Coincidence Page 14

  “Tell me, Lizzy,” said Jane once they had settled into the bed for the evening, the candle doused and the thin, pale light of the moon lighting their cheeks. “What is your opinion of this changed Mr. Darcy?”

  “Is he so very changed?”

  Even in the darkness Elizabeth could see her sister’s cross expression. “You know he is, Elizabeth. You have been in company with him these past weeks. Are you certain nothing happened in the interim to bring about such an alteration?”

  When Elizabeth did not immediately respond, Jane sighed and burrowed into her pillow. “It seems you do not wish to confide in me, Lizzy.”

  “That is not it at all, Jane!” protested Elizabeth.

  But Jane merely brushed her off. “I know that we have often kept confidences for each other, but I am not offended that you wish to keep your secrets.

  “But let me tell you one thing. Charlotte advised me to allow my feelings for Mr. Bingley to show, but you and I both brushed her off. Now, I find myself wishing that I had taken her counsel.”

  “Oh, Jane!” cried Elizabeth, her heart breaking for her sister.

  “No, Lizzy,” said Jane, the firmness in her voice surprising Elizabeth. “I shall recover from Mr. Bingley’s defection—truly I shall. What I mean to say is that this experience has opened my eyes. I would not wish for you to spurn a man who pays attentions to you. I wish for you to consider what you truly want in life.”

  “Now I think you ascribe feelings to Mr. Darcy that he does not possess!”

  Even while she said it, Elizabeth felt the lie as it passed her lips.

  “Perhaps I do, perhaps not. But I would advise you to think carefully on the matter, Lizzy. If Mr. Darcy has interest in you, I would abjure you to discard any preconceived notions you have had of the man and look to see who he truly is. I have always felt there was something estimable about Mr. Darcy, and if he does favor you, I would wish you to attempt to see his good qualities. Above all, Lizzy, I would not wish for you to find out after he departs your life forever that you could have loved him as husband, father to your children, and friend.”

  And with those words, Jane turned over, a clear indication that she did not wish to discuss the matter any further. Elizabeth’s thoughts continued well into the night, long after her sister’s breathing evened out, indicating her own submission to sleep.

  Chapter XI

  Though Elizabeth might have thought she would be irritable the following morning, due to her difficulty in sleeping, in fact she found herself pensive. She was still filled with much suspicion concerning Mr. Darcy’s behavior, but no proof to back it up. And she decided she was in desperate need of a confidante, someone who would hear and not judge, would give advice, but not be officious. Jane, of course, fit all those categories admirably, but Elizabeth thought Jane’s tendency toward a belief in the good motivations of others might not result in the best advice, though Jane’s words from the previous night brought Elizabeth pause. In the end, Elizabeth thought she owed Jane an explanation, but she also wished for a more mature perspective, which is why she involved her aunt.

  Mr. Gardiner had left for his office early that morning, though he promised to return before visiting hours, and as Elizabeth was left in the house with her aunt and sister, she decided it was a perfect time to tell them all and ask for their opinion in return. Thus, when they were situated in the sitting-room after breakfast, she called their attention and explained, as succinctly and completely as she could remember, what had happened in Kent, and her suspicions regarding Mr. Darcy’s behavior.

  When she had finished her recitation, Jane sighed and looked off in the distance at something only she could see, but Mrs. Gardiner watched Elizabeth, a shrewd look in her eyes.

  “After your meeting with Mr. Darcy yesterday, I am not surprised to hear your confession, Lizzy. The man bears all the signs of one who admires a woman.”

  “Perhaps he does,” replied Elizabeth, chewing at her lower lip in thought. “But he has gone about it in such a manner as to call his sanity into question. When compared with the behavior of Mr. Bingley toward Jane, I would almost call his attempts at lovemaking—if indeed that is what they are—inept.”

  “And yet Mr. Bingley went away without a word,” said Jane. Though she did not cry, Elizabeth could see the tears glistening in the corners of her dearest sister’s eyes.

  “It is possible,” said Aunt Gardiner, “that Mr. Darcy is merely uncomfortable and not used to paying such attentions.” She turned her attention to Jane, and regarded her with compassion. “I understand Mr. Bingley is free with his attentions to all the ladies.”

