3

February 1812

When all the servants had been hired, and Jane had chosen fabric from her uncle’s warehouses to have new linens and draperies made for all the rooms of her townhome, Mr. Bingley made an announcement at dinner.

“My cousins from the North will visit soon. They wrote to me at Hurst House for they knew nothing of Bingley House, of course. They are the two children of my aunt Dorothea on my father’s side. She married a Frenchman and lived in France for many years before returning home after her husband’s death. I have not seen them for years. Caroline was always jealous of them both for they are such a handsome pair.” He laughed as he supplied the information about Caroline’s envy.

Jane was quiet after the announcement and Mr. Bingley assured her there was no cause for concern. “We have a fine staff and plenty of room, my dear. They shall love you as I do, I know it!”

Elizabeth wished to know more of the pair. “When will they arrive? What are their names? I wonder how life is for them in England.”

Mr. Bingley speared a piece of lamb and looked thoughtful as he chewed. After he swallowed, he moved his fork to the side of his plate and leaned back in his chair. “I believe they are to arrive by the end of the week. Ferris and Emilie do as they please for their father, Hendrick Dumont, left them a fortune from his wine business when he passed. They share the country estate in Derbyshire with my aunt. She sold the wine business only a few years ago and I daresay they gained another fortune there. It irritates Caroline particularly that Emilie has no need of pin money from her brother since Hendrick settled a large sum upon her in addition to an estimable dowry.’’

Elizabeth smiled to think Miss Bingley had a cousin who caused her vexation. She certainly caused enough for others.

Jane pushed her plate away and pressed a hand against her forehead. “I declare I am not well this evening. Dinner has made me quite ill.”

Mr. Bingley stood and went to her side. “May I send for the family physician my dear? It is not too late to have a footman go round to his home.”

Jane waved away his concern. “I am not terribly ill, but I would not stay for the remaining courses. You and Lizzy should finish without me.”

“Nonsense,” said Mr. Bingley, “I will see you to your bed. I am not so hungry myself this evening.”

Elizabeth stood and went to the dining room door to hold it open for her sister and Mr. Bingley. “I am quite full, Jane. I hate that Cook went to so much trouble, but perhaps I will have dessert in the parlor after Charles and I see you settled.”

“You go on through to the parlor now, Lizzy. I do not need the both of you to put me to bed.” Jane gave a pained smile and rubbed her sister’s arm.

Elizabeth watched the couple ascend the stairs together and turned to peer inside the dining room. The butler was there with a footman. “I am so sorry,” she said to the servants, “would it be too much trouble to have my dessert brought to the parlor?”

The footman whisked away the plates and nodded to Elizabeth. “I shall see that one of the maids brings it with tea, Miss.”

The parlor was cozy with its roaring fire, but Elizabeth paced the room worried for Jane. Perhaps it was only a cold. If it were anything worse, Mr. Bingley would surely send for the doctor immediately.

Taking a book she had left on a side table, Elizabeth sat before the fire and read for a time before the maid arrived. “Thank you,” she said as the young servant poured her tea. Dessert was a baked apple, a favorite of her sister. Elizabeth was sad Jane would miss it this evening.

The maid left her and before Elizabeth might take a bite of her dessert, the butler knocked upon the parlor door. She placed her spoon beside the plate and stood. “Yes, Clarke, what is it?”

“A visitor has arrived. Mr. Darcy has come to see Mr. Bingley, but since he is indisposed I thought Mr. Darcy might wait in the parlor with you.”

Elizabeth allowed a smile to grace her lips. “Do not disturb my sister and brother just yet. I am sure Mr. Bingley will not be long. I would be happy to keep Mr. Darcy company.”

The butler nodded and allowed Mr. Darcy to enter the parlor. Elizabeth stood, her hands clasped before her. The man was far more handsome than she recalled.

Mr. Darcy made a small bow and handed his hat and gloves to Clarke. Elizabeth found her tongue at last. “Mr. Darcy, how wonderful to see you once more. Charles mentioned you lived but a few doors down the street.”

He looked about the room quickly and moved to stand before her. He smelled of the cold wind that whistled past the townhome. She adored that scent, the wild and dangerous aroma of sky and land awakened by Mother Nature’s whims.

Elizabeth smiled sincerely. If she could, she would go outside for a walk this instant. But it was late, and a lady did not go wandering the streets of London alone at night.

“Miss Bennet, I heard you had come to Town with Mr. and Mrs. Bingley. I apologize for interrupting your dessert. You may have it as we sit and wait for Mr. Bingley if you wish.”

