The House on Half Moon Street
The door to the drawing room swung open, and Elizabeth looked up in exasperation. She had hoped that since the weather was changeable today, with brief periods of showers, that they would not have quite so many visitors. A moment later, though, her feelings changed as the butler entered to announce the Countess of Matlock, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Bingley.
She rose to her feet along with Jane, even as she cast an anxious look at her sister. To her relief, Jane looked calm as she greeted the countess, who was a woman of some five and fifty years, dressed expensively and becomingly in blue silk, with a charming bonnet framing a face that once must have been extraordinarily handsome.
"Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth," the countess said. "I am delighted to make your acquaintance, especially as you are the protégées of an old friend."
Lady Appleby, who had not risen, smiled and said, "My dear Lady Matlock, it has been far too long since we have seen one another. Pray do sit down by the fire, and we will call for tea!"
The countess settled into the chair nearest the fire, Charles Bingley hurried over to sit across from Jane Bennet, and Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam took their seats on a settee across from Elizabeth.
"Miss Elizabeth," the countess said, fixing the girl with a curious eye, "I understand that this is your first Season?"
"Yes indeed, Madame. I have spent some months in London in the past, but I have never taken part in the Season."
"I daresay it was not considered advisable for you to have a Season before you inherited Mrs. Simpson's wealth."
"Mother, really!" Colonel Fitzwilliam exclaimed in comic dismay, but Elizabeth merely laughed and said, "I appreciate your directness, my lady. You are entirely correct. My father is a country gentleman of moderate fortune, and he certainly does not have the resources to sponsor a Season in Town for each of his five daughters. Indeed, without Lady Appleby's generous sponsorship, I expect very few doors would be opened to us."
Lady Matlock tilted her head and regarded Elizabeth thoughtfully. "There is truth to that, my dear, though with the Simpson fortune at your back, and the beauty of your face, I have no doubt that you will be one of the stars of the Season. Now Miss Bennet, do tell me about yourself. Are you enjoying your time in Town?"
Jane, who had been engaged in somewhat stilted conversation with Charles Bingley, looked up and said, "Yes, Madame, very much."
"It is a pity that you are not wealthy," the Countess mused, regarding Jane through narrowed eyes. "My dear Lady Appleby, Miss Elizabeth is a pretty girl, and Miss Bennet is quite the loveliest creature I have beheld in the last three years. How extraordinary."
"She is also the kindest and most generous of women," Elizabeth said firmly, which made Jane blush vividly and protest, "Lizzy!"
"I think you have embarrassed them enough," Lady Appleby remarked with a chuckle. "Shall we let the young people talk while we speak of the past?"
"Very well," the countess said, a trifle reluctantly, and turned toward Lady Appleby. "How is your Eric doing?"
Elizabeth, freed from additional questions, turned toward Darcy and Fitzwilliam and observed that Darcy was looking blank and the colonel comically embarrassed.
"Miss Elizabeth, I do hope that you will forgive my mother for her rather impertinent questions."
"Happily, Colonel," Elizabeth replied, her lips quirking up in obvious amusement. "I appreciate a mother who cares deeply for her children. I assume that the countess wishes to be assured that we are appropriate possibilities for her beloved son? "
Darcy made a peculiar sound, drawing Elizabeth's bewildered look, and the colonel said, rather shamefacedly, "That is correct, Miss Elizabeth. I am a second son, you see, and am expected to wed an heiress."
"But do you wish to marry an heiress, Colonel Fitzwilliam?" the lady asked pointedly, tilting her head to one side.
Richard stroked his chin and said, "Yes, I do. As the son of an earl, I have habits of expense which preclude my marriage to a poor woman. That is the plain truth, Miss Elizabeth."
"I appreciate the plain truth, Colonel," Elizabeth replied with a saucy smile. "But tell me, would you marry a wealthy woman if you had nothing in common with her? If you did not even like her?"
"I would not," the gentleman said immediately. "Wealth is not a reasonable exchange for compatibility in marriage."
