Greeting, Since its a long weekend for some I thought I would post another chapter. Thanks for a the responses and messages. Best regards Janie(mj)
Chapter 28: Little Green-Eyed Monster
Darcy stood at the back of the room and watched as Richard led Elizabeth out onto the balcony. He wished more than anything he had told Richard how he felt about her. He realized Richard was probably attempting to make sure that he had no real interest in Elizabeth before he spent time with her. If only he told him the truth that he cared very much for her. If he told him that he was falling in love with her, he might not be standing there alone while she was in the arms of another. His thoughts were interrupted when he overheard Elizabeth being talked about by two older women standing just in front of him. He recognized them both from other events that he attended in both London, as well as here at Rosings. The older woman with graying hair was Mrs. Hawthorne, and the slightly younger woman was Mrs. Melbourne. Both women were wealthy, and like Lady Catherine held very high opinions of themselves. They seemed to be particularly interested in the fact that Elizabeth was spending so much time with both himself and Richard.
Mrs. Hawthorne rolled her eyes, "I heard she's a cousin to Lady Catherine's lawyer, Mr. Collins. Lady Catherine is so generous in doing for others. She invited them to come to the party this evening even though they are clearly not a part of our social circle. She's always doing things like that for others you know, especially those who are less fortunate."
"While I do admire her generosity, I think she should be careful. That young girl is rather pretty, and both of her nephews have paid her a lot of attention to her this evening." Mrs. Melbourne responded.
"Fitzwilliam Darcy would never fall for someone like her. He has too much sense," Mrs. Hawthorne said. "But his cousin, he might fall victim to such a girl. Lady Catherine did say she was attempting to help the poor girl with her career in photography. Apparently, Lady Catherine asked that she be allowed to take the photos of Rosings for that magazine story she told us about. She said that she wanted to help this girl and give her a proper chance because of how poor her family is and where she comes from."
Mrs. Melbourne smiled, "Lady Catherine is always so caring. It's no surprise that she would open her heart and home to someone so completely out of her element as that girl is. I did notice that Richard slipped her away out to the balcony just after the last dance. It seems to me Miss Bennet has charmed her way into more than just Lady Catherine's heart. Perhaps she has charmed Richard as well."
"Let's just hope he has enough sense not to let this girl play him for a fool," she told her. "Girls like that maybe fine for sowing a few wild oats, but his parents would never approve of her. I know Lady Fitzwilliam would never allow her son to be seriously involved with someone like her."
Darcy found himself feeling disgusted by the conversation. The obvious misrepresentation his aunt was attempting to portray about Elizabeth made him angry enough, but listening to these two gossips say such catty comments about her was beyond his patience. He forced himself to walk away before he forgot himself and made a scene. He moved over closer to the door, hoping to catch sight of Richard and Elizabeth when they came back in. He wanted to claim her hand for the second dance she promised him. Darcy told himself he wasn't jealous of his cousin or the budding friendship that seemed to be forming between him and Elizabeth. He glanced down at his watch, they stepped out at least fifteen minutes ago, by his calculations. He wondered what could possibly be keeping them away from the party for so long.
"Thank you for bringing me out here," Elizabeth told Richard. "It was getting very crowded and uncomfortable in there. This fresh air feels so nice compared to that stuffy room."
"My aunt likes to have large parties for these charities. That way more people can see how generous and giving she is," he told her.
Elizabeth smiled, "Yes, well I'm not very fond of large parties. If I am honest, I would rather spend time with just a few very good friends than at a large party."
"Well, Lady Catherine likes to see her name in the newspapers. She likes the attention as long as she can be in control of everything," Richard told her.
"And what about you, do you like large parties as well?" she asked him.
"No, not very much. I'm rather like you in that I would rather spend time with a few very good friends than with a large crowd of people who I barely know," he admitted.
Elizabeth walked over to the edge of the balcony. There was a cool breeze blowing, and it filled the air with the sweet perfume of the flowers from the nearby gardens. "It's very beautiful here," she said as she looked out at the gardens bathed in the moonlight. Her thoughts turned to Darcy; she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be standing in the gardens with him instead of Richard.
"My aunt takes diligent care of Rosings Park, and Darcy does his best to give her counsel on the upkeep of the grounds and gardens," Richard told her.
"Really, are the two of them very close?" Elizabeth asked somewhat surprised by the knowledge that he would take the time out of his busy life to care for his elderly aunt.
"No, not really, but he does take his responsibility to our family very seriously," he explained. "We both help oversee some of her investments. Her daughter Anne is a very intelligent young woman with a good head for business as well."
"Yes, Charlotte mentioned that Anne now lives in the states," Elizabeth commented.
Richard laughed, "Yes, well that's a very touchy subject and one we don't discuss too often, especially around my aunt."
Elizabeth understood his meaning. "Oh," was all she said.
