A/N
Chapter 14 – Hope you enjoy.
Thank you, readers, for all your feedback and engagement with the story.
To Lisa – As always, thank you so much for your kind help.
A Little Magic Chapter 14The next morning when Darcy came back from his morning ride, he was strangely reluctant to enter the morning room for breakfast. He was unsure of the outcome of the showdown that would have certainly taken place between the Bingley and his sisters last night. And while it was Miss Bingley's despicable behaviour that was responsible for the fracas, he still felt guilty for being the unwitting cause of the discord between them. He peeked inside the morning room and spied a morose Bingley sitting alone and drinking, what, from its appetizing smell appeared to be very strong coffee.
As if sensing his presence, Bingley turned his head and glanced towards the door. "Good morning, Darcy," he said with wan smile.
"Good morning, Bingley. You look tired. I hope everything is well?" Darcy felt foolish as soon as the words were out of his mouth. Last night the poor man had come to know that his sister was planning to compromise a friend staying under his roof... and had valiantly decided to confront her, when confrontations were not his thing at all. Of course, things were not well.
Bingley shrugged. "As well as can be expected, Darce." Darcy waited for Bingley to elaborate as he filled a plate for himself from the sideboard. He was rarely interested in foraging for details about someone else's personal matters, even if that someone was a close friend. However, he was directly concerned with the outcome of last night's discussions and he wished his friend would hurry up and share the pertinent information.
Fortunately, Bingley did not keep him in suspense for too long. "Caroline and I are going to London today. I hope to leave by midday if Caroline is ready," he said abruptly as Darcy was seating himself next to him.
"Oh?" Darcy felt an immediate lowering of anxiety. 'Thank God, I will no longer have to keep looking over my shoulder all the time,' he thought with grim satisfaction. "Umm... was it... that is... did Miss Bingley accept that what she was planning to... ah..." Feeling awkward he left the statement unfinished.
For a moment a mischievous twinkle appeared on Bingley's eyes and he let out a snort. "She could do nothing else when the first thing Louisa did on entering Caro's chamber was to advise her to give up on her ill-thought-out plan with all the sincerity at her disposal. I have rarely found Louisa to be so very convincing about any argument that she puts forth, and I have you to thank for it," Bingley said with a reminiscent smile.
"Me?" Darcy asked in puzzlement.
"Yes, you, or rather your ferocious and very convincing diatribe about banishing scheming wives to Scotland with a single servant for company, forever and ever. I believe it not only made Caro realize the futility of her plan, but it truly put the fear of God in poor Louisa." Bingley shook his head with a rueful smile, then elaborated, "Last night I first went to Louisa to get her to open up about Caro's schemes to er... force your hand. To my relief, I soon found that she was almost eager to admit that Caroline had indeed concocted such a plan. It also did not need much persuasion for her to accept that the ill-advised plan could only bring misery to our sister and ignominy to us all – given the strong sentiments you had expressed.
So, when I asked her talk Caro out of her plan, she was very willing to do so," Bingley admitted and closed his eyes on a deep sigh. "And why only her, anyone who saw your angry fulminating last evening would do the same. God, Darce, you scared even me when I know what a kind soul you are."
After a while of silence, Darcy could not help asking, "How... how did Miss Bingley take it?"
The faint smile on Bingley's face vanished at the question and he shook his head. "I really do not understand her, Darce," he said. His expression was a strange mixture of bewilderment and anger, and once again Darcy felt a completely unreasonable stab of guilt. 'It is not me, but Miss Bingley and her shameless greed which is responsible for Bingley's confusion,' he reminded himself.
"It shames me to tell you how truly unrepentant she was." Bingley sat quietly for a moment then burst out, "You know, Darce, she was not at all remorseful about what she was planning to do! No shame... no regret. According to her, she was saving you from yourself and... the talons of the greedy Eliza!" Bingley's expression turned satirical as he added, "And the fact that in the process she was going to marry one of the most eligible bachelors in the kingdom was just incidental. I suppose it was a reward for her selflessness."
Before Darcy could come up with any sort or response, Bingley muttered, "And I do not understand why she has got this bee in her bonnet about you being in danger from Miss Elizabeth's wiles. As far as I remember you and she cannot sit in a room for a few moments without arguing and going for each other's jugul..." he broke off abruptly as he saw Darcy's expression. "My God! I really have been blind... and... and not only to Caro's faults. Now I understand why Darce was so furious about Wainwright being forced into marriage by the Shadworths... as if... it was a personal blow to him!"
