Chapter 10 Soar In These Colours
"Who is this Bingley, Darcy? I have not heard him mentioned, have you known him long?"
Mr Darcy had been summoned to his uncle's house on the morning of twelfth night. He answered the call because he knew his uncle would not take no for an answer and probably descend on Darcy House.
"Yes, uncle, we met at Cambridge. He is two years younger than me but we have kept in touch, he visited Pemberley with his sisters and brother two years ago."
"Is it the son of that tradesman from the north you sometimes bring to White's?"
"Yes."
"He would never do for Winifred."
"No, I do not believe that has ever been a topic. He is or was engaged to Elizabeth's eldest sister, Miss Jane Bennet. Unforeseen events broke the engagement but I doubt Bingley have given up yet."
He had overheard Mrs Gardiner explain the whereabouts of Colonel Brandon. His attention towards the beautiful young Miss was too marked to be inconsequential. The world would right itself in the end as it had done in his own case.
"Ha, I heard there has been some development in that matter. Were they not supposed to share your wedding day?"
"They were."
"So, is he fluent?"
"Yes, his father sold their business in the north. Bingley is currently searching for an estate with the intent of purchase. His father wanted him to become a part of the landed gentry or at least his grandchildren."
"If he marries well, his position could be secured sooner."
"Yes."
"No, he would not do for Winifred. He may be wealthy and we sure could need a little injection of capital..."
His uncle was eyeing him expectantly. In the past, Mr Darcy had sometimes transferred some funds to his uncle when the need arose. His eldest was a notorious gambler, spending more time in gaming hells than learning estate management or god forbid, interact with his wife. Their animosity was the talk of town when his losses at the table were not taking precedence. Mr Darcy needed not much time to ponder the matter. He was a married man now, with added responsibilities and a future to consider. His response came to him as he imagined what Elizabeth might have said.
"I do not believe that Mr Bingley's hundred thousand pounds would suffice, I advise you to find a wealthier husband for Winifred if saving Matlock is your concern. I beg your pardon, uncle, but I have a house full of guests and a party to prepare for. Send my greetings to my aunt and cousin, I have not the time to linger today. Goodbye."
His uncle was too stunned to voice any protests before he was out the door.
XxX
It was March, Mr and Mrs Ferrars had been safely installed at the parsonage in Delaford. Mrs Ferrars heaping an embarrassing amount of praise at his door for his benevolence towards themselves and her sister. The engagement was a prudent one but he hoped and believed that it held some affection as well. Weary to the bone, he handed his butler his hat and gloves. The cane had become a permanent fixture he kept with him, even when inside his own home. It could not be helped, he needed the support.
He expected his butler to scurry away but he remained stoically in front of him.
"You have guests, Colonel Brandon, they are waiting in the front parlour."
He fought the urge to groan while he prayed it was not Mrs Jennings. If he would have to suffer another bout of fripperies and lace, he might have to... Well, let us just say that deafness would be a welcome respite.
"Who?" He dreaded the answer while admonishing himself for his brusque tone of voice. It was not his butler's fault he was getting old and grumpy.
"A Mr Darcy, a Mrs Darcy and a Miss Bennet, Sir."
He had to steady himself on a nearby table. He would not have been more shocked had his butler announced that Prinny himself was paying him a visit.
Why now? What was the purpose?
The Colonel gathered his wits and entered his parlour with a black rainbow hanging over his head, half hope – half agony. If it would soar into colour by the end of their visit was yet to be seen.
To his chagrin, Jane seemed as ill at ease as he felt himself. She smiled serenely but it never reached her eyes. It was Mr Darcy who strode towards him with his hand outstretched, offering a warm welcome. His little lady following him in his shadow to emerge and greet him with sparkling eyes that wanted to convey something he, with his slight acquaintance with the lady, could not divulge.
"Mr Darcy," he shook the gentleman's hand with a firm grip and bowed low before his wife. "May I offer my felicitations."
"Thank you, Colonel Brandon."
The ambience was stiff, unnatural.
"My wife needs to refresh herself if you could point us in the right direction?"
It was a ruse, a husband never followed his wife to refresh herself but the Darcys seemed intent of giving him and Jane a moment of privacy. Colonel Brandon instructed his butler to guide them to another parlour. Making sure the door was left ajar, he approached Miss Bennet who looked like she was about to swoon. Her pallor was frightfully pale. She clasped her hands together to disguise the trembling of her hands but he had noticed.
He wished she would raise her eyes from the floor, enabling him to gauge the reason for her visit.
