“Isthatwhat is wrong?” said Jane. “Lizzy, I could not fathomwhatwas amiss with you, but you did not appear to be in love with the man. You looked quite ill.”
“How wonderful, instead of betraying my feelings, I only managed to look sick and deranged,” Elizabeth giggled strangely.
“Lizzy, this is not like you.” Jane put her hand over Elizabeth’s on the railing. “What have I missed?”
“He is very nearly perfect, Jane.” Elizabeth averted her gaze. “He is the man who, in intellect and temperament, would most suit me.”
“Nearly perfect?” Jane’s eyebrows raised. “Lizzy, It is unlike you to be so interested in someone so distinctly unpleasant. I hope you do not believe that his wealth would make you happy, when he is such a disagreeable person. He has scarcely spoken to anyone since he arrived.”
“It is him being unpleasant and unkind that I refuse to believe,” Elizabeth objected. “And his wealth is likely the cause of his behaviour rather than the cause of my feelings. Consider how rich he is, Jane. Can you truly believe that his standoffish behaviour does not stem from a desire to protect himself from those like Aurelia Winslow? Think of all Mr Bingley told you of him. His parents died when he was young. He has had the burden of an enormous estate since he was a young man. Looking after the servants, and the well being of so many tenants, not to mention he has raised his sister alone since she was a tender age, and look at what a delightful girl she is. How could he not be serious? Life is a serious business for a man like him. Look at how Miss Winslow throws herself at him. I bet a man like him, everyone wants something from him; marriage, money, connections. I am certain nearly every person he has met since he left university has tried to manipulate or use him in some way. How could he not be guarded and reserved? Look at what you and I have endured since ourfortunes changed, and tell me that if they were multiplied ten times over, that it would not make you a very guarded person.”
“It is not often a lady wishes a gentleman was not wealthy. Lizzy, you are not making sense,” Jane tried to reason with her.
“He istoo eligible, Jane! Too far above me,” Elizabeth said. “That is why our host warned us away from him. Ten thousand a year and very likely more! I might as well fall in love with one of the crown princes, for all the good it might do me. Two or three thousand a year would be perfection indeed. Oh I am kidding myself, for a man such as he, I would learn to cook and scrub floors; instead, I must remind myself not to fall in love each time I see him, because the matter is hopeless.”
“Without his wealth, he would hardly be the same person,” Jane pointed out sensibly.
“Perhaps it is true that he may have found fewer opportunities for education and knowledge, perhaps his experience of the world might be less extensive, but I believe we all possess particular qualities that remain the same no matter our background. Perhaps he would be more open, protecting himself less from society. But his inquisitive nature, his character, which I sense to be honourable and good, would be the same. Do you believe that if we had great wealth, that you or I would be drastically altered? Our education might have given us more refinement, but I believe we would be the same in essentials.”
“Lizzy, I have never seen you like this before. It is so out of character for you to create such an imprudent attachment.”
“It is certainly not an attachment, Jane, nor will it ever resemble one. It is only admiration. And it is no matter,” Elizabeth insisted, “He is not for me, and I am not formed for melancholy. I will mope for a time, but I'm sure I shall rally. But I will always remember him as the most intelligent – no – the mostinterestingman of my acquaintance. I will pray for him. I will pray that the detestable Miss Winslows of the world never catch him. That when he does choose a wife, that she is someone happy and kind. Someone who can help him with his burdens, and make him smile.”
On the otherside of the door, Darcy leaned his head against the faded wallpaper. He had intended to follow Miss Elizabeth outside, for Miss Bennet was correct, shehadlooked ill, but then her sister had reached her first. Rather than suffering from illness, Elizabeth was instead struggling with her feelings. Feelings forhim.
He turned and saw his godmother behind him, clearly having overheard the same conversation. “I have heard of many wishes that ladies have entertained in your quarter, Godson, but never have I heard of one wishing youless wealthyso that you might be more attainable as aperson.”
Not knowing how to respond, Darcy turned away and made to leave his godmother when she spoke again, causing him to pause. “I believe, Fitzwilliam, that you have met the lady who, in intellect and temperament, would most suit you. Your mother would be overjoyed.”
CHAPTER 29
Two weeks after arriving in Glastonbury, leaving aside his confusing ruminations about Elizabeth Bennet, Darcy was in a foul mood for other reasons. He had expected his aunt’s tenants to lay down immediately once a powerful man turned up to end their shenanigans. Some of them had given her trouble before, shortly after her husband died ten years ago. His father sent him to manage the problem, and though he was not yet out of university, the farmers immediately ceased their nonsense once they learned that Mrs Darlington was not without protection.
