Page 8 of Blessed Interference (Pride and Prejudice Variations #1)

Sitting Room

Parsonage

Hunsford

Darcy glanced curiously around the sitting room as he entered it behind his cousin and Mr. Collins.

Feminine knickknacks denoted the room as the ladies’ sitting room, and it was .

.. average was a good term for it. It was not a large apartment, nor was it small and cramped.

The furniture was simple and sturdy, with only slight nods to decoration and adornment.

The curtains hung on the two windows matched the rest of the room’s tone, plain linen with no further embroidery or lace.

The view out of the windows was charming, at least as they looked out on the little back garden, where shoots of green were peeking up through the mud.

As the group had walked up the lane to the parsonage, Mr. Collins had mentioned that he was an avid gardener and spent as much time as possible in his garden, encouraged by his dear wife.

His devotion to his garden was visible, the beds and rows neatly ordered and the white gravel paths lovingly tended.

All of this Darcy assimilated with a single sweeping glance, before his eyes landed on the true object of his search and focused attention.

Miss Elizabeth Bennet had lost none of her beauty since last he had seen her and shone like a diamond in her surroundings.

Not that she was dressed in ostentatious silks as his aunt or Bingley’s sisters liked to do.

A plain blue dress flattered her figure, her lovely hair pulled up in a soft and simple bun that highlighted her piquant features.

She was rising as the guests entered the room, and Darcy swallowed, enchanted anew.

“It is charming to meet you, Mrs. Collins, Miss Bennet, Miss Lucas,” Richard said with a bow, drawing Darcy’s attention to the introduction between Richard and the ladies of the parsonage.

“We are pleased to meet you as well,” Mrs. Collins said with a smile. “Shall we sit down?”

Richard glanced at him and jerked his head toward a nearby sofa, and Darcy obediently walked over to place himself across from Miss Elizabeth Bennet, while Richard lowered himself down beside him.

“Ladies,” the colonel said with a genial smile, “I am very pleased to meet you indeed. I know that my aunt and cousin are delighted to have such a charming group of ladies dwelling nearby.”

“We are, of course, incredibly honored by the great attention of Lady Catherine de Bourgh and her charming daughter, Miss de Bourgh,” Mr. Collins burbled.

“I have said many a time that the honor of living under the guidance of my esteemed patroness is one of the marvelous advantages of my position at Hunsford.”

“We are indeed blessed, Husband,” Mrs. Collins said brightly and turned toward Darcy. “I hope you are well, sir? I understand from Elizabeth that you attended the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bingley.”

“I had the honor of doing so, yes,” Darcy said, which provoked Mr. Collins to say, “Such a wonderful thing for my cousins, the Bennets, for I know Mr. Bingley to be a fine young man. As Lady Catherine has often said, marriage is a great blessing, and the Scriptures say so as well, of course…”

Darcy suppressed a grimace at the parson’s blathering and was relieved when a neatly dressed maid entered the room with the tea tray, which she placed on a table near Mrs. Collins.

Mr. Collins fell silent so that the gentlemen could ask for their preference, and Darcy accepted tea with milk, and Richard without milk.

“Thank you, Anna,” Mrs. Collins said, and Darcy watched as the girl curtsied and departed.

He frowned a trifle. For some reason, the maid looked familiar to him; perhaps she had been here a year previously when he had visited Rosings?

But no, that could not be it, as he had not called at the parsonage last year.

“I hope you are enjoying the parkland here at Rosings,” Richard said, turning a smiling look on the younger ladies.

“I do, very much,” Elizabeth said, her dark eyes sparkling. “Maria is not as enthusiastic a walker as I am, but you do appreciate the formal gardens, do you not?”

“Oh, yes, very much,” Maria breathed. She was a young lady and obviously rather shy, and Richard promptly said, “I know that Lady Catherine has worked hard to make the gardens of Rosings some of the finest in Kent, though to my mind, the daffodils and roses of Pemberley are even more remarkable.”

Elizabeth turned an arch look on Darcy and said, “That sounds delightful, Mr. Darcy. Do you prefer your gardens rigidly tended without a leaf astray, or are your rose bushes permitted to grow wild?”