Bingley cleared his throat and tried to be nonchalant. "Ah... I did try to raise with her the small matter of you having a say in your choice of bride, but it seems that was not as important as preventing you from making a colossal mistake," he said ironically.
"So, this disagreement is why she is leaving for London? I assume that you will be coming back since only the two of you are going?"
"Oh yes, I will hopefully be back the day after the morrow." Bingley answered the latter part of the question, then sighed as Darcy still looked at him expectantly. "I suppose it would be best if I make a clean breast of things. Darcy deserves to know," he thought resignedly.
"The long and the short of it is, Darce, that the only thing Caroline accepted was the futility of her plans, given the threats... er... views that you had expressed. She was neither willing to concede that she had crossed a line which no decent person should, nor was she willing to accept that she was doing you a great disservice. That left me with no option but to ask her to... ah... take some time to herself and... contemplate on her behaviour." Bingley blanched as he remembered Caroline's extreme reaction to his dictate. "You would be proud of me, Darce, if you knew how I stood firm against a most violent temper tantrum. Even the sacrifice of my favourite wine glasses did not deter me."
Darcy's lips twitched at Bingley's musings. 'Of course, I am proud of you, Bingley... and very grateful that you stood firm against a raging Miss Bingley. Replacing your wineglasses is the least I can do as a token of my gratitude... Hurry up and get betrothed to Miss Bennet so that I have a valid excuse to give you a gift.'
Darcy came out of his reverie to hear Bingley say, "I will be leaving Caro with my Aunt Hardy. She is planning to travel to Scarborough next week to stay for a couple of months with her daughter, Minerva, who is enceinte. Caroline has agreed to go along with her. Fortunately, Caro and Minerva were quite thick when they were younger." Bingley summarized succinctly. "Minerva has quite a good head on her shoulders, I truly wish that Caroline will benefit from her time with our cousin," Bingley added, more in hope than out of a genuine belief.
For a few moments there was silence in the room broken only by the sounds of cutlery in use, as both friends applied themselves to the food. It was only as they were taking a temporary leave of each other, when Bingley exclaimed, "Oh, I nearly forgot... I must get Louisa to write a letter to Miss Bennet, conveying Caro's farewell and explaining my absence for these two days."
"Ah... I can deliver the letter to Miss Bennet, if it all right with you," Darcy offered immediately. When Bingley gave him a surprised glance he added, "I just thought I will make myself scarce while you and Miss Bingley make your preparations for the journey..."
"Of course, and what better place than Longbourn to make your way to?" Bingley's eyes glinted with unholy amusement for a moment, but he only replied with a noncommittal, "I do understand your compulsions, Darce. I will ask Louisa to get that letter delivered to your room."
As they reached the door of the morning room, Darcy observed a sullen looking Matthew and suddenly asked Bingley, "By the by, Bingley, I hope you have rescinded the order to fire that poor maid from yestereve. I do feel somewhat responsible for the mayhem that took place... and it was hardly the poor woman's fault, you know..."
"Of course, it was not. I was planning to tell Mrs Nicholls to not let the maid go... but I forgot in all the racket last night. I will inform Mrs Nicholls immediately."
"Hmm... Good. In the meantime, I suppose the girl would be happy to know that there is reprieve on the way," Darcy murmured. As Bingley looked at him uncomprehendingly, he hailed Matthew, "Matthew, would you mind locating that maid who was involved in the unfortunate accident yesterday? Kindly inform her that she is to remain here and Mrs Nicholls will be talking to her soon."
"Oh, Thank ye God! Polly will dance with joy..." "Of course, Mr Darcy, I will go immediately." Matthew turned away, barely remembering to make a bow before he left.
"To look at his smile, you would think it is him who got the reprieve," Bingley said with a puzzled shrug, then waved a casual farewell to Darcy as he too went on his way.
Darcy turned to observe Matthew hurrying away at a breakneck speed. 'If you are unable to put this opportunity to good use, Matthew, then I wash my hands off you,' he thought with an amused smile.
~~~§~~~
When Elizabeth entered the breakfast room, she found that her father had finally decided to grace them with his presence at the dining table. It was not something she did consciously, but she found that her happiness diminished as the hurt she had been carrying inside for the past few days resurfaced once again. Her parents, Jane, Mary, and Mr Collins were with her at the table this morning - Lydia and Kitty seemed to have overslept. While no one had explicitly talked about Elizabeth's disappointment with her father, all those present were aware of her feelings - except of course, Mr Collins. As a result, a strange feeling of discomfort prevailed in the room.
