Darcy in Want of a Wife

Chapter 14

Gardiners’ House

Cheapside

“Oh Lizzy,” Lydia moaned, flipping through her magazine on the London fashions for the third time that morning. “This is the most horrible punishment that I have ever been forced to endure. We have been in Town for days now, and I know that there is much fun and merriment to be had, but I have not been permitted to step foot outside even once! And all because I simply wished to help my dear Wickham, who was imprisoned for no reason whatsoever! It is so unfair!”

Elizabeth knew there was no point in saying anything which had not already been said, so she kept her mouth shut during this endless litany of complaints. She devoted herself instead to her needlework and found that frustration made her work more quickly than usual.

A maid entered the drawing room, and Elizabeth looked up and rose to her feet at the sight of Mr. Darcy himself, his face grave, followed by an unfamiliar gentleman in a red coat of a military man.

Mrs. Gardiner, who had been ignoring Lydia in favor of studying some household accounts, also stood up, and a moment later, Lydia, spying a red-coated man among the visitors, hopped to her feet as well.

“Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, Madam,” the maid said and retreated out of the room.

“Miss Elizabeth,” Mr. Darcy said, “might I have the honor of introducing my cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam? Richard, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

Elizabeth curtsied and the colonel bowed, and Elizabeth said, “Please, may I introduce my aunt and sister? Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Lydia.”

Again, there were curtsies and bows, and Lydia, far too quickly and eagerly, exclaimed, “Colonel Fitzwilliam? Are you a militia officer, then?”

“No, Miss Lydia,” Fitzwilliam said with an easy smile, “I am in the Regulars, currently serving in Brighton, though I am here in London on leave.”

“Brighton!” Lydia cried out. “Oh, how wonderful, Colonel! I have never been to the seaside, you know, but a visit to Brighton would surely comprise every possibility of earthly happiness. I can only imagine the streets must be filled with officers, and the glories of the camp, itstents stretched forth in beauteous uniformity of lines, crowded with the young and the jolly, and dazzling with scarlet!”

Elizabeth winced at this open display of gaucherie, but the military man merely nodded and said, “I believe the ladies of Brighton do enjoy the various entertainments. For myself, I am altogether too busy training raw recruits to spend as much time as I would like dancing and meeting with friends!”

“I suppose it is rather hard work,” Elizabeth said quickly, hopeful of heading off Lydia’s further idiotic utterances. “I do not know much about drilling and shooting, of course, but it sounds challenging.”

“The greatest challenge is not one of skills, but of courage, Miss Bennet,” Fitzwilliam replied. “Many a young man, even well trained, has turned tail and run when faced with French musket fire. That kind of bravery cannot be taught, but I can, at least, give them the tools to load the gun, and fire, and reload again, even when the horses are whinnying and the battle field is thick with the smoke of cannons.”

This was so serious a subject that even Lydia looked grave. Elizabeth nodded and then realized that Mr. Darcy had disappeared; given that Mr. Gardiner was home today, Elizabeth thought it likely that the two men were meeting discuss a good boarding school for Lydia.

“But enough of such solemn topics,” the colonel said, and smiled. “Are you enjoying your time in London?”

“No, because we have not gone anywhere since we arrived here,” Lydia said with a dramatic rolling of the eyes.

“It is a quiet time in London,” Elizabeth said in as calm a tone as she could muster, “and the weather is unpleasant.”

“That is true enough. But come, Miss Lydia, what do you enjoy? Are you fond of theaters, or parties, or perhaps museums?”

This was sufficient to open the floodgates of Lydia’s ready tongue, and Elizabeth was content to keep largely silent as the colonel and her youngest sister spoke to one another, even as she wondered about her uncle and aunt’s discussion with Darcy.

“Have you ever been to the Promenade in Hyde Park?” Lydia demanded, drawing Elizabeth’s attention back to her sister.

“I have, many times.”

“It sounds marvelous!” Lydia gushed. “All those ladies and gentlemen with their fine horses, and extravagant carriages, and beautiful clothing! I wish I could see it someday!”

“It is an impressive sight but not now, of course, when it is so unpleasant outside,” their guest said with an expressive glance at a window. “I actually prefer snow to this cold drizzle.”

