Page 44

Elizabeth was sitting with Mr. Darcy in front of the fire and was enjoying the ability to talk with him.

Learning more about him was helping her to overcome her doubts about risking marriage.

“I must admit that I have often wondered how you are so understanding of my connections in trade and my uncle, who is a solicitor. I thought that landowners often show intolerance towards different classes of people.”

“I had always known I was second born, but had thought little of it until I was ten and I learned that my beloved cousin Theodore was not getting his own estate to manage. He was told that he must make his way in the world, and had to choose between joining the church, the military, or possibly becoming a barrister.” Darcy leaned back in his chair, watching Theodore talk to Bingley across the room.

After Mrs. Bennet left with Miss Mary, Miss Kitty, and Miss Lydia, the remaining members of their party removed to the morning room.

Even Mr. Hurst had joined the group, which was fascinating because he had spent most of his time at Netherfield napping in the understocked library.

“I know it is a normal practice to consolidate wealth and power. Younger sons must find their way.” Elizabeth hoped if she ever had younger sons, she would provide better for them than was the custom.

Darcy watched one of Elizabeth’s curls escape its confines and slide down her forehead towards her nose.

He only felt slightly guilty that she did not have his undivided attention.

After all, his attention was on her, it just was not all on her words.

“Yes, it is very common. I went to school, and I met these second and third sons who were adrift trying to find a place in the world. I thought, if my older brother had lived, what would my choice be? What would I choose for my life?” He eased the curl back from her face, and she smiled in relief, as it no longer tickled her nose.

“What did you decide?” Elizabeth encouraged.

“I cannot tolerate crowds and speaking in front of them is impossible, so the church was not an option. I cannot stomach violence, so I would not head for the military. Though I am not opposed to trade, I do not have the connections or the business acumen. So I decided I would become a solicitor or a barrister. I like rules and order and there is a lot of studying involved. That is my long-winded story as to why I do not have problems with your connections. Had my brother lived, I would have been in the situation to have been part of one of those fields.”

Elizabeth felt the warmth of a blush spread across her cheeks as she looked at Mr. Darcy.

His adoring gaze and thoughtful gestures directed toward her made her feel incredibly special.

“I think that is one of the most spectacular things about you. You do not contain yourself to the world in front of you; you explore other options, and you acknowledge parallel paths and the feelings of others. You have proven yourself to be empathetic.” Elizabeth loved the way her words caused a slight blush to highlight his cheeks.

That he was allowing her to see him and not a front he put up to protect himself was significant to her.

“Would you be interested in trying to practice chess? We can set up a game in the corner.” Darcy loved studying the way her mind worked. He thought that eventually, she would beat him regularly.

“I would love to practice chess some more. I find the game very intriguing.” Getting up, Elizabeth moved to the corner Mr. Darcy had pointed out.

It was maddening having to take food and supplies from tenants.

The selection Wickham had to choose from was a degradation of his discerning palate.

He slunk back to the defunct building he had adopted as his own after stealing a loaf of bread and some cheese.

Once his head had cleared of the headache derived from his overindulgence, he had settled into planning a way out of his situation.

He would have to leave the area, but that would take time at this point.

Colonel Forester was not a man of action, but he was tenacious.

He had posted guards around town that would prevent Wickham from getting on the post coach and from getting a horse.

In a stroke of genius or accident, he owed money to all the men on the lookout for him.

Eventually, they would become complacent, but until then, he had time on his hand to perfect his plan of revenge and he felt it was coming along nicely.

“Here, let me brush your hair out for you and braid it.” Jane was tired of watching Elizabeth struggle to try to do things on her own with her broken arm. Her sister was far too stubborn for her own good.

She moved to sit on the bed in front of Jane and let her begin her soothing task. “Thank you. Now that my arm is not aching as much, I am finding myself growing frustrated with my inability to do things.”

“I noticed you did not have a problem with letting Mr. Darcy help you.” Jane smirked at her sister’s back. Mr. Darcy had not even asked. He had just leaned over and helped her when he realized she could not cut her meat.

“I will admit it has been a novel experience having someone dote on me as he does.” As hot as her cheeks felt, Elizabeth was glad that she was facing away from Jane.

Jane grinned at her sister’s slightly off voice. It was wonderful to see her so delighted. “Yes, I can understand that. I have had quite the opportunity to get to know Mr. Bingley, but it has been odd when compared to all I have known up to this point about how a man behaves.”

“I find myself uneasy about getting married because of how badly I know it can go, but I also want to spend more time with Mr. Darcy. I am even picturing our time together years from now. It is so very tiring, not to mention confusing.” Elizabeth fidgeted with a ribbon on her nightgown.

Jane paused in brushing Elizabeth’s hair. “Do you really think Mr. Darcy would act as Father does? Do you find him to be that kind of man?”

