the truth about Wickham would be known. He would have been booted out of his regiment long ago and this incident with your sister would never have occurred."
Elizabeth started to speak and the colonel held up his hand. "No, you cannot dissuade me, Miss Bennet. I am determined to deal with Wickham in this. Your family does not have sufficient knowledge of the scoundrel to manage on your own. Do you know when your aunt and uncle will return?"
"I sent for them shortly before you arrived. I expect them at any minute." The Gardiners picked that very moment to appear. Mrs. Gardiner took one look at Elizabeth's tear stained face and flew to her side. While Elizabeth explained matters to her aunt between renewed tears, the colonel took Mr. Gardiner aside and swiftly explained what had occurred.
Mr. Gardiner was initially disinclined to believe that Wickham could stoop so low as to ruin a young gently bred girl like Lydia and abandon her. "I am strongly inclined to hope for the best," he informed the colonel.
The colonel shook his head and informed Mr. Gardiner that Wickham had previously engaged in behavior similar to that which he was now guilty of with Lydia with another young lady of Lydia's age. "His character is despicable, I am sad to say. Nothing is beneath him. He would think nothing of ruining a young girl such as your niece just for the sport of it."
Mr. Gardiner shook his head sadly and resigned himself to accept the fact that his niece's good name was in grave danger. In fact, the good name of his sister's entire family and perhaps his own, as well, were compromised. While Mr. Gardiner's mind was reeling from this terrible realization, the colonel informed him of his intentions to search Wickham out and induce him to marry Lydia Bennet. Mr. Gardiner was surprised by this offer. "I am much obliged, Sir, but you need not take this on. It is my family's concern and we will deal with this as best as we can."
The colonel made it clear to Mr. Gardiner that his mind was made up. "Your family requires assistance in this from someone such as myself who knows Wickham well; and I offer such assistance willingly. I have already informed Miss Elizabeth of my intentions in this and convinced her of my usefulness. It is settled between us. "
Mr. Gardiner looked over at his niece who was enfolded within Mrs. Gardiner's arms. Elizabeth gently detached herself from her aunt's embrace and moved to stand beside her uncle. "Colonel Fitzwilliam is right, Uncle. His assistance will be invaluable to us in locating Lydia. I believe that we should accept his generous offer." Mr. Gardiner exchanges fleeting glances with his wife, who nodded her head in assent.
"Well then, Colonel Fitzwilliam. You have made us an offer that we cannot refuse. We accept your offer with gratitude, Sir. We only need to finalize our plans for departure. Do you propose to depart with us, or meet up with us in London?"
The colonel informed him that he thought it was best if he departed with the Gardiners and Miss Bennet that day as it was imperative to begin the search for Wickham and Lydia quickly. The two men soon came up with a plan for their departure. The Gardiners would remain in Lambton, while the colonel traveled to Pemberley to gather his belongings and bid his family farewell. The colonel assured Mr. Gardiner that he would travel quickly and rejoin the Gardiners and Miss Bennet so that they could depart for Hertfordshire by noon.
As the colonel was taking his leave, Miss Bennet laid a hand on his arm. "Thank you, Colonel for everything. You cannot know how your offer of assistance has relieved my mind." She hesitated. "And please be so kind as to apologize for us to Mr. and Miss Darcy. Please tell them that we must cancel our plans for tomorrow. Say that urgent business calls us home as soon immediately." She looked away, realizing that, despite everything, she could not bear the thought of Mr. Darcy learning of her sister's shameful behavior. She then looked directly at the colonel. "Conceal the truth as long as possible. I know it cannot be long." The colonel assured Miss Bennet of his secrecy and swiftly departed.
After the colonel departed, Mrs. Gardiner sent her husband out to inform her several friends and relations in town that they must leave Lambton earlier than expected due to urgent family business. Mrs. Gardiner was anxious to know what had passed between the colonel and Elizabeth this morning, but she did not wish to question Elizabeth concerning the colonel in Elizabeth's fragile condition. Instead, she turned her full attentions to consoling her niece. Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner pored over the letters together. Elizabeth started weeping again as she read again of Jane's great distress over Lydia's circumstances.
Mrs. Gardiner took the letters gently from Elizabeth and suggested that she lie down for a while. "We have a long journey ahead of us, my dear. You should get some rest now while you may." Elizabeth lay down to humor her aunt and, after all the misery of the morning, soon fell sound asleep.
Chapter 12
Darcy spent a good part of the morning confessing everything to Bingley, including his own deceit in concealing Jane's presence in London from Bingley last winter. Bingley had been justifiably angry, but his anger was soon been replaced by buoyant happiness when Darcy told him that Elizabeth had indicated last spring that Jane cared for him.
Bingley soon fixated on the idea that he must visit Elizabeth immediately and assure her of his continued devotion to Jane. Darcy was concerned about this impulsive visit. Although he was now convinced that Jane had once cared for Bingley, he did not know the current state of her feelings; it was not a subject he had broached with Elizabeth since Hunsford. He was concerned that his friend would be hurt once more if Elizabeth could not, or would not, assure Bingley that Jane still loved him. He was determined, however, to stop imposing his own opinions on his friend. If Bingley wanted to ride to Lambton and appeal to Elizabeth Bennet, then Darcy would not stand in his way. Mr. Darcy offered to ride with Mr. Bingley to the outskirts of Lambton as he had some business with the parson there.
And so it happened that as Colonel Fitzwilliam was rushing from Lambton towards Pemberley to take his leave of the Darcys and their company, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley were on their way to Lambton. They were spared the discomfiture of meeting each other in passing due to the fact that they took separate routes.
