Page 40 of Lord Lonbourn's Daughter
The carriage pulled up in front of the steps to Bennet House. Mr Darcy handed her down himself, escorted her inside, and walked her to the foot of the stairs.
“Good night, Elizabeth.” Her husband bowed and turned to leave.
“Are you not retiring?” she called after him.
He halted his steps and faced her. “No, not yet. I have business that needs to be addressed.”
“Can it not wait until tomorrow?” she suggested.
“No, I am afraid not,” he replied gruffly.
“Well then…good night, Mr Darcy.” Elizabeth curtsied and ascended the stairs.
#
He stood and watched her leave, afraid to let her out of his sight until she was safely ensconced in her chamber. Her lady’s maid must have been waiting for her because he heard her remote voice greet someone as she opened the door, and the voice answering was female. He could relax and get to the last task of the day. He knew there was a tome in his library, a medical treatise that included females and reproductive problems. He slipped out of Bennet House to his own home next door, in search of enlightenment. A movement in the periphery of his vision made him look up at his wife’s window, but it was empty.
Chapter 13 Awry
“A Miss Bingley to see you, Lady Jane.”
“Send her in, Mr Schneider, and tell my sisters we have a visitor, please.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Elizabeth was not duped by Miss Bingley’s pretend regard. She had taken too much delight in their predicament at their disastrous ball to be genuine. She had heard her snickering over the din, and her comments had not been polite, but she was Mr Bingley’s sister. He was all that was amiable and good, and for his sake, she would make an effort to befriend the lady.
She entered the parlour where Miss Caroline Bingley was fawning all over her sister. She hardly noticed the additions to the party. Mary picked up her book unperturbed, but Elizabeth had not brought anything to read. Instead, she sat down beside her sister as an experiment to see how long the miss would manage to overlook her existence.
She predicted it would take a while, but then her husband entered the room, gaining everyone’s attention with his mere presence.
“I thought I heard your voice, Miss Bingley. Is your brother with you?”
He addressed the visitor without greeting his wife.
“I am afraid not, Mr Darcy. He is at the coach maker, ordering a new carriage for his bride. He assured me the inside would be covered in leather and the wheels would have at least twelve spokes,” she preened.
Elizabeth saw Mr Darcy frown at the news. Was he at least a bit embarrassed he had not thought of such a wedding present himself? A new carriage was the usual gift for a wealthy gentleman to make his bride feel appreciated. Not that Elizabeth had expected Mr Darcy to provide her with such a gesture following their hasty patched-up marriage.
She was being churlish, but being forced to submit to the exact opposite of what her wishes had been did that to a person. Never had she wanted to enter a cold and silent marriage of convenience where she doubted her husband’s regard and respect. Or he might be frowning because Jane was marrying the man he had intended for his sister. Neither possibility showed him in a particularly good light.
“He is coming to collect me after his errands are finished. I am sure he will have a moment to spare for his dearest friend.”
“Yes, thank you, Miss Bingley. I would appreciate it if I could be notified of his arrival. I have a matter of import to discuss with him.”
“I shall send my brother directly to you. Where can he find you, Mr Darcy?”
“I shall be in my study at Darcy House. Would you be so kind as to ask him to meet me there?”
“Certainly, Mr Darcy.” Miss Bingley smiled in an assuring manner.
Her husband left with nary a glimpse in her direction. Elizabeth fought hard to maintain her indifference over the slight. Miss Bingley had, of course, noticed and became even more animated. Why would she be so delighted? She was joining this family in a matter of days. She treated Jane with every deference, so why would she treat her any different? Unless she held a particular interest in Mr Darcy herself. Perhaps they both had hoped for a Bingley/Darcy pairing. Two, in fact.
Elizabeth had let her thoughts wander too long. Jane was inviting Miss Bingley to accompany them to her next fitting with the seamstress, prompted by Miss Bingley probing and implying how she longed to be a part of the wedding preparations. Had Elizabeth been paying attention to the conversation, she might have prevented the unwelcome addition.
#
Colonel Fitzwilliam was in a public house across the road from Dr Sauveterre’s clinic. Unfortunately, the poor glazing in the windows made it almost impossible to distinguish any details, but he was able to see whether anyone was coming or going. If anything of interest were to happen, he could always venture out.
