Chapter 12 An Unpleasant Guest
The next morning, Elizabeth sent a note to her mother before she went on her morning constitutional. Jane was well enough to manage on her own, not that she had even awakened yet.
She had envisioned a longer stroll through the woodland but a bluish-grey Great Dane had other plans. He met her by the Magnolia with a stick in his mouth and sorrowful eyes. Elizabeth had not the heart to pass up his silent request and took the stick from his mouth and threw it as far as she could manage. The dog bolted towards the stick and returned happily back to drop the stick at her feet whilst barking and wagging his tail.
"Hush, you will awaken the entire house. Come, let us move a little away from right below the windows."
The dog seemed to understand and walked happily at her side with his eyes fixed on her countenance. He was uncommonly attentive. The mutt at home would have paid attention to the stick, not the carrier. He certainly made a pleasant walking companion.
A refreshing stroll in the garden later, Elizabeth went to the library with the books she had borrowed from Mr Bingley's meagre selection. He was not much of a reader it would seem...
She did not notice Mr Darcy at first. He sat eerily still, staring unseeingly into the tome in his hands. Deep in thought, he had not even noticed her arrival.
Her heart went out for him. The burden he carried with his estate, the expectations of his family and his inherent care for his sister must weigh heavily on his shoulders.
Elizabeth had expected a fight to ensue when the Wickhams descended upon them but Mr Darcy seemed to deal with everything in a rational and calm manner. Perhaps with the exception of their encounter at Gretna Green. His masque had crumbled on that occasion but she had been particularly provoking. She could easily pardon his conduct on that occasion. Hers had been no less questionable...
Her pride in her abilities to discern character and his prejudice against those below him in consequence. No! She could not claim it. He had not shown any form of superiority on their travel home nor at Pemberley. It must be her personally, he did not like. The thought made her draw a sharp breath of air which inevitably alerted Mr Darcy to her presence.
"Excuse me, Mr Darcy. It was not my intention to disturb your solitude."
She hastened to put away the books and turned hastily out of the room to leave the master of Pemberley in peace.
XxX
Mrs Bennet had brought with her all of their younger sisters, they were currently taking over the Netherfield parlour with their exaggerated praise of the house. Elizabeth cringed but tried not to give any outward appearance of it.
She had to conjecture, out of thin air, some nonsense about poetry driving away love to avert the attention from her mother's ramblings on one of Jane's supposedly lost suitors. Mr Darcy had rightfully questioned the validity of such an absurd notion. She felt she had reined herself in nicely, not that she had fooled Mr Darcy. It was preferable he thought her a little light in the head compared to letting her mother continue unchecked. Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst were already sending each other clandestine glances, rolling their eyes.
Lydia even had the audacity to beg for a ball. Mr Bingley immediately welcomed the notion, shortly followed by Miss Bingley who proclaimed it should be a ball in the honour of the newlyweds. Her acquaintances from London were likely to stir from their pleasurable haunts in town if she could get the distinction of hosting the first ball in Mr and Mrs Wickham's honour.
Mrs Bennet was flummoxed as a ready to depart Jane entered the parlour before her mother had the time to visit her in the sickroom. Served as a fait accompli, she had not much choice but begrudgingly allow her daughters home.
The Bennet sisters showed their gratitude towards Mr Bingley and thanked him heartily for his hospitality while he escorted Jane safely to the Bennet carriage.
XxX
Their respite lasted a day before the dreaded cousin, Mr Collins, arrived at Longbourn. He immediately sought out Elizabeth as his future companion. Elizabeth strongly suspected her mother had something to do with him choosing her over Jane, her mother was not a soft whisperer...
She soon found herself on his arm, heading for Meryton and her aunt Phillips. Even her mother had tired of his incessant chatter about his esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and wanted him out of the house forthwith. Her daughters were excellent sacrificial lambs in this respect and she had no qualms in foisting him upon her sister, Mrs Phillips. Meryton's mistress of knowledge, the one to turn to if you were wondering what your neighbours were doing...
They arrived in Meryton where the militia had become a familiar feature in the few days they had camped on Flynn's western field.
Kitty and Lydia ran ahead to greet Captain Carter and Lieutenant Chamberlain, two particular favourites of theirs. Both Elizabeth and Jane tried to stop them but not much could derive their attention from the young lads. Certainly not two older, boring sisters and a ridiculous parson.
A movement to her left caught her eyes and her ears. The Wickhams were quarrelling around the corner from the square but their voices carried the short span.
"...it is only for a while, Georgiana. You know I cannot support the both of us on a Captain's salary. Besides, your friends seem happy with your company."