When they approached the parsonage, Darcy parted with Bingley. To Darcy's relief, Bingley had not asked Darcy to join him in visiting Miss Bennet. Darcy felt that his presence would only complicate Mr. Bingley's mission. In addition, he had leaned from his stable hand that his cousin had ridden out in the direction of Lambton and he wished to be spared the awkwardness of interrupting a visit between his cousin and Miss Bennet. He was anxious to talk to Miss Bennet, but he wanted to do so in relative privacy, not in a small parlor in front of both Bingley and Fitzwilliam.
Bingley arrived at the Lambton Inn fifteen minutes later. He greeted the innkeeper with a dazzling smile and was soon escorted upstairs to the Gardiners' quarters. He knocked once smartly upon the door; it was immediately flung open by Mrs. Gardiner. She greeted Mr. Bingley warmly but with a distracted manner that belied her agitation.
Mr. Bingley bowed energetically. "Good morning, Madam. I hope that you are in good health." After Mrs. Gardiner assured him of the excellence of her health, he immediately inquired if he could see Miss Bennet.
"I am afraid not, Sir. She is sleeping."
Mr. Bingley appeared quite alarmed at this news. "Is she unwell?"
Mrs. Gardiner was momentarily at a loss as to how to answer. "She is well, but she is distressed at news she has lately received from home. I am afraid, Sir, that we must depart for Hertfordshire sooner than expected."
"Sooner than expected?" cried Bingley.
"Yes, we must depart today, Sir. We have already informed Colonel Fitzwilliam of this and asked that he give our regrets to the Darcys that we cannot join them on tomorrow's outing." Mrs. Gardiner debated for a moment as to whether to inform Mr. Bingley that Colonel Fitzwilliam would be joining them. She decided against it because to do so would risk being asked to reveal the reasons that the colonel chose to accompany them. She knew that Elizabeth wished to conceal the truth as long as possible, and Mrs. Gardiner herself had no desire to reveal her youngest niece's indiscretion.
Mr. Bingley took the news of their premature departure quite hard. His face blanched clean of all color and his hands trembled as he clutched his hat. "Miss Elizabeth is distressed by news she has lately received from home?" Bingley was clearly robbed of all ability to frame an original thought.
"Yes, Mr. Bingley. I am sorry that I cannot reveal more, but it is news of a most private nature. I am afraid that I cannot offer you much in the way of hospitality as I must concentrate on packing our belongings and settling our affairs here so that we can depart today."
Mr. Bingley could tell that his continued presence was unwelcome but he was loath to leave without getting more assurances that his angel was unharmed. "Pray, Madam, can you tell me if Miss Jane Bennet is well?"
"Yes, she is tolerably well under the circumstances. She is in need of consolation, however, which is one reason behind our hasty departure. "
Although Mrs. Gardiner had meant to provide some consolation to Mr. Bingley with this news, her statement only seemed to increase his sense of agitation. "She is tolerably well," he repeated, "only tolerably well, you say, under the circumstances. Oh. I am sorry," he sputtered. "So very sorry to hear that she may be in some distress. Please convey to her my heartfelt wishes that she will be more than tolerably well soon, Mrs. Gardiner."
Mrs. Gardiner looked at him with sympathy, but decided that for his own sake, as well as hers, she must be firm. "Yes, I will be sure to do that. Now, I am afraid that I must bid you good day." With that the good lady held out her hand. Bingley grasped her hand passionately before bowing and bidding her, reluctantly, good day.
When Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived back at Pemberley, he was informed that Darcy and Bingley had gone out riding. He was both disappointed and relieved to hear this. He did not want to part on poor terms with Darcy, but he did not know what to say to improve things between them, and he suspected Darcy would be angry at him for leaving at the same time as Miss Bennet.
He spied Georgiana and Bingley's sisters walking in the garden and approached them. He smiled and greeted the three ladies with an elegant bow. None of them appeared particularly happy to see him.
The colonel looked pointedly at Georgiana. "Georgiana, may I speak to you privately, please, for a moment. It is urgent."
Miss Bingley pointed her parasol at the Colonel with a peeved expression on her face. "I do not know what you could have to say to Miss Georgiana that you could not say to my sister and I, Colonel. We are practically family, after all."
The colonel was unfazed by Miss Bingley's petulant posturing. "Please excuse us, Miss Bingley. This is something that I must speak to my cousin alone about." The colonel clasped Georgiana's arm and guided her towards the house. When they were no longer in hearing range of the other ladies, he spoke. "Georgiana, I am sorry, but I must part company with you now, my plans have changed quite suddenly." Georgiana's eyes widened when she heard this news.
"I also have a message for you and Darcy from Miss Bennet. She asked me to inform you that sudden business called them away quite unexpectedly and she has to return home immediately. They are very sorry not be able to join you and the others to see the air balloon launch tomorrow. I am sorry to miss it, as well. But I am sure you will enjoy it, Georgie." Georgiana could not conceal her distress at this news.
The colonel's face softened and he reached out tenderly and tucked one of Georgiana's curls behind her ear. "I know you liked Miss Bennet very much, Georgie, and I hope you will have the opportunity in the future to renew your friendship with her. Take care of yourself, Sweetpea. You know where to write me if you should need me."
He paused for a moment and looked uneasy. "Please tell Darcy that I am sorry not to have said goodbye to him in person and convey the news of my departure and Miss Bennet's departure to him right away. I hope to see you and him before too much time has passed." With that, he kissed Georgiana on the cheek and ran up the stairs to gather up his belongings. Georgiana stood in the hallway blinking back her tears.