"My aunt does not like change of any kind," he told her. "She's very set in her ways and can at times be...difficult."
"I think I know exactly what you mean," she told him. "My mother can be like that. In fact, when she's unhappy with something she has a way of ensuring that all those around her are aware of it."
He laughed, "It sounds like my aunt and your mother share some of the same traits in common," he told her.
Elizabeth had to laugh at that comment. She could only think how Lady Catherine would fume over being compared to her mother. "So, Richard what about you? It seems we are forever talking about your aunt or your cousin. Who is the real Richard Fitzwilliam?"
"Oh now that's an interesting question," he told her. "I like to tell people I'm an open book, and I think for the most part that's true."
"I've noticed you are not as guarded as your cousin," she said without realizing that she had turned the conversation back in the direction of Darcy.
Richard was quiet for a moment and then said. "Darcy can be guarded at times, but when you get to know him, he can be the best and most trustworthy friend you could ever have."
"That's high praise," she told him.
He smiled, "Let me tell you a story about Darcy from when we were both young boys," he told her. "My father just bought a beautiful vintage car; it was a 1965 Shelby Cobra. He paid just a little over one hundred thousand for it. It was his baby, and he told me that I was not to play around with it. Of course, I couldn't resist, and late one afternoon while my father was away I convinced Darcy to come with me and take it for a ride," he told her.
"Oh no, you didn't really, did you?" she asked.
"Yes, I did," he told her. "There we were, two six-year-old boys who barely able to see above the steering wheel driving at crazy speeds down an old dirt road. It was an amazing ride until I swerved to miss a cow, and we ended up flying twenty feet in the air and landing in a nearby pond. It was a miracle neither of us was hurt, but the car was a mess. I remember just sitting there on the edge of that pond, crying my eyes out, knowing my life was over, and my father would never forgive me. I told Darcy I would probably never see him again as I would very likely have to go and live with my grandmother in Scotland," he told her. "My grandmother was a very strict older lady who was not very nice. Whenever I got into trouble, which was often, my father would threaten to send me to live with my grandmother."
"What happened?" Elizabeth asked him.
"Darcy wrapped his arm around my shoulder and said, "I'm so glad I came up with this idea cousin, and I was the one driving otherwise you would be in so much trouble. I'm so glad it was all me so now you won't be in any trouble, and you won't have to go to Scotland," he told me.
"I looked at him, and he had the biggest smile on his face. I told him I could face my punishment. I wasn't going to let him get into trouble for my stupidity. He told me to let him say it was all his idea. He told me that was the way he wanted it to be, so I agreed," Richard told her.
"That was a very generous thing to do," she told him. "So, what happened when your parents found out."
"Darcy was true to his word, he stood up in front of his mother, father, and my mother and told them it was all his idea to sneak off in the car. He said he was the one who drove it into the pond. Our mothers were both so happy that we weren't hurt that they didn't say anything. My Uncle Darcy looked at us both, gave us a very long lecture and then said he would pay for the damages. He made us both work every weekend for the next eight summers to pay off our foolishness. Later I asked Darcy why he took the blame and he told me because I was his best friend, and he didn't want me to be sent away to my mean old grandmother," he told her. "Darcy told me that taking the blame was really very selfish on his part, but he had to do it because he couldn't stand the thought of not having me around."
Elizabeth found herself admiring Darcy more. "Jane and I are close like that. She's my very best friend, and I think I would do just about anything for her."
Darcy glanced down at his watch for the tenth time and decided that Elizabeth and Richard were gone from the party long enough. He told himself he was simply concerned for his cousin and Elizabeth's reputation after all disappearing with a man from the party would get people talking even more than they already were. He made his way through the crowds and opened the door to the balcony. He was just about to walk over to the two of them when he saw Elizabeth laugh. He stopped and watched her; she was enjoying herself with Richard. She looked so happy. He couldn't bring himself to spoil her evening. For the first time in his life, Darcy realized he was jealous of his cousin and his ability to be so open and at ease with others. He turned back inside and left the party. He had enough of socializing for the evening, he went straight to his study and poured himself a drink.
When Elizabeth and Richard returned to the party, Darcy was nowhere in sight. She looked around the room several times but couldn't find him. Finally, she ended up with Charlotte and her cousin. She was disappointed, she hoped to see him again and even dance with him, but for whatever reason, he left that party. "Mr. Darcy must have decided to retire early," she commented to Charlotte. "I don't see him anywhere."
"I think he went to his study," Collins told her. "I believe Lady Catherine went to speak with him."
Elizabeth was very tempted to walk over in that direction just to see if she could find him, but she couldn't think of an excuse that wouldn't arouse curiosity with Charlotte and Collins. She stood there for a while chatting with her friend, several young men asked her to dance, but she declined hoping Darcy might reappear. When he didn't return, she finally accepted the offer of another.
