“Only, do not take her affection for you, or there being no other suitor here, as an… as an indication that you can court her with less effort, or without any demonstrations or tokens of your affection. A lady likes to be wooed. Gape at me all you like. I know I am a bachelor, but I have witnessed many a mans’ attempts to court a lady, and men who take lightly the art of courting, well… not every woman will accept a man they are not certain of. Of whom they doubt his affections, constancy, or, dare I say, sense. I merely mean to say, if you do intend upon asking for her hand… woo her properly first. Even without, she may say yes, but she will be much more content in her decision if you have done your part.”
“A romantic?” Darcy awed. “I never would have guessed.”
The drawing room door opening, Mr. Thomson stepped from within, a false smile fixed in place and eyes narrowed. “Ah, Mr. Darcy… I was just in the company of the Bennet sisters, Miss Elizabeth looks exceptionally well–as she did in the library this morning.”
“You are off then?” Darcy clipped, his eyes traveling to the hat and coat the man held.
“Unfortunately,” he said as he neared Darcy. “One so hates to disappoint a lady, but duty calls. I am to town on business, but as I assured her, I shan’t be away long.”
“Please, do not hurry back on our account,” Darcy answered; a slight pull at his lips as his brow raised. “I would hate for you to overexert yourself.”
“No need to worry,” Mr. Thomson said as he moved down the hall, “I suspect this trip shall see me in a better position than when I left. Do console Miss Elizabeth for me; remind her, I could never stay away long.”
Scowling at Mr. Thomson’s back, Darcy’s hands clenched.
The scoundrel continued to infuriate him at every turn! Every! If only it would not please Mr. Thomson to engage him in fisticuffs. It would be incredibly satisfying should Thomson's face come in contact with his fist once or twice.
“Come, let us go in,” Bingley said as he motioned to the drawing room.
Yes,Darcy mused as his friend passed through the door.A far better use of time than letting his anger fester over that worm.
“Miss Bennet!” Bingley’s happy overtures sounded as Darcy and Fitz at last followed, the three Bennet sisters standing by the window, the expanse of white outside being met with new snowfall. “Miss Elizabeth. Miss Mary.”
“Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy. Colonel,” the three ladies acknowledged.
“Were you successful in your task?” Darcy questioned.
“Unfortunately, no,” Miss Elizabeth frowned. “We had no success at all.”
“Is there anything I might do?”
“If you are willing to sit on our hostess long enough for us to talk to her, then yes, Mr. Darcy, you could be a great help indeed,” Miss Elizabeth answered impertinently, her eyes twinkling gaily.
Nodding he drew nearer, his voice a mock whisper, “If that is what it takes, Miss, to complete your task, I am prepared to perish in the attempt.”
Chuckling, she shook her head, “I hope it does not come to that. No. My sisters and I shall speak to her one of these days; if she ceases to vanish through walls.”
“Through walls?” Fitz asked incredulously.
“It would seem,” Miss Mary said, her lips pinched as she considered the matter. “For all that it sounds mysterious, it is likely the result of old passageways or cubbies hidden into the walls. The real mystery is why she keeps avoiding us, considering it was she who invited us into her home. If one of you has an idea of how to speak with her alone without it taking someone sitting upon her, please, do let us know?”
“It may be that sitting upon our hostisthe easiest solution,” Fitz chuckled as he drew nearer Miss Mary. The young woman lifting her head to meet his gaze forcing all laughter from him as his voice deepened, “In all seriousness, know that whatever your plan may entail, whatever you need, I am here to help. In this, and… and in anything else I may be of use.”
Gaze lowering, Miss Mary wet her lips. “I… that is, we, thank you.Ithank you.”
Apparently, his cousin was not the only one in danger of losing their heart.
“Well then,” Miss Elizabeth smiled at her sister. “In the meantime, I believe we are engaged for a walk.”
“Of course,” Miss Mary hurried, a blush forming as she moved toward the door. “Any particular path?”
∞∞∞
Staffordshire, England – 1812 – Day 10
Settling down in the library to enjoy a bit of quiet, Darcy lifted his tea to his lips as he opened his chosen tome–Jane's Poems and Essays. Fingering through the pages in search of any selection which might catch his eye; the title,Love, stilled his search. The sweet story of cupid turning to his mother when his arrows failed him being far from Darcy’s usual choice, though he read the poem through with a small smile, then flipped onward through the book.
Rereading a verse four times, and yet, failing to comprehend the words, Darcy pinched the book shut with a resounding thump.