A few moments later, the colonel headed briskly back to the stables. A footman followed him carrying his saddlebag. 'Bring that to the stables and arrange to have it secured on my horse. I will be there shortly," he directed. He then walked towards the garden where Caroline Bingley and her sister were still strolling. "Ladies, I must bid you farewell. I need to return to London on sudden business."
Mrs. Hurst looked entirely uninterested in this news, but Miss Bingley's eyes bulged open. "You can not leave us now at this juncture."
"I have no alternative, " the colonel said. "Would you care to accompany me in the direction of the stables, Miss Bingley? I would like to have a word with you."
"Well, I appear to be a persona non gratis," sniffed Mrs. Hurst. She walked away from the other two, twirling her parasol.
"How could you leave now?" said Miss Bennet in a penetrating whisper, as her sister walked away. "I thought you were determined to court Miss Bennet. If you are not there tomorrow during this ridiculous balloon launch, who knows what will occur."
"You will be relieved to know that Miss Bennet is also leaving on unexpected business. We are traveling towards London together, in fact."
This news had a miraculous effect on Miss Bingley. Her entire countenance relaxed and her eyes lit up. "Well, that is good news, Colonel for both of us. Are congratulations in order or is it still premature?"
"It is a bit premature, Miss Bingley, if you are referring to a betrothal between Miss Bennet and me. As to the removal of Miss Bennet being good news for you, I must tell you that I doubt Miss Bennet's absence will have much affect on your success in inducing Mr. Darcy to marry you. I have been observing him closely in your presence these past two days and I am convinced that he cares nothing for you and never shall. I am sorry if I mistakenly gave you the opposite impression. Good day, Miss Bingley, I wish you all of the best." With one quick look at Miss Bingley's infuriated expression, the colonel gave a sketchy bow and walked quickly to the stables.
Shortly, thereafter, the Gardiner's carriage was nearing the outskirts of Lambton. The Gardiners had entreated Colonel Fitzwilliam to join them and Miss Bennet in their carriage rather than ride alongside them as the colonel initially proposed. The colonel had accepted this offer with very little protest. He was sitting across from Miss Bennet gazing into her lovely face when she let out a small gasp. The colonel glanced outside the window and was startled to see Darcy mounting his horse in front of the parsonage.
Once astride his horse, Darcy glanced at the passing carriage. His eyes met Miss Bennet's through the carriage window and they held each other's gaze for an instant until Miss Bennet looked away. Darcy then glanced to the other window and his expression hardened when he espied his cousin. He remained there motionless until the carriage had passed completely by.
After the carriage passed Darcy, Elizabeth folded her hands in her lap and closed her eyes. The others were careful to converse quietly so as not to disturb her. The Gardiners and the colonel spoke for a while, but there seemed little to say that had not already been said earlier in the morning. Conversation soon ceased and everyone was left to his or her own reveries.
Colonel Fitzwilliam's thoughts centered largely on the woman sitting across from him. He had started out wanting to win her love; but he had been determined to win it fairly, which is why he had gone to lengths to get Miss Bingley to loosen her tight grip on his cousin. Now, after watching her, pale and silent in her grief, he cared nothing about winning or losing. His thoughts were focused on his love for her and his hope that she would love him in return. She had been lovely when she sparkled with life and wit; but now, in her delicate, grieving state, she unwittingly drew him even further under her spell. He barely knew himself anymore in her presence.
Hours later, when the sky began to darken, the travelers stopped at a prosperous looking inn. There was only one room available. The colonel volunteered to sleep in the service quarters in the attic while Elizabeth shared a bedroom with her aunt and uncle. Mrs. Gardiner was horrified at the thought of the colonel sleeping in such base quarters, but the colonel assured her that he had slept in much worse conditions in the military; indeed, he assured them that any bed under a roof was a real luxury for a military man. After a light supper, everyone retired early.
Elizabeth woke the next morning before dawn. The night before, she had ordered some water to be drawn and warmed for her at six o-clock so that she could bathe and wash her hair before resuming their journey. The water was ready promptly at six, but was barely warm. Elizabeth had been longing for a hot bath, but did not wish to complain. She bathed, and rinsed and soaped her hair quickly in the lukewarm water. She dressed quietly and covered her shoulders in a towel so as not to get her clothes damp. Thus attired, she entered the small parlor off of the bedroom so as not to wake her aunt and uncle who were still sleeping soundly.
She was relieved to see a small fire burning in the parlor. Mornings in the north were chilly, even in the summer. Elizabeth set a cushion from the settee before the fire and sat on it, alternately rubbing her long hair with the towel and brushing it out. She closed her eyes, trying to shut out all thoughts and emotions while she basked in the warmth of the fire.
The colonel entered the parlor quietly, wondering if anyone was yet awake. He saw Elizabeth kneeling by the fire with her eyes closed, her long hair was spread out around her like a rich cloak. His breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful, almost unbearably so. Colonel Fitzwilliam approached the fireplace and knelt behind Elizabeth. She seemed totally unaware of his presence. He leaned near her and spoke softly so as not to startle her. "Good morning, Miss Bennet."
Elizabeth still did not respond, and he wondered if she was asleep. Suddenly. her hand relaxed its grip on the brush she was holding, and it dropped beside her on the cushion. The colonel picked up the brush and proceeded to gently swipe it down the length of her hair with light movements. His closeness to her and the scent from her hair so enchanted him that he lost track of time and place. He forgot, among other things, about the Gardiners and the other inhabitants of the inn. Elizabeth, too, seemed aware of nothing outside of the colonel's gentle attentions to her hair. When her hair started to thicken and curl from the absence of moisture, the colonel swiftly divided the thick tresses into three segments and slowly, but expertly, plaited it.
