Mr Darcy's Fight for Love, page 7
"May I have the pleasure to accompany you after dinner?" he said. He tried to be persuasive and warm while Elizabeth looked from him to the viscount with a slightly embarrassed gaze. Undoubtedly the viscount had asked for the same favour. Darcy could not believe that the old game had started again. He decided not to let the viscount make his favourite move and steal Elizabeth’s attention. He smiled although his heart was in a confusing mix of fury and frustration, "I may have some news for you," he said and succeeded in seizing her attention. He had received a letter from the colonel with some news regarding Wickham. He did not intend to speak about that scoundrel at such an exquisite dinner…yet the circumstances had changed, and he decided to use any ruse to take her away from the viscount.
Certainly, the viscount just wanted to play. He did not really like Elizabeth. In contrast to Darcy, he had never quitted his style of life. From time to time, when in London, Darcy used to hear about his old rival's adventures. He still gambled and drank and chased inappropriate relationships with all the ladies he met.
Elizabeth was from Hertfordshire, even farther in spirit than in distance from London and she was so far from knowing the real evil the viscount represented. Wickham was a miserable scoundrel in search of wealth, while the viscount was a degenerate gambler playing for the sake of an insane game.
Not even Lady Sophie might have known the truth about the man she invited to her dinner. She had lived almost secluded near her nephew for the last seven years.
The viscount decided to keep an eye on Elizabeth but find someone more adequate as a source of information. During the dinner, he looked around and saw his old acquaintance, Lady Roxanne Russell, who was near Lady Sommershire as a sign of their excellent relationship. She was the one he needed, so he decided that Elizabeth would be used only in the war with Darcy.
Like always he had seen that they were invited to an engagement party. He imagined the dinner would be followed by a discreet ceremony when the announcement would be made. And for once he had been wrong. The engagement announcement went so fast in Sommershire Palace that, for the first time in his life, he lost track. He turned to place a word at Elizabeth's ear and he missed the crucial moment when the Duke of Sommershire proffered his future wife’s name. One moment he was looking at the duke and the lady next to him and the next they disappeared, and he still did not know who she was. He looked around to ask someone while Darcy caught the moment and took Elizabeth far away from him.
‘Difficult dinner,’ he thought, while he searched for a friend to ask who the fortunate lady was. He needed the information fast. His friend looked at him with much astonishment; the viscount was the best-informed man in London, yet he seemed to have lost the most essential news. The little lady, the Duke of Sommershire’s future wife, was a commoner, an outsider who lived in Hertfordshire and had four sisters. But even the most vicious slanderers in London would not have dared to speak a vile word about her or her family as the duke’s influence on the Regent was immense. London tacitly decided to adore Mary Bennet and celebrate the marriage as the most important event since the last royal wedding.
“Her name is Miss Mary Bennet!”
The viscount had to sit, his most precious source of information was, in the end, Elizabeth Bennet, who just left with that Darcy.
He recomposed himself while asking a servant to lead him to a place where he could write his letter. That evening had to finish in triumph for him. London would give him back the title of the most informed man in the Ton, and then he would defeat his enemy by stealing the other Miss Bennet.
A plan formed in his head as he finished writing the letter to his mistress.
He needed Elizabeth to win a war but also to find out the events that would, doubtless, make Sommershire Palace the most exciting place in London.
And in future, even an alliance would be beneficial for him. It was time to settle down, he had money, but he needed a better reputation and a young lady from Hertfordshire might be the solution…not to forget she was the Duchess of Sommershire’s sister!
Chapter 13
Elizabeth and Darcy left unseen in the turmoil produced by the Duke of Sommershire’s announcement.
