Mrs Cooper, sitting in the corner with her knitting, cleared her throat gently. The girls both looked to her. “Not all are quite so choosy, Miss. Some young man of modest means would be right pleased to meet with a practical lady of sense. Not all are in a position to care so much about a broken engagement.”
Charlotte offered a wan smile to the woman who had overheard so many private conversations of late. “That is very kind of you to say, Mrs Cooper, but such gentlemen are extraordinarily rare.” Mrs Cooper just lifted her eyebrows and returned to her work.
“You could come to Pemberley...” Elizabeth suggested hesitantly. Darcy had proven more generous than she might have ever hoped, but taking a fallen woman into his home, particularly to be in company with his sister, might be too much to ask.
Charlotte sighed. “Miss de Bourgh promised me a place with her. How ironic that I could live in that very man’s parish, and in the wondrous Rosings he praises unceasingly! I think, though, that he may be rather disappointed in the near future. Miss de Bourgh told me something of her plans, and I gather that she has been in no way impressed with Mr Collins’ performance of his parochial duties.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I quite believe it! Anne de Bourgh is one acquaintance I shall try not to anger. I am dying to know all that occurred yesterday afternoon.”
“Oh, Lizzy, you would have found it so highly amusing! My poor father was most distressed, as Lady Catherine blamed him for the entire ‘inhospitable’ county. I think she thinks all of Hertfordshire is set against her! She returned from Netherfield alone when Mr Darcy refused to satisfy her, fuming and raging about both her brother and her daughter. No one understood most of what she said, but Mr Collins flew into a panic to arrange their return to Kent. I think it may be some while before Mr Bingley sees his carriage again! It was when he almost forgot to bid me his farewells, and my father said something about Mr Collins’ return for the wedding arrangements that I spoke up. My mama started to cry and tell me I was a shameful daughter. I think Papa is more distressed about losing Lady Catherine’s intimacy than mine.”
Elizabeth sighed. Such a frantic muddle it had all become! Poor dear Charlotte. Elizabeth hated that her friend had been made to suffer for her loyalty and dignity. She took Charlotte’s hand firmly. “One way or another, Charlotte, you shall be cared for. I will not allow you to pay such a price for standing up to Lady Catherine and her lackey!”
“I thank you, Lizzy. I was so looking forward to managing my own home, but I shall be content. I believe I have done rightly. Is your mother still very vexed?”
“Oh, Mama! She thinks you quite foolish, so be prepared for a scolding and some very snide remarks, but she seems satisfied at least that she shall not have to yield Longbourn to you one day.” Both girls broke into giggles.
A moment later, they could hear from downstairs that a caller had arrived. As it was still early, Elizabeth did not expect it to be Mr Darcy. Her suspicions were confirmed when Dr Cooper, the younger, came up to them. His eyes immediately went to the young ladies and then to his mother.
Smiling, Elizabeth excused herself. Charlotte was somewhat less prompt in her response but followed her friend dutifully. The doctor shyly bowed them out of the room before closing the door to examine Mr Bennet.
When he had finished his examination of his patient, he descended the stairs once more and presented himself uncomfortably at the entrance to the drawing-room, where nearly everyone save Kitty and Lydia had gathered. Elizabeth rose to speak with him, but it became apparent rather quickly that his mission was not a medical one. He softly asked permission to speak with Miss Lucas… alone. Charlotte, embarrassed and seeking to hide anywhere but in his presence, eventually relented.
Elizabeth ushered the blushing pair into the library, then turned smugly about, crossing her arms and finding her aunt standing nearby. “A doctor’s wife! Do you know, I think it will be just the thing for her?”
Mrs Gardiner only smiled and rolled her eyes.
Onthethirddayafter their arrival, the Earl of Matlock and his Lady took their leave. They generously paid a call at Longbourn before setting back out for London with their son, the colonel, in tow. Colonel Fitzwilliam had remained long enough to coach his old comrade, Colonel Forster, in the disposition of one former Lieutenant George Wickham, deserter to His Majesty’s armed forces. With a few favours called in, Wickham was spared a tribunal and the gallows and was soon made to see the merit in a long voyage to Australia.
