Evenings with Darcy Read online

  Georgiana spoke quietly with Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth. “I don’t think the gentlemen will be long,” she confided. “Because my brother has some plans for the evening.”

  Mrs. Gardiner smiled meaningfully at Elizabeth with her eyebrows raised.

  Elizabeth looked down at her hands in her lap.

  Within a few minutes, the gentlemen joined them and Darcy announced that they would be playing parlour games that night, instead of cards.

  The first game was the Game of Twenty, where one person would think of an item or person and the rest of the room would ask questions, trying to guess the chosen’s identity. Bingley’s item was a spoon, easily guessed, and Mrs. Gardiner’s person was the poet Ben Jonson, only guessed at the end of the twenty questions, and by Darcy.

  At the mention of his name, Elizabeth looked directly at Darcy and he at her. He winked.

  Elizabeth gasped.

  “Is something wrong?” Jane asked.

  “No, nothing,” she said quickly, but she kept thinking of the line on the valentine: Drink to me only with thine eyes, And I will pledge with mine.

  Then several more people took turns, and then Miss Bingley yawned, covering her mouth.

  Darcy, taking the hint, suggested that they play something more active.

  “Musical chairs!” Miss Darcy suggested. “Mrs. Annesley can play the pianoforte.”

  Darcy said, “If you wish,” and the furniture in the room was pushed out the way so a circle of chairs facing outward could be arranged.

  Mr. Hurst declared that he was too tired to play, but everyone else took their places. Darcy chose to stand beside Elizabeth, and Bingley was beside Jane. Colonel Fitzwilliam stood beside Miss Bingley, but she did not look pleased.

  Mrs. Annesley began to play a familiar Scottish air. And everyone walked around the circle of chairs. When the music stopped, each of them tried to sit on one of the chairs, with Mrs. Gardiner being the first person to fail to find a seat.

  She smiled and said, “Perhaps I am too old for this game.”

  As one of the chairs was removed from the circle, Mr. Gardiner said cheerfully, “Speak for yourself, ma’am. I intend to win.”

  Again Mrs. Annesley began to play. In the second round, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst had a brief tussle, with both attempting to sit in the same chair. Ultimately Mrs. Hurst was the winner and smirked triumphantly at her sister. Miss Bingley smoothed her skirts and murmured that it was a silly game as she walked across the room to a couch.

  Elizabeth glanced briefly at Darcy to see his reaction and he smiled at her. The exertion of the game had brightened his eyes. Elizabeth hoped that her hair was not falling down.

  Bingley was the next to lose.

  In the next set, Elizabeth found herself seated on Darcy’s lap with his arms around her waist. Good heavens. Elizabeth stood quickly like a toy jack-in-the box, breaking the connection, and feared that her face was flaming. She felt breathless.

  Like a gentleman, Darcy offered to let her take the chair, but she declined. “No, sir. You won it fair and square.”

  Jane was the next to go. Then Colonel Fitzwilliam who bowed out gracefully. Finally, the game was down to one chair remaining, with Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Darcy vying for the seat.

  Mr. Gardiner joked, “You may be the younger man and more spry, Mr. Darcy, but I am more substantial.” He patted his backside. “I believe it is an advantage in games like these.”

  Several people in the room laughed and Elizabeth worried that the wine earlier had loosened her uncle’s tongue. She looked at Darcy to see if he were amused or disgusted by the comment.

  He seemed amused and Elizabeth sighed with relief.

  In the end, Elizabeth could not tell whether Darcy let her uncle win, but Mr. Gardiner was the winner and he bowed, accepting a polite round of applause as his due. Mr. Gardiner patted his moist face with a handkerchief and said, “What is next? Blind man’s bluff?”

  Darcy said, “Why not? The floor has already been cleared.”

  “I thought you did not like the game,” Elizabeth said, remembered the party at Lucas Lodge a few months before.

  Darcy smiled at her. “I have changed my mind.”

  Mr. Gardiner continued. “I remember playing the game years ago when I was courting Mrs. Gardiner. Do you remember it, my dear?”

  She was amused. “I do. And I remember the favour you demanded.”

