Chapter 86

Fitzwilliam is waiting to hand his beloved wife into the carriage, and Elizabeth can easily discern that he has been in knots over her, though he is wisely trying to hide his feelings. It's just that she knows him so well, he cannot hide his slightly needy mood from her. But Elizabeth has decided not to hold his jealousy against him, the Colonel does often show his feelings too clearly, and he tends to seek her company a little more often than is strictly decorous.

And it's so easy to treat him well, her beloved, he is so handsome and so admirable. She secretly snuggles against him in the carriage, artfully covering his lap with her shawl so she can slip her hand under it and fondle his thighs just a tiny bit. That does the trick, he calms down instantly, and his bearing returns to his usual proud independence.

'I bet Bob was very pleased to hear we are planning a long trip with the thoroughbreds?'

Let Charlotte wonder who Bob is, if she pays attention she may find out. Mr Collins is watching London speed by through the window, he looks almost cute in his enjoyment of the city by night with all the lights and the people walking about in their best attire, the ladies with their beplumed hats, the gentlemen's moustaches artfully coiffed.

No, Fitzwilliam is cute, still relishing Elizabeth's naughty hand on his trousers, he'll kiss her as soon as he thinks no-one is watching. His reply sounds as sedate as ever.

'He was, very much so. He did worry about Fanny for a moment, I guess he's hoping we'll take her along. I didn't promise him anything, I suppose you want to be alone with me as much as I want to be with you. And it's not exactly good form to let a girl ride that kind of distance on the box. I'm not going to take Simon, that's a certainty, a shaking dog will not impress soldiers, they'll just think I'm soft. But we may need at least one attendant, I suspect lodgings may be rather bare in an army town, though undoubtedly picturesque.

I can't wait until next Thursday, my love.'

Fitzwilliam is whispering now, fortunately Mr Collins is still totally absorbed by the city sights, and Charlotte seems to be dozing off.

'To be on the road once more, just the two of us, it'll be like our honeymoon all over again, only better since we've grown so close. I'm sorry if it sounds selfish, my love, but I've had to share you with too many others lately. It'll be such a joy to have you to myself.

I'm going to thank your sister for offering us this chance to be together.'

Before Elizabeth has the chance to do more than take his hand and squeeze it to show him she feels exactly the same, Mr Collins turns towards her and observes, 'You are a very fortunate young lady, my dear cousin. I have often observed that but few people are given the chance to significantly better themselves. But you find yourself in such superior society, and I flatter myself with having been one of the main instigators of your rise in fortune.'

By ruining his proposal to herself? Elizabeth wonders if that is what's on his mind. But her cousin seems to have totally forgotten that unfortunate event, as well as Fitzwilliam's presence, for he explains proudly.

'By inviting you to my humble parsonage and bringing you into Lady Catherine's exalted circle, you came into such close contact with her nephews as to leave them with no choice but to acquire a value for your personal advantages. A fleeting acquaintance such as you had with Mr Darcy could never have offered him a chance to fancy himself in love with you, especially not with your superior elder sister so much more deserving of the attention. Without the advantages my connection to Lady Catherine de Bourgh gave you, you would never have succeeded in gaining such a remarkable influence over a gentleman of as noble a family as the Darcy's of Pemberley.

Mr Darcy seems to admire you very much, my dear cousin, even to such an extent that he quite overlooks that certain pertness you still display all the time, at least in your own circle. I suspect he has addressed it more adequately in public, or the papers wouldn't be raving about Mrs Darcy's fine personality.'

Before Elizabeth has time to phrase a suitably scathing retort, a lazy, deep baritone drawls from behind her.

'I'll have you know I was head over heels with your cousin months before Mrs Collins invited her to Hunsford.'

Mr Collins' look of surprise at discerning Fitzwilliam is extreme, and Elizabeth cannot imagine how he forgot his host was sitting right next to Elizabeth.

'But you are right that Miss Elizabeth's pert way of addressing my aunt captivated both myself and Colonel Fitzwilliam to form an even more lasting attachment to your cousin. Imagine someone brave and foolish enough to insult the character of the favourite of London high society, they'll not only have my influence and connections to contend with. I'm almost certain my cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam Compton will feel obliged to call out such a knave to a personal duel. Of course I'll gladly leave the rigours of a fight of honour to my superbly trained cousin, he has so much more experience in all forms of conflict. I know he's an avid fencer as well as an expert marksman.'