"Of course, but I hate being apart from you."
"I know, my love. It is difficult but it has to be endured."
Well, not a quarrel exactly. More of a complaint, really. She wondered if she would ever feel bereft without someone at her side. At the moment, running away felt the safest option where matters of the heart were concerned.
Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy came riding towards them. Mr Bingley reined in his horse the moment he laid eyes on Jane who had just reached Lydia's and Kitty's side by the officers. The admonishment she was about to deliver died on her lips as soon as she spotted the interest of her heart. She blushed at the thought of Bingley overhearing her and curtsied low to hide her countenance.
Mr Darcy, however, had his eyes fixed over Elizabeth's companions head.
Mr Wickham came strolling with his sister on his arm, smiling and greeting everyone as dear friends. The strange creature attached to Miss Elizabeth made some awkward remarks. Presenting himself as the heir to Longbourn to Mr Wickham. The Bennet sisters did not protest so it must be true, although he must be the heir presumptive rather than the heir apparent. Yet, he wore a parson's collar which meant he must be ordained. Mr Wickham took an eager interest at once, inquiring if he knew any vacancies or if indeed his was about to be vacant. Mr Collins, as his name was, had little feeling and proclaimed he would not become so until Mr Bennet passed. What an utterly horrible utterance to perform in front of the gentleman's daughters. Elizabeth wrenched her hand from Mr Collins tight grip and declared she had contracted a sudden headache and would return home. Mr Collins offered to escort her home but she declined stating her aunt would feel bereft of an introduction should he turn so close to her threshold. Mr Collins offered profuse compliments to Elizabeth's forethought. The lady herself seemed unimpressed by the praise and left rather abruptly.
Elizabeth was fighting back tears and hastened her steps away from her current company. As soon as she was out of sight of the town square, she veered off from the road onto a path. Preferring not to encounter anyone. Mr Collins's marked attention had left her with no illusions towards his purpose. No hints of her disinterest seemed to curb him. The thought of being courted by the toad when she knew a much better-suited man existed, was abhorrent to her.
In addition, the crestfallen look on Mr Darcy's countenance when his sister and Mr Wickham joined them had cut her deeply. It was like he then and there had acknowledged his defeat. Shattering his hopes and dreams for his sister. It was heart-wrenching to watch. That no one else had not noticed was unfathomable.
She dearly hoped Mr Bingley would stay in the area but her rational mind wanted Mr Darcy to leave. Her upset equanimity was getting harder to conceal, her fraught emotions ran high when the sight of his pain could render her so unstable and unsuitable for company.
She was on the summit of Oakham Mount without even noticing how she got there. Blinded by tears she lowered herself to the ground at the foot of a massive oak. With her back against the sturdy trunk, she rested her head in her hands. She had to stop this self-torture. Perhaps marrying Mr Collins was not so bad? It would take her away from Hertfordshire and Kent was nowhere near Derbyshire.
XxX
He did not know why he had followed her other than it was a gentlemanly thing to do. One should make sure an ailing lady arrived safely at home when suffering. Albeit she had not ventured home but veered off into the forest which was by no means a shortcut to her home. Indignant, he guessed she had lied to escape a tiresome company and a dreaded tea engagement. He halted Swiftsilver, still concealed by the trees. He should turn around but something in the set of her shoulders made him wary. She had nothing of the exuberance she had exhibited one the morning of her departure. Frolicking in the garden with his Great Dane, Tempest. He had two others at home. The black male Blaze and the white bitch Frost but he never travelled anywhere without Tempest if he could help it. The dog took to Miss Elizabeth like she was a meaty bone, except he had not chewed on her... The blasted dog had even escorted her to the carriage when she departed, he knew because he had been observing from a window on the first floor. The dog had actually whined when the carriage had disappeared out of sight. He had to run down the stairs and rein him in or the mongrel would have followed Miss Elizabeth home. The dog had been utterly bewitched by a lady he had just met. Unheard of...
Elizabeth reached the summit. For some reason, he had come to expect some sort of celebratory performance for escaping so easily. Instead, she leaned on the large oak stem and sank to the ground. Hid her head in her hands whilst her shoulders shook. It was far from the picture he had envisioned and completely out of her character.
Rightfully, she had cried in his presence but those were angry tears. He somehow surmised that these were not...
What could have brought this despair to her lithe frame?
His thoughts went back to their recent encounter in Meryton's square. She had seemed her usual self, perhaps a bit vexed but not sorrowful. The toadying parson had paid her marked attention, could he had forced himself on her in some way? No, he could not imagine Elizabeth tolerate his company if it had been so. What was it the ridiculous man had pronounced? He was the heir to Longbourn...
