Compromised! Page 13

  The colonel was genuinely pleased for his cousin. And he was pleased with the progress just one night at Longbourn had for his female cousins as well. In his memory, he could not recall either Georgiana or Anne’s pleasure at being surrounded by girlish companionship. The youngest Bennet daughter had his cousins decorating bonnets. Apparently, it was a learned skill as neither Georgiana nor Anne showed any promise at the task. There was no doubt, from the volume of the giggling, that they were highly delighted with the process. Miss Lydia Bennet was crass, youthful, and far too young to be out in society. Yet her ability to bring joy to the most reticent of young ladies was unparalleled. If she chose to grow to emulate her older sisters, she would be stunning by the time she was ready to marry, but only if she adjusted her conduct.

  The differences in the Bennet siblings were striking and the colonel wondered at the possibility of being attached to one of them, in particular, the oldest daughter. Jane Bennet radiated calm and her beauty was stunning. Each minute in her presence made his heart beat faster and his desire to be settled grow. Were his eyes sending messages to his heart, overriding his thinking? None of the Bennets possessed a dowry to speak of. For Darcy, who had more money than most, it mattered not. For the colonel, it weighed heavily on the scale of necessity.

  Elizabeth was passionate about life and Richard was drawn to it like Darcy was. He looked over to Jane to see her watching the couple as well. What was going through her mind? Was she as attracted to their closeness as he was? It was a small movement, but Richard saw it. Approval. He shook his head, wondering how he would keep from letting himself be led down a path he could, or would not travel. He was not in a financial position to marry.

  Jane Bennet turned her head slightly and saw the colonel watching her. She could not help but compare him to Bingley. Both were attractive, honorable men. One required his bride to have a dowry, while the other did not. One was kindness and affability; the other was command and intensity. Mr. Bingley? He wanted a mother, but needed the firm hand of a father to finish his training. Like Darcy, the colonel was a man deserving of respect. He would need a wife with a strong personality to be a complement to him. Would she be the right kind of wife for Bingley or the colonel? Could she be happy with either?

  Looking back at Elizabeth and Darcy, she realized how alike they were. They both cared deeply for those they loved and were willing to sacrifice for those same people. Neither were bound by the smallness of country life. It was easy to picture the two of them discovering the world and all it holds. They would be a force to be reckoned with. Jane sighed. Just the thought of that made her weary. She coveted a simple life where her world revolved around her husband and any children they might have. It was not in her to fight wars or take on issues. She would leave that to her husband. Therefore, a man with the nature of the colonel was much more appealing than Mr. Bingley.

  “Miss Bennet, might I escort you to the drawing room to join the company of my family and yours?” Richard had made a decision. He would not be offering for Jane. He could not afford to do so. His heart grieved at the loss.

  “Colonel, we cannot leave Mr. Darcy and Lizzy alone.” Jane was surprised at the colonel for even suggesting this a course. “It would not be proper.” Even though the couple was not touching, their intimacy left Jane feeling unsettled, as if there was wrongdoing that she could not see. When had she become so judgmental of a sister who was so beloved? Was it borne of jealousy for what Lizzy had with Mr. Darcy? Jane was nearing three and twenty years of age and the only prospect for marriage had been Mr. Bingley. Had she been wrong to refuse him?

  “Miss Bennet, I believe they are setting a date to take their wedding vows and I suspect it will take place rather quickly. They need the privacy of only a moment to do so. Would you not wish for the same if it were you?”

  He had no idea the position his question put her in. Jane knew in her heart she would long for time alone with the man she loved. Yet, to admit this fault to a man? It could bring into question her morality and her attention to propriety. Jane had spent a lifetime endeavoring to set a sterling example for her younger sisters and even her mother for proper conduct. It was not something that was easily set aside. She sighed.

  “Colonel Fitzwilliam, might we remove ourselves a bit further away, but remain in the room?”

  Jane saw the look on his face and knew she had answered incorrectly from his point of view. Nevertheless, it was the right thing to do and he could not fault her for her stand.

  Had she but known his true thoughts, Jane would have been surprised. They knew so little of each other.

