Darcy, Knight Errant (Elizabeth and Darcy True Love Multiverse)

13. Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Riding back to Longbourn in the carriage provided by Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth kept a careful eye on her sister. Jane was healthy enough to return to finish recovering, though she was by no means completely well. Their mother had once again refused them the use of the carriage in a ploy to force them to remain, but feeling that staying any longer would be inappropriate, Elizabeth had asked for the use of Mr. Bingley’s carriage to return home.

Surprisingly, Elizabeth had enjoyed the stay at Netherfield. Despite the weight of caring for her sister and her worrying over her, she carved out moments in the morning to enjoy breakfast with Mr. Darcy. During these stolen moments, she discovered his skill as a captivating conversationalist and debater. She quickly learned that they had enjoyed many of the same books, though they did not always hold the same view on those books.

It had been several years since her father had been willing to discuss what she read, and so Elizabeth had thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity she found with Mr. Darcy. They had even attempted a game or two of chess. While Miss Bingley derided her manly interest in chess, Mr. Darcy was quick to defend her. She would miss the opportunity to spend time with him, but Mr. Darcy assured her that there were already plans in place to call on the Bennets as soon as propriety would allow.

Still easily tired, Jane lay her head on Elizabeth’s shoulder before saying, “Do you think mama will be angry that we did not stay at Netherfield for the week complete she demanded?”

Sighing, Elizabeth thought back to her mother’s response to her request for the carriage to return home once Mr. Jones said that it was safe for Jane to travel. Her mother had said by all means Elizabeth could return, but she would not send the carriage. Since Elizabeth had walked there, she could walk back. As for Jane, their mother had said that Jane should play the invalid and extend her stay, being sure to stay in Mr. Bingley’s company to capture his attention and not come home until she had contrived at least a courtship from the man.

Patting Jane’s hand, Elizabeth consoled her. “Mama will not be angry at you, especially if you tell her Mr. Bingley wants to call on us as soon as may be. No matter what mama wants, neither of you know each other well enough to enter into a courtship. Frankly, I spoke with Mr. Bingley more than you did while we were there. Though I can tell you now, I have no interest in his courting me. Not that mama would ever encourage such a match.”

Looking at Elizabeth, Jane asked, “Why wouldn’t you want to be courted by Mr. Bingley? He is everything that is good, and his happy manners are quite appealing.”

Smiling at her sister’s quick defense of the man, Elizabeth answered, “He is also very agreeable and handsome, and I give you leave to like him if you choose to, but he is not for me. I yearn for someone who can challenge me and is of a more responsible disposition. I do not want a gentleman I could so easily direct about. So I give you leave to fall in love with Mr. Bingley as long as you take your time getting to know him.”

At that, they both giggled happily, finishing the ride to Longbourn in merry chatter about nothing. When the carriage stopped and one of the footmen opened the door, Jane, well wrapped in two shawls, descended the stairs with his help. Elizabeth easily followed quick to wrap her arm around her sister’s waist as they walked towards the entrance to Longbourn.

Sadly, they had not made it far before their mother descended upon them. “What have you done, you hateful girl! I told you that you should come home, not that you should take Jane away from Mr. Bingley. Have you no compassion for my nerves? How can Jane catch Mr. Bingley if she is here and he is there?”

Elizabeth ignored her mother’s rant, instead she moved with Jane into the house. It was cold outside, and she did not want Jane relapsing. She knew from her experience that her mother did not want her to defend herself. So she did not.

Jane, however, hated it when their mother berated any of her sisters, so she said, “Mama, Mr. Jones said that it would be best that I return home to finish recovering. Elizabeth’s priority was my well-being, and it would have been impolite to stay after Mr. Jones suggested I go back home.”

This turned Mrs. Bennet’s attention to her oldest daughter crying, “I cannot believe that your sister was seeing to you as she should if this is how you look. Your beauty has all but faded. There is no bloom in your cheeks and your hair has lost its shine. We must get you inside at once. We cannot have anyone seeing you like this.” Pulling Jane away from Elizabeth, Mrs. Bennet rushed her into the house. Calling back over her shoulder, she said, “Do not dawdle, Elizabeth. Your father said that his horrid cousin is going to be coming to Longbourn this afternoon. Since I will be responsible for your sister’s care, I trust you will make all the necessary arrangements.”

Elizabeth shook her head as she watched her mother bustle into the house with her sister, the Bingley’s carriage crunching on the gravel behind her as it left. She knew it was wrong of her to want to turn around and walk away from her all that was her life at Longbourn, but in that moment it was all she wanted to do. Drawing a deep breath of air into her lungs, Elizabeth trudged toward her home.