In an attempt reduce the tension, Mr Bennet enquired about their visit to the castle the day before. Usually, it would have been Elizabeth who would have regaled her father with some anecdote or the other, but today it was left to Jane to answer once the silence following the query had stretched for an uncomfortably long time. Next Mr Bennet addressed few common place remarks directly to Elizabeth, she answered politely enough, but the responses lacked her usual joie de vivre and warmth. Mrs Bennet soon noticed that apart from Mr Collins who was happily gobbling the eggs and the chops, everyone else's appetites were suffering due to the unfortunate situation. Taking the matter into her own hands, she started talking about the musical soiree Lady Lucas was hosting in two days' time. While the topic did lift the general mood around the table, Mr Bennet remained silent for rest of the meal.
~~~§~~~
Following breakfast, Jane and Elizabeth proceeded to their mother's morning room – Elizabeth to write a letter to her Aunt Gardiner and Jane to try and finish the sampler she was working on. Mary and Mr Collins opted for a stroll in the garden adjoining the morning room. Since their mother believed that the standards of propriety were being met so long as the couple outside were visible from the French windows, the elder sisters were not expected to act as chaperons. Both were grateful.
Elizabeth looked up from her letter and glanced at Jane who had shifted in her seat for the fourth time in less than ten minutes. The sampler lay forgotten on her lap as she stared out of the window. Rather than the couple strolling in the garden, her gaze was glued to the pathway from the Longbourn gate. Elizabeth looked at the ormolu clock on the mantlepiece and smiled. 'It would appear Mr Bingley promised to visit us today.' Although she was amused at Jane's obvious impatience, a faint feeling of anticipation rose in her breast also as the realization dawned that Mr Bingley would most probably be accompanied by his friend. Without truly understanding why she should suddenly start feeling more cheerful, she decided to tease her sister a little. "I never knew you took your chaperoning duties so seriously, Jane."
"Whatever are you talking about, Lizzy?" Jane's puzzlement was apparent.
"Well, you have been staring out of the window for the past five minutes without blinking even once. I assumed you were keeping Mary and our cousin under strict observation." Elizabeth paused for effect then added sotto voce, "But perhaps it is the path from our main gate that draws your keen attention."
Jane shook her head when she saw the mischievous twinkle in her sister's eyes. "Oh, so you find me funny, do you, Lizzy? Beware, sister dear, one day not so far in the future you might find yourself developing a keen interest in the path from the Longbourn gate," she warned mock seriously before picking up her sampler once again.
"I do not see that happening anytime soon, Jane," Elizabeth declared airily as she bent down to re-read the letter she had written once again before sealing it. It was only then that she realized with a twinge of shock that a goodly portion of the letter was dedicated to Mr Darcy - about how his uncharacteristic actions had saved her from a dire situation. There appeared to be almost an element of adulation in the tenor of her writing and she chewed at the end of her quill anxiously. 'Aunt Madeline will be very much baffled by my sudden volte-face. In my previous letter I had been so very critical of him!' For a moment, she contemplated tearing up the letter and writing another one with a more prosaic accounting of the events of the past few days, but after a little thought decided against it. 'I had not pulled any punches while disparaging him earlier, it is then only fair that now I show my approbation as unreservedly,' she thought with a wry twist of her lips and folded the letter.
Just then Mr Bennet entered the parlour. The occurrence was rare enough for the sisters to share a surprised glance.
"I was looking for a game of chess, if one of you would be so kind to oblige," he asked a little abruptly.
Although he had addressed the question to both his daughters, it was clear he was looking for an answer from Elizabeth. It had not been easy for him to observe his Lizzy's eyes so full of hurt and accusation at the breakfast earlier today. He had wanted to tell her of the circumstances that had forced his hand and to beg her pardon – and hopefully see the pain vanish from her eyes. But he found that he really could not put that additional burden on her and the rest of his family. By some strange quirk of fate, things had started looking up for them. Collins' preference had thankfully changed and more importantly Mary appeared happy with his attentions. In fact, the whole family appeared much happier suddenly. He could not then blight their happiness by revealing his illness, especially when Jones had not given him any definitive answers. 'No... I will have to show my repentance to Lizzy in some other way,' he had decided and had come here just now with that thought in mind. Unfortunately for him, the sting of betrayal was too painful for Elizabeth to consider his awkward attempts at rapprochement with even a tiny bit of sympathy.
