Page 10 of Lord Lonbourn’s Daughter

Colonel Fitzwilliam was a blessing and a remedy against sullenness and bad temper. One could always count on him to raise the mood.

He was not as well-favoured as Mr Darcy, but his good humour more than made up for it. He had quickly become a favourite amongst the Longbourn girls—not that they disliked the viscount, but he was quiet and serious where the colonel was loquacious and of a cheerful disposition.

The good humour from their sojourn to Bond Street with the colonel was still lingering when their father arrived at Matlock House. Elizabeth strained to see whether anyone was following him, but he came alone.

“How was Ramsgate?” she enquired indifferently.

“Quiet, if you can overlook the exuberant children playing on the beach. They are out of their minds bathing so early in the summer. The water is freezing. Mr Darcy and I went for a swim, and I am relieved we did not suffer any frostbite from the experience.” Lord Longbourn shuddered.

“Did the girls warm to each other?”

“Yes, I was surprised to observe Miss Darcy take a particular liking to Kitty. They bonded over watercolours, and we shall be blessed with new works by the end of the summer. I have rented the house until the end of August. The breeze was pleasant, and a sojourn there during the height of summer might be preferable to both town and Hertfordshire. We shall join them at the beginning of August and stay the month.”

“Thank you, Papa! I have always wanted to experience the sea, smell the salty air, and stroll on the sandy beaches. I have heard they have bathing machines there, and I would dearly like to try one if you would allow it,” Elizabeth gushed.

“I cannot see why not. It is perfectly safe with a dipper, and your privacy is upheld. Perhaps your sisters would like to join you,” Lord Longbourn mused.

“Certainly not!” Mary exclaimed in disgust. “If God wanted us to bathe, he would have fitted us with webbed feet.”

“Fish do not have webbed feet, yet they live in the water,” Elizabeth reminded her sister.

Mary sniffed loudly but did not argue.

“Are you not going to admonish me for leaving the girls in Ramsgate, Elizabeth?” her father enquired.

“No, I rather think not. Were they comfortable in their lodgings and delighted by the prospect of a summer by the sea?”

Elizabeth saw no reason in pointing out the obvious for the second time.

By now, all the girls had met, though Mr Darcy may have changed his mind and fled to Pemberley with his sister.

Apart from the bathing incident, which may have happened days ago, neither her father nor Lydia had mentioned him, and she would certainly not enquire after the gentleman.

“They were definitely comfortable and at least partially delighted. They seemed to love the location, but Lydia was less impressed with Miss Darcy’s companion—and brother now I come to think of it.

He told her to be quiet during the carriage ride there, and she gave him a sulky stare whenever he was around after that.

Fortunately, he is as inured to sullen young girls as I am.

Mrs Younge, on the other hand, was a fearsome creature with a sharp tongue and eyes like a hawk.

Even my Lydia did not dare gainsay her—much… ”

“I am glad they are thriving. Kitty especially has been low. She could use a friend from outside the family,” Jane quietly added.

“I have to find Lord and Lady Matlock to thank them for their hospitality,” Lord Longbourn announced. “Make sure all your things are packed because we are returning home in a moment.”

“Yes, Papa!” the three ladies proclaimed unanimously and scurried to their chambers to make sure nothing was left behind.

#

Darcy kept himself occupied: fencing, riding, and watching the odd match at Gentleman Jackson’s.

He also tried to visit Bingley, but the man was never at home now Lord Longbourn’s girls had returned to their own house.

A week lost in his efforts to woo Lady Jane had been more than his friend could bear.

Darcy contemplated the futility of his own endeavours.

Elizabeth only saw his visits to Bennet House as a suitor to her older sister—a wildly incorrect assumption that would only be exacerbated by frequent visits.

So, he kept himself at bay, regardless of how much he wanted to do otherwise.

He was a man under good regulation who did not follow every whim and fancy that entered his head.

A long separation would do him good. He contemplated returning to Pemberley to let this madness that had taken possession of him run its course. To allow his infatuation to trickle out to nothingness until he could meet her on the street as indifferent acquaintances. Yes, that would be best.