It seems Fitzwilliam objects to Mr Collins' veiled insults on Elizabeth's person. Good. And it seems her cousin can understand a reproof when hit over the head with it.

'You seem surprised, Mr Collins, at hearing me defend Mrs Darcy's right to talk back to whomever she likes,' her beloved observes, continuing in a very serious voice.

'I love Elizabeth's impertinence, and she has promised me to always tell me what she has on her mind. You don't have to like that, and you don't have the right to patronise her. No-one has, not even me.'

There is no reply from Mr Collins, he merely bows his head in acceptance, his superior attitude towards Elizabeth vanished. What a mean little fellow he is, never again will she be fooled by his intense enjoyment of music or a picturesque part of town. She thought he had some sense of beauty after all, but it must have been the status of those around him that kept him relatively quiet. He will bow to those he deems above him, and then try to tread on those he thinks he below him, starting with all females except Lady Catherine. Well, Elizabeth doesn't need Fitzwilliam's protection, she can handle the bigot all by herself.

For her friend's sake she will not seek a confrontation with her cousin, it will be easy enough to ignore him, spend her time on poor Charlotte, who will have to try and raise her child with her husband undermining her best efforts every step of the way.

Charlotte. She is wide awake and must have heard every word. But Charlotte has been married to Mr Collins for over a year and apparently she is used to his peculiarities, for she does not give a single sign of embarrassment. Fortunately the carriage comes to a halt soon after, and Fitzwilliam hands out not just his beloved, but Charlotte as well. Mr Collins is not yet forgiven for his transgression against Elizabeth, who relishes to see her handsome man treat her like his greatest treasure. No sign of need in Mr Darcy tonight, this is the proud, tall gentleman she fell in love with before she really got to know him.

And Elizabeth is not the only one to spot this change in him. Anne just cannot help keeping an eye on her tall cousin, her life has revolved around him for so long, she cannot just shut him out of her life all of a sudden.

Darcy looks really well tonight, it's almost demeaning to see him so spellbound by a woman, he lives and breathes for her, and of course it's a good thing they are so happy together but it's not like her cousin at all to be at the mercy of another human being. And Elizabeth is not yet twenty-one! The way he watches her when she talks with Fitzwilliam and uncle Spencer, he's almost jealous, when it's clear the girl is as smitten with him as he is with her.

How that came about Anne will never understand, Elizabeth is not fickle, or mercenary, and yet Anne could have sworn she hated Darcy when they met at Rosings. She probably made an effort to hide her dislike to keep up appearances, but it was always there, for everyone with the slightest sensibility to see. How on earth did Darcy manage to turn that around?

Come to think of it, he wasn't all that nice to Elizabeth either, Fitzwilliam has told her Darcy was already totally smitten with her, but Anne never saw anything of it, he was aloof towards a mere Miss Bennet, and very conscious of his superiority. Strange, very strange. Something very profound must have happened to make those two come together, but she agrees with Fitzwilliam that they are a very suitable couple.

It's just that she prefers to see Darcy as he looks right at this moment, proud, tall and dignified.

Though he does not look particularly happy about it. His adoring wife does, she seems very pleased with him and doesn't hesitate to show it. It's almost as if she's making a point to someone else, someone who doesn't like public displays of affection.

Ah, Mr Collins, he's the beneficiary of her slightly unseemly behaviour, the obnoxious fellow must have put his foot in it again. Anne will never forgive her mother for sending him to spy on her, Mrs Collins would be quite a pleasing companion but for that horrible little twat who's inexorably connected to her by some hideous invisible bond. It cannot be borne, Anne cannot face living under a roof where people like him are actually wanted, not ever again. Three weeks entertainment under her uncle's protection is all good and well, but it will not do. She is not going back to Rosings, and dull evenings playing cards with Mr Collins and Mrs Jenkinson, bowing and scraping to her tyrannical mother.

'I hope you're not in pain, Miss de Bourgh.'

A pleasant baritone breaks her reverie as Mr Manners touches her arm slightly to draw her attention. He knows whom she is looking at, he must confuse her determination with jealousy of Mrs Darcy.

Anne seriously wonders whether she hasn't always highly overrated personal beauty. Her cousin is so handsome, but after Anne lost her father and her spirit he never did anything to improve her life or her spirit, to ask her how she was doing, to include her in his life.