He heard a whoosh of breath leave her mouth before she levelled those cornflower coloured orbs at him.
"Christopher, tell me at once, am I too late?"
XxX
"Do you think they will need much time?"
"I guess he will send his butler for us when Jane is ready to depart. We should not interfere."
"No, most definitely not."
They reverted into a comfortable silence. Mr Darcy taking her hand in his, absentmindedly stroking her knuckles with her thumb as they sat on Colonel Brandon's settee.
"Would this be the last of our obligations before we remove to Pemberley?"
"Should we not attend Mr Bingley's wedding?"
Mr Darcy groaned. "Do you foresee a lengthy engagement?"
"I have no idea but it will not be easier travelling back and forth, I would imagine."
"I am concerned that we will not make it at all, soon it will be too late."
"Of course, we will. I am all anticipation of returning to the beautiful grounds of Pemberley but I will not miss Mr Bingley's wedding, I believe it is important that we show our support."
"Yes, yes you are right as always. I am only thinking of your comfort during travel. We may add more and lengthier stops but it is two and a half days travel weather we use two and a half days or five."
"I am at perfect health Mr Darcy," Elizabeth retorted with a hint of exasperation in her voice. Mr Darcy's solicitousness towards her had gone from endearing to downright grating over the last few weeks. He regarded her as a delicate porcelain cup that was too precious to handle. It was all very vexing when the handling was what had brought this on in the first place.
"I am only..."
"Mr Darcy, I am not one of those delicate flowers who will brake at a glance. I am of sturdy country stock, we are grateful albeit your fatherly concerns are somewhat exaggerated."
"I have lost so many, Elizabeth. I have this ingrained fear that something sinister will happen to you or the babe. I am too happy, it may not last..."
Elizabeth's heart melted as she flaunted all propriety and plummeted herself on Mr Darcy's lap, cradling his head at her bosom.
"I am young, sprightly and of excellent health, if I may say so myself. I am not concerned! My mother has delivered five healthy babes although you might have to settle for a daughter and not the sought after heir."
"You are... I do not know have to put this politely. I apologise in advance for insulting you but you are short."
Elizabeth chuckled in his ear. Good, she was not insulted.
"I hate being the one to break it to you but you are rather tall, Mr Darcy. I am not that short and besides. My mother always told me I had wide hips, perfect for birthing children. I believe it is the feature on my person who made my mother the most proud. You know, she is rather looking forward to being a grandmother."
"Yes, the hints have not been subtle."
"No, I suppose they have not."
Mr Darcy let out a shuddering breath.
"Do you suggest we should tell her?"
"No! What threat to make, Mr Darcy. She would descend upon Pemberley and never leave. I assure you we will be heading north before my condition can no longer be hidden. I will inform my mother later, preferably after the babe is born in the dead of winter with impassable roads. I long as much as you for the solitude Pemberley provides. You and me, Mr Darcy, the sole polluters of Pemberley."
"And Georgiana..."
"Georgiana's sweet and un-intrusive nature counts for solitude, Mr Darcy. She will be busy with her masters."
Footsteps in the hall made Elizabeth slip off Mr Darcy's lap and seat herself demurely beside him as nothing untoward had happened. The steps passed, Elizabeth stole a glance at her husband who was fighting to suppress his mirth.
XxX
He slipped down on his good knee and took a wobbly stance where he had to support himself with a hand.
"Please, stand up, Christopher!"
"No, I want to do this properly."
Jane slipped from her chair and joined him on the knees on the floor.
"At least let me offer my support."
Colonel Brandon chuckled mirthlessly. "Stand up, Jane!"
Jane immediately obeyed, worried she had somehow offended him.
"I would not ask this of you had I not, at the bottom of my heart, harboured some small belief that you reciprocate my affections. Will you marry me, Jane? Please answer quickly, I do not know how long I can maintain this position."
The position was not the only issue. If he was to be jilted, he preferred to know sooner rather than later. With Mr Bingley out of the way, betrothed to Miss Marianne after a very swift courtship, was not the equivalent to Jane accepting his hand, she might have tired of them both.
His leg slipped, Jane launched for him but there was no way her lithe frame could save his much larger person from disgracing himself, ending up sprawled out on the floor. Unfortunately, Jane followed suit, landing on his chest with an oomph.
"Yes," she breathed. "A thousand times yes!"
"Are you celebrating our downfall or answering my question?"
"Can it be both?"
