Wickham was quiet for a moment. “What has this to do with the castle?”
“Mind your own business, damn you! Obviously, they are not landing without a reason. Do you believe that four ships, even with well over a thousand men, can successfully invade this pitiful island? Evidently, there must be a purpose! They are coming to look for something. If I wanted you to know this, you would have been told.”
“And you are certain that there is property and a reward waiting for me in France,” Wickham said, sounding dubious forthe first time with the man who had approached him months ago, claiming to be his mother’s brother.
“Nephew, I swear to you. If you assist me in returning this great treasure to the Emperor, you will be rewarded beyond all of your wildest dreams,” Huggins promised. “That is, if you can do even one thing right before the landing.”
Darcy laid his head back against the cold stone. Wickham had attempted to kill his cousin's family. What had happened? Had any of them been hurt? He recalled Huggins’ remark that not even a hair on the head of the children had been harmed, and prayed that this was true.
On Monday,Bourne House was mostly quiet. They had received a visit from the mayor and the magistrate, both contrite, and with no information about the attack or about Darcy. Arabella had still not left her rooms, she remained in her bed with her children, and refused to come out, for a ball, or for any other reason until they were to leave this awful place. Ashley believed they ought to return to Matlock, but would not send them without him, no matter how large a guard went with them, so until Darcy was found, Arabella and the boys would have to remain.
Priscilla and Georgiana made their way downstairs at breakfast, but they were subdued. Elizabeth and Lydia did not take their morning walk, all things considered, and the company around the table at Bourne House was down in the mouth as they all assembled for the morning meal.
“I still cannot believe there has been no sign of Darcy, no sign at all,” complained Bingley as he made a plate for Jane, and took a place next to her at the table.
“How could he have disappeared, quite into thin air?” Jane agreed.
Elizabeth, pale, and with dark circles under her eyes, said nothing, but considered returning to her bed when she had broken her fast. She ought not to have even come down. She could not bear the company of the others.
“I still cannot believe that we are going to the ball to dance,” said Caroline. “I do not believe I have ever felt less like dancing, not even when I first entered Meryton at that little assembly.”
“Perhapssomeof you are going to dance,” said Mary bitterly.
“Whatever do you mean, Mary?” asked Jane.
Mary, realising that all eyes were suddenly upon her, clammed up, and said, “Nothing.” She then stood and left the table, leaving her napkin by her plate.
“I wonder what on earth that was about,” Lydia said, as Elizabeth gazed after her sister and then pierced William with an intense stare. He squirmed under her scrutiny, and excused himself, following after Mary.
“I cannot believe you!”exclaimed William as he followed Mary into the garden behind the house. “ Howcanyou think of yourself at such a time!”
“Youcannot believeme?” cried Mary, feeling all of the shame her betrothed thought she should feel. “I did not lie. Theyknowthey are dancing, they have beenasked! How am I to even know how I am spending tomorrow evening? Have you bothered to speak to me at all in almost a fortnight? I have no idea if I am even to save the first for you! What if another man asks me? Am I to decline and sit out the night? Are we not dancing at all because of Mr Darcy, or are we dancing, like the others, in orderto be seen and make people think of him, as Lady Catherine wishes? You have not spoken a word of your intentions to me, so I am apparently meant to attend the ball notknowingwhat to expect!”
“When am I meant to speak to you, precisely?” asked William. “Am I meant to interrupt while you are spending half of every day talking and laughing with that man, and the rest pounding your keys as if your instrument is the only thing in the world to you?”
“I ampractising!” Mary protested. “We have both spentmonthson our self improvement, and suddenly I am wicked becauseyouare jealous of thecomte? We sit in the drawing room every night, and you have every opportunity to speak with me! You do not offer to turn my pages, you do not sit next to me, and you do not talk to me any more!”
“When am I meant to speak to you in the evening?” demanded her betrothed. “When you are performing for the attention of our company, or when they are cheering and you are enjoying your accolades?”
“Oh!” cried Mary. “Oh, you dreadful man. What sort of man prefers his bride when she is stupid and without talent? I have spent myentire lifeworking on my accomplishments, it is the only thing I am allowed, as a young gentlewoman, and when I finally have achieved the only dream I have ever had, to play well, you resent me! You are supposed to behappyfor me! You are supposed to beproudof me! All I wished for is to be good at one thing, so that you might have a wife you could be proud of! I am not hurting anybody! It is not as if I am meant to go out canvassing the town each day looking for Mr Darcy. No one chastises Lydia and Georgie for practising the harp! No one disapproves of Jane for taking up her embroidery! It is not as if I am socialising in the assembly rooms each afternoon! William,what have I done? Why do you hate me so?” She turned and fled into the house.
William felt chastised as he realised that he had been unfair to Mary. He could go out each day and do as he pleased. There were few activities that were appropriate for Mary, and the one thing she had loved all of her life, that she had dreamed of becoming proficient at, was a most appropriate activity, and itwasunfair of him to berate her for her enjoyment of it, when she had little else to occupy her time. She could have remained at home with her parents, learning in the kitchens, and helping with the tenants, for she had always been a useful woman. Instead, she had agreed to travel with him here to bring comfort and counsel when his patroness was thought to be dying, and this was how he repaid her.
When he followed her into the house, he went to the music room. He knew he would find her here. When his Mary was filled with sadness or despair, she sought solace at the pianoforte. She was not playing when he entered the room. She had her head down on her folded arms, and sobbed over the keys.
He drew close and sat next to her on the bench, and said, “I was jealous.”
Mary raised her head, hiccuping, and said, “What?”
“I was jealous!” he said again as he rose again and took a few steps away, and stood with his back to her. He took a deep breath, and then turned back around to face her. “Thecomtemade you laugh. He made you laugh here, in this room, every day. He helped you in a manner that I could not, and I was jealous. I feared that you were falling in love with him.”
“William, we arebetrothed!” said Mary, aghast. “It is the same as being married, in my view. My heart is closed to all men but you.”
“I should know that, but you are so beautiful, and he is so smart and funny, and rich, and he plays so well. How couldI compete with such male elegance?” William confessed. “And now you have perfected your talent, and your sisters are likely going to marry well, or at least Lizzy will if we find Mr Darcy, and if she does not, Jane will surely accept Mr Bingley, and what on earth do you need me for now?”
“William! I gave you my word!” said Mary, shocked by his admission. Suddenly she began to weep afresh. “What are you saying? Are you saying you do not wish to marry me any longer?”
“No! I am-” William broke off as he beheld Mary, and as she wept as though her heart would break, he saw the extent of his great error. “Mary. Would you be so kind as to reserve the first and the supper dance for me?”