Manners looks like a wrestler dressed as a minister, but there is so much more to him than meets the eye. At twenty-six, she is forced to recognise that a man's character may be much more important than his appearance, and she has never had the pleasure of meeting a man with such refinement. Well, that's not entirely true, Fitzwilliam is as kind and as well-spoken, but somehow she has never thought of him as a potential match. Because he wasn't handsome enough, her subconscious chides her. As if you're so much to look at!

But now Anne has finally woken up, and has woken up well, it wouldn't do at all to marry a cousin, there has been too much of that in their family for generations. Uncle Spencer has some really interesting ideas on cousin marriages, he was very methodical in his inquiries after her illness, suspecting it to result from the constant consanguineous marriages in their family.

Mr Manners is patient as well as kind, not interrupting Anne's thoughts as she frames a reply.

'Thank you for caring, Mr Manners. I'm not in pain, I merely regret the time I lost waiting for my life to change when I could have changed it myself. I'm very grateful to you for spending so much time on me, it's as if I've known you for a much longer time already, I feel so safe and comfortable around you.'

Oh my, that was a bit much. Now he'll think she has a crush on him, which would be very sad indeed. To fall in love with the first man she meets after being disillusioned about her former object of admiration. Better set that to rights straight away, Anne has had enough of romantic ideals and mooning after men. She wants to get away from her mother, and marriage to a gentleman is the most socially acceptable option, besides being the least bothersome.

Too late, he's already let it sink in.

'I have that effect on people, Miss de Bourgh, I can't help it. It can be very annoying sometimes, people don't see the real me but some image my appearance suggests. Let's call it the minister-effect. But I assure you, there is a really bad boy hidden in this perfectly unassuming gentleman's shell, if you like I'll tell you about my misguided deeds in college, someday soon. The earlier I manage to dispel this bubble of seeming perfection surrounding me, the better.'

He does not misunderstand! Anne's heart goes out to him for a very short moment, then it's back to normal, seeing a potential accomplice instead of a slightly boring, homely gentleman. For Anne is not planning to be a meek wife, kept in seclusion in a country home breeding heirs. Not at all! She is planning to make the most of her family's new fame, and live life to the full.

But how does his dry comment fit with his smitten look the day before yesterday, at the little boutique? Did she imagine that? Mrs Collins saw it, too. A most intriguing situation, and one Anne hopes to be able to solve, but not too soon, for it's too much fun.

'Miss de Bourgh, I commend you for not showing disbelief at my frank confession, I must admit that most people do not believe me when I tell them. And I think I already know your answer, you want to hear me recount my misadventures and gladly. Good. I'll start with the one in which my friends and I had a schoolteacher suspended by setting him up with a room full of ladies of lesser virtue. Let me first assure you he deserved it, you know there is a firm tradition of corporeal punishment in boys' educational establishments?'

Between gathering in front of the venue until everyone of their party has alighted from one of the three carriages they are using, and taking their seats in still-empty hall where the concert will be taking place in half an hour, Mr Manners spins an outrageous tale of six boys driven to despair with unremitting beatings by a sadistic teacher. Deciding to save themselves and the other boys they hire a group of cheap women and lead them into the man's private quarters, then set him up to be caught by the principal. It really sounds too fantastic to be true, but Mr Manners assures her, 'Of course he claimed he was set up by his students, but no-one would believe him, the management just didn't believe a bunch of boys would do such a reprehensible thing.'

'But I thought students had a certain reputation,' Anne claims.

Now Mr Manners looks positively feral and concludes triumphantly, 'Of course, Miss de Bourgh, students are known to pull off pranks like that. But we weren't students by far, we were just schoolkids, the eldest of us had turned eleven a week earlier.'

He is so charming, and so familiar! Another man would be walking the very edge of acceptable behaviour sitting so close to her and resting his hand on her arm, but somehow it doesn't repulse Anne at all in Mr Manners. If only he wasn't so very homely, Anne thinks, she'd gleefully fall in love with him.

But by now Mr Fielding has finished what Anne supposes is his usual routine before a concert, checking the instrument, playing scales, and he has retreated to the small room behind the stage with Georgiana. Well, if it doesn't bother Darcy, Anne's the last person to object to the two of them fondling each other a little before he faces another crowd, they're engaged to be married, and apparently a date has been set for their marriage, right after Georgiana's seventeenth birthday in March. To be married at seventeen, and to such a man, Anne is almost jealous of her cousin, though she realises there are not that many women who could be happy with Mr Fielding. He is handsome, and very sensitive and kind, but he must have iron discipline to have reached his level of proficiency, and spend hours each day perfecting his art. Only someone with the same character and interest could bear with such single-mindedness.

