Elizabeth waggled her eyebrows at her sister and cousin. “And my two companions to inherit estates, besides. I suppose I shall sleep a little easier, though I may lament my own lack of suitors, if not my want of property. But I shall take comfort in growing exceedingly accomplished, having so many free hours to practice art and music while Jane and Georgiana are beset by beaux vying to become the next masters of Rosings and Pemberley. Nobody will think of me, and I am sure I could not fancy anybody whodidprefer me of the three of us, for you know I could never love a man who is out of his wits.”
“Well, that eliminates Richard as a prospect,” Lady Catherine drawled, giving her sister a sideward glance. “He is always shilly-shallying about with his invalid friend Bunbury, waiting for the poor wretch to die, as he ought to do so that Richard might finally be settled. But Jane, you may be just the siren to tempt him. You are such a sweet, steady creature, and you are sure to be the most beautiful woman in any room you enter.”
“Oh, yes,” Lady Anne agreed. “But do not let your mamma shade your impression of him – you must remember how kind he was to you in your youth.”
“Before Mamma’s talk of marriage frightened him away,” Elizabeth laughed. “It would serve him right if you did not fancy him at all, Jane, and obligedhimto give chase.”
“Hush! Perish the thought! Jane is better than such paltry tactics, Lizzy, and I know you would never act that way yourself.”
“Certainly not, Mamma. If I am so lucky as to meet a man of good sense and good humor, whom I can love and respect, I shall make no secret of being very well pleased.”
“And so you shall. I daresay you will meet a great many and have the luxury of choice.”
“Only take care that your choice aligns with your mother’s,” Lady Anne said with a smirk.
“What a fine joke if cousin Richard were to fancy Lizzy instead,” Georgiana laughed. “Or me!”
“He is of a more suitable age for Jane,” Lady Catherine said. “It shall all be very tidy; he has done well enough in managing Pemberley, and when Georgiana is wed or comes of age, Richard will come here and run the place for me, and you will succeed me as mistress of Rosings, Jane. You were brought up for such greatness, and I know you will be very happy.”
Jane gave them all a tight smile. “I hope I shall be loved bysomegentleman of whom you approve, Mamma. Cousin Richard has avoided us for years, and I should not wish to feel myself forced upon him.”
“Nobody in their right mind could consider you forceful, Jane,” Elizabeth told her sister with a reassuring smile. “Although Mamma seems to think our cousin Richard is not entirely sensible, so perhaps you may yet have some choice in your future happiness.”
“Richard will behave sensibly when I instruct him to do so,” Lady Catherine harrumphed. “And upon no account should any of you think of the new young earl. Rupert will undoubtedlythink you in possession of everyvirtuehe requires, for he has already nearly bankrupted the earldom! I shall inform the dowager countess that her unfortunate first-born had better go and manage his affairs at Matlock Park when we come to London, for despite his many failings, charming the ladies is not amongst them! He is a rake and a profligate; I think it a terrible pity he was born before Richard, who at least knows better than to race horses in Rotten Row and take up with actresses – and countless other indecencies I cannot speak of to my gently-bred darlings!”
Lady Anne smiled wryly as her sister fanned herself with indignation. “Let us not vex ourselves, else I fear we shall talk ourselves out of any enjoyment in our scheme, and there are a great many pleasures to be had in London. You will make friends and take in the culture, and you will learn how to navigate the fine society your station entitles you to move amongst.Ifyou fall in love, we shall be very happy for you, but we will be content, regardless, to have so many agreeable experiences.”
Elizabeth admired her aunt’s attitude, and she was relieved to see that Lady Anne had allayed some of Jane’s anxiety. She saw the wisdom in making what she could of a month or two in town, and even tried to persuade herself that she would be content to move amongst a new and varied set of acquaintance, observing all the foibles and extravagances of the first circle.
Elizabeth had a romantic heart, upon which she hoped some worthy gentleman might make an impression. And yet, she required so much, for beyond the common merits of intelligence and humor packaged nicely in a handsome, masculine form, Elizabeth still clung to the youthful fancy inspired by her favorite aunt – she secretly, and perhaps foolishly, longed to love a man by the name of Darcy.
Chapter Two
30 April, 1812
Matlock House, Mayfair, London
“Darcy! Bingley! Good of you to come!” Richard Fitzwilliam stood and clapped his hands as his two dearest friends were shown into the drawing room, and William instantly felt lighter after his travels.
“I could never refuse an invitation from you, old chap, and I have been meaning to get up to London when I could.” William felt himself sliding into the sociable ease of Will Darcy. It had grown easier to do so with every passing year, like slipping into a comfortable coat he wore only in town.
“And I should welcome a respite from Caroline and the Hursts,” Bingley said with a rueful chuckle.
They were alone in the parlor, and Richard moved to the sideboard to pour some brandy. He gestured for them to sit. “The ladies have gone to see Grandmamma in Portman Square. They are vexed with me for attempting to thwart their plans – or at least, Mother is cross. I do not think Rebecca especially cares whether I wed at seventy-five, or tomorrow, to the very devil.”
“Attempting? Were you not successful?” Bingley grinned rakishly. “The aunts and cousins are still to descend upon you?”
William raised his brow in question, and Richard gave him a self-deprecating smile. “I was summoned to London for the express purpose of being married, for I am thirty and it is my duty – you know the annual assault. My relations from Kent wrote to Mother and expressed a wish to visit; I had hoped that having guests of my own in the house might deter them, but they are determined to carry their point.”
“Ah. The cousin.”
“When I first took on the running of Pemberley, it was my cousin Anne – my aunt decided that she and I were designed for one another, and claimed she and my mother had planned it since we were in our cradles. Since Anne died – and I really am sorry for that – but ever since then, it has been her ward, Miss Jane Bennet, whom she looks upon as a daughter. There is another one, a younger sister, Miss Elizabeth – I daresay my aunt would be satisfied if I would take either of them.”
William gave a rueful rumble of laughter at his friend’s predicament. “And will you?”
Richard screwed up his face. “Anne was a sweet girl, I will say so without artifice, and she was not unpleasant in her manners. She never inspired the slightest notion of – well, let us be delicate and call itromance. But the other two, the wards she has adopted….”
William stiffened in anticipation of what his friend might say. He had heard of Lady Catherine and her fascination with a pair of foundlings; being also an orphan taken in by a wealthy benefactor, he hoped his friend would not judge too harshly.
