“It is a difficult thing to forget. ”
Jane played a few soft chords. This was dreadful. “You must, Sir. Forget that it happened. I have.”
Archer turned over a sheet of music, although she had played not a note shown. “Can you forget things so easily, Jane. I have no doubt that Frobisher is anxious to resume his friendship with you. Are you able to forget that he asked your sister to marry him only a few months ago?”
Jane played a gentle tune entirely from memory, the tears in her eyes blinding her from reading the score in front of her. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place. It was now obvious to her that Archer was deeply jealous of Digby! And no wonder. He must think that Anne had led him on, given him reason to propose to her. And if he had seen the way she had flirted and danced with him at Pemberley, then he would have had all his suspicions confirmed.
Was it possible that gossip of such a nature had reached him in London? Mrs Caroline Tremaine had been at the ball and Jane had often heard her mother mention that she was the biggest gossip she had ever known.
Was this why he had not yet proposed to Anne? Was he seriously worried about her behaviour, that his wife had to be above reproach? Although it broke her heart to think of Archer marrying her sister, she realised she suddenly felt very sorry for her—something that had never happened before. Anne was so oblivious to Archer’s concerns, so supremely confident in her appeal. She had Lady Goddard’s approval and that, apparently, was all she felt she needed.
“I have no knowledge of Digby’s forthcoming actions, Sir, and if you do not think me presumptuous, I would say that if youwish to marry a certain young lady, then you should propose to her, regardless of the circumstances surrounding her past actions.” And before she could stop herself, her fingers came down hard on the keys and a loud, discordant note rang round the room.
She was aware of every head turning in their direction and felt tears burn her eyes. She cast a look of entreaty at her mother, who immediately rose from the sofa and crossed the room to her side as Archer muttered, “Thank you, Jane, for your advice. I shall do exactly as you wish.”
“You look pale, Jane dear. I hope you have not over-exerted yourself.” Elizabeth was all concern. “I think it is time we said our goodbyes. Lady Goddard has kindly offered us supper if we wish to stay for the evening. Anne and Celeste have accepted, but I have explained that your papa is expecting you and Bennetta at home and so the carriage has been called for.”
Jane nodded, thankful for the chance to escape. She made her goodbyes to a frosty faced Lady Goddard and didn’t once look back until they reached the door. Then she was unable to resist. But there was nothing to see to heal her pain—Celeste and Andrew were whispering together on the sofa and Archer was standing next to Anne, his face grave as he listened to her, seemingly intent on her beautiful, vivacious face.
Lady Goddard glanced her way, nodded her head, just the once and Jane was quite sure that she could see the gleam of triumph in her eyes.
16
Jane was glad the following day for the simple pleasure of shopping with her mother and Bennetta for new dancing shoes. The temptation was strong to stay in her room, to be alone so she did not have to pretend to be happy, butshe knew the rest of her family would begin to question her if she did so.
Anne and Celeste had surprisingly declined to accompany them.
“Celeste stayed at home in case Andrew called round,” Bennetta said as the carriage finally drew up outside Matlock House. “And I imagine that Anne will have been anticipating Archer’s appearance. Mama, can you not get Anne’s engagement settled quickly. She’s like an irritated cat all day long, waiting for him to propose. Why is it taking so long? We all know it is going to happen.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I have no idea. I can only imagine that he wishes to do so at the ball. Perhaps early on in the evening so he can then ask your papa for his blessing and then they can then make a splendid announcement.”
Jane busied herself with collecting their various parcels, trying not to imagine how she was going to cope when that happened. She followed her mother and sister indoors where, to their surprise, they were greeted by the housekeeper, who asked for them to attend on Mr Darcy immediately in his study.
“My dear, whatever is the matter. Has something happened to Henry?” Elizabeth stood by the study door, all her fears for her youngest rushing through her as she saw her husband holding a letter. His face was dark with anger, though, she saw, not grief, which was a relief.
“No, everyone is quite well. Come in and sit down. You, too, Jane and Bennetta. I have sent for Anne but she has gone out to an appointment with her dressmaker. So I will tell her later.”
“Tell her what, Papa?” Jane was growing more and more concerned. She had rarely seen her father angry. It was upsetting. Had there been some news regarding Archer, something that would stop her father giving his consent to the marriage?
“Read this, Elizabeth. Read it carefully and tell me that I am not mistaken in any fashion.”
Mr Darcy handed his wife the letter and turned to gaze out of the window whilst she read it in silence. Finally Elizabeth raised her gaze from the page and sank down on a chair. “This can’t be true! There must be a mistake.”
“No mistake. Here are copies of all the documents sent in case we need to prove it.”
“Prove what?” Bennetta wished her papa would get to the point.
Mr Darcy took a deep breath. “When I was informed about Celeste’s arrival, I was very annoyed that her existence had been unknown to the Fitzwilliam family. It seemed to me that there had been a serious dereliction of duty in some lawyer’s office. The Earl is not in good health, as you know. He did not feel wellenough to meet the girl, so he asked me to enquire further. It has been worrying him because even though his father declared Rose no longer part of the family, claims for inheritance, the way wills have been written, there could be all types of confusion.”
“Yes, it was obvious to all of us that there had been some dreadful lack of communication,” Jane said quietly. “But letters do go astray and dealing with a foreign country in a different language must always cause problems.”
“Rose Fitzwilliam, who was, of course, my aunt, did indeed run away to Sicily with a groom before I was born. She was just fifteen years of age.”
He glanced across at his wife whose lips formed the word, ‘Lydia!’ and he nodded. Mrs Darcy’s youngest sister had eloped at that age with George Wickham and that wicked man had, before that dreadful day, tried to marry Mr Darcy’s little sister, Georgiana, when she was only fifteen!
“All that is true. Then news about her ceased completely. Of course it was not helped that my grandfather was so irate he cut her off and ordered his other children, including my mother, never to speak of Rose again. If he had been informed by some Italian lawyer or by Rose herself that she had had a child, the family was not told.”
“But she must have had a baby because Celeste is her granddaughter!” Bennetta broke in impatiently.
