Elizabeth smiled in excitement. “I find it delightful. It is such an imaginative prospect. It has occurred to me that a writer with a shred of artistry could write a hundred stories about such a place. My youngest sister and I often make up stories about the woman that they say lives here when we walk, for amusement, not unlike your fancy with the jewels. Before you joined me, I was imagining that the castle is inhabited by a famous opera singer, who was reviled by society after being disfigured in a fire.”
Thecomtebarked out a sudden and surprising laugh. “Let me try… Let us see… An elderly woman of foreign descent, the locals say… Hmmmm… Once a great beauty, perhaps the inhabitant of the castle was once the lover of a great king… She fled her home to save her life… Now she lives in hiding, guarding a precious secret.” He grinned at her. “How was that?”
“Very imaginative, Lydia would approve very much,” Elizabeth laughed. A snap behind her reminded her of the servants who were waiting for her to finish her exercise so they could go about their chores. “I must return to Bourne House,Monsieur; good morning to you.”
The mysterious man bowed as Elizabeth dropped a curtsey and turned back the way she came.
Darcy’s countenancewas thunderous as he descended the stairs for breakfast. His valet, Mr Winston, had fallen ill in the night, and had not the strength to rise on time to wake his master that morning. Darcy was not angry with his man, he knew Winston must be half dead to excuse shirking his duty. Darcy had woken on his own after Elizabeth had already left, dressed himself, and went to the servants’ quarters to see to his man’s welfare. Winston had a terrible fever, and was raving and delusional. It had taken three footmen to keep him in bed once the man had decided that he must get up and go about his work. The housekeeper was now plying the man with willow bark tea, and herbs from the stillroom. Darcy hoped the fever would be of short duration, and would not prove contagious.
He arrived in the breakfast room just in time to privately explain to Elizabeth how his morning had gone. Thankfully, she was not upset, and perhaps the lady might not have liked being proposed to on a walk in the rain anyway. The more he thought about it, the more he determined that it was selfish of him not to wait for a properly romantic moment. Elizabeth ought not have to settle for a mediocre proposal merely because he was impatient. He would think more upon the matter.
Darcy sat between Elizabeth and Georgiana, and listened to the ladies and gentlemen around the table make their plans for the day. Anne, Priscilla, and Caroline planned to stay at Bourne House with Lady Catherine to receive morning calls. Elizabeth, Jane, and Mary had plans to visit the shoemaker for new slippers to match the gowns they had commissioned. Georgiana and Lydia wished to visit Miss Fletcher, and practise the harp with that lady. Mrs Annesley would accompany them. They allplanned to go to the beach later in the afternoon, if the skies cleared, and enjoy the delights of sea bathing or parading on the shore, and the company of the neighbours.
Darcy and Bingley had promised that if the light rain did indeed cease, that they would give William Bennet some further instruction in the game of cricket. A match was coming up in a few weeks, and all of the gentlemen in the area had agreed to play against the local tradesmen. Such competitions were popular at seaside resorts and in country villages. The men were always keen to play, the ladies were always keen to observe and cheer, and the entire village often turned out to watch. They had started teaching him the day after they arrived in Eastbourne, and William Bennet was an unexpected prodigy of the game, the coordination of his hands and eyes not at all clumsy once he understood the rules. He had an uncanny ability when it came to watching the ball, and could even predict what direction and how far it would go before he struck it with the bat. The gentlemen were excited to have him as their secret weapon, and had committed to practising as often as possible.
After breakfast, Darcy found a quiet moment with Elizabeth in the garden as she waited for her sisters to fetch their bonnets for their outing. “I was disappointed not to have the conversation that we intended last night, and even more disappointed this morning when I woke so late. I apologise,” said Darcy, as they picked their way along the dampened path. The rain had indeed stopped, and the sun was shining beautifully. “But then after further reflection, I decided that perhaps I was being unfair. You deserve better than a hasty conversation within earshot of the entire town, or worse, one in the rain. I should not be so selfish and impatient. I will find the right moment to ask my question.”
“I ought to be hesitant to confess how much joy I might have felt to have such a conversation, even in the rain,” admittedElizabeth shyly. “I hope you will not wait too long to find the perfect time.”
“You are decided then? Are you certain of your feelings?” he asked, his heart swelling until he thought it might burst.If only she might love me as I do her, I should never ask for anything ever again.