  ***

  Miss Anne de Bourgh rarely spent time away from her mother and her companion, Mrs. Jenkinson. Her limited life and circumstances left her completely unprepared for Kitty and Lydia Bennet. Mary Bennet, on the other hand, appealed to her need for calm intellect. Both had the disadvantage of being virtually invisible to their mothers.

  “Pray tell me, Miss Mary,” Anne was curious about the Bennet family. With Elizabeth soon to be her cousin, she wondered at Darcy’s reaction to so many females at one time. His discomfort being around strangers, in particular, young, single women was legendary. “What do you think of my cousin?”

  Mary’s heart pounded with a thump at the thought of the colonel. Next to Darcy, he was the most impressive man of her acquaintance. Mary saw the way he had looked at Jane and knew there was no chance he would notice her. She did not resent the beauty of her eldest sister for Jane was the kindest, most deserving of all the Bennet females. Mary would rejoice if they were able to make a match.

  “The colonel seems a fine man.”

  “Oh, he most certainly is, Miss Mary.” Anne chuckled to herself. “However, it was my cousin Darcy to whom I was referring. What think you of him?”

  Mary blushed profusely.

  Since that morning, Anne had received two notes from her mother. Lady Catherine first directed her to remove herself from Longbourn immediately. When she refused to do so, her mother next demanded that she infiltrate the Bennet family to determine the weakest link; an opportunity to find someone to be worked on. Anne refused to accede to her mother’s wishes. For once, Anne had the power to help her cousin, and help him she would.

  Bluntly, for Mary knew no other way, she stated, “At first I was a bit intimidated by Mr. Darcy. He did nothing to recommend himself and insulted Lizzy the first time he saw her. Later, we were in company often and I saw no bending of that erect posture to acknowledge the fine people of this shire. I refused to think poorly of him, as that is my nature. When I found that Mr. Darcy was engaged to wed my liveliest sister, I was beyond surprised. Nevertheless, seeing them together now, your cousin has softened. His devotion to Lizzy draws my eyes in appreciation for the good man who was lurking behind what seemed an arrogant persona.”

  Anne chuckled out loud, which came out sounding more like a chortle from lack of practice. “How well you have described Darcy, Miss Mary.” Anne briefly considered how to word her request. She had heard Mrs. Bennet’s repeated raptures of how Mary and Miss Charlotte Lucas had saved Elizabeth from the evil of Mr. Wickham. She was hoping Mary would help with the current situation as well.

  “Miss Mary, I strongly feel my mother is not above using devious means to keep my cousin from marrying your sister.” Anne watched Mary’s brows rise at the statement. “We shall need to be alert to potential circumstances which could damage the reputation of any in your family. Therefore, who would you guess might be the most easily influenced person in your household?”

  Now, it was Mary’s turn to chuckle. “Miss de Bourgh, have you never realized the strength a female has? Think, I pray you. Who is it that bears the pain of childbirth repeatedly? It is the woman. Who is it that adjusts and adapts to circumstances she has no control over because we are considered the weaker sex? It is the female. Who is it that is condemned for improving our minds by men who are threatened by such improvement? Again, it is us, Miss de Bourgh.”

&nbs
p; “I am shocked!” Anne de Bourgh had never heard the like. Yes, she was aware of a woman’s role— how it was to be dominated by a man. Nonetheless, when she reviewed her own experience, Anne realized it was her mother who ruled the household and her own daughter’s life with an iron fist. Of the two siblings, her mother and Lord Matlock, it was her mother she feared. Any attack by Lord Matlock would be frontal. Her mother? She would connive, scheme, and plot like a hardened criminal, using every sly trick and underhanded action to get what she wanted. Undoubtedly, Lord Matlock was head of the Fitzwilliam family, but Anne could not remember a time when he did not bow to Lady Catherine’s will—eventually.

