Page 4 of Elizabeth’s Choice

Jane giggled, “It sounds exactly like what you said would happen. I should not have worried about not meeting him. How could you wear that dress, though? Mama would have fainted dead away if she saw you wear this old thing. And why is it so wrinkled?”

“I had to stuff it in my saddlebag during my competition and this was the only one that I could ride in comfortably! I knew I would have very little time after the games and Susie helped me change and then I rushed over as quickly as I could, but I was still a quarter hour late and would have never made it if I did not ride astride. The latest fashions with the narrow skirts and thin materials are maddening and I cannot do anything in such a dress!” Elizabeth argued.

Jane changed the topic, “How did you do at the competition?”

“I did very well! I got first place, although I nearly lost to Richard Fitzwilliam. He is a fierce rival but now being a colonel in His Majesty’s Army, he needed to depart for Dover straight after the competition and I was able to beat him,” Elizabeth grinned. “Take a look at my prize. It is a beautiful gold arrow and should be worth at least a hundred pounds. I will invest most of it but will get you that pelisse you have been eyeing the last time you were in town.”

Jane embraced her sister, “You are too generous with your prize money, Lizzie! I can pay for my own clothes and I know how diligently you have been saving up to achieve your dream of purchasing your own home. Although you can always live with me once I am married, I know you are eager to be independent and will have a house for yourself! It is an incredible feat and that you were able to save so much on your own is inspiring. Even mama will be boasting of her good fortune of having a daughter who has her own house.”

Elizabeth laughed, “I hope to find a place I like in the countryside but might have to resign to one in town if none are to my liking. I plan on leasing a house in Hertfordshire for a while but also like the idea of residing in Derbyshire. Aunt Madeline has had nothing but praise for Lambton and I am thinking of travelling there later this summer. Once I find the perfect house, you can reside with me if you wish and it will be good for me to finally stay in my own place without being a burden to anyone. I have inconvenienced Uncle Edward and Aunt Madeline for too long and only want some quietude and peace when I am not in competitions.”

“And your time in Ramsgate will also be fruitful and then you will stay in Longbourn for a week. It has been too long since being there last but you will need to visit several potential houses and what perfect time to finally reconcile with mama. Papa always says he does not have enough time with you, Lizzie,” Jane squeezed her sister’s hand, “and it is time to come home for a visit. But the colonel must have been happy to see you and will see you again next week. Do you think he will propose again? He has been in love with you for the past two years!”

“I hope not. He did not care to know of my existence during the entire time his parents have been sponsoring me until I finally beat him in archery two years ago and he suddenly found me interesting. He is very kind but thinks I will change once I am married; but I have no intention of performing the typical duties of a wife and would disappoint his parents in the long run, even if he vehemently denies it, and they deserve a better daughter-in-law than someone like me. He is a good man and I think of him like a brother, and he should marry someone like you!” She continued with a glimmer in her eye, “Are you certain you are not interested in becoming Mrs. Fitzwilliam? He would be a very good husband!”

“He is handsome but we met only a handful of times and he had been so busy looking at you that he rarely noticed me,” she replied with a wide grin, “and you know his parents frighten me! I need to meet an amiable gentleman who can help me overcome my timidness and I, too, like you, want to marry for the deepest of affection. Mama says I am nearly on the shelf but I will give myself until I am five and twenty before conceding to an inferior choice of husband.”

Elizabeth lay her head on her favourite sister’s shoulder and sighed, “I am sorry, Jane. It is all my fault that you have become so shy because of the way I am. You are so beautiful and gentlemen are drawn to you but one look at me and they flee as if I am cursed. Perhaps you will meet someone while I am in Ramsgate who will fall madly in love with you, and you can keep me hidden away until he proposes to you!”

Jane kissed Elizabeth’s cheek, “You are determined to be a spinster and will come to stay with me and my dozen children often, remember? I cannot fathom a better aunt to my future children to teach them all kinds of mischief! Let us get you ready for our travels. Uncle and Aunt have a grand dinner planned tonight and you are to depart first thing in the morning.”

The ladies linked their arms to walk upstairs to pack, never imagining that two gentlemen were also talking about the meeting that had taken ten years to finally complete.

~*~

Darcy exclaimed, “Hertfordshire? It is the backwater county and no one of importance resides there. Are you certain your solicitor could not find something better?”

