Page 6 of The Countess and Her Sister
The Fitzwilliam household was a comfortable and relaxed one; though motherhood had made an earlier riser of Jane, the rest of the family woke whenever they chose, just as they all did as they pleased throughout the day.
Elizabeth awoke late, having been restless the night before.
Richard and Rebecca had teased her into mirth about her brother’s wicked trick, but some lingering vexation had crept back into her mind.
Where Richard was concerned, Elizabeth wished only to have been included in his jape.
Even after two years, she did not entirely feel a sense of belonging in the family.
She and Jane both addressed Lady Augusta as Mamma, Richard as brother and Rebecca as sister – but only Jane had any real right to do so.
Every now and then, Elizabeth was plagued by the stinging sense of exclusion.
Her displeasure with Mr. Darcy was more straightforward. The man she thought handsomer than any in the room had insulted her appearance, and it stung.
She and Jane had not spoken privately about it, and amongst their relations they had chiefly exerted themselves to ease the dowager’s distress over the situation. Elizabeth was glad to find her sister still in the breakfast room as she entered.
Young Thomas bid his Aunt Lizzy good morning before his governess led him away. When the sisters were alone, Jane drew Elizabeth’s attention to two large floral arrangements on the table. “These arrived for you and me this morning, along with a note for each of us.”
“What do they say?”
“I decided to wait for you before reading my own.”
Elizabeth smiled appreciatively at the two very different arrangements.
Jane’s was elegant and well suited to her, striking hothouse blooms in soft, demure hues.
Elizabeth’s better complemented her own taste – large, bold blossoms interspersed with colorful wildflowers and sprigs of jasmine and lavender.
Each arrangement featured white tulips, a symbol of apology.
“Are these from Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth picked up the note that was tucked into her flowers and ran her fingers over the elegant scrollwork which spelled Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Jane did not answer, for she had already begun reading her own note, and so Elizabeth did likewise.
Dear Miss Bennet,
I must offer you not one but three heartfelt and humble apologies.
I will begin by asking your forgiveness for my poor reaction to meeting you yesterday, and delaying so long in apologizing for my thoughtless and inexcusable insult.
I ought to have done so at once with the eloquence and respect you deserve.
Secondly, I apologize with every proper sentiment of shame for the comments I made to Mr. Bingley, which would have been unpardonably rude – not to mention patently false – even had you not been privy to them. That you did hear those words only adds to my remorse.
Finally, I must express how truly sorry I am for the dismay this entire ordeal – the result of my own failings – caused your beloved sister.
I have heard the highest praise of your character, and I understand that your fondness and protective affection for the Countess are no less than what I feel for my own sister.
Amidst your own discomfort, it was evident that you concerned yourself with her uneasiness, a tender sentiment that does you credit, and raises you in my estimation, whatever this may be worth to you.
I hope I may earn your good opinion in due course.
I intend to honor my engagement at Matlock House this morning, and I hope to include you in my overtures of friendship toward the Countess and your entire family.
Your humble and penitent servant,
Fitzwilliam Darcy
Elizabeth refolded the letter, unsure of what to make of it. Jane had finished reading her own note, and by unspoken agreement the two sisters made a silent exchange. Jane’s letter was shorter, but no less civil and earnest.
Dear Lady Matlock,
I must humbly beg your forgiveness for my awkward and boorish behavior yesterday, and for any discomfiture I caused you by insulting your beloved sister, and in departing the house so abruptly without making any proper amends.
I hope that my ardent desire to improve myself in your esteem will be met with the gracious kindness I have been assured that you possess in abundance.
Your servant,
Fitzwilliam Darcy
Elizabeth smirked at her sister. “My goodness. I believe he wrote my note first, and his hand grew tired.”
Jane smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “He gave you much greater offense. But can you accept his apology, Lizzy?”
“To please you and Mamma, I shall be all gracious kindness, just like you. That will probably vex Richard, and so much the better!”
Jane chortled with laughter and shook her head. “It was very wicked of him to lay such a trap – and after he said that he would not interfere in Mamma’s plans! But I suppose he meant only to vex her.”