It was left to Jane to come to her father's rescue when Elizabeth's rejection of his overtures became embarrassingly clear. "Oh, I was getting quite bored with my embroidery, Papa, and would like to try my hand at a game," she said heartily as she went to him and looped her hand around his arm.
'My ever-kind-hearted Jane,' Mr Bennet thought as he affectionately patted her hand. "Then let us start," he said with a smile.
The board had just been set when Hill announced the arrival of Mr Darcy. All the three occupants of the morning room looked at him with completely varied emotions. Jane's disappointment was the most obvious as she realized that once again Mr Darcy had come calling on his own. "Oh, why has he not come after promising me that he would. I hope nothing untoward has happened." Therefore, it was her concern that Darcy addressed first after exchange of greetings.
"Bingley could not come here today as there was a sudden change in his plans. In a short while from now, he is to accompany Miss Bingley to their aunt's home in London. It seems Miss Bingley's cousin has requested her presence in Scarborough for some time, and Miss Bingley is very eager to fulfil her wish," he explained, then took out a letter from his pocket and offered it to Jane Bennet. "I think this letter from Mrs Hurst will make everything much clearer," he added as his glance flicked to Mr Bennet who was following the exchange of the letter with a wry look.
"Who would have thought that one day we would have the great Mr Darcy so eager to act as an errand boy,"
Darcy's eyes widened a little as he heard the other man's musings. 'At least his illness does not seem to have effected Mr Bennet's wit and temperament in any manner,' he thought ruefully as he turned his gaze finally to the person on whom it had wanted to rest, from the moment he entered the room.
"... hope the cousin knows what she is doing. Although, the grateful blessings we all in Meryton will be sending her way just might provide her with the safeguard she most definitely would be needing." Darcy's lips quirked even as Elizabeth looked up from the letter in her sister's hand and turned her gaze fully on him.
The lovely smile of welcome that broke on her face was like a balm after Miss Bennet's disappointment and Mr Bennet's satirical musings. It reminded him why he had so eagerly volunteered to be the 'errand boy'.
"Jane, my dear, we will play chess some other time. I think you better read your letter now in case you would want to send a reply with Mr Darcy."
With a grateful nod, Jane Bennet excused herself. At the door she turned back to address Darcy. "Will... Miss Bingley still be there when you return to Netherfield?" Darcy, who earlier had no intention to head back to Netherfield before the Bingleys had departed, looked at the hopeful look in Miss Bennet's eyes and released a resigned sigh. "I believe so, Miss Bennet. Give your message to me and I will try to see that she receives it," he replied.
Once she left, Darcy turned his head and found Mr Bennet absentmindedly fiddling with a rook on the chessboard. "Oh... Lizzy... how will I gain your forgiveness when I am not at liberty to reveal my compulsions." Darcy observed the other man's drooping shoulders and addressed him, "Would you be interested in a game, Mr Bennet?"
Before Mr Bennet could reply, Mrs Bennet entered the morning room along with the housekeeper carrying the tea things. "Mr Bennet, Mr Jones is here to see you. He is waiting in your study,"
"Oh, it completely slipped my mind that he was to visit today... Mr Darcy, I am sorry but I will have to take you up on that offer to play chess some other time," Mr Bennet said as he took his leave of them.
"Papa... why is Mr Jones visiting again so soon? He was here only last week. Is... is everything well?" The concern in Elizabeth's words was plain for all to hear.
Mr Bennet smiled at her and replied, "Of course, everything is well, Lizzy. Jones had promised to share a new recipe that would supposedly help me fight with the gout I often suffer from. Let us see how effective this one is." Darcy noticed that Mr Bennet walked a little straighter as he left the room.
All of a sudden it struck him that some ties in world came with their own special strengths. How ever much they were battered by the sharp-edged attacks of disappointment, hurt, or betrayals, somehow, they never did fray completely. While it was obvious that Elizabeth had as yet not forgiven her father for what she considered as his betrayal, still the close ties between them appeared to hold strong. In his own case too, both Georgie and his father had disappointed him when they had chosen to trust Wickham, but the bonds between them had easily withstood the assault of the resulting hurt.
