He looked uncomfortable, fumbled with the silver handle of an extravagant walking stick in his hand, and spoke. “It is a simple matter of fact verification, madam. I have found it necessary to speak to the master of the house where I lodged last evening so that my whereabouts might be ascertained by one who holds an interest in the matter.”
Elizabeth glanced to the other gentleman again, but his carefully neutral expression revealed nothing. The taller man continued.
“Unfortunately, I have just learned that the master of the house is not at home, nor would any inform me of his whereabouts.”
“And therefore,” she supplemented, “you find it preferable to accost a lady and two children on the street in your search for information regarding him?”
“That is not precisely… I intend no offence, madam. But as you have placed it so bluntly; yes, I would wish to speak to Mr Gardiner, and I must do so urgently. May I trouble you for the information as to where he is to be found?”
Elizabeth began to grow suspicious. “If you will answer the question for me.”
He looked baffled. “Which question?”
“Why you are so determined to seek him instantly that you could not wait an hour or two, as an honest man would. And why a discharged footman—if you are indeed of such an honourable profession—should dare to continue asking after a man of goodstanding when he has no justifiable cause to be favourably received.”
At the word “footman,” the other gentleman appeared to snicker. Elizabeth shifted her eyes to him curiously, and he seemed to recover himself. “I beg your pardon, madam, for we have not been introduced.”
“I fear we are destined to remain strangers, then,” Elizabeth dipped her head courteously. “For there is none present to perform the office, and I am in the company of my young cousins. I am afraid, sirs, I must bid you a good day.” She turned her back with a serene smile, but all the while she could virtually feel that insolent glare following after her. It was the most satisfying thrill she had known all day.
He permitted her to escape for but a moment, and Elizabeth heard what sounded like muffled whispers exchanged between the two men. A throat cleared, and long heavy steps sounded behind her.
She turned again, causing him to draw up prematurely when he found himself almost upon her without warning. “May I ask what is so urgent? Your persistent reappearances and your sudden alteration in wardrobe do, you must know, seem suspicious. Are you a man to be trusted?”
“I am among the most trustworthy, I assure you.”
“Are you? I first encounter you under the influence of some intoxicant, staggering alone on the streets at night. In the morning you insult me, take off your shoes in public, and follow me everywhere I turn. Now I see that you are dressed in… excuse me…borrowedclothing, and have accumulated a sort of hanger-on. I am left to presume that you are some manner of fraud.”
His eyes widened in indignation. “Fraud! Madam, do you know to whom you speak?”
“That is precisely the problem, is it not? Perhaps I shall assume that you are in the company of your employer, who for some reason permits you to callously insult a lady on a public street.In that case, I do not wish to be introduced to him any more than I wish to know by which address one should call his hired man. Good day.” Elizabeth turned to walk away again, but this time she was stopped by a loud roar of laughter from the second gentleman.
“Oh! I must breach all rules of etiquette, madam, for you are a marvel, and well worth knowing better. I beg to be permitted to introduce myself to you. Colonel Fitzwilliam, at your service, and this rather gruff fellow here means no offence, I am sure.”
Elizabeth dipped her head. “Colonel Fitzwilliam. I have heard your name before.” She shifted a knowing smile to the other, then turned to her young cousin. “Now, Jenny, you must listen very carefully to me. Maddy, you as well. This gentleman here has quite seriously broken all protocol and brazenly introduced himself to me, without a proper escort or friend at hand to make the introduction as it should be done. A well-bred lady never listens, nor responds to such an audacious gentleman.
“It would be most discourteous of me to respond in kind with my name, which, as you know, is Elizabeth Bennet. It would be even more foolish and uncouth to remain standing here and accidentally continue the conversation with such a careless gentleman. He will no doubt ask my destination upon this walk, which is not my uncle’s warehouse on High Street, but your house on Gracechurch, for so long as I remain before returning to Hertfordshire, I desire to visit with my aunt and with you.
“And girls, there is one thing more which I must most seriously implore you to heed. No lady in her right mind would concede to the wishes of such a bold and foolish gentleman if he were to ask where her uncle was to be found later in the day, which I hope shall be escorting his family on a leisure outing to Vauxhall Gardens. He will, of course, bring his own manservant to accompany his family, so that we shall not be troubled by others seeking to take advantage of us.
“Such men do exist, you know. They may parade about in stolen finery and brandish their tin walking sticks so that a lady’s head is turned, but they are little more than snakes, my dear. A proper lady must learn the difference. There, now that we have spoken of etiquette for today, what do you think of seeing to some nice refreshment with Nurse? I see that she has already gone far ahead of us, and your brother is likely to have all the scones for himself if we do not make haste.”
The footman’s face had altered from mere impatience to affronted incredulity. His mouth had opened, his eyes had begun to spark, and that ridiculous fake walking stick twisted in his grip. Elizabeth graced him with one last little smile of victory and turned away.
Chapter ten
“Follow her! Whatever for?” Darcy almost snarled in contempt at his cousin. “I will have nothing more to do with her! Why should I harass myself further by ingratiating myself to such a minx?”
“I can think of a couple of reasons, the least of which being your desire to escape an unfavourable match with our cousin. Darcy, if you do not catch her up, I will!”
“And do what? Invite her back to take tea with your mother? Or had you less noble intentions?”
“Darcy, you dunderhead! Anyone can see that she is no shopkeeper’s girl or strumpet. If I had to guess from her manner and what she said, I would wager my brass buttons that she is a country gentleman’s daughter who merely happens to have an uncle in trade. Idohave a passing familiarity with ladies, after all. By the by, you were somewhat less than forthcoming when you described her appearance as ‘unremarkable.’”
“I said no such thing. I said she was unsuitable and impertinent. I find now that her manners were at theirbestwhen Ifirstencountered her, and I have no hope of their improvement.” Darcy turned sharply away, thinking to thump his walking stick on the pavement in aggravation, but it would only remind him of his aunt’s ways. Instead, he gave it a swift toss, caught it, and tried to march away, but Fitzwilliam was by now dragging at his shoulder.
“Impertinent she most certainly is, but unsuitable? I think I have never seen a woman better suited to you. Come, you must marrysomeone, and at least this one would be entertaining for me.”
“Marry her! I only intended to speak with this Mr Gardiner, not make an offer to that impossible woman.”
