Chapter 8

Elizabeth could not suppress her delight. Despite all attempts to hide her glee from Esther, a giggle kept erupting at odd moments, whenever she contemplated the events of day. The Countess of Matlock had visited Mrs Thatcher's school to bring oranges and walnuts as presents and to wish the students a happy Christmas. She was indeed beautiful and elegant just as Mr Darcy had said, but to Lizzy her sister was far more handsome. The goodness of Jane's soul shone through and created an aura of loveliness than could not be matched. Perhaps she was prejudiced, but her sister would never have done what Isabelle did to Fitzwilliam.

"Lizzy why did you not lower your gaze after curtsying to her ladyship? The Earl and Countess of Matlock are important to the prosperity of this school. I believe she noticed your impertinence."

"I wanted her to return my stare long enough so I could sketch her character. She is tolerable, I suppose, but I have always believed Mr Darcy deserved better. Though equal in beauty to my sister, her countenance does not reflect the kindness of Jane. Her eyes told me she was never truly a person worthy of his love, and her mouth had a deceitful quality when she complimented my performance. I chose Voi Che Sapete to sing for a reason."

"Do tell me why? She certainly did not appreciate you asking her if she had ever seen a performance of The Marriage of Figaro."

"Mr Darcy confided he had taken her. He related how offended she had been by the silliness of the lowborn characters in their quest for love"

"Her look of disdain when you told her how fortunate she was to have seen it was quite revealing."

"Yes, was it not." With that another giggle erupted.

Richard had finally convinced Darcy and Georgiana to comply with his father's demands. The onerous task had been delegated to him in a letter sent to Pemberley, where he was currently living—to avoid his nearest relatives. The Earl, as head of the family, insisted on their presence at Matlock for the entire holiday season. The invitation also demanded their stay include a ball Isabelle was planning for Twelfth Night. Lord Matlock was determined to quash rumours of Georgiana's near elopement and estrangement from Darcy's because of his choice of bride. He officiously declared they must appear completely united as a family to all of Derbyshire.

Colonel Fitzwilliam hated the thought of having to be the one to persuade his cousin. The entire time he had been recovering from his wound he had adamantly refused any contact with Lord and Lady Matlock. It took him three days of badgering and bargaining to bring his cousin round. Unfortunately, Richard still needed the allowance he received from his father.

Darcy, once he had accepted his fate, took on what appeared to be a mien of permanent stormy annoyance. Georgiana, on the other hand, complied passively with the stoic face of one riding a tumbrel to the guillotine. Needless to say, the journey to Matlock was without conversation. The prodigal son was relieved when their carriage pulled up with just enough time to change for dinner. Thank goodness his father and step-mother were not present for their arrival. Instead, Bertie and Cassandra greeted them.

Dinner proved to be challenging for all. Darcy was seated at Isabelle's end of the table while Richard and Georgiana were close to his father. Luckily, the colonel was able to watch his favourite relative navigate being in close proximity to the woman who had decided he was not what she wanted, and threw him away without a single thought for his feelings. For most of the meal he paid great attention to his food, barely acknowledging either Isabelle or her best friend and now daughter-in-law, Cassandra.

When Richard looked again a few minutes later, he saw his cousin making every effort to surreptitiously listen to the conversation of the viscountess and countess. He even saw the beginnings of a smile pushing the corners of his mouth upward. He stopped eating and instead used the food on his plate as a diversion—moving it about from spot to spot. The two women appeared not to notice his eavesdropping.

As the time for the gentlemen's leaving of the ladies neared, Darcy was no longer suppressing his pleasure with what he heard. Once the ladies had withdrawn to the drawing room, Richard quickly moved in his cousin's direction.

"Darcy, what has caused you to smile. I hope for my sake you are not plotting revenge against me."

"No, your transgressions for forcing me here are long forgotten."

"So, tell me, what has mellowed your mood?"

"A delightful story Isabelle told to Cassandra has inspired me."

Richard looked skeptically at his cousin. Surely, he was not planning to wait until the earl died and renew his suit. He cautiously asked, "So, have you forgiven her treachery?"

"There is no longer a need. I had a most delightful epiphany during dinner."

"An epiphany, not just a simple revelation?"

"There was nothing simple about my new understanding. But before my good news, I have a pressing need to apologize for a certain disagreement we had. Upon meeting Miss Bennet at the assembly in Meryton, I remarked she had a similar beauty to Isabelle, but my opinion at the time was that your father's wife was more lovely in my eyes because of her superior breeding. You did not concur, in fact you accused me of being a bloody arrogant fool and ranted on about my former betrothed being without proper feelings."

Richard wondered where his dearest relative was going with this confession. "I remember that argument. I believe I said she had a total want of human kindness. You had yet to accept how thoroughly mistaken you were in choosing Isabelle."

"I now defer to your great wisdom. Having spent dinner observing more closely, I now see her inferiority. It is all in her appreciation of others. Miss Elizabeth said of her sister that night in the library "her eyes glow with charity and her smile for others when given is never false."