  “A favour?” Colonel Fitzwilliam asked. “I’ve never heard of that.”

  “When we played the game, if the person with the blindfold correctly guesses the person they have caught, they could demand a favour.”

  Miss Bingley was intrigued. “What sort of favour?”

  Mr. Gardiner shrugged. “A lock of hair. A handkerchief. Or one could demand a song or a recitation. Or if one was daring, a kiss.” He smiled at Mrs. Gardiner, who pursed her lips and shook her head at him. It was clear from her expression that Mr. Gardiner had demanded a kiss.

  Mrs. Hurst giggled.

  Georgiana’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, dear.”

  Mr. Gardiner explained, “Society was more bawdy years ago.”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam said, “What do you think, Darcy? Do you find that version of the game too indelicate? I don’t. Besides, there should be some leeway with it being St. Valentine’s Day today, don’t you think?”

  Elizabeth was amused to see Miss Bingley trying to decide whether she should declare the proposed game to be vulgar or if she might have a chance to kiss Mr. Darcy.

  Darcy glanced briefly at Elizabeth and said, “Let us play the game and see where it leads.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Darcy did not think he had ever enjoyed an evening more. It was refreshing to spend time with Elizabeth’s relations. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were intelligent people with good taste and manners, without pretence. For the first time in a long time, Darcy felt that he could speak freely as a host without giving offense.

  And of course, it was wonderful to spend time with Elizabeth. She had received his valentine, she was wearing his flowers, and her every glance, every smile seemed to say that she would accept his proposal.

  Darcy had never been happier.

  Mrs. Annesley provided a scarf for the blindfold and the game began.

  Mrs. Hurst went first and caught Mrs. Gardiner, but she thought she was Elizabeth, so the game continued. Mrs. Gardiner caught Colonel Fitzwilliam and correctly named him. For her favour, she asked him to give a recitation. He stood straight and said, “Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres, quarum unam incolunt Begae, aliam Aquitani, tertiam qui ipsorum lingua Celtae, nostra Galli appellantur. Hi omnes lingua, institutis, legibus inter se different.”

  Darcy laughed when he heard Julius Caesar’s words come from his cousins’ mouth. “In English, please,” he prompted.

  “If you insist,” the Colonel said. “All Gaul is divided into three parts, one of which the Belgae inhabit, the Auitani another, those who in their own language are called Celts, in our Gauls, the third. All these differ from each other in language, customs and laws.”

  The Colonel bowed, everyone clapped, and Darcy said, “Very well, but next time, please do not play the school teacher.”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam said, “I thought you would prefer Julius Caesar to some other ditties I know.”

  Darcy could well imagine what sort of ditties his cousin had learned in the army. He said, “Thank you.”

  In the next round, Colonel Fitzwilliam caught Mr. Gardiner, who sang the folksong Barbara Allen with a surprisingly good tenor voice. For the next round, Mr. Gardiner caught Darcy. After guessing correctly, Mr. Gardiner removed the blindfold and asked, “Would you like to sing a song, sir?”

  Darcy said, “I am not as talented as you, sir.”

  “Then can you stand on your head?”

  Darcy laughed. “I beg your pardon?”

  Mr. Gardiner said, “You seem to be a fit man. When you were younger, I assume you climbed trees and swam.”


  “I did,” Darcy said. “But I don’t think either is suitable for tonight’s viewing.”

  “Can you stand on your head?”

  “I could at one time,” Darcy admitted.

  “Then do it,” Mr. Gardiner said. “That is my favour.”

  Darcy hesitated. He remembered advice his father had once given him, to not take a foolish dare. Was it better to look a fool by refusing or to look a fool by accepting the challenge?

  It was ridiculous, but Elizabeth had said she enjoyed the ridiculous. That was one of the things he liked best about her.

  “I will help,” the Colonel offered.

  “Very well,” Darcy said. “But I cannot do it with my coat on. Forgive me, ladies,” he said calmly as he shrugged out of his dress coat. He considered removing his shoes but thought that would be unseemly among his guests.