She was not at all surprised that her mother had foisted the arrangements for their last-minute guest on to her. Ever since Jane was fourteen, and she was thirteen, the true mistress’s duties for Longbourn had been theirs. Their mother only indulged in the parts of being the mistress of an estate that she enjoyed, such as hosting elaborate dinners to impress their neighbors.

Instead of retreating to her room to rest as she wished, Elizabeth sought out Mrs. Hill to discuss the progress made on behalf of the Longbourn heir. Among the many guest rooms available, Elizabeth was determined to find one that would both impress him with its elegance and put him far away from her and her sisters. Regardless, she was going to have a footman stationed in the hallway where she and her sisters resided. She did not know what kind of man he was, and she was not about to leave them unprotected.

Between his preoccupation with Miss Elizabeth’s departure, and Miss Bingley’s unending chatter, it was difficult for Darcy to read. No matter how he tried to concentrate, he could not make his mind focus on the words before him. Part of the problem was that Miss Bingley was incessantly harping on the people of Meryton and Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth, in particular.

As she flipped through the pages of a ladies’ magazine, Miss Bingley leaned over to Louisa and said, “I overheard some gossip at one of those dreadful social events we attended, claiming that she is regarded as one of the area’s jewels. Jewels? She came uninvited with her petticoats six inches in mud. It just goes to show how provincial these people are.”

“No, Miss Elizabeth is nothing like any ladies we associate with from town.” Darcy noted that while Mrs. Hurst seemed to agree with her sister, she also said nothing that was not true.

Miss Elizabeth was not anything like the women they associated with. She was not petty, and certainly not like many of the harpies in town. Despite having only known Miss Elizabeth for a few days, he couldn’t help but miss her, drawn to her kindness, capability, and intelligence. This was an uncommon occurrence for him.

Darcy debated the wisdom of curtailing Miss Bingley’s mean-spirited comments. Miss Bingley was the sort of woman who would not be curbed by any criticism on his part. More than that, he feared that if he defended Miss Elizabeth, it would only paint a target on her back in Miss Bingley’s eyes. It was for those reasons the Darcy kept his peace, but Miss Bingley would not stop.

After studying one of the fashion plates in the magazine for a time, she turned the page again. This time saying, “While Miss Bennet’s beauty is unquestionable, Miss Elizabeth cannot hold a candle to her older sister. I suppose her teeth are white and even, but really, I can find nothing in her countenance to recommend her.” Then, tittering in a way that ground against his nerves, she added, “I heard it said that she meets with Longbourn’s steward about the care of the tenants and various other issues. She even goes to the tenant’s homes to provide aid to those in need. Can you imagine Louisa? Going to one of those hovels?”

Unable to fight his inclination any longer, Darcy said, “I am happy that you have finally realized that you are not suited to being the mistress of an estate. When will you be returning to London in your search for a husband?” Pausing, he pretended to consider something before adding, “I hear that second and third sons who have taken up law or trade are often looking for brides with large dowries.”

Mouth gaping, Miss Bingley stared at him in horror while across the room Mr. Hurst had sat up, proving that he had, in fact, not been asleep on the settee. Bingley looked back and forth between his sister and Darcy as if waiting for someone to make the next move in a deadly game. Miss Bingley came out of her stupor in a rush crying, “What are you saying, Mr. Darcy? I can plan dinners and throw balls. The best masters have trained me on both the piano and the harp exquisitely. I would make the perfect mistress of an estate.”

Closing the book that he had not been reading, Darcy stared at Miss Bingley, determined she would hear him. “The mistress of an estate is not a mere ornament, there to hold entertainments and feed people. The mistress of an estate visits the tenants and sees to their needs. She coordinates the care of the dairy and the home farm and the herb garden. In the stillroom she makes lotions and soaps and unguents. She makes sure everyone under her preview is healthy, warm and well dressed. That includes the tenants and servants and, sometimes, the poor of the closest town. If necessary, she sews their clothes herself.”

Miss Bingley had listened to him, her eyes widening with every word. When Darcy stopped, she whispered, “You must be joking with me, Mr. Darcy. Surely you would not want your wife mingling with people so beneath her. There must be someone else who sees to all of those things.”

