Page 20 of Darcy’s Guarded Heart

Darcy

“W ho are those children?” he enquired upon seeing the crowd ahead.

He had not been prepared to socialise to such a degree and the sight of the gathering made him feel rather uncomfortable.

It was one thing to go out riding with people he knew.

Indeed, he had even enjoyed the conversation with Miss Elizabeth for the last half hour or so since finding her in distress.

He’d looked forward to continuing the conversation, in fact, but that was now cut short.

“The little boy with the blond hair is Peter Lucas, and the other is Harold their cousin. And there is my dear friend Charlotte,” she said, pointing ahead. “Oh, and it seems they have laid out a picnic. I now lament the large breakfast I ate this morning,” she remarked.

Darcy returned her smile, not due to any anticipation of the assembly they were about to join, but rather because Elizabeth appeared to be in better spirits. He had found himself concerned for her more than he had expected, yet he felt grateful that she displayed signs of recovery.

“Do you wish to join them?” he asked, “or would you prefer to venture into town for your ankle to be attended to?”

She glanced down at her foot, then at the gathering, and Darcy discerned immediately what her decision would be. She longed to be amongst the others. She was a social being, unlike him. Tentatively, she moved her foot back and forth, grimacing slightly, yet not as painfully as before.

“I believe I shall be quite all right, provided I might sit. If you would be so kind as to assist me down when we get there?”

“Of course I will,” he replied, conscious not to let any apprehension colour his tone. “And then I will look for your horse.”

“Ah, a reason to escape,” she teased. “Pray, tell the truth, Mr Darcy, was it not rather convenient for you that I fell and you discovered me, thus allowing you to escort me back to be seen to and evade the entire spectacle?”

He smiled. “It is not so easy for me to be sociable,” he conceded. “Among those I know well enough, it is practicable, yet I find it difficult when surrounded by strangers. I truly admire how easily you connect with others.”

“Oh, I am certain a gentleman of your standing finds it easy, too,” she replied, her tone more earnest.

He regarded her thoughtfully; it was true that his status influenced his comportment, yet it was far more complex than that.

He had always been somewhat reserved, as Bingley would suggest, in public settings.

His mother had remarked that he took considerable time to warm to others before forming friendships.

And his father often lamented his lack of easy unreservedness something the late Mr Darcy admired in Wickham.

“At times, I wish I could emulate Wickham in that regard—not in any other, mind you. Yet the truth remains, he finds it effortlessly simple to charm,” she acknowledged. “He could walk into any inn or tavern and walk out with five new friends.”

“Five friends? He could cheat at a card game or take advantage of the na?ve, if all you have related of him and what Thomas has indicated is accurate, Mr Darcy.”

“Indeed, that is true. Yet in that instant, he would have had five new companions. I wager that is how he has managed these past years—roaming from place to place, winning people over, until he could no longer contain himself and spoiled everything.” Darcy had not spent much time thinking of Wickham and his exploits over the last few years but with his sudden appearance here, he had to.

“I believe being taken in as our ward gave him a sense of being superior to others and allowed him to build such confidence that he might not have had if he’d remained a mere steward’s son. ”

“There are such individuals in life. Yet not all wards are of that ilk. Some are simply driven by the desire to be good, to live as joyously as they can under the circumstances,” Elizabeth said as the horse neared the clearing.

He cast a glance at her, remembering their conversation from the previous evening, which had remained amiable until he felt compelled to speak poorly of Thomas once more.

Looking up, he spotted the young man seated with Bingley, Miss Bennet, and Georgiana.

The sight struck him like a dagger in his side.

Feelings and memories he’d long suppressed had resurfaced of late and he did not like it.

In fact, he was in such discomfort he had contemplated departing early, taking Georgiana with him, yet she seemed to be relishing her time.

Nevertheless, the thought lingered in his mind.

If only he did not find Elizabeth’s company so enticing, even if vexing at times.

This was another reason he had not been able to bring himself to leave yet.

If only her smile did not draw forth emotions he wished to avoid. Life would be so much less complicated.

