“My home has never been so full of handsome eligible gentlemen.” Mrs. Gardiner smiled broadly as she settled back into the chair from which she had been presiding over the discussion in her sitting room. “Sir Matthew, it is, of course, a delight to meet you.”
Sir Matthew inclined his head in acceptance of her words. “I thank you for accepting me into your home with no prior introduction.”
Mrs. Gardiner waved his words away. “Any friend of Mr. Bingley or Mr. Darcy is always welcome in my home.”
Darcy thoroughly enjoyed how her eyes danced with pleasure as it once again reminded him of Elizabeth.
“I understand you are from Surrey?” Mrs. Gardiner continued.
“Yes, ma’am, I am.”
Mrs. Gardiner did not reply but merely looked at him expectantly.
Sir Matthew straightened a sleeve. “My estate, or what will be my estate, is Stoningham. It was left to me by my uncle, along with the title. He was my father’s older brother, but he never married. Therefore, the inheritance has fallen to me.” He went on, at her prompting, to tell her about his mother, his sisters, and his brother. She even managed to wrangle out of him details about his sisters’ families and situations.
“And you wish to share all this with Miss Bingley?” Mrs. Gardiner had risen to pour the tea which had just arrived.
“I need a wife,” Sir Matthew replied.
Mrs. Gardiner replaced the teapot on its tray but did not lift the filled cup to pass to Jane, who stood ready to distribute the tea things. “You have met Miss Bingley?”
“I have.”
“And you are satisfied?”
He nodded.
“And your family? Will they also be satisfied?”
He shrugged. “I believe my mother will be happy to have me married.”
Mrs. Gardiner lifted the teacup and handed it to Jane. “I will be happy to have you married,” she said with a laugh, “for I wish for nothing more than to see my nieces well-settled with these two fine gentlemen.” She began filling another cup. “However, I would not be able to rest easy knowing that such a thing came about at the expense of your happiness.” Her eyes met Jane’s. “And I know Jane would also feel such a calamity most grievously, for her heart is amongst the tenderest in the land.”
Jane smiled and blushed as she returned from giving Sir Matthew his tea to get another cup.
“You may rest assured, ladies, that I have considered my own happiness very carefully in all of this. I believe, in time, Miss Bingley and I will get on quite well.” He hid a smile behind the rim of his cup. “After her sharp edges are smoothed a bit, that is.”
“You do not go into this blindly, then?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.
“No, my eyes are fully open. I know there is a risk in what I am doing. A great risk. However, I am not the sort to gamble without thought.”
“Very well,” Mrs. Gardiner said as she handed Jane a cup of tea and then poured one for herself. “We will proceed with clear consciences.”
“As you should,” Sir Matthew agreed.
“You called on my sister today, did you not?” Bingley asked.
It was the topic Darcy had hoped to broach as soon as the man entered the room, but as it was not his home nor was it his sister’s future being arranged, he had refrained, and instead, he had thoroughly enjoyed watching Mrs. Gardiner interrogate Sir Matthew while feeling quite glad that this time he was not the person of interest to Mrs. Gardiner.
“Mmm hmm.” Sir Matthew nodded as he swallowed his tea. “She was agreeable. Very cordial. We had a good discussion, and I did ask her to go for a drive tomorrow.” He paused, and his brows furrowed. “She has agreed but not with alacrity. I think she would have refused if Hurst had not entered the room just prior and made a point of gaining her attention with a cough when she did not immediately reply.” He took another sip of his tea. “Drawing her along will take far too long. I think it best if we move toward limiting her choices to all but me. She can be convinced of my worth after she has accepted my offer.”
There was a constant calmness about this man that Darcy was beginning to admire. There was a matter-of-factness to everything. Possible outcomes were presented – both good and bad – discussed and then put away like papers in folders, each with its own place. Even when Mrs. Gardiner had questioned him, he had replied with ease and directness. This unflappable, intelligent, calculating gentleman might actually be the making of Caroline Bingley. The thought brought a smile to his lips. Who would have ever thought there was such a gentleman? Darcy certainly had not until this moment.
“Then we need a plan,” Bingley declared.
“I do not want to be implicated as the source of the compromise,” Sir Matthew placed his empty cup on its saucer and set it aside on a table near him. “I do not wish to go into this marriage with any more difficulty laid at my door than necessary.”
