Page 20 of A Maid of No Consequence (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
THE MORNING FOR VISITORS
D arcy strode into the house following an early morning ride with Fitzwilliam, leaving his cousin behind talking of horses with the groom.
The two men had spoken very little on the ride, as Darcy’s mind was on the woman who had spent the night in his home, in a room not far from his own, and the serendipitous meeting he had shared with her in the kitchen only hours earlier.
Fitzwilliam, too, had been distracted but now Darcy thought he understood the reason for it. He was amazed that he had not seen his cousin’s affection for Anne before now. It seemed he was not the only man in the family who closely guarded his feelings.
But that was beginning to change. Darcy knew his own mind now. Yes, he and Elizabeth had significant obstacles before them, but none would keep him from her. Never mind society, never mind Lady Pollard, never mind the imagined strictures of his deceased parents; he would choose happiness .
With Elizabeth Bennet now at Pemberley, his mind was occupied with ways he could care for her while gaining her trust. He knew it would come with frank conversation about their situation, and he was working diligently on his ability to speak to it.
He did not want to muddle another chance with the woman he loved.
It was with some surprise that upon reaching Pemberley’s main stairs, he encountered the lady in his thoughts as she descended them. She was a vision, in a yellow gown, its collar trimmed in a delicate lace. He saw just how well it accented her perfect jawline, and her captivating face.
“Miss Bennet?”
She smiled at him as she descended the final stair before giving him an odd look, and he realised he must be a sight in his riding habit, with windswept hair and flushed countenance.
There was no doubt horse hair and morning dew clung to his riding breeches.
He coloured, realising he was not presenting at his best this morning.
“Good morning, sir. You are up very early. You were on a morning ride?”
“Yes, I took Ulysses for a much needed run.” He looked down, noticing the mud on his boots. “I take it you slept well?”
“It is impossible that I could not have slept well, Mr Darcy. It was, by far, the most comfortable room I have ever occupied.”
“Have you eaten?”
“Not yet. First, I am going to the kitchens, as I want to see how Sarah was faring. Perhaps I will peek at what Mrs Hodge might have in her larder.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she blushed .
He smiled at the remembrance of their night-time meeting.
They both stood silently for a moment, and he wondered what to say next.
Just then, Marcus approached with a letter.
Darcy opened it and then shared its contents with Elizabeth.
“It seems that apologies are in order, Miss Bennet. Lady Landon sends her regards, but she is unable to see you this morning. She is unwell, and Landon has chosen to stay with her.”
“I hope it is nothing serious.”
“I do not think it is.” Darcy recalled the words spoken in hushed tones between Lord Landon and his wife yesterday evening, and felt the joy, and in truth, a small amount of jealousy, that his eldest cousin would have an heir before spring.
“Would you join me in the breakfast room so that we may dine together? We would of course have your companion join us.”
He could see her blush at this, and added, “I was hoping to speak to you about the plans for our day.”
“Our plans?”
“Our plans to introduce you to one or two of the tenant families, for the school.”
“Of course, that would be wonderful.”
“I will need half an hour or so to change my attire, naturally.”
She bit back a smile. “I can see how that may be a good idea.”
He bowed his head slightly, and took two stairs at a time to reach the upper floor. There, he turned and looked back at her, feeling a grin spread across his countenance. Why do I feel like a besotted boy just out of the schoolroom?
A short time later, suitably cleaned and dressed, Darcy emerged from his rooms to find Fitzwilliam walking wearily towards him with his riding jacket slung over one shoulder.
“Where are you off to all burnished and decked out?”
Darcy pushed past him, ignoring his question.
“And in such a hurry? Have you a secret assignation?”
“Leave off, Fitzwilliam. And for pity’s sake, stay away from the breakfast parlour, I beg you!”
When he arrived in the breakfast room, mildly breathless, he offered Elizabeth a smile. “Forgive me if that took too long.”
She held up her hand. “There is no need to apologise, I have only just arrived myself, and Sarah was so good as to ask for a hot pot of tea.”
They filled their plates and took seats at the table. Darcy was pleased that Sarah sat a little distance away, allowing him to speak privately to Elizabeth. “You are my guest, and I ought not to have been late.”
“I am not a guest, sir. Is that not the agreement we made yesterday? I am to be a teacher on the estate, as we discussed last night.”
“You have only just arrived. May I not show you hospitality, at least for one day?”
He was surprised to hear Elizabeth laugh out loud. “You have shown me a most generous spirit since the moment you saw me fall over a bucket of muddy water in London!”
“We do not have to speak of that.”
“But we do, sir, because things have changed. I am no longer the gentleman’s daughter you knew at Longbourn.
I am in a different circle. You have seen me at my lowest, and you cannot deny that.
” Elizabeth stopped herself, closing her eyes for a moment.
When she opened them, it was obvious she was trying to avoid his gaze.
“I very much appreciate your kindness, but everything has changed for me, and not for the better, and as soon as we both accept that?—”
“I see you as the gentleman’s daughter that you truly are. And I always will.”
“Then that shall be a problem, sir.”