But what to do about his friend Bingley?

From Elizabeth’s…ahem, Lady Elizabeth’s mistaken perception of him as her sister’s suitor, could Lady Jane have taken an undesirable interest in him?

Her sister’s not-so-subtle hints might suggest it was so, but the lady herself was difficult to read.

Her serene countenance and ready smile could be misconstrued.

She smiled at everyone, not at him in particular, but then again, she smiled no more or less at Bingley.

Could his dearest friend be in for a nasty surprise of the worst kind?

He should have a word with Bingley about that. Not directly, of course, but subtly hinting to find out how deep his friend was in it. It was to be hoped he would not have it as bad as Darcy himself…

Where did that ridiculous thought come from?

He was doing much better—nearly recovered.

Perhaps that trip to Pemberley could be brought forward?

He should rescue his sister from those chatterboxes and haul her off to the safety of Derbyshire.

He had had this lingering feeling when he left her there.

He just needed to speak to Bingley, then he would go to Ramsgate.

#

Hurst House

“Mr Darcy, how good of you to come. You have been sorely missed these last two weeks.”

“Thank you, Miss Bingley. I was hoping to speak to your brother. Is he present?”

“I am afraid you cannot, Mr Darcy. He is vying for the attention of the eldest Longbourn daughter, but the competition is fierce. Only last week she was seen three times being escorted around town by your cousin the colonel. I believe he has not much hope of securing her being a second—”

Darcy chose to interrupt her before Miss Bingley disparaged the cousin he admired the most. “I would not give much credence to that. Colonel Fitzwilliam was probably browbeaten into the service by his formidable mother. Do I understand you correctly? You want your brother to secure the hand of Lady Jane?”

“Yes. I might have been too hasty in my judgment. First impressions are rarely to be trusted. I suppose twenty thousand pounds is a decent fortune. Many a young lady has less than that, and her connections are better than I initially thought. She has become a sort of society pet that everyone adores. To be connected to such a paragon of virtue must not diminish one’s own chances of success.

Do you not think it is wise, Mr Darcy, or do you hold an interest in the lady yourself? ”

“Certainly not!” He may have spoken more harshly than necessary, but she was the second person to suggest such a ridiculous notion, and he had to enquire. “Why would you suppose I held any particular interest in Lady Jane?”

“You danced with her at the Longbourn ball, and you have visited their house frequently, even strolled with her family in Hyde Park. You cannot expect such marked attention to go unnoticed.”

“I danced with several ladies at Longbourn’s ball,” he objected.

“True, but his lordship was overheard when he urged you to engage both Lady Elizabeth and Lady Mary for a set, while he did not request that you engage Lady Jane, yet you did… Afterwards, you danced every set to disguise your preference for the one you desired. Everyone knows you take no pleasure in dancing, Mr Darcy.”

“A lady’s mind moves at such rapid speed and draws such conclusions as to leave me baffled.

I engaged Lady Jane because I was concerned she might feel slighted if I did not offer her a set since I had danced with her sisters.

Besides, her father is a friend of mine, and we are distantly connected.

I was simply being polite, Miss Bingley.

Neither is it true that I do not enjoy dancing.

I have engaged you often enough, have I not?

I simply prefer to be well acquainted with my partner, to avoid suffering through a half-hour of tedious conversation. ”

“Yes, we have a lot of fun at balls, do we not, Mr Darcy? But what should I do to promote my brother? I must admit that I see little preference for Charles in Lady Jane. She smiles and converses easily enough, but you know he can be a little flippant and quickly falls in and out of love. I am concerned he will not be able to secure her before he moves on to his next angel. She is the first titled lady who has shown any interest in him at all!”

“I would think he should wait to see whether his feelings are of some constancy before he proposes to a lady, but if you want to get your own impression of her feelings, you should pay her a call,” he advised the usually so astute lady.

“Would you come with me?” Miss Bingley enquired.