"Lizzy, offer some tea and cakes to Mr. Darcy." Mrs Bennet's voice brought him out of his reverie.
He opened his mouth to inform Elizabeth that he did not take sugar in his tea, but kept quiet when he saw her give the pot of sugar a miss.
"What is all this I am hearing about Mr Bingley travelling to London, Mr Darcy?" Mrs Bennet enquired.
He explained the situation once again and the good lady immediately asked, "But he is coming back to Meryton, is he not?"
"Yes, madam, he should most probably be back in two days' time," he replied as he took the plate that Elizabeth was offering him. Not only did the tea appear exactly as he liked, but she had also chosen to offer him one of his favorite cakes from the available assortment. The possibility that she might have taken the trouble to notice his preferences made him feel strangely cheerful. By the time she came back with her own plate, he had ascertained that the tea was exactly as he liked also in taste, and he found himself blurting the fact even before she had seated herself in a nearby chair.
"Thank you for the excellent tea, Miss Elizabeth. By some strange coincidence, it is exactly how I like it," 'Lord, why am I behaving like a gushing schoolboy in his first throes of love,' he asked himself in mortification and pat came the answer, 'You might not be a schoolboy, Darcy, but you definitely are in your first throes of love.'
"Well, it is no coincidence, Mr Darcy. You forget that I am a studier of character and one skill that activity requires is an ability to minutely observe those around me," Elizabeth replied lightly.
Darcy might have felt deflated by her prosaic explanation had he not heard her immediate thoughts. "But then why do I not know how Mr Bingley likes his tea or which cake is Mr Collins' favourite?" Darcy observed the disconcerted expression on her countenance with no small amount of satisfaction and then listened in delight as once again her wit came to her rescue. "Perhaps because every possible cake in the world is Mr Collins' favourite?"
It appeared as if her flippant argument hardly brought her any satisfaction because she immediately changed the subject. "Yesterday Kitty told me how you kindly helped her with her sketch, Mr Darcy, and none of us knew that we have such a great artist among us."
Darcy gave her a suspicious look fearing that she was being facetious, but her expression was sincere as were her musings. "He must be really good if the manner in which Kitty praised him last evening is anything to go by."
"I believe Miss Catherine was overly kind to me, Miss Elizabeth. I am no great artist. But yes, I do like to paint once in a while. Many a time when I am unable to express my emotions through words then my paints and brushes often come to my rescue." As he observed the sudden intent look in her eyes it felt very much like he was baring his soul to her and he glanced away from her hurriedly.
"Then I truly hope that one of these days I get to see some of your conversations with yourself," Elizabeth said softly. When Darcy glanced at her once again, she added smilingly, "Specially the one you consider your masterpiece."
Darcy stared at her beautiful face - her green eyes shining like jewels and her lovely smile enveloping in its warmth and replied gruffly, "I am yet to paint it."
"Umm... yet to paint what, Mr Darcy?" she asked in confusion.
"My masterpiece."
"Oh... In that case I wish you would paint it soon and that I will get to see it."
"I hope so too," he replied as he rose to place his plate on a nearby table. Elizabeth was curious to observe the fervency in his tone and the faint colour on his cheekbones. 'Mr Darcy appears quite enthusiastic about this masterpiece of his. I wonder what it is that he...'
Before she could speculate further on it or quiz Mr Darcy about it, Mary and Mr Collins entered the parlour. With Mr Collins near his revered patroness's nephew it was soon difficult for anyone else to get access to the said nephew. A little while later, Jane also returned with her letter for Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst and, as per his promise to her, Darcy rose to go soon after in order to deliver it to Miss Bingley before she left.
"We hope to see you all in the soiree at Lucas lodge, Mr Darcy," Mrs Bennet called out as he reached the door.
"I am sure Bingley will be back by then, Mrs Bennet, but even if he is not, all of us who remain here will most definitely be in need of some entertainment. So, you will be seeing at least the three of us," Darcy replied with a graceful smile.
Elizabeth stared at the charming man beside her smiling at her mother and pondered in confusion. 'How can anyone change so drastically? It really is not normal!'
~~~§~~~
As Darcy passed outside the open window of Mr Bennet's study, he heard Mr Jones taking his leave of Mr Bennet. What he heard reminded him of the father of a friend of his, and he waited outside the stables to talk to Mr Jones. It was a long shot but it just might help Mr Bennet in some way.
~~~§~~~
A Little Magic
Copyright © 2022 by S. Neha
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