"And what of you, Mr. Darcy?" Elizabeth demanded, turning her sparkling eyes on the master of Pemberley. "You, of course, are a wealthy man, so do not require a rich bride. But perhaps you feel that you must marry a woman of substance, with excellent connections?"
Darcy, who had been watching the woman he adored with yearning, jumped in surprise at being thus addressed, and forced himself to think before he spoke.
"In the not very distant past, I had a far higher view of wealth and connections than I do now," he said, striving to sound studiously calm. "I have realized that my former perspective was foolish. My own parents were blessed with a happy marriage, and Pemberley thrived under their care."
He noticed, in the periphery of his vision, that Richard was regarding him with surprise. He kept his own gaze fixed on the exquisite face of the lady he loved and was pleased when she nodded in approval and said, "I quite agree that a congenial marriage is beneficial for an estate, and indeed for the children of the union. To have a husband and wife with very little in common is a dreadful state of affairs."
"It is worse yet when husband and wife dislike one another profoundly," Darcy said. "It would have been far better for our Regent…"
He trailed off, and the threesome nodded in unison. Indeed, the Prince, who had married his first cousin Caroline of Brunswick, had loathed the princess on sight, and the two had been estranged for most of their marriage. The one child from their union, the Princess Charlotte, was yanked to and fro by her warring parents, which was not good for either the princess or the nation.
"I entirely agree," Elizabeth said, which warmed Darcy's heart. A moment later, he became aware that Richard was still staring at him with a peculiar expression on his face, and he turned to glare back. What reason did his cousin have for peering at him so intently?
"Do you have any recommendations for interesting places to visit here in Town?" Elizabeth asked, and the conversation turned to more general topics.
/
Charles Bingley looked upon his beloved Jane Bennet and said, "Miss Bennet, how are your younger sisters?"
"They are well enough, Mr. Bingley," Jane said in a composed tone. "My father has chosen to employ two governesses to oversee their instruction."
"Two?!"
"Yes, twins. I have not met them, but Mary has written and tells me that they are an intelligent and kindly pair of women, and that the younger is a most accomplished musician and is able to provide additional instruction to her, while the elder is a gifted artist and is working with Kitty."
"That sounds delightful," Bingley said and an awkward silence fell. When he had spent time with the lovely Miss Bennet back in Hertfordshire, conversation had always flowed easily between them. But then he had fled Netherfield like the lovesick idiot that he was and left the lady behind, and she obviously was still disturbed and uneasy.
"Will you be attending the ball at Damaral House tomorrow?" he asked.
"Yes," Jane said and smiled. "We are looking forward to it."
"Might I have the honor of a dance with you, Miss Bennet?" he asked, and held his breath as he waited for her response.
Jane hesitated and then nodded. "Yes, that would be pleasant."
"The first dance?" he asked daringly.
Again, the lady hesitated before saying, "The first dance, yes."
/
Matlock House
Later
The fire crackled contentedly in the hearth, the only light in the room. With the candles snuffed, the three occupants seated in the chairs clustered closest to the hearth. The drawing room looked considerably different from the last time Darcy was there. His aunt had entirely redecorated it in the latest fashions the previous year. It was not gaudy or ostentatious as so many of the fashionable London houses now were. Lady Matlock's impeccable taste was imposed upon the furnishings, her drawing room not sacrificing comfort for aesthetic, nor sense for expensive show.
Lord Matlock sat across from Darcy with Richard adjacent to them both, each man holding a glass of truly excellent port. Darcy rolled his wine around his mouth, appreciating his uncle's choice of alcohol.
"Well, I for one am tired," Lord Matlock declared, rising slowly to his feet and glancing at the clock, which was pointing to the midnight hour. "Darcy, it was good to see you this evening."
"It was good to see you too, sir," Darcy replied, also standing up and extending a hand toward his uncle. "Many thanks for caring for Georgiana so well."
"It is no trouble at all, I assure you," the older man said, shaking his nephew's hand. "Indeed, your aunt and cousin are delighted to have Georgiana here as a distraction from Rebekah's departure."