They remained staring at each other for a moment longer, until a commotion could be heard in the corridor. The footman stepped towards the door, but suddenly it was pushed open to reveal none other than Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
It took an enormous amount of discipline for Darcy to keep a dignified expression on his countenance, while keeping his acrimonious thoughts to himself. His aunt stepped into the breakfast room and fixed her eyes on Elizabeth.
“What is the meaning of this?” she bellowed. “I demand an explanation, Nephew!”
Desperate to spare Elizabeth from his aunt’s vitriol, Darcy rose quickly from his seat and bowed. “Lady Catherine, this is a surprise. To what do I owe the honour of this unexpected visit? Shall we speak in my study?”
There was a shadowy motion behind Lady Catherine’s voluminous person. Anne peered over her stepmother’s shoulder, looking at him curiously. Steeling himself, Darcy nodded to his cousin, and invited both ladies to sit with an expansive gesture of his arm.
“We will not! Who is this that sits in our presence and does not have the decency to rise as we enter?” Lady Catherine pulled a lorgnette from her pocket and eyed Elizabeth through it; the eyepiece trembled, no doubt from the seething anger radiating from its owner.
Darcy could see that it took a moment for Elizabeth to collect herself. She rose slowly, but he spoke first. “You must remember Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn, Aunt. She is?—”
Anne stepped around her mother to glare at Elizabeth. “You!”
The vehemence in her voice, as well as the volume of it, made the air in Pemberley’s breakfast parlour reverberate with uncomfortable tension.
From the corner of his eye, Darcy could see Elizabeth wince, and felt his own shoulders stiffen.
He would protect her as best he could from his family’s prejudices and accusations.
“Ladies, would you care for some breakfast?”
“I will not dine in the presence of this lowly chit! Why, she has even taken over our own rooms! What is the meaning of this? I demand she be removed forthwith!” Lady Catherine’s face was turning a bright shade of plum, while her daughter, usually pale and withdrawn, glowered at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, who had just re-taken her seat, put down her napkin and stood. “If you will excuse me, I shall?—”
“Pardon me, Miss Bennet, but you have not finished your breakfast. I would like to finish my meal as well. If I had known you and Anne were coming, Lady Catherine, I would have had your usual rooms prepared. Please, join us or–”
“We will not sit. We will await you in your drawing room until this—” the dowager waved her lorgnette wildly in Elizabeth’s direction— “is removed from Pemberley! I will not stand here a moment longer in the company of such a woman! ”
She swept out of the room, and Anne, still glaring at Elizabeth, directed a few words to Darcy. “We shall speak about our engagement, Cousin.” She turned and followed her mother out of the room.
Darcy gestured for Elizabeth to sit. Although she did as directed, he could see that her appetite had fled; as she sat silently staring at the food, Darcy ran his fingers through his hair.
“You are engaged to your cousin?” Elizabeth’s voice was so low, Darcy could barely hear her.
“I am not,” he said firmly.
“But your cousin believes you are. The announcement in the broadsheets?—”
“All of it is gossip, and none of it is true.”
“She seemed quite adamant,” Elizabeth said quietly.
He looked at her, hoping she could see his sincerity, yet she chose to stare at her untouched plate. “Lies spoken adamantly are still lies and they are nothing for you to worry about.”
Elizabeth’s face flushed, and her voice wavered slightly, as she said, “They see me as a…”
“You are not!” Darcy brought his fist down on the table harder than expected, and the plates and silverware shuddered.
He closed his eyes, breathing slowly to try to gain some control of his thoughts.
When he dared opened them, he saw what he had expected, a look of surprise on Elizabeth’s face.
“I apologise, Miss Bennet, for my own conduct, as well as for my aunt and cousin. You are not at fault for any of it.”
Elizabeth began to protest, but he stayed her with his hand. “No, I will not allow you to take that burden as well.” Looking to her companion, who still sat in the corner throughout, he said, “Sarah, will you please fetch a fresh pot of tea?”
Sarah first looked to Elizabeth, and when she had given her consent by means of a nod, she left, leaving the door open behind her.
Darcy then turned back to Elizabeth. “I apologise for my aunt’s behaviour, as well as the manner in which she insulted your character.
There are misunderstandings between my relations that I must resolve.
But you must know you are not to blame. You are my guest, and hold a respectable position as a schoolteacher on the estate.
Nothing said or done by my aunt or cousin will change that.
I will not allow anyone to defame your name or your reputation, you may rely on it. ”
Elizabeth nodded, but instead of looking convinced, she remained pale and anxious.
Hating that his family had caused her unease, Darcy looked towards the door, and then back at Elizabeth.
“I will do all in my power to have you settled and comfortable. I believe your father and your mother, and indeed your aunt and uncle, would have wished you to have someone to trust, someone to count on, besides your sisters. I intend to be that someone.”
Elizabeth again nodded, still subdued. Sarah brought the tea inside at that moment, and all further conversation subsided.
They ate in silence for the rest of the meal, although Elizabeth only picked at her plate. Darcy then reluctantly excused himself. “I must go speak to my aunt. While I am gone, you might enjoy, and even find relief, in one of the many walking paths through the gardens.”
He nodded, and gave her a small tight smile, and feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders, left the room.