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Chapter 42: Mrs. Pope is Not Who She Seems

I approached the front door alone and was met by a smiling Mrs. Hill. She noticed the flowers and observed, "I can tell you are a proper gentleman, Mr. Darcy, for bringing lovely flowers is how a man should go about courting. Miss Elizabeth is in the parlor with her father and Miss Mary. The rest are still dressing for dinner."

When I stepped through the parlor door, Miss Elizabeth hurried over to me. "I am so glad you are come." She grasped my arm and smiled up at me in a beatific manner that put all other women of my acquaintance to shame.

I imagined in that moment, having a hard day riding the estate and sorting out tenant matters, how lovely it would be to have her greet me in my home in such a way. Of course, I was hopeful that once we were married, I might merit a kiss, too, but perhaps not before the servants.

I held out the vase silently. "Oh, for me? How lovely! What a kind gesture." She took the vase and sniffed at the roses. "Ah yes, delightful. I do not think I have every received roses before, save once or twice when my father plucked one or two for me. I shall enjoy those roses greatly; shall think of you every time I see them." Her warm reception of them made all the fussing of the Netherfield staff worthwhile.

Of course, I believed her smile, which I returned, was more about our promised future than about the roses.

"Shall I take them to our room?" Miss Mary asked, and my darling consented, handing over the vase.

"Did you not previously share with Miss Bennet?" I asked, almost certain that I remembered her telling me she did.

"Yes, I used to, but one of Mrs. Pope's innovations was to suggest that we switch up rooms, to spend more time in one another's company. Currently, I am sharing with Mary, while Jane and Lydia stay together, and Kitty has her own room for once. I think it has been good for one and all. I did not know how convivial it would be to be share with Mary."

We walked back over to a sofa and chair. Miss Elizabeth sat in the chair, and I sat on the sofa, with Mr. Bennet resuming his seat on the other side. I realized then, to my embarrassment, that I had neglected to greet Miss Mary and Mr. Bennet, and remedied my oversight then at least to Mr. Bennet.

When Miss Mary reappeared, Mr. Bennet said, "I believe I can trust you under your proper sister's supervision. Can I not, Mary."

"But of course, Papa."

However, once Mr. Bennet was gone, Miss Mary relocated herself to the far side of the room and directed her eyes into reading a book. I then realized once again that I had neglected to greet her, but as she now seemed well occupied, now did not seem to be the time to speak with her, either.

Given the relative privacy we were afforded, from her position on the sofa, Miss Elizabeth reached out a hand for mine across the span of air betwixt the arm of the sofa and that of my chair. I gladly gave her my hand, noting how my large hand dwarfed hers.

"Mr. Darcy," she addressed me in a low tone, "I could hardly believe it when my father said we could indeed marry. I am so happy."

"As am I, my dearest darling," I paused to caress the back of her hand with my thumb, "all my dearest wishes are now fulfilled. When shall you wish to marry? I cannot wait for our life together to begin, but the length of our engagement I leave to your discretion."

"I must think upon it and not act just upon my own whim which matches your own." Miss Elizabeth placed her other hand upon the top of my hand that still held hers. "There is time enough to decide after my father's announcement."

Our sweet interlude was quickly interrupted when Miss Lydia burst into the room. I reluctantly released my love's hand.

Miss Lydia did not seem to have a care for what we were doing and marched straight to a position in front of her sister, even as I rose for Miss Lydia.

"Lizzy, may I borrow your necklace, the one the Gardiners gave you?" Miss Lydia asked. While the words were everything polite, I felt there might be more a demand than a request in her question.

"Thank you for asking. Yes Lydia," Miss Elizabeth replied. "Shall I fetch it for you?"

Miss Lydia looked down at her feet and then back behind her at someone whose steps I had heard but who was out of view, "Actually, I already took it from your room, but Mrs. Pope said taking it did not give me the right to wear it and she would keep it for you, unless you granted me leave to wear it."

"Did she now?" Miss Elizabeth asked.

I heard another voice say, "I hope you do not find that too high-handed of me, Miss Elizabeth, but I think proper manners are most important and the hallmark of a lady" and then a woman emerged, half obscured behind Miss Lydia. The voice sounded familiar, and I tried to place it as Miss Elizabeth responded.

Miss Elizabeth arose and said, "Not at all, it is so refreshing to have my sister show such good manners, what a wonder you are Mrs. Pope. Please allow me to introduce you to Mr. Darcy."

As Mrs. Pope stepped forward, I gasped in surprise. I knew her, could have never mistaken the woman before me with her distinctive golden hair, even though I had not seen her for a few years. She looked at me with very wide eyes, curtseyed and oddly enough filled the breach by introducing herself, "I am Mrs. Pope, I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Darcy."

"Likewise," I responded automatically, except I already knew her but not by that moniker.