  “Why would you be surprised Miss de Bourgh?” Mary rarely understood nuances. Her world was very black and white. “You have observed my two younger sisters, have you not? They are silly girls with a head for officers in uniform. By the same token, did either of them stand for allowing Miss Darcy and yourself to remain aloof from company? Not at all. They are both strong-willed young ladies who would fight to protect any of their sisters or acquaintances if there was a threat of injustice. Jane? She is calm and quiet, but she too stood firm when a valuable offer of marriage was made to her. At the risk of angering our mother, Jane rejected the man. No, none of us would be worked on by someone unscrupulous, Miss de Bourgh.”

  “And what of your mother, Miss Mary?”

  “My mother should be the least of your concerns. Miss de Bourgh, she is firmly fixed on a path she refuses to veer from either to the right or the left. Her goal since our birth has been to arrange marriages that will protect our future and hers. Mama would never allow anything to threaten the wedding of Lizzy to your cousin. She would die fighting any person who endeavored to step between them, including your mother, I believe.”

  The mental image of two squawking women wrestling for control made both of them laugh.

  This type of thinking was revolutionary to Miss de Bourgh. Swirling it around and around her mind, she reveled in the strength that seemed to pour into her bones at the thought. “Pray, call me Anne. We are to be cousins after all.” At this, the two young women put their heads together and whispered strategies for the rest of the afternoon.

  ***

  “Elizabeth Bennet. How have I managed to live these years without you?” Darcy watched her smile grow as he whispered to her of his love.

  “Why, I do not know, Fitzwilliam. However did you survive?”

  His Elizabeth was impertinent and he loved her for it.

  “Will you marry me, Elizabeth Anne Bennet?” He no longer smiled at her. His heart was pounding and his breathing was shallow. Yes, she had already agreed to the marriage, though she was forced by circumstances. “Do you want to marry me, dearest?”

  Elizabeth never moved her gaze away from his eyes. She had no need to pretend a shyness she did not feel. Having the colonel and Jane in the room did not stop her from placing her right hand over his beating heart. “I will be wife to no other man. I will bear no other man’s children. My heart will have room for no other man until our sons grow to adulthood. I love only you. Yes, my heart, I want to marry you.”

  Darcy felt tears flood his eyes, and he cared not that she could see them. He put his hands over the one that rested on his chest. He stepped so closely the back of his hands brushed her collar.

  “Tomorrow night we will all meet at Netherfield Park. Bingley will be there along with your family, the Lucas family, Richard, and Georgiana. May I ask your father to invite all to our wedding the following morning?”

  He did not realize he held his breath until she answered in the positive.

  “You will not have time to procure your wedding clothes, Elizabeth.”

  “Are you seriously worrying about lace, Mr. Darcy?”

  They both laughed at the reminder of their conversation with Mr. Bennet in his study.

  “I am not, Miss Elizabeth.” The fun was back in his voice. “I am concerned I do not have a white carriage with four white horses, and a silver unicorn with a bridle made of sunbeams for a bride dressed in a gown spun of golden thread. Nor will we have a traveling band of gypsies to play lutes and drums. Where will you find eight ladies-in-waiting with six young girls throwing rose petals in fewer than two days, my dear?”

  Elizabeth laughed, pulling her hand out from under his. Reaching up, she cupped both hands on each side of his face. Pulling him down, she whispered into his ear, “All I want is you.”

  ***

  Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam stood next to Jane as they watched the passionate embrace. He turned away as if he was a voyeur who had been caught peering at something he ought not. He glanced at Jane to find a look of utter longing on her face as she observed her sister and soon-to-be brother. How could he not make her his wife?

  ***

  By the next morning, Lady Catherine and Lord Matlock had a plan. It had been an hour since Charles Bingley had engaged a room for his sister Caroline at the Meryton Inn. Her whining penetrated the thin walls of the private room the siblings were ensconced in with Mr. Collins.

  “Charles, you cannot possibly leave me here when Netherfield Park has plenty of rooms. I would be pleased to serve as your hostess before I depart in the morning for Liverpool. Please, Charles, do not abandon me here.”

  Her pleas fell on deaf ears.

  “Caroline, you have made your bed and will lie in it. Darcy does not want your company and I cannot believe Colonel Fitzwilliam is any more inclined to be in your presence than Darcy is. Certainly, the Bennets would not want to be in the same room with you. You will stay here, sister.” Bingley put his hand up as he had seen Darcy do many times. “No more fussing.” Bingley looked around to make sure his sister and her hired companion were settled before leaving.

