Page 62 of Conundrums & Coincidences

Grateful that Messrs Bingley, Hurst, and Hadley were too occupied with greetings and welcomes and being seated to have heard Lydia’s remarks, Elizabeth warmly acknowledged Mr Darcy. Then, speaking barely above a whisper, she said, “Do you have any notion what Lydia just alluded to?”

“I shall tell you whenever we have a private moment. In the meantime…” From behind his back, Mr Darcy brought forth and presented to her a posy of crimson and yellow. “I picked this bouquet of wildflowers for you myself. I noticed them in a meadow on my way to Meryton earlier today. I was there delivering…messages. I see that, providentially, the yellow ones match the gown you wear.”

From those flowers, Elizabeth surreptitiously brushed off two ants and trod upon them with her slipper. “Thank you. Common cow-wheat looks lovely with the great burnet. But how odd you should go about our neighbourhood delivering messages. Could you not have relegated such tasks to Netherfield’s errand boy?”

For a second or two, his eyes widened with what seemed to be alarm. “Ah. Yes. But as I already had calls to make”—his look of disquiet was back—“I decided to kill two birds with one stone.”

While frowning at him in puzzlement, Elizabeth noticed Mr Darcy swallowing so hard that she suspected he might have the aforementioned stone lodged in his throat. “Calls to make? You? In Meryton? How very…” Unlike you. “Mysterious.”

Mrs Bennet bustled over. “Lizzy, why are you lingering about holding weeds? I assure you, Mr Darcy, that all my daughters know better than to keep guests standing in the doorway. How unfortunate that Mr Bingley’s sisters both should be indisposed at the same time! But believe me, with five daughters unmarried, I know how horrid headaches can be. Of course, soon you will take our Lizzy away. And I fully expect another offer of marriage soon will occur.” A pointed look was directed towards Jane and Mr Bingley, who sat with their heads together speaking quietly to one another. “What congratulations will then flow in! And have I told you, sir, about my⁠—”

“Mama, let us not keep our guest standing here. Apparently, he has been traipsing about Meryton all day.”

“Oh! Do come in, Mr Darcy, and rest your weary feet. Dinner soon will be served.”

Indeed, dinner was announced almost immediately. And during the first course, Lydia said, “Afterwards we all should play Musical Magic. What a laugh we had while doing so in Brighton! My Wick— Um… One of the officer’s tasks was to remove my locket and fasten it round Colonel Forster’s neck. But it would not fit, for Harriet’s husband has such a fat—” Having placed a hand at her own neck, Lydia gasped. “Oh Lord! Wick— The officer quite forgot to return my locket. Papa,” she said, as she leant across in front of Miss Darcy, “we all must go to Brighton and retrieve my necklace. Then we must stay there for the remainder of the summer.”

“Aunt Philips is sure the salt water and air would do me a great deal of good.” Kitty added a little cough for good measure.

“Have you both forgotten,” said their father, “that we have a wedding to attend on the eleventh of July?”

To everyone’s surprise, Mr Bingley stood and cleared his throat. With all eyes upon him and everyone silent, he said, “Weddings. Plural. I have asked for Miss Bennet’s hand in marriage, and I am elated to announce that she has agreed to be my wife.”

With lively emotion, Jane nodded and declared herself the happiest creature in the world; and the endearing smiles of the betrothed couple soon had everyone else grinning.

Mrs Bennet’s prediction had come true. Congratulations flowed forth and were received with sincere warmth and delight. Copious amounts of wine also flowed forth, and toasts were made to both happy couples.

Even Mr Hurst raised a glass to them. Then he raised a glass to his hostess and said her venison was roasted to a turn. “Never have I seen such a fat haunch as yours, madam.”

Perhaps Mr Hurst has ingested a bit too much wine.

When the happy babble subsided to a dull roar and everyone focused on their plates, Elizabeth looked round the table and saw Kitty was in particularly good spirits. Is it the wine or…

Earlier in the day, Kitty had expressed an interest in Mr Hadley, and the attraction seemed mutual.

Obviously smitten, he listened with rapt attention to every word she uttered; and rarely had the young man, directly across from the object of his admiration, taken his eyes from her during the two courses. In fact, Elizabeth had to stifle a grin and pretend she had not witnessed the moment Mr Hadley missed his mouth. Is not stabbing one’s chin with a fork the very essence of infatuation? Perhaps I, too, have had too much wine.

Prior to winning an inheritance, Elizabeth had imagined Mary, Kitty, and Lydia would marry men in a profession—the clergy, military, or law. But soon all her sisters would have ten-thousand-pound dowries.

Might they do better than one such as Mr Hadley? Good heavens! Has wealth robbed me of my senses? Am I becoming like Papa? If it was proved that Kitty and Mr Hadley loved one another and that he easily could support a wife and children, then she would be happy for them.

While Elizabeth had been wool-gathering, the topic of after-dinner entertainment evidently had been reconsidered. It had been agreed that once the gentlemen had enjoyed their port, they would join the ladies in the drawing room where anyone who wished to do so could exhibit on the square Broadwood pianoforte.

I suppose the instrument is not as grand as Miss Darcy is accustomed to, but it does have a damper and more keys than the one the Gouldings have at Haye-Park.

As the least proficient of those exhibiting, Kitty went first and softly sang ‘The Soldier’s Adieu’ while Mary accompanied her on the pianoforte.

That performance was followed by Elizabeth’s rousing rendition of ‘Old Maid in the Garret’. Sitting then beside Mr Darcy while Mary performed a concerto, she was rewarded by the touch of his bare fingers upon her wrist. She closed her eyes, savouring the sensation. Can he feel my pulse race? Is it wrong to crave more?

After a bit of coaxing, Miss Darcy agreed to take a turn at the instrument. Her audience sat in silent awe until she gracefully lifted her fingers from the keys. Then, with everyone applauding her exemplary performance of a Haydn sonata, she quickly moved away from the pianoforte and sat blushing on her brother’s other side.

Elizabeth noted how he gave his sister’s hand a gentle squeeze and whispered words of pride and appreciation for her courage, talent, and grace. He is such a loving brother. And beau! And what an excellent father he will be.

Just as she was about to slide her palm beneath his, he was approached by Mr Bingley, who requested a private word. As they quietly spoke across the room, she became increasingly suspicious, particularly when they kept stealing glances at her.

“Miss Darcy, is there some problem of which I should be made aware?”

“Oh no! I mean… There is nothing of which you should be aware.” Blushing again, Miss Darcy seemed inordinately eager to change the subject. “Since we soon are to become sisters, please call me Georgiana. Lydia already does.”