Page 16 of The Painting (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

D espite their hopes, the following day was still cloudy and, in Mrs Clarke’s house, Bingley was equally as disappointed as the Gardiner and Norwood children.

“I cannot believe my bad luck,” Bingley burst out with frustration during breakfast.

“What bad luck are you talking about?” Darcy asked. He had just suffered another sleepless night and was preoccupied with his second cup of coffee.

“The weather! Did you forget that we planned a day of sea bathing?”

“I did not. But it is only one day. Besides, a cloudy day might not be suited to a day at the beach, but it could be pleasant for walking, or a carriage ride into Brighton. There are many outdoor activities appropriate for a cooler summer day.”

The revelation struck and Bingley’s face lightened. “Indeed! Yes, of course. How silly of me! I was thinking…Perhaps I should call on Mrs Crawford again and ask Mrs Gardiner and Miss Bennet if there is anything I can do for them? Perhaps I could escort them somewhere?”

“It is a perfectly sensible idea, Bingley.”

“Will you not join me? Or are you tired after all the attention you received yesterday?”

Darcy hesitated for a moment. He had not disliked the previous day’s attention as much as on previous occasions .

“I would be happy to, but I cannot. There are things I must settle while I am here and they need my complete attention.”

“Well then…Do you need my assistance?”

“Not at all, Bingley. There is nothing you can do; proceed with your plans as you wish and I will see you this afternoon.”

Darcy’s desire to see Elizabeth was just as strong as Bingley’s to see Jane. But he tried to mitigate his eagerness. The painful memories were still very fresh and the wounds caused by her accusations could not be so easily healed.

He did not want Elizabeth to feel she was compelled to bear his presence, or that he was taking advantage of Mrs Crawford’s friendliness to impose upon her. Small, careful steps were necessary for rebuilding their relationship—whatever it might be—to ensure it began on the right footing this time.

Instead, he decided to briefly call on Mrs Norwood. Julia’s lasting affection for his mother and even for him, as well as their closeness in age and her obvious wit and brightness, were good reason to hope for a familiar and honest conversation on the subject of his interest.

He found Julia Norwood in the garden and she met him with her usually joy.

“I am afraid you have arrived at an unfortunate moment, as I must leave soon,” she said. “I have an appointment at my modiste and I must attend, as I have ordered some gowns for me and the children. And I also have to some purchases to make for my uncle.”

“Do not worry, I shall return later then.”

“Please do! Unless you have some business in Brighton and wish to keep me company,” she jested. Darcy hesitated a moment. A relatively long drive would be the perfect opportunity for a private, undisturbed conversation.

“I might have some business in Brighton,” he replied in earnest. “And I could join you on the journey and bring my horse along too, so I can complete my affairs afterwards.”

She looked at him in surprise. “Would you? Oh, that would be lovely indeed!”

“But…I do not want to impose…Or to place you in a delicate situ ation. I mean—sharing the carriage with a strange man…”

Julia laughed.

“Do not worry about that, the rules of decorum are less rigid in Brighton. Those who know who you are would never be bothered—including my husband. Those who do not know—oh well, we will never know their opinion on the matter. Just prepare your horse and we will meet shortly on the main road.”

Darcy felt enchanted both by the unexpected and fortunate opportunity, as well as by Julia as a person.

Her manners were pleasant and natural, her smile friendly and lovely.

She was so open and unassuming that she reminded him very much of Elizabeth, if Elizabeth was his friend.

A notion that he feared, as his feelings for her were surely not those of friendship.

The mere thought of Elizabeth sharing a carriage with him, of her smiling at him so unrestrainedly and embracing him as Julia had, gave him shivers and stirred all his senses.

He tried to shake off such musings and quickly saddled his horse.

Less than half an hour later, he tied his stallion to the side of Julia’s carriage and joined her inside.

“You do not look like Lady Anne at all,” Julia said, looking at him.

“No…My sister does. She inherited my mother’s beauty and gentleness. And her talent at the pianoforte.”

“Did she?”

“Yes. Georgiana is exceedingly talented. And you are too,” Darcy offered.

“Thank you. Did Lady Anne teach your sister to play?”

“No…Sadly, Georgiana was only three years old when my mother passed away. And she had been ill for several months before.”

“Of course! How silly and inconsiderate of me, I should have known.”

