Page 14

CHAPTER 14

The Assembly

A s the Netherfield party approached the assembly room, the strains of music reached their ears, a clear sign that the dancing had already begun.

But the moment their party stepped through the doors, the melody faltered and then ceased altogether.

Every head in the room turned towards them in collective curiosity.

Darcy, much to his dismay, found himself at the centre of attention—a position he disliked intensely.

Although tall and undeniably noticeable, he made a half-hearted attempt to retreat behind the others in their party, silently hoping the room’s interest would settle on Bingley instead.

After all, it was Bingley who had taken Netherfield, and he was far better suited to smiling graciously under a hundred watchful eyes.

A jovial looking man approached the party.

He seemed to be of an age with Bennet, but where that man was rather dry in his wit, this man was more like Bingley in that he could not hide what he was thinking.

It was obvious he was delighted with the newcomers and was intent on doing his duty in introducing the party to the entire room .

To Darcy’s relief, Bennet came up almost immediately after the man.

Bingley obviously already knew this gentleman, as did Miss Bingley, judging from the sneer she did not conceal.

Bingley introduced Sir William Lucas to the rest of his guests, and then Bennet stepped up.

“Sir William, Mr. Darcy here is the son of my old friend,” Bennet said.

“I have matters to discuss with the gentleman, and I will take him with me, but I will leave you to introduce Mr. Bingley and the rest of his party to everyone else. Mr. Darcy has previously met my two eldest daughters along with your Charlotte, and has already requested sets with each of them. I will allow you to take Bingley around to find him partners.”

“Capital,” came the reply from Sir William, who looked happy enough to have four of the five visitors to take around the room.

He headed straight to his family where Miss Lucas stood next to her sisters, Maria and Eleanor, who were near in age to Mary and Catherine.

“What business do you have to discuss with me, Mr. Bennet?” Darcy asked worriedly.

“Is all well at Longbourn?”

“Oh, very well,” Bennet replied with a small smile.

“However, I am very familiar with my neighbours and believed you would fare better if you were left to me to introduce you to a few like-minded men rather than the entire room. I have warned my wife against spreading gossip about you and Mr. Bingley, but even if she is silent, that will not stop word of your income from making its rounds. I expect your friend’s sister may have had her own part in spreading it, at least, that is the impression I have formed of her from what her brother said about her at dinner.”

Darcy sighed in relief as he turned to examine the room.

Bennet had led him to a secluded corner, and he noticed that Miss Mary and Miss Catherine were sitting quietly nearby, but he could not spot Bennet’s other daughters.

“What set is this?” Darcy asked after several moments had gone by and he had still not spotted either Miss Bennet or Miss Elizabeth .

“Alas, it is only the first,” Bennet replied with a touch of humour in his voice.

“My daughters are dancing already; do you see them next to each other in the line just now? Ahh, look at my wife. She is delighted that we have already met your party, and that she is not dependent on Sir William for the introductions. That was her complaint when Jane first entered society, that I refused to attend most events with her. Still, while I might prefer to be at home with a good book, it is better that I accompany my wife and daughters. At last, I have learnt to be cautious.”

“Did something happen to prompt this realisation?” Darcy enquired with a raised brow, intrigued by the way Bennet said this last.

Bennet visibly drooped.

“Unfortunately, my youngest daughter, Lydia, was unwilling to adjust her behaviour with the rest of us. She refused to follow my wishes regarding not venturing out on her own and escaped from the schoolroom a few too many times for my liking. On the last occasion, she had a run in with a man from town. While he did not harm her, he easily could have. We sent her to school as a last resort, and she remains there for now. This summer, we attempted bringing her home for a time, but she was still unwilling to abide by our rules, and we sent her to a different school. However, this will be her last opportunity, for if she continues as she has done, we will have to see what other alternatives might be available.”

“My Aunt Matlock may be able to make some suggestions when she comes,” Darcy replied.

“She does not have any daughters herself, but somehow, she has become an expert in these matters. On several occasions, she has helped a family find a more appropriate place for a daughter who refused to follow the dictates of society.”

“I will speak to her when she comes,” Bennet agreed.

“Now, tell me what is troubling you.”

Darcy laughed, having rarely met someone who could so easily deduce what he was thinking.

“Father was very good at that same trick, sir, and always seemed to know what I was thinking before I did,” Darcy replied, delaying any possibility of confession.

“Yes, your father and I grew close at school and exchanged letters for many years,” Bennet said.

“You are very like your father and have the same look that he did when something was weighing on him. However,” he paused, taking the opportunity to examine his young companion closely.

“Whatever is troubling you is likely not fit to discuss in so public a manner. Come visit me tomorrow at Longbourn; call as early as you like. Lizzy is the only early riser in the household, and tonight’s assembly will likely last until at least midnight. Even she might sleep later on the morrow, but regardless, I will rise before the sun. If you come to the kitchen door, the housekeeper will not only show you in but will likely give you a hot bun to enjoy while we speak.”

Darcy smiled at being encouraged to such informality.

He had long made it a habit to rise with the sun, if not earlier.

For many years, he had slipped into the kitchen at dawn to watch the cook prepare the day’s meals, often pilfering a pastry fresh from the oven.

It was a tradition he had learnt from his father, and one they had shared frequently during the last months of his father’s life.

“I will do so,” Darcy agreed with a smile, but then, as he once again considered the matters that were troubling him, his face fell.