  “Aunt!” exclaimed Elizabeth. “That is not a faithful portrayal of Mr. Bingley at all!”

  “On the contrary, Lizzy,” said Jane in a small voice, “Mr. Bingley was friendly to all, and he paid the compliment of his attention to Charlotte, the Long sisters, and many others of our acquaintance.”

  “But the difference in his behavior toward you was marked, Jane.”

  “I cannot refute that, Lizzy. But it is also possible that he was merely paying attention to the first young woman who caught his fancy.”

  “Jane,” said Elizabeth, laying a comforting hand on her sister’s arm, “no one who saw you and Mr. Bingley together could see anything other than a man who truly esteemed a woman. I am convinced it is the work of his sisters, and perhaps his friend, that he does not come to you.”

  “That may very well be,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “But a man must be decisive. Your uncle would not have been nearly so attractive to me had he been ruled by your mother and your aunt.

  “But we were not speaking of Mr. Bingley.”

  “Yes! Let us speak of Mr. Darcy.” Jane was eager to leave the topic of Mr. Bingley, and Elizabeth had not the heart to press her any further.

  “I am afraid we cannot tell you how to act, Lizzy,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “You are aware of the situation your family faces, and though I cannot blame you for not wishing to marry your cousin, given what I have heard of him, it would have provided you all with protection should something unexpected happen to your father.”

  “But Aunt,” said Elizabeth, a pleading quality in her voice, “I wish to marry for love.”

  Mrs. Gardiner smiled and she raised a hand to Elizabeth’s cheek, a comforting, motherly sort of gesture Elizabeth had never experienced from her own mother. “As I know the joy of felicity with your uncle on a daily basis, I would never suggest you do not look for the same in your own marriage. But prudence also has its place, Lizzy. This Mr. Darcy, if he does possess a tender regard for you, cannot be regarded as anything other than a stupendous match for you, though from his side it would not be considered so. He could take care of you all, if necessary, and suffer no hardship for doing it.”

  “But what of his behavior toward poor Wickham?” demanded Elizabeth, feeling vexed that her dearest relations were promoting Mr. Darcy to such an extent. “Can I ever trust that he would not turn on my family at some point, if he can cast off a man who was once his closest companion and friend?”

  “Do you have Mr. Darcy’s side of the story?” asked Mrs. Gardiner.

  “She does not,” replied Jane. Elizabeth scowled at her sister, but Jane ignored her. “All she has is Mr. Wickham’s account.”

  “And Mr. Darcy would say nothing concerning it?”

  “It is not something of which I could openly speak,” said Elizabeth.

  “It seems to me that you could speak of it to Mr. Darcy. It sounds like Mr. Wickham was attempting to sink his character.”

  “All Mr. Darcy would say is that Mr. Wickham has trouble keeping friends.”

  Jane gasped. “You did ask Mr. Darcy?”

  “Not in so many words,” replied Elizabeth. “The topic came up at the dance at Netherfield. But he declined to speak any further on the matter.”

  “And I do not blame him,” said Aunt Gardiner. “He would not wish for his private business to be laid bare, especially in the middle of
a crowded ballroom.”

  Aunt Gardiner sighed, and she regarded Elizabeth with compassion. “Lizzy, I do not ask you to let go of your principles or bind yourself to a man you cannot tolerate. But it would behoove you to consider this man’s suit, should he press it, with all due care and consideration. It seems to me that you are softened a little toward him, is that not so?”

  Feeling anything but softened toward the man at present, Elizabeth still allowed it to be so.

  “Then respond to whatever overtures he might make and allow yourself to see him for what he is, and not through the lens of another’s perception, or even your own prejudice. I cannot say without question that he is a man in love with you, but if he is, you would do well to discover it, and to search your own feelings for the ability to love him in return. Your happiness may not depend on this, but then again, it might.”

  And with those ominous words, the conversation was brought to a close. Elizabeth, though she was grateful for her relations’ opinions, continued to feel a little vexed with the man, though she knew it was more than a little irrational to do so. The peril of asking for advice was not liking the counsel which was dispensed. Elizabeth felt that truth more keenly at present than she had ever before.

