Page 31 of A Cleverly (Un)contrived Compromise (Love’s Little Helpers #3)

CHAPTER 31

E lizabeth had suggested they sit under the bare arbor by the pond, but now she understood why Fitzwilliam had been too agitated to sit. Not only had his little sister settled on Mr. Bingley as the solution to her heartbreak, but she had also attempted to persuade Fitzwilliam to allow her to come out in society. Elizabeth hugged his arm closer to her, matching him step for step as they paced along the edge of the pond. “It is a difficult age. What do you mean to do?”

“I mean to uphold our unanimous decision to wait.” He sighed heavily and raked his hand through his hair. “Am I doing what is right?”

Elizabeth beamed. “You are asking me?”

“Yes. It would ease my mind to have your support.”

Her chest tightened and her stomach fluttered. “You bear too many burdens alone, Fitzwilliam. I shall support you”—she donned her most impertinent grin—“so long as I agree with you.”

“Say that again.” Fitzwilliam clasped her hands, his tone low.

“I shall support you so long as we are in agreement?”

“No,” he chuckled. “My name. I heard you say it in Bingley’s library, and I have longed to hear you say it again.”

She looked down at their entwined hands, embarrassed, though she had no reason to be. Looking up at him boldly, she repeated, “Fitzwilliam.”

“Elizabeth,” he whispered throatily, pulling her closer and lowering his forehead to hers. A kiss would have been imminent had her sisters not been on the other side of the pond. Already Elizabeth could hear Lydia’s giggles.

With mutual sighs, Elizabeth and Darcy stepped away from each other and resumed walking.

“Why would a young lady wish to come out before she is ready?” Fitzwilliam asked.

For the excitement, the dancing, the parties, the stolen kisses. Elizabeth would not say this aloud when they all applied to Fitzwilliam’s sister. Despite Miss Darcy’s secret courtship and near elopement, he still believed her an innocent child. He did her no favors treating her that way. Her petition and the reasons she gave for it proved it.

He would not like what Elizabeth must say, but if they could not speak freely with each other now, then they must practice and improve. “It seems that she is testing you. What could she possibly gain from coming out now and here, other than to steal Mr. Bingley away from Jane? Surely, you have told her how inappropriate such a match would be.” She huffed. “Can you imagine what Miss Bingley would do to her?”

She felt Fitzwilliam’s ribs stretch and collapse, heard his breath. “I felt so guilty entrusting Georgiana to Mrs. Younge. It was a negligence on my part which nearly led her to ruin. Georgiana was shattered. All I could think of was cheering her, and Bingley is always cheerful.”

“Yes, I agree. And he would seem safe after suffering from the likes of Mr. Wickham. But a girl her age is prone to heartbreak. It would have been preferable for her to learn from the experience and grow stronger on her own rather than to rely on another gentleman for her contentment. People too often disappoint.”

Fitzwilliam’s eyes pinched. “I see that now.” He sounded defeated. He did not think she meant that he had disappointed her, did he?

She spread her hand over his arm. “You have not disappointed me. To the contrary, you are a treasure trove of surprises.”

The pinch in his eyes deepened. Pressing his lips together, Fitzwilliam dipped his chin to his chest. “Then I shall apologize in advance, for what I must tell you will surely be disappointing.”

Elizabeth laughed half-heartedly. “What could you possibly tell me that weighs on you so? Tell me at once so that you may be free of the burden, and we may carry on as before.” Her attempt to lighten the mood only seemed to worsen his agony. Her stomach twisted into knots. All sorts of horrible possibilities flooded her mind.

“Lizzy!” she heard a muffled call. Fitzwilliam dropped Elizabeth’s hand and stepped away as she heard another cry. “Lizzy!” Lydia ran around the pond toward them.

There was no black smoke rising from Longbourn, nor was a royal carriage parked in their drive. Elizabeth was unable to account for her sister’s interruption and unwilling to leave before Fitzwilliam had told her what troubled him. “Just a few minutes, Lydee.”