Darcy watched Mrs. Gardiner hide a smile. “That seems wise,” he said.
Mrs. Gardiner nodded her head in ready agreement.
The room fell into silence for a moment, each occupied with his or her own thoughts.
“I should not mind being the source,” said Jane.
All eyes turned toward her.
Though she bit her lip and her hands were clasped tightly, there was a sparkle in her eyes that Darcy found surprising, but then, the Jane he had met here in town had surprised him several times already.
“Are you certain?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.
Jane drew in a deliberate breath and pulled herself the tiniest degree more upright. “This whole thing was my idea. Any blame and displeasure which arise should be mine to bear.” Her lips curled up slightly. “Besides, though I know it is not proper to seek a reprisal, I do find I would not mind causing Miss Bingley some discomfort, for she has caused plenty for me.” Her smile grew. “And I would have her know that though I smile often and am obliging, I am not without resolve.”
“That should stand you in good stead for after you are married,” Sir Matthew said.
“Aye,” said Bingley. “I am not opposed to sharing in Caroline’s displeasure.”
“Oh, no!” Mrs. Gardiner cried, clapping her hands. “She might suspect you, and a scheme is much more effective if it is accomplished with an element or two of surprise. Jane’s being involved will be surprising to Miss Bingley, no doubt, but not nearly so much so if the accident, whatever it may be, is affected with her brother’s assistance, since that brother is currently put out with her.” Her eyes shifted from Bingley to Darcy. “However…” Her voice trailed off and her eye brows raised. “That is,” she added, “if assistance is needed?”
Darcy pointed at himself. “Me?”
Mrs. Gardiner nodded.
Darcy’s brows furrowed as he pondered the thought for only a moment. “I am at your service, Miss Bennet. Do you have a plan?”
The sparkle in her eyes grew brighter as she nodded in reply.
“Then, tell me what to do.”
Jane looked around the room at each person, then, leaning forward, said in a soft but conspiratorial voice. “First, I will need an invitation to a ball.”
~*~*~
Less than a week later, Darcy stood before the Johnsons’ grand townhouse, dressed in his finest. It had not been so very difficult to secure the invitations needed to the Johnsons’ ball. Mr. Johnson had been eager to assist Darcy with his plan. There was nothing the man seemed to like more than a cunning stratagem. And, Mrs. Johnson had been easily persuaded to part with a few invitations when her husband had suggested that Mr. Darcy’s being in attendance would without a doubt guarantee that Colonel Fitzwilliam would attend as well as Mr. Bingley. However, he did not share with his wife the plan that was being laid to make her ball the most talked about ball of the season.
Richard huffed as he climbed out of Darcy’s carriage. “You do realize that you are indebted to me for this, do you not?” He skewered both Darcy and Bingley, whose carriage stood behind Darcy’s, with a displeased look.
Both men nodded.
“She better be worth it,” he muttered.
“She is,” Darcy said. “I just hope I can persuade her that I am worthy of her regard.” He knew that his cousin was not entirely put out with having to dance two sets with Miss Johnson, for Richard had smirked and teased all week about Darcy finally causing a stir in the family by following his heart and not his sense of duty. “I think you will agree with me about her worth once you meet her. That is actually why you are here, is it not?”
Richard straightened his sleeves and did not look at Darcy. “I am not sure I understand your meaning.”
Darcy chuckled. “Come, shall we get on with the introductions, so that your curiosity might be satisfied? You could have travelled here on your own and arrived fashionably late. There was no other need for you to arrive early with us, other than to meet Miss Elizabeth.”
His cousin shrugged. It was as close to an admission as Darcy was likely to get. Richard was a curious sort and had, ever since meeting Miss Bennet, been keenly interested in meeting Miss Elizabeth.
“I am here to watch the theatrics,” he replied as they approached the door to the townhouse.
“You do not wish to meet the future Mrs. Darcy?”
Bingley’s question was met by a small growling noise.
“Admit it. You are curious,” Bingley said with a laugh. “She has three other sisters,” he whispered.
“Very well. I will admit to curiosity if you refrain from attempting to marry me off to one and all. It is bad enough that I must dance twice with the same lady.” He gave Darcy a pointed look. “There will be talk, and it will reach my mother.”
“Your sacrifice is duly noted.”
“Good. Now, lead me to the rare creature who has enchanted the dour and disapproving Fitzwilliam Darcy. I wish to know that my sacrifice is not in vain.”
