Page 37 of Her Affections and Wishes

“You would wager so much of your allowance on which of fourteen horses will run the last mile and a half of Epsom the fastest? How is that sensible? And why would you do that to your brother? Wager a few coins, but do not ruin yourself or your brother over the thrill of a three-minute race.”

Henry hesitated, then dropped his shoulders. “Ten guineas on Comus.”

Darcy nodded approvingly. “A wise choice.” After noting that Octavius’s jockey wore green, he went to a bookmaker and wagered the same amount on Elizabeth’s behalf. He could afford the loss, and if he won, he would spoil his new bride.

They pressed through the crowd to get a view of the course, and Darcy felt the building excitement as the horses gathered at the starting post and thousands of people’s attention centred in the same place. Mr Travers joined them, and Darcy sensed the tension pouring from him.

Octavius moved up on the turn into the straight with the favourite, Comus. But Comus dropped back inside the last quarter mile, leaving Octavius and another colt racing to the finish in a desperate style. Manuella, who started second favourite, looked to Darcy like her jockey pulled her at the last, perhaps to lengthen her odds for tomorrow’s Oaks Stakes. Octavius, in green, won by half a neck.

Mr Travers tore off his hat with a vicious curse, raking a hand through his greying blond hair. Darcy did not know how much he had wagered, but it was far more than ten guineas like Henry. Mr Travers stormed off in a rage, and he was not the only one. Darcy looked at Henry, seeing in the young man’s relieved face that he did not have to emphasise the point.

Still, the enthusiasm of the crowd and the excitement of following the horses was captivating. No man should pretend to any knowledge of a thrilling life unless he had at least once seen the Derby run for. Although they were not together, he was glad Elizabeth got to experience it.

Elizabeth could both see and feel that today’s crowds were nothing to yesterday’s.

The course at Epsom was on downs intersected by three hills in parallel lines. Many spectators came in coaches that without the least dispute about precedence were arranged in three or four lines in the front of the hills, and on the top of all was scaffolding for the judges who were to decree the prize.

The day by the carriages had the feel of a picnic, with thousands lined up all around the course, sharing hampers and chatting. She and Julia had walked with Mrs Tessier to greet neighbours and friends, since thousands came from London for the day. They had all clambered to the roof of the carriage with the help of the coachman to watch the Derby Stakes, standing seven feet above the ground with a clear view of the course.

“Is it quite safe up here?” she called down to the coachman.

“Aye, ma’am. See how the horses are standing at rest?” The horses stood with their heads and neck low and one of their hind legs cocked. “So long as no child or dog crashes into them, nothing here will startle them.”

“They would be unbothered if you did not holler so much,” said Julia, nudging her with her elbow as she moved past for a better view and pretending it was an accident.

Elizabeth stifled a sigh, but lifted her eyes. She could not lose her temper and open herself to Julia’s vitriol, though a small part of her wanted to announce to Julia that Darcy would be marrying her. And another spiteful part she was not proud of wanted to tell her that the forfeit kisses Julia shared with him were nothing to the demonstrative embraces Darcy was capable of when his affections were engaged. But that would not be kind, and she had to exercise patience.

Besides, she could not lose her head and think about Darcy’s kisses right now, not when there was such a hurry and bustle of activity of the races.

The horses did seem unbothered by the noise and activity. There were laughing children, servants carrying food and drink, footmen guarding the carriages from thieves, and many bystanders talking to friends, heedless of the race about to begin. But most of the spectators like her had climbed atop the carriages or stood in their open ones for a better view.

The Epsom Derby was a thrilling event to behold.

There were no barriers at the course, and the horses ran in the midst of the crowd who left only a space sufficient for them to pass through, and at the same time encouraged them with loud shouts. The victor, in green, found it difficult to disengage himself from the crowd who rushed forward to applaud the winner. They congratulated, patted, and embraced him with an effusion of heart difficult to explain to those who had never seen a race.

“Such a crowd on the road coming to Epsom,” said Mrs Tessier when they were enjoying a meal inside the carriage before the next race. “What a fine day, girls. It is a shame your mother had a headache, Julia.”

Elizabeth did not miss Lady Metcalfe. At least this way, she only had one unpleasant woman in a confined space to manage rather than two.

Julia peered out with a frown. “A fine day, I suppose, but I would prefer to see the course and meet a few of the men.”

She meant she wished to see Darcy. “You might have joined me yesterday in boys’ clothes,” said Elizabeth, wishing she could declare that she spent the afternoon with Darcy. But that would be petty of her, and would serve no purpose but to injure another. “I understand Mrs Tessier had found clothes for you as well.”

Julia turned to glare at her. “I hardly think such a ploy to your credit, Miss Bennet. Lady Catherine sent you here to find a husband, and you damage your own efforts with an unwomanly scheme. You have few traits to appeal to a man to begin with; dressing like one will not help you.”

Elizabeth stared but said nothing. Julia had hardly a single trait of kindness of heart.

Mrs Tessier stammered about whether or not the scheme to dress girls as boys for the outing was a good one. “But many females wore males’ clothing, and some came on horseback rather than in carriages. Is it such a strange thing for a race meeting? Your mother thought it was appropriate yesterday when she encouraged Miss Bennet to go.”

“I say it is a strange thing, ma’am, but it is no wonder that a woman of Miss Bennet’s connexions would not have known better.”

It had been a proper scheme when it was originally suggested, but of course, the most recently stated opinion was the one Mrs Tessier now held. Elizabeth was counting down the hours until she and Darcy could leave Monday morning. Perhaps they could forgo a little decorum and travel on Sunday instead.

It was perplexing that he recommended she leave early over a silly mishap. Why would she want to return to Longbourn without him? This warm feeling of being in accord with Darcy, with knowing what it was to love and be loved back, was too precious to forgo. The vase should never have been placed in a crowded corridor above the stairs, but Mrs Tessier loved her ornaments.

It was only an accident, and no harm was done. Darcy had, in fact, saved her life. It was a good thing she was already in love with him, because any woman’s heart would have been devotedly his after that. If her parents struggled to believe he was fond of her, she need only mention how he pulled her to safety and shielded her with his own body.

Although, she ought not to mention how they had been alone in the dark, locked in each other’s arms, and before they were engaged, too.