Elizabeth would not think of eating alone in front of him. “I could have Clarke send for another baked apple. I am sure there are plenty to spare since my sister left dinner early. She is not well and Charles has gone to see her to bed.”

Mr. Darcy had smelled the spices used in the baking of the apple when he entered and his stomach had grumbled. “I accept your kind offer, Miss Bennet. I hope Mrs. Bingley is well in the morning.”

Elizabeth asked Clarke to have another serving of dessert brought to them. She turned back to Mr. Darcy and offered him a seat.

The man was a mystery, and had been her adversary in the past. Elizabeth could not think clearly with him watching her every move.

Mr. Darcy stood until she seated herself and then he sat beside her, leaning forward and inhaling the scent of the baked apple. “It is such a lovely smell in winter. My mother always had Cook prepare them for us after we had been outside riding in the snow.”

Elizabeth was astonished that he wished to share such a personal, private memory. Perhaps it was only the closeness of the room or the wind that rattled the window panes. “Our cook at Longbourn has a secret ingredient she uses in the preparation of baked apples. I could never quite figure it out no matter how many times I tasted them.”

Mr. Darcy smiled. “We ought to have a competition between the cooks of our acquaintance and find which is best.”

Elizabeth laughed, thrown by his amiability. She counted that as a mark in his favor. A tally on his balance sheet in the good column. The marks against him still weighed heavier in her mind, but he was kinder to her tonight than he had been before.

“I do hope your sister has not come down with a cold or fever,” he said with sincerity.

“I think she is only tired from her wedding trip and setting up house here in London. Netherfield Park was already staffed and in good repair. Interviewing staff and changing the decor of every room was a daunting challenge.” Elizabeth hoped it was exactly as she thought. Jane had never been the sickly kind.

Mr. Darcy took a bite of his apple and brushed at invisible crumbs on his coat. He sat watching her and Elizabeth was compelled to fill the silence. “Charles will be down soon, I suppose. Perhaps you would prefer to wait in the library? I think you might be impressed as it houses many more books than my brother has at Netherfield Park.”

He stood and offered his hand to his hostess. “I would dearly love to see such a thing in a home of Charles Bingley. He is a notoriously reticent reader, you know. Take me to see this library and I promise not to give offense as I did when we were all in Hertfordshire.”

Mr. Darcy winked and Elizabeth smiled, thoroughly confused by the way her heart was turning in his favor. “If I must, sir. As for your penchant to give offense, you are forgiven. Jane and Charles have married and are quite happy.”

He shook his head and laid his hand on top of hers. “I meant the offense I gave to you at the Assembly. I said you were not handsome enough to tempt me and it was a lie. I was not happy to be at the gathering and Charles was goading me to dance. You did nothing to deserve my rebuke.”

Elizabeth stared at him in utter disbelief. She could not even muster a bit of ire for the man.

“And if you wonder still, you are handsome enough to tempt any man, myself included.”

Elizabeth cast her eyes down to her feet and blushed furiously. She found she liked this Mr. Darcy much more than the one she had known in Hertfordshire. He was better at conversation and kinder in his manner.

“Let us go and read in the library until my brother has come to find us,” she said casting her eyes to the parlor door the butler had left open in consideration of her honor.

Together they left the parlor and made their way to the library.

Upstairs, Jane sighed as her husband brushed her hair and attempted to braid it for her. It was a good effort and she held his hand after he’d tied the ends with a strip of ribbon she gave him. “Honestly, my dear, I do feel much better after that embarrassment with the wash basin. I should not have allowed you to see me in such a state.”

Mr. Bingley kissed the tip of her nose and laid his hand against her forehead. “You are not warm and I am not repulsed at the sight of my wife indisposed. It does worry me, but I would rather you have my comfort than only a maid to stand over you. I think I may know what ails you, though.”

Jane looked at him and saw he was thinking the same as she was thinking. She whispered so that only he might hear. “Perhaps a babe will come to us in but a few months?”

Charles nodded and beamed with joy. He leaned closer to her and kissed behind her ear and down her neck, gently holding her shoulders. “We do not have to tell a soul until you are certain, but I may appear happier than I have ever been to our friends and family.”

Jane cradled his face in her hands. He made her happier than she had ever been. “They will only think us a silly pair of newlyweds since we are indeed so incandescently happy.”

She kissed him gently on his lips as her hands moved up through his fair curls. Bingley House was full of wedded love upstairs in the mistress’ bedchamber and the beginnings of friendship in the library below.