Page 75 of The Shades of Pemberley
Or perhaps this was not the best development, for even a few days in London was not enough to convince Bennet of the wisdom of taking part in much society.
Then again, if Mrs. Bennet had developed a taste for such things, Bennet knew she would be well in the countess’s company, or even that of her daughters.
Such things would not interrupt Bennet’s enjoyment of Darcy’s library, so he decided it was nothing to indulge his wife.
THE EVENING AT THE theater went about as one might expect.
The Darcy and Bennet families were the subject of much curiosity, and a few of the more influential approached either for introductions or to expand existing acquaintances.
Among those who did so were those such as Lord Winchester, who continued his good behavior, speaking with the earl and Fitzwilliam, and then Elizabeth and Darcy with perfect composure and no clear ulterior motives.
“Look at them,” said Elizabeth, laughter in her tone. “The way they watch us, one might think we were wild beasts in the menagerie, displayed for all to see.”
Darcy turned a grin on his wife. “Do you not suppose that to them we are akin to unfathomable creatures?”
“Perhaps we are,” agreed Elizabeth. “I hope, however, that we are giving a better account of ourselves than that.”
“Anyone who cannot see your worth and appreciate it is not only not worth our time, but blind in the bargain.”
“Still colored by the eyes of love, I see,” said Elizabeth, contentment radiating from her.
“Always, my love,” replied Darcy, raising her hand to his lips. “Always.”
Their little intimate moment did not go unnoticed by the onlookers, such that there was an explosion of whispering in response.
Darcy cared not a jot, for all that he rarely appreciated being the focus of attention.
If others saw his devotion and her returning regard, perhaps it would warn them from inappropriate behavior such as that displayed by the detestable Douglas.
“I think, William,” said the countess in a low tone, approaching them a few moments after their interlude, “that nothing you could have calculated to show the masses would have been more effective than what you just did.”
“Do you not suppose they will deplore us for being so unfashionable?” asked Elizabeth, mirth in her tone.
“Perhaps some will,” agreed Lady Susan, “for many see marriage as nothing so much as a business transaction. Most, however, will respect you for the obvious display you just made.”
“That was my opinion too,” replied Darcy.
“Do not hesitate to show it,” said the countess, fixing them both with genuine affection.
“The more you display your loyalty to each other and your ability to move among them without difficulty, the better your acceptance will be.” The countess paused and shook her head.
“I do not know what Winchester means by approaching you, but his obvious approbation will not do you any harm, for all that his reputation is not the best.”
“I have heard of him, too,” mused Darcy. “Yet he has been nothing but friendly and respectful.”
“He did not even attempt to seduce me,” added Elizabeth with a bit of mischief.
“Then it would be best to accept his overtures so long as his behavior remains unchanged.”
Darcy agreed, and soon the countess drifted away to speak to Mrs. Bennet. At the earl’s invitation, Bingley and his sisters and brother-in-law were also in attendance, and they were of much more interest to Darcy than anyone else.
“Bingley,” said Darcy in greeting when his friend appeared. “I have seen little of you of late.”
Bingley laughed, in true Bingley fashion. “I hope you do not begrudge my recent absence.”
“As my sister is glowing, I shall not complain.”
“Oh, aye, Jane has been most delightfully easy to tease,” said Elizabeth, stepping forward and greeting Bingley, allowing him to bow over her hand. “And how is your family, Mr. Bingley?”
“All very well,” replied he with a grin. “I hope you do not mind, for Caroline has been speaking of her desire to be in your company again, Mrs. Darcy.”
Proving her excellent nature, Elizabeth nodded with a wide smile. “I am eager to greet her again, Mr. Bingley. If you will excuse me.”
As Darcy watched her retreat to where Miss Bingley stood with the Hursts, engaging in an affectionate greeting and allowing the introduction to the couple she had not yet met, Darcy noted that Bingley watched the welcome as closely as Darcy did himself.
Then Bingley turned back, his expression containing no little wryness.
