Page 19 of The Next Mrs Bennet

F or once, rather than dreading having to stand up for two consecutive sets, Darcy was in anticipation of dancing the next set with his newly met cousin. He intended to join the Bennets as soon as he returned Miss Prudence Long to her aunt and uncle. His aim was to introduce himself properly to the rest of the Bennets who were at the assembly.

In addition to dancing with all four ladies his cousin had indicated, he intended to ask his other three cousins to dance as well. At the end of his dance, he bowed to his partner and escorted her back to her family. As he left the Longs, he noticed that the lady he had just danced with was approached by some local men with requests to stand up with her. Based on the glow of pleasure he noted, Darcy was relatively sure that this was exactly the result Cousin Elizabeth had hoped would happen. When he looked around the hall at the other three ladies he had made requests to dance with, the same effect was visible.

This gave him valuable insight into his cousin and her compassion for others. He decided that he would enjoy coming to know the Bennets.

He reached the six Bennets. Before he said anything, Cousin Elizabeth introduced her eldest sister, Jane, her twin brother, Henry, and their younger sister, Mary.

“It is a pleasure to meet all of you properly, as I should have had I not been somewhat rude when I arrived,” Darcy stated contritely. The word pleasure was not hyperbole; he meant it. He was sure that he would enjoy his visit to this corner of the kingdom. As he had many times since, Darcy lifted a prayer to on high in thanks that he was attempting to no longer be the prideful, arrogant, and rude man he had been before Richard humbled him.

“If residing at Netherfield Park with a certain lady becomes too much for you, we have many open chambers at Longbourn, even with all of the family soon to arrive,” Becca invited.

Darcy schooled his features. It seemed that Longbourn’s manor house was significantly larger than Netherfield Park’s abode. He was sure the quality coach he had seen when he arrived belonged to the Bennets. He offered up thanks again for being able to control his urge to blurt out what he was about to say earlier.

He was snapped out of his reverie by Cousin Elizabeth’s voice. “Our set is forming,” she said. It was only then he saw she had placed her hand on his arm to get his attention.

“Please excuse me; I was lost in my thoughts,” Darcy requested. The dance began, and it did not take long for him to see that his cousin was a good dancer.

Elizabeth was impressed by how graceful her cousin’s movements were, especially for a man as tall as he was. She decided they should have some conversation. “I know there are many Williams in the family, but why do you answer to Fitz when you dislike it, which is not hard to understand?”

The dance separated them. “I suppose I got used to it and decided to live with it,” Darcy replied once he returned to dance opposite his partner.

The more he observed her, the more he realised that the insult he almost uttered about her being tolerable and not handsome enough to tempt him was entirely incorrect. Her look was different from Cousin Jane, who was classically beautiful—according to society’s standards—but in his mind, with her fuller figure, intelligence shining from the most intriguing eyes he had ever seen, her very pretty face, and raven-coloured tresses, Cousin Elizabeth was quite possibly the handsomest woman of his acquaintance.

“Do you have a middle name?” Elizabeth asked when they came back together.

“I do,” Darcy danced away from his partner; “it is Alexander,” he completed when the dance brought them back together. “May I ask why it is you enquired about my middle name?”

“It is simple; I could call you Cousin Alex. That way no one can complain because, as far as I am aware, there are no other Alexanders in the family.” Elizabeth paused. “Your given name is Fitzwilliam is it not?” Darcy allowed it was so. “I think Liam will fit you better, and it is still part of the familiar name your late parents gifted you.”

“To me, both sound far better than Fitz,” Darcy smiled, revealing one of his dimples for the first time. “I think I would like Liam more. Now how do we convince the rest of the family to follow suit?”

When he smiled like that, Elizabeth almost lost the steps of the dance. He was handsome anyway, but when he smiled and a dimple was revealed, he was devastatingly so. She fought to keep her equanimity and school her features. ‘ I am not a young girl just out in society! Elizabeth Georgiana Bennet, you need to behave as expected of you! ’ Elizabeth admonished herself silently. She gathered herself. “Yes, I too prefer Liam. On a different subject, there is one of the family who is present at the assembly, who you have not met yet.” Elizabeth cocked her head in the direction of Grandmama Beth. “If you like, I will make you known to Grandmama at some point in the evening.”

“It would be my pleasure to meet your grandmother,” Darcy allowed. “You are blessed to have grandmothers and grandfathers still with you. It is only Giana and I in the immediate family since Mother and then Father were called home to His side.”

“The only grandfather is Grandpapa William,” Elizabeth corrected. The dance sent them in opposite directions; when they came back together, she continued, “Papa’s father, Henry Bennet, was called home before any of us were born. I am very sorry you lost first your mother, and then, if I am correct, some five years ago, your father.”

Darcy inclined his head in thanks. Before he could respond, the dance came to an end. “Would you like some punch or lemonade before the second dance of the set commences?” he enquired.

“I will walk with you to the refreshment table; otherwise, you will waste most of the break walking back and forth bringing the drink and returning the glass,” Elizabeth smiled. She happily placed her gloved hand on the offered arm. As they walked, she could feel the muscles rippling in his arm below her hand.

