Page 3 of The Countess and Her Sister

Elizabeth enjoyed her dance with Henry Tilney tremendously.

He flirted shamelessly, and indeed had ready nonsense to make her laugh whenever his compliments mortified her.

And yet he made it plain that he intended to charm her sister in turn, and Elizabeth was not sorry to hear it.

Jane deserved the pretty praise and silly affability of a gentleman determined to enjoy her company.

It was something she had not experienced since before she was wed.

After their dance, Mr. Tilney bowed and kissed Elizabeth’s hand, thanking her for the excellent, if a little nonsensical conversation.

“I must give one final smirk, and then I shall be rational for your sister. But I must close the ball with you, Miss Bennet, for I mean to end the night in high humor, and in that respect I am sure I have met my match.”

“Go and be gallant, sir,” Elizabeth said with a laugh, shooing him toward Jane with a grin and a wink for her sister.

When Elizabeth relinquished the amiable younger brother to her sister, she stood up next with the elder brother, Captain Frederick Tilney.

He was silent for much of the dance, intermittently asking questions about her family and connections; his stilted conversation made it plain that he knew how Jane’s marriage to his late cousin had come about, and he did not think well of the Bennets.

And yet, disconcertingly, his eyes often lingered on Jane.

Both Elizabeth and Rebecca found themselves without partners for the third set, and Elizabeth took the opportunity to confide in Rebecca. “Forgive me, but I did not find Captain Tilney as agreeable a partner as his younger brother.”

“If you had, I should develop serious doubt about your mental faculties, Lizzy,” Rebecca said with a sniff before taking a drink of wine. “Fred has always been beastly. He and his father share the same hereditary stick up their arse.”

Elizabeth bit back her laughter and shook her head.

“I should hate for Jane to be prevailed upon by anybody so unpleasant on her first outing in society since….” Her gaze landed on Jane, who was partnered with a handsome gentleman Elizabeth had never seen before.

He was fair and trim, well-dressed and graceful – better still, he had put a smile on Jane’s face and a blush on her cheeks.

Jane turned and caught Elizabeth’s eye, and she waved before turning with the other dancers.

“Who is that? Jane looks positively smitten!”

Rebecca glanced that way and grinned. “Ah, she has met Bingley – capital! He is a friend of… Richard’s – I wonder if….” She trailed off, drumming her fingers together as her expression grew bright. She turned her face away and looked around the ballroom again.

“I know that devious look,” Elizabeth teased her.

Rebecca surveyed her for a moment, her lips parted as if she would speak, and then she shook her head.

“No indeed, I find I quite like the notion of Jane and Mr. Bingley. I wonder what Mamma will say – and how Mr. Darcy might act. Well, she deserves to be spoiled for choice after all she has endured. But she cannot marry all of her suitors, Lizzy – surely one of them will do for you. Has my cousin Henry amused you with his antics?”

“I liked him very well. Of course, I have heard of him through Eleanor’s letters to Jane, but it has been pleasant to come to know his character. He rather reminds me of your brother.”

“Ha! No indeed. They are both fond of japes, but Richard has not Henry’s flair for romantic fantasy. My cousin has always styled himself the hero of his own story, ready to woo his lady. That is not Richard’s way, you know.”

Elizabeth nodded thoughtfully. “I suppose not. But Eleanor seems a sweet, steady girl – perhaps she will soften his prickliness. But I digress – I would hear more of Mr. Bingley. What is he like? Is he a suitable prospect for Jane? What will your mother say?”

“He is the son of a tradesmen, and enormously wealthy, but Mamma has no objection to the merchant class. Bingley is good-natured and energetic, though not as clever and scholarly as Darcy. His sister must be here, somewhere – she is a supercilious social climber who would lock Jane and her brother in a room together in a trice for a chance to be the sister of a countess.”

Elizabeth tensed at the allusion to what her mother had done nearly four years ago, when the viscount had visited Meryton. “And Mr. Bingley would not be similarly interested in her station?”

Rebecca twisted her lips as she considered Elizabeth’s question.

“No, I do not think so. He has never shown the slightest interest in me, which he might have done if he shared his sister’s mercenaryinclinations.

