Friends and Enemies Read online

  Darcy rubbed his brow. Richard had a point. He hated society. He hated crowds. The only woman worthy of his company was currently above stairs caring for his sister. Would she be willing to take on the first circles? She had courage. He did not doubt her success.

  “Mr. Gardiner, might I beg for a favour.” At the man’s silence, Darcy continued. He could feel the heat flowing from his chest up his neck and knew his cheeks were red. His ears were probably a purple hue. “I have come to value your niece, Miss Elizabeth, highly.” He cleared his throat. “Her calmness under this calamity was a source of strength for me. Her choice not to accept the proposal of Mr. Collins showed discernment, for he is our Aunt Catherine’s rector, and is nothing more than a toad.”

  He felt his cousin’s eyes on him. He turned to address Richard.

  “Has your courtship with Miss Knowlton been successful?”

  “She has agreed to that arrangement.” Richard pulled at his collar, and Darcy knew the courtship had not come easily to his cousin.

  “Then, Mr. Gardiner, might I apply to your niece to accompany me to the opera tomorrow night?” When the older man sat quickly back in his seat, he worried over the man’s reply. Before Mr. Gardiner could say anything, he added, “My intentions are honourable. It is my hope to enter a courtship, followed by an engagement, and then marriage. I foresee your niece as the future Mistress of Pemberley and Darcy House.”

  “You do, do you?” Mr. Gardiner glared at him and Darcy wanted to squirm. It was the first time he had put his desires into words. He had to admit to himself how palatable they were, as if a lovely melody resounded in his heart. “What of your sister?”

  “Necessity dictates that she remains under your care, sir. I will be a frequent visitor, which will be proper if Miss Elizabeth and I are courting.”

  He held his breath. So much was riding on the response of a man he knew only by reputation.

  “You have clearly stated your feelings on the matter, though I wonder if you would have ever done so had your sister not been upstairs.” Mr. Gardiner emptied his glass, carefully placing it on the desk in front of him. “Have you any indication how my niece feels about you?”

  Darcy exhaled forcefully. “She held my hand, sir. Twice.”

  He felt his cousin’s eyes on him. He could tell that neither man expected this answer.

  “I believe her opinion of me has improved, Mr. Gardiner. Nevertheless, whether it has improved to the extent that she would accept my offer, I do not know.”

  Mr. Gardiner pushed back his chair and stood. Darcy and the colonel followed suit. “Then I believe our next step is to ask her.” Her uncle walked to the door to have Barton send for his niece.

  The mantel clock ticked loudly during the minutes it took until a light tap on the door was heard.

  “Enter.” Without thinking, Darcy answered before his host could. Could he embarrass himself in front of this man any more than he already had?

  CHAPTER 11

  “I think not.” Miss Elizabeth looked him directly in the eye with not even a hint of a waiver. Her uncle and the colonel had allowed them privacy to speak, Richard going upstairs to wait on Georgiana while Mr. Gardiner was in the library awaiting happy news. “Nonetheless, I do appreciate the honour of being asked.”

  “And this is all the reply which I am to have the honour of expecting?” He was stunned. How could she not see the wisdom of his request?

  “Mr. Darcy, pray might we be seated?” Miss Elizabeth waved her hand at the two chairs in front of the fireplace.

  He was not proud of his petulance, yet it settled on his shoulders with a solidity he felt he could never shake off.

  “Sir, I had thought we had canvassed our prior interactions ad nauseum. For a fact, Lydia informed you of how you were viewed by myself and all of our neighbours. We have already agreed that the weeks ahead may reveal how the bad we had thought of each other might be overcome by the good we are learning. Not enough time has passed, Mr. Darcy. We agreed, sir, to a friendship. No more. No less.” Her voice was firm, though laced with calm. “Your sister’s plight has stirred my compassion. She has been the victim of a predator, and you have had someone you love taken advantage of in a harmful way. How could my heart not feel sadness at the precious life of a babe, who had not grown enough to take the first breath of life, being lost? How could my mind not race to my own family’s situation? I have four sisters, two of whom are described by my father as the silliest girls in Hertfordshire and perhaps all of England. I ache inside at the thought of how any of my sisters would suffer should they be in Miss Darcy’s shoes. Therefore, I ache for Miss Darcy as well.”

  “I thought we had moved on, Miss Elizabeth.” His voice rose despite his efforts to keep calm. “You held my hand!”

  “I did.”

  “I informed your uncle of your doing so. Twice,” he blurted, realising he was desperate enough to claim compromise to have her bend to his desires.

  Resentment flashed from her beautiful eyes, followed immediately by resignation. He started to rejoice, but kept his face stoic, so she would not think him savouring the victory.

  “I wish you had not done so.” Her rapid breathing was the only indication she was upset. “For you have placed my dearest relative in an untenable position. Although he is in trade, he is a gentleman from head to toe. His oversight of his household is much like I mentioned of my aunt, kind and firm.”