"Darcy, I have known such about both for ages. Do not keep me in suspense. I must know the source of your smile during dinner."

Isabelle visited Mrs Thatcher's school for young ladies a week or so ago. I believe it was your mother who first persuaded the earl to make a generous donation every year. It appears his new wife continues the tradition."

"Yes, you are correct. Mama knew Mrs Thatcher. They had gone to school together. I believe the present Lady Matlock would like to relinquish her duty though."

"It was my original intention to ignore their conversation. However, I managed to hear enough to know she felt everyone at the school was beneath her including Mrs Thatcher."

Richard laughed at his cousin's words. "Everyone at the table who observed you knew what you were doing. Your face was barely concealed repugnance, looking anywhere but at my beloved step-mother and sister-in-law. The next time I looked down the table, something had seemed to catch your fancy. And lo and behold, I saw you chatting and even smiling with them."

"I heard Isabelle mention the school's two new teachers, and I realized I knew them. You know them as well."

"Who are the teachers I know?"

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Miss Golden."

"Is Miss Elizabeth the reason you mentioned her sister's superiority?"

"Possibly. As you know, I remember her fondly and with a considerable amount of guilt. I learned she teaches French and assists the pianoforte master, and Lady Matlock found her wholly impertinent. Apparently, she stared too long at the countess after she curtsied. The other teacher, Miss Esther Golden, I learned is a Jewess whose father had been a don at Oxford. According to the story, she had the good sense to lower her gaze despite her questionable heritage."

"I thought you were appalled at her desire to take a teaching position. You said it was beneath her status. Darcy, you have still not revealed what caused you to smile—and even laugh."

"I was… I am appalled, but I am certain she had no choice. Who knows what the people she was sent to live with have forced her to do."

"Learning of Miss Elizabeth's degradation was not the source of your smile. Besides, I told you she seemed quite content at the Lambton Assembly. I am waiting to understand."

"Isabelle related to Cassandra how she had to sit through several performances of the young ladies displaying their accomplishments. The final one was your Miss Bennet's disowned sister singing Voi Che Sapete from The Marriage of Figaro in Italian. After it was over, she asked 'the countess' if she had ever seen it performed."

Richard shrugged and said, "So. Isabelle thought her question to be impertinent?"

Darcy smiled broadly as he replied. "Yes, and it was. She was, I believe, attempting some retribution for me. That night in the library we had discussed her attendance. She knew Isabelle had not only seen it but despised it because the main characters were servants tricking a count. The smile you saw happened as soon as I realized Miss Elizabeth was purposely ridiculing the woman who had rejected me."

"What caused you to laugh?"

"The look on my former betrothed's face. Obviously, she knew I remembered our night at the opera. There was nothing left but to add salt to the wound, Miss Elizabeth had opened. I asked if this teacher was wearing breeches during her performance. My laughter at our shared experience was the perfect weapon to best your step-mother. That I found her pretentious opinions humourous was not what she wanted Cassandra or anyone else to hear. I believe she found me equally as impertinent as my dear Miss Elizabeth."

"Breeches? What is that all about?"

"Isabelle had been offended by a woman wearing male clothes who played the count's young page who thought he was in love with the countess. She told me it was just another example of how unseemly the opera was. She chastised me for taking her."

"Perhaps, she found you ungentlemanly. My father is often told that by her about me."

"Yes, I am certain you are correct… and probably totally in want of all propriety as well." His laughter at the thought could not be contained.

"You have confessed you were wrong, explained your smile and laughter during this mortifying dinner with our family, but not your epiphany. Enlighten me."

"Nothing is more important than Miss Elizabeth's comfort and security. Tomorrow I will ride to Lambton to rescue her from this degradation her father put her in. A proposal is the proper thing for a gentleman to do."

"A month ago, you would not even consider renewing her acquaintance at the assembly in Lambton. Are you certain you know what you are doing?"

Darcy did not speak immediately. Instead, he glared at his cousin while gathering the full force of his righteous indignation. "Of course. As I said, I am a gentleman!"

Richard's admonition at least forced Darcy to make a plan. The place where he would propose came to him as he remembered their first meeting. Mrs Reynolds had cook pack some delicious morsels for them to eat and there were blankets to keep her warm in the open curricle. He put the ring that belonged to his grandmother in his pocket. It was one given to her daughter, his mother. He paid no mind to the niggling doubt because it was the very same one he had thought to give the current Countess of Matlock. The final piece of his plan was he hoped he would be able to procure a special book to give to her.

He strode into the shop purposefully. He had frequented the establishment several times, particularly during his father's illness when he was unable to travel to London. His memory of the proprietor was favourable. His deferential attitude toward Darcy, as well as his willingness to order any book he wanted made his hopes for accomplishing his task high. Isabelle's story of her visit to Mrs Thatcher's School and his cousin's meeting with her at the assembly had revealed Miss Elizabeth was learning Italian. He hoped he would be able to take a gift of something she would enjoy to read in that language when he visited Mr Goodwin's house to collect her.

