"A game of chess, perhaps? It would hardly do to engage in such an activity with so few ladies present." Miss Merivale offered Mr. Onervan the next evening when the tradesman asked for a dance from the young lady. Given how often the odious man leered at Miss Merivale, it was a wise response, and Darcy found himself sighing in relief.
He had come to accept over the past few days that he liked Miss Merivale. She was merry without being raucous, engaging without being flirtatious. How Richard had managed to find such a creature without anyone's prior knowledge baffled Darcy, but he hardly blamed his cousin for making sure to secure her hand quickly. A woman of her caliber, with connections to an earldom, would be lauded as the match of the season in London's circles. It was by Richard's sheer luck that no one had managed to discover her before he did.
Darcy's eyes drifted for a moment from where Miss Merivale set up the chess board, with Mr. Onervan a safe distance away from her, to where Richard lingered by the tall, sulking Mr. Culham. How anyone could think of leaving the side of such a riveting fiancée to converse with a stern Mr. Culham confounded Darcy, for surely Elizabeth Merivale was a better person to keep company with than his aunt's most shifty-looking house guest. With another look to assure himself that Miss Merivale was in no danger of being inconvenienced further by Mr. Onervan's unrighteous advances, Darcy stalked over to Richard's side of the room instead.
"It is a sore year for farming, I assure you," Mr. Culham said as Darcy approached. "But those of us who live off the land do what we must to survive."
"Of course," Richard replied to the frowning gentleman. "I can just imagine how difficult it must be to make ends meet."
"It is not so troublesome as that." Mr. Culham sneered. The man was an unpleasant as they came. If not for his broad frame hinting at a hidden strength, the man would have easily resembled a weasel. "Those of you with privilege can hardly understand."
"No, that is not what I mean, of course," Richard responded, a frown on his own face. "I am aware, naturally, of how an enterprising spirit can be helpful in any station of life. No matter a man's situation at birth, what he makes of his life is easily a result of his own choices, prudent or otherwise."
"Some of us have the means to be more prudent than others," Mr. Culham muttered. "Now, if you would excuse me. My tea grows cold."
"Yes, of course." Richard nodded, as did Darcy, and the older man slipped away. For a brief moment, Darcy wondered if the man's cagey manners were the reason behind his still being single in middle age. But as Darcy had no wife to call his own, he could hardly judge Mr. Culham.
He busied himself instead with inquiring after Richard's day.
"It was a good day." Richard smiled. The oppressing effect of Mr. Culham's company seemed to lift itself away quickly. "I enjoyed the race with my brother."
"And with the other guests."
"Yes." Richard grinned again.
Darcy frowned. "Was it worth the time away?"
"Away from what?" Richard smiled openly. "The air was most refreshing, I tell you. It was quite pleasant to be away from the house."
"Sir Tyler and Lady Halbright could not ride."
"A most unfortunate situation."
"And neither could Miss Merivale."
"Ah, yes. No one can be quite that perfect." Richard grinned.
Having his attempt at pointing out Richard's neglect of Miss Merivale diverted into a complaint against her was hardly something he could bear, and Darcy moved quickly to say, "But she is a wonder, in many ways."
"Who is?"
Darcy kept his sigh low. "Miss Elizabeth Merivale, the woman whom you are to marry yet seem so often forget."
"I can hardly forget her, Darce. She is right here, is she not?"
Darcy frowned. Miss Merivale was indeed right there, as Richard put it. But he couldn't quite shake the feeling that Richard was hardly guarding his rare find of a fiancée as much as he ought to.
"What made you choose her?" he asked instead.
"Choose Elizabeth?"
Darcy's jaw tightened slightly at the familiarity. He wished he could talk so casually of the woman he had come to admire. "Yes."
"What do you mean?"
"You have been single for years, engaging easily with young women of every sort of wealth and connection. What compelled you to engage yourself so readily to Miss Merivale?"
"Ah." Richard grinned again, his easy manners aggravating Darcy. "Well, that is simple enough. She can be pretty, at times."
Darcy's frown deepened. "She is very handsome."
"Yes, yes, and she is the niece of a Scottish earl. Surely, I did not need to remind you of that."
"No."
But Richard could have mentioned her easy grace, her lively manners, or her keen ability to guide a conversation where she needed it to go. He could have pointed out that she was kind and observant, well-mannered yet not wholly conventional.
There were a great many things to admire about Miss Elizabeth Merivale, and it was utterly infuriating that the man betrothed to her did not seem to care a whit about any of them.
"Now, if you are quite done brooding," said Richard, "I believe I need to speak to my mother."
And once more, Richard the utter idiot walked away to someone who was not his betrothed. Darcy could sock the man.
