Chapter 14
Darcy saw no point in delay. Once the plans to induce Mrs Bennet to tell the truth were established, he set out for London within a week. A brief delay had been required, for the Bingleys had accepted his invitation to join him in Town, and had some outstanding obligations to fulfil. He was unsurprised by their acceptance. Caroline Bingley would wish to be anywhere he was, and little inclined as Bingley was to leave the environs of Miss Bennet, he seemed to think it his duty to go with his friend.
Once arrived, Caroline Bingley seemed to think she had made a good bargain, for both the Bingleys had been included in this evening’s invitation in his aunt and uncle’s London townhouse. Darcy sometimes forgot that the Earl and Countess of Matlock were considered a coveted invitation in London circles, but the first glimpse of glittering ambition in Miss Bingley’s eyes had quickly reminded him. Thankfully, she was well down the table from him. The Bingley siblings had been seated beside each other, opposite Colonel Fitzwilliam and Cousin Harriett.
If Miss Bingley’s social ambition had been unpleasant to witness, it at least had the effect of improving her manners. Though, Darcy thought, she had seemed in better spirits since leaving Netherfield. Gone were her touches of ill-humour, and she joined in the conversation with the rest of the company without any unpleasant barbs. Likely, she saw this as an opportunity to raise herself in Darcy’s sights, now that he was not in Elizabeth’s reach.
But if Caroline Bingley hoped that distance would provide forgetfulness, she was doomed to disappointment. He found his mind frequently wandering to Elizabeth. What was she doing now? How was she faring with her plan to bring her mother’s actions to light, if indeed, there were any actions to bring to light?
“Darcy, what on earth are you thinking about?” the Countess asked.“You have been staring away blankly at the wall for at least a quarter of an hour.” His aunt laughed.“I should not like to think that we are boring you.”
Darcy snapped back to reality, wishing his aunt had handled his inattention more discretely, without airing it before all the company. Indeed, they had all turned their attention on him, curious as to what he had been thinking, no doubt.“Forgive me, Aunt. I would never want to give the impression that I was bored. I was only lost in thought.”
“Thinking about his pretty fiancée, no doubt,” the Earl interjected with a mischievous grin.“Tell us, Darcy, is she as scintillating as Mr Bingley has told us?”
Darcy’s mouth grew dry as everyone continued to stare, including Miss Bingley. To judge by the sour look on her face, her ill humour had returned with the first mention of Elizabeth.
He sighed briefly. Darcy wished his engagement had not been brought up. But now that it had, he could not refuse to speak of his fiancée. That would hardly give the right idea.“Indeed, she is. I have never known a woman with such amiable wit, or such sparkling eyes.”
Though he had thought Miss Bingley could not have looked more displeased, it seemed he had been wrong.
“How suddenly it all came about! But we are happy for you, Darcy, my dear boy. I cannot say the same for my sister, sadly. Although I am not sure if Lady Catherine has heard of the engagement yet. Unless you have written to her?” his aunt asked.
“I have not broken the news to her yet,” Darcy admitted. Indeed, he was quite hesitant to do so, for he knew she would be sorely disappointed. Perhaps he had better wait until the wedding was over and there was no recourse before alerting Aunt Catherine to the news. Given her temperament and need for control, it was all too likely that she would try to stop the affair.
And he found he did not want anyone to stop the wedding from going forward. The more time he spent with Elizabeth, the more he was convinced she would be an excellent partner for his future life. She had shown him she did not lack in any area that really counted. She was not perfect, by any means, but he had been beyond impressed that she had humbled herself and come to apologise to him — in person — and that she had not been willing to go forward with the engagement until they knew whether her mother had anything to do with the plot to compromise them.
“Is she of good family?” His aunt went on.“Of course, we can only assume that she is, if you have chosen her. I only mean, do we know of them?”
“Her father is a country gentleman,” Darcy began.“She has four sisters, one elder, and three younger. More importantly, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is well-read, witty, and attentive to the feelings of others. I believe she will make a fine wife.” Darcy caught his breath, surprised that he had said so much. He had only intended to turn the subject before talk of the scandal could arise, but he found he meant every word of his speech. Thankfully, word of the compromise had not seemed to reach London. With luck, no one need know that their marriage had a rather scandalous inception, one that many of his family would have urged him to escape.
Well, Darcy did not want to escape.
“She must be quite something, if you feel the need to obtain a special license,” his aunt said, raising her glass as if to toast him.“My dear nephew, I never thought to see you so impatient. It must be love!”
Darcy could hardly speak for the rest of the dinner. Miss Bingley, too, kept her mouth shut, which he counted a blessing. Bingley had more than enough words for the three of them, and he kept the conversation light and jovial for the rest of the evening.
When it was time to go home, his aunt and uncle saw them to the door.“We are having a ball in a few days’ time. We hope you will all join us,” his uncle said as he bowed to say their farewells.
“How kind,” Mr Bingley said. “We should be delighted to attend.”
Darcy answered in the affirmative as well before entering his carriage. It was a relief when the coach stopped at the Bingley townhouse and they disembarked, leaving him to carry on alone. He was in a pensive mood, trying to sort out his true feelings toward his fiancée. Was it love, as his aunt had exclaimed at the dinner table? Surely not. He had always prided himself on knowing his own mind. But lately, he seemed to be in a jumble, with his heart taking over his head. It was an entirely new sensation, and one Darcy did not think he much cared for.
He would do best to put the matter entirely from his mind, to clear his head. Darcy resolved to spend the next day on matters of business. In any case, he ought to go by the jeweller’s. It was time to check in on the piece he was having made for Georgiana’s next birthday. If all had gone well, it should be complete, or nearly so.
The next day started out promisingly. The shopkeeper greeted him warmly and brought out the locket that he had designed especially for Georgiana, completed perfectly on schedule. He had hoped it would bring her some joy. Darcy had had a miniature of their mother done by one of his friends in Town, and it would go inside the locket, for his sister to keep near her heart always. Georgiana had not known their mother, poor girl. But he had tried his best to keep her memory alive by telling stories of the beautiful, gentle-spirited woman who had loved them with all her heart.
“Does it please you, sir?” the jeweller asked.“See the filigree on the back here?” He turned the piece over and showed the delicate design of flowers and leaves that curled up around the edges of the locket.
“It is exquisite,” Darcy replied with a smile.“My sister will love it.”
“Very good, sir. Well, if there is nothing else, I will package this for you,” he said. He put the locket right side up, set it in the velvet-covered box, and started wrapping the package in brown paper.
Darcy walked around the shop as he waited. Suddenly, an emerald necklace caught his eye. The central emerald was a large, rectangle cut stone, a perfect gem that soaked up the morning sunlight and sent in dancing back in a thousand flashes of light.
It would be perfect for Elizabeth.
Darcy stopped, leaning down to take a closer look. The gems gleamed in the sunlight pouring through the large glass windows, making the light sparkle and dance. Impressive as it was, it was not gaudy, but had a simple, unassuming beauty — just like his fiancée. He was being foolish, of course. The best present he could give Elizabeth was her reputation, and her freedom.