“I am as certain of my feelings as one as inexperienced as myself could be, under the circumstances,” Elizabeth confessed. “I have sought the advice of my aunt, who shares a love match with my uncle. She tells me that though what we feel now seems like true love, it is rather the most simplistic form of love. The only thing that can make it develop intotrue love, is to unite ourselves, and set to the work of devoting ourselves to one another. My aunt says that it takes time, years of hard work and commitment to complete the abiding bond that we seek. I am keen to learn how much more I could love you, and admit to feeling rather impatient to embark upon the endeavour.”
Darcy’s heart soared. He took her hand and placed a kiss upon the inside of her wrist. “The feeling is entirely mutual, Elizabeth. I will not take too long to find the perfect moment,” he promised.
CHAPTER 33
The men left to attend to their practise, and the ladies departed in the carriages to see to their outings. At the appointed visiting hour, the usual crowd fell upon Bourne House. Mr Woodhouse arrived, without his daughter, whom he claimed was resting. Sir Albert Swinton and Lord Bexley both called and resumed courting Anne in earnest.
Anne had no interest in either gentleman since she still had no intention of marrying. She had improved her strength since her stay in Hertfordshire, but she was still by no means a strong or healthy woman. The cessation of her tonics had improved her health more than anything, but Anne would never consent to wed or bear a child. She intended to ask her cousin Richard to find a bride, bring his family to reside at Rosings Park to run it for her, and inherit upon her death. There was also the possibility of living at Pemberley or Matlock with her other relations, that is if her cousin Darcy ever wed and made it acceptable for her to live in his home. It was obvious that the day would not be long in coming.
Lord Lennox called upon Priscilla, who bore his attentions with impatience and irritation. It seemed at each visit, that the man was more interested in her father and brother than he wasin herself. He asked endless questions about her father’s injury, and whether or not he was well enough to correspond with his party regarding parliamentary meetings. Did she think he would journey to Eastbourne to visit her aunt soon, or to London for the general elections in October? Priscilla found such inquiries tedious and banal, and could not understand why the man cared. She offered to send an introductory letter to her father to open correspondence with the young earl if he wished to pepper her father with questions about his business.
Priscilla did not realise that Sir Albert and Lord Bexley were peppering Anne with similar questions, as well as pointed questions about Richard’s activities, which Anne knew even less about than her uncle’s condition. After several intrusive inquiries, Anne firmly told both men that she was not her cousin’s keeper, and had no notion of his whereabouts. The men were all of an age, and both noblemen claimed that they were only curious about the colonel’s travels since they had all parted ways at Cambridge.
Georgiana and Lydia were disappointed to find Miss Fletcher unable to receive callers. “She danced last night at the assembly, her father is rather put out with her for wasting her strength, miss,” confided the maid who answered the door. “Thecomtehas been called, and it is hoped that he will administer another elixir.”
The girls thanked the maid, and returned to their carriage. “Let us go to the confectioners, and the library, Georgie. I crave a tin of chocolate drops?1, and we can see if they have any of those prawlongs?2 you enjoyed so much last time,” said Lydia.
Georgiana agreed, and when they arrived at the library, she sent a local boy with a message to find her brother at the shore where he was practising cricket with the other men, and inform him of her change in plans. It would not do for him not to know her whereabouts, considering that Mr Wickham might be in thevicinity. Georgiana had not mentioned seeing the man to Lydia, who had not confessed to her adventure following him, so sadly, the others did not know for certain that hewaspresent, and who he was meeting with.
Georgiana perused the volumes in the library, as Lydia searched for a book her father had instructed her to read and discuss with him by correspondence, if she could find it. Mrs Annesley was engaged in a discussion with the proprietor and his wife about a novel she was looking for. Suddenly, Georgiana gave a squeak as she was grasped firmly by her arm, and dragged into a darkened corner.
“Richard!” she gasped. “I knew it was you! My brother did not believe me!”
“Darcy needs to begin taking you seriously, poppet,” Richard answered in semi-outrage. “I shall tell him so again, directly.”
“Says the man who just called me poppet,” she giggled.
“Georgie, you are old and wise enough for me to give keen attention to your every concern, but you will always be poppet to me,” her cousin said endearingly. “Even when you are an old crone with four dozen grandchildren.”
“What are you doing here?” she asked. “Brother said you were on a special assignment.”
“I amon a special assignment. I cannot tell you the nature of it, poppet, but I fear I must ask for your assistance. There are some men visiting Bourne House regularly, and I must get closer to them, in order to learn their intentions.”
“Do you mean the noblemen who are attempting to court Anne and Priscilla?” asked Georgiana. “Priscilla says they are rakes, every single one.”
“I fear they may be worse than rakes, Georgie, and I have my suspicions regarding why they have turned up here without warning, and begun to curry favour with the ladies ofour family,” explained Richard. “Do you know what they talk about?”
