Evenings with Darcy Read online

  It was incomprehensible to him how his life had been turned upside down within a few short weeks.

  He hardly knew Elizabeth Bennet, yet he was obsessed by her.

  So yes, the sooner he was in London, the better.

  He hoped that once she was out of sight, she would finally be out of his mind. He looked forward to his life returning to its orderly, predictable state.

  ELIZABETH FOUND DECEMBER to be a grey and miserable month, with only the prospect of her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner visiting Longbourn for Christmas to make the days bearable.

  November had ended with her refusing her cousin Mr. Collins’s offer of marriage – which infuriated her mother and amused her father. And then to her amazement and concern, her dear friend Charlotte had accepted him.

  Elizabeth still could not believe it.

  Charlotte had tried to justify her decision, spouting nonsense about how she was not a romantic person and that she only wanted a comfortable home.

  Elizabeth thought it unlikely that Mr. Collins would make a comfortable husband. He was a foolish, annoying man, who flattered everyone and spoke all the time about Lady Catherine de Bourgh, his patroness. Mr. Collins was her clergyman and Elizabeth thought that the prospect of having to hear his sermons for the next forty years should have been sufficient to keep any young woman of sense from marrying him.

  But Charlotte was determined to have him and that meant that Elizabeth would miss her friendship, for Charlotte would be moving to Kent in the new year.

  And as for Jane, all the possibilities of her marrying Mr. Bingley now seemed for nought. Mr. Bingley had left for London the day after the ball with the stated intention of returning within a week.

  But he had not returned.

  Caroline Bingley soon left Netherfield as well and had written a letter to Jane implying that none of them would return to Hertfordshire until the Spring.

  Elizabeth had not wanted to believe her. Surely Mr. Bingley, who looked and acted like a man in love, would hurry back to Jane.

  But every grey day without news of his return made a mockery of her hopes.

  Jane was remarkably stoic. She said that she must have misread Mr. Bingley’s feelings for her. She thought that perhaps Miss Bingley was correct, and that Mr. Bingley might marry Mr. Darcy’s younger sister instead.

  Mrs. Bennet made matters worse by talking about Mr. Bingley every day, wondering how soon he would return.

  Elizabeth decided that she no longer liked Mr. Bingley. He had been wrong to single Jane out, to give her expectations if he would not follow through with them.

  But, she decided, if his love was fickle, it was better for Jane to learn it now, rather than after they were married.

  Elizabeth’s parents had been in love once, but that love had not lasted. Mr. Bennet had been drawn to their mother because she was pretty and lively, but after their marriage, he discovered that she was also foolish and giddy with little sense. But rather than trying to educate her, he had given up on her, choosing to be amused by her foibles.

  Fortunately for Elizabeth’s equanimity, the Gardiners came for Christmas. During their visit, Elizabeth introduced her aunt to Mr. Wickham, a charming member of the local militia, a recent acquaintance. Mr. Wickham was handsome in his red coat and quick witted. He disliked Mr. Darcy even more than Elizabeth did, for Mr. Darcy had harmed him in the past by refusing to give him a living that Mr. Darcy Senior had promised him in a will. Darcy Senior had died five years before, and the present Mr. Darcy had refused to honour his father’s bequest.

  “But why?” Elizabeth had asked. Surely the matter would have been a small, inconsequential one to a man of Darcy’s wealth. Why should he care?

  “Darcy resents me,” Wickham had explained. “We grew up together at Pemberley because my father was his father’s steward. At one time we were friends. But Darcy’s father had a tenderness for me. Preferred me. And so, when Darcy could take his revenge, he did.”

  Elizabeth was astonished. She had known Mr. Darcy was a proud man, but she had not expected him to be dishonest as well, for that was what it was. She said staunchly, “I think that is abominable.” It was just another reason for her not to like Mr. Darcy.

  When Mrs. Gardiner heard of Wickham’s circumstances, she was sympathetic, as was the entire Bennet family and indeed all of Meryton once they heard the tale, but she warned Elizabeth not to fall in love with Mr. Wickham.