Upon reaching the counter he said, "I am Mr Darcy of Pemberley. I need to buy some books. One is for my sister, and the other is for a friend. Do you have any books in Italian?"

The clerk nodded to indicate he knew just how to satisfy this important customer. He assumed the clerk's deferential attitude meant the owner of the shop would be summoned. He tried not to allow his face to show his displeasure when he heard the reason for the young man's assumption.

"I believe the young woman who works with me is just the one you should speak with. Please wait while I ask her to assist you."

He was unable to hear anything the clerk said to the one in the other room. Darcy assumed he was being discreet as he described their illustrious customer to his colleague. Just then she entered the room, and his eyes fixed on a pair of lovely lips curved upward in a broad smile. For a few seconds his senses pushed aside everything but the memory of passionately kissing that mouth.

"Mr Darcy how wonderful to see you again. I assumed when you did not attend the Lambton Assembly, you must have returned to London." Her eyes became mischievous as she added conspiratorially, "Did you hear I was learning Italian from your aunt?"

His perfect plan was shattered. He meant to propose. Now here in this shop, he was confronted by the fact her status had been further reduced to shop girl. Staring at her was all he could accomplish. His mouth tried to form words but they would not come. Her colleague looked confused. She on the other hand, seemed to know just what to do to cover his mortification.

"Linus, Mr Darcy and I are acquaintances. He obviously did not expect to see me here. Would you mind if I left you alone for the rest of the day? I will tell Mr Goodwin what I have done when I arrive home. Perhaps he will find someone else to help you."

"Lizzy, it has been quiet. I will manage."

This clerk, this Linus fellow, called her Lizzy. Had she been forced into this degradation by Mr Goodwin. She seemed happy enough if her smile was any indication.

"Wait here Mr Darcy. I will get my cloak and bonnet and we will go for a walk."

He stood waiting for her, hoping he could achieve invisibility. Instead, a small tabby cat exited the back room just as Miss Elizabeth entered. It ran directly toward him and began sniffing his boots. Thankfully she was quick and Linus had the good sense to pretend to be busy. Upon returning, she slipped her arm through his and spoke to the cat before she steered him out the door. "Iphigenia, this is Mr Darcy. He is a friend. I promise he means me no harm." Once outside she said, "I propose we walk to my home and on the way, you will explain why you are so troubled, and what I may do to help."

Once they were alone, he recovered his ability to speak at least about mundane things. "This is my curricle. I will drive us. I was going to travel to your home and ask you to go for a ride. I have blankets to keep you warm."

"How thoughtful of you. I would love to go for a drive and there is no need to consult Mr Goodwin. I am free to make my own judgements about such things."

He was unsure how he felt about her independence, but he determined now was not the time to admonish. After helping her in, he took his seat beside her. He handed her a blanket and she put it over her knees as he had intended her to do. "Your cat seemed quite suspicious of me. She has a name from Greek mythology, I believe."

"Yes, she was a kitten who had been abandoned by her parents when we became acquainted. I named her after the daughter of King Agamenon who agreed to sacrifice her to appease the Goddess Artemis. I thought it might help us become friends to have something in common. She is particularly jealous of anyone who pays attention to me—with the exception of Linus."

"I was hoping the shop had Marco Polo's writings on China in Italian."

She looked at him quizzically. "You are able to deduce things about me better than any other I have ever met. Your choice would have been a most pleasing one."

Darcy was not yet willing to tell her the reason for his perception. He needed to consider what he had learned. Instead, he said, "thank you for your kind words. I promise I will make certain it happens soon."

"Where are we going, Mr Darcy?"

"To one of the minor peaks. It is nowhere near as impressive as some of the others, but it is close by."

"Again, I am astonished at how knowledgeable you are about things I might enjoy. I have often imagined looking out over the countryside from a high perspective."

He managed to grin roguishly as he said, "You will be able to see Matlock where my aunt lives."

Upon hearing his words, the tilt upward of those lips and the laughter that followed produced a most satisfying sensation—just the two of them sharing a secret about Isabelle felt so easy. Her conspiratorial mirth was subsided though in an instant as she said, "Will I be able to see Pemberley?"

"Yes, but it is farther away and not as easily recognizable. From where we will be you should be able to observe Mrs Thatcher's school. There is a also a picaresque view of Lambton from the vantage point." He paused to question whether he should say his next words. With a slight sigh he decided he should. "I will ensure you see Pemberley."

She too became uncomfortable with the topic. The mischief returned to her voice but there was apprehension in her eyes. "When you allow me to see Pemberley will I be close enough to visit the library? And will you allow me to meet your sister?"

His answer did not come easily or immediately, but finally he said, "Yes."

For the next half hour, they rode in silence. When he looked her way, she pretended to be enjoying the sights. However, he knew her well enough to assume she was also attempting to understand why he had reacted so strangely upon seeing her. To be honest, he was not certain what he should do. He knew what duty demanded, but how could he propose to a shop girl. But there was no turning back now. Her associate, Linus, would make certain all of Lambton knew of his interest in her. His kind lived for gossip about their betters.