“I prefer to be inside, by and large,” Lydia declared, “unless I am walking along store fronts on Bond Street or riding in an open carriage, not that I ever have done either.”

“And what of you, Miss Bennet?” Fitzwilliam asked, ignoring this absurdity. “Do you like walking outdoors?”

“I do, very much, especially when the ground is white with snow. It is so beautiful!”

“I have fond memories of playing in the snow as a child,” the colonel said.

“Our little cousins entirely agree with you,” Elizabeth said with a grin. “My aunt and uncle have four young children, and they were overjoyed by a storm some weeks ago which dropped six inches of snow on their backyard. I was not here at the time, but my sister Jane was, and she said that the children played outside for hours, and the two boys fell asleep a full hour before their usual bedtime.”

“I well remember the joys of sledding,” the colonel replied. “My family’s estate is in Nottinghamshire and we always enjoyed heavier snows than here in London.”

“Do you recall the Frost Fair, Richard?” Mr. Darcy asked from the open door, and Elizabeth turned as Darcy and the elder Gardiners entered the room.

“I do!” Mr. Fitzwilliam said. “That does take me back, Darcy. We were but boys!”

“What is a Frost Fair?” Lydia demanded, her eyes sparkling.

“Oh, it was quite the grand event, Miss Lydia,” the military man told her with a twinkle in his eye. “Some decades ago, the ice on the river Thames grew solid enough for coaches to drive safely upon it. Despite the bitter cold, the people of London set up a variety of festivities upon the ice, from skating, to horse-and-coach racing, to puppet shows and food and drink.”

Lydia listened with rapt attention, entranced by the description of such fine entertainment.

“Darcy and I spent several days upon the ice with our fellows,” the colonel went on. “Freezing our fingers was considered a small price to pay for such fun!”

“Lizzy,” Mrs. Gardiner murmured softly into her ear and Elizabeth, noting that her sister was currently well entertained, retreated to the window so that she and her aunt could speak privately.

“Mr. Darcy and Mr. Gardiner have decided on a boarding school in Leicestershire, Mrs. Naples’ School for Girls,” Mrs. Gardiner said. “It is for young ladies considered intractable and is in the country, some three miles from the nearest village.”

“That sounds perfect. As painful as it is, she must not be permitted to act the fool. Will they treat her well, do you think?”

“Oh, my dear, do not worry about that! Mr. Darcy assures me that Mrs. Naples is firm but kind with her charges. She will not allow any harm to come to Lydia.”

Elizabeth blew out a breath and managed a smile. “I am glad, Aunt. As much as she exasperates me, she will always be my dear sister.”

“I know, and we love her as well, of course. Your father sent permission to your uncle to manage the entire affair, and he will escort Lydia to Leicestershire two days from now.”

“When will you tell her what is happening?”

“When she is in the carriage. There is no reason for the rest of us to hear her wailing, and your uncle is, for all his congeniality, a determined man. Miss Grampton will accompany them, to wait on Lydia and keep a careful eye on her.”

Elizabeth frowned and said, “Are you certain? I could accompany Lydia north, and Miss Grampton could stay here. I know you are not feeling well, and she is marvelous with your children.”

“Absolutely not. I am not certain you are aware of this, but before we hired Miss Grampton to teach our children, she was the governess of a rather wild pack of boys in Essex. Not only did she teach them well, she also managed to keep them in order. Miss Grampton is tall and strong and will be indifferent to your sister’s whining. As for you , we will arrange a carriage so that you can return to Longbourn and help Jane with the last details of her wedding. You have done enough worrying and caring for Lydia, and now it is time to pass that burden on to others.”

Elizabeth glanced over at Lydia, who was now openly flirting with Colonel Fitzwilliam, and sighed. She was tired indeed of watching over her frivolous and reckless sister, and looked forward to returning home without her.

/

Library

Darcy House

That Evening

“She is a charming young lady, Darcy,” his cousin remarked as he lowered himself into a chair and stretched his hands out toward the fire.

“Miss Bennet?”

The colonel rolled his eyes and said, “Of course, Miss Bennet! Mrs. Gardiner is charming but not young, and Miss Lydia is young but not charming. She is, in fact, something of an idiot. It is remarkable that she and Miss Bennet are sisters.”