  As she said, “He is a most interesting young man, to be sure, but as an army officer with no other means, he does not have sufficient fortune to support a wife.”

  Elizabeth laughed at her concerns. “I like the man. I consider him the most agreeable man I ever saw, but I have not said I wish to marry him.” Not yet, at least.

  Mrs. Gardiner patted her arm. “I am glad to hear it. You are a prudent young woman. You will not let your fancy run away with you.”

  Elizabeth agreed that she would try her best to be wise, but how could she promise to be wiser than all her fellow creatures if she were tempted by love?

  “Perhaps you should come to London with Jane,” Mrs. Gardiner said simply. There were already plans for Jane to spend a few months with the Gardiners in the new year. Mrs. Bennet had suggested that Jane go to Town with the hope of her meeting Mr. Bingley again.

  Elizabeth wished to avoid her mother’s displeasure over her refusal to marry Mr. Collins and asked her father if she could go to London as well.

  Mr. Bennet did want her to go. Of all his daughters, Elizabeth was his favourite. “I shall miss you,” he said after reluctantly granting his approval. “Without you and Jane, the family conversations will have neither animation or sense.”

  Which meant that her father would spend more time in his study.

  Elizabeth had only one regret – that by going to visit her relations, she would miss her friend Charlotte’s wedding in early January. When Mrs. Gardiner heard of this, plans were changed once again. Mr. Gardiner returned to London for his business while Mrs. Gardiner and her children stayed at Longbourn for another fortnight.

  During this time, Wickham surprised them all by becoming engaged to Miss King, an acquaintance of theirs who recently inherited ten thousand pounds.

  Lydia and Kitty were appalled, because they had liked Wickham as much as Elizabeth.

  But Elizabeth laughed it off. She had noticed a cooling in his attentions over the past two weeks, and as she told her aunt. “It seems I was not in danger of falling in love at all. I cannot hate him or Miss King. I understand very well that handsome young men must have something to live on, as well as the plain.”

  Mrs. Gardiner seemed pleased that Elizabeth took his defection so calmly.

  After the wedding and before she left for Kent, Charlotte Lucas, Mrs. Collins now, pulled Elizabeth aside and invited her to visit her in March. “For my father and sister are coming and you can join them.”

  Elizabeth declined. “I shall still be in London,” she explained. “But perhaps I can see you later in the year.”

  Charlotte clutched her hands with hers. “I shall miss you, Eliza. You are my dearest friend.”

  Elizabeth sensed that the reality of marriage and the prospect of having no one but Mr. Collins for daily conversation was beginning to horrify her friend. “Write to me,” Elizabeth said. “Tell me everything.”

  “I will,” Charlotte promised. “And you, too.”

  Elizabeth smiled. “There will be little to tell.”

  “Who knows?” Charlotte said cheerfully. “Perhaps you will meet someone wonderful in London.”

  In some ways, Charlotte was as matchmaking as her mother.

  Elizabeth had an unpleasant thought – that she might meet Mr. Darcy again – and quickly dismissed it. Mr. Darcy was the last person she hoped to see again. She smiled at her friend. “Perhaps.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Jane had written to Miss Bingley to inform her of their plan to come to London, but they were a week in town without either seeing or hearing
from Caroline Bingley. Jane thought that perhaps her last letter from Longbourn had by some accident been lost.

  Elizabeth thought it more likely that it had been lost by way of the fireplace. In her opinion, Caroline Bingley had only feigned friendship in Hertfordshire out of boredom. Now that she was back in London, she would spend time with her high society friends. She would have no use for the Bennets.

  Mrs. Gardiner was going the next day into that part of town and offered to take them both to Grosvenor Street, if they wished.

  “That would be most kind,” Jane said.

  Elizabeth would prefer not to go, but she supposed she was a little curious to see Mr. Hurst’s house and the more fashionable part of London. The Gardiners lived on Gracechurch Street, near Cheapside, the commercial centre of London. Grosvenor Street, in contrast, was in Mayfair. Elizabeth wondered if during their travel they would pass Cavendish Square where Mr. Darcy had a townhouse.

  But she was determined not to think of him.