"Have you heard from Rebekah at all, sir?" Richard asked from his seat by the fire.
"I have not, but your mother has. She seems very happy in her marriage."
"That is excellent," Richard said and then, turning to his cousin, continued, "Darcy, if you are not too fatigued, I would appreciate some advice about a matter of importance to me."
Darcy turned toward him in surprise, as Matlock exited the room, and then wandered over to the fire to toast the back of his legs with the flames.
"What can I help you with, Richard?" he asked, and wondered when he would be able to go to bed. He had treasured the short time with Elizabeth and enjoyed his time with Georgiana this evening, but now he was greatly fatigued.
"You can tell me about your relationship with Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Are you in love with the lady?"
This provoked a gasp of astonishment from Darcy, followed by a croak, and then a cacophony of coughs, and when he had sufficiently recovered, he found his cousin staring at him as if he had never seen him before.
"You are in love with her!" Richard exclaimed. "I truly was not certain!"
Darcy opened his mouth to protest, and then closed it. He might never be able to tell his lady love of his adoration, but he would not, at any rate, deny it to Richard.
"How did you guess?" he asked in a subdued tone, wandering over to drop in the wingbacked chair nearest the fire.
Richard stood up and made his way to the tray of brandy, poured two glasses, and carried one over to Darcy.
"Drink that up," he ordered, and when Darcy had done so, he said, "I was not certain, but your claim that love and respect are far more important than wealth and connections was notably peculiar, and you could not keep your eyes off the lady during our visit today."
Darcy groaned dramatically, provoking his cousin to ask, "Whatever is wrong, Darcy? She is a charming young woman and would be a wonderful mistress of Pemberley."
"She is all of those things, but do you not see, Richard? I have little hope in winning her hand or heart!"
"Because she is wealthy? But surely since you knew her back in Hertfordshire, you have an advantage over the young sprigs of the nobility and gentry currently pursuing her?"
Darcy groaned again and shook his head. "I was a dunderhead and a fool. I thought she was beneath me because of her connections and lack of fortune. The very day we met at an assembly, I insulted her looks and refused to dance with her. I also encouraged Bingley to abandon her elder sister, when they had been close to an engagement. No, Richard, I fear that I have little hope of winning the lady's favor after my idiocy, and I…"
He actually felt tears start in his eyes, and he quickly, shamefacedly, wiped them away with one hand. When he looked up, Richard was staring at him with obvious compassion.
"I am sorry, Darcy," he said simply.
"As I am, but nothing can change the past," Darcy said heavily. "At least I have learned from my failure, and will, I hope, be a better man in the future."
Richard contemplated his cousin gravely and then said, "In any case, I will not pursue the lady. I can only imagine how painful it would be if I won her favor."
"No, no, Richard. Elizabeth … Miss Elizabeth deserved the very best husband, and you are quite one of the finest men of my acquaintance. If she chooses you, I will be happy for you, I promise."
The colonel wrinkled his nose and said, "In any case, I doubt that I will win the lady's favor; she is a great heiress, along with being a beauty, and I am merely the poor, second son of an earl."
"One of the aspects of Miss Elizabeth's character which I admire the most is that she truly is not terribly interested in wealth and position. She … well, back in Hertfordshire, she made rather a point of arguing with me on every occasion. I thought that she was enjoying our debates, that she was flirting with me, but I discovered as of a few days ago that she … she despises me…"
He trailed off, and looked so woebegone, so miserable, that his cousin took pity on him and said, "I am sorry, Darcy. It is late, and we should both sleep. I do not think that you should entirely give up hope, though. You are a truly intelligent and honorable man, and Miss Elizabeth would doubtless like you very much if she knew you better."
Darcy felt a slight ray of hope in the midst of his despair and could only smile gratefully at his cousin.
/
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Author Note: Thank you so much for reading and commenting - I love the interactions and discussion. It makes me want to write and post more! :-)