Page 3 of A Tale of Two Suitors
Her solitary reverie was interrupted by a miaow, and Mr Ash appeared, jumping into her lap. Elizabeth stroked him, and after turning round and round for a while, he found a comfortable position and began to purr.
“Who let you out, you disobedient boy? How did you know I was here? Silly me, of course you knew. You are so sweet and beautiful! Do not listen to anyone who says you are wild and evil. If you despise some people, I am sure you have good reason. Do not worry, I shall always take your side, even when you puzzle me. As happened yesterday with Mr Darcy. How could you like him when he barely speaks two words together? Or maybe he was more vocal with you and Papa than he is with the rest of the world.”
“Miss Bennet?” a voice called, startling her so much that she jumped to her feet, and Mr Ash leapt to the ground.
“Mr Darcy!”
“I am sorry to interrupt your privacy,” he said, dismounting. “I just came to bring Mr Bennet the two books I promised. Bingley and I are having dinner with Colonel Forster.”
Mr Ash had been startled too and had run away, but he was now sitting a few yards from where they stood, watching them attentively.
“Oh…the books…how very kind of you. Papa will be delighted.”
“Are you returning home?” he enquired, and she hesitated a moment, but in the end she could not refuse to accompany him.
“Yes,” she said, and they walked together.
“I assume those newly published volumes are quite expensive,” Elizabeth said, attempting to begin a conversation.
“When it comes to books, their value is not measured in money.”
“A book’s value is not measured in money, and yet one needs good money to be able to purchase one,” Elizabeth replied. “Unless one who cannot afford to buy them is fortunate enough to borrow them.”
Mr Darcy showed a hint of a smile.
“It is my pleasure to share books with those who appreciate them.”
“How generous of you. I might be so bold as to abuse your kindness and ask you to allow me and my sister Mary to read them too. But that would be too much of an imposition, I am sure.”
“Not at all. Since I have already read them, I am in no hurry for them to be returned.”
Elizabeth could not conceal her surprise.
“Truly? I was mostly teasing you. My sister Mary asked Papa to request such a favour from you, but Papa was rightfully reluctant to do so.”
“I am glad you asked, and I am pleased to agree. Your father mentioned to me that you and Miss Mary enjoy reading. I have always admired young women who wish to improve their minds through extensive reading.”
Elizabeth’s amazement increased; based on his words alone, Mr Darcy’s statement had sounded like a compliment. However, his distant tone and his stern countenance revealed that he was simply stating a fact, unconnected to her or Mary.
“That is very kind of you, Mr Darcy. Mary will be most pleased, and so am I.”
“It is the least I can do after offending you at the assembly. I really cannot understand what possessed me to act in such a manner. I have a sister, and I am not in the habit of offending women, regardless of the circumstances. I should have found a more gentlemanly way of dismissing Bingley’s insistence that I dance. ”
“Yes, you should have,” she responded, amused by his awkwardness. “But as I said, your attempt to apologise was much appreciated, and I suggest we do not mention the incident again.”
“That is very kind of you, Miss Bennet.”
Suddenly, Elizabeth lost her balance as Mr Ash rubbed against her ankles. She swayed, struggling to steady herself, when Mr Darcy’s hand grabbed her arm. Ash miaowed and moved a few steps away but remained in their proximity.
“I cannot understand this cat,” she said, trying to conceal her embarrassment. “He usually hides from strangers, especially men, but now he is under our feet.”
“One can hardly understand cats,” he said, smiling.
“My family has owned many cats, dogs, and horses. I can safely say that the cats run the household, including claiming dominion over humans and dogs. Cats have secret reasons to like or dislike someone, and you cannot force them to change their opinion. You may feed them and nurture them, and they will still dislike you if they want. A dog learns obedience and loyalty. A cat can hardly accept being forced to act against its wishes.”
Elizabeth laughed heartily. “You sound like a real expert, Mr Darcy, and although my experience with cats and dogs is not as extensive as yours, I agree with you. In fact you just voiced my own thoughts about cats liking or disliking people without apparent reason.”
“I would not call myself an expert, but all my family loved pets. My grandfather used to say that kindness to animals is just as noble as kindness to people in need.”
“How thoughtful!”
“Indeed. My father and I were raised in the same spirit, and so was Georgiana. She has ridden horses as well as played with dogs and cats since she learnt to walk.”
“She must have learnt from her brother. I assume your mother loved animals too?”
“She did,” he responded after a brief hesitation. “But her health was fragile for as long as I can remember, so she spent more time resting than outside the house. She had a white cat who kept her company till she died.”
“Oh…I am very sorry…I did not mean to impose…”
The conversation had taken a most unexpected turn, and Mr Darcy’s willingness to discuss such private things with her became disconcerting. They walked at a very slow pace, taking a circuitous route towards the front of the house.
“It is I who should apology for burdening you with my sad stories, Miss Bennet.”
“In truth, I thank you for confiding in me, Mr Darcy.”
“Once again, I wonder what possessed me to do so,” he said, revealing a little smile twisted by sadness. “I rarely share my thoughts with anyone, including my relatives.”
“More rarely than you share your books,” she replied, and his smile brightened a little.
