Page 62 of Count the Cost (The Secrets of Elizabeth Bennet #2)

A lice, the Countess of Matlock looked up as her younger son entered the room. “You’re back from Pemberley, Richard!”

Her son crossed the room and kissed her cheek.

“I am, Mother. I am hungry, too!”

She laughed. “As always.” She laid down her embroidery. “Ring the bell, then.”

When the butler answered, she nodded at him. “Paulson, please send for refreshments for my son, and have the kitchen informed that he is hungry. They had better prepare two portions for him at dinner.”

The man bowed. “Yes, my lady.” He was far too strait-laced to crack a smile and she almost wished her husband would allow just a little more informality here.

Still, she had known when she married him that her life would be much changed.

Her father-in-law had disapproved of her, and his wife had been very little more accepting.

She would not allow history to repeat itself with Darcy. She would not! David had married for affection, although of course Susannah’s antecedents were very acceptable. She would do the same for Richard, too.

“Sit down, Richard, and tell me how Darcy was, and then we can consider what to tell Georgiana. She remains distressed, even though in his letters, I can see he is attempting to reassure her.”

Richard nodded. “She was upset that I would not take her north with me. But I am glad. It would have been very cold riding alongside the carriage, and Darcy is in a bad way.”

She grimaced. “I was afraid of that from what Georgiana shared with me. Is it about Miss Bennet?”

“It is.” Richard took a chair next to where she sat on the sofa. “He is much thinner, pale, and very subdued. Despite my provocation, he failed to retort as I might have expected to.”

“What did he say about her?”

“Nothing really new. He mentioned the vulgarity of the family, although this time he did add that they obviously loved and accepted each other. He did state that he was sure Mr. Bennet would not permit his daughters to marry against their will, despite the desperation of the mother.”

“Their estate is entailed, I seem to remember,” Alice said thoughtfully.

“It is.” Richard agreed. “But he was adamant that Miss Bennet — Miss Elizabeth — and her elder sister are exceedingly ladylike, which he attributes to them spending long visits with their relations in town.”

“The Gardiners,” she replied. “Wealthy, but still in trade.”

“I liked them very much, Mother.” Richard commented. “They were at the theatre with Lady Palmer, so there must be a connection there, too. And Mrs. Gardiner is the daughter of the late parson at Lambton, so is the granddaughter of a gentleman.”

Alice sighed. “That will not make a lot of difference to your father, unfortunately.” She looked up.

“Is it your opinion that Darcy loves her?

“Oh, for sure. I have never seen him so affected.” Richard’s eyes lit up as a tray of refreshments arrived, and he seemed to have difficulty waiting until the footman had poured the tea and the door had closed behind him, before he took a pastry eagerly.

Alice smiled maternally before turning her thoughts back to the issue at hand.

“Yes, beneath that dreadful reserve Darcy has a deeply passionate nature. I always thought that once he gave his affections, he would not be swayed from his course.” She frowned.

“So did you get the sense of why he has not offered for her?”

“It is his infernal pride, Mother. He will not set his head aside to allow his heart to be happy.”

She gave a moue of distaste. “I am surprised. Once he had given his heart, I had thought he would allow nothing to deter him.”

She rose to her feet. “I will arrange for you to bathe before dinner when you have taken the edge from your appetite. I pray you do not repeat what you have told me to your father — or Georgiana. I must think.”

As her maid brushed out her hair before she had to go down to dine, Alice pondered on her dilemma. She could sense the simmering passions buried beneath Darcy’s reserve.

But he was stubborn, too. If he loved this Miss Bennet, then he would refuse to take another wife.

Henry did not realise that. She sighed. Her husband was equally stubborn.

But Darcy must marry, must beget an heir before Georgiana came out into society.

He could have little concept of how tempting she would be; a thirty thousand pound dowry as well as being the heiress presumptive to Pemberley.

She must somehow thwart that last, anyway. And soon.

After dinner, Richard went out to his army quarters to see what news was going around. And then, when Georgiana retired, Alice spoke to her husband.

“Might we take coffee in our private sitting room? There is a discussion I would like to have with you.”

