“And you received a stranger without a letter of introduction?”
“Yes, and very glad that I did. She is an enchanting creature—quite beautiful with a lovely neck, and I imagine very long legs, my greatest weakness. She declared herself to be an old friend of Darcy’s, and I treated her as such. I did not speculate on their friendship, but if I had engaged in such an activity, I could easily have imagined them as being very, very close friends while in France, which makes her staying with Mrs. Conway quite interesting.”
“Antony, Will knows that you shared personal information about him with The Insider, and he was very angry. Please promise me you will never do that again.” The thought of two of Will’s romantic interests living together under the same roof would sell out the magazine as he was considered to be one of London’s most eligible bachelors.
“I can promise that quite easily, as it was more trouble than it was worth. But I was being pressed by my tailor, pun intended, and in need of ready cash. And I would like to correct the record. It is true I am guilty of telling the man from The Insider that Darcy was shortly to become engaged to Miss Montford, but my source was her brother, who assured me that the only thing left to do was to sign the marriage contract. However, I was not the source for the item about Darcy leaving Mrs. Conway’s house in the early hours of the morning. I am sure he was seen by the man from The Insider. You know he does hang about in the shadows hoping for a story. On more than one occasion, he has hailed a cab for me.”
“Maybe it would be best if we did not tell Will about Mrs. Caxton at the present time,” Anne suggested. “He does have an awful lot on his mind.”
“My lips are sealed, but since Mrs. Caxton knows so few people in London, I thought I might befriend her.” Anne frowned. “Do not concern yourself, my dear cousin, I am not at the moment inclined to take a mistress, especially one with no money. But I must admit, if money was not a consideration, I would be sending her flowers upon my arrival in London.”
Chapter 45
Although nothing new was known about Lydia, Mr. Gardiner convinced Mr. Bennet to return to Longbourn, where he could be of some comfort to his family and draw comfort from them as well. But before leaving for London, Mr. Bennet had promised that changes would be made, and he was as good as his word. When he saw Jane taking a tray up to her mother’s room, he ordered it back to the kitchen.
“Unless someone is ill, we take our meals in the dining room, and I will deliver that news to your mother myself. However, I would like you to tell her I will be visiting shortly.”
When Jane attempted to explain the fragile condition of their mother’s nerves, Mr. Bennet responded, “Your mother’s nerves have been my constant companion for more than twenty years, but we are about to part company.”
When Mr. Bennet came into the room, Mrs. Bennet pretended to be asleep, but her husband was not in the mood for games.
“I am not leaving, Fanny, so please sit up.” After a reluctant Mrs. Bennet appeared from under the covers, her husband continued. “My dear wife, I have done you a disservice all these years. You were very young when I married you, and I should have taken more care. But because I believed we would have a son to negate the entail and to see you through your old age, I went happily about my business and neglected my responsibilities as husband and father. As I am five years older than you, it is highly likely I shall die before you, and because of our financial condition, you will have to live within your means. Since you have little practice at it, as of today, we will economize, so that we might put aside as much money as possible. You will better manage the house, which means that Kitty must wear her frocks longer, and baubles are banned forthwith. There is more, but we shall discuss it in detail at another time. I look forward to dining with you this evening.”
Mrs. Bennet did come down to supper, but her presence only served to shine a light on the tension in the family. No one seemed to want to make the effort to begin a conversation, so brief statements were followed by prolonged silences. Afterwards, everyone gathered in the front parlor, where Mary and Kitty were occupied by their newfound interest in needlework, and Mrs. Bennet was knitting a shawl, something she had not done in years. After Mr. Bennet retired to his study, Jane and Lizzy went to their bedroom so that they might talk.
“How has Kitty been bearing up under the weight of all of this bad news?” Lizzy asked her sister.
“Well enough. She was fortunate in that Papa went away so quickly, as he was furious with her when he learned she knew of Lydia’s intended elopement. I do believe she regrets that she had not acted differently when she received Lydia’s letter, but I doubt it would have made any difference anyway. But no more about Kitty or Mama or Mary. We have not spoken about you and what happened at Pemberley.”
Lizzy closed her eyes and smiled at the memory. “Mr. Darcy could not have been more gracious, and we easily fell into conversation as people do who have known each other for a long time. I was deeply touched by his affection for Miss de Bourgh and the care he takes with his sister, and Pemberley quite transforms him. When we walked in the gardens, I felt as if he had shed the hard shell he puts on when he is uncomfortable with his company, as he most definitely was at the assembly and at Aunt Philips’s card parties and at Lucas Lodge,” Lizzy said, laughing. “But the Mr. Darcy I knew so well in Hertfordshire was also present. He is used to getting his own way, and he did not like it when I would not give in to him.
“I often found him looking at me, but not with that quizzical expression I had seen at Netherfield and Rosings. It was a softer look,” and Lizzy remembered their time together in the stables when he had placed his hands on her waist and had run his fingers along her cheek. She had wanted to do the same to him. Would she ever have another such opportunity?
“The night before we departed Lambton, he asked if he could come to the inn to say good-bye to me. Not having read your letter, I agreed. When he arrived, I was quite upset, and he insisted on knowing the cause. I shall never forget his response when I mentioned Wickham’s name. He stood up and stepped away from me, and the look on his face, I shall never forget. He left as quickly as civility would allow.”
“But do you think it was his intention to make another offer?”
“I am quite sure of it because of several comments he made, but I can’t imagine he would ask for my hand now, especially if Lydia marries Wickham.”
“But why should the actions of another prevent him from proposing to you? First his pride gets in the way and now this. To my mind, all obstacles to the union are self-imposed.”
“That is unfair, Jane. You forget Wickham’s designs on Miss Darcy, which would have bound his sister to a man we now know to be a seducer and debaucher.”
“No, Lizzy. I have not forgotten. But Wickham’s plan to elope with Mr. Darcy’s sister failed, and she suffered nothing greater than embarrassment. So the fact is, Mr. Wickham is a scoundrel who has successfully deceived two impressionable young ladies. One has been restored to her family, none the worse for the experience, while Lydia will be branded for years to come even if she marries. Considering how unequally people from the different classes are treated, it is best we are kept apart.”
“You are speaking like this because you are still hurting as a result of Mr. Bingley’s actions.”
“No, Lizzy. It is that I am wiser because of Mr. Bingley’s actions. Now I better understand how the world works, and I have changed because of it.”
Each day, the post was eagerly anticipated in hopes of news from London, and when Lizzy saw Mrs. Hill paying the postman, she asked her if there was a letter from Mr. Gardiner.