Evidently, she was not the only Bennet who was thirsty. Jane and Henry and their respective partners were at the table as well. This was a set Mary was sitting out to allow other ladies to dance.

Seeing three of the Bennet offspring at the refreshment table, Miss Bingley, who had not danced other than one set with her brother, made a beeline for the same location. As she walked, she pointedly ignored all the locals who were admiring her ensemble. She just could not fathom why so many of them were giggling.

“Miss Bennet, Mr Bennet, and Miss Elizabeth, how pleasant it is to discover other members of my level of society among all of the country mushrooms,” Miss Bingley simpered.

“Jane and Lizzy, did I miss something, or does this lady think that Mama and Papa are descended from tradesmen?” Henry asked innocently.

Before Miss Bingley, whose face had turned a rather interesting shade of puce could react, the three couples returned to their places in the line where the next dance was about to commence.

“I see what you meant about the cat being let out of the bag with regard to Miss Bingley. She will do anything she can to try and ingratiate herself to you and your family,” Darcy related. “I can see her having an apoplexy when she discovers that Longbourn will soon be hosting a duke and duchess, a marquess and marchioness, and an earl and countess.”

“Do not forget a viscount when Andy arrives.” Elizabeth paused. “I pray for his safe return almost as much as Jane, because I do not want to see how devastated my sister would be if something should happen to him.”

“I also pray for Andy’s safe return, but for different reasons than Cousin Jane,” Darcy clarified.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

At that moment, Andrew Fitzwilliam was standing on the quarterdeck of the ship bearing him home and, more importantly, to Jane. He desired to speak to the Captain about how close they were to England, but was waiting for him to finish conferring with one of his officers.

Some days more than a sennight past they had left the Canary Islands, where they had put into port on the north-western end of Gran Canaria. After taking on fresh water and food, they had set sail once again. There had been much beauty in the islands, but all Andrew was concentrating on was arriving home, seeing his family, and reuniting with Jane.

“Do you see the light there to the northwest?” the Captain asked after he dismissed the officer. The Viscount shook his head. The officer handed him his telescope and pointed him in the right direction.

“Yes, yes, I do,” Andrew acknowledged. “Where is that?”

“That is one of the coastal towns on the Bay of Biscay in France. Do not be concerned with the tyrant’s navy, Lord Hilldale. Ever since the late Lord Nelson bloodied them at Trafalgar, their navy prefers to remain in port. Add to that the Royal Navy’s blockade is in full force. That also induces the French to keep away.”

“How long from here until we reach London?”

“A sennight or less; we have had favourable winds since we departed Gran Canaria.” The Captain paused as he looked out into the blackness. “We are fortunate the little tyrant betrayed Spain and they switched sides; otherwise we would not have been welcome flying England’s flag in the Canary Islands. In fact, they would have thrown us into the brig and taken the ship and her cargo.”

“Then one day we will have to thank that Corsican for being so power hungry that he turns on his allies. Thank you for the update, Captain. Nothing against you and your exemplary crew, but if I never step on board a ship again, it will be too soon.” Andrew shook the Captain’s hand and walked over to the starboard railing.

He looked up at the millions of brilliant, twinkling stars and wondered what Jane was doing at that moment.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

As none of them danced the final set, the four Bennet siblings who attended the assembly, and their newly met cousin, were seated on benches in the small garden and grassy area adjacent to the assembly hall, due to the oppressive heat in the hall, and it being a mild evening.

The bad mood he had felt thanks to being in Miss Bingley’s company had been banished by his cousins, especially Elizabeth. Darcy could not remember ever before having such an enjoyable evening at a ball—public or private. He felt the beginnings of an attraction to Cousin Elizabeth, but it was far too early to know if it was an infatuation or something more substantial.

Cousin Liam had been a revelation to Elizabeth. She had watched him become far easier among those he did not know than what had been told of him. Not only that, but thanks to him, Pru, Esmé, Jenny, and Penny had all enjoyed the assembly far more than any other in the past. Rather than dance with two of them as she had challenged him to do, Liam had danced with all four, as well as with Jane and Mary. He had asked Mama for a set, but she had demurred, saying she preferred to sit with Papa. Elizabeth did not know if things would go anywhere between them, but she decided that he was a very good and intelligent man. She looked over and saw Janey’s eyes lifted to the skies, as she was wont to do at times.

Jane had been staring at the stars on this cloudless night. For some reason, whenever she did, she felt closer to Andrew. She turned to her brother, sisters, and Cousin Liam, as Lizzy had dubbed Fitzwilliam Darcy. “Is Mr Bingley deficient of understanding?” she huffed. “No matter how many times I indicated my disinterest in his company, he never ceased importuning me for another dance or to tell me what an angel I am. Miss Bingley was no better; even after Henry’s setdown, she did not stop promoting herself as my friend or her brother as a suitor.”

“Whenever you are away from home, you need Brian or John and at least one other guard with you. Had Mama and Papa known that the Bingleys would behave as they have towards you, they would never have allowed Mr Bingley the lease,” Elizabeth opined. She looked at her cousin, as she did not know if he was aware Netherfield Park was theirs.