  “I had thought as much.”

  “No, Mr. Darcy.” She leaned towards him slightly. “I do not believe you were thinking at all when you spoke, or you were again thinking only of yourself. This is not what friends do, sir.”

  “I told him I would marry you,” he insisted, wanting her to come to the same conclusion he had reached, that they were made for each other.

  She put both hands on the arms of her chair, readying herself to stand, sparks of ire shooting from her eyes. This, he could not allow. The matter needed to be settled by the time they left the room.

  “Mr. Darcy, you do not know what you have done.” Her chin lifted as she sat back in the chair. “My uncle is the best of men who has a comprehensive understanding of the way your world works.”

  Darcy interjected. “We, he and I, are not so different. When the report from your aunt reached him on the ship, he abandoned his plans because his family is his priority. Like me, he wears his responsibility like his outer garment for all to see. No one who has any powers of observation would deny his attention to his familial duty. I would imagine he acts the same with his business.”

  “Yes,” she whispered hesitantly. She was wary. “Unlike my mother, sir, my uncle will not push me to accept you. I am in London because I would not bend to her will and marry my father’s cousin so she would be guaranteed a home if left a widow. Now, you have made this difficult for uncle and I am resentful at your doing so. I am a guest in their home. I sought sanctuary here when Longbourn became a place of constant confrontation and complaint. I will not accept a courtship if I cannot see the potential for love and affection, for that is what I insist upon when I marry.”

  He had no idea how to ask what he needed to know so he blurted out, “You are saying, then, that you feel neither of those qualities for me?”

  “How could I? What do I know of you but that you are rich, are guardian of a sister you adore, and that you find me severely lacking in looks and form? Why would I want to give the appearance at the cost to my reputation that we are in any way attached?” She had moved closer to the edge of the seat with each word. He fully expected her to come at him with fists flying. “Can you tell me, in all honesty, that you feel love and affection for me? For, if you do, I will call you a liar. You, sir, are on the precipice of disaster and are looking for a convenient means of escape. Had you approached me as a friend, had you sought my help because of fellow feeling, I would have done whatever is in my power to assist you. Your choice to offer a speedy courtship, engagement, and marriage is premature and not within the rules of the
agreement we made.”

  “Miss Elizabeth—”

  “No, sir!” She stood. As he did as well, he stepped closer until they were almost touching. “You can say nothing else I am willing to hear. I will not pretend a courtship with you. I would not do so with any man. Therefore, I am not singling you out. I will endeavour to forget this conversation as I would hope you do as well.”

  “I cannot.” It was time to beg. “My honour, my sense of honesty, my abhorrence of lies and untruths will not allow me to pretend friendship as my only goal.” He swallowed, gulping needed air. “I do love you.” He brushed his hand through his hair, pulling at the ends. “Oh, I have not always done so, but I felt the threat at Netherfield. I knew my heart was in danger, so I withdrew, both to not increase expectations, but also to protect me from hurt. You are beautiful to me.”

  “Pshaw!” she snorted.

  He could no longer help himself. He moved closer, so close he could see each individual eyelash surrounding her glorious eyes.

  He whispered, “I love you, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and I will do so until I take my final breath. I love your wit. I love your gentleness. I love your quiet dignity in the face of adversity. I love your kind heart that is willing to look beyond an inept, socially awkward man to search for even a little bit of good to be found in him. I love your fierceness when those you love are threatened or need your guiding hand. I love your eyes, so green they make the Darcy emeralds pale by comparison. And I love your strength, your firm hand where comfort flows from your palm to mine.” Her eyes softened. “I love you with my whole being and I always will. There will never be another who could pry my heart from you, Elizabeth. Never.”

  “Unfair, sir!” She fell back into the chair.

  “Elizabeth, in all our conversations, or in those you may have overheard with others, have you known me to dissemble?”

  “I will not answer you.” She folded her arms across her middle and looked to the floor.

  “I had not considered the timing of my request. Now that you have skillfully brought it to my attention, I will step back to petition only for the hand of friendship.” He had deserved every word of her putting him in his place.

  She lifted her head.

  “Will you accept my invitation to the opera tomorrow evening, knowing we will be the object of attention and speculation, which I will attempt to use to distract the curious about my sudden change of plans?” He sat back in his chair, crossing his legs to give the appearance of being relaxed. His insides were so tense he thought he might not be able to eat solid food for the next week. “I ask nothing more.”

  He could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she considered his request. He was unaware he had been holding his breath until she nodded. His forceful exhale sounded loud to his ears.

  “I thank you, Miss Elizabeth.” He stood and offered her a hand up, which she refused. “I shall go and check on my sister, then Richard and I will need to visit Matlock House to reassure them that Georgiana suffered from a stomach ailment and is finding relief staying with cheerful companions.”

  “And you claim to be an honest man?” Her eyes twinkled. Relief filled him.

