Page 63 of Conundrums & Coincidences

Lydia came then and, taking one of Elizabeth’s hands and one of Georgiana’s, pulled the ladies to their feet. “We are to play Musical Magic now. Papa invited the gentlemen to join him in his library for more port, but only Mr Hurst went with him. Jane and Kitty have agreed to play, as have Mr Bingley and Mr Hadley. Lizzy, Mr Darcy says he will participate only if you are willing. Dull Mary has agreed to provide the music for us, and Simon has been summoned to arrange chairs in a circle.”

After declining and refusing to be persuaded, Georgiana said she would sit by Mrs Bennet and watch.

Perhaps realising she would be a fifth wheel amongst three ladies and three gentlemen, and although the scheme had been her idea, Lydia said, “I shall keep you company, Georgiana. It can be just as much fun to watch as to play.”

Once Mary was at the pianoforte and the chairs in place, Elizabeth—having agreed to go first—left the room, closed the door behind her, and anxiously paced while the others decided upon her task.

Mere seconds had elapsed before Simon opened the door. Failing to hide a grin, the footman said, “They are ready for you, miss.”

A faint melody from the Broadwood increased in volume as she approached the circle. By the time she reached its middle, the music had become moderately loud. Gathering courage round her like a cloak, Elizabeth stepped up to Mr Darcy. The volume increased, so she placed a quick kiss upon his cheek. The result was not only loud music but an outburst of laughter from the others. Botheration! Why did I drink more than two glasses of wine?

Colour high, she stepped over to Kitty. The melody softened, so she turned back to Mr Darcy. A crescendo.

She moved towards Jane. Softer.

Mr Darcy it is, then. Standing in front of him, she bent and kissed his hand. More laughter and loud music. What do they expect me to do? Am I to sit upon his lap? Mama is watching! I shall strangle Lydia for suggesting this game.

Elizabeth reminded herself that her courage always rose at every attempt to intimidate her.

So she tweaked the gentleman’s nose.

The Broadwood could not be heard above the uproar. Definitely too much wine with dinner. Hands raised above her head, Elizabeth surrendered.

“Lizzy,” said Jane, once her mirth was somewhat under control, “all you had to do was ruffle Mr Darcy’s hair.”

I loathe this game. “Very well, what forfeit must I pay?”

Holding his sides, Mr Bingley cried, “By Jove! I say tweak Darcy’s nose again!”

“That is not what we agreed upon,” said Kitty. “Lizzy, you now must ruffle each gentleman’s hair.”

No! Not without several more glasses of wine. Raising her eyes from the floor, she stole a glance at Mr Bingley and Mr Hadley and gulped.

Sitting in front of her, arms crossed, Mr Darcy waited with a smug, expectant expression on his face. In truth, Elizabeth very much longed to run her fingers through his hair, but not in public. Oh, hang it! She ruffled the soft, dark waves as she might have done to her little cousins Edwin and Jonathan.

Then she stepped up to the next gentleman, Jane’s future husband. Elizabeth wanted to shut her eyes during the ruffle but feared she might poke out one of Mr Bingley’s. Steeling herself, she lightly brushed her hand across the grinning gentleman’s artfully tousled, reddish-gold hair.

Finally, she moved to Mr Hadley. The young man’s leg bounced nervously, and Elizabeth did not know whom to feel sorrier for, him or herself. Taking a deep breath, she plunged her fingers towards his hair.

The instant her turquoise ring became entangled in Mr Hadley’s shock of coppery, springy curls, her father and Mr Hurst walked into the room.

Elizabeth hung her head and sighed. Please, let this be the culmination of my mortification. I cannot bear any more.

Glowering at her, Kitty nevertheless came over and helped to untangle the ring. If a few strands of coppery hair were detached from the gentleman’s scalp in the process and were secreted away in her younger sister’s pocket, Elizabeth pretended not to notice.

To cap off the evening’s entertainment, the parlour game—rather like a piece of music with a loud, powerful finale—reached its own conclusion under Mr Bennet’s strident direction.

30

REASSEMBLY

On Thursday, after receiving and answering urgent correspondence and paying a call at Longbourn—an all too brief one for his liking—Darcy returned to Netherfield relieved that Elizabeth had suffered no repercussions, particularly of her father’s doing, following the previous night’s Musical Magic.

Darcy had enjoyed that quick kiss upon his cheek, the one upon the back of his bare hand, and the hair ruffling. He could have done without the nose tweak, though. Her mortification had become his own, and he silently repented of being jealous when Elizabeth had caressed other men’s hair. It was but a mere touch, you noddy, not a caress.

Most of all he regretted that he had gone to Longbourn bearing ill tidings. Elizabeth’s disappointment had nearly been his undoing. He prayed that, later that evening, all his time, effort, and expense might mitigate some of her sadness over the forthcoming separation—one of a fortnight’s duration, longer than expected, and a distance of one hundred and thirty-eight miles.

There were estate matters to be addressed in Derbyshire, ones that could not be handled through the post. The most urgent was that Pemberley’s venerable and long-serving steward was not long for this world. Darcy wished to be home for his friend’s funeral, and Mr Ward’s nephew would require guidance while settling into the position for which his uncle had been training him.