“Much more rarely,” he admitted.
“Then I feel privileged to be one of the very few. It is more important that you trust me than that you found me only tolerable.”
His face coloured, then turned pale, and Elizabeth gently touched his arm.
“I was only teasing you, Mr Darcy.”
“Oh…I am as ill qualified at teasing as I am at enjoying parties.”
“As long as you love animals and books, I find fewer and fewer faults in your manners.”
“Are you teasing me again, Miss Bennet?”
“Not entirely, Mr Darcy. May I ask what happened to the loyal white cat?”
“Oh…Molly… She was seven years old when my mother died — the same age as my sister. They had lived together all their lives, and Georgiana loved her deeply. Both of them missed my mother exceedingly and grieved for a long time. For many weeks, both Georgiana and Molly stayed in my mother’s empty room.
Georgiana used to play the pianoforte there. Molly just lay on the bed.”
“I am so sorry,” Elizabeth whispered, suddenly feeling the burden of his sadness.
“Molly died almost three years after my mother. A few months after that, my father died too.”
“Children and pets grieve so deeply for their loved ones. Miss Darcy must have suffered so much, losing both her parents at such a tender age…”
“She did. It was a long while before she recovered reasonably well, although everyone in our family showered her with affection and tenderness.”
“Poor dear girl,” Elizabeth said in a low voice, feeling tears well in her eyes.
“My sister is the kindest, sweetest soul, and therefore, she is more prone to being hurt. I wish I could protect her more.”
“From the way you speak about her, even though we are barely acquainted, I am certain you are an excellent brother.”
“I try but often fail, and Georgiana gets hurt again. For instance…”
He paused as if trying to regain some composure.
“A few months after my father died, I purchased a kitten for my sister. An acquaintance’s cat had a litter, and Georgiana immediately fell in love with one of the boys.
She called him Milo, and they became immediate friends.
He slept only with her. He was as affectionate as he was protective of her. ”
“I am sure Milo brings her comfort and peace.”
“He did. Sadly, her comfort only lasted a year or so. One day, someone in the house must not have been attentive enough, and Milo simply disappeared, probably jumping out of a window and running away. Georgiana was out with my aunt Lady Matlock. When she returned, you can imagine she was distraught. Her companion, Mrs Younge, and the entire household searched for Milo for many days, but he was never found.”
“Oh dear Lord! What she must have suffered…”
“She grieved for many months, and I suspect she still suffers. After a while, she refused to even talk about him, but since that day, she has refused to have another pet, except for those who already live at Pemberley.”
“I am so very sorry,” Elizabeth whispered one more time, a lump in her throat. “What could have happened to him?”
“I failed to find out, despite all my efforts. I joined in the search. For weeks I startled every time I saw a white and grey cat, anywhere I went. I still do. I confess I felt a tightness in my chest when I first saw Mr Ash yesterday.”
“Truly? Are they alike? What a strange coincidence!”
“Not entirely. There are many similar cats in England. But it must be my obsessed mind, as the more I look at Mr Ash, the more resemblance to Milo I see. Excuse me, I know I sound like a lunatic.”
“Not at all, Mr Darcy! In fact…”
“Mr Darcy? What a wonderful surprise, sir!” came Mr Bennet’s voice as the gentleman approached them. Only then did they realise they were standing in front of Longbourn, and several curious eyes were watching them through the windows.
“Mr Bennet, good day, sir. I can only stay for a moment as I am expected elsewhere. I came to bring you these books, as promised.”
He then bowed to Elizabeth, saying, “Miss Bennet, thank you for keeping me company. It was an unexpected pleasure that I hope to repeat soon.”
“Likewise, Mr Darcy,” she managed to respond, while her father escorted his guest to the library.
Mr Darcy left a few minutes later, but their conversation affected Elizabeth deeply, and she still wondered what had prompted him to make such an intimate confession.
Never would she have imagined that the proud, arrogant man, whose repulsive manners were universally criticised in Meryton and who had offended her directly with such insolence, could possess an affectionate heart and had been forced to struggle with such deep and overwhelming sorrow.
And poor Miss Darcy troubled Elizabeth exceedingly, even though she had known nothing about her until that day.
A young girl with a sweet character, having to suffer so many losses at such a young age, would not easily find her place in the world, nor any peace or tranquillity, despite her fortune and connections.
And the fact that she had lost a cat resembling Mr Ash was astonishing; even though, as Mr Darcy had said, there were many similar cats in England.
And certainly, Miss Darcy’s cat that had jumped out of a window in London could not be the same animal as poor Mr Ash, who had been tied up and thrown into the sea to drown many miles away in Ramsgate.
But still, the coincidence was astonishing and disturbing at the same time.
Her mother and sisters enquired about her meeting with Mr Darcy, curious to know where Mr Bingley was. The revelation that the two gentlemen were having dinner with Colonel Forster became a subject of debate between Lydia, Kitty, and their mother, with gentle assistance from Jane.
Elizabeth whispered to Mary that Mr Darcy had agreed to allow them to read the books too, then she retired to her room to reflect on everything she had unexpectedly discovered as the recipient of Mr Darcy’s confession.