But Bingley is one of the many gentlemen I have the pleasure of frightening out of their limited wits. ”

Elizabeth chortled. “I shall have to meet him and form my own impression, for you are never to be trusted in assessing anybody outside the family. Although I must say, I hope he is not inclined to divide his charms between Jane and I, as your cousin Mr. Tilney has proclaimed himself. No sensible man would ever make love to three sisters at once, and I could never love a man who is out of his wits.”

“Damn and blast,” Rebecca muttered, her eyes suddenly flaring. “I would offer to introduce you to Bingley myself, but Fred is coming this way and I must escape. He threatened to dance with me, but I shall not give him the chance to ask me!”

Abruptly abandoned by her unrepentant relation, Elizabeth was left to meander to ballroom alone, and she was content to observe her sister’s evident pleasure in dancing with Mr. Bingley.

When the dance came to an end, Elizabeth began to move that way with the intention of being introduced, but Captain Tilney swiftly intercepted Jane, and there was nobody else at hand who might introduce her to Mr. Bingley.

She watched him approach another gentleman she did not know, but instantly wished to.

If Mr. Bingley was handsome, his friend was Adonis.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, well-dressed and possessed of the finest countenance and most perfect thick, dark curls Elizabeth had ever beheld.

But then man frowned at Mr. Bingley, and Elizabeth could not resist taking a few steps nearer, in the hope of hearing why this divinely featured man should be so displeased with the gentleman whom she felt such curiosity about.

“I must have you dance,” Mr. Bingley cried, clapping the handsome man on the shoulder with a friendly smile, as if indifferent to the severe gaze that scrutinized him. “I hate to see you standing about in such a stupid manner – you had much better dance!”

“I have only just arrived, Bingley, and your sister is engaged at present. I have not been introduced to anybody else whom it would not be a punishment to stand up with. Indeed, you have been dancing with the only truly handsome woman in the room.”

“She is the most beautiful creature I have ever beheld,” Mr. Bingley cried. “I hope you do not object.”

The taller man furrowed his brow, as if unaware that his displeasure was so evident. Mr. Bingley glanced over at Elizabeth, who abruptly turned her face away, feeling a blush creep over her as she prayed that he had not noticed her eavesdropping.

“I believe the lady in green just there is her sister. She would make a very agreeable partner, I daresay! She is very pretty, and I have heard her praises sung already.”

Just as Elizabeth snuck a gaze in that direction, she saw Mr. Bingley’s friend look her way with a sneer.

“She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me. I have my own purpose for attending this infernal ball, and it is not to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. Do not waste your time with me, Bingley; I have some business with my aunt.”

Elizabeth pressed her lips together, lest any laughter betray that she had heard his haughty words.

She turned away from them, and happily saw Richard moving that way with his sister on his arm.

She hastened toward them, eager to repeat what she had heard and divert them with the absurd insolence of Mr. Bingley’s imposing friend. He did not seem so very handsome, now!

Richard and Rebecca were vastly amused, and not at all surprised that Elizabeth was unbothered by the insult.

“But what friend of Mr. Bingley’s would say such a thing?

Were you introduced?” Rebecca looked that direction, and her eyes widened at the sight of the offending gentleman.

She cocked her head to one side. “Well, Brother, what do you mean to do about that? ”

Richard grinned. “Call him out, of course!”

“Oh, please, say no more about it – I only meant to laugh with you,” Elizabeth said. She breathed a sigh of relief as the gentleman moved away from Mr. Bingley in the opposite direction. “I should rather meet Mr. Bingley than cause any unpleasantness.”

Rebecca bit her lip, her eyes fixed on her brother. “Your call, Richard.”

He nodded, his wicked smile growing wider. “I think you know what must be done, Rebecca. What fun!” And he stalked off, ostensibly to defend Elizabeth’s honor.

***

It was all Richard could do to suppress his laughter until Elizabeth was behind him.

What an unexpected delight! His blockhead cousin had turned up in the last place Richard would have expected to find him, and thoroughly made a mess of things before even meeting Jane.

Richard had no intention of prying Darcy’s foot out of his mouth before morning, but he did wish to know what his cousin was doing here.

“Darcy, you blind devil, what are you about? Making new friends, I daresay.”

“I am looking for your mother, in fact.”