“Darcy, Bingley, Fitzwilliam.” Mr. Johnson looked as eager as a schoolboy on Christmas day waiting for his Christmas pudding.
“Mr. Bennet and his daughters are in the library.” His eyes twinkled. “My wife was called away to attend to something just as they arrived.” His brows flicked upward. He nodded his head toward the interior of the house and began walking in the direction of the library. “Quickly, while she attends to another emergency.”
Reaching their destination, Mr. Johnson opened the door. “Mr. Bennet, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, your gentlemen have arrived.” Turning to the gentlemen behind him, he added, “I can see why you are so determined to be rid of your sister, Mr. Bingley. Miss Bennet is quite the beauty and her sister?” His eyebrows flicked up as he looked at Darcy. “Well worth a bit of scheming. She’s delightful.” Then, before allowing them entrance to the room, he said, “My Marietta is still unattached, Colonel.”
Richard shook his head. “I will dance my two, but I am attached to my commission at present.”
“Ah, well,” the man said as he stepped aside, “you cannot fault a father for trying.”
“No,” Richard agreed. “I would fault him if he did not.”
Darcy and Bingley were both inside the library before Richard had finished his exchange with Mr. Johnson.
“Colonel, it is good to see you,” Jane greeted as he entered the room. “Thank you for helping us with this plan.”
“It is my pleasure to be of service.”
Jane lifted a brow, and her lips curled upwards in amusement.
“A small prevarication,” he whispered, causing her to laugh.
“Colonel, I would like you to meet my father, Mr. Thomas Bennet. Father, this is the Right Honourable Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.”
“Ah, so I do get to meet the writer of the letter. I thank you, sir, for alerting me to the true nature of Mr. Wickham.”
“I cannot say it was my pleasure that it was necessary to impart such information, but I am glad it has been welcomed.”
Mr. Bennet nodded. “It is never easy to relate unpleasant news, which makes it all the more appreciated. I have shared it only with my Lizzy.” He drew the pretty lady next to him forward. “Colonel Fitzwilliam, this is my second daughter, Elizabeth.”
Richard bowed. “I am delighted to finally meet you.” He glanced at his cousin. “I have heard much about you.”
“Aside from what I could glean from your letter, I know very little about you,” Elizabeth replied with a smile.
“There is very little to know,” he assured her. “I am but a poor soldier.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Yes, a Right Honourable poor soldier.”
Richard shrugged. “Far poorer than I wish to be.”
“We could all say that,” said Mr. Bennet with a chuckle.
“I should very much like to sit for a while,” Jane interrupted before Richard could reply. She took her father’s arm and gave it a soft tug while she caught Darcy’s eye and tipped her head toward her sister.
Darcy nodded. “Would you care to take a turn around the room?” he asked Elizabeth. “I am no Miss Bingley, but I do think I can circle a library just as well.”
Elizabeth smiled, though her brow furrowed. Jane had claimed that the Mr. Darcy she had met in town was different from the one she had met in Hertfordshire, and it appeared she was right. This Mr. Darcy seemed nearly at ease. “I should like that, Mr. Darcy.”
“Allow me to begin our conversation with a long overdue apology,” he said as she placed her hand on the arm he offered her. “I behaved abominably while at Netherfield. I had my reasons and considered myself justified. However, there is no justification for such poor behaviour.” He drew a breath. “I slighted you, looked down on the neighbourhood, and connived to separate myself and Bingley from the area.”
She was watching the floor before them.
“I should like to make reparations for my words and actions if you will allow it.” He covered her hand with his, drawing her attention up from the red and orange of the carpet. “Can you forgive me?”
Elizabeth lifted her eyes from his hand to his face. “I can. Can you forgive me for listening to Mr. Wickham and speaking poorly of you?”
His smile as he nodded caused Elizabeth’s breath to catch and her heart to flutter.
“Yes, yes, I can, and I am certain I deserved most of what you said about me.”
“That does not make it right,” she protested.
“I will allow that,” he replied, “but it does make it understandable. My behavior is harder to comprehend.”
They had made a full circuit of the room. Music was filtering in through the door, and they could hear people walking in the corridor.
“If we are to begin again,” Darcy said softly, “then, allow me to ask you for a dance as I should have at our first meeting, for I cannot resist the temptation of your loveliness.”