“Your parents revealed their ownership of the estate to me,” Darcy stated. “Personally, I am very disappointed in my friend’s behaviour. Until Miss Bingley discovered your presence in the neighbourhood, she had decided that her brother must marry Giana, as she was under the illusion that one wedding would lead to another. I would have never allowed either. It seems that she is now pushing him at Cousin Jane, and Bingley is too weak to resist his much more forceful sister. I do not excuse his behaviour; I tell you, so you are able to understand the dynamic between them.” Darcy remembered something Cousin Elizabeth had said. “Who are Brian and John?”

“Father employed footmen-guards, thanks to Richard’s recommendation, former soldiers and marines, and the two we named are in charge of them. They are also the strongest, largest men I have ever encountered,” Henry told him. “By now there are close to twenty guards employed. Some of them are outriders when we travel. When I was at Cambridge, I had two with me, and when Tommy returns for his final year at Eton, he too will have two men watching over him.”

“As you have described them,” Darcy grinned, “they may be enough to deter Bingley…Miss Bingley, though I am not so sure of. As long as she believes there is a chance that you will help her reach the first circles, she will not give up her chase.” He did not want to tempt fate, but based on her switched allegiance during the ball, Darcy believed Miss Bingley had given up her hunt of him.

“The Bingleys had better be careful in their behaviour, else they will find themselves evicted from Tommy’s estate,” Mary added. Her brother and sisters nodded their agreement.

The strains of music from inside the hall began to wane. “It is time for us to go back inside,” Jane stated as she stood.

On entering the hall, they encountered their grandmother, who was making her way back to her son and daughter. Elizabeth used the opportunity to introduce Cousin Liam to Grandmama Beth.

Seeing his cousin’s grandmother revealed to Darcy from where the shade and texture of Elizabeth’s hair and the colour of her eyes came.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

“Charles, you did not do enough to attract Miss Bennet’s interest tonight,” Miss Bingley berated him once they were on the way back to Netherfield Park.

“Bingley, Miss Bingley, please excuse me if I overstep. Bingley, Cousin Jane has no interest in you. As I told you, she is being courted by my cousin, Lord Hilldale, and it is dishonourable in the extreme to continue your pursuit of her knowing that,” Darcy tutted. “Do not forget that they can have you ruined in society as easily as snapping their fingers.

“So she prefers a title to a tradesman’s son,” Bingley spat out bitterly.

“Bingley, she knows you not, and she has known Andrew since she could speak, and I understand that they are in love,” Darcy contradicted.

Miss Bingley shut Mr Darcy’s words out of her consciousness. She had decided Charles would marry Miss Bennet. She would not only be their friend but related to them as well, not only through Charles. Although he was certainly younger than herself, she had set her cap at the Bennet heir. The fact he was younger was an advantage, as it would make it much easier for her to get her way and have him obey her.

Caroline had made sure to see what conveyance the Bennets used, and it was a coach and four, which was better than the one either her brother or even Mr Darcy owned. That told Caroline that they were acceptably wealthy. Now she had to convince her brother to call at Longbourn so that she could see for herself.

Charles had given a glowing report of the estate and mansion from his one call there, so it was promising. In her mind, she would not fail. The Bennets may have stellar connections and a decent level of wealth, but they were still unsophisticated country folk. Caroline was sure it would be easy for her to work on them. She had already put what the Bennet heir had said to her out of her mind.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

“I said I would not prejudge the Bingleys, and I did not; however, based on their behaviour tonight, they are not people I want to know any more than I do,” Jane related shortly after their coachman departed the assembly hall.

“How on earth was it that no one told Miss Bingley how ridiculous she looked before they departed Netherfield Park?” Mary wondered. “Did she not notice all of the laughing behind her back at that hideous colour she was wearing? It seems she does not understand how one dresses for a country assembly.”

“I will wager she thought she would impress all of us country bumpkins . If that was her intention, she failed miserably,” Beth stated.

“At least the Hursts did nothing objectionable,” Henry observed.

“Other than Mr Hurst being soused and, according to Phillips, falling asleep at one of the tables in the card room,” Bennet revealed, “Henry has the right of it. Compared to their Bingley family members, the Hursts were paragons of good behaviour.”

“How long do you think it will be before you have Mr Phillips evict them?” Mary enquired.

“We shall see if Mr and Miss Bingley heed Cousin Liam’s warnings,” Becca decided. “Like we did with that Mr Willoughby, if the tenant forfeits the balance of the lease, the money will be turned over to the two local clergymen for use as they see fit among the needy of their parishes.”

“On a more pleasant note, I am excited to welcome the family members arriving tomorrow,” Elizabeth added.

“If Miss Bingley tries to impose her company on Devonshire or Mother Anna, she will not be pleased,” Bennet shook his head. “One word from my Becca’s mother and Miss Bingley will be irrevocably ruined in polite society.”

“We are almost home; let us leave the subject of the Bingleys for another day,” Becca suggested. No one disagreed.