Darcy dropped into a chaise across from Richard and said, “It is. The eldest Misses Bennet always conduct themselves with honor, delicacy, and sense, and the rest of the family is, more or less, a pack of fools.”

“You are very harsh.”

“I am. I have little respect for a gentleman who teases his vulgar wife, and who ignores his younger daughters’ reckless and flirtatious behavior.”

“Mr. Bennet is, at least, dealing with his youngest daughter now.”

Darcy stroked his chin and nodded. “That is true enough, and I must give him credit for that. I think it almost certain that Miss Lydia would have brought scandal and disrepute upon the family name if not taken firmly in hand.”

“I agree,” Richard said quietly.

They sat silently for a few minutes and then the older man said, “Darcy, I did not spend sufficient time with Miss Bennet to understand your fascination with her, but I believe that your feelings for her are very real. She is beautiful, but not incredibly so; therefore, your attraction is not merely a carnal desire for a gorgeous wife. She does not hang on your every word; indeed, she was courteous to you, but never flattered you, which is frankly rare. Are you entirely certain you do not wish to win her hand?”

Darcy groaned and lowered his head into his hands.

“I cannot,” he said, his voice muffled.

“Because her mother is a solicitor’s daughter and her sisters are foolish.”

“Yes.”

“Well, I think you are being ridiculous, but you were always stubborn, Darcy, so I will leave off arguing with you.”

Darcy was caught between a peculiar sense of relief and disappointment. He wanted to pursue Miss Bennet, he truly did, but he owed to his estate, his family, and his sister to choose a more eligible bride.

/

Leicestershire

Two Days Later

Lydia gazed out the window of the carriage as it rolled along on the dirt road, her chin resting wearily on her folded arms. The scenery had remained unchanged for several hours now, miles upon miles of bare, snow-dusted trees that sparkled in the midday sun. Lydia was incapable of appreciating the natural beauty though; Her mood was far too gloomy to acknowledge even the most beautiful of winter landscapes.

Today was the second day of her trip to Mrs. Naples’ School for Girls in Leicestershire. Lydia had not been aware of the trip until yesterday morning, and not until after she had been woken at the break of dawn and bundled into a carriage, along with Mr. Gardiner, and her aunt and uncle’s governess. It was not until after they had left London that her uncle had informed her of the destination, a boarding school nearly a day and a half’s trip from London.

Oh, how Lydia had fussed. She had cried and screamed and wailed, and raised such a commotion in the certainty that such a display would allow her to return to Longbourn. Back home, her mamma had always given her whatever she wanted, and Mr. Bennet only sought to keep her quiet and out of his way.

But Mr. Gardiner and Miss Grampton were indifferent to her cries. Indeed, they merely sat and stared at her as she shrieked and wailed about the injustice of it all. At one point she had attempted to deliver a vicious kick upon Miss Grampton’s shin, thinking that perhaps they would be persuaded to oblige her if she made herself more of a nuisance, but her uncle had simply informed her that if she tried such a thing again, her ankles would be tied for the remainder of their trip.

At this, Lydia had simply dissolved into tears, and though she remained that way for hours upon hours, her travel companions had given her little more than a second glance.

They had stopped for the evening to spend the night in an inn along the way, and Lydia had been escorted promptly from the carriage to her room before being locked inside like a common criminal. She had not even been allowed to enjoy meals in peace, as Miss Grampton had watched her like a hawk when the maid came to bring her supper. The entire experience was utterly degrading.

Today, Lydia was too exhausted to complain about her situation any further. Her head ached from crying, and she could do nothing but stare listlessly out the carriage window as they made their way along the road toward school. Her world had been turned on its head the last few days, and everyone was being so cruel to her!

She knew she would hate boarding school. Indeed, she told her uncle that she would run away, and he had merely responded that she would freeze to death if she did, as the school was several miles from the nearest village. Lydia had declared to him that she would surely freeze then, and she would not be staying in such a horrid place, but her uncle remained unmoved.

It was so utterly unfair. What had she ever done to deserve such brutality? All she had wanted to do was to help poor Mr. Wickham!