“Fortunately for you, she is not here; she would hardly like to find you in such ill humor.”

Darcy grimaced. “I do not particularly care for Lady Thurston’s set, but Bingley begged me to come. I suspected you would be present.”

“If you think yourself ready for an introduction to our Lady Jane, think again. This is hardly the setting to present yourself to best advantage, and I can tell you are out of sorts. Is Georgiana well?”

“She is cross that I would not allow her to attend – you can hardly blame me.”

“No indeed – I would have her wait until she is fully forty-two before coming out in society!” Richard guffawed. “But you ought to have stayed home with her, the poor girl! Why go out at all, when you are determined to be displeased?”

Darcy shook his head. “I hardly know. Your mother gave me the impression that the countess would be uneasy in society and I wished to lend her the protection of my name, my presence.”

“Well! You certainly have a high opinion of yourself, though I cannot fault your good intentions on that score. But you may leave that honor to me, in my mother’s absence.

She is at home with a megrim, and she would be quite put out if you met Jane without her present to observe the pair of you and speculate as she chooses. ”

Darcy weighed Richard’s words. At that moment, Miss Bingley caught sight of Mr. Darcy, and looked ready to abandon her present partner to stalk her favorite prey. This tipped the scales in Richard’s favor; he could see Darcy’s resolve begin to weaken. “Has the countess been well received?”

“She has done the family credit. Jane has Rebecca to discourage the worst of the fortune hunters, and our sister Elizabeth is a charming creature who shall surely smooth the way for her. They have hardly been slighted.”

Darcy arched an eyebrow at Richard’s wording. “Your sister Elizabeth?”

“Jane’s sister Miss Bennet has lived amongst us these two years, Darcy – surely I have mentioned her.

She is well and truly part of the family, and if you take a liking to Jane and wish to court her, you shall certainly need Elizabeth’s approval to stand any chance of winning the lovely Lady Jane.

They are quite devoted to one another, and share every confidence. ”

“ Lady Jane?”

“Well we cannot call both Jane and Mother ‘Countess’ – they are both dowager countesses, though ‘tis far too dowdy a word for Lady Jane.”

Darcy shook his head. “It all begins to seem like a mad plan; I am entirely out of humor this evening. Perhaps you are right.”

“You admit that you are unfit for society? Capital! You ought not to have come out tonight; you will only make people uneasy. Return to Georgie and give her my love. Tomorrow morning, the sun will be shining and you will not be so churlish – and you are generally a little more agreeable in an intimate family setting.”

Darcy nodded at Richard. “I believe I shall depart. You are right, this is hardly the place for such a meeting. As much as I wish to make the right impression, I also desire to take the lady’s measure properly.

I have heard, of course, how her marriage to Robert came about, and it has given me pause.

But I trust your mother enough that I am willing to consider the notion.

It would put an end to our Aunt Catherine’s annual tirades at Easter. ”

“I should run off to Gretna with the very devil, if I were you, before acceding to our aunt’s matchmaking demands,” Richard drawled.

“I can assure you that Jane Fitzwilliam is an angel, Darcy; she and her sister are two of the finest women of my acquaintance, and I consider them my own sisters. I can vouch for their every virtue, and furthermore I shall tell you candidly that any man who causes either of them any dismay will certainly feel my wrath.”

Darcy nodded approvingly. “I am glad to hear it. The countess will need the family to rally behind her, with the earl still in leading strings. It is just the sort of circumstance to attract every manner of opportunist.”

Richard clapped his cousin on the shoulder, thinking of how they had dispatched with just such a predator the previous summer in Ramsgate. “You need not subject yourself to the punishment of an entertainment you despise, for the sake of protecting the young countess; meet her tomorrow, as planned.”

“Very well. Say goodbye to Bingley for me, would you?” Darcy glanced around and observed their friend standing up with Elizabeth – with the very woman he had insulted. He frowned.

Richard watched him with a smile he endeavored to keep neutral. “I shall, when he is done delighting his beautiful partner – unless such a creature might tempt you to reconsider remaining for a dance or two?”

Darcy scowled. “I will see you tomorrow at half past ten.”

“Excellent. I am looking forward to it immensely.” Richard bid his cousin farewell and then sought out Rebecca, eager to delight her with his wickedness.