Page 29 of Brighton Rescue (Pride and Prejudice Variation #23)
“What do you think of Beehaven and her lands?” Elizabeth asked Darcy as they wandered happily among the butterflies and bees behind the house.
“The estate is both well maintained and administered,” Darcy said, smiling down at her. “Mr. Hartford is obviously a diligent master, as well as a sensible and intelligent one.”
“It is obvious that his retainers respect and approve of him,” Elizabeth mused. “I believe that the praise of an intelligent servant is high praise indeed, as they see their master when he is not putting on a show for those of similar rank.”
“My darling Elizabeth, if I had only known that you hold that view, I would have invited you to Pemberley months ago! Dear Mrs. Reynolds, who is our housekeeper, always boasts about me to all and sundry. She is, I fear, inclined to look upon me too warmly; she has overseen the house since I was a small boy.”
“On the contrary, if she thought well of you from a young age, that is high praise indeed! I fear I was a rather difficult child myself, prone to falling out of trees and dirtying my dresses. My mother found me quite a trial at times. ”
“Do you remember when you walked three miles to Netherfield last autumn after Miss Bennet fell ill while visiting Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley?”
“Of course! I arrived with muddy petticoats and my hair in disarray. Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley were horrified, and I do not think you were particularly impressed either, dear sir!”
“I was rather taken aback at your marching across country alone, but your eyes were even more lovely than usual after such exercise. As for your hair, I have no memory of anything untoward…”
Darcy trailed off, his eyes fixed on his love’s fine eyes. “Elizabeth?”
“Yes?”
“Would you object to a short engagement?”
Elizabeth moved a little closer. “Not at all, my darling Fitzwilliam.”
/
“Is your sister always so vigorous?” Gabriel Hartford inquired. He and Jane had retreated to ‘their’ bench underneath the oak tree, and he watched respectfully as Elizabeth and Darcy continued wandering the paths under the hot sun.
“Oh yes! Elizabeth has always been a great walker with tremendous stamina. When we were children, she would climb fences and trees and run up and down hills, as well and as swiftly as any of the local boys. She is also very intelligent; I am not surprised that Mr. Darcy fell in love with her. She is, I truly believe, the most remarkable Bennet sister of us all.”
Gabriel turned to look on his companion with considerable surprise. Surely, Miss Bennet was engaging in false modesty, but no, the lady’s expression was both genuine and fond.
“I admire Miss Elizabeth very much, but I prefer you.”
“Because I am handsome?” Jane asked with a hint of exasperation.
“No!” the gentleman protested. Jane lifted her eyebrows in mocking reproof and he continued hastily. “You are, of course, very beautiful, Miss Bennet, but it is your … your serenity that I find so attractive.”
“My serenity?” Jane asked in some surprise.
“Yes,” Gabriel said, turning to gaze at a distant bank of dark clouds.
A moment later, a bee buzzed by, and he followed its flight with his eyes until it landed on a nearby stand of goldenrod.
“Your uncle described Miss Elizabeth as quicksilver and fire, and you as placid and serene. I do not know Darcy well, but I think he relishes a woman who is able to challenge him intellectually and personally. I am no scholar, and I need a peaceable companion to share my life. You have an air of calm about you, Miss Bennet, that I find enormously attractive.”
Jane reached out an impulsive hand to touch Gabriel’s arm. “I understand, Mr. Hartford. I believe that you deserve peace and quiet after your trials.”
/
“Charles, where have you been?” Caroline Bingley demanded, erupting into Bingley’s office like a swarm of particularly ill-tempered hornets.
“I wished for you to escort me when I called on Lady Northmore yesterday morning, only to learn that you had crept out of town without telling me where you were going!”
Charles Bingley had returned to London mid-morning, but since his sleep had been much disturbed the previous night, he had promptly taken a nap.
When he had awoken, much refreshed, he was pleased to realize that his resolve from the previous night was still at the forefront of his mind.
He was determined to make significant changes in his life, starting with his relationship with his younger sister, and thus had repaired to his office to refresh his memory regarding the details of his sister’s dowry.
“Sit down, Caroline,” he ordered coldly, setting down his pen and regarding the younger woman with hard eyes.
To her astonishment, Miss Bingley found herself obeying. She was not in the habit of taking direction from her brother, but he had an odd look on his face.
“I was in Brighton, visiting Darcy,” Bingley explained calmly, though his posture was rigid.
“Mr. Darcy is in Brighton! Whatever is he doing there? But it matters not; you should have told me, and I would have come with you!”
“You were not invited, nor did I stay even a night. I went in hopes of renewing my courtship of Miss Bennet.”
