The ladies nodded with some understanding, at least hypothetically, since none had experienced anything remotely similar.
“Well, ladies, this feels right, and what is the point of being a powerful man if you cannot occasionally increase the right in theworld? I cannot balance all the scales, but I can put my bit on the side of right. I have two friends who may or may not suit. It is not my place to encourage or discourage—but I can help them decide for themselves.”
Anne studied him carefully. “Are you certainyouwere not adopted—in the last hour?”
Darcy laughed and tapped his forehead. Anne obliged by rapping it a few times, and the others joined in.
He returned to Ellen. “I spoke of fate. Breton will not allow me to increase his wage beyond what he deems right and proper. I have made his quarters both in London and Derbyshire as good as I can, but I need to be sneaky about it. He is the most straight-line man I know. When we were seventeen, he told me the sum he wanted to accumulate before he married—to the pound—and he started saving for that day.”
Ellen said, “That is to his credit.”
“I agree, and here fate comes into play. This very morning, I spoke with him as he saddled my horse. He casually mentioned that he had reached the figure. I asked if he had anyone he fancied, and he asked me for a favour. Bear in mind, this is a man who never asks for anything if he can help it. He does not know anyone suitable, so asked if I might keep my eyes open.”
Ellen regarded him with a bit of fire. “So, you just grabbed the first maid you happened to meet? Do you think so little of him?”
Alarmed, Darcy sat bolt upright. “No! I do not think so little of him… I think so much of you!”
“That is impossible. We have talked for a dozen minutes at best.”
Darcy leaned towards Ellen but turned abruptly. “Anne, is your memory still prodigious?”
“Of course.”
“I fail to convey my meaning to Miss Taylor. Pray, repeat what you said about me on the stairs when we were last at Rosings regarding language.”
Anne thought a moment and laughed happily. “Ellen, my cousin wants me to repeat something I said to him after he told an amusing anecdote: ‘Truly, William, I wonder if youunderstand the King's English. No wonder you scared poor Miss Bennet away!’”
Everyone gasped, and Darcy said, “Thank you, Anne—though you might have saved that last part for a few minutes. However, Miss Taylor, I am easy to misunderstand—or I must assume so as it happens regularly—so let me be clear. You are important to me. Breton is important to me. I think you might suit, hate the very sight of each other, or be entirely indifferent. If you wish to meet him, I will introduce you. If you do not, I will demur. It is up to you. There is no need to decide right now or even soon. You have my card. Write to me if you wish to meet him, or anyone else I might know, and I shall arrange it.”
Jane laughed. “My aunt will be vexed with you… again.”
Darcy chuckled. “That will put her in good company. All the finest women I know are vexed with me.”
Jane laughed softly, wondering what Lizzy would think of this Mr Darcy.
“It is time to proceed to the horsewomen, then,” he said.
“That may be best,” Anne replied.
“I should very much like to meet your Mr Breton,” Miss Taylor added.
He smiled broadly. “I shall enjoy the privilege while I can, Miss Taylor. Soon, I suspect, he will beyourMr Breton.”
Ellen coloured deeply, though it could not hide her radiant smile.
Four Horsewomen
Darcy settled into the corner where all three ladies had a good view—and an easy swing with their fans, should it prove necessary to knock some sense into him.
“You wish to know of the four horsewomen. Well, first, I must admit that I may be mad, for I sometimes see visions of people I have known as clearly as if they were standing before me. Perhaps it is a vision, or more likely it is merely memory playing a trick, because they usually repeat something they said to me in life.”
Jane leaned forward slowly and regarded him with care. “That happens to me as well. Not often, but whenever I read a letter from Lizzy, for instance, I see her and hear her voice reading. I also have visions of my aunt or my grandmother from time to time.”
Ellen added, “For me, ‘tis my ‘da, or me brother as died five years ago, but I see the same things.”
Anne added, “I always thought I might be mad, and if not, it might give my mother an excuse to commit me, so I never mentioned it.”
Darcy curiously asked, “Who do you see, Anne? I see my mother, and do not take this amiss, but I hope you do not share that habit.”