Elizabeth opened her eyes and turned until she could look at him face to face. She gazed at him as if from a far distance. "Colonel," she said, "Did you sleep well?"
The colonel smiled at her. It seemed an odd question for her to ask after the intimacy of the preceding moments. "Yes, I did."
"How did you learn to braid hair so well?"
"I leaned that skill where I learned everything else, in the military."
Elizabeth blushed then, and leaned forward and away from the colonel. It was as if, for the first time, she was aware of the impropriety of their situation.
The colonel immediately sensed her unease. "I was teasing, Miss Bennet. I have often braided Georgiana's hair when she was younger and I still provide that service to my young nieces from time to time. They find it very relaxing. I was hoping to give you some small comfort, as well."
Elizabeth relaxed a bit and smiled tremulously. Her guard seemed to slip once more. "You are very kind to wish to comfort me. I fear, however, there is little comfort to be had in my situation. I feel quite alone and I am tired," she added. "So tired of misery and worry and there is more of both ahead."
The colonel reached his hand out and gently stroked the back of Elizabeth's neck under her thick braid. Her muscles tensed momentarily and then relaxed as the colonel gently caressed her neck.
"I am wrong to allow this," thought Elizabeth fleetingly and then she gave in to the overwhelming temptation to be touched, to be bathed in soft caresses. After a few moments, the colonel's caresses on her neck took a definite shape. Elizabeth realized with a start that he was tracing letters on her skin. She sat up and pulled away from him. "What are you doing?" she cried.
The colonel stood up instantly and stepped away from her. "Please forgive me. I did not wish to alarm you. I was only writing your name."
"My name?"
The colonel looked uncharacteristically grave. "Yes. Elizabeth. You have not permitted to call you by your Christian name, but I felt that I could not soothe you properly without using your name in some way, so I wrote your name to give you comfort. Forgive me, it was insensitive of me."
Elizabeth hesitated, but she could find no real offense in his conduct. He had been forward, it was true, but he was patient and generous, as well. He had listened to her complaints and provided reassurance. His soft caresses had soothed her nerves greatly, and, even now, the feeling of his cool fingers tracing the letters of her name on her neck gave her an odd sense of peace. "There is nothing to forgive. But I must now go and wake up my aunt and uncle and prepare for the day. They were adamant that we be on the road by half past seven." Elizabeth rose to her feet, and, with a brief parting smile for the colonel, she left the parlor.
The colonel sat down and stared into the fire for some time after she left the room. He could still feel the sensation of her skin under his fingertips. "Elizabeth," he said her name softly, wishing to speak it out loud, if only to himself. He loved her name. "Elizabeth," he said again, smiling wistfully into the fire. Then he stood up, stretched, and went in search of tea and toast.
Chapter 13
It was an unusually hot and humid day. Colonel Fitzwilliam felt the sweat trickling down his back as he rode alongside the Gardiners' carriage. He would have preferred to travel in the carriage with Elizabeth, but he had chosen to travel by horseback instead so he could formulate a strategy for dealing with George Wickham. He knew that he could not think clearly in Elizabeth's presence.
Wickham and Fitzwilliam had disliked each other since they were boys. Since last summer when Wickham had tried to seduce Georgiana into eloping with him, the colonel's dislike of Wickham had grown into deeply set animosity. With the motto "know thy enemy" firmly in mind, the colonel had set about gathering as much intelligence on Wickham as possible. Because the colonel's easy manners had won him friends from every walk of life, it was not difficult for him to recruit informants from within Wickham's regiment and social circle. Wickham was prone to wagging his tongue when in his cups, and as a result, the colonel's informants were able to supply him with a regular stream of information about Wickham. Among the many nuggets of information that the colonel had gathered about Wickham were the names of gaming hells, taverns, inns and moneylenders that Wickham frequented in London. Thus, the colonel had good reason to believe that he could easily locate Wickham if the cad was in London, and considering that Wickham's debts had made him destitute and his only friends outside his regiment resided in London, it was unlikely that Wickham would be anywhere other than London.
The weightier problem was what to do with Wickham after he found him and Elizabeth's sister. The Colonel furrowed his brow as he pondered this. He regretted that he was unable to play chess just now; it was hard enough to think in this heat, even without a chessboard. He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his face. Money was the only guaranteed way to get George Wickham to do something he did not want to do; and the colonel had no intention of lining Wickham's palms. "The bastard would take nothing less than ten thousand pounds, and I'll be damned if I give him a shilling, even if I had a few to spare," the colonel muttered. No, he would have to think of a plan other than bribery. Blackmail, for instance.
There was a possibility that he could coerce Wickham to marry Lydia Bennet by blackmailing him with some of the nastier tidbits that he had gathered. The colonel had a list of several violent tempered military men who Wickham had cuckolded in the past two years. Wickham would be anxious, he knew, to avoid having these men find out about Wickham's dalliances with their wives. The problem was that Wickham's main method of avoidance was to disappear. He wouldn't put it past Wickham to flee to some savage land like America if threatened with exposure of his adulterous behavior, rather than marry against his interest. The colonel sat up straighter on his horse at this thought. He would be damned if he let Wickham get away from him; he would find a way to outsmart the lowdown cur if it was the last thing he did.