Lady Catherine watched both her nephews all evening, and she was very unhappy with the amount of attention they were giving to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. When she saw Richard and Elizabeth step out onto the balcony, she decided she had enough and went to speak with Darcy. After all, it was her duty as their aunt to guide them in life and help them make proper acceptable choices.
Darcy was pacing back and forth in the study when he heard Lady Catherine's voice as she came through the door. "Fitzwilliam, I want to speak with you about that girl!" she practically shouted.
Darcy knew at once she was referring to Elizabeth, he took in a deep breath and quickly went over to close the door before any other guest could hear her. "What girl might that be Aunt Catherine," he asked her as he walked over and poured himself a drink from the bar.
"You know exactly whom I'm speaking about," she told him. "It is bad enough that you have allowed such an inferior person to do Georgiana's portraits, but I am appalled at the way she has conducted herself this evening after I so graciously opened my home to her."
Darcy finished his drink in one gulp and then turned to his aunt. "How exactly has Miss Bennet behaved tonight that has caused you to be appalled," he asked her.
Lady Catherine shook her head in frustration. "Don't pretend with me, Fitzwilliam Darcy! I saw your cousin sneaking off with that girl. I saw the two of them leaving the party together and making their way out to the balcony. And don't think you can cover for him and protect him. I have half a mind to go and call Abigail right this moment," she snapped.
"I have no intention of trying to cover for him," Darcy told her.
"Good, then you agree with me that this behavior is most troubling and that it proves Miss Bennet is not the sort of girl with whom you or Richard should be spending your time with!" she told him.
Darcy tried to keep from getting frustrated, "No, I don't agree with you. I merely said that there was no need to cover for Richard because absolutely nothing was going on! You have allowed your imagination to go to places that it shouldn't have gone. Richard did nothing improper with Miss Bennet they merely stepped outside to get some fresh air."
Lady Catherine narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. "Don't be naïve Fitzwilliam, that's how these young girls work. They lure young men of wealth and position into these kinds of situations and then before you know what has even happened Richard will be lost to us. He will have succumbed to that girl's charms and married her. We can't let it happen. I have heard about her family firsthand from Mr. Collins, and I will not let that happen to my nephew. Why already my friends are talking and whispering about how much attention Richard is giving that girl. I invited several lovely young women from town to attend tonight, and he has not paid them any attention at all. Promise me you will speak to this girl at once, and you will put her in her proper place," she demanded of him. "Or I shall do it myself!"
"I will speak to Miss Bennet," Darcy told her. He didn't want her to make a scene in front of the other guests and embarrass Elizabeth when she didn't do anything wrong.
Lady Catherine seemed pleased with that response. "I'm very glad you see things my way," she told him as she stepped out of his study and back to her guests.
Darcy was left standing in the room alone. He poured himself another drink. He knew the things his aunt said weren't true. He knew Elizabeth wasn't the type of woman to entangle herself with a man simply because he was wealthy. She could truly be falling in love with Richard, he thought to himself. If the spark everyone saw between them really was there, he might have already lost his chance with her. He shook his head in frustration, it was true she had only just met him a few days ago, but stranger things happened than love at first sight between two people. It was the sound of a familiar voice from the doorway that got his attention.
"Mr. Darcy?" she said softly as she came into the room. "Your aunt said you wanted to see me."
Darcy looked up to see Elizabeth standing there, his heart began to pound in his chest, and he struggled to think of what to say. "She did?" was all that came out. He had said he would speak with her only to make his aunt happy; he had no real intention of doing so.
"Yes, she made it very clear that you wanted to speak to me," Elizabeth told him. "In fact, I think most of her guest now know that you wanted to speak to me as well."
Darcy looked into her eyes; they were beautiful. "I'm sorry for that. She was mistaken," he told her. He couldn't bring himself to say anything to her at that moment. He didn't trust himself to speak. "I hope you will forgive me Miss Bennet, but I have some business that I must attend to," he told her.
Elizabeth noticed he seemed different; he was distant and aloof. "Is everything all right Mr. Darcy?" she asked him. She felt confused by his sudden change in behavior.
There it was again, "Mr. Darcy" why couldn't she just call him by his given name, the way she did with Richard, he thought to himself. He took in another long deep breath as he walked over and stood in front of the window. "Everything is fine. I just realized there are some business matters I need to take care of," he told her purposefully keeping his voice even.
Elizabeth smiled, "Oh, well could they wait a little while longer so that you and I might at least have our other dance together?" she asked him one last time. "I was so looking..." she started to say, but he interrupted her.
Darcy looked at her and shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not," he told her. "If you would excuse me," was all he said as he dismissed her from the room.
Elizabeth arched her brow; she was confused and hurt by his cold behavior, but decided not to push things further. "Good night then," was all she said as she turned to leave.