“I have said it before, Darcy, but you have married a most excellent woman. To accept my sister as she has after Caroline’s provocation is more than I might have expected of even a woman with an exceptional disposition.”
“You will receive no argument from me, Bingley,” agreed Darcy, not removing his eyes from his wife. “Any man who gains her favor must be the most fortunate alive—as I am the fortunate recipient of that regard, my happiness is complete.”
“Besotted is not a word most of our friends would attribute to you, but I believe it fits you rather well.” Bingley grinned. “But I must disabuse you of one thing, for I quite consider Miss Bennet to be her superior, though I mean no slight against your admirable wife.”
“If you wish to persist in that delusion,” jested Darcy in return, “I have no objection.”
“Yes, I shall. Now, if you will excuse me, I shall join the best woman of my acquaintance.”
Jane Bennet’s rosy hue as Bingley approached and kissed her hand spoke volumes as to her regard for him, rendering Darcy content.
Matters were proceeding between them with as much promise as they had shown on that January morning when he and Elizabeth had introduced them.
That Darcy would now add the title “brother” to his dearest friend was nothing less than welcome.
After the performance, the family retired to Lord Matlock’s house, where they partook of the late dinner.
As the family sat together in animated conversation, Darcy noted how even Lydia Bennet, she who craved balls and parties, chattered with the other girls of the spectacle and how much she had enjoyed it.
Darcy suspected the girl had looked at promises of age-appropriate activities as a sop to prevent her complaints.
Now, however, having experienced some of it, Darcy suspected she now saw some contentment and perhaps even anticipation while she waited to come out.
That did not mean the final year, especially, would not be a trial on her patience, but it made the possibility of enduring her displeasure easier.
The excitement of the night happened after their return to Darcy’s house.
It was late after the amusements of the theater and the dinner following, such that when the family returned home, everyone sought their beds at once.
Darcy spoke briefly with the butler when they arrived, but there was nothing amiss.
This all changed perhaps three hours after they retired.
A shout woke Darcy from a deep sleep, and Elizabeth, ensconced in the circle of his arms, also started at the sudden sound.
Darcy lifted his head from the pillow, and the sounds of other disturbance, followed by the pounding of feet on the tiles of the hall, audible even behind the stout bedroom and sitting-room doors, reached his ears. The commotion was unmistakable.
At once, Darcy leaned down and kissed the top of Elizabeth’s head. “Wait here while I investigate, Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth rose to a sitting position, the sheets of their bed falling about her midsection, the sleep-disturbed plait of hair allowing loose curls to escape their bands, the moon shining in through the window illuminating her like some alabaster statue.
“What is it, William?”
Darcy groaned and leaned down to kiss her lips. “You are too tempting, my dear, so much that I would prefer to remain and kiss you senseless. When I have learned what happened, I will return.”
Elizabeth offered him a seductive smile and lay down amid the tangle of blankets and sheets. “I will be waiting for you, my husband.”
With such temptations, Darcy was impatient to learn the source of the disturbance.
He took up his robe from a nearby chair and threw it over his frame, tying it at the waist as he hurried from the room and to the door to the hall beyond.
What met him beyond was most unexpected, for several footmen were moving about, still in their sleep clothes but alert, moving to different points along the house, looking for all the world like a company securing their camp.
“What has happened?” asked Darcy of a nearby man.
“Mr. Darcy,” said the man, turning to acknowledge him. “The on-duty footman found a man in the house tonight.”
Darcy frowned. “Barnes was on duty as I recall.”
The footman nodded. “Mr. Monroe is downstairs directing the staff and has sent several of us up to secure the floor. More are being stationed at every door to the house.”
Knowing this man had told him all he could, Darcy turned to find his butler, when another door opened and Mr. Bennet stepped into the hall. Darcy beckoned for him to follow him to the lower level.
“A footman found an intruder in the house,” said Darcy as he heard Bennet following him.
“An intruder?” repeated Bennet.
“So it seems, though he knew nothing more than that. Monroe is downstairs directing the men.”