  When Mr. Darcy and his sister visited that morning, Elizabeth was ready to despise the girl as nothing more than an adjunct of her brother. Mr. Wickham had told Elizabeth how she had mimicked her brother in becoming prideful and disdaining of those not of her station, and thus, Elizabeth did not expect much from the girl, despite Mr. Darcy’s remarkable civility in requesting an introduction. Elizabeth did not consider him changed in essentials either.

  When they stepped in the room, the ladies waiting for them arose, and Elizabeth obtained her first impression of the girl. She was tall, standing several inches taller than Elizabeth’s own dainty height, and while Elizabeth did not think she could be called as handsome as Mr. Darcy, still she was pleasant featured, golden of hair, and pale of complexion. And in her face, Elizabeth thought she could see a sibling resemblance with her brother, though their coloring and features were, in fact, quite different.

  The introductions were performed and they sat down to the visit, and at first, Elizabeth felt justified in having taken a dislike to the girl before she had even been introduced to her.

  “How do you do, Miss Darcy?” asked Jane when they had sat down. “We have heard much of you.”

  But Jane’s kindly spoken words were answered with nothing more than a monosyllable and the girl’s eyes were never lifted from where they gazed down at her lap. It was behavior far beyond even that which Mr. Darcy had shown!

  Undeterred, Jane tried again. “Have you been in London long, Miss Darcy?”

  The girl snuck a quick glance at her brother, and then she allowed that she had been in town since they had returned from Pemberley after Christmas. But it was all delivered in a soft voice, and Miss Darcy’s disinclination for speaking was clear to them all.

  “Miss Bingley has commented on your skill on the pianoforte, Miss Darcy,” said Elizabeth, trying to get a rise from the girl. “I would very much love to hear you play some time.”

  It was in that moment that Elizabeth was relieved that she had not said any of the cutting or unkind things that had come into her mind. Instead of meeting Elizabeth’s eyes or responding, her eyes shot to her brother’s, and he fixed her with a tender smile and nodded his head.

  “I believe Miss Bingley flatters me more than is warranted,” said Miss Darcy, ducking her head once again. “I do enjoy playing the pianoforte very much, but I cannot call myself accomplished.”

  And all at once it struck Elizabeth—Miss Darcy was not overly proud, she was merely so shy that she found it difficult to speak to those who were not known to her. Suddenly the situation revealed itself for what it truly was, and Elizabeth found herself responding to this young girl who was so painfully reticent.

  “Though I do not doubt Miss Bingley’s ability to flatter, in this instance, I wonder if she is not speaking the absolute truth,” said Elizabeth. “Your brother has also spoken of your talent, and unless you think him given over to boasting, I must suppose that you are overtaken by humility.”

  Miss Darcy’s eyes shot to Elizabeth in surprise, but when she saw the warm gaze and caught a hint of the humor Elizabeth tried to inject into her voice, she gave a tentative smile in return, though it almost seemed unwilling.

  “My brother is the most honest person I have ever known, Miss Bennet,” said Miss Darcy. “But sometimes I wonder if he is too kind to me.”

  “Let me share a secret with you, Miss Darcy,” said Elizabeth, leaning forward. She was delighted when the young girl leaned forward in response. “Such behavior in a brother should not cause you to despair. I have no brothers, though my dearest Jane is the best sister a woman could have. I would have liked to have a brother to be my advocate and to boast of my accomplishments.”

  A stifled giggle escaped from Miss Darcy. “Well, I suppose I must own to being blessed, then. I could not imagine a better brother.”

  Elizabeth thought Mr. Darcy colored a little in response to his sister’s praise, but as she had decided that this sweet creature deserved her attention, Elizabeth directed her words back to the sister. “Perhaps your brother or Miss Bingley have exaggerated, perhaps they have not. If you are willing, I would wish to judge for myself, if you would do us the honor when the opportunity presents itself.”

  “I have never played in front of anyone but Fitzwilliam . . . .”

  “I will keep your secret,” said Elizabeth, placing a finger in front of her lips. “In fact, I shall be as much as invisible, should you require it.”

  This time the girl could not stifle the laugh, and they all joined in. Elizabeth was pleased that she had been able to draw Miss Darcy out, if only a little.