“Please do not make yourself uneasy; how could you have known?”

“We received the news when your sister was born. I was already out at that time. I was in London with my mother and Mrs Crawford, and we even tried to visit Lady Anne.” Julia tried to hide a brief shadow on her face under her smile. Darcy did not miss the failed attempt.

“You tried?”

Julia averted her eyes. “Yes…”

“And you did not see her?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I cannot remember exactly. We knew her health was delicate…”

“Julia, please. Since you agreed to call me Will, please let us speak openly. I only met you two days ago, yet I feel I cannot trust anyone else more in regard to my mother. If you were in my place, would you not have wished to know the whole truth?”

“Very well then. Be it as you wish. We called on her but Lady Catherine and Lord Matlock were there. They told us that Mr Darcy, as well as Lady Anne, did not wish for any guests outside the family, which was perfectly reasonable under the circumstances. And…”

“And?”

“They suggested that we could not claim our acquaintance with Lady Anne in Brighton as a friendship. That the circles of society in London could not be disregarded and that a simple boarding house owner could not be seen with Lady Anne Darcy. They suggested we should not bother either Lady Anne or Mr Darcy again unless they asked for us.”

The confession and the pain behind her words hurt Darcy.

For a moment, he imagined that something perhaps related to his mother’s hidden secret had upset his father and caused him to forbid the relationship.

All sorts of worrisome assumptions—some worse than others—spun in his head, while Julia continued.

“Of course, two years later, we discovered we had not been told the whole truth. My mother and Mrs Crawford—by pure coincidence—met Lady Anne and Mr Darcy outside a shop. Lady Anne was so happy to see them that she embraced them in full view of the street—much to their astonishment. And Mr Darcy insisted that they visit—which they did several times during their stay in town. My mother was certain that neither Lady Anne nor Mr Darcy seemed aware of the request to end the friendship.”

“I see…” Darcy whispered more to himself, while new reflections troubled him.

It was also very likely that his aunt and uncle had forbidden a connection that they considered so below their situation in life.

Just as he—as an arrogant fool—had done with Elizabeth’s family.

Three arrogant fools, unworthy of his parents’ kind hearts.

“And?”

“There is nothing more to say, unfortunately. My mother and Mrs Crawford returned to Brighton, then the winter came and the next summer we heard the devastating news about Lady Anne passing away. We grieved for her for so long and we still do.”

Tears were heavy in her eyes and slowly fell onto her cheeks. Darcy watched her, heartbroken and deeply impressed by the young woman’s loyalty.

“I called my daughter Anne after her, you know,” Julia continued.

“Yes, I wondered…Thank you…”

“And I play the pianoforte for her and because of her, you know… The first time I can remember meeting her was when I was three years old—did I mention that? When I heard her playing for the first time, I was mesmerised. I barely spoke when she put my fingers on the keys. I think I first learned to play charmed by her sweetness and her beauty. In my mind as a child, she was a fairy.”

“I did not know that…” Darcy murmured. “Thank you for telling me. I am forever grateful.”

Julia took his hands in hers. “I am happy to have met you again, Will Darcy. You were quite good at the pianoforte too. Do you still play?”

Darcy fought his own tears. “No. I have not touched the instrument since she passed away.”

“Oh, how unfortunate! She used to say you had inherited your father’s good looks and sense of honour and her artistic talents.”

“She was obviously partial to me, as I surely do not deserve such praise.”

“I am sure you do. At least on your appearance, she was correct. Your honour, I do not doubt. As for your talent, I shall insist on discovering the truth one day,” she teased him.

They were already in the centre of the town, surrounded by the bustle of people walking and riding.

“Julia, do you happen to remember…while she was in Brighton…was my mother on friendly terms with your family? Yours, Mrs Crawford’s, Mrs Clarke’s? I mean… with other members of your families, not just your mother and Mrs Crawford?”

“With our families? Of course! She was a favourite of everyone and we all felt she returned our affection.”

He insisted no further. Any other enquiry would have been a betrayal of his mother’s wish and a terrible indiscretion.

“Well, we are here,” she said and only then he noticed the carriage had stopped.

“Thank you for keeping me company,” he said while helping her out of the carriage. “You cannot imagine how much comfort you offered me, Julia.”

“It was mutual, I assure you,” Julia replied. “But this is not goodbye, I hope? I look forward to seeing you again at home.”