Where they promised to each other or perhaps even betrothed? It would be considered a blessing to a family of five unmarried daughters of an entailed estate to secure their position at Longbourn but why Elizabeth? Jane was the eldest and the most beautiful if one could overlook the eyes and the softness of her hair, curves... Better not let his mind wander there.
Jane seemed more malleable and sweet, she always smiled serenely. While Elizabeth had a wild streak in her character that came forth when she thought no one was looking. Like the last time he had encountered her on Oakham Mount, running like a hoyden down the steep slope. Risking life and limbs for the thrill of it or avoiding him. She could have seen him approaching and fled.
He had seen her angry. Not on her own behalf but Georgiana's. Slights towards her own person were fended off with a sweet archness, leaving her opponent blissfully unaware they had just been insulted. He almost chuckled at Miss Bingley who had preened at what she perceived as praise.
He had to admit it was masterfully done.
He had seen her happy, especially when Jane and her father had arrived at Pemberley, when she first lay her eyes on his magnificent library (her words not his) and when she was allowed to venture out of doors after her bout of illness. The latter he could sympathies with, he loathed being cooped up inside, especially if he was ill.
He had seen her serious and contemplative. Most of her time spent at Netherfield, she appeared restrained and thoughtful.
Elizabeth rose from the ground and brushed off her skirts. He reverted deeper into the woodland to avoid being seen but her gaze was trained in another direction, Netherfield. She must have seen something as she exclaimed loud enough for her voice to carry to where he stood.
The traitorous son of a...
Quite literally.
A blueish-grey, massive beast was running up the hill. Elizabeth needed hardly bend to hug him while she laughed gaily. The bloody mutt had run away from home for the first time since he got him. What was it Miss Elizabeth had that made him forget years of training and run off like a beast in heat? She must have bewitched him, there was no other explanation.
He dragged Swiftsilver through the thicket and came out when he was on the Netherfield side of the path. He mounted and spurred Swiftsilver into a brisk gallop worthy of his stallion's name. Tempest was about to get his ears waxed...
He must have looked as angry as he felt because Miss Elizabeth withdrew a few paces when he arrived at the summit.
"Tempest!"
He expected him to come to his side in an instant but the beast had the audacity to flick his teeth at him. He jumped off his steed and grabbed his collar.
"Naughty boy are you? Running away to frolic with the pretty lady?"
Mr Darcy quirked an eyebrow to his dog that had the wherewithal to look contrite.
"I am sorry, Miss Elizabeth, I shall drag this disobedient rascal home and put a leash on him until he learns not to run away. He has never done it before so I have indulged him and let him run loose. It will not happen again."
He dared a glance at her. Her eyes were red-rimmed and her cheeks had red blotches.
"No harm was done, Mr Darcy. He is a charming lad, I have become quite taken with him since I stayed at Netherfield. We may have frolicked in the garden at one point. I hope you do not mind."
"I have nothing against frolicking, Miss Elizabeth, but I am vexed he ran away. I have trained him for years and thought he knew better."
Tempest hung his head as he had understood everything he said.
"Oh come now, Mr Darcy. Look how apologetic he is..."
"I doubt you would excel as dog trainer, Miss Elizabeth. If you cannot withstand a pair of remorseful eyes."
"On the contrary, I believe you get further with the sweet than the sour, Mr Darcy. The dog aims to please."
"As he should, it is I who feed him."
Elizabeth regarded him intently. Perhaps he had come across as somewhat unfeeling towards his dog but he dearly loved the monster despite him not being in his good graces at the moment.
Tempest dropped to the ground and put his paw over his eyes. A trick he had learned as a youngster would melt his owner's heart. Darcy could not retain the chuckle that escaped his throat.
"Oh my! Turning to theatrics are we. I must investigate if they have an opening on Drury Lane for an oversized mongrel with a penchant for mischief."
Elizabeth hunched down and scratched his neck. The dog turned slowly to his back so that her hand could touch his belly where he wanted the most to be rubbed. Darcy was surprised he did not smile wickedly when she complied.
"You are spoiling my dog, Miss Elizabeth."
"He deserves it for being such a charming gentleman."
Elizabeth rose and curtsied. "I have to return home. Thank you for letting me indulge your dog. He is very friendly and utterly adorable."
"I am sure it was his pleasure, Miss Elizabeth. Gooday!" Darcy bowed and turned to descend the hill. He had to call out to Tempest twice to make him follow himself and not the tempting lady. Perhaps she had food in her pocket, the mutt did have an impressive appetite.