Elizabeth was sorry to see the Fitzwilliam family leave, but they all assured her they would return rather shortly to celebrate her nuptials. “Good heavens, we may as well remain here, for I declare you shall be wed before the month is out. That boy will not wait a moment longer than necessary.” the Countess was heard to lament. “I do hope you have some success at reining him in, my dear. You still have to be fitted for your wardrobe in London. How you have time to get married now, I shall never fathom!”
Elizabeth had made what assurances were in her power to soothe her future aunt, enjoying her glimpses at the earl’s unsuccessful battle with his own amusement. He stood just behind his wife, and his cheeks were suspiciously bright with mirth.
Darcy and Bingley had arrived with them, as it had already become their habit to spend the larger part of their days with their betrotheds. It was fortunate that Mr Bennet’s burgeoning recovery still required some measure of deference from his family, if proper decorum were to be observed. Had such not been the case, the gentlemen would scarcely have had a chance to see their beloveds, as Mrs Bennet would undoubtedly have had the girls frantically about their wedding plans. As it was, that lady could hardly sit quietly for more than a moment, eager as she was to be about the business of matrimony.
Each day Darcy would hopefully inquire about Mr Bennet’s health, anticipating the day when the father would be well enough to consent to his daughter’s marriage. He intended to pay a visit to the vicarage the very moment the man had given his blessing! On this day, as the Fitzwilliam carriage drew out of sight, Elizabeth offered him a knowing smile and a small wink.
His eyebrows rose hesitantly. “Your father?”
“He finally read the Times, which Jane forgot to check before leaving with him. I am to understand that a few days ago, there was a rather interesting entry.” She quirked him a playful smile. “He tells me that if I do not bring you to him, he shall come down the stairs himself in his bedclothes. I do think he means it!”
Darcy closed his eyes. The announcement! He had nearly forgotten about it in the flurry of the last days, and as he had rushed off every morning to see Elizabeth without bothering with his own morning paper, he had not seen it himself. Nary a word of it had been mentioned by the magnanimous Mr Gardiner, but it was clear that it had not passed unnoticed by the family. What explanation would the justifiably offended father demand for all of his actions of late?
His stomach fluttering, Darcy followed where she led, back to that familiar little room. Mr Bennet was sitting up in his bed, his white hair tousled and his dressing robe still in evidence. Darcy swallowed. All of the times he had rehearsed the day he would ask a man for his daughter’s hand, he had somehow never pictured himself accosting that man in his sickbed, with an incriminating announcement already printed in the man’s newspaper. It felt like robbery somehow, to come to a man who had very little opportunity or strength with which to object.
He bowed in the entryway. “Mr Bennet. I am very glad to see you so greatly improved.”
Mr Bennet raised his glasses from a bedside table, where they had rested upon his book. “Mr Darcy! Why, I thought you had left the country last week for London. Very good of you to come back to check on an old man who cannot remain astride his horse.”
“I… yes sir,” Darcy shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Elizabeth. She had said Mr Bennet expected to see him! The man he spoke to now seemed to have no knowledge or recollection of any of the recent events. That was worrisome, certainly, but it might also spare him an awkward explanation about their last encounter.
Mr Bennet lowered his glasses again, glancing between Mr Darcy and his daughter. “Was there something in particular you wished to discuss, Mr Darcy? I recall you had that question about our hardy wheat variety. I should think it would do very well, even in your climate. I can provide you with some seed to sample.”
“No, indeed, I had something of a rather more personal nature to discuss.” Darcy glanced once more at Elizabeth, unable to stop himself. She seemed not at all inclined to come to his rescue. Instead, she was simply gazing at her father, her curly head tilted curiously to the side.
“Ah, you must have heard about that tenant of mine who has been so dependent upon charity. The talk of the village, I am afraid. I do hope the good people at Netherfield have not been put to any inconvenience. Longbourn may be modest, but we can see the family through the winter.”
“No, sir, that was not at all what I came to speak to you of.” Darcy sighed, pressing his lips together and blinking in frustration. Elizabeth had been apprising him of her father’s progress, and he was quite sure that Mr Bennet had been informed about the Brown family, among many other matters! Perhaps his memory suffered more greatly than any could have suspected.