Darcy blinked and said, “My mother, Lady Anne, designed the gardens to mesh with the landscape, so yes, some of the bushes and beds are not entirely tidy.”

“I am certain it is lovely,” Mrs. Collins said. “Would you care for more tea?”

Darcy accepted, and Richard asked a question about Hertfordshire, and Miss Bennet answered, and the remainder of the visit passed without Darcy speaking another word.

Not that he cared a great deal, as it was enough to bask in the presence of Miss Bennet’s lovely face and form, and in any case, he wanted Richard to have the opportunity to speak to her at length so that he could establish his own opinion.

Once they had bowed their way out of the house and were walking on the lane, Darcy figuratively pounced. “Well, Richard, what do you think?”

The colonel turned toward his cousin and said, though slowly, “She is a fascinating young woman, and I am not surprised that you are entranced by her.”

The anxiety on Darcy’s face cleared, and he smiled. “Is she not? And so handsome!”

“Yes,” Richard agreed, though not with sufficient enthusiasm to please his cousin.

“You do not think she is handsome?” Darcy demanded.

“She is very pretty,” Richard agreed, “but not as conventionally beautiful as many a lady in the ton. But do not take that statement amiss. I think it is a good thing!”

Darcy, who had indeed been glowering, now looked puzzled. “Why is it good?”

“Because you are not in love with her only because of her looks, Cousin. Many a gentleman has fallen in love with a pretty face, and Miss Bennet is pretty without a doubt, but her character and her intelligence and demeanor are what attract you so greatly. Or do you not agree?”

Darcy wrinkled his nose, walked a full twenty feet in silence, and then said, “You are completely correct, of course. When I first saw her, I scarcely allowed her to be pretty. And then, within a week, I was attracted by the beautiful expression of her fine eyes, not to mention her figure, which is light and pleasing. But it is more than that, much more. Her manners are not of the fashionable world, but she has a charming and easy playfulness that has drawn me in. She is incredible, Richard, absolutely incredible. I fear I would never be happy with another woman.”

Richard grinned, though his next statement was more warning than encouraging. “Darcy, I am pleased that you feel genuine adoration for a young lady, but keep in mind that a marriage requires two agreeable partners. Do you think Miss Bennet loves you in return?”

Darcy looked puzzled and said, “I assume so? We have not spent a great deal of time together, certainly, but there was a time when Miss Bennet stayed a few days at Netherfield Hall when her older sister fell ill, and we had a number of scintillating and fascinating conversations. Moreover, I am … well, I do not wish to boast, but my position in life is an excellent one, and Longbourn, Miss Bennet’s home, is entailed away to Mr. Collins. ”

“I have only just met the lady,” Richard remarked, “but I find it unlikely that she would wed based purely on pragmatism. Besides, her sister is presently married to a wealthy man, so financial considerations are now doubtless less of a concern.”

“That is true,” Darcy mused and then shrugged. “I am confident she does like me, at least well enough to become my bride. A greater question, I think, is whether I should concede to the desire of my heart and wed Miss Bennet instead of Cousin Anne.”

“Perhaps,” his colonel remarked and turned to glare into his cousin’s face, “and I believe it incumbent upon you to make a firm decision before you give Miss Bennet any hope.”

“Of course,” Darcy said airily. “Of course.”

***

Lane

Rosings

The Next Morning

The paths of Rosings were kept impeccably neat, and Richard was enjoying himself very much as he strolled along. It was pleasant to stretch his legs somewhere that was not knee deep in mud and blood, and he was absently looking forward to a cup of tea at his final destination, the parsonage.

It was a bit of a pity that he was all alone, and he knew that Darcy was greatly disappointed at missing the upcoming visit to the ladies of the parsonage, but duty called.

Lord Matlock wished Darcy to examine the estate books when he visited Rosings, and Lady Catherine, who at least kept a veneer of dutiful obedience to her elder brother, had little choice but to order her steward to comply.

Mr. Alderman, grown rather long in the tooth, always brought the books and hovered nervously, pointing out the expenditures that, in his opinion, reflected best on his mistress and her wisdom.

It was not a display that Richard relished, and considering that estate oversight was not his forte anyway, he had abandoned Darcy without compunction.

He found himself savoring each step and moment of his stroll.