  He chuckled. “Miss Elizabeth, pray understand that I would do anything or become anything to protect those I love.” He raised his brow as he watched her blush deepen. “Would you come with me to see my sister? I do not know what emotions will dominate and could use your knowledge of the female mind.”

  He reached for her hand, which she quickly put behind her back. Bowing, he waited for her to walk in front of him, realising he had barely dodged a bullet that would have gone straight through his heart. He had many changes to make before he would win her heart, but win her heart he would.

  ***

  Richard stood as they crept inside the bed chamber. The heavy curtains covered the window and few candles lit the room. Georgiana’s pale face held no expression, nor did she move. He assumed the power of the laudanum was still taking effect. Richard disabused him of that idea.

  “She refuses to speak. Yes, her eyes are closed, but she is awake,” his cousin whispered.

  He moved closer. Miss Elizabeth followed and stood next to him.

  “Georgie, are you well?”

  He knew the question was foolish, but he could think of nothing else to say. He was ready to beat himself for his inability to be coherent when his little sister responded by rolling away from him on the mattress, putting her back to the three of them.

  Darcy spied a heavy chair with rockers on the bottom. Without saying a word, he walked to the bed and thrust his arms under his sister, grabbing her and the bedding. To her squeals, he sat quickly and wrapped her tightly in his arms.

  Her resistance was brief. Throwing her arms around her brother’s neck, she sobbed.

  “Oh, William. What have I done?”

  Darcy started the chair rocking. “Hush, baby girl,” he whispered over and over, laying his cheek against her own. “I am here, Poppet. I will always be here for you, dearest sister.”

  He gave her thick braid a gentle tug and started to softly sing.

  “Rock-a-bye, baby, thy cradle is green,

  Father’s a nobleman, mother’s a queen”

  He looked up as his baritone flitted to the corners of the room and saw the softness of Elizabeth’s eyes. For the first time since their disastrous conversation in Mr. Gardiner’s study, he felt the trickling of heat from a bright ray of sun. He felt hope.

  CHAPTER 12

  “Are you prepared for your conversation with Mother and Father?” Richard had tied his horse to the back of the carriage and was riding inside. They spoke quietly so Mr. Gardiner’s footmen and driver would be unaware of their theme.

  Darcy brushed his fist over his mouth, settling it lower to tap on his chin.

  “Can I trust them with the truth, Richard?”

  “Not at all,” his cousin sighed. “I hate to say it, but Father has never forgiven you for not begging for his help when Uncle Darcy died. As much as he loves Georgiana, and I do sincerely believe he does, he secretly longs to see you knocked down a peg or two for being competent.”

  “He did not want to help. He wanted money.”

  “Yes, he did. My brother’s habits are expensive.” Richard bowed his head. The colonel took in a deep breath. “I had to ask mother about the property left her by her grandmother. I hated doing so as I felt like I was demanding an inheritance I had no claim to. Yet, had I not done so, I could not have in good conscience pursued Cecily. We would need a place to live and an income to live on. Briarwood Estate will suit our needs. It has two-thousand a year with the potential for more.”

  “Do not be embarrassed. This is not your shame, Cousin.” Darcy knew the feelings churning inside the man across from him. He, too, knew the pain of suffering for the bad decisions of their relatives. Yet, neither of the cousins were to blame, at least not the ones presently in the carriage. “You are just as much your mother’s son as is your eldest brother. Do not hang your head, Richard. Do not!”

  Their eyes met briefly before the colonel resumed his observation of the scenery outside the coach.

  “I am pleased to hear you will be able to resign your commission. And, despite your father’s actions at the time, there is much to admire about him.” Darcy sought to reassure the colonel. “His sincere efforts in the House of Lords, his affection for his wife and children, and his attempts to corral his sister, Lady Catherine, who defies decorum each time she opens her mouth, are worthy of approbation.” Darcy’s brusque response appeared to stiffen his cousin’s spine. “He raised one of the finest men in all of England. He cannot be faulted for that, now, can he?”

  “Ha!” Richard exclaimed. “I am a product of my mother as much as him. I love both of my parents, but I see where they fail, particularly with the heir.” He scoffed. “It is good you admire him in spite of his flaws.”

  “I…” Darcy groaned. “Oh, good God in heaven! What have I done?”

&
nbsp; “What have you done?”

  “Only publicly shunned Miss Elizabeth’s family, especially her mother who is quite vulgar, not comprehending in the slightest that she most likely felt the same as I do of my own family—loving them, faults and all.” Could he get any stupider? “How in the world am I to fix this when it is added to what I have already done?”

  “Rhetorical or do you actually want an answer?” The gleam in his eye was proof of Richard’s attempt at humour—a failed attempt.

  “If you have any suggestions, feel free.” Darcy waved his hand at his cousin. “I need all the help I can get.”

  “There is only one thing you can do to improve yourself in the eyes of a woman you admire. Develop humility. Learn to apologise without choking on the words.” To be efficient, his cousin pretended to gag.