The air inside the carriage was hot and dense. Elizabeth felt oppressed by the heat and the staleness of the air. She held her head up stiffly, trying to avoid coming in contact with the carriage cushion, now sticky with sweat. Her sole consolation was that it was too hot for conversation. She did not want to talk anymore about Lydia and Wickham; she did not even wish to think about them anymore.
Elizabeth glanced outside the open carriage window at the colonel on his horse. She did not care for horseback riding; still, she envied the colonel the freedom to ride outside of the suffocating confines of the carriage. After reassuring herself that he did not notice her looking at him, Elizabeth studied him quietly. She had to admit that he was a fine figure of a man. His posture was erect and stately, yet he moved in the saddle with a natural ease. The heat did not seem affect him at all.
She had always held a high opinion of the colonel as a gentleman, but before today, Elizabeth had thought little of him as a man. She realized now, that not only was he a man in all senses of the word, he was a man on whom she could depend. In truth, she hardly knew what she would have done without him these past two days. Her thoughts turned involuntarily to Mr. Darcy. She thought of the ardent expression on his face when their eyes had met briefly yesterday as she was leaving Lambton. There was no doubt that he stirred her senses. Whether he was a man on whom she could count on was less certain. She could certainly depend on his increased disdain for her family when he finds out about Lydia's elopement, she thought wryly. She felt such a strong sense of both anger and loss at this thought that she let out an audible sigh.
The colonel immediately turned his head towards the carriage as if he had heard Elizabeth's sigh; his eyes met Elizabeth's. He absolutely started, but soon recovered his poise and tipped his hat to her with a smile. Elizabeth was embarrassed to be caught staring, but she did not immediately look away. She allowed his eyes to hold hers for a moment while she pondered why looking into his eyes did not inspire the same emotion in her that looking into Mr. Darcy's dark eyes had done. "Perhaps, it is just the heat," she thought, "even Mr. Darcy could not possibly evoke a passionate response in me today."
When Elizabeth finally turned away from the window, she focused her attention on her aunt. Her aunt had looked pale and wan all morning; now, her skin looked clammy and she sat motionless with her eyes closed. Elizabeth had suspected for almost a week that her aunt was increasing and she had initially attributed Aunt Gardiner's pallor to her condition. Elizabeth knew from past experience that her aunt tended to have fleeting bouts of nausea in the early stages of a pregnancy. She realized now with growing alarm that her aunt looked more ill than pregnancy itself would account for.
Her uncle must have observed her alarm, because he leaned over towards Elizabeth and said softly, "I do not believe she is seriously ill, Lizzy. It is just the heat and..." he hesitated for a moment, "her condition. She does not fare well in excessive heat during times such as this." He looked over at his wife. "I believe she will be fine if we can get her out of the heat. There is an inn, I recall, a few miles up the road and I intend to stop there. Perhaps, with a few hours rest, she will feel able to travel a little further today. I am sorry, Lizzy, I know you are anxious to get home."
"Of course, we must stop, Uncle. We must stop for as long as necessary. A delay of another day or two will make no difference." Even as she said this, Elizabeth felt a pang in her chest at the idea of a prolonged separation from her family at a time when her presence must be sorely missed, at least by Jane; her father, too, would be comforted during his ordeal in London when he knew she had returned safely home. For her aunt and uncle's sake, Elizabeth concealed as best she could her feelings of dismay at the idea of an indefinite delay.
The colonel was soon apprised that Mrs. Gardiner was unwell and of the party's intentions of stopping at the next Inn. He offered to ride ahead and apprise the innkeepers of their expected arrival so they could prepare a room for Mrs. Gardiner and cool refreshments for everyone. Mr. Gardiner accepted his offer with gratitude, and Elizabeth thought, once again, what an excellent man the colonel was.
After they arrived at the Inn, Elizabeth was completely preoccupied with making her aunt comfortable. She bathed her aunt's warm forehead in cool water and held a basin for her aunt when she indicated with a feeble wave of her hand that she was going to be sick. Her aunt apologized profusely for all of the inconvenience she caused and Elizabeth insisted that it was her pleasure to be of assistance to her aunt. Indeed, much as she hated to see her aunt in physical distress, Elizabeth was glad of the distraction that caring for her aunt provided.
Finally, several hours later, when her aunt had drifted off to sleep, with her husband sitting vigilantly by her side, Elizabeth slipped outside. It was still almost unbearably hot, but she felt a need to be on her own and hoped to find a relatively cool spot in the shade to sit in. She had walked about a quarter mile from the inn and was starting to regret walking out in the heat, when she spotted a lovely pair of shade trees set off slightly from the road. The trees offered shade and solitude, the two things that Elizabeth yearned for at that moment. She sat down under the largest tree and untied the strings of her bonnet.
Colonel Fitzwilliam had been whiling away his time in the Inn's tavern while he waited to hear news of Mrs. Gardiner's condition. The tavern was too noisy to resume his strategic planning regarding Wickham. He had spent this time, instead, reliving the few moments of this morning, including the sensation of Elizabeth's soft skin under his fingers and the thrill he felt when her beautiful eyes looked directly into his for a few wonderful moments. These recollections, although delightful in themselves, were a source of extra satisfaction to him because they signified to him that Elizabeth returned his affections. Indeed, he reasoned that even a forthright young lady such as Elizabeth would not have held his gaze in such a brazen fashion, much less permitted him to stroke her neck as he had done this morning, unless she felt there was an understanding between them. Although the thought that Elizabeth tacitly acknowledged their understanding made him happy, it was not enough. He was eager to formalize their engagement, as soon as possible. Especially, since dealing with Wickham would take up most of the precious little time he had left during the remainder of his leave.
