Page 27

“Oh yes, sir! And isn’t it just wonderful about the master and Miss Bennet? Not a lovelier, kinder lady in the county!” And with that, the housekeeper was off in her usual bustling manner.

Fitzwilliam had just enough time to draw a deep breath before the door to the drawing room cracked open just enough to show Mr. Bingley peeking out like an errant schoolboy.

“Is she gone?”

Darcy turned a censorious eye on his friend.

He might not be married to Elizabeth yet but he regarded her sisters with certain brotherly affections already and Ramsgate had increased his innate protectiveness.

The fact that Bingley’s betrothal to Miss Bennet had been publically sanctioned by her father did little to quell his anger that Charles would seduce her in a public room where they might have been observed by anyone.

Deciding that Darcy was indeed alone in the hall, Mr. Bingley stepped out to join him.

Through the doorway, Fitzwilliam could see Jane standing by the sofa, more properly attired than before but eyes lowered and hands brushing her skirts restlessly.

Ignoring his friend, Darcy spoke directly to the lady.

“Miss Bennet, your sisters are both in the music room. I took the liberty of calling for Bingley’s carriage. It should be here in a few minutes.”

Flushed with embarrassment, Jane nodded very slightly and moved toward the door. Darcy noted that she did not raise her eyes and, furious with Bingley for having put such a sweet, innocent lady in such a situation, he stepped back and held open the door for her with a small bow.

When he offered his arm, Jane ventured a timid glance, expecting to see the severest censure for her wanton behavior. Instead, she was met with a solemn, steady look that searched her face for any symptoms of hurt.

Jane had not quite understood her sister’s exuberant joy over her engagement to this man; his behavior had always been proper but she had never seen any sign of the depth of feeling Lizzy attributed to him.

In that instant, however, she felt the intensity of his brotherly concern and Jane had no doubt that, had she requested it, Mr. Darcy would have taken his good friend of many years out to the yard and thrashed him within an inch of his life.

For the first time in many years, Jane felt… protected.

Fitzwilliam was relieved when Miss Bennet met his eye and, taking his arm, smiled slightly. There was still discomfort in her face but the panic had receded. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” she whispered.

Still agitated over the wreckage that his first kiss with Jane had become, Charles hovered around the two until Darcy turned a gimlet eye upon him. “Go check on the carriage, Bingley. I shall escort Miss Bennet to her sisters.” The Master of Pemberley’s tone made it clear that he was to be obeyed.

Charles babbled a few words of assurance but finally left on his errand.

Once they were alone, Darcy turned back to Elizabeth’s sister and noted that she seemed to have relaxed slightly now that Bingley was no longer hovering.

“Miss Bennet,” he said softly. “If you wish for a few minutes alone, I can leave.”

Some of her usual serenity returned and Jane smiled quietly at the tall gentleman. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy, but I shall be… well.”

When she stumbled over the last word, Darcy noted a profound shame flash across her face before she could assume her usual demeanor.

Both the emotion and the mask reminded him uncomfortably of Georgiana in the weeks after Ramsgate.

Thinking quickly, he drew Miss Bennet back into the drawing room, although he left the door open for propriety’s sake.

Once he was certain that they were alone, Fitzwilliam spoke softly but rapidly. “Miss Bennet, Jane. Though Elizabeth and I are not yet wed, I cannot help but think of you and your sisters as my own. If there is anything I can do for you in the role of a brother, you have but to tell me.”

Jane held her breath for a moment before whispering, “I thank you, sir, for your concern… you know not how much it means to me. However, in this instance there is nothing for you to do. The shame is my own and so must be the consequences.”

Although part of Darcy wished to curse Bingley aloud for his lack of self-control, the brotherly part of him recognized that his anger was not what she needed.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm before speaking again.

“Miss Bennet, you must listen to me. Whatever has happened, it was not your fault. You are an innocent and Bingley should not have taken advantage of that. My friend has never been known for his self-control.”

Miss Bennet’s shocked expression made him realize how his words might be taken.

“Oh Lord—I did not mean to imply that I have seen him in this sort of situation before, only that… he cares for you very much and has for many months now. And Charles has never been one to suppress his emotions—that is my talent, I fear.”

This last was said in such a wry tone that Jane could not help but smile a little. Encouraged, Darcy continued, “I will speak to him tonight on the subject of proper gentlemanly behavior.”

Jane’s worry showed clearly. “You mustn’t lay the blame at his feet; I was just as… wanton. My behavior was… oh, he must be shocked.”

Darcy bit his tongue before he could tell her that Bingley and any other gentleman would surely consider a demonstration of such passion to be a pleasant shock indeed.

However, although he might have confided such a sentiment to Elizabeth it was not something he could imagine saying aloud to her sister.

Instead, he merely offered, “I would urge you to confide in Elizabeth and seek her counsel. She mentioned having a talk with your most excellent aunt, Mrs. Gardiner, that gave her a more… balanced perspective on the… transition from single to married lady.”

Jane studied him for a long moment, pondering his carefully worded statement. Eventually she nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. You’re correct; Lizzy often sees things that quite pass me by.” The pair exchanged a look and knew they were both thinking of Caroline Bingley.

Darcy’s own thoughts quickly moved beyond that, however.

“Miss Bennet, while we are alone I must also beg for your forgiveness on another matter, however well I know I don’t deserve it.

Had I not impressed my own ill-formed opinions on Mr. Bingley, he would have returned to Hertfordshire last winter. ”

Seeing the lady’s confused look, Darcy suddenly realized that none of the parties involved had informed Jane of his role in their separation. In a few terse and deeply apologetic sentences, he summarized how her sister had forced him to recognize the arrogance and presumption of his actions.

By the end of the gentleman’s explanation, Jane had turned to the window and was staring at the landscape beyond it. After a few moments of silence, Darcy forced himself to speak again. “Miss Bennet, I pray that one day you may find it in your heart to forgive me for all the pain I’ve caused.”

He was about to speak again, already thinking ahead to how they might plan for the two sisters to visit one another without Jane being subjected to his own, obviously disagreeable, presence when he was distracted by a light touch on his arm.

With her hair glowing in a late afternoon sunbeam, Miss Bennet truly looked like a Madonna.

“Mr. Darcy,” she offered softly. “I forgive you freely, though I don’t believe you have done anything requiring forgiveness.

You acted to save your friend from heartache, a sentiment I can only respect.

Perhaps it is my own fault that I didn’t show my emotions more but I fear that I show little of what I feel to the world without even realizing it.

” She smiled softly and in that moment Fitzwilliam could see love lighting her eyes.

“That is one of the traits I appreciate most in Mr. Bingley; he is so very open with his feelings. He has no fear that his warmth shall be misunderstood.”

Darcy returned her smile, suddenly realizing just how much of a kindred spirit he might discover in his future sister-in-law.

“A trait that I treasure in my friend, as well. I may tease Bingley about his tendency to approve of everything and everyone that he meets but I wouldn’t change it for all the world. ”

The pair looked at each other in a moment of perfect understanding.

Reaching a decision, Jane reached out to take his arm.

“Shall we go in search of my sisters, Mr. Darcy?” With a mischievous look that reminded him very much of Elizabeth, she led him out of the drawing room.

“I believe I shall like having you as a brother very much, sir.”