With a ferocious glare at Fitzwilliam, Lydia grabbed Elizabeth’s hand. "You must return with me now . Jane needs our help." Lydia tugged, mumbling something about viperish guests and forcing Elizabeth to follow or risk toppling over.

Fitzwilliam followed. "Shall I accompany you?"

The dear man would intervene with Mr. Bingley's loathsome sisters for Jane's benefit. Elizabeth might have swooned had Lydia not been dragging her down the path.

Lydia spun, swinging Elizabeth around with her and pointing her finger toward Fitzwilliam. “Is it true? Have you been discouraging Mr. Bingley to offer for Jane so that he might marry your sister?”

"Lydia!" Elizabeth gaped at her sister's rudeness. Such a wild claim should not be borne! What on earth had come over her? Lydia pulled her away, preventing any further explanation.

"Lydia, you were terribly rude to Mr. Darcy. I had not thought you capable of such behavior."

"Do not slow down, Lizzy. Jane needs you." She let go of Elizabeth's hand to help her untie her bonnet, and Elizabeth realized how quickly her sister must have dashed out of the house for her to have forgone her bonnet or a wrap. The day was fine, but it was still chilly.

"Lydee, you will catch your death. What would Mama say?"

"She will not care about me once she hears about Mr. Bingley." Lydia dashed behind Elizabeth, pulling off Elizabeth's wrap and redingote. With a shove, she pushed Elizabeth across the threshold and toward the front parlor. Elizabeth hardly had time to gather her bearings or straighten her blowsy hair.

She knew Lydia was right to fetch her as soon as she saw Jane's pale face, shiny eyes, and forced smile. It was a stark contrast to the pink complexions and haughty postures of Mr. Bingley's sisters, who sat calmly across from Jane. So much for the headache Miss Bingley claimed to have.

Mrs. Hurst set her teacup on the table and rose. "Miss Elizabeth, what a pity we must take our leave just when you have returned, but we have overstayed as it is. We would not dream of intruding on your family's hospitality a moment longer."

Miss Bingley's chin rose to a triumphant angle. "We will leave Miss Bennet to share our glad tidings with her sisters. I am certain you will share in our joy."

Elizabeth stepped out of the doorway, curtsying as they passed and widening her eyes when Lydia gave them both the cut direct.

Brushing past Elizabeth to sit beside Jane, Lydia clasped her sister’s hands between her own, her lips set in a thin line like an angry sentinel determined to offer comfort. "It is a good thing you convinced Mama to sit out in the garden for a spell. We should put her smelling salts by her chair."

Jane explained, "Mama thought it best for Mary and Kitty to entertain Miss Darcy. Lydia was told to stay by the fire because Mama heard her cough—”

“One trifling cough,” interjected Lydia with a pout.

“—and Mama did not wish her to catch a cold before the wedding,” Jane continued. “I was enjoying a lively conversation with Mr. Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam when Mrs. Hurst asked me to come inside. She said that Miss Bingley had some wonderful news to share."

Jane shed no tears. The longer she spoke, the steadier her voice became.

"Jane, what happened? What did those spiteful women say? Whatever it was, you must not believe it." Elizabeth glanced at her father's book room door. It was firmly closed, and she could only suppose he had avoided all the turmoil by staying inside, ignorant of his daughter's suffering.

Pulling her hands free of Lydia's grasp, Jane clasped her fingers in her lap. "Do not call them that, Lizzy. They only spoke the truth, and they should not be criticized for it."

Lydia huffed. "How can you say such a thing? They clearly came with the intention to crush your hopes! Did you not see how they gloated over your disappointment? I have never been more tempted to toss my tea down another lady's bodice! They sat there looking so smug and satisfied."

Jane regarded Lydia. "I am glad you restrained yourself."

Lydia grumbled. "I shall not be so restrained next time."

"You will do no such thing."

Elizabeth simmered with impatience. "What happened?!"

Jane met her gaze evenly, her voice soft, "They told us that Mr. Bingley is intended for Miss Darcy."

Elizabeth scoffed. She did not believe that lie for a second. "Surely that is what Mr. Bingley’s sisters wish. An attachment to the Darcys would elevate them in society. It is wishful thinking, Jane. Nothing more."