XxX
Elizabeth was resting her head on Mr Darcy's shoulder when a pandemonium reverberated through the house, a loud thump was followed by a clatter. Elizabeth was wide awake and on her feet in an instant.
"My goodness!"
She hastened out the door and down the hall, hence they had come from some fifteen minutes earlier. The sight that met her inside the door was not what she had envisioned before she entered.
Mr Darcy bumped her rear, not catching up with her abrupt halt on the threshold. Elizabeth folded her arms over her chest and cleared her throat.
"Unfathomable!"
Displayed on a heap on the floor lay her sister, on top of Colonel Brandon no less, kissing him rather passionately. To her eyes, it looked like her sister had jumped the man, throwing him off balance. His cane had slid away from the poor defenceless gentleman, leaving him with nothing to fend off his assailant.
Jane looked up and notice the additions to their party. Elizabeth's mouth was gaping, her eyes flickered wildly around the room.
Jane rose and offered her hand to the Colonel. He waved her away and hauled himself up in the chair Jane had just vacated. He remained seated and offered the newcomers and Jane to follow his example.
"Please, take a seat. I have an announcement to make."
Elizabeth turned to Jane who smiled radiantly. The sisters reached for each other's hands simultaneously, exchanging wordless communication.
"Miss Bennet has accepted me, we are to wed."
"I hope you are not inclined towards a lengthy engagement?" Mr Darcy enquired with hope in his voice.
Elizabeth elbowed him but he pretended not to notice.
"I might be of aid if you need a special license..."
"I will leave that decision up to Miss Bennet but I must add that I always envisioned a church wedding. A common license should suffice. Do you know the bishop, Mr Darcy?"
"Yes, he is my godfather."
Elizabeth looked between her husband and brother to be before she turned towards her sister who shrugged. She did not mind a swift wedding. She could use the gown she had purchased before when her wedding with Mr Bingley was supposed to have taken place, it was unused and lovely. Perhaps a small altercation could be made to fit her new wedding. The overlay of lace could be removed...
"I feel it is incumbent upon me to explain the circumstances which led to my abrupt departure from town before Christmas."
"I assure you, it is not necessary," Elizabeth hurriedly replied.
"It is!" Colonel Brandon was a soft-spoken man but you listened when his deep voice resonated through the room.
"Before I left town, I delivered some dreadful news to the Dashwood sisters, Miss Marianne in particular. I had discovered that her beau was the worst of libertines, I thought it was my responsibility to ensure their safe journey home since I was the bearer of the distressing news that forced them from town. While we travelled, Miss Marianne became grievously ill, I could not leave the sisters unattended. The Palmerstons has an infant son, they removed from Cleveland as soon as it became clear that Miss Marianne might be contagious.
Miss Marianne's fever broke but she was much reduced. I brought their mother about that time and escorted all the ladies home when Miss Marianne's health allowed it. Mrs Jennings is their next door neighbour but she was still in town. They had no one to support them as they are new to the area.
I mention this in confidence but the Dashwoods have been impoverished since Mr Dashwoods death, I could not, in good consciousness, leave when I knew Mrs Dashwood must manage on five hundred pounds a year. A recouping patient needs better nourishment than the ones of health and are more susceptible to relapse if it is cold and damp.
In addition, I believed that my absence might make it easier for Jane to decide if she wanted to marry Mr Bingley, without me hovering in the background.
With these words, you might wonder why I came to Hertfordshire in the first place. In my defence, I cannot imagine not seeking Jane out when I had word of her whereabouts. She has been constantly on my mind for the last seven years, firmly embedded in my heart, the thought of her existence a balm to my soul. I had to see if she was happy in her choice of husband, by what I saw I was not convinced. I also acknowledge that my presence added additional distress to Miss Bennet which made leaving slightly easier."
"Thank you, Colonel Brandon, for explaining so fully. We must be off but I wondered if I might persuade you to come to Darcy House for dinner this evening. Mr Bennet is still in residence while Mr Bingley is not invited."
"Thank you, Mr Darcy, I accept. Miss Bennet is of age but I would like to speak to Mr Bennet albeit a blessing might be too much to ask."
"I would not say that," Mr Darcy added as he rose and shook Colonel Brandon's hand. "He gave me his blessing and can I testify that my offences were substantial."
"I will keep that in mind."
After exchanging pleasantries, Jane, Mr Darcy and his wife left Ford House for Darcy House.
"I am inclined to like Colonel Brandon," Mr Darcy admitted after they had entered their carriage.
"He leaves me with a very good second impression as well, like another gentleman of our acquaintance."