  He was of no importance at all – merely an unpleasant man that she had known for a few weeks. It was unlikely that they would meet again.

  But, if she were completely honest, she had enjoyed verbally sparring with Mr. Darcy. She often remembered their dance at Netherfield and wondered if he ever thought of her.

  THE NEXT DAY, THEIR carriage drove up to Grosvenor Street. Elizabeth and Jane were wearing their smartest bonnets and coats for the January air was bitter cold.

  Mrs. Gardiner waited inside the carriage for she was not acquainted with either Miss Bingley or Mrs. Hurst.

  “We shall be quick,” Elizabeth promised. Indeed, she secretly hoped that neither woman was ‘at home’ – the polite way of saying that they were available for visitors.

  “Take all the time you wish,” Mrs. Gardiner said graciously. “I have a hot brick and won’t mind a wait.”

  According to the rules of polite society, an unannounced morning visit should not last more than twenty minutes.

  Jane looked a little nervous, but Elizabeth reassured her with a smile.

  They were met at the front door by a liveried footman and shown into an elegant drawing room, furnished in the Egyptian style, complete with a stuffed crocodile standing upright and holding a candelabra. Elizabeth held back a laugh at its ugliness. Was this the latest fashion?

  Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst rose to their feet to greet them. “Good heavens,” Miss Bingley said. “Miss Bennet. Miss Eliza. What a surprise.”

  The slight narrowing of her eyes belied that sentence. She asked them to be seated.

  Elizabeth sat on an uncomfortable padded bench with curved side arms. It was an awkward piece of furniture, but it would help to keep her visit short.

  Miss Bingley asked, “What are you doing in London?”

  Jane looked flustered. “We are staying with our aunt and uncle.”

  “In Cheapside?” Miss Bingley asked with a meaningful side glance at Mrs. Hurst.

  “Gracechurch street,” Elizabeth volunteered. Gracechurch street was near several sections of the City, not just Cheapside.

  Miss Bingley frowned. “Well, you should have told us you were coming. How long have you been town?”

  “I wrote,” Jane said. “But I suppose the letter must have been lost.”

  Miss Bingley did not comment. She continued. “How long do you plan to stay?”

  “Three months at least,” Jane said.

  Miss Bingley’s mouth tightened. “How delightful.”

  Jane said, “I hope all your family are well. How is Mr. Hurst?”

  Mrs. Hurst said, “He is very happy to be back in Town. He spends most of his days at his club.”

  “And Mr. Bingley?”

  Miss Bingley smirked. “He is in good health and so busy most days, we scarcely ever see him. He is engaged –”

  Jane flinched at the word, then relaxed as Miss Bingley finished the sentence “quite often with Mr. Darcy.”

  Once Mr. Darcy was mentioned, Elizabeth did not know what to say and there was an uncomfortable silence for a few seconds. She supposed she could mention the weather.

  Jane took up the conversational gauntlet and said, “I thought it was particularly cold this morning, but fortunately the sky is clear.”

  “Is it?” Miss Bingley said. “That is a comfort. It has been so grey and overcast for days.”

  Mrs. Hurst agreed. “I do hope it is not raining tonight when Miss Darcy comes for dinner.”

  Miss Bingley smiled. “Naturally my brother will make an appearance tonight to see her again.”

  “She is such a delightful young woman,” Mrs. Hurst said. “I don’t believe I have ever seen her equal. She is so accomplished.”

  There was another silence, with Jane searching for an appropriate response beyond “how nice.”

  Mrs. Hurst suddenly reminded Miss Bingley that they had plans for going out.

  “Oh. Yes,” Miss Bingley said and rose to her feet. “As much as we would enjoy spending more time with you, we really must leave.”

  Jane and Elizabeth quickly said their farewells. On the way to the carriage, Jane said she thought the visit had gone well. “I thought Caroline was not quite in spirits, but she was glad to see us.”

  Elizabeth said nothing. In her opinion, the visit had gone poorly, with Caroline mentioning Miss Darcy to discourage Jane.