'This will be en entirely new experience for you, Miss de Bourgh,' Mr Manners now observes, 'this is a middle-class venue, and tonight's audience will reflect that. I wonder that Mr Blackwood allows his girls to come here.'

Mr Manners would be shocked to hear what the Blackwood girls get away with. Which is exactly why Anne will do everything in her power to stay their best friend. The little clique of elegant young girls they are part of seems to have their parents' total trust, enabling them to go to some very dubitable places, from which noble maidens should steer clear. Currently, that means their evenings are taken up by following Mr Fielding around wherever he plays, but by day there are other places to go to, and Anne cannot wait to accompany them. They have promised her it will be spectacular, and safe, since they all take a sturdy servant to accompany them.

Yes, a little excitement is just what Anne needs to get her blood flowing again. She still feels languid most of the time, better food and exercise have done her some good, but it is always an effort to go out. The promise of excitement makes it so much easier to find the energy to actually do it.

'It's so much easier to have a sister, Mr Manners, to share the attention of one's parents. And two parents. When papa still lived my mother didn't bother with me all that much. But I have heard Angelina and Sophie are always accompanied by a very dependable servant. That will keep them safe from harm, won't it?'

Never mind trying to sound innocent, Mr Manners apparently knows what the little clique is up to for he snorts and retorts, 'From the most obvious harm, yes. But I have a feeling those girls have a lot more fun than their parents realise.'

'Mr Manners! And you introduced me to them to be my special companions!'

'You're a good bit older than these girls, Miss de Bourgh, and I suspect a good deal more sensible. I gathered you were due some amusement, I supposed you'd had enough drinking tea and doing needlework at Rosings to last a lifetime. But I also want to know what those girls are up to, and you can find out without getting caught up in whatever it is they're doing. Because you are a sensible adult.'

'You're planting me as a spy?'

Anne is merely very surprised. Why would Mr Manners care what those girls are doing?

'Not exactly, Miss de Bourgh, I'm not planning to betray them to their parents. I just want to know. And I suspect it's great fun, of which you are due a large portion. So never mind an old bachelor and have a good time.'

'And remind those girls of their position in life now and then?'

'If at all relevant, you might want to do that, yes. But subtly, they're not your responsibility after all. I'm very aware of the difference between my own college clique and this harmless little group. You'll understand better once I've told you more about our exploits. But society isn't fair to our better gender, I'm afraid, and girls are held to a much stricter code of behaviour.

Miss de Bourgh, I'm a bit of a busybody, if you do not want to pay for your entertainment with a certain responsibility I understand. Just forget what I just told you and let me know whether you want introductions to a less enterprising group of girls, or just want to enjoy this clique without trying to influence them. I'll understand, and merely ask you to stick to certain boundaries of decency yourself as long as you're under my protection.'

So serious all of a sudden. Anne is almost bewildered, this innocuous seeming gentleman has so many layers. Why would he care about other people's daughters? How did he find out what their own parents don't know? And most importantly, what is going on with the Blackwood girls? She likes them, she doesn't want them to be disgraced.

'Never mind, Mr Manners, I'll do as you ask. I like those girls, and you are right, I never want to see another piece of embroidery again. Thank you for caring.'

And at that exact moment, Angelina and Sophie, and two of their friends, take their seats right behind their own party. Mr Manners must have reserved those seats, for the rest of the hall is already filled up quite nicely. The girls again have a retainer with them, a burly liveried servant about Anne's own age with the neutral expression of someone not there to enjoy the occasion, but to do his job well. Still, those girls should be chaperoned by an older woman of some standing, like her own Mrs Jenkinson. Manners is right, something is going on, and Anne can't wait to find out.

They have five minutes to chat, and then the concert starts. Too bad she hasn't had the opportunity to talk to Mrs Darcy about Mr Manners. But maybe it's for the best, this new insight in his character does change everything, he seems more interested in Anne as a sort of spy than romantically. Did she read him wrong in that shop? She and Mrs Collins both? Or does he admire her but keep it hidden for some other unfathomable purpose? Is he testing her by planting her in a clique that apparently does some very naughty things?

Never mind, she'll meet Mrs Darcy again soon, and by then she'll know what the girls are up to, and hopefully have more of an idea of what Mr Manners wants from her.

Since this is a late concert they are all rather tired when Manners removes the last admirers from the hall with his usual diplomacy. Eric is not dissatisfied, playing concerts is still very gratifying, and he does make good money, which is important since he is going to be married soon.