Of course, my dear.” Henry heaved himself to his feet, and extended his hand to assist her to rise. “Although I have a good idea what you wish to speak of.”

“I am convinced you do.” Alice reached over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for agreeing to listen, anyway.”

Her hand was on his arm, and he squeezed it closer to him. “Anything for you, my dear.”

She softened. He genuinely cared for her, even if he was rather hidebound in the views he had been brought up with.

She poured out his coffee. “Richard was concerned about Darcy when he spoke to me this afternoon.” She looked at Henry. “He says he is very subdued and much thinner.”

Her husband sighed. “He is in love with this Bennet woman. Is that what you are trying to tell me?”

“He is.” Alice was rather surprised at his lack of anger. “My feeling is that he will not approach her, but that he will refuse to marry elsewhere.”

“It is a pity,” he said. “There are a number of matches which could give me a decided political advantage.”

“I am sure there are, but you are not forcing any of them on Richard.”

“I doubt many dukes would consider a second son, even my own!”

“While I do not like it, he seems to be content remaining a bachelor,” Alice shuddered. “If he married well, he could leave the army.”

“He does not want to, my dear. And in that, he is as stubborn as Darcy.”

She tried another tack. “I am worried that something needs to be done before Georgiana has her come out. If she is still the presumptive heiress of Pemberley as well as that enormous dowry, she will be in a fair amount of danger.”

“I suppose she already is,” rumbled Henry thoughtfully. “The opportunity of kidnap and Gretna is there right now.”

“You are right.” Alice swallowed. “We must increase her security at once!”

“It is a dilemma, to be sure. We cannot make Georgiana even more nervous than she already is.”

“If Darcy married, then that would take a great deal of pressure from her.” Alice kept her voice quiet. “And did you notice, when he came to dinner, how his whole demeanour softened and his eyes lit up when we talked about Miss Bennet?”

“We can’t allow it, surely you see that? The family are of the lower gentry. Her mother came from trade, and half her family is still in trade!” Henry was annoyed. “Surely the boy can find someone like her within our own circles?”

“But it won’t be her , will it? Do you not remember how your parents did the same to you? And Darcy has wealth and connections already. What does he really need in a wife?”

“When will he come back to town? I will have to have some firm words with him.” Henry was not about to give in, and Alice sighed imperceptibly.

“But you know how it will be, Alice. You know. You don’t even need to think for an instant how Catherine will react. And society will sneer at her.” He shook his head. “I do not understand it. Darcy has always despised imprudent matches!”

“Yes, husband, you are right. He will not marry her. Instead he will stay in the north, wasting away to a wraith, miserable and unhappy. He will not marry nor bear an heir, and what will happen to Pemberley then?”

“Well, if you get him here, I will have a conversation with him. But mark my words, I will not try to persuade him to this course of action, even if I agree, for your sake, not to try to force him elsewhere.”

“I thank you, Henry. You are the best of husbands, even if you take much persuading.” Alice rose, kissed his cheek and went to the door of her chambers. “Goodnight, my dear.”

She sat in the chair by the banked fire in her robe when her maid had left her, idly toying with the long braid lying over her shoulder. She was very proud of her hair, which was still thick and lustrous, with not a speck of grey.

This evening had only been the beginning. She must continue to work on Henry, and also begin to prepare the ground quietly so that Darcy would not feel attacked by any of the family, or he would immediately retreat from them.

He was as stubborn as any she knew. But he must be persuaded to offer for her, or how would he ever be happy again?

At least Richard had said she was pretty, lively and well-mannered, hadn’t he? She stopped and thought back. Yes, she was sure of it. And he had said she was intelligent, too. That was essential if Darcy was to be happy with her. It wasn’t as if Darcy had fallen in love with a tavern wench.

She laughed aloud; when would Darcy ever have met a tavern wench?

No, he must be persuaded. If he could not give her up, then he must marry her. It would not be difficult, there was no one she had ever met who would refuse an offer from Darcy of Pemberley.

As she lay in bed in the residual warmth of the warming pans, a thought came to her. She must somehow arrange to encounter Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I wonder if she is staying with the Gardiners?