  As they were climbing into the carriage, Mr. Bingley approached them. He was on horseback and looked as if he had just taken a morning ride in Hyde Park. He hastily dismounted. “Jane! Miss Bennet,” he quickly corrected himself. “What a pleasure.”

  He stood outside the carriage for several minutes and Jane introduced him to Mrs. Gardiner.

  Mr. Bingley again mentioned his astonishment that Jane was in town and suggested that he call on everyone in Gracechurch Street the following day. “We must have you to dinner,” he said eagerly. “And have you been to the theatre yet?”

  The entire conversation was not long, but Elizabeth found it very satisfying. Perhaps Mr. Bingley did care for Jane. On the ride back to Gracechurch Street, Mrs. Gardiner said that she liked Mr. Bingley very much.

  Jane blushed and Elizabeth smiled. Their morning visit was successful, after all. And she entertained herself by imagining Miss Bingley’s reaction upon learning that her brother had met them.

  The following day brought Mr. Bingley as well as Mr. Darcy to Gracechurch Street. Bingley was all that was amiable. He asked about the Bennet family and spoke about traveling and plans for their visit.

  In contrast, Darcy said very little, and only that when politeness demanded it – he complimented Mrs. Gardiner and asked Elizabeth briefly about her family. “Everyone was well when we left them,” Elizabeth said.

  Mrs. Gardiner tried to further the conversation by telling him that she had spent some of her youth in Lambton, a village near his home Pemberley.

  Darcy brightened at the mention of his home. Mrs. Gardiner said, “I was sad to hear of your father’s passing. He was an excellent man.”

  “Thank you. Were you acquainted?”

  “No, but I knew of him.”

  Darcy nodded and the then the conversation dwindled into an awkward silence.

  Darcy looked very uncomfortable and Elizabeth wondered why he had bothered to accompany his friend at all if he had no intention of enjoying himself. Elizabeth wished that Bingley had come by himself.

  By the end of the visit, Bingley had arranged to take Jane for a ride in his curricle that afternoon and they were all invited to dinner the following evening at the Hurst’s.

  After the gentlemen took their leave, Mrs. Gardiner said, “I was surprised to find Mr. Darcy so quiet. Is he naturally shy?”

  “Shy?” Elizabeth scoffed. “No, indeed. I think instead that he is insufferably proud. You remember how he treated Mr. Wickham.”

  Mrs. Gardiner said, “I didn’t see pride today. I saw only an amiable young man who accompanied his friend. He is a little stately and reserved, but his mann
ers are polite. And he comes from an excellent family, Lizzie. Are you certain that he treated Mr. Wickham unfairly?”

  Jane said, “I think there must have been a misunderstanding.”

  Elizabeth was highly irritated with them both. Jane was too kind-hearted, and it seemed as if Mrs. Gardiner was letting her admiration for Darcy’s father colour her opinion as well. “No,” Elizabeth said firmly. “Mr. Wickham was quite clear with names and details.”

  “I am certain there are two sides to the story,” Mrs. Gardiner said calmly. “And Mr. Darcy seems quite taken with you, Lizzie.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “I disagree.”

  “He watched you the entire time.”

  “He was most likely bored and didn’t know where to look.”

  Jane said quietly, “I noticed it as well.”

  Elizabeth began to think that coming to London had been a mistake. At least with her mother, she could dismiss all her matchmaking attempts as nonsense. “I don’t like the man,” she said firmly. “So it doesn’t really matter what he thinks of me. I don’t care.”

  Mrs. Gardiner merely looked at Jane, smiled, and made a reference to someone protesting too much.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Bingley turned to Darcy as soon as the carriage started moving. He sighed and said, “I had forgotten how beautiful Jane Bennet is. I like her even more than I did before.”

  Darcy had found the same for himself. He had accompanied his friend with the hopes that seeing Elizabeth Bennet again would cure him of his infatuation – for surely she could not be as wonderful as his memories insisted – but his feelings had not changed. That was worrisome.

  Bingley asked, “What did you think of her aunt?”

  Darcy said, “I was pleasantly surprised. Mrs. Gardiner is an intelligent, capable woman. I was concerned that she would be more like Mrs. Bennet.”