Page 65 of The Shades of Pemberley

“Oh, I dare say it does,” agreed Mr. Bennet. “Then again, when you or Jane are absent, staying in London with the Gardiners, there is little difference in the level of noise in my home. For that matter, Mary’s absence also provokes little change.”

“My mother has rarely been from home.”

Mr. Bennet offered his affable agreement. “Yes, that must be the reason for my inability to find peace in my home, for your mother and youngest sisters create enough noise for an entire regiment of soldiers.

“Then again,” continued he with an affectionate smile for his youngest, who giggled in return, “Kitty and Lydia have discovered a hint of quietude in their manners.”

“Perhaps they have,” said Elizabeth, not sparing a glance for her sisters. “Yet it still must be quieter at Longbourn than here in town. There are six of us in residence now, after all.”

“Yes, I suppose there are. Yet I find I can more easily discover solitude in this house behind the stout door to your library.”

“Not so much as you would experience at Longbourn, with only the servants moving about the house.”

Mr. Bennet smiled his agreement and turned back to his book.

The girls rose at that moment and indicated their intention to return to their rooms, and they departed, followed by a sour-looking Mrs. Younge.

Elizabeth allowed them to depart, though Darcy did not think she noticed the companion at all.

When they were gone, she turned an accusing look on her father.

“You have astonished me, Papa, for I never thought I would see the day when you would act to put yourself in a situation where you must endure the noise you have deplored since I was a girl.”

“What do you mean?”

Though he expressed a lack of understanding, Mr. Bennet’s expression of glee informed them of his pleasure in the game.

Elizabeth regarded him for several moments. “You missed the company of your family! After assuring us all how much you would enjoy your time alone, you could not bear an empty house!”

Mr. Bennet laughed and reached forward to grasp his daughter’s hand with affection. “I might have thought you would understand long before this, Lizzy, for I have given you enough clues.” He winked and added: “Do not tell your mother or your sisters—I have a reputation to uphold, you know.”

After such a declaration, there was no recourse but to laugh at her father’s outrageous statement, and as she had often claimed, Elizabeth loved to laugh. “Then are you about to become a man about town? Do you mean to take London sitting-rooms by storm and dazzle them with your wit?”

“Not at all,” was Mr. Bennet’s unconcerned reply. “My disinclination for society remains in force.”

Later, when they were alone, Elizabeth was not silent about her suspicions. “You knew.”

Darcy grinned at his wife and gathered her into his embrace. “I did. Your father informed me the day after he arrived, though I already suspected.”

“Why did you not tell me?”

“Was there any purpose in it? You have spent the past few days dueling with your father, and unless I am quite mistaken, you both enjoyed it. Why should I deny you that pleasure?”

There was nothing to say to that, and Elizabeth did not try.

A FEW DAYS LATER, THE Darcys were to attend an evening at Lord Matlock’s house.

It was a dinner party the countess had planned to introduce the Darcys to the extended family, and Elizabeth thought it was calculated to ensure society knew they had their firm support.

To own the truth, Elizabeth was uncertain it was necessary, for she had met little resistance since their coming to London.

Then again, they had little congress with the highest of society, to which company Elizabeth knew the Darcys had some claim, given the Darcy family’s long history, wealth, and numerous connections extending back centuries.

The younger girls were excluded from this gathering as it was an adult-only event, and Elizabeth thought they would not miss much. Kitty and Lydia might regret it, but Georgiana’s moue of distaste suggested it would not be a gathering at all to their taste.

“Trust me,” said she, “we will not miss much by staying at home. Many of my extended relations are fine people, but there are a few who consider even the Darcys to be beneath their notice. The evening will be nothing more than a group of stuffy, hidebound people looking down their noses and finding fault, while congratulating themselves on their fortunate positions.”

Elizabeth could not help the laugh that burst from her lips. “Upon my word, you are severe on your relations!”

“Not at all,” said Georgiana, unconcerned. “You will like the Spencers very well, but the moment you make the Howards’ acquaintance, you will understand.”

“With accounts such as this, perhaps I should refrain,” said Mr. Bennet. “If they do not accept Darcy, then there is little chance I will be anything other than a nuisance.”