In the end, Elizabeth decided for Darcy; it was her heart guiding her and for the first time, she recognised that she liked him. She could be furious or angry at him, criticise his manners or his prejudices, in the end, all the trouble between them, the heavy words or resentments came from attraction. She smiled at his side, her hand prisoner in a gesture a man used only for the woman he loved. Usually, when a man offered his arm, it was more a touch, her palm on his elbow, while Darcy, with a decided move, brought her hand to his heart. She blushed but did not refuse his gesture in silent acceptance of the new situation between them.
She was close to him, enjoying the intimacy this new experience gave her. Her heart was beating and her cheeks were on fire, but those sensations came out of excitement, not shyness. They needed a place to be alone and speak. She remembered all the beautiful places in Sommershire Palace and decided to lead him to a terrace, not far from the dining room, enclosed in glass, made for strolling in warmth, during winter. Exotic plants were all along the large glasses making the place look more like a greenhouse than a terrace.
They strolled in silence, enjoying the apparent feeling that was growing between them.
“You wanted to tell me something, Mr Darcy?” Elizabeth said in an attempt to calm the excitement.
Darcy hesitated, when still at the table, it seemed like a good idea to use the colonel’s letter to take Elizabeth away from that man. But now, walking in that beautiful place, enveloped by emotion, it might be an unpleasant subject, one that could ruin their moment.
“You did hesitate, Mr Darcy. Is it about Lydia?”
He nodded before answering, but Elizabeth was looking at him and saw his gesture; she moved her hand in a sort of caress to encourage him to continue, “Yes, it is about her…or, more precisely about Wickham. It is not much but what the colonel wrote to me. It seems he will depart for a distant place. The war with France is almost at its end, while they need troops in India.”
“India?” cried Elizabeth surprised.
“Yes, there are important campaigns there and they need officers. In truth, he was not obliged to go so far away, but he asked.”
They stood in silence for a long time both trying to restore the atmosphere from before. For Darcy, Elizabeth’s hand on his elbow was enough to make him happy.
“It is splendid here!” Darcy said, wondering if his voice betrayed his growing excitement.
“All the house is rebuilt to offer comfort and…pleasure. You could come one day to make a grand tour of the house. It is my uncle who decorated Sommershire.”
“Ah, Mr Gardiner, how is he?” Darcy asked with real pleasure and interest. He came to appreciate her uncle during the days when they searched for Lydia.
“He is doing fine, if I may say. In fact, we owe him our first visit to Sommershire.”
As Darcy looked interested, she decided to continue. Among his flaws was a certain propensity towards criticism but not gossip. “Mr Gardiner is much appreciated in London as an art dealer. He decorated the Sommershire Palace with works of art from France and Italy.”
Darcy was impressed. He remembered a discussion they had at Pemberley, while fishing, when Mr Gardiner expressed his admiration for the paintings and statues Darcy owned, but he was so modest that he did not say a word about his trade.
“We came one day to visit Sommershire and from that moment on we practically never left this place. For George and Mary, it was love at first sight, but so much more than a simple love as he came back to life. To tell you the truth, we still are in a dream, it was so unexpected…”
Elizabeth brusquely stopped.
“Sorry,” Darcy said, “I do not want to be indiscreet.”
“It is no indiscretion. I have seen the duke does not keep any secrets, he just wants us to respect their privacy, but otherwise, everything is clear as daylight. My sister succeeded in knocking down the walls that he had built around himself since the tragedy. They are so much in love that he wanted to marry the second day he met her,” Elizabeth said, laughing and Darcy pressed her hand, making her heart gallop. She blushed from pleasure while he watched in delight how she closed her eyes for a short moment to enjoy their closeness. He finally had hope…a new and shiny hope that Elizabeth would consider his proposal again.
“Until the marriage, Lady Sommershire has asked us to stay here as it is impossible to separate the duke from Mary.”
They both laughed.
“I can understand that,” he said with an insinuating voice. He looked at her with intensity, her eyes finally looking deeply into his eyes.
“What part?” she joked, but her voice was harsh from the sentiments invading her. “Living in Sommershire Palace or…?”
