Mr. Stanford agreed that it certainly was. “Do you plan to visit your friend there, Mr. Darcy, given that it is so close to London?”
“I have every intention of doing so, yes.” He could hardly say that his aunt would not allow him to leave until he had met every young lady on her list. Then he added, “My carriage is at your service, Miss Bennet, if you plan to return home soon. Of course, I would ride horseback.”
As it happened, the table had fallen silent just before Mr. Darcy spoke, and so everyone had heard his rather forward offer. Everyone stared at Mr. Darcy. He could have kicked himself. He had no intention of setting himself up as a rival to Stanford, but he had just done so.
Miss Bennet rescued him. “That is very kind, Mr. Darcy. But I do not know when I will return home. My aunt and uncle are happy to host me, and my parents have four other daughters to occupy them at home.”
“Of course,” he said at once, and then turned back to Miss Stanford.
***
That night, he received a scolding from his aunt. “I told you not to interfere with Stanford’s courtship!”
“You did, yes.”
“Then what on earth were you thinking?”
“I was evidently not thinking at all.” Mr. Darcy could only shake his head at his impromptu and ill-timed offer to Miss Bennet.
“Hmph. Very well. What of Miss Stanford, then?”
“She seems quite suitable.”
“Well! That is good to hear! What will you do, then?”
“Do?”
“Heavens, Darcy, are you simple? Yes, DO! Will you call on her? Take her for a carriage ride?”
Mr. Darcy shook his head. “I am too tired to think about it now, Aunt. I beg you to defer this discussion for the morrow.” With that, he went upstairs to write to his sister and then go to bed.
Dearest Georgiana,
I am still in London, obeying our aunt’s wishes. Tonight I met a young lady who seemed in every way suitable to be the Mistress of Pemberley. I should be preparing to get to know her better. I should be planning to bring her a posy and then invite her for a drive. But, dear sister, I just cannot seem to work up the energy for such an effort! She is in every way perfect, yet something is missing. I cannot understand it.
I also met a very beautiful young lady who, oddly enough, lives quite near to Bingley’s estate! She is evidently being courted by the eldest son of Lord and Lady Stanford, so I have been warned off in no uncertain terms.
I am certainly not shallow enough to be interested in a young lady simply because of her looks. But it does seem an odd coincidence that she should live so near to Bingley, does it not? I am not so fanciful as to think of this as some sort of fate, of course.
And to the point you raised in your most recent letter; you are quite right that I regard such things as elevated heartbeat and tingling fingers as romantic fancies. The role of the Mistress of Pemberley is too important to be left to such nonsense!
I was delighted to hear that you are eating better! Your wellbeing remains my primary concern.
Your devoted brother,
William
Chapter Twenty-One
After breakfast, Lydia and Kitty ran up to their room, giggling, while Mary and Mr. Collins walked into the parlour together, heads bent in conversation. Mrs. Bennet and Elizabeth followed them. Once everyone was settled near the fire, Elizabeth finally had a chance to read Jane’s letter.
Dear Lizzy,
Of all the odd things, I met a friend of your Mr. Bingley’s yesterday! His name is Mr. Darcy; he is quite handsome, with classic features, dark hair and dark eyes. His manner is quite serious. Very different from Mr. Stanford, who is fair-haired and openly friendly.
In any case, Mr. Darcy told me that he is to visit Mr. Bingley at Netherfield Park very soon, so you will have the opportunity to meet him. I confess that he stared at me a good deal and even offered to escort me back to Meryton, should the need arise, an offer which upset Mr. Stanford quite a bit. It was all rather awkward.
As for Mr. Stanford, we may be at a bit of a crossroads. I am not in love with him. He may or may not be in love with me, and it is for him to speak first, of course. But, Lizzy, he does not yet know that I have no dowry. Is it fair for me to continue to spend time with him, given this situation? Should he not be told that I have no dowrybefore he develops feelings for me? And if he does develop feelings for me and wishes to marry me despite my lack of dowry, is it right for me to accept him if I do not feel the same?