“There are several matters troubling me, and while I am uncertain how much I ought to confess, I know I can trust you, and may find relief in speaking of at least part of it to you.”

Both gentlemen fell silent for a moment before a thought occurred to Darcy.

“Did you know my uncle, the Earl of Matlock, when you were at Cambridge with my father? I believe my father once said they were there at the same time, as it was my uncle who introduced him to his sister. He was only the viscount then, but I seem to recall them speaking of making the acquaintance while at university. ”

“The earl is a few years older than your father and me,” Bennet said, his voice deliberately even.

“He was finishing his studies just as I was beginning mine. Your uncle did not think much of me—nor, truthfully, of your father—at least not until he learnt how wealthy the Darcy family was. As the Bennets were never so well endowed, he continued to dismiss me though he made a show of befriending your father. I doubt your father had any real wish to encourage the acquaintance, not until your mother arrived for a visit with the old earl. Once he saw Lady Anne, his heart was fixed. She was very young then, only sixteen, I believe, but your father declared almost at once that she would be his wife.”

Darcy looked at the older gentleman for several moments.

“Yes, Father once told me that their marriage was a love match, but my uncle claims it was agreed to for other reasons.”

“That is partially true, I daresay,” Bennet replied with a nod.

“Your maternal grandfather was not pleased when a mere country gentleman asked for his daughter’s hand in marriage, and he attempted to withhold his permission. However, your paternal grandfather made some sort of deal with the earl, and permission was granted for the two to wed. Your father never said much about it, only expressed his delight in finally being permitted to marry his Anne, but I know that the Fitzwilliam and Darcy families never did get along particularly well.”

“Yes, I recall some of that,” Darcy agreed.

“Mother always encouraged us to spend time with her brother’s family though I believe it was as much for her friendship with my aunt and their children as for any duty to her brother. As for my grandparents—I remember very little about them, on either side.”

“Your father and mother were very much in love, but I do not believe either family was particularly pleased to be tied together,” Bennet said, a faint smile playing about his mouth.

“I recall your father writing to me about the difficulties between them, both before and after the wedding .

“Lady Catherine, as the elder sister, had already endured two seasons without a single offer.

When she learnt her younger sister—who was not even out—had already attracted a suitor, it drove her to distraction.

Your father was considered quite handsome, and Lady Catherine claimed that Anne marrying a mere gentleman would harm her own chances.

Naturally, she argued fiercely against the match.

At the same time, she tried to persuade her father to allow her to marry George herself.

A contradiction, of course—but once she learnt how wealthy the Darcy family was, her objections softened considerably.

I suspect she even admired your father though she would never have admitted to it openly.

”

Bennet chuckled softly before continuing.

“Your uncle objected as well, claiming that the Darcy family, lacking a title, was not worthy of a Fitzwilliam. He overlooked the fact that the Darcys owned far more land and were significantly wealthier than many a noble house, including his own. Had they desired it, they could have purchased a title—likely one loftier than an earldom—but they had no interest in such trappings.

“In the end, George would have no one but Lady Anne.

They married a few years later, after she had been presented at court, but several years before your grandfather Darcy passed away.

”

“That lack of a title in my family still plagues the earl,” Darcy said bitterly.

For a moment, he said no more, then turned to the older man.

“Bennet, I will take you up on your offer. My uncle is causing trouble—perhaps you will have some suggestions for dealing with him.”

“Aye,” Bennet said, his eyes gleaming with thinly veiled amusement.

“I would not mind crossing swords with Matlock again. It has been far too long since I had the pleasure of frustrating his schemes.”

He shifted his weight slightly, the corner of his mouth quirking in a grin.

“I will also write to Livesay, if you do not object, once we have discussed the particulars. Like me, he was never held in high esteem by your uncle—lacking sufficient wealth, and of course, the all-important title.”

Bennet’s mouth twisted into a grin.

“He has since remedied the matter of fortune—though some of it came through trade, and we both know how Matlock scorns anything that smacks of honest work.” He gave a brief, satisfied chuckle.

“Regardless, Livesay will almost certainly relish the chance to assist you in defeating whatever your uncle has in mind. I imagine we will both enjoy it more than we ought.”

“Thank you, Bennet,” Darcy said quietly.

“I do not believe I have ever properly expressed my appreciation for your continued friendship after my father’s death. It meant…more than I can easily say.”

He paused, his gaze dropping briefly before he forced himself to continue.

“In truth, while I know that meeting was significant for you and your family, it had a greater impact on my father and me than I understood at the time. Before we left Longbourn, he and I had a serious conversation—something we had managed all too rarely. It opened the way for further discussions, and in those final months...”

He trailed off for a moment, gathering himself before finishing quietly, “we were able to speak with a frankness and understanding that had long been missing.” He hesitated again, his voice tightening.

Drawing a steadying breath before finishing, Darcy continued: “Since his death, your letters have filled a place he could no longer occupy. Not as a replacement, but as a…source of counsel and steadiness when it was most needed.”

Bennet met his gaze, his voice gruff but kind.

“I am glad I could be of some service, lad. Your father was a good man, and I have missed his friendship since he died. I speak for both Elizabeth and myself when I say that the feeling has been mutual.” Clearing his throat of the unusual emotion, Bennet said more gruffly.

“Come, that is enough of this. Did you not ask my daughters to dance some time this evening? ”

With that, Bennet led the younger man towards a group of other landholders in the area and introduced him.

The men spoke on mutually agreeable topics until the current dance ended, and it was time for Darcy to dance.