At length, however, he could not dwell on such thoughts, for they had arrived at the gathering. Upon noticing Elizabeth perched awkwardly on the horse, both Jane and Lydia Bennet hastened over to her, soon followed by Thomas.

“Pray, what has transpired?” Lydia enquired. “We came here for a picnic and found you not here. I thought you had ridden into the woods as you are prone to do but here you are, looking dishevelled!”

“I tumbled from the foolish horse,” Elizabeth explained. “The horse ran away, leaving me stranded. Mr Darcy gallantly came to my aid.”

“Fitzwilliam!” Georgiana exclaimed as she joined him. “What has happened? Oh dear, are you injured, Elizabeth? Shall we fetch help?”

“I can summon help at once,” Bingley offered as he approached the throng. Darcy felt a wave of warmth rise beneath his collar, not due to the sun, but from the sudden attention surrounding them.

Fortuitously, the larger part of the group lingered behind as he turned to aid Elizabeth in dismounting the horse. As he steadied her, he felt her delicate waist beneath his fingers, and for a moment, struggled against the desire to inhale her scent.

The woman was driving him to distraction. He carefully set her down, and Thomas swiftly wrapped his arm about her to assist her in walking.

“I do not require aid, Mr Bingley, but I thank you for your concern. I only wish to sit and if someone could look for the horse,” she said.

“Lizzy, come sit! Let me take a look,” Jane Bennet urged before addressing Darcy. “Thank you, Mr Darcy, for your assistance.”

“Of course,” Darcy replied, following the group as they made their way beneath the tree once more.

Immediately, her foot was examined with care by her sister, aided by Lady Lucas, who had also joined the gathering. Darcy blinked and turned to Bingley.

“Bingley, where have all these people appeared from? I was unaware there was to be a picnic.”

“There was not,” Bingley informed him, “but when I sent word to the Bennet family that their charges would be staying with me and that we were to ride out in the morning, Mr Bennet responded, stating that his younger daughters, accompanied by some of their friends, wished to orchestrate a picnic in our honour. I thought it a splendid surprise, do you not agree?”

“A splendid surprise indeed,” Darcy replied, though in truth, it was anything but.

“Come, sit,” Bingley beckoned. “Thomas was just telling us about a rather hidden fishing spot he discovered.”

Darcy sighed and settled down, vowing to conduct himself with civility.

Indeed, as he leaned against the tree with his hat at his side, he found, in due course, that the gathering was not quite as dreadful as he had anticipated.

He conversed primarily with Elizabeth, Charlotte Lucas, and her mother, Lady Lucas, who were keeping them company.

Meanwhile, Bingley and Thomas had excused themselves to look for the horse, a venture that bore fruit rather quickly and the errant horse was returned to the others.

***

As the afternoon wore on, Miss Elizabeth’s foot improved, the slight swelling going down soon enough. The group made merry and ate while Georgiana was participating in a game of shuttlecock with Mary, Kitty, and Lydia Bennet.

This sight did little to comfort him, as he recalled Lydia Bennet’s boisterous behaviour at Lucas Lodge and doubted it would serve as suitable companionship for his sister. Yet, for the time being, he refrained from expressing any concern.

“She is quite skilled,” Charlotte remarked, indicating Georgiana.

“Indeed, she is. We play often,” he replied.

“You do?” Elizabeth responded. “Pray, you must join us in a game! Perhaps when my ankle has recovered, you and I shall engage in a match.”

He could not help but smile. “That is a challenge I shall gladly accept,” he said.

“Mr Darcy,” Caroline interjected, drawing his attention as she wandered over from her sister’s side. The frown creasing her brow suggested she took little pleasure in the gathering.

“Shall we take a turn? It is such a lovely day and my sister Louisa is such a bore and does not wish to.” Knowing it would be discourteous to refuse, he rose, took his leave from Elizabeth and her companions, and approached Caroline.

He linked arms with her and strolled towards the path that led past the shuttlecock game.

He observed his sister swing the bat, sending the shuttlecock soaring across the field towards a giggling Lydia Bennet.