If he were to truly be honest himself, Darcy knew he redirected his steps this morning towards the West gardens not because of the shade it provided from the morning sun or the subtle prettiness of the shrubbery there. He had been so keen to walk to the stables for a hearty morning ride until he'd caught a glimpse of a brown head of hair meandering the gardens alone. Chivalry demanded that he accompanied Miss Merivale, for who knew what could befall an unaccompanied woman in the early hours of the day. Propriety might demand that he call for a footman or a maid, but chivalry felt more urgent to him just then.
Thus determined, Darcy stepped in his riding gear into the worn footpaths of the West gardens and was gifted Miss Merivale's welcoming smile once he came within a few yards of her.
"Miss Merivale." He greeted.
"Mr. Darcy." She curtsied. There was a springiness to her movements. One might expect formality from the niece of an earl. Even Darcy's own mother, for all her kindness, had always carried herself with a stiff regality throughout her life. Miss Merivale, however, defied those expectations with every glint of mischief in her fine eyes.
Darcy cleared his throat. "I hope I am not bothering you."
"Not at all. I might benefit from company this morning lest I become too lost in my own thoughts."
"If that is the case, may I offer my escort? The Matlock grounds can be extensive to one unfamiliar with their breadth."
She laughed, her voice merry and bright. "I accept your offer, Mr. Darcy, though I hardly think I could possibly get lost within these civilized garden confines."
Darcy lowered his face by an inch or two, a pang of embarrassment bumping against his chest as he offered his arm. She took it readily, showing no signs of awkwardness. The woman was a marvel.
"I see you are an early riser as well," he began as they took a turn towards the center of the garden.
"I grew up in a small town in Hertfordshire, hardly a place for fashionable Town hours," she answered, her conversation easy and light. "And once awake, I have never been quite capable of being contained indoors."
"You prefer the sunshine then."
"Over any other means of illumination." She laughed. "It might be hardly ladylike of me to profess such a preference, but I'm afraid it is the truth."
"I myself own a partiality for nature and cannot digress."
"I am glad to find a kindred spirit then." She smiled up at him, her bright smile an extension of the brightness of her spirit.
Darcy swallowed. "As am I."
They walked in companionable silence for a moment, until they faced the house once more.
"I hope you are enjoying your stay at Stratsbury Hall," said Darcy. "I cannot profess this house party to be quite the sort my aunt usually hosts."
"I would think not."
He frowned slightly. "Does the company defy your expectations of aristocracy?"
"Oh, no - not that at all. I have, of course, no prejudices against people from trade. My own dearest aunt and uncle are themselves in trade."
Darcy paused for a quick thought. "I assume these are your relatives on your mother's branch of the family then."
"Oh, hm - yes. My mother's brother and his wife." A slightly uncertain seemed to touch her usual confident tone. Yet it disappeared quickly. "I must admit I was as surprised as anyone when I was informed that I was the niece and heiress of a Scottish earl."
"You were not raised for the part then?"
"Hardly." She laughed readily once more. "I can only hope that my manners have not fallen short of the role."
Her eyes spent a moment lingering at the main house's windows. Was she looking for Richard? The thought saddened Darcy somewhat, for he was fairly certain Richard - fool that he was - would not be looking for her.
"Your manners have been nothing but lovely," Darcy found himself assuring. "The whole house party seems to be quite taken with you."
Miss Merivale laughed again. "I do not know if taken is the word. They are curious, more likely. And I suppose that curiosity does lend itself to improving acquaintances on short notice."
"When it comes to conversing with all sorts of people, I find your talent unparalleled."
"That is high praise, Mr. Darcy." She turned to face him, her eyes dancing. "I would not dare to claim myself such a gifted conversationalist."
"And yet you are, else you would not have every gentleman at the party clamoring for your attention."
Her smile faltered slightly at his words, although she recovered immediately. She turned away to face the house once more. "I hope I do not come across as overly forward. I would hate for anyone to misunderstand - "
"Not at all, Miss Merivale. I meant no offense, only affirmation, in referring to your social prowess. I myself, being naturally inclined towards private thoughts and taciturn behavior, find it uncommonly easy to be in your company."
His words seemed to spur her to smile once more, although not as brightly as before. "I appreciate the sentiment, Mr. Darcy."
"I meant no flattery, Miss Merivale."
"Please, call me Elizabeth." She looked at him with surprising sincerity. "We are to be family soon, are we not?"
The thought of addressing her by her Christian name sent twin emotions of thrill and guilt swirling in his lungs. He smiled. "Very well, Elizabeth. Shall you not call me Darcy?"
"Very well." She smiled.
Richard had no idea how fortunate of a man he was.
A/N: I never realized how broody Darcy was when I was drafting this. Ugh. Oh well, at least he is very taken with Elizabeth!