  From that point, conversation became easier, though Miss Darcy was still hesitant. As reticent as she seemed to be, Elizabeth could not help but think it was as much as they could expect on a first meeting.

  What Elizabeth could not satisfy in her own mind was the picture Mr. Wickham had painted for her. Unless Miss Darcy had gone through some life-altering experience which had caused her to lose all her confidence, Elizabeth could not imagine this unassuming girl to be the proud creature that Mr. Wickham had spoken of. And if she was not, then what did that say about Mr. Wickham? Growing up an intimate of the elder Darcy’s house, he could hardly have received the impression of her pride, as he would have known her quite well.

  But if he had spoken an untruth to Elizabeth, why had he done so? What could he possibly hope to gain from attempting to mislead her? Elizabeth could not imagine what could possibly be at play, unless his experiences and treatment at the hands of Mr. Darcy had somehow jaded him against all things Darcy. But why would he blame such a sweet innocent creature, one who could not be a party to her brother’s perfidy? It in every way defied description.

  Such thoughts ran through Elizabeth’s mind as she spoke with Miss Darcy, and she started to feel a little cross due to her confusion. Mr. Darcy, once he had seen his sister getting on with the ladies, had turned to her uncle, and was now conversing with him with increasing ease.

  Elizabeth watched him with a critical eye, and she soon noted a look of slight surprise which had settled over his features; he was still inscrutable, and Elizabeth thought her uncle was unaware of the man’s feelings, not being familiar with him. And Elizabeth was offended for him; yes, Mr. Gardiner was her mother’s brother, and Mr. Darcy might not have known what to expect, but surely he should have reserved judgment until meeting him.

  And the force of Elizabeth’s previous dislike for the man reared its ugly head again.

  Darcy thought he hid his reaction to Mr. Gardiner quite well. In reality, he was almost in shock. How could such a man, a man of trade, one who associated with others of his station, and—more importantly—a man who was the brother of perhaps the crassest woman Darcy had ever met, be so
completely different?

  And yet it could not be misinterpreted. Mr. Gardiner spoke well, he showed no overly deferential manners, and he did not speak of matters which should not be spoken of. While their conversation was in no way deep or philosophical, there was an easiness in his speech which Darcy had not often seen, and his opinions were well-considered and expressed with confidence and soberness.

  “My dear wife informs me that you are the proprietor of a large estate in Derbyshire,” said Mr. Gardiner after they had been speaking for some time.

  Though Darcy might have taken umbrage and expected the man to attempt to ingratiate himself by bringing up such a subject, by that time Darcy knew such was not Mr. Gardiner’s purpose.

  “Yes, I am. Pemberley is quite my home—I never feel so comfortable as when I am there.”

  “That I can well understand, Mr. Darcy,” replied Mr. Gardiner. “While I do not own an estate at present, I am hopeful that I might be able to purchase one at some point in the future.”

  “That is an admirable goal, sir. I have a good friend who will likely purchase an estate sometime soon. Do you have any preference for where you would like to settle?”

  “Pemberley itself,” said Mr. Gardiner, and Darcy laughed when he saw the twinkle in the other man’s eye.

  “In fact, Mrs. Gardiner has waxed poetic about your estate on more than one occasion, and I am certain she would be quite happy if I was able to pry it away from you. But in truth, I believe Mrs. Gardiner would like to settle in the vicinity of Lambton, for she was raised in the town and still speaks of it fondly.”

  “There are several estates in the area,” said Darcy, “though I cannot say if one would eventually be available for sale. Lambton is, indeed, a charming town, and its proximity to Pemberley renders it quite familiar to me. The region is delightful, though I will own to some partiality.”

  “As is to be expected,” observed Mr. Gardiner.

  The conversation wound on from that point, touching on such common subjects as fishing—Mr. Gardiner was fond of the activity, but rarely had the chance—to the weightier subjects of business, politics, and the war on the continent. And though the acquaintance was still new, Darcy thought he had a good measure of the other man quickly, and he liked what he saw. It was possible that Darcy would invest in the man’s business at some point in time, as he was already impressed with Mr. Gardiner’s business acumen. He would be a valuable acquaintance, Darcy was certain.