Ferris and Emilie Dumont arrived at Bingley House in the afternoon a few days later just as Mr. Bingley had said they would.
Elizabeth had been sitting by the parlor window writing a letter to her father with her suspicions as to the cause of Jane’s discomfort and illness. Her sister had been unable to tolerate the aromas of breakfast, luncheon, and dinner. Even tea was difficult at times. For Elizabeth, it meant she might welcome a niece or nephew by the winter.
A physician had come that morning, but Jane and Mr. Bingley had not made a private announcement to Elizabeth nor a public one to the staff.
Elizabeth saw the pair as they quit their carriage and walked up the front steps of Bingley House. Miss Bingley had reason to be envious for Elizabeth had not seen a more beautiful man or woman in all her life.
She rose swiftly from her seat and looked down at her skirt. The dress was new, and she was happy she had chosen it instead of the dress her maid had selected earlier that morning.
It was a very nice muslin with sprigs of blue and green adorning the neckline and there was a blue sash that trailed down the back of the skirt. Elizabeth felt quite feminine in it as she would never wear it to wander the fields between Netherfield and Longbourn.
Mr. Bingley came down the stairs in a rush with Jane on his arm. She seemed in good spirits and Elizabeth was pleased to see the color in her cheeks. “Come Lizzy, we must meet the Dumonts. Is it not exciting to welcome company we have never met?”
Jane’s smile was genuine and Elizabeth followed her downstairs to the entry. Mr. Bingley and Mr. Dumont greeted one another most heartily while Miss Dumont looked to Jane and Elizabeth awaiting an introduction.
Her features were pleasing without being too perfect, but Emilie Dumont was beautiful. Elizabeth could see why Miss Bingley was filled with jealousy. She smiled and the Bennet sisters as one stepped forward.
“My dearest husband,” Jane said as she placed a hand upon Mr. Bingley’s arm, “please do introduce us to this most lovely young lady.”
Mr. Bingley blushed and embraced Miss Dumont immediately, kissing both her cheeks. “But of course, this is the legendary beauty, my only female cousin, Miss Emilie Beatrice Dumont. My dearest cousins, this is my wife, Mrs. Jane Bingley and her sister, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. They are quite eager to make your acquaintance.”
Miss Dumont went to Jane first. She spoke with a fine accent but her French connection was evident. “Ma chérie,” she said and opened her arms as Jane approached, “how lovely it is to see my cousin married to such a beauty. I was terribly afraid he might marry Mrs. Riddington’s plainest daughter only a few years ago.”
Jane turned her cheek to receive both kisses Miss Dumont gave, but she was at a loss for words. She would never have mentioned a prior beau before her husband’s family.
Elizabeth saved her sister. “Oh Miss Dumont, how delightful that you have stories to share! You must come sit with us in the parlor while the men smoke their horrid cigars.”
Mr. Bingley’s cousin took Elizabeth’s hand and then tucked her own arm in Jane’s and winked at Mr. Bingley. “I shall not speak of your most embarrassing moments, Charles. See that Ferris does not drink all your port before dinner for we have not eaten since early this morning. We wanted to hurry here and meet your wife. Thank heavens Caroline is not come to welcome us to Town.”
Elizabeth and Jane exchanged amused looks of astonishment at Miss Dumont’s forward manner of speaking. Tact was not her way.
Jane asked the butler for a hearty tea to be sent as the ladies climbed the stairs to the parlor. “Since dinner is a few hours off, let us have a light luncheon. I am delighted to meet you Miss Dumont, truly it is a pleasure to have you in our new home.”
The lady looked about as they gained the first floor of the townhome. “It is quite lovely. Is there much decorating left to do, chérie?”
It would take time for Jane and Elizabeth to become comfortable with such endearments, but it was not offensive coming from such a lovely and cultured young lady as Miss Dumont.
“There are two bedrooms upstairs in need of attention but the rooms for you and Mr. Dumont have recently been completed. I do hope you will enjoy them.” Jane sat with Miss Dumont upon the new velvet sofa in the parlor.
The entire room was done in shades of blue. Elizabeth adored the decor Jane had chosen for the parlor.
“Oh, you have made some bold choices, Jane. But they are most pleasing and dare I say, far more inviting than that stodgy old parlor at Hurst House. It smells of Mr. Hurst since he naps there most hours of the day.”
