Page 49 of He Taught Me to Hope (Darcy and the Young Knight’s Quest #1)
T he full moon suspended high above Derbyshire on that gentle autumn night, bathed the grand corridors of the stately manor with soft light.
Inside one of the many ostentatious apartments, her ladyship, who had retired for the evening, sat perched in bed, her head resting on beautifully adorned satin pillows. Closing her book, she placed her spectacles aside and glanced towards her husband of five and thirty years.
“I shall not rest until you confess your new-found adoration of the youngest member of our family.”
The cantankerous aristocrat merely harrumphed. “The precocious lad sees to it that he is impossible to ignore.”
“Indeed, I suspect you were not the least put off.”
Lord Matlock smiled as he recalled Ben’s antics during their stay at Pemberley in Darcy and Elizabeth’s absence. “Indeed. He is witty, even if a bit impertinent. His high-spirited manner provided a refreshing change.”
“I say our nephew has made an excellent match.”
“The young lady brought nothing to the alliance, save herself and her son. ”
“I am certain our nephew would not sacrifice what he has found in his wife and her son for all the wealth in the world. His happiness seems beyond measure.”
“Only time will tell,” Lord Matlock offered, still reluctant to embrace the union wholeheartedly.
Lady Matlock leaned forward and placed a loving kiss on her husband’s cheek.
“Is your stubbornness to admit our nephew has made an excellent match the reason you insisted Anne remain at Pemberley? What of your earnest desire to bring her to Matlock, so she might continue to recuperate under our care?”
“Did you not recognise the bloom in her countenance when in the company of our son? Even Georgiana is beginning to warm to Anne’s presence.”
“I agree. Georgiana is making a good effort where Anne is concerned. But what does Anne’s apparent admiration for our son have to do with anything?”
“A second son might do far worse than marry an ailing heiress, do you not agree?”
Under the brilliance of the same moon, many miles far south of Derbyshire, Mr. Bennet rested his head atop a firm pillow next to his wife.
As she did most often of late, Mrs. Bennet extolled her blessings to anyone who would pay attention.
Not for the first time, her husband listened with amusement.
“Thank the lord, our prayers have been answered. Two fine sons-in-law, my Jane rescued from the threshold of spinsterhood, thanks to the benevolence of Mr. Collins. He is such a handsome man! I was sure she could not be so beautiful for nothing!
“And Lizzy, our Lizzy—the mistress of Pemberley! Mr. Darcy has more than ten thousand a year! What fine carriages she shall have! What pin money she shall enjoy.” As if experiencing an epiphany, she sat up and exclaimed, “Our Lizzy will be able to put her younger sisters in the path of many rich gentlemen! ”
Mr. Bennet could not help scoffing at his wife’s assertion. “I would not count on it, my dear. Have you forgotten your daughter’s propensity to be selfish and put her own interests before those of the family?”
Mrs. Bennet regarded her husband with some degree of vexation. “Do you not think it is time to give up this foolish vendetta against Lizzy, Mr. Bennet?”
“I am not the one who turned my back against the family time and again. I have no reason to suspect she has changed in that regard.”
“I, for one, have no intention to allow your grudge against Lizzy to interfere in my other daughters’ prospects,” she proclaimed.
My dear Mrs. Bennet, what became of your hopes of seeing the amiable Mr. Bingley as a future son? Have you abandoned those plans completely?”
Again, she looked at her husband, as if he had taken leave of his senses. Did he not know how much she suffered? She blurted, “After his wretched treatment of Jane, I care not the least for Mr. Bingley! I am sure I quite detest the gentleman!”
Mr. Bennet smoothed his pearly grey beard.
His eyes twinkled with merriment. “Then you will not be interested to know the master of Netherfield Park is coming down in a day or two to shoot there for several weeks. If our wayward neighbour remains a single man in possession of a good fortune, surely he remains in want of a wife. So you see, my dear, we have no need to rely on Lizzy and the proud Mr. Darcy’s generosity at all. ”
This gives me cause to reconsider , thought Mrs. Bennet. She wondered which of her daughters would suit. With Jane out of the question, Mr. Bingley is sure to favour my Lydia.