“No, I have no interest in the lady.”

Miss Bingley smiled knowingly and imposed upon his person by laying her claws on his arm. He had better disabuse her of the notion that his disinterest in Lady Jane suggested he harboured the slightest concern for her. “I have plans to visit Georgiana and return to Pemberley.”

“So soon, and when the Season is at its height?” Miss Bingley whined.

“Yes, well. An estate manager has a lot to occupy his time,” he deflected.

“It is a shame that females are deprived of inheriting when there are no male offspring. I wonder who will inherit the earldom of Longbourn? The same goes for the dukedom of Chesterfield. His Grace has no progeny at all, poor man.”

“I suppose there is a cousin who will inherit, but Lady Jane has her own property in Hertfordshire, where the earl currently resides. As I understand it, the earl prefers it to Longbourn Castle, and it is a handsome estate with fertile soil.”

“That is wonderful news indeed. To see my brother so well settled, as a landowner like yourself, Mr Darcy…”

At that moment, Bingley arrived home in an exceedingly good mood.

“Darcy, she sings like an angel! Lady Jane is like a celestial body descended to earth to brighten our lives.”

“Well, I have not had the pleasure of hearing her sing, so I must take your word for it,” Darcy drawled.

“How may I be of service, Darcy, or is this a social call?” Bingley enquired.

“Social. I found myself without occupation,” Darcy admitted.

He could not bring himself to utter his misgivings, not until he was absolutely certain Bingley had a deeper interest in the lady, though there was nothing lacking in his enthusiasm.

Miss Bingley was right; Darcy had seen his friend in love more often than not and rarely for long with the same lady.

He would tread carefully, which meant he needed to postpone his trip to Ramsgate for a few days.

This proved to be an easy feat when he arrived home and was greeted by a letter from Georgiana. She was thriving in the company of the loquacious sisters. It was disconcerting as he would have guessed she would be as uncomfortable as he in Lady Lydia’s presence.

She was not. She gushed about sea bathing, which she never would have dared to venture into if Lady Lydia had not shown such boldness in the endeavour.

Lady Kitty was praising her watercolours, and she had sent him a sample so that he could judge for himself whether she had improved.

It occurred to him that despite all the praise he had heaped upon her, it did not hold as much significance as these young ladies’ endorsements.

They have stolen her sense of reason! He must visit Georgiana soon…

#

A few days later he had lunch with Bingley at White’s, and the aforementioned fellow badgered him into accompanying him home for a short visit to his sisters.

Mrs Louisa Hurst and her husband had just arrived in town, and she would be cross if he did not call and greet them.

He acquiesced for a short visit of the accepted fifteen minutes.

The Hursts’ parlour was full of guests. Miss Bingley had paid a call to Bennet House, which was, at that moment, being reciprocated.

Two weeks and six days he had managed to stay away, only to have his plan thwarted by his friend’s sister.

All his good work, his self-deprivation—for nothing!

She was as lovely as ever; lovelier even than he remembered.

Sitting so poised and aloof, sparing him not a single glance beyond a curtsey when he entered, which was directed as much at Bingley as himself.

What exquisite torture it was to share a room with this woman.

He took comfort in the fact that she was not promoting him as a candidate for her sister’s affection. On this occasion, she lay that honour solely at Bingley’s feet.

He surreptitiously studied Lady Jane, who was reserved by nature.

Perhaps she had no interest in either of them.

He was glad he had not addressed the situation with Bingley; he would have made a complete fool of himself.

He had made it his study to avoid those weaknesses that exposed one to ridicule—most of the time.

Fifteen minutes had somehow become thirty. His legs would not obey his commands to leave until the ladies rose to return to Bennet House—without him having uttered a single word.

Bingley’s sisters gushed over the eldest sister, while the second eldest was not so charitably described and the youngest overlooked entirely.

They seemed confident that Lady Jane favoured their brother.

He would never understand the workings of a lady’s mind.

He had seen nothing that would support their proclamation but bowed to their superior knowledge of their own sex.