Jane twisted her fingers. "Surely you have noticed Miss Darcy's attachment."

"A childish infatuation!"

"Mr. Bingley does not call as often as he did before she arrived."

"Neither do you encourage him to!”

“I refuse to be the means by which an impressionable young lady is disappointed. I could not be so cruel to Miss Darcy.”

“Like you, Mr. Bingley is modest and does not wish to hurt his friend's little sister."

Lydia blurted, "Mr. Darcy himself encourages the match."

"Lydia!" Jane hissed.

Ignoring her, Lydia continued, "He was the one who arranged for Mr. Bingley to let Netherfield Park with the aim of advising and guiding him in order to secure a match with Miss Darcy."

Jane's lips pinched. "That was not for you to say. We do not know for a certainty that it is true."

Elizabeth laughed. "That could hardly be true! Miss Bingley is delusional in her pretensions."

Lydia lifted her chin. "I asked Mr. Darcy just now. He could have denied it, but he did not."

Elizabeth bit back her retort. He had not denied it.

Jane interrupted, "Lydia, if you cannot keep malicious gossip to yourself, then you would do best to hold your tongue."

"But it is not gossip! This was not passed on from footman to stable boy to maid. Miss Bingley heard it directly from Mr. Darcy. When I asked him directly, he did not deny it."

Elizabeth could not believe it. A union between Miss Darcy and a gentleman whose fortune came from trade? Preposterous! Of course, Mr. Darcy had been good friends with Mr. Bingley for years, but that did not signify he held such a hope.

Did it? Fitzwilliam had asked if Elizabeth thought that Mr. Bingley would make Jane happy. What had been his purpose? Was he attempting to discourage Jane from Mr. Bingley so his own sister could marry him? No, it was ridiculous! But that troubled look in his eye, his frequent attempts to speak with her privately… Could it be?

Jane reached over to set her hand on top of Elizabeth's cold fingers. "Mr. Darcy is an honorable man. If he said such a thing in Miss Bingley's hearing, I daresay there was a good reason for it. Or perhaps she misunderstood. He is an attentive brother who wants the best for his sister. You must not allow anyone to lessen your respect and regard for your betrothed."

Lydia rolled her eyes.

Elizabeth straightened her shoulders. "You are right, of course, Jane. I would do well to ask him directly before I trust a word out of that vicious termagant's mouth. He will reply honestly."

The rational solution displeased Lydia. "But Lizzy, what will you do if Miss Bingley spoke the truth? What if she did not misunderstand?"

The thought alone hurt, and Elizabeth shoved it aside. She had already fallen in love with Fitzwilliam, and such a betrayal would devastate her.

She forced a smile to bolster herself and soothe her sisters. "One cannot live their life imagining all the dreadful things that might happen. More often than not, nothing becomes of it, and all that worry was for naught. I shall afford Fitzwilliam the courtesy of belief. I am certain there is a reasonable explanation."

"What if there’s not?" Lydia pressed.

“Hush, Lydia,” Jane demanded. “You are bitter because Mr. Wickham is gone, and you are bored. Have you nothing better to do with yourself than make everyone as miserable as you claim to be? You ought to be ashamed of yourself.”

The force of Jane’s speech stunned Lydia into silence. With a confused huff, she slunk away in search of a more favorable audience.

“I am relieved Mr. Wickham is gone, or she would have ruined us all,” Jane commented after her. Taking Elizabeth’s hand, she asked, “It looks like Miss Bingley’s early departure put an end to the picnic. When will you ask Mr. Darcy for an explanation?”

Elizabeth forced her smile wide, though the temptation to feed the flicker of anger was great. "I shall confront him in church. I cannot kill him there."

Jane’s eyes widened. “Lizzy!”

“I tease, Jane.” Elizabeth looked through the window to the garden. Mr. Bingley had seen his sisters home—probably Miss Darcy too. Elizabeth did not see her.

What she did see through the glass sparked flames in her blood. Never had she seen a guiltier-appearing man than Fitzwilliam looking at her from the other side of the window.