"You must excuse me; I must see Mr. Bennet." I told the women. I did not wait for them to respond but hurried from the room. I needed to tell him that Mrs. Pope was not who she seemed. What he would do with that information I did not know.

Perhaps I acted rather precipitously by rushing off and squandering the time I had been allotted to spend with my love, but in that moment, it seemed a matter of some urgency to me. But after I was a few steps outside of the parlor I paused. I did not know where I should go to seek out Mr. Bennet.

As I stood and pondered what to do, Miss Elizabeth came after me. She looked concerned, I believe, but she asked me nothing and told me simply, "I shall show you the way to my father's book room. Can you come with us Mary?" Her sister accompanied us as we crossed to the other side of the house and paused before a closed door.

Before I could knock upon the door, Miss Elizabeth grabbed my arm more firmly and then gave me a comforting squeeze just as Georgiana might have done. She noted, "Mr. Darcy, you act as if you have had a fright" and then asked, "What on earth is wrong?"

I said half to her and half to myself, "It is very unexpected, and I do not know what ought to be done." I then added, "I wish to have no secrets from you, but this is more the province of your father. As head of this household, I wish to show him all proper respect."

I doubt she understood, but Miss Elizabeth nodded and said, "If that be the case you should speak to him." She beckoned me closer, so I leaned forward and downward. She held my arm a little tighter, went up on her toes and kissed my cheek before departing with her sister. I hardly had time to savor the sensation, knowing as I did that I needed to knock upon his door.

I rapped upon the door and Mr. Bennet bid me enter. As I stepped through the door and shut it behind myself, I noticed the room was packed full of books and papers on every available surface, save for one chair before his desk. Calling it a book room was apt. I could faintly hear the voices of others in the house, but they were softened into a kind of ocean sound, the perfect background sound for reading.

"Bored of my daughter's company already?" He asked, his mouth curling to one side. Then he set set down his book and he gestured to the open seat.

"Certainly not," I replied as I sat down, "but there is a matter I wish to discuss with you, a matter of some delicacy involving your daughters' new companion."

"Mrs. Pope is certainly a treasure," he opined, "and just what my daughters needed. I must admit that I had some doubts as to whom Lady Catherine would recommend after she selected my cousin Collins as her parson, but her judgment is redeemed with her orchestrating the hiring and delivery of Mrs. Pope with so little inconvenience to me."

"Mrs. Pope is not whom you think she is," I protested.

"I think she is a delightful governess in the guise of a companion."

I tried to explain but I hesitated in saying anything to condemn her, thus I settled for saying, "She may indeed be that, but her most recent profession would normally disqualify her from any respectable occupation, especially overseeing young ladies."

"What know you of her? Speak plainly man!"

I lowered my voice and said, "Until about a week ago, she went by the name of Sylvia and was my cousin's mistress. Her real name is Selina Vaughn and, originally, she was a governess for the Earl's daughters. A treacherous later employer stole her virtue and then she was forced to flee in disgrace when his wife found out. Having no options for gainful employment then, she was obligated to find a protector, and my cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam fulfilled that role. Due to threats the Earl made, she decided she wanted a new life. My cousin enlisted my aid in this endeavor, and we entrusted her to a friend's sister to take her far north of London and find her someone to marry. I have no idea how she ended up in Kent and recommended by my aunt to be a companion for your daughters."

His eyes grew wide, and his mouth dropped open, but then he snapped his jaws closed and looked the same as always, as if his last expression were but an illusion. "I suppose then I must find Lady Catherine's judgment to still be wanting. Do you believe Miss Vaughn poses an immediate danger to my family?"

This was not the reaction I was expecting. I thought he would move to throw her out and I would have to decide what aid I could give her without embroiling myself in scandal.

I considered carefully. "I doubt if anyone in Hertfordshire knows who she is but the two of us. She was an excellent governess. Indeed, my mother wished hire her to take on this same role for my sister; had circumstances been different, likely she would have been a governess for all the intervening years. I believe her to be genuine in trying to serve your family to the best of her ability. She well knows the hazards of men who take what a virtuous woman would never freely give."

Mr. Bennet then sat silently for what seemed like several minutes, apparently pondering what he should do. I could hear many voices in the house now with the lower rumble of male voices, leading me to believe that at least some of the other guests had arrived. "I suppose this matter will keep until tomorrow. I wish for no disruption now. Can you meet me then at three o'clock in the afternoon and tell me more? I believe we should go down now."

I nodded and followed him out of his book room and down the stairs.

When Mr. Bennet entered the parlor, he left the door ajar so I could enter after him. I took a moment to compose myself, but then hearing George Wickham's voice and my beloved's also, I paused further, curious, and then hearing my name, I firmly halted rather than entering.

