Page 124 of The Mistress of All & Torn

“Well, do not distress yourselves. I am pretty sure I shall not live to reach old age—perhaps not even until next Christmas. One more proof of my misery cannot pain you too much.”

“Philip, please!” his grandmother attempted again. “You promised,” she whispered.

“Yes, yes. I apologise. I forgot myself, as usual. I understand how daunting a task it must be for you to find anyone willing to join us for dinner. Poor Mr Banfield cannot refuse you, since he cannot afford to lose you as his client. And you, Mr Gardiner? Do you work with Mr Banfield?”

“Yes, I do have that pleasure.”

“Mr Gardiner is a very skilful businessman. He not only has great knowledge of trade but also of commercial law. He has worked as a solicitor too,” Mr Banfield explained.

“Oh, I see. So I assume he is interested in gaining my grandmother’s favour too. And he has brought his family here tonight.”

“Philip! Enough!” Lady Kendal demanded. But the earl waved his hand to dismiss her.

“I know my grandmother is trying to keep me entertained to the end, so she brings different acquaintances to amuse me. And there is always a young, unmarried woman amongst them. What she forgets is that I am not able to amuse or to entertain anyone and even less a woman. And still, several heiresses in town are more than willing to attach themselves to me. I am the perfect husband, you know—horribly rich and dying.”

“Philip, please! Why do you insist on making everyone miserable?”

“Yes, let us have a pleasant evening. I am sure it will be a singular encounter anyway. Usually, people are appalled to see me once and never repeat the experience. Unless they are young ladies forced by their mothers to try to gain my attention.”

He looked around, and Elizabeth met his glare for a moment. She could not resist raising her eyebrow in challenge. He averted his eyes and commanded the servant, “Pour me some brandy!”

“But…”

“Brandy! Now!”

He took the glass with trembling hands and tried to gulp it but spilt some. He angrily wiped his mouth.

By the time the second course was served, Jane, Mrs Gardiner, and Mrs Banfield were all distraught. The gentlemen were trying to find a subject of interest but could only praise the food and talk about the storm.

“Miss Bennet, are you enjoying London?” Lord Alveston asked her.

Surprised, she gazed at him.

“Very much.”

“Do you live with your sister or with your aunt?”

“I am spoilt enough to be able to move between the two.”

“Are you about to marry too?”

“Not at all,” she responded with amusement.

“That is quite peculiar. I thought it was the purpose of every young woman to marry. Preferably to marry a very wealthy husband, as wealthy as possible.”

“I might be considered peculiar, or you might not know enough women. For the time being, I am pleased to see my sister and her husband happily married. I doubt I could find a man as good as my brother-in-law, so I would rather not settle for less,” she jested, smiling at Jane and Charles.

“That is quite interesting to hear. But perhaps you are right. Marriage and children are such a small satisfaction in life, so easy to achieve for any savage yet so difficult to accomplish for some others,” the earl concluded, gulping more brandy.

“Miss Bennet, I confess I am enjoying your company. In the last two months, I have been visited by several beautiful young ladies. Most of them more beautiful than you and with a much better situation in life but with less spirit.”

His statement, although it was dressed up as a compliment, was rude; everybody exchanged worried looks while Lady Kendal appeared desperate.

“Well, I am relieved that my spirit excels where my beauty lacks,” Elizabeth laughed. She was equally diverted and angry. Suddenly she remembered her reaction to Darcy’s rude remarks and shivers shook her body. To him, she had always reacted more intensely.

The earl’s comment about her average beauty did not affect her in the slightest. It was instead his impertinent tone that bothered her.

Lord Alveston laughed.