“No, not in my heart. He is kind and attentive. He often says the wrong thing, wording things in such a way that it is insulting, but now that I know him, it is becoming easier to decipher what he means. It is almost the opposite of being with Father. Where Father will say things in a way that you need to decipher how he is being cruel, Mr. Darcy has the best of intentions and truly is not trying to hurt anyone. He really cannot seem to keep his boot out of his mouth, but he means well.” Elizabeth laughed, thinking of the things he had said while meaning the opposite.

“I have wondered about some things he has said, but I have never sensed the same malice I do from Father. If it means anything, I think he is a good choice. He seems upright, and he has shown evidence of a strong moral character. I know he has the finances to support you and any children you may have, but more than that, he will treat you well.” Jane would miss Elizabeth when she married, but she could see how overjoyed she would be.

“That means something. You know I trust your judgment. How are things going with your Mr. Bingley? I can tell he is showing you special interest.” Elizabeth wanted her sister to be just as happy as she was becoming. With her braid finished, she turned to face Jane.

Jane fiddled with the brush in her hand as she spoke.

Though she liked him well enough, she struggled to let her heart go, but she would wait and see how things proceeded.

“I find him everything that a true gentleman should be, though I wonder at his strength of character. He seems to lean on the suggestions of others, which could leave him open to suggestion.”

“He has started to make some progress. I think he has remained strong on his stand with Caroline. Darcy said his aunt should be here tomorrow to take her in hand. It is something you can observe and see how things proceed.” Elizabeth understood Jane’s fears all too well.

“I think that is something I can easily do. Something tells me we will be in each other’s company for quite a while. I do not feel the need to rush.” Jane would be content however things ended up.

“So your aunt should be here in the morning? How long do you think she will stay?” Darcy had met the lady once or twice before, but only briefly. He remembered a cheerful person who had been kind to him despite his awkward greeting.

“Yes, she should be here before luncheon. I know she needs to head back home to Scotland soon or else she will have difficulty traveling as winter sets in.” Bingley understood that travel could be unpleasant if she waited too long to head north.

At least she lived just across the border, so it should be better than going to the far north.

“She is kind to come out of her way to help you.” Theodore had never met the lady, but appreciated someone willing to step in and help solve a problem.

“She is kindness itself,” Bingley confirmed.

“Darcy, how bad was Mr. Bennet really? I could tell you did not want to reveal everything in front of the ladies.” Theodore could read his cousin’s quirks better than anyone, and he suspected it had been a tough morning for him.

“I do not know if I have ever met a more despicable man. Everything he said was an insult to those fine ladies. He had no compunction in suggesting that I take her as my mistress and even crudely suggested something about my preferences in choosing her. I suspect he spends all of his time in his little library feeling his own superiority and only ventures forth to harm his family and dependents.” Darcy relished the burn of the whiskey as he swallowed it.

It distracted him from the vile things that Mr. Bennet had said.

He knew that Elizabeth would have to return home within five days and could not stomach letting her near that man ever again.

He felt guilty letting Mrs. Bennet and her daughters go, knowing what they returned to.

“I think we have a good plan to stop him. We will put it into action after Elizabeth heads back to Longbourn, and no, you cannot run away with her to protect her from her father. She has survived him for twenty years and she will survive another two weeks. I even have an idea about how we can make sure that he gets what is coming to him. I just need to see a copy of the entail on the estate.”

“Darcy is an upstanding fellow, but I can picture him running away with Miss Elizabeth clutched to his chest, protecting her from her father’s sinister machinations.” Bingley chuckled at the image in his mind.

“I do not deny I have that instinct right now. I cringe at the thought that she is in the same house as that man. At least Mr. Collins will be returning to Hunsford in Kent.” Darcy pondered the ways he could ensure Elizabeth’s safety.

“Why is that important?” Theodore felt like had missed something.

Darcy smiled at the thought of the man receiving what he deserved.

“Before her injury, her father and Mr. Collins had schemed to have him creep into her room surreptitiously to compromise her. Her father liked the idea of her married to the smelly sycophant and instigated the whole thing. He knew she would turn the man down without pausing. Young Kiernan had overheard the two plotting, and he and his older brother surprised the man and broke his nose.” He had been contemplating how he could add to the fund that Bingley had given the boy in restitution for his sister’s actions.

It would not do to embarrass Kiernan or his family, but he deserved so much for the aid he had given Elizabeth.

“Hunsford? Is he in any way connected to Aunt Catherine?” Theodore quickly understood how horrible the man could be if he was the type of person his aunt associated with.

“Yes, he is her clergyman. He is exactly like you might picture a man Aunt Catherine would choose to care for the spiritual needs of the people on her estate,” Darcy commented.

Bingley shuddered to think of putting himself under the power of such a woman. It was a good thing Collins probably did not understand it all. “He left for Kent today, I think, so she should be safe from him. He is happy in the predominance of your loving aunt once again.”