He glanced at his pocket watch and realized that he had been waiting in the tavern for almost two hours. He beckoned to the friendly barmaid and asked her if she could send someone to inquire upstairs as to how the lady that arrived this morning was faring. The maid smiled toothsomely. "If it be the pretty young leddy that you are wanting to know about, she walked outside a few minutes ago." Upon the colonel's inquiry, the maid pointed out the direction that the young lady had taken. He strode outside in the direction the maid had indicated, delighted with the notion that he would soon have the opportunity to talk to Elizabeth in private.
Elizabeth had stretched out beneath the largest of the shade trees. She fanned her self with her straw bonnet, while she reread the most recent letter from Jane. She had already read this letter many times during the past twenty-four hours, but reading it made her feel closer to Jane and less alone in her own anxiety about her sister's fate and that of her entire family. She was reaching the end of the letter when a shadow fell upon her, momentarily dimming the bright sunlight that danced upon the page. She looked up and was startled to see the colonel standing directly above her. She had been so absorbed in Jane's letter that she had not been aware of his approach.
Elizabeth immediately sat up and placed her bonnet on her head. She started to rise and the colonel silently held out his hand to assist her up. The colonel did not release her hand even after Elizabeth was on her feet. She started to slip her hand out of his grasp, but the colonel held onto her hand, gently but firmly.
"Because of the circumstances we find ourselves, I will be direct." Both the expression on his face and timber of his voice were uncharacteristically grave.
Feeling suddenly timid in his presence, Elizabeth looked towards the ground, avoiding his gaze. Colonel released the grip on her hand and, grasping her chin gently in his hand raised it up so he could see her face. Before she could react to this, he spoke again. "Elizabeth, will you marry me?"
Elizabeth was too startled to speak. She had known for some time that he was partial to her and she had always enjoyed his company immensely. Indeed, he was beyond comparison the pleasantest man she knew. But never, despite her friend Charlotte's occasional matrimonial scheming regarding herself and the colonel, had she contemplated marriage to him. It was true that only this morning she had considered what an excellent man he was; and, she recollected with a blush, she had permitted him to touch her in a way that was not generally acceptable outside of marriage or betrothal. She had not felt compromised by his actions, however, merely comforted. Despite his intimate actions earlier in the day, she had never imagined that he desired to marry her. She specifically remembered, in fact, him informing her months ago that he was not free to marry without consideration of money.
Not only did the proposal itself catch her by surprise, Elizabeth was also disconcerted by the brevity of the colonel's proposal. The proposals she had received from Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy, although as different in content as the two men who had made them were, were both extremely circumlocutory. In light of her past experience, it hardly seemed possible that a man could make an offer of marriage in so few words and without any condescension at all.
She realized that he was waiting patiently for her to respond and she blushed deeper still. "Sir, you have caught me by surprise. I do not know how to respond."
Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled his most winning smile. "I can scarce believe that you are surprised. I have made no attempt to hide my affections."
"Perhaps not your affections, Sir, but you must recall that you made it clear in Kent that you could not marry where you liked without consideration of fortune. As you know, I have no fortune. I fear, that you feel obliged to offer marriage to me after what occurred this morning. I assure you there is no need; I understand that you intended only to console me and I am grateful."
The colonel looked slightly embarrassed at the reminder of his words in Kent. "I may have said then that I could not marry where I liked; but now I am convinced that I must marry where I love. I care nothing about your lack of fortune. I care only for you." He paused for a moment and looked intently into her face. "It is not obligation which has led me to offer for you, Elizabeth, it is love. Surely, you know that." With that the colonel stepped forward and enveloped Elizabeth in a close embrace. His embrace, like his hold on her hand earlier, was gentle but firm.
Elizabeth was shocked to speechlessness; shocked not solely due to the liberty the colonel was taking, but by how much pleasure she took in his embrace. He was so much taller and broader than she was, that she felt sheltered from everything in arms. Sheltered from everything, that is, but the man himself; she could feel his heart pumping slightly against her cheek and could hear the slightly ragged sound of his breathing. Her sense of modesty soon asserted itself and she took a step backwards away from him. The colonel immediately dropped his arms, releasing her from his embrace. He did not relinquish his intense scrutiny of her face; however. Even without looking directly at him, she could feel him watching her, waiting for her answer. She could not bring herself to make a response.
"Will you not give me your answer, Elizabeth?" She was silent still, not daring to speak until she knew her mind.
"Do you hesitate because of my own lack of fortune? I am not a wealthy man, by any means. My income is large to support us quite comfortably, however, and children as well, as long as we do not have more than five or six," he said with a half-hearted laugh. Elizabeth's prolonged silence was starting to worry him.
Finally, her eyes shyly met his and she spoke, but she did not say the words that he wanted to hear. "I am honored, Sir, and more moved than I can say by your proposal. I cannot marry you, however, you must realize that."
Colonel Fitzwilliam steeled himself to remain composed. "I can think of no impediment, if you are not adverse to my modest station in life."
"You forget my sister's situation. My whole family will share the shame of her situation. Surely, even if you yourself do not shrink from such a connection, your family would object to such scandalous connections."
The colonel nodded gravely. "It is true, my family will likely have some objection. Certainly my Aunt Catherine will disapprove, and my parents and brother to a lesser extent. But my parents will accept you once they know the strength of my feelings." He added in a softer voice, "and once they know you, they cannot help loving you. In any event, I have been largely independent of them for many years. I can live without their approbation as long as I have you as my wife."