  A few minutes later the knock of a servant bearing a salver with a note on it arrived unexpectedly for Caroline Bingley. Lady Catherine and Lord Matlock would see her in their private room as soon as she was refreshed. Caroline Bingley could not have been more pleased.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Darcy and Richard stood next to each other just inside the doorway between the drawing room and the entrance hall. Neither cared if their anticipation showed for the Bennets’ arrival. Earlier, Darcy had sent his carriage to Longbourn to transport Georgiana and Anne to Bingley’s estate. The female cousins sat and watched as the men paced impatiently.

  Then Bingley walked into the room. He understood why Darcy would be waiting for Elizabeth, but had no clue why the colonel was marching back and forth in front of the doorway like his cousin. How good of him to keep Darcy company.

  It was not until the neighbors from Longbourn finally arrived when Bingley realized what led to Richard’s anticipation; Jane Bennet. As soon as the outer door opened, all three gentlemen rushed to greet the family. The colonel walked directly to Jane, not even acknowledging the presence of the others. He was staking a claim Bingley was unaware he had.

  Bingley’s first reaction was ire and resentment, which was followed by resignation. He loved Jane Bennet with his whole heart and soul. She deserved to be joined to a man worthy of her. His lack of control over his own household proved he was not qualified to marry her. Yet, he loved her. In fact, he loved her enough to see her happily settled with a man who would cherish and protect her in the manner she deserved. Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam was one of the finest of men. Colonel and Mrs. Richard Fitzwilliam. Jane Fitzwilliam. Bingley’s heart screamed to make her Mrs. Charles Bingley—Jane Bingley. But his mind knew he had failed her, leading to his own bitter resignation.

  After their outer wraps were taken, he turned to Mrs. Bennet to escort her into the drawing room. Mrs. Bennet was intent on matching Bingley with the next of her daughters in line, Miss Mary. It was not to be.

  The few hours that separated Mary from Anne had been spent worrying over the actions of Anne’s mother and uncle. Mary rushed to Anne’s side to confer about potential dangers. Therefore, Mrs. Bennet turned her attention to Kitty, shooing her c
loser to where Bingley stood. Neither Kitty nor Lydia were interested in Jane’s leftovers. Besides, he was not wearing an officer’s red coat.

  Bingley stood in the center of the room completely lost. Without either of his sisters to act as his hostess and no Jane Bennet to have on his arm, he turned towards his closest friend. Darcy had eyes for none other than Elizabeth. Bingley looked back to Jane. His heart ached as he noted the candlelight glowing on her skin and lighting her hair like sunbeams. Her eyes, which were looking at the colonel as he spoke to her, glowed like sapphires, and her lips were…

  “Excuse me, Mr. Bingley,” came the low voice of Mr. Bennet.

  Bingley could not recall in his lifetime when he had been more embarrassed. He had been caught staring at the man’s beloved daughter. He was ashamed of himself. Yet, after examining his feelings and goals the whole time he was in London with Caroline, he knew beyond doubt that he wanted only her. It was Jane Bennet who held his heart in her hands. He recognized that his feelings ran deeper than any other time he had imagined himself in love. This was it for him.

  Mr. Bennet cleared his throat, trying to catch Bingley’s attention.

  “Yes, Mr. Bennet, how might I be of service?” Bingley resented asking the question when what he really wanted to ask was for the man’s help in turning his daughter’s attention away from a worthy man like Colonel Fitzwilliam to himself. An impossible dream.

  “Mr. Bingley, for the safety of my daughters, I need to ask the location of your sister, Miss Caroline Bingley.” When Darcy had called on him before departing Longbourn for Netherfield Park, requesting permission to marry quickly, Mr. Bennet had hesitated. However, with the threat of Lady Catherine, Lord Matlock, and his own foolish cousin, Mr. William Collins, in the neighborhood he easily relented. Once Caroline was ruled out as a possible source of trouble, there would be one less matter of concern. Thus, he was shocked at Bingley’s reply.