“I cannot know, sir. I merely called to speak to Mother about visiting Mrs Wakeford and her daughter—”
“Darcy’s valet,” interrupted his aunt, her voice and manner a conflagration which might have smelted iron, “confessed all! He has been sending word to Darcy in secret all day. In short, he has been spying on my actions, and your son, Brother, has been one of the messengers!”
Richard’s mother sent him a scathing glance, then looked away, and he felt his prospects toward Miss Wakeford beginning to dim.His father, however, was now staring at Lady Catherine in confusion. “Darcy’s valet knows where he is?”
“As do I, by now. He has gone to Vauxhall Gardens, that disgraceful haven for miscreants and derelicts. No doubt he has sought his amusement in the darker reaches of the park, and cares nothing at all for his duty toward Anne! I will have him brought back at once!”
It was Richard’s turn to appear flustered. “Darcy at Vauxhall? Aunt, I think there must be some mistake. He despises the place, I have known him to denounce it in my own hearing.”
“I have it in his own hand.” Lady Catherine produced a greasy bit of parchment and thrust it before the earl’s nose. “There! Can you deny it? He has played me for a fool, traipsing off to some sort of holiday while the most pressing obligation of his life awaits at his house! And not only has he behaved utterly out of character, but he has taken some tart from Cheapside as his companion, as well as named her guardian so that all should know of her ruin! There shall be no end to the rumours when he has had his day with her! He has done this on purpose, with the intent of disgracing Anne and shirking his engagement. The shameful knave! He has left me with no other alternative.”
The earl was rubbing his fingers together in distaste, but his expression was grave. “ThisisDarcy’s hand, what there is of it that is legible,” he confirmed. “What do you propose, Catherine? For clearly, something must be done. This is a deliberate insult to the family, and I will not stand for Darcy to create some scandal merely because he was displeased with his choice of bride.”
Richard was glancing between them in growing alarm and sent his mother a beseeching look in hopes that she could stem the tide of the Fitzwilliam clan’s outrage. He was horrified when she looked coolly away from him and allowed her eyes to rest upon her husband to await his decree.
“He must be found, of course! I have sent some of Darcy’s male servants there in search of him already, but I would ask your support as well. The Gardens are large, and he could easily escapedetection if night falls before he is discovered. I would have ten of your sharpest men at once.”
“You may have them,” the earl scowled, frowning first at the note, then at his son. “And I shall accompany them.”
Chapter twenty-two
Mrs Jennings’ party had secured the use of a supper box near the statue of Handel. There was a gentleman seated there already, and he looked as little amused as Darcy might have done himself, if dragged unwillingly to a frivolous venue and saddled with such a silly wife and over-bearing mother-in-law. He had brought his own paper to the Gardens and apparently found it far more interesting than the sights or the people.
“Mr Palmer!” his wife exulted, lending every energy to her manner which his lacked, “Come, I simply must have you meet Miss Bennet!” She turned back to Elizabeth with a proud smile and even bobbed a little in excitement when her husband obliged.
Mr Palmer glanced over the edge of his paper with eyes that showed no flicker of interest. “Hmm. A pleasure.” He glanced back down and continued his reading.
“There, Miss Bennet, did I not tell you? He is absolutely the drollest fellow! I simply never know quite how to take him. I think he likes you very much, for he smiled, did you see? Here, you must sit beside me.”
The supper boxes were arranged in something of an inverted “U” shape, with a long table amidst the benches and three walls about to create a sort of half-room. There was comfortable seating for perhaps ten persons at the table, and a waiter promptly brought himself to attend them.
“You have never been here, have you? Oh, you simply must try the rack punch. Legendary it is! No one may visit without taking some. And, of course, the ham, for you have never seen the like.You will not believe how thin it is! Why, I think a half pound could paper my entire house.”
Mrs Jennings was somewhat behind her daughter in settling at the table. She was so much red in the face from the exertion of walking that when she at last poured herself into the bench beside them, she readily seconded her daughter’s request for the beverage. The waiter bowed smartly and returned a short while later with the repast.
“Now, Miss Elizabeth, let me know more of you.” Mrs Jennings’ curiosity had lent her the strength to recover her breath miraculously well. “I was not able to learn many of your particulars last night. You said that you have family in Hertfordshire?”
“Yes, ma’am, my parents and four sisters, one of whom you met last night.”
“Four sisters? And no brother? Such a pity! But it is not a hopeless case. Why, I have just seen the happy conclusion of some courtships which none could ever have thought possible. Two young ladies, poor as church mice, but both very good sorts of girls. One of them was quite taken with a blackguard, the other with a sweet fellow who was nearly trapped by a youthful vow. What do you think? It all came right, and so it shall for you.
“I daresay you are not quite so handsome as Miss Marianne, nor so easy tempered as Miss Elinor, but a young lady in possession of such a pretty face and such an engaging wit as yours should encounter no more difficulty than they. Let me think….” She tapped her fingertips on the table at her eyes rolled up in serious deliberation.
Darcy was standing at the end of the table all this while, positioned opposite the other family’s footman, and trying to keep his countenance. Surreptitious glances informed him of Miss Elizabeth’s discomfort with this blunt line of questioning, but her patience was not entirely spent. She was blushing most prettily, but in evidence also was a small quirk to her lips which indicated an equal measure of amusement at the well-meaning busy-body.How such a woman as his Miss Elizabeth might fare at the hands of Lady Catherine, he could not help but wonder! Could she be so gracious as she was now? Perhaps even diverted enough that the price of enduring his aunt’s company would be well compensated?
His musings took quite a different turn at once, for the question of seeking a mate for Miss Elizabeth was not one that their hostesses were inclined to neglect.
“What of Mr Spencer, Mama?” Mrs Palmer smiled, looking vastly pleased with herself. “He fancies ladies with darker hair, I believe.”
Mrs Jennings tilted her head, studied Miss Elizabeth for about three seconds, and then shook it firmly. “No, not half good enough! He is a simpleton, and she would soon tire of him.”
“Mr Irving? Oh, now there is an intelligent man!”
Mrs Jennings made a face. “A homely sort, although a good enough fellow. But no—you would not pass for a parson’s wife, Miss Elizabeth. I am sorry to say it, but it is true. You would upset half the ladies in the parish and be called irreverent, though you and I both know you mean no harm by it.”
Miss Elizabeth’s brows arched and she almost smiled. “Thank you,” she commented mildly.
“Oh! Mama, I have just the perfect notion. Do you remember Mr Bradley? He has just inherited, you know, and he will be seeking a wife this season.”