“I must say, I have never attended such a lively gathering,” Caroline remarked.

“I was alarmed at first, but it is not quite as boisterous as I had expected,” he replied. “It is, indeed…”

Caroline raised an eyebrow. “Enjoyable? I never thought I would hear you utter such sentiments, Mr Darcy. Have you merely grown accustomed to the proceedings now, or is it due to some particular young lady who has captured your attention?”

He met her gaze, shaking his head. “Certainly not.”

Caroline pursed her lips. “Well, that makes one of you. I perceive that young Mr Bennet has taken quite a fancy to Miss Georgiana,” she said. “I observed him looking at her earlier with that gaze gentlemen employ when they are…”

Darcy stiffened. “He is no gentleman,” he muttered under his breath, though loud enough for Caroline to hear.

“Indeed not. And I have cautioned your sister accordingly. There is no need to thank me. I regard her almost as my own younger sister, and it is my duty to ensure she comprehends the nature of the company she keeps.”

“I am grateful,” he said, “but what do you make of the younger sisters?” He was unsure why he enquired, as he already knew her answer.

“Rowdy, uncouth, not accomplished enough to secure advantageous matches. Is that your assessment as well?” she enquired, to which he nodded.

“I shall concede that it appears the eldest Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth are the only ones possessing any refinement,” he remarked.

“Miss Bennet, certainly. Her only flaw appears to be her relations,” Caroline echoed. “And yes, there is something about Miss Eliza, is there not? Although I would not necessarily brand her as accomplished.”

Darcy was on the verge of defending Miss Bennet when Georgiana called his name.

“Fitzwilliam!”

He released Caroline’s arm and turned towards her.

“Yes, Georgiana?” he replied.

“Pray, there shall be a dance in Meryton this coming weekend. May I go?”

He frowned. “A dance?” He looked at Caroline, assuming she would have knowledge of such an event.

She shook her head. “I heard of no such event.”

“Lydia just informed me. It is at the residence of one of her friends. It shall undoubtedly be a lovely affair, and Lydia is to go along with her sisters and their mother, thus providing me with a chaperone,” she continued, her eyes wide with excitement.

“No,” Darcy declared. “Absolutely not.”

“But why not, brother? I shall not be alone, and I am almost eighteen.”

“But you are not yet. You are my charge, and I do not know any of the individuals who will be present at this ball.”

“Yes, naturally you do. You know all of the Bennets and Charlotte and Maria Lucas. Pray, if Thomas comes along, then I would have a male companion to look out for me, as well,” she added, unaware this weakened her argument considerably.

Darcy felt a wave of vertigo wash over him as he struggled to suppress his dismay.

This was becoming increasingly dire. He should have understood better than to permit his sister to associate with the younger Bennets.

He had already harboured concerns, yet the younger ones seemed to lack any semblance of decorum.

Even now they bellowed and whopped as they played in a manner unbecoming of young ladies.

“No,” he stated firmly. “It is settled. She shall spend the weekend with me and the Bingleys, and that is final.”

“But brother,” she protested.

“No,” he reiterated, wagging his finger to emphasise his point.

Georgiana dropped her shoulders, shaking her head as she headed back to the shuttlecock field, where she raised her arms and dropped them dramatically.

“Good on you, Darcy! Quite right, indeed. You must not allow her to walk all over you. You may be her brother, yet you remain her guardian. She must respect you.”

“Quite right, Caroline, quite right,” he affirmed.

“I daresay, Mr Darcy,” Caroline continued, “it may be prudent to limit the amount of time your sister spends in the company of the Bennets. Any Bennet, in fact. We would not want her to form too significant an attachment. My father always maintained that a lady’s worth is not solely in her accomplishments, but also in the company she keeps.

I was rather disturbed to witness her think nothing of Thomas’s standing. ”

Darcy nodded in agreement. His sister was youthful and na?ve; he understood this. In order to protect her, he would have to adhere to Caroline’s counsel and keep her away from the Bennets as much as possible.