Elizabeth twisted her lips as she considered all that had transpired the day before, and how their brother had tried to acquit himself and appease Lady Augusta.
She had not failed to notice his banter regarding Mr. Bingley, either.
“Had things not begun so poorly with Mr. Darcy, I wonder if you would have gotten on so well with his friend,” Elizabeth said with a wink.
At the ball, and again the next morning, Jane received considerable attention from Mr. Bingley – and with evident pleasure.
Elizabeth wondered if this would have been possible if Mr. Darcy had behaved like a gentleman at the ball and introduced himself directly.
“And after all, why should you not be spoiled for choice?”
“Oh my,” Jane said with a blushing laugh. “I am sure Richard would find it very amusing to witness me besieged by suitors.”
“Should you like it? Jane? It is a luxury we would never have been afforded in Meryton. Mr. Darcy is Mamma’s choice, and I shall own that he does write a very pretty apology, but Mr. Tilney is also a valued relation of the family, and charming besides.
And Mr. Bingley looked upon you as more of a goddess than a countess; I am of the opinion that you deserve men everywhere to be falling at your feet, naturally – should you wish it. ”
Jane laughed again and swatted at Elizabeth. “I fear I shall receive more attention than I can bear, purely because of my station, and because Mamma will be demanding it of anybody she deems worthy.”
“And you may depend upon her to frighten off anybody who is not, which shall spare you the unpleasantness of disobliging anyone.”
“I would be content to remain as we all are forever, and perhaps I really shall,” Jane said, her countenance turning contemplative.
“I should only desire any alteration to my life if it is a vast improvement. I see little merit in being beset by suitors , particularly when it is not likely that any of them could make me happier than I am at present.”
Elizabeth grinned. “I love that you do not mean to make it easy on them.”
“I do not mean to say that I shall be difficult, particularly when three of the other four adults in this house are sure to do a fine job of that – I wish only to be myself, Lizzy. I have grown used to doing as I please, and receiving the amiable addresses of charming gentlemen is a far cry from drastically altering my life. It is so strange to think upon; indeed, I should rather think no further than this meeting with Mr. Darcy, for the present.”
Elizabeth beamed with pride at her elder sister.
Jane had not always been so firm in her opinions, and even now there was still an unobtrusive gentleness to her tone, yet the underlying resolution in her words was the work of many difficult years.
A lesser woman might have been broken by what Jane endured when her husband was alive, or turned bitter and angry, but Jane was determined to accept her hard-won contentment.
Elizabeth was determined to take heart from this, and to be civil and serene during Mr. Darcy’s visit.
He had amended his boorishness, and she would not vex Jane by any further bad behavior.
She would, however, observe Mr. Darcy very carefully for any sign that he was prone to such lapses in conduct, as his late cousin had been.
Mr. Darcy arrived at the appointed hour. Lady Augusta had been apprised of his conciliatory gesture, and though she had tutted a little at the brevity of his note to Jane, she was relieved that all would soon be put right.
“My nephew has never cared for a large party or ball – I can well imagine him being frightfully out of sorts amidst such a scene he does not like. You prefer smaller, more intimate gatherings, too, Jane! Our Lizzy is more like my other children – put any of them in a crowded ballroom and they shall have a dozen new friends within the first hour! Well – Lizzy is more partial to observing, but only so that she can make some lark over the oddities that fascinate her.”
Lady Matlock frowned between Jane, Mr. Darcy, and Elizabeth.
The latter was vastly amused by the dowager’s antics; it was somehow infinitely more pleasing to be fussed over by a matron of sense and judgement, her gregariousness not entirely beyond thought and reason.
Mrs. Bennet spoke every thought that came into her mind, cared little for the mortification she caused her children and not all for anybody else, and ceaselessly exposed her own ignorance.
Lady Augusta was verbose when she was nervous, but it was only ever endearing to Elizabeth.
Mr. Darcy blinked and looked at Elizabeth, his neutral expression betraying a trace of innocence and amusement. “Am I such an oddity to you, Miss Bennet?”