“The other part, Miss Elizabeth. Not being separated…for life!” he said, watching her eyelashes struggling to hide her eyes from his eager gaze. It was the moment Darcy had dreamed of in the last months, “Miss Elizabeth, would you consider…”
Before he could end his sentence, a voice from the other part of the gallery shouted at them, “Here you are! I have been looking for you everywhere.”
Both turned to see the intruder. It was the viscount who in a few quick steps, was near them.
Darcy was the first to recover from the shock as he spoke with an angry reproachful voice, “Lord Devonshire I was having a private conversation with Miss Bennet!”
But the impertinent viscount was not to be stopped easily; Miss Bennet was too precious for him now that he knew who she was. And the pleasure was doubled by the idea of ruining Darcy’s intimate meeting.
“Lady Sommershire is waiting for Miss Bennet, do no kill the emissary,” he said with a warm smile meant for Elizabeth to forgive him.
Elizabeth indeed forgave him. It was hard to resist to his manners, his smile and the way he knew to use words.
“Come, Mr Darcy, let us return if Lady Sommershire needs me.”
Darcy wanted to protest but he understood it was in vain. A vivid sentiment of fear and impuissance overtook him. He had never imagined that in that difficult way of conquering Elizabeth, a new obstacle could appear. And this time the barrier was so dangerous, he could hardly breathe. Elizabeth liked him, but it was only a thin as ice sentiment. At any moment the viscount, with his apparent candour and truthfulness could remove his return to her heart.
“I would appreciate if the viscount let us finish our conversation,” he finally said. But Elizabeth removed her hand and the three of them headed in silence to the parlour where the guests were gathered.
As they entered Jane came happily to them, she took her sister away, leaving the two enemies, together; Darcy was trembling from anger. “It has been ten years since we lived foolishly; this is real life, Devonshire!”
“Indeed, Darcy old friend, let the best of us win!” he said and before Darcy could make a move, he followed Elizabeth and Jane.
Chapter 14
“I am in the oddest situation,” Elizabeth’s voice was altered by emotion.
“My dear,” Lady Sommershire spoke with concern, “what happened?”
It was the next day after the memorable dinner at which the Duke of Sommerville announced his engagement to Miss Mary Bennet.
“I thought you had a good time last night, I remembered it was you to request Mr Darcy’s attendance.”
“Oh yes, I wanted to meet with Mr Darcy…but I did not tell you the whole truth.”
Her friend’s eyes were so benevolent that Elizabeth finally smiled.
“You are such a good friend, so sincere and truthful. And so generous!”
Sophie blushed with pleasure, hearing Elizabeth’s words. She was not used to receiving praise. In fact, she was not used to living among people and sharing pleasant relationships.
“I do not deserve your words, Elizabeth; what I did is nothing compared to your family’s gift. Mary gave us back our lives. Thomas’s happiness makes my own happiness complete.”
They drank a cup of tea in the silence of her parlour still thinking about last night’s dinner.
“Almost complete,” Elizabeth said.
Sophie smiled at her friend’s delicate allusion…which was utterly true. Since Thomas was better, she was again thinking about her own happiness.
“You first, my dear…,” Sophie said, inviting her friend to talk but also ready to unveil her feelings and hopes.
“I did not tell you—I did not tell anyone, in fact—that Mr Darcy proposed to me some months ago.”
Sophie was surprised but not shocked by the news.
“I suspected there had been some entanglement between you two! Last night I was not three feet from him when he saw you, he was on the verge of losing composure. And neither were you too far from doing so.”
“It is more complicated than you think. In the beginning, when I first met him, I found him so arrogant, I remember thinking he was unfriendly and aloof, even unapproachable. Moreover, he did not like my family, considering himself much above us. He especially did not tolerate my mother’s…well…you know what I mean, her ways of behaving.”
But Sophie was not of her opinion, “I think someone who raised five girls like you, merits much respect.”
“You are kind, but she can be annoying sometimes.”