This time, the farmers held their ground. Over the years, Mrs Darlington had taken on a number of new tenants, so these were not the same men who had been loyal to Mr Darlington. Some of them were the sons of those men, others were new families entirely, but what mattered was that the rents were overdue, and the men knew that their landlady needed the funds, hence them attempting to get their way before they paid her anything. Darcy had warned them that they were in danger of losing their leases and in breach of their contracts. He reminded them they had families to feed and attempting to squeeze the landowner that owned their land was a dangerous gamble.
The men were willing to risk it, uncaring that there were six of them creating trouble over boundaries and the best fields, and that there was simply no way to please them all. They seemed to believe that just because their landowner was a woman, they could demand the best fields or refuse to pay. Fences were ripped down, crops had been damaged by loose cattle, and fights had broken out between families over the damages. Mrs Darlington acted as her own steward for years, but unfortunately, these men refused to be cowed by a woman and were disrespectful in the extreme, expecting that if they held out long enough on the rents, that she would be weak and desperate to negotiate with them.
One of the tenants was actually attempting to take over land that Mrs Darlington did not even own. The field in question was over the border, belonging to Folly Farm. The magistrate had never forgiven Mrs Darlington for changing the name of her estate to something so silly and whimsical, and so the man was no help. Darcy sent for a group of land surveyors to confirm what they already knew, and if the men had not paid their rents by the time the surveyor report was ready, they would be evicted for breach of their leases. When they were removed from their houses, the bailiffs would be present, for the men had not paid last quarter’s rents either, and if they did not pay what they owed before leaving, the men would be taken in for debt. Then labourers would have to be brought in from local villages to harvest the crops that were left behind.
It seemed extreme and cruel, but in truth, Darcy felt no sympathy for the farmers. He had no doubt they could all afford to pay. There had been no hardship on the estate that was not caused by the farmers themselves. The greedy men all wanted more than their share of the fields, and because there was no man in the house and no steward, they felt empowered to manipulate an older woman that they believed was unprotected. They would pay what was owed to avoid being arrested, and they would have to move on with their families. It was unfortunate for the innocent wives and children, but sadly unavoidable. Darcy had sent for a great number of men from his estate. Mrs. Reynolds sent footmen who could be spared, grooms,even the strapping sons of some tenant farmers, to help keep matters from getting out of hand. He was going to have to speak to his godmother about finally hiring a steward. It was an expense, but far easier than finding new tenants, which Darcy was already in the process of doing.
Bingley tended to ride out with him each morning to ensure that the tenants were not causing any further damage, but the rest of his time was spent in pursuit of Miss Bennet. Darcy had made his sentiments known on the subject several times. The lady was quiet, although she seemed pleased by Bingley’s company. In the evenings after dinner when the men were sharing port and cigars, Darcy learned from the other gentlemen that Miss Bennet had been polite to the others before Bingley came, but that she had not singled any man out with such pleasure at their society. Darcy could not but presume that her attraction to his friend might be sincere. Darcy wished he could paint her as a fortune hunter, but the lady stood to inherit an estate herself, even if it was only two thousand a year, it was a generous portion for a woman.
“I have no particular objection to the lady, Bingley, but it is not why we came here,” said Darcy to his friend. “You came to learn about estate disputes, and she is here to find a husband.”
“Darcy, I know you do not think I am serious, but Miss Bennet is an angel,” insisted Bingley. “I have never met anyone like her before.”
“Bingley, you have met an angel every season in town, sometimes two, and on every visit to every village that we have made since we met.” Darcy rolled his eyes as their horses picked their way down the lane. “Each time, you swear it is different.”
“Your aunt does not seem to mind.” Bingley grinned at him.
“My aunt is too generous,” said Darcy. “You are throwing off her numbers. Now there are too many gentlemen and not enough ladies. You are stealing a potential wife from a man who paid to come here to meet one.”
“Well they do not all leave married, your aunt said so,” reasoned Bingley. “Even if I had never come, it does not stand to reason that Miss Bennet would have chosen one of these men. She may have stillgone home unmarried. Do you think I should pay your aunt her fee if I am to court one of her guests? I do not wish to be unfair to her.”
“No, I do not think you should lower yourself to pay an exorbitant fee to court a woman. And Miss Bennet is going home unmarried anyway, Bingley,” sighed Darcy.
“Why is that?” asked Bingley, pulling up his horse.