“I would like your help touring it before I move in, but he said Netherfield is the finest estate there and is close enough to return to town often if need be, and I will be able to afford the largest mansion in the entire county to be comfortable for a year. It sounds perfect for my needs and Miss Grantley was for it. She told me that her parents would never approve of her connecting with someone who does not have a large house, but once I take residence there and am ready to purchase something, I will be able to win her over and propose marriage,” Bingley explained. “You should have seen her. She looked like an angel today.”

Darcy crossed his arms as he sat in Bingley’s study, "She sounds mercenary and her parents are known to be grasping for higher connections. Are you certain you are set on Miss Grantley? What do you truly know about her character? You have known her for only a fortnight.”

“She is the one. I believe she is the one,” Bingley answered. “She is very beautiful and has ten thousand pounds and… and is pleasing to look at. And… she is… she is… And she has parents who know what is best for their daughter and Miss Grantley dresses very well.”

Darcy thought of Miss Bennet and how singular she was. Even in her unruly state of dress, she spoke her mind well and was witty and appeared very pretty in her own way, especially with the fire in her eyes when she was obviously furious with his comments.

Bingley interrupted his thoughts, “Tell me about your meeting with Miss Bennet. Was she pretty? Since I lost the wager, where should I send the bank cheque?”

“Cheque? Oh, I suppose we did not get to that part. I have no idea where she resides,” Darcy answered as he stood up. “Perhaps she might come here to try to collect the winnings, but you can avoid her and have her leave her father’s address. It was a good thing you did not meet her. She was completely wrong for you and I do not think either of us will ever cross paths with her. After all, you are courting Miss Grantley and once the announcement is made public, there is no reason to ever meet Miss Bennet.” Darcy stared out the window to recall Miss Bennet’s pleasant form while she sat atop the horse but shook his head and continued, “I must advise that you take your time before you propose to Miss Grantley, though. You should not rush into such a decision so soon and give at least three months to know her better.”

Bingley scratched his head bashfully, “I was ready to propose last week but I suppose I should wait until I have known her for more than a fortnight before becoming betrothed. My sisters are against the match and it makes me eager to marry Miss Grantley even more! But I will take your advice and promise to give the courtship at least three months so that she is certain of her choice. Once you return to town in September, I hope to have an estate to lease and a wife to live with blissfully in the countryside by autumn.”

“I plan to leave for Ramsgate next week and will be there for a fortnight and then will take my sister to Pemberley for the rest of summer, so write to me about the estate you decide on and I will join you in September. And I wish you good fortune with Miss Grantley. Finding a proper wife is vital to your future bliss and choosing an unsuitable one will only bring misery and regret,” Darcy advised. “And please send my apologies to Miss Bingley. I know she had certain expectations of visiting again but after what happened at Pemberley last summer… I pray she understands why I cannot offer another invitation this year, not in the current state of things.”

Bingley nodded, "It is all right. She needed to learn some humility and finally accepted that she is deficient to be the Mistress of Pemberley that would be required of her. She has much to learn before she can take on the role and when you are ready to propose to her, you know I will deny you nothing. I will be most pleased to have you become my brother.”

Darcy smiled at his friend and left the townhouse to prepare for his trip to Ramsgate the following week. He never fathomed what surprises were awaiting him in the seaside village where his sister had been residing during the past month.

~*~

“How good it is to see you again, Miss Darcy! Have you not had enough of these lessons? You are here four days in a row!” Elizabeth merrily greeted the fifteen-year-old young lady. “Where is Mrs. Younge today? I am surprised that she attended only the first day and your companion has left you alone once again.”

Miss Darcy smiled as she happily replied, “She had a prior engagement again and wished for me to attend my archery lesson without her, Captain Fairfax. My cousin has had high praises about your skills as a teacher, which have all been true, and I am finding the classes more enjoyable than I ever imagined. I feel I have yet much to learn so here I am again!”

“You are more than welcome. It seems we will have a full class again so I will attempt my best to thoughtfully teach everyone,” Elizabeth responded. “I see your cousin now. He will also help instruct the classes today so it should be an excellent class.”

The officer approached the ladies and kissed Miss Darcy’s cheek and then greeted Elizabeth with a peck on her gloved hand, “Captain Fairfax, my apologies for being a few minutes late. Georgie, I did not realise you would be here again today. I thought you attended the classes three times already.”

“I was just telling the captain how much I have been enjoying the classes and it is the talk of this little village to have a lady teaching archery for the first time so I signed up for four more! Captain Fairfax is a wonderful teacher and all of the classes are filled up and I only wish I can attend every one of them before she departs at the end of next week, Richard,” she easily bantered. “May I invite you to dine with us for dinner tonight, Captain?”