The day was beautiful, with bright warm sun and clouds like mounds of washed fleece, birds singing in the trees and gentle breezes to cool one's brow if one became overheated.

The contrast with the smoke and screams of the battlefield could not be more marked, nor with the privation and mud, misery and disease, that hallmarked the camps and marches of a long campaign.

The only love he bore for his overbearing aunt was that of family duty, and quiet Anne was as dull as ever, but the tedium of their company was but a small price to pay for an exquisitely comfortable bed, the well-cooked food, and wine of an excellent vintage.

With the addition of Darcy to provide sensible conversation, Richard truly wanted for nothing.

His wish at the moment was solitude and space to do some thinking. Darcy’s adoration of Miss Bennet was a diverting conundrum, and it seemed likely that Darcy would wish to discuss the matter at length at some point, and Richard wanted to be prepared when he did.

Richard was not entirely sure what he thought of the situation.

His immediate inclination was to advise Darcy to marry Miss Bennet on the score that the master of Pemberley should wed a woman whom he loved and admired.

However, Darcy had a different temperament and different priorities than Richard who, as the second son of an earl, had a freedom to choose his own wife that Darcy, sole heir of a great estate and acutely conscious of family duty, likely deemed that he did not.

Darcy had been told over and over that he was destined for Anne de Bourgh, and though he had evinced no eagerness for the match, perceived responsibility might compel him to offer for her, nonetheless.

On the other hand, Darcy was not, by nature, a biddable man.

It had been many years since both he and Anne had attained their majorities, and he had not yet offered for her.

If Darcy chose another bride, Lady Catherine's fury would be a sight to behold, and Lord Matlock’s dissatisfaction hardly less weighty.

Darcy could bear up under the disapprobation of indignant relatives, but would Miss Bennet be content with a family by marriage that disliked her on principle?

Moreover, Darcy's disapproval of the Bennet family was palpable. It sounded a frankly miserable prospect for poor Miss Bennet to have in-laws who detested her and a husband who disliked her own relatives and had no qualms about saying so. Perhaps Darcy would moderate his expressions of dislike? After all, his best friend had married Miss Bennet’s older sister, so there at least was one brother by marriage who was not altogether tiresome.

Richard was distracted from his thoughts by the front door of the parsonage opening just as he came up to it, and he watched as a maid stepped out in a sensible brown frock and crisp white apron, a basket hanging from her arm.

“Good morning, sir,” she said, bobbing her head.

“Good morning,” Richard replied and then glanced at the basket. “Are you visiting a tenant family, perhaps?”

It was not particularly usual for an earl’s son to talk to a mere maid, but the girl was working at the parsonage and must have spent considerable time with Miss Bennet. He wished to know more about the lady Darcy adored, and he was not beneath discussing Miss Bennet with a servant girl.

Within two minutes of careful conversation, he discovered that he was more fortunate than he had any right to be.

“Miss Bennet asked if I could come along to Hunsford to assist Mrs. Collins,” Anna explained.

“She and Miss Lucas sometimes require assistance, so I am serving as lady’s maid to both, along with helping Mrs. Collins as needed.

That is why I am taking this basket of bread and preserves to Mrs. Johnson, who just had a baby, and Mrs. Collins is busy here in the parsonage. ”

“Have you served the Bennets long?” Richard asked casually.

“Indeed I have, for seven years now, and my twin sister Lucy as well until recently. She now serves as personal maid to Mrs. Bingley, who is Miss Bennet’s elder sister.”

“I see!” the colonel said and smiled. “I have never met Mrs. Bingley, but Mr. Darcy tells me that she is an extraordinary beauty.”

“She is one of the loveliest women I have ever met,” Anna said with obvious enthusiasm, “and the kindest as well. The family and the servants were all very pleased when Mr. Bingley finally asked Miss Bennet for her hand in marriage.”

“Finally?” Richard asked, turning to look down onto the girl’s face.

This provoked a flush of confusion, and she said, “Erm, yes, there was, well, there was some expectation that Mr. Bingley would ask Miss Bennet, but I ought not to speak of it, sir, truly. All is well that ends well.”

“Indeed,” Richard agreed and looked up to see a cottage some fifty feet away. “Is that your destination?”

“It is, sir.”

“Then I will bid you good day.”