Elizabeth was overcome by the graciousness of his proposal, and the tenderness of his sentiments. She knew it would be unwise to accept his proposal due both to the uncertainty of the strength her own feelings towards him and to the gravity of her family's situation. Yet, she could not find it in her heart to refuse him. His words, his expression, even his embrace, were sweetness itself and she could do nothing to cause him pain. Yet, surely it would cause him pain, through the censure of society and his own family, if she did marry him.
She looked up at him. "Please, do not press me for a reply now. I do not wish to refuse you, but I feel that I cannot accept you when my sister's reputation is so blackened."
The colonel was so relieved, he almost laughed out loud. "Why, of course, you would not wish to be formally engaged, until your sister's situation is satisfactorily resolved. I assure you, I am determined to do what is necessary to ensure that her reputation is restored. I will see that Wickham marries her. That is what you wish is it not?"
"Well, of course, that is what I wish, if it were possible. Much as I despise George Wickham, the only way that Lydia can be made respectable again is for him to marry her."
"Then the solution is simple. We will condition our engagement on Wickham marrying your sister. I will see that Wickham marries your sister, and when that is accomplished, we will announce our own engagement. " He smiled. "Do you agree, my dear?"
Elizabeth hesitated. As capable as she knew the colonel to be, she could not believe it was likely that he or anyone could convince Wickham to marry her sister. Therefore, she risked little by entering to a conditional engagement with him. She felt reluctant, however, to agree to anything while her feelings were in such turmoil. On the other hand, she could not bear to disappoint him. She was so distressed by the quandary she found herself in, that tears sprung to her eyes.
Observing her distress, the colonel brushed his hand softly over the tears on her cheek. "I am sorry, Elizabeth. I fear I have pressed you too much today. We will not discuss this anymore further, today. I can wait for your answer."
Elizabeth searched his face with her eyes. His hopeful expression of a moment ago had disappeared, replaced by a look of profound disappointment. She reacted immediately based on compassion, not reason. She stretched out her hand and slipped it inside his.
"No. I do not need to delay. I will marry you if and when Wickham marries Lydia, if that is what you truly wish." The colonel's answering smile was so radiant that she could not regret her impetuous reply.
Chapter 14
Georgiana Darcy did not know which was more depressing to her spirits, the excessive heat or the gloomy air in the carriage. She, her brother, and Mr. Bingley had been traveling since first light and only a handful of words had been spoken between them. The melancholic mood in the carriage was so pronounced that, try as she might to focus on the soothing sounds of Mozart, the only music that Georgiana could conjure up in her head was a dreary harpsichord piece by Couperin that she had heard played once last winter.
"At least," she thought, "we are spared the company of Mr. Bingley's insufferable sisters and that great toad, Mr. Hurst." In truth, there had only been two bright spots in the day. The first had been the moment this morning when the carriage carrying Miss Bingley and the Hursts had veered off in a northerly direction after both carriages had passed through Lambton. Georgiana had been informed by her brother the night before that they would be accompanying Mr. Bingley the next day to his estate in Hertfordshire; he had said nothing about Miss Bingley and the Hursts, and Georgiana had assumed that they would also be traveling to Hertfordshire. She had been pleasantly surprised when the Hursts' carriage had parted company with their own.
"Are your sisters not traveling to Netherfield with us, then?" she had asked Mr. Bingley, trying to conceal her pleasure at the prospect.
"My sisters have decided to visit some friends of Hurst in Scotland," Bingley had replied.
Her brother had given her a warning look, so Georgiana did not inquire further. Neither man said anything more on that subject, or any other subject, so Georgiana was left alone to ponder this new development.
The other bright spot of the day had occurred an hour within their travels. While looking out the carriage window, Georgiana had seen a huge object in the sky. She had stared at it for a moment in miscomprehension, and then realized, with a small burst of excitement, that it was the hot air balloon that brother had spoken of. Her brother had said nothing more about the hot air balloon expedition since the dinner party for Miss Bennet and her family, Lambton, and in the rush of leaving Pemberley so suddenly, Georgiana had almost forgotten about it herself. She had been about to call the attention of her brother and Mr. Bingley to this wondrous sight, but when she turned to look at them, their appearance had forestalled her. Her brother had been wearing his most formidable brooding look, as if forbidding anyone to address him; and Mr. Bingley had seemed so perilously close to tears that Georgiana had hesitated to intrude on his privacy. She had watched the large balloon's progress in silence until it disappeared from sight, torn between guilt over keeping such a marvelous sight to herself and vexation at her companions for being so self-absorbed as not to be able to increase her pleasure by sharing it with her.
She had spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon speculating as to the reason for their sudden exodus from Pemberley. She assumed that it had much to do with the recent unexpected departure of Miss Bennet and Cousin Richard, but her brother had told her nothing regarding his plans once they arrived in Hertfordshire. She hoped that he had decided to take decisive action at last and propose to Miss Bennet, but she feared that he might be too late. Cousin Richard's actions in leaving with Miss Bennet indicated that he had serious intentions towards her and he was not a man to dawdle once he had made up his mind about something.
While Georgiana was reflecting on her cousin, the man himself was resolving to take immediate action. Now that it was established that the marriage of Wickham and Lydia Bennet was the key to securing Elizabeth's hand, Colonel Fitzwilliam could not rest until Wickham and Lydia said their vows. It was still uncertain when Mrs. Gardiner would be able to resume traveling, and he could not abide the thought of an indefinite delay in pursuing his goal. Loathe as he was to leave Elizabeth, he made up his mind to travel on to London immediately on horseback. He calculated that if he left within the half hour, he could be in London by noon the following day.