  He walked over to the drawing room wall. He bent down, placing the top of his head flat on the floor, his palms also flat on the floor and his elbows bent. As he placed his knees on his elbow, he had a terrible thought, hoping that his breeches would not rip.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam was at his side and helped him as he slowly raised his legs until they were straight upright.

  “Excellent,” Mr. Gardiner said and clapped his hands.

  Georgiana laughed. “I can’t believe it.”

  From his position, Darcy could not see what Elizabeth thought. Was she amused or horrified by his actions?

  Darcy held the position for a few more seconds, then brought his legs down and stood again. He brushed his clothes which were slightly rumpled but fortunately still intact. He smoothed back his hair. The Colonel helped him with his coat. “There,” he said finally when he was dressed again. “Now it is my turn for the blindfold.”

  Before the blindfold was tied, he made certain he knew where Elizabeth was standing. She was smiling at him. Very good.

  Bingley turned him around, but as Darcy turned, he mentally kept track of the rotation. He wanted to catch Elizabeth, no one else. As he reached out before him, he heard different people whispering. One he recognized as Miss Bingley and he turned away. He approached another woman and he recognized her lavender scent. It was Elizabeth, he was sure of it. He reached out and caught hold of her skirt. It only took an instant to then catch her slim arm and reach down to the roses on her wrist. “Elizabeth Bennet,” he said loudly. The love of my life, he also thought but did not say it.

  “You are correct, sir.”

  Darcy kept his hold on her wrist as he untied the blindfold with his other hand. He did not want to let her go.

  Elizabeth looked at him with shining eyes. “And what is your favour, sir? I cannot stand on my head like you.”

  How he loved her. Actually, he thought that one day she might be able to stand on her head, but not while wearing a dress and certainly not in company. It might be something to discover when they were married.

  He did not speak for a moment and everyone watched him, waiting for his response. He glanced briefly at Mr. Gardiner who smiled slightly in approval. “A kiss,” he said boldly.

  Elizabeth’s eyes widened and she drew her breath in sharply. She glanced briefly at his lips, then held her hand up higher. “You may kiss my hand,” she said pertly.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam chuckled. “En garde, Darcy.”

  Darcy was not discouraged. He did not want his first true kiss with Elizabeth to be a parlour game, after all. He held her hand up to his lips and kissed first her fingers. Then he turned her hand over and kissed her soft palm.

  He looked her straight in the eyes. He felt Elizabeth’s fingers tremble before she pulled her hand away. “That was two kisses, sir,” she teased lightly.

  Darcy bowed low. “Forgive me, ma’am.”

  Mr. Gardiner began to say, “In my day,” but Mrs. Gardiner shushed him.

  “It is now Lizzy’s turn,” Mrs. Gardiner said.

  Elizabeth caught Georgiana who played a song on the pianoforte. Georgiana then caught Bingley, who whistled a line from The Magic Flute.

  Darcy sensed that his guests were growing tired and said that Bingley would be the last player. Miss Bingley said pettishly, “I haven’t had a turn.”

  “I thought you disliked the game,” Darcy said.

  “I do,” she said irritably and folded her arms in front of herself as she turned away.

  Bingley’s hand first grazed Elizabeth’s sleeve, but he said, “No, this is the wrong one” and Darcy wondered if he could see through the blindfold.”

  Mr. Gardiner laughed. “Good luck with that, son.”

  Elizabeth, Georgiana and Mrs. Gardiner stood back so that Jane was directly before Bingley.

  Jane protested quietly, as if embarrassed, but then Bingley caught her around the waist. He breathed in her scent and said happily, “Jane Bennet.”

  “It is I,” Jane agreed.

  Bingley quickly removed his blindfold and got down on one knee. “I have only one favour to ask of you, Miss Bennet.”

  Darcy was surprised by Bingley’s boldness, but he kept his silence.

  “Will you marry me?”

  Jane stood indecisively for a moment, looking at her aunt and uncle for their support. Mr. Gardiner nodded slightly, and Jane said, “Yes, if my father gives his permission.”

  At this, Bingley beamed and with sudden impulse, he kissed Jane right on the mouth. She gasped but also smiled.

  Several of the dinner guests laughed and the Colonel clapped Bingley on his back. “Good job, sir.”