“No, I am not joking. No wife of mine would ever believe herself above other people, how you imply. Even my dear mother, the daughter of an earl, rode out regularly to check on the tenants and dispense aid to those in need. In even the smallest of estates, the mistress is required to see to the tasks that I named. All of which are tasks Miss Elizabeth carries out without complaint. Deriding her shows only your ignorance.” Shaking his head, Darcy wondered if he was going too far. He had only recently promised himself that he would not be cruel. But wasn’t it better to make her realize that all her aspirations would not get her what she wanted? Then, too, he wanted to be chivalrous and wasn’t defending a lady the epitome of chivalry even if he was protecting her from another woman?

Sighing, he added, “I do not want to hurt you, Miss Bingley, but we will never suit. I have hoped you would come to an understanding of this on your own, but you are going too far. When the Bennet sisters visited Netherfield, you failed to extend them even the basic courtesies of hospitality that I would expect of the mistress of my estate. Gossip, fashion, and all things popular in society are not to my liking. I hope you can comprehend that we are not a good match. You would be better off in town, where people focus on the petty matters that seem to captivate you.”

Finally, looking away from Miss Bingley’s pale face, Darcy noticed Hurst’s smile. It seemed that his speech was at least approved of by one person. He still felt as if he should apologize to Bingley for speaking out of turn, though not a word he had said was untrue.

Miss Bingley, still pale, glanced around the room and, eyes landing on her brother, said, “Charles, say something to Mr. Darcy. Tell him that his is wrong.”

Frowning at his sister Bingley said, “I cannot Caroline, he is right. I have been trying to make you understand he is not the right person for you and that he lacks any interest in you.”

Spinning back around, Miss Bingley glared at Darcy before fleeing the room. Darcy watched her go before turning back to Bingley and apologizing. Bingley only shrugged, saying, “Caroline has not listened to me. It needed to be said, and you needed to be the one to say it. It was time.”

Hurst laughed and said, “It was long overdue,” from across the room.

Miss Darcy giggled as she read her brother’s latest letter, causing Mrs. Annesley to look up from her embroidery. Smiling at her charge’s joy, Mrs. Annesley asked, “What do you find so humorous in your brother’s letter?”

Eyes dancing, Miss Darcy said, “Although it’s good news that Lizzie’s sister is well enough to go back home to Longbourn, I believe he’s regretting their departure from Netherfield. William writes of how much he has enjoyed coming to know Miss Elizabeth, as he calls her. Her wide range of knowledge and her ability to debate competently over differing opinions has surprised him.” Pausing, her expression lost some of its joy, she continued, “I know I told him they had much in common. Do you think he did not believe me?”

Putting down her embroidery hoop, Mrs. Annesley said, “Consider the women he knows. Even those who claim to enjoy reading would never dare express an unpopular opinion. If someone questioned them on their beliefs, they would be completely incapable of supporting their views in debate. Miss Bingley, for example, would immediately change her views to match your brother’s. It might not be so much that he did not believe you, but that he underestimated the truth behind your words.”

Fidgeting with the edge of the letter in her hand, Georgianna responded, “I suppose you are right. If all the women he knows are like Miss Bingley, Lizzie would come as a pleasant shock. I can only hope that he enjoys spending time with her so much that he will want her spending more time with us as a family.” Folding the letter back up, Georgianna grinned and picked up her own sewing project.

As Mrs. Annesley observed Miss Darcy, her eyes narrowed, and she couldn’t help but notice the telltale blush that appeared on Miss Darcy’s cheeks as she averted her gaze. “Miss Darcy, are you hoping that something develops between your brother and Miss Bennet?”

Blush intensifying, Miss Darcy smiled, confessing, “I think Lizzie would be the very best of sisters. She would be a wonderful mistress to Pemberley, and I think my brother would be happy to have a wife he could talk to intelligently.”

Sighing, Mrs. Annesley said, “You know, finding a marriage mate is more complicated than finding someone you can debate with.”

“Yes, yes, I know. But I can hope, can’t I?” chirped Miss Darcy.

Taking her embroidery hoop back up, Mrs. Annesley acquiesced, “Yes, you can hope, but don’t forget that you have another week of lessons before we can go to Meryton.”

Concentrating on the rose that she was currently trying to embroider, Miss Darcy said, “I am already planning on what to pack so that we can leave first thing the next morning.”

Chuckling, Mrs. Annesley worked on her own project. It would be interesting to see Miss Bennet and Mr. Darcy interact with one another. As sweet as Miss Bennet was, she did not have the best prospects, and it would be a wonderful thing if she caught the eye of a man like her employer. There were certainly many worse options.