“Show me a person in this world who has no flaws…” Sophie said with much determination.
“Anyway, Mr Darcy and I had some rather strong exchanges of words. I was furious as I could not allow him to be mean to my family…”
“Good for you, my dear! I strongly appreciate the girls and women who dare to defend a principle.”
“Yes, I might be that kind. However, occasionally I am also too proud and I express my anger too violently. It is what happened with Mr Darcy. Just before his proposal I had found out that he had influenced Mr Bingley not to pursue a relationship with Jane. I was angry and frustrated…and I horribly refused his proposal. I even insulted him repeatedly, only to find later that he is a generous and honest man. He might be arrogant, but he helped my family like no other person did when Lydia eloped.”
Sophie knew the story as Mary had told Thomas the truth about Lydia and Wickham.
“And everything he said about Wickham proved to be true…imagine my distress. Some of the flaws I have seen in him are also my own.”
“My dear,” Sophie spoke with much affection, “you must not be so harsh on yourself, we all make mistakes.”
“I agree, but when you do not recognise you were wrong, then it is more than a mere mistake. So for the last months I just hoped to have an opportunity to tell Mr Darcy I was also wrong. And finally to thank him for helping my family.”
Sophie’s insistent gaze made Elizabeth blush slightly. “I admit it was more than that. I wanted to meet him with no resentments between us and see if there is some other feeling between us.”
“It is just as I thought! Sophie said, and then, unwilling to let the subject drop, added, “You were so eager to meet him that it must have been more than a misunderstanding.”
“I agree, I have feelings for him, and I must clarify their nature and intensity.”
“That I can understand, and I admire your maturity in such a delicate matter. Many women just rush into a relationship and suffer afterwards.”
“Exactly, it is not like in Jane and Mr Bingley’s case. They are sure about their reciprocal feelings while in my case, it is such an important change, from being angry and frustrated to like a man.”
“I totally agree, but I do not see what went wrong.”
Suddenly there was a noise coming from the park. They stood up to see Thomas and Mary riding and laughing not far from the house. It was a pleasant sight for both of them. Sophie was astonished by Thomas’s happy laughter while Elizabeth admired Mary’s perfect dress, a lady riding near her duke.
“I did not even know that my sister could ride,” Elizabeth whispered after a pause.
“Well, it seems that your sister can do a lot of things. Day by day, she becomes a suitable wife for him and a future duchess. It is what I admire most in all of you. You are so capable of pursuing your dreams, and that is also the merit of your family!”
Elizabeth had to agree. In the past, she had never thought of her parents as the principal source of their education and good behaviour.
Sophie waved at the two youngsters and then closed the window, eager to continue their conversation—delighted to be alone as Mrs and Mr Bennet accompanied Jane to Mr Bingley’s house.
“Most probably in the afternoon we will have a second marriage to prepare,” Elizabeth spoke with much satisfaction.
“Is it not wonderful that in such a short time this house has already seen two proposals?”
“Well, one is still to come…”
“But we do not doubt that it is the reason Mr Bingley invited your family to breakfast. But do continue your story.”
Elizabeth hesitated as she had arrived at her worries, it was hard to explain what happened a night ago.
“I thought I would have a pleasant meeting with Mr Darcy, decided as I was to be honest and encourage him to court me. You are right: we were both excited and eager to be alone and discuss, but…it went all wrong when Viscount Devonshire interposed between us!”
This time Sophie’s face expressed the purest shock. “What are you saying, Elizabeth? Was he rude or aggressive?”
“On the contrary, he was polite but cunning as his obvious intention was not to let me speak to Mr Darcy.”
“And?” Sophie had a childish curiosity on her face.
“And he finally succeeded. Mr Darcy was on the verge of an essential question when the viscount burst between us and interrupted our conversation.”
“Was Mr Darcy asking you again to marry him?”
Elizabeth smiled at her friend’s impatience.