  Bingley said, “Blame it on Valentine’s Day.”

  Mr. Gardiner offered his congratulations and said that he thought Mr. Bennet would be pleased. “I think it best for us all to return to Longbourn in the morning, don’t you think?”

  “Yes,” Bingley said. “And I’ll go back to Netherfield.”

  Darcy was envious of Bingley’s good fortune. He said quietly to Elizabeth, “I should have asked for more than a kiss.”

  She looked at him sharply. She said quickly, “No. I appreciate that you did not. I do not think that proposals should be a public matter. Your friend is fortunate that he asked my sister who clearly loves him. Otherwise, it could have been humiliating.”

  Darcy frowned. “Have I misread your affections? Are you telling me that if I proposed that I would be refused?”

  Elizabeth frowned. “I don’t know. My mind is a confusion. In London you seem to be one man, and in Hertfordshire, you were another.”

  Darcy took her hand in his. “That is true,” he said. “In Hertfordshire, I fought my feelings for you. Foolishly, I thought you were not the right woman to be Mistress of Pemberley. I thought your family was inferior.”

  Elizabeth said quietly, “My family has not changed.”

  “No, but my opinion of them has changed. Your aunt and uncle are excellent company. And while I do not particularly like your mother, I have decided that marriage to you would outweigh any disadvantage from your connections.”

  “I see.”

  He could tell from her tone that he had insulted her. “Forgive me,” he said. “I am making a bungle of this.”

  “Yes,” she said calmly. “You are. But it is not merely your manners that make me hesitate to accept you. How could I marry a man who treated a childhood friend so cruelly?”

  Darcy’s stomach sank with dread. “You mean Wickham.”

  “Yes. How can you justify your actions?”

  Darcy looked around the room. This was not the time or place to continue this conversation. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had finished congratulating Bingley and making travel plans. “I will explain myself,” Darcy said quietly to Elizabeth. “But not at present. Please do not make a final decision right now. I will answer all your concerns and propose at a later date.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “Very well.”

  He appreciated that fact that she did not make a scene. He turned to his guests. He said, “It is growing late, and it seems most of you will want to wake early in the morning. Mr
. Bingley, Miss Bennet, you have my best wishes for your happiness.” He was about to send for the carriages to take his guests home, when a footman announced, “Sir, you have another visitor.”

  “Who is it?”

  “Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”

  Darcy swore under his breath. What was she doing here? Before he could excuse himself to meet with his aunt, she was in the hallway, loudly protesting that she would see her nephew immediately.

  Lady Catherine brushed past the footman. She was a tall woman, once handsome, and dressed in the ornate style of prior years. She said brusquely, “I have never been so insulted in my life, being left to cool my heels in a sitting room!”

  “Aunt Catherine,” Darcy said politely. “This is a surprise. Please take a seat. What brings you to London?”

  “Your outrageous behaviour,” she said bluntly and sat on one the couches. She briefly acknowledged the Colonel’s presence with a nod. “Fitzwilliam. I am surprised you are a party to this.”

  “I don’t understand,” the Colonel said. “This is a dinner party, nothing more.”

  Lady Catherine glared at him. “Do not be clever. I have heard from Matlock! I know what is going on.” She pointed at the Gardiners with her walking stick. “I assume these are the relations in Trade.”

  Darcy stiffened. “They are my guests. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner.”

  “And which is the chit you like?” She peered at his guests. “I’m guessing the brown-haired gel for the blonde seems to be clinging to another man.”

  Elizabeth raised her chin defiantly. Darcy was glad that she was not easily cowed.

  “Aunt Catherine, we can talk about this another time,” Darcy said firmly. He turned to his guests. “Please forgive my aunt’s rudeness.”

  “Rudeness?” Lady Catherine repeated. “I am only saying what everyone else will be thinking if you marry an upstart!”

  Darcy said, “At present, I am not marrying anyone. This is not an appropriate conversation. If you will excuse me, Aunt Catherine, I must see to my guests.”

  Lady Catherine fumed while Darcy arranged for his guests to leave. “Please disregard anything my aunt is saying,” he said to Elizabeth and the Gardiners. “She is an old, cantankerous woman.”