Page 32 of Suddenly Married

She had no interest in Mr. Bingley, yet the admiring expression in his eyes told her that the moment would prove most uncomfortable.

She was shy by nature, and in awkward situations, she often found herself unable to speak or to defend her position with ease.

Lady Isabella, meanwhile, listened absently to the latest piece of gossip from Mr. Bingley's sisters—a story she had known for a month.

Her attention shifted sharply when she observed Lawrence's countenance grow tense, his blue eyes fixed upon Mr. Bingley with a glare.

She followed his gaze and saw the handsome gentleman greeting a beautiful young woman—one whom Lady Isabella instantly disliked.

As a frivolous woman, she could not endure another woman's beauty eclipsing her own, least of all in her own house.

Noticing her two supposed friends watching their brother with concern, she determined to learn the truth.

"Caroline, dear, who is that fair-haired lady your brother is greeting?

" Caroline answered with open disdain. "It is Jane Bennet, a shameless social climber who has tried more than once to entrap my brother.

If you will excuse us, my dear Lady Isabella, we must prevent him from making a fool of himself again.

Come, Louisa." The two sisters moved at once towards the group, Lady Isabella following with alacrity, unwilling to miss such promising entertainment.

Lawrence, seeing the women approach his wife, crossed the room immediately.

He was well aware that the Bingley sisters had insulted Jane and her family on more than one occasion, and he would not permit them to disturb her now.

Yet he could not deny that his heart was sore.

To behold Jane so affected by the presence of another man was more than he could bear.

He had told himself often that it mattered little if she did not love him, so long as she respected him and enjoyed his company.

But he knew it was a falsehood—he had long dreamed that she might one day return his love.

To think that when he made love to her that night, she might be thinking of another man wounded him deeply.

Taking a steadying breath, he approached Jane where she sat, placing a hand firmly upon her shoulder.

His gaze remained fixed, cold and unyielding, upon Mr. Bingley, who still looked at Jane with longing.

Jane, feeling her husband's hand, turned to him and saw the pain in his eyes.

She longed to speak, to reassure him, but no words came.

He already knew of her past with Mr. Bingley, and the thought that he might believe she still harboured feelings for the gentleman pained her keenly.

With a practised air, Lady Isabella seized the opportunity.

"Mr. Clark," she said, meeting his eyes, "I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting your wife.

" Jane rose, and Lawrence made the introduction.

"Lady Isabella, this is my wife, Mrs. Jane Clark.

" "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Clark," said Lady Isabella, her eyes travelling slowly over Jane.

Mr. Bingley could scarcely credit what he had heard.

His smile vanished, replaced by a look of horror, as though he expected Jane to deny the claim.

Yet there was her husband's hand resting possessively upon her waist, and Jane made no objection.

It was as if he had awakened into a nightmare—he had been on the point of seeking her uncle's permission to court her, only to find her already married to a man who, in his eyes, was neither handsome nor as wealthy as himself.

Caroline and Louisa, on the other hand, were quietly triumphant.

At last, Jane Bennet would trouble them no more.

With feigned warmth, they offered their congratulations.

"We are so happy for you, Jane," Louisa said.

"Dear Jane, how long have you been married?

" Caroline asked. "Almost three months," Jane replied softly, adding nothing further.

She longed only to take her husband's hand and go home.

The conversation lingered for a few more minutes, Jane growing ever more withdrawn while Mr. Bingley stared at the floor.

At length, Caroline, having determined that Lawrence must be nothing more than a tradesman, ventured a sly question.

"Mr. Clark, in what county is your—or your father's—estate?

" In no mood for such impertinence, Lawrence answered dryly, "In the same county as your father's estate, Miss Bingley.

" "My dear Mr. Clark, you are always so witty," Lady Isabella interjected, casting Caroline a mischievous smile.

Laughter rippled through the group, and Caroline, humiliated, resolved never to address that vulgar man again.

At last, Mr. Bingley found his voice. "A few weeks ago, we travelled to Netherfield to offer condolences to you and your family, but you were not in Hertfordshire.

I know it is late, Miss Bennet, but please accept my sincere condolences.

" "Thank you, Mr. Bingley," Jane replied with a faint smile.

Lawrence could bear it no longer. He excused himself to fetch a drink, pouring a glass of brandy and swallowing it at once.

"My dear Mr. Clark, it is unwise to drink so hastily," Lady Isabella remarked, then added in a low voice, "It seems your wife knows Mr. Bingley rather well.

" Lawrence glanced at Jane, standing near the fireplace with Mr. Bingley.

She looked radiant, and the sight cut him to the quick.

He turned his gaze back to Lady Isabella and said, "It seems so," before pouring another glass.

"I like the name Lawrence," she continued in a sultry tone.

"There is nothing better to forget a woman who does not love you than to make love to one who does.

" Observing his startled expression, she added, "I shall be in the guest chamber at the end of the corridor.

My maid will show you the way—do not delay.

" With that, she withdrew discreetly. Lawrence thought the evening could hardly worsen: the woman he loved seemed to prefer another man's company, and now a shameless woman had taken him for the sort who would betray his wife under her very roof.

Disgusted, he stepped into the garden for air, feeling suffocated.

There, in the quiet, he shed a few bitter tears.

'How can I go on after this, my beloved Jane?

' he murmured into the night. 'I want your love, not your friendship or your pity.

' Jane endured a few more minutes of empty conversation with Mr. Bingley and his sisters.

Their shallowness made her shudder to think what her life might have been had she married him—handsome though he was, he was uneducated, with little conversation of his own, and entirely managed by his sisters and acquaintances.

When she noticed Lady Isabella speaking to Lawrence, she felt a sharp pang of jealousy.

The woman's expression left no doubt as to her designs.

Seeing her husband walk towards the garden, Jane determined to follow.

"If you will excuse me, I must speak urgently to my husband," she told Caroline.

"Of course," Caroline replied. "Perhaps we might meet for tea one day," Louisa added politely, though with no intention of keeping the acquaintance of a merchant's wife.

Jane smiled faintly and went in search of Lawrence.

She found him leaning against a tree, looking up at the night sky.

"My love, I have found you at last. I have been searching for you.

" "I am sorry, but I needed some air. I did not wish to interrupt your conversation with your friends," he said, still avoiding her gaze.

"They are not my friends—merely acquaintances.

Lawrence, I should like to go home, if you do not object.

" "Any particular reason? I thought you were quite entertained in your conversation with him.

" The instant he spoke, he regretted it.

"Yes, a very particular reason: I no longer wish to be surrounded by people I care nothing for.

I want only to be at home with the man I love.

" At these words, Lawrence took her into his arms and kissed her.

"Tell me I am not dreaming—that you truly love me?

" he asked between kisses. "I love you dearly, my Lawrence.

I think I loved you from the first moment you read that beautiful poem to me," Jane answered through her tears.

"By the end of this year, we shall be a family of three—my first and only love.

From now on, we must think only of ourselves and our family.

" Lawrence could scarcely believe such happiness possible.

After embracing and kissing her for several minutes, he said, "You are right, my dear Mrs. Clark.

We should go home." They returned to the drawing room, conversed briefly with a few guests, and then took their leave of their host. Lady Isabella, furious, stood apart from the company and would speak to no one.

She moved to the window to watch the happy couple enter their carriage.

'No one toys with me, Lawrence Clark,' she vowed silently.

'Whether you will it or not, I shall have you in my bed, begging for my love. '

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