Miss Elizabeth was saying ". . . Mr. Darcy improves on acquaintance."

George replied, "Indeed! And pray may I ask? Is it in address that he improves? Has he deigned to add aught of civility to his ordinary style? For I dare not hope," he paused and then when he continued in a quieter tone which I strained to make out over all the other voices in the room, "that he is improved in essentials."

"Oh, no!" Miss Elizabeth replied. "In essentials, I believe, he is very much what he ever was. When I said he improved on acquaintance, I did not mean that either his mind or manners were in a state of improvement, but from knowing him better, his disposition was better understood."

I rejoiced in believing that I understood her meaning, but I wondered if George did. I decided that was my cue to enter.

George looked up at me from his seat near Miss Elizabeth. They were both seated on opposite ends of a sofa with perhaps a foot and one half between them. His face looked a bit flushed. He got up, said, "Hello, Mr. Darcy," and then turned toward Miss Elizabeth and told her, "pray excuse me, I wish to greet our hostess."

The room was rather full, and every other seat was occupied, with many people standing as well. While I should have offered the now vacated seat to one of my elders who was still standing, I could not pass up the opportunity to take the seat George had vacated and sit on the same sofa with my beloved (although, naturally a respectful distance from her, much farther than our separation while in the same pew for those few glorious minutes until her father placed himself between us.

Miss Elizabeth and I looked at one another and then she said with a serious mien, "Did you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now?"

I understood from that, that she suspected I had heard their entire exchange. She waggled her eyebrows at me and we chuckled a bit together. I took up her hand; it was so natural for me to wish to hold it, whenever I could.

"Careful, Mr. Darcy," Miss Elizabeth whispered, leaning toward me across the empty space between us, "our company might begin to suspect you have some interest in me!"

"I would be perfectly happy for them to think that," I offered in return, giving her hand three squeezes.

Just then Mrs. Bennet swept up to us and began exclaiming, "Oh Mr. Darcy, you are here, you came, I am so very pleased! Does not our Lizzy look well?"

I stood up immediately, with regret releasing Miss Elizabeth's hand. I noted that I could see that George remained in the spot where Mrs. Bennet had abandoned him. He had a rather unpleasant frown upon his face as he said something inaudible to Captain Carter, doubtless some further poison about me. I determined not to give him another thought for how could he hurt me now, given that I was engaged?

"Should you not wish to sit down?" I asked my future mother-in-law.

"I would not dream of taking your seat, Mr. Darcy, I believe there is more than enough room for me to sit beside my daughter if she moves over a bit." She gestured her daughter into the middle spot, and Mrs. Bennet and I sat down on opposite ends.

While there was ample room for three, it was not really appropriate that as a gentleman I would have my thigh pressed against Miss Elizabeth's thigh, and her skirt overflowing above me. However, being that this was the woman I was going to marry, I did not object and was in fact delighted and let my arm rest along the back of the sofa, not quite embracing her but close enough to imagine it.

Soon it was time for dinner, and I was able to both escort Miss Elizabeth in and take a seat at her side. As we had so long ago at Rosings, we occasionally held hands under the table and once, when my hands were occupied, she squeezed my thigh with her hand. Oh, what a delightful sensation! I recall that on the whole the dishes were flavorful and the meats moist, but I could not tell you whether we ate venison or mutton afterward, for my attention was mostly focused on the lovely woman by my side, my future bride.

Although I was well distant from George, my eyes occasionally drifted over to observe him as I wondered if he would attempt to spread further rumors in the present company. I did not like seeing him whisper in Miss Lydia's ear, though no one else seemed to notice other than Miss Vaughn, who was sitting on her other side and pulled Miss Lydia close to whisper what I hoped was a rebuke.

We were just about to partake of dessert when, with a great show Mr. Bennet arose, held up his glass and requested, "Please join me in toasting to an upcoming marriage."

I could not help but recall when Lady Catherine had done something similar, leaving Miss Elizabeth both angry and flummoxed. But on this occasion, I believe we were both glad. Knowing what was coming, I felt proud that soon all would know who I would take to wife.

Mrs. Bennet loudly questioned, "Mr. Bennet, who is getting married?"

"Why, my dear," Mr. Bennet answered slowly, "it is Mr. Darcy and Lizzy who are engaged. Let us toast the future Mr. and Mrs. Darcy."

A loud squeal erupted from Mrs. Bennet, "I am so pleased, so happy! I knew you would see the sense in such a match if you thought about it with any of your so-called rationality. I always knew it would be so. From the first moment they met, I predicted such a match." She rattled on and on, speaking rapidly to all who might listen. Given how vigorously she talked, I did not even have a chance to express my thanks, as I had been prepared to do. It was not long after that, when Mr. Bennet led us men out and left Mrs. Bennet to crow further among the ladies.