“I am honored, sir,” she replied. “What sort of girls are they?”
“They are kind and cheerful, ready to please and be pleased by everyone they meet – rather like yourself, Miss Bennet.”
Jane felt a blush creep across her face, and it occurred to her that she might enjoy his compliment more if Mr. Ferrars was not still walking at her side. He remained determined to recommend himself to her, and she could not at all account for it.
“Do you desire a large family of your own, Miss Bennet?”
“I… I suppose,” she said. “I confess I have never thought much about it. I have a large family already, with so many sisters; it feels quite natural.”
The viscount scowled at Mr. Ferrars. “And what of you, sir? Have you permission from your mother to think of starting a family? Has she any young lady in mind for you?”
Mr. Ferrars frowned. “An innocuous query, I assure you. One may be permitted to think of children, when there are children present.”
“You are one of many, like myself,” Jane said to the viscount. “I daresay that it must feel perfectly natural to be around children, when one has so many siblings. You are very like your brother and sister, Mr. Ferrars, while my experiencehas been that my sisters are all of varied dispositions and pursuits. What is the case with your daughters, my lord?”
Jane heard Mr. Ferrars suck in a sharp breath at her assessment, which was not at all complimentary. They had reached the park now, and he took this opportunity to join other companions as the viscount described the similarities and differences of his girls.
She passed a happy hour playing games with them as they had their picnic along the Serpentine, and for a while Jane even managed to forget the strange feeling of Mr. Ferrars watching her from afar. Jane found the three girls to be delightful creatures, all very sweet and obliging, and she thought the better of Viscount Bellamy for having raised such well-mannered children.
She wished she could fancy the viscount. She respected him, and thought him everything a gentleman ought to be; his addresses were not unwelcome, but he had yet to touch her heart. She was faced with the unpleasant realization that when Mr. Ferrars had asked her about starting a family, she had imagined a boy and a girl with Mr. Willoughby’s pleasing features.
When Jane glanced around, searching for a shrub to hide behind as she played hide-and-seek with the viscount and his children, she caught sight of Mr. Willoughby amusing Miss Bingley. Jane’s stomach felt sick, and she nearly collided with her sister.
“Oh! Lizzy! I am sorry – but whatever is the matter?”
Elizabeth schooled her countenance. “Nothing at all, Jane.”
“I expected you to be occupied with Mr. Darcy – teaching him your wicked ways.”
Something shaded Elizabeth’s forced smile. “Mr. Darcy has found fault with my counsel; besides, we are a large party, and I wish to speak to everyone. Well, nearly everyone. But what do you say to Aunt Madeline and Colonel Brandon?”
Jane cast a discreet glance in their aunt’s direction. She was speaking with the colonel, but Jane thought their aunt looked rather bored. “It is still too soon to think of such things, I am sure; do not press her, Lizzy. Surely we have every reason to think ill of meddling.”
Elizabeth grimaced and gave a curt nod of her head. “Of course.”
Not long after Elizabeth moved away, as Jane continued to play with the three Fitzwilliam girls, she was approached by Mr. Willoughby. He gave a slight tip of his head as he observed, “I have done my best to distract Miss Bingley; I believe I owe you such a favor, but she will not be kept from her quarry.”
Jane looked in the direction he had subtly indicated; Miss Bingley fawning over the viscount and attempting to ingratiate herself with one of his daughters. “I am sure there is nothing she can say to the viscount that I would wish unsaid; indeed, I should not deny her the opportunity for her to demonstrate her character to him.”
“Oho! Well said, Miss Bennet. I think you mean that she will only expose her own artifice as she throws herself at him. I merely thought that if I threw myself at her, it might give you some opportunity to show the viscount who you are, a lovely and charming creature without fault or guile.”
“Throw yourself at her? But what about Marianne?”
Mr. Willoughby smiled and shook his head. “My sentiments and wishes have not altered. I may serve you well by distracting Miss Bingley, but I have no intentions toward her,nor any expectation of engaging her affections. I do not think her capable of any such feelings.”
“Have a care, Mr. Willoughby. It would serve you right if she fancied herself madly in love with you.”
He placed a hand over his heart. “That I could be such a man to please her! That would either make me very grand, or entirely repugnant, and I have no aspirations to either.”
Jane laughed in spite of herself. “You will not tempt me into any of your wickedness, and though I am not as bold as my sister, I hope I am perfectly capable of getting on with my friends, without resorting to subterfuge.”
He waggled his brows. “I see your little smile, Miss Bennet; you cannot convince me it does not amuse you just a bit. Pray, what do you think they are talking of?”
Jane hardly knew why she was indulging his flight of fancy, but she studied the pair in question. “I suppose she is praising his children, which is no more than I have done.”
He spoke in a high-pitched voice as he clung to Jane’s arm. “Oh, Viscount, how charming your daughters are – but I am sure I could give you a son by tea time, if you promised me a generous marriage settlement! Behold my simpering smile, behold the thrusting of my bosom as I laugh at your every weak jape! We are practically family already!”
Jane laughed in spite of herself, and before she could think, the words spilled from her lips in a low, gravelly voice. “Good Heavens, Miss Bingley, your hauteur and perpetual agreement are just what I desire in a bride!”