Louise was in the audience again, in the back, with her mother this time. Mrs Zumpe was always good to him, and Eric rues being unable to tell her about his new life, but still he hopes they will not try to approach him to talk to him. There is nothing to be gained from trying to keep up a conversation, surrounded by admirers. It can only result in disappointment for all parties involved.

'Mrs Collins doesn't look to good, Eric,' Georgiana observes, 'look at her sitting there, I'd almost say she's in pain. Better tell Elizabeth, see you in a minute.'

She is right, the poor woman looks awful. If only Georgiana won't get with child too soon after their marriage, she's way too young to go through such an ordeal. Maybe it's a bad idea to get married already, maybe they should wait after all. Georgiana is passionate and strong-willed, there is no way he'll convince her to be married in name only for another year. Already she is exploring physical love to the exact boundaries of an engagement, keeping on the safe side of his ardour but only just. If they hadn't taken up the challenge of bringing her to stage-level within half a year, with her own very personal repertoire, Eric is certain she'd find another challenge, and he wouldn't give himself a dog's chance to resist her overtures.

He's an adult man with adult needs, and somehow this young girl knows exactly how to bring him to a frenzy of passion. Or does she? Does she know what she awakens in him when she strokes his cheeks and nuzzles his throat, then caresses his chest, with his shirt still between her muscular but so incredibly soft hands and his sensitive bare skin? The fever, the passion her touch causes him, it used to be so easy to ignore his drives, he'd just play the piano and they would disappear. But Georgiana won't let him escape her caresses, she insists on kissing him and stroking him, sitting in his lap and snuggling against him.

There is no way he can resist her once they are married.

'Elizabeth says she'll take care of it. Seeing her friend makes my poor sister very nervous, and I'll be glad to see the back of Mrs Collins, too. It's not that I don't like her, and not even to get rid of her horrible husband, it's just such a terrifying prospect that we will at one time find ourselves in the same condition. Will you still love me when I look like that?'

Dear Georgiana, still so obvious a girl, with her blunt way of talking. But Eric is glad she has made the connection, he may still have a chance.

'I'm sure you could never look like that, my love, but I'm afraid you might feel the same in the same condition. And it could happen any moment after we get married. Do you think we should wait a little longer? Until you're a bit older?'

'Certainly not! You're mine! And if that is the price I have to pay for it, I'm more than happy to do so. I'm sure playing the piano is something one can do up until the very last.'

See. Strong-willed his beloved is, she does not raise her voice, but her resolve is more than clear. And Eric doesn't want to wait, besides, not all women suffer that much, do they? Simon said Fanny's mother had several children quite recently, maybe she can tell them a little more about what it is like to live with a baby.

'I think you are right, my love. And I'll love you forever, and help you instead of ignore you to fawn on some gentleman.'

The gentleman in question isn't even very happy with the attention, at least it seems as if the Earl doesn't exactly appreciate the undivided attention of Mr Collins, since he quite bluntly and audibly says, 'Thank you, Mr Collins, now I'd like to have a little conversation with my soon-to-be nephew. If you'll excuse me.'

His tone is cold enough to drop the temperature of the hall several degrees, and not even Mr Collins can fail to take Lord Compton's hint to be gone. But while the Earl's figure is quite imposing as he comes towards Eric with large strides, none of it is directed at Eric, and by the time the old nobleman holds out his hand to Eric he is smiling warmly.

'That was magnificent, Mr Fielding! Now I understand what all the fuss was about! Welcome to the family, my son, you may not be as charming as Mrs Darcy but you are certainly as talented and an asset to our house. Besides, charm is very much a personal thing, and I'm sure most of those ladies appreciate yours much better than I.'

They talk until it is time to go home, and the Earl proves to be quite a good listener with a developed taste in music, though apparently he rarely has the opportunity to listen to music since no-one in his family plays an instrument.

'My late wife used to play the harp and I could sit by and listen to her all night. She taught me about music, and now I've been reminded how much I loved hearing superior music, I will do my best to visit concerts more regularly.'

Just before they enter Manners' carriage they take leave of the Earl and the Colonel, who take their own carriage home. Miss de Bourgh will go with her friends, who seem to be snugly cramped in one carriage, attended by a pair of liveried servants taking their stations on the back of the carriage. Mr Collins is finally spending some time on his wife, helping her to Darcy's carriage, while Elizabeth and Darcy saunter behind them, as close as always.