He broached this plan to Elizabeth as they were walking back to the inn, and was relieved that she made no objection. His chief remaining concern was that he had no way to stay in contact with her while he was in London as their engagement was not yet official and propriety, therefore, prohibited them from corresponding.
"It is unlikely that I can come to Hertfordshire until your sister's marriage to Wickham is finalized, my dear; but I will come to you as soon as they are wed. In the meantime, if there is any way in which you can come to London with your aunt and uncle, that would be solve much of the problem. It would not be remarkable for me to visit your relations in London frequently to keep them apprised of my progress, and thus, if you were there, we would have the opportunity to see each other on a regular basis.
Elizabeth nodded in a distracted fashion, only half hearing him. She had been contemplating going to London herself, if Jane would agree to go with her, and if their mother's nerves would allow it. She felt sure that both she and Jane would feel more easy in London, closer to their father and, presumably to Lydia, and further away from their mother's complaints and invectives. She was inwardly debating whether it would be too much of an inconvenience to her aunt, given her condition, to have both her and Jane as guests when the colonel spoke again.
"It just occurred to me that you may wish to inform your aunt and uncle of our engagement. This would give us even more opportunities to meet if you come to London and would offer some chance of correspondence if you stay in Hertfordshire."
Elizabeth looked at him in astonishment. She was trying to find a politic way to remind the colonel that they were not yet actually engaged and to beg him to stop being so hasty in his plans, when the colonel took her hand and drew her a little ways off the road.
"Since we are to part so soon, I want to take a moment express to you how happy you have made me." He started to lean towards her, and then stopped when he heard the sounds of a cart approaching on the road. He wanted badly to kiss her; even more than that, he wanted to remove the small piece of greenery that had somehow found it's way inside the neckline of her dress and had been protruding from her cleavage in a most provocative manner. Due to their lack of privacy, he did neither. Instead, he contented himself with kissing her hand. "I cannot believe that there is man alive who is happier than I am."
"I fear, Sir, that happiness on either of our part's is premature. So much is still unresolved. We are not yet engaged and I do not believe that we ..."
The colonel interrupted her, "Elizabeth, my love, do not be anxious. Now that I am assured in your love, I am confident that I will succeed in this. Your sister's marriage will take place, and then we can plan our own. There is so much that we need to discuss, but there is little time at present. When the circumstances are better, you must tell me where you prefer to live once I retire from the military so that I can be looking for a suitable establishment. Although, if you enjoy the transient life as much as I do, I may not retire for a few years yet. I know not every military wife wishes to follow the drum, but I believe that you, my dear, will enjoy it greatly."
Elizabeth's amazement at the colonel's assumptions was fast growing into annoyance. "Lydia has not even been located yet," she thought, "and he already has us both married off, and me following the drum." She was also dismayed at his confidence that she loved him; she had given him no such assurances, and she was not even sure herself that she felt more for him than affection, respect and gratitude. Not only did his taking her love for granted irritate her, it made her concerned that he expected more from their marriage than she could give him. Not having the emotional strength to discuss these issues with him at this time, however, she merely agreed that there was much to discuss. She then informed him that she was anxious to check on her aunt's condition. "This is a wretched beginning," she thought, wearily, as they approached the inn.
Fifteen minutes later, after a brief consultation with Mr. Gardiner, and one last ardent, parting look at Elizabeth, the colonel was gone. Elizabeth occupied herself by feeding some soup to her aunt who was looking much better, but still weak. After her aunt had eaten, Elizabeth went downstairs to order some dinner for herself and her uncle.
It was well into the afternoon, and Georgiana, who had felt too hot to eat anything earlier in the day, was starting to feel very hungry, as well as thirsty. Her brother, usually so solicitous of her every need, had said nothing about stopping for dinner, and it had been several hours since they had stopped briefly to change horses. Her growing hunger and her fierce desire for something cool to drink, drove her to address her brother despite his grim expression.
"Please, may we stop soon and get some refreshment. I believe we would all benefit from having something to eat, or at least something cool to drink."
Darcy looked at his sister, and his brow furrowed in consternation as he realized how much he had been neglecting her, and Bingley as well.
"Yes. Yes, of course, we will stop directly." He leaned out and signaled to the driver, and within ten minutes the carriage pulled up beside a small but tidy looking inn. Georgiana sighed in relief.
Darcy did not like to expose his sister to the rough manners and conditions often found in common inns. Advising his sister and Bingley to remain in the carriage for a moment, he strode into the inn in order to ascertain whether it was an appropriate place for his sister to dine. He peered dubiously into the Inn's small but noisy public tavern.
When a matronly woman, presumably the inn keeper's wife, greeted him, he inquired immediately if there was a private dining room in which his party of three could dine.
"There is, Sir, but it is in use just now by a family party. There are just two of them there at the moment. Perhaps they wouldn't mind if you joined them. They are very kind people. Would you like me to inquire, Sir?"
Darcy hesitated. He loathed the idea of dining with strangers. Still the public tavern was unthinkable, and he did not know when if they would encounter another inn within the next hour. He nodded at the woman. She disappeared up the stairs and soon returned.
"As I expected, Sir, they have no objection to you joining them."
He wanted to assess the situation himself before subjecting Georgiana to the close company of complete strangers. At Darcy's request, the woman led him up the stairs and pointed out the door of the private dining room. Before he had the chance to knock on the door, it flew open. There, before him, was Elizabeth Bennet. Their eyes instantly met, and both seemed immoveable from surprise and embarrassment.