Chapter 15
“Andy, we have been walking the paths of Hyde Park at this time for close to a month and we have yet to see the young lady who caught your eye,” William pointed out to his eldest cousin. “If this was Bingley chasing after the ghost of one of his willowy, blonde angels, then I would understand—but this is you, who I have always counted amongst the most sensible of men.”
“Do you not think I realise how unlikely the chance is that I will encounter her again?” Andrew bit back. “I am fully aware my actions are illogical.” He paused and added, “In that instant, when I stopped her from falling, I felt something. Something I have never felt before or, for that matter, since.”
William admitted, shaking his head, “I need no reminder of my ungentlemanly conduct that day. I behaved more like Aunt Cat with my wild accusations, yet we were the ones in the wrong.”
“Unlike our presumptuous aunt, you admit to your errors. When have you ever known her to do so?”
William bowed his head in thanks for his cousin’s assessment of part of his character. “You are but six and twenty, surely you have time before you need to worry about taking a wife. Aunt and Uncle are not pressuring you are they?”
“No, they are not. Mother and Father want Rich and me to find what they and your parents have, a union based onmutual love and respect. Speaking of your puppy, Bingley, are you still ducking his younger sister? She is how old, nineteen now?”
“I believe so. I have never met a woman as obtuse as that one. My parents and I have all made it very clear she will never be my wife, but it seems she hears only that which she wants to hear—much like Aunt Cat.”
“Does not the fact she has never been invited to Pemberley after she inserted herself uninvited when Bingley visited, or to Darcy House tell her something? Not to mention my parents and I will never permit the introduction to her. I am thinking you may want to make sure Bingley makes things clear to her.” Andrew scrunched his nose up like there was a bad smell as he spoke about the fortune-hunting, social climbing, shrewish harridan.
“No, she does not see a connection between the lack of invitations and her not being desirable company. It does not help that Bingley refuses to tell her I will never offer for her underanycircumstances. Mother and Father support me fully in this. If she tried to entrap me, the only one who would suffer would be her.”
“And you know you will have the full support of the Fitzwilliams and our connections behind you if it ever comes to that, do you not William?”
“Speaking of only hearing what one wants to. Do you know that regardless of how many times my parents have refused her entreaties to engage me to Anne, Aunt Cat still writes to Mother every month or so demanding such? Her letters do seem to make good kindling for the fire.”
“Lady Catty would be most gratified to hear that,” Andrew grinned. William looked at his cousin quizzically. “Youknow how she likes to be of use, do you not? By the way, she writes to Father claiming me as her future son as well.”
William let out a guffaw. “I am glad I am not her onlyoption. It seems our aunt is even more obtuse than Miss Bingley!” William paused, his face changing to a more sombre mien. “I miss Richard every day. Have you or your parents heard from him since his departure to the Peninsula?”
“No, and I would not expect to hear for some weeks, if not months. It takes long enough for post from the continent when there is no war raging. Now it is ten times worse,” Andrew opined.
“I suppose you have the right of it. I will keep praying for his safe return to us,” William said as he lifted his eyes to the heavens.
The cousins arrived at the pond—as they did each day they walked together—where the Viscount had seen his angel on earth walk away from him to meet the younger group that day. As it had been every day after, she had not been seen.
Andrew and William turned and began the walk back towards the Grosvenor Gate and the square beyond it.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Janey, was not that the man you bumped into some weeks ago?” Mary asked as she saw the two men turn and head away from the duck pond. “Also the rude one was with him, but not the officer.”
The four Bennet sisters who resided with the Gardiners were walking in Hyde Park again that morning with the two eldest Gardiner children as well as an appropriate number of escorts.
This time, they had walked along the Serpentine first and then made for the pond so the younger among them could feed the waiting ducks.
When the man had saved her from falling Jane had felt a frisson at his touch which she could not explain. As soon as he had released her it was gone. Not for the first time since that day she admonished herself that a Viscount would not be interested in the poor daughter of a country squire who lived with her tradesman uncle on Gracechurch Street near Cheapside.
Besides, instant attraction and love at first sight were the stuff of gothic romance novels, not real life. At least that is what Jane was trying to convince herself of to protect her heart.
“You may be correct, Mary,” Jane acknowledged, “however, they seem to be walking away from where we will be.”
“Lizzy should be at the Duke’s estate now, should she not be?” Mary verified.
“Unless their plans changed, I believe so,” Jane confirmed.
“How I wish we were able to visit her.” Mary saw Jane was about to interject. “I know it is for our own protection, but that does not make me miss her any less.”
“In that, we are in lockstep,” Jane agreed.
“Jane,” Mary stopped walking.