“Oh, Papa!” laughed Elizabeth. “I know you wish to go because of their superciliousness and your desire to laugh at them. Besides, Mama is there, so you must go.”

Mr. Bennet gave a resigned sigh that fooled no one. “I suppose you are correct. Remember the sacrifice I am making on your behalf, Lizzy, for I suspect we will find no one in attendance tonight who will not consider us country bumpkins.”

Contrary to Mr. Bennet’s expectation, many did not appear to hold the Darcys’ country origins against them, though there were certain of the other type as well.

It was no surprise that Lady Catherine was not in attendance.

Elizabeth had heard nothing of the lady’s disposition, though she knew that Miss de Bourgh was determined to take control of her inheritance.

Now that she was married to William and Lady Catherine’s schemes were at an end, Elizabeth had no more desire to be in her company and would allow Lord Matlock to handle the matter.

Much as it had been since Elizabeth had come to London the previous year to meet William’s friends, that evening was a dizzying array of new faces and names to remember, and while it was impossible to recall everyone she met that evening, there were a few that made an impression.

The earl’s children were all known to Elizabeth, of course, and she enjoyed their company, though the eldest daughter, Rachel, who married a duke, could be a little trying.

There was another duke in attendance, the earl’s nephew and son of his sister.

The duke’s wife, Constance, was a woman who well knew her position in society and was not hesitant to display her superiority, though for all that, she was kind and thoughtful.

The earl’s family also included two more sisters and a brother who was a bishop in the church, and among them were some of the elder children, though, like Elizabeth’s sisters and Georgiana, the younger members of the family stayed home.

It was also of some diversion to Elizabeth that only a few moments in their company proved Georgiana’s assertions to be true.

“So, you are the new Darcy family,” said a woman with a distinct air of haughtiness who had been introduced as Amelia Howard, the baroness of Harcourt.

“Indeed, we are, your ladyship,” said Elizabeth. William, though he was standing by her side, did nothing more than nod, allowing Elizabeth to take the lead as they had often done since coming to London.

A sniff was the woman’s response, and by her side, her daughter Adele stood, attempting to stare holes through Elizabeth. “That is curious, indeed, for I was not aware of an entail on Pemberley. I might have thought Georgiana would inherit.”

“It was not unknown to me, of course,” said William, “as I was the heir. I never thought to inherit, and certainly not because of tragedy.”

“A genuine tragedy to be certain,” agreed Lady Amelia.

“Had Darcy not met his unfortunate end, my Adele would have become the estate’s mistress.

” The lady looked down her nose at Elizabeth.

“You appear to be a capable sort of woman. If you follow our example, you may uphold the position to which you have risen with credit.”

Though he did not indicate his opinion, Elizabeth could sense William’s displeasure from the stiffening of his form. For Elizabeth’s part, the woman’s superciliousness was nothing less than diverting, though she was curious about Lady Amelia’s assertion.

“If you will excuse me, Lady Amelia, I am quite curious about the former Mr. Darcy and your daughter. Lady Catherine de Bourgh was most insistent that Mr. Darcy was engaged to her daughter.”

Lady Amelia sniffed with disdain. “Catherine sees what she wishes and allows no one to gainsay her, but anyone with eyes could see that he did not favor Anne. Anyone with eyes must acknowledge that Adele is far superior to Anne in every way that matters.” The lady paused and though her manner appeared grudging, she said: “Except in the matter of inheritance, of course. Anne’s inheritance is Rosings Park.

“Had Darcy not perished, I am certain he would have proposed before the end of the season. Had I not thought Adele would be lowering herself, I might have explored a connection with your husband.”

“Then it is well you rejected the notion,” said William, unable to remain silent. “My engagement to Elizabeth was already a year’s duration by the time I inherited Pemberley; nothing would have convinced me to end it, as Lady Catherine discovered to her detriment.”

Lady Amelia sniffed with disdain, but she did not respond.

What Adele thought of this was not apparent, for her expression did not change, though she appeared to be assessing William as if he were a side of beef.

The self-congratulations and arrogance were almost thick enough to cut with a knife, and the Howard ladies were beyond endurance.

Elizabeth would avoid them in the future, and she could not suppose they wished to uphold any sort of acquaintance.