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” she began, “our daughters being the sisters of the Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley and Derbyshire must increase their odds of making advantageous matches considerably.”
Mr. Bennet continued to rub his hand along his beard. I knew my Lizzy could not be so clever for nothing.
From the heights of Grosvenor Square to the narrow streets of Cheapside, the moon shone just as luminously.
Caroline had not seen Mr. Darcy since he so rudely had expressed his preference for Eliza Carlton over herself.
The news of his nuptials with the chit dealt the crushing blow.
Her exasperation with her brother, that he had not done more to encourage an alliance between the Darcys and the Bingleys, was increased by the knowledge of his pending travels.
“For Heaven’s sake, Charles, why on earth do you insist on spending time in Hertfordshire? ”
“Because, my dear sister, it is my country home, and it has remained unoccupied for far too long. Why are you complaining now? I recall the last time we travelled to Hertfordshire; you were beside yourself with joy!”
“The last time we travelled to Hertfordshire, we had the pleasure of Mr. Darcy’s company. I shall never consider it the same without him there.”
“You speak as though he is not a newly-wedded husband. Even if he were in attendance, he would have little to do with either of us.”
“Still, it would be a magnanimous gesture on your part to extend an invitation to him and his new family to join us, especially given the proximity to his new in-laws.” She barely contained her smile at the prospect.
“Indeed. For once, I find myself in complete agreement with you. I shall write to him at once.”
Bingley set about his task with thoughts of the last time he had seen his friend.
True to his word, Bingley had indeed gone to Cheapside in search of Miss Bennet.
What he discovered, he had not discussed with anyone.
His friend had spoken the truth. Miss Bennet had an admirer.
Bingley had observed them from afar and saw in Jane’s eyes the same warmth he had believed reserved solely for him, bestowed upon someone else.
He was too late. She had given her heart to another.
Bingley could blame no one but himself for his loss.
Caroline’s motives in inviting the Darcys for a visit at Netherfield were simple.
Of course, it would be wonderfully entertaining to observe Mr. Darcy amongst his lowly Meryton relatives.
The added prospect of future invitations to Pemberley was further inducement.
Caroline, too, commenced writing a letter addressed to Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy with the purpose of paying off all arrears of civility.
As for Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, all the way across town, both suffered elation over the marriage of their niece to Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
Mr. Gardiner was in receipt of a heartfelt letter from Elizabeth, forgiving him, not just for the ill-considered investment scheme, but for any financial considerations, as well.
More than anything, she wanted to see the Gardiners as financially whole once more.
It was so much the better, if the complete discharge of any further liability to her might help.
Mrs. Gardiner was delighted, having received an invitation to Pemberley for the following summer, not only because she spent the better part of her youth in the neighbouring town of Lambton, but also because she had long marvelled at the sight and splendour of Pemberley.
To her way of thinking, to be welcomed to the grand estate by her favourite niece, the new mistress, would indeed be something!
Geoffrey Collins sprang from his bed, strode over to the window, and drew the curtains open in welcome of the luminous, full moon’s ardent light.
Its magnificence cast a romantic glow throughout the room.
Having donned her silken gown, Jane sat up, and resting her head on her hand, watched in appreciation of her husband’s handsome physique as he returned to their bed.
He reached for her proffered hand and raised it to his lips. “How are you this evening, my beautiful, passionate, and wonderfully amenable, acquiescent bride? ”
“Not so acquiescent,” Jane spoke as she assumed the dominant position and playfully tossed her flowing hair aside, bringing to his mind their amorous endeavours thus far that evening.
He reached up and fingered an errant lock.
He inhaled its sweet scent deeply. “Indeed. You are perfect. You, my dear, are everything I would ever wish for in a wife.” He placed his hand behind her neck and pulled her gently towards him to brush her lips with his own.
“You must remind me to write to the proud Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley to thank him for his interference in my life.”
Comfortably astride her husband, Jane sat up and regarded her husband intently.
Trailing his hands along the curves of her body, he continued. “His Highness shall have his hands filled with your impertinent sister and her unruly child.”
Jane placed a loving finger against his lips. “Whatever you may think of him,” she gently admonished, “that is my brother to whom you refer with such acrimony.”
“Indeed, and it is my sister to whom he is married,” he bemoaned.