Mr. Bennet nodded, not wasting time on useless questions, apprehending as Darcy did that Monroe would have more answers. Monroe, however, knew little more, though they found him with Mr. Barnes, who was better informed as the man at the center of the disturbance.
“Mr. Darcy,” greeted Monroe as he strode toward them in Bennet’s company. “I trust you heard of our intruder.”
Darcy nodded and turned to Barnes. “What do you have to report?”
“A man by the look of him,” said Barnes, his image flickering in the candlelight.
“He was prowling through the upper hall in the family wing when I saw him. It was dark, and I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Then he saw me and ran down the stairs. That is when I started rousing the house.”
“In the family wing, you say?” asked Darcy, confused. “What would a thief want in that part of the house? I might have thought he would make for the study.”
“I know not, Mr. Darcy,” said Barnes.
“Thompson has gone to check on the study,” added Monroe.
“The study was not disturbed,” said Thompson, striding up and appearing like a giant, his shadow massive in the candle’s light. “Perhaps you may wish to check for yourself, Mr. Darcy, but I noted nothing amiss.”
With a nod, Darcy beckoned to the men to follow and turned away.
As Thompson had suggested, there was nothing amiss that he could see with his study.
All the drawers were closed, the papers he had left on the desk the last time he was in the room stacked to one side, and not so much as the inkwell and quill appeared out of place.
The small safe in which the masters of the Darcy family stored their most precious items was also closed and undisturbed.
“The prowler fled?” asked Darcy when he confirmed to himself that all was well.
“He was a quick one, Mr. Darcy,” said Barnes. “Before I could even reach the top of the stairs, he fled down to the lower level and let himself out the east door.”
Darcy frowned. “That suggests a familiarity with the house.”
“That is what I thought,” agreed Monroe. “An experienced burglar might have watched to learn of the entrances and exits, and he might have planned his escape before going to the upper floor.”
“Do you know how he entered?” asked Bennet.
“Not yet,” replied Monroe. “I have sent men around to all the doors, checking windows to see if one is open. If we find nothing, then I must assume that the door through which he exited was also where he entered.”
Darcy considered this. “Could it be a former employee, a man with a grudge?”
“If it was, I cannot imagine who,” said Monroe. “There have been no employees let go for misconduct, and those who have left your employ have done so with references and for reasons other than discipline.”
“Very well,” said Darcy. “Post extra men about the house for the rest of the night. In the morning, bring in a locksmith to replace the locks. If a man is holding a grudge, he might have smuggled a key out of the house. Changing the locks will close that avenue of attack if he thinks to try again.”
“Do you suppose he will?” asked Bennet. “Now that he has aroused the house with a failed attempt, he must know we will be vigilant, at least for the next week or two.”
“You are correct,” replied Darcy, “but to own the truth, I do not know what to think. That a man would enter and penetrate the house to the upper floor is beyond my ability to fathom.”
“It will be done, Mr. Darcy,” said Monroe. “I shall see to it myself.”
Darcy thanked him and returned to his chamber, parting with Bennet at the top of the stairs and returning to Elizabeth.
His wife was still awake when he entered the room, watching him through those expressive eyes that saw everything.
As Darcy approached and laid his robe on the chair again, he could see her gaze following him as he eased into the bed beside her, the arch of her brows as she regarded him a testament to her sudden concern.
“What is it?” asked she as he took her into his arms again.
“An invader was in the hall. Barnes saw him and gave chase, but he escaped.”
“A man entered the house and made it to our hall before he was found?” demanded Elizabeth.
Darcy nodded. “Gates will post extra guards tonight, but I do not suppose a burglar will make such an attempt again, given how he has aroused us to vigilance.”
Elizabeth nodded but did not speak, instead pushing herself further into his embrace, which Darcy was not hesitant to accept.
The notion of someone entering their house angered him, but something seemed off about the entire affair.
Though Darcy had left with promises of intimacy when he returned, the lovers did nothing more than hold each other until they again fell into a slumber that was not so restful as it had been before.