His sister gaped for a moment and then cried out, “Jane Bennet? What can you be thinking, Charles! She did not care for you last year, and she certainly does not care about you now!”
“She did care for me,” her brother responded, slamming his fist on the desk, causing Caroline to jump in astonishment.
He leaned forward a little, his eyes boring into her own.
“She did care for me. Darcy told me that he was quite mistaken in the matter, and she was heartbroken when I did not return to Netherfield as I promised. But you are correct that she is no longer attached to me in any way; I found her in Brighton being courted by another man.”
The lady relaxed in open relief. “Well, then, there is no reason to even consider her further, is there? I must say too that Mr. Darcy, who is wise in so many ways, is hardly as familiar with the inclination of women as I am myself. I am quite certain that Jane did not care for you at all, but merely pursued you in hopes of securing a wealthy gentleman. If she truly loved you less than a year ago, she would hardly be in a courtship with another man now, would she?”
Her brother stared at her with disgust. “I met Miss Bennet last October, pursued her, openly courted her, danced with her three times at the ball at Netherfield, then left without a word of farewell and never returned, despite my promise to do so. I am the one at fault, Caroline, for letting you, Louisa, and Darcy lead me around by the nose like a donkey. I have no doubt Miss Bennet was subjected to whispers and gossip – my dancing with her so many times at the ball was tantamount to a proposal! If she disdains me now, I cannot blame her in the least!”
Caroline sighed and said, “Be that as it may, your friendship with the Bennets is entirely over now. So...”
“So I am returning to Netherfield tomorrow morning,” he interrupted coldly. “You and the Hursts may stay here if you wish. ”
“What? You cannot be serious!”
“I am entirely serious, Caroline. I spent most of last night awake, considering my actions of the last few years. I have always been a friendly, easy going man, which served me well throughout my years of education when I rubbed shoulders with gentlemen from landed families. But there is such a thing as being too carefree. I have drifted here and there as my whimsy, or more accurately, your ambition, has taken me. I took Netherfield for the purpose of learning to manage an estate, and instead spent most of my time pursuing Miss Bennet and sitting around languidly. I intend to return to the estate and set my hand to the plow, so to speak. I intend to visit my man of business this afternoon and will have your dowry turned over to you; I will no longer pay for your extravagances, Caroline.”
“Charles, no!” his sister exclaimed and then, quailing at the anger in his eyes, said gently.
“Charles, do please consider; if you go back to Netherfield, Mrs. Bennet will merely throw another of her tiresome girls at your head. I am certain Miss Elizabeth would be delighted to marry the master of Netherfield.”
Bingley rose to his feet and looked down at her with contempt. “You are wrong; Miss Elizabeth is already engaged to be married.”
The lady heaved out a sigh of relief. She at least liked Jane Bennet, though she did not wish to have her as a sister. Miss Elizabeth, full of conceit and impertinence, would be entirely intolerable. “Is she indeed? Whom is she marrying?”
Bingley leaned forward and smiled unpleasantly. “She is marrying Darcy!”
/
“Oh excellent shot, Mr. Hartford!” Elizabeth cried out gaily. The party had returned to Brighton the previous afternoon, and she was relishing the cool wind blowing from the endless blue waters behind Hartford House.
“Really, Gabriel, that is ridiculous,” Lady Amelia pouted comically. “How is it that you are far better at lawn billiards with one arm than I am with two?”
“It is all in the wrist, dear Mother,” Gabriel answered with a grin. “I believe it is your turn, Miss Bennet?”
Jane eyed the ball with considerable misgiving and said, “I am quite certain that I will make a botch of it. Do you have any suggestions?”
Gabriel moved a little closer to her. “I find it best to aim, not for the ring itself, but for a point partway toward the ring. It is too far to reach in one hit, of course. ”
Elizabeth, who was standing aside awaiting her turn, watched fondly as Jane, her brow scrunched with concentration, solemnly swung her mallet and hit the ball, which proceeded to roll directly toward the ring at the far end of the court. It did not reach very far, but the aim was true.
“Oh, very good, Jane!” she exclaimed and then looked at Darcy who was, as usual, looking at her. “And how are you, sir, at lawn billiards?”
“I fear that while my swing is powerful, my aim is often poor. Georgiana is far better than I am. Do you have much experience, Elizabeth?”
“No, for Longbourn does not have a court. But I assume Pemberley does, and I shall endeavor to give your sister a good game within the year.”
“If you put your mind to it, I have no doubt at all that you will succeed.”
She smiled up at him and said, “I do not believe I have ever been so happy as I am now, Fitzwilliam.”
“I know that I have never been more delighted with life, my love.”
“Your turn, Mr. Darcy,” Lady Amelia called out.