Elizabeth joined Miss Dumont in laughter while Jane seemed taken aback. She did not care for the Hursts or Miss Bingley but they were family too. “Oh, Mr. Hurst is not one for the air in Town in winter. I believe he ought to reside in the country instead.”
Miss Dumont was delighted by Jane. “You are too kind, chérie! Let no one say Mrs. Bingley is not charitable. I will rap their knuckles with my fan.”
Tea arrived and Elizabeth was grateful. She had not eaten very much for breakfast and the aroma of fresh bread complemented the meat, cheese, and fruit. Wine had been brought along with tea and coffee and sponge cake.
Elizabeth looked to Jane to see whether she appeared ill and rushed to pour her tea. “Here sweet sister, try this tea. I asked Cook to send up peppermint today. It is said to have soothing properties.”
Miss Dumont watched silently as Jane sipped her tea. Elizabeth distracted her by offering a small amount of wine to their guest with cheese and bread and a bit of fruit. “Would you care for some meat, Miss Dumont?”
Miss Dumont took the plate and smiled at Elizabeth. “You are a most thoughtful sister and hostess, chérie. This will do, thank you.”
Elizabeth helped herself last and watched as Jane entertained Miss Dumont. Whatever the physician had done, Jane was in much better spirits and health. Perhaps it was the distraction of her visitors from Derbyshire. Elizabeth was pleased to have her sister well again.
After half an hour, the men entered and Elizabeth stood when she saw Mr. Darcy had come. He must have gone straight to the library without disturbing the ladies.
He moved about the room methodically, greeting everyone, and saved his last greeting for Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, what a pleasure it is to see you again.”
Elizabeth smiled and sat with him near the windows, away from the merriment caused by Mr. Dumont. Her eyes wandered to him when Jane laughed louder than Elizabeth had ever heard her laugh.
Mr. Darcy cleared his throat to regain her attention. “He has always been the center of attention. Some things never change.”
It seemed Mr. Darcy was not fond of Ferris Dumont.
Elizabeth nodded. “I have not had the time to know him better yet, but he seems very much like Charles; amiable and eager to laugh with everyone.”
Before Mr. Darcy might answer, Miss Dumont joined them and placed a gloved hand upon his shoulder. “Fitzwilliam, how I have longed to see your handsome face. It has been too long.”
Mr. Darcy glanced at Elizabeth and stood to offer the lady his seat. “Yes, Miss Dumont, it has been some time since you were last in London.”
Elizabeth’s brow furrowed as she watched the young lady move her hand from Mr. Darcy’s shoulder down his sleeve to his hand. There she lingered and intertwined her fingers in his. Elizabeth had never seen such behavior outside of marriage. It was shocking.
“Perhaps we might leave in a while in your carriage and you may show me the most thrilling sights in London. It would be a pleasure to resume the friendship we once shared and have you call me Emilie once more.”
Mr. Darcy pulled his hand away from hers as gently as he could manage. Elizabeth struggled with the immediate jealousy that boiled in her heart at the woman’s familiarity with Mr. Darcy. She was both angry at herself and confused over her emotions.
“I could not, Miss Dumont, for I have come to see Miss Bennet in particular. Perhaps another time?” Mr. Darcy’s tone did not suggest he might wish to be alone with Miss Dumont.
Elizabeth watched in pleasure as Miss Dumont smiled and turned to leave. Before Mr. Darcy might continue his conversation with her, the young lady turned back and smiled coldly at Elizabeth. “We shall speak later, Miss Bennet. I would warn you of his charms.”
In her room, when Mr. Darcy had gone and everyone retired for the evening, Elizabeth brushed her hair with vigor. After Miss Dumont had left them and rejoined the Bingleys, Ferris Dumont had made his way over to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
Miss Dumont had gone to the piano forte and began playing. As the cousins of Mr. Bingley had only just arrived, she could not refuse when Mr. Dumont asked her to dance while his sister played.
“It would be my great honor to dance with my new cousin, chérie. Mr. Darcy will excuse us.” He had offered his arm and Elizabeth stood and placed her hand upon the fine fabric of his coat. She looked back at Mr. Darcy, who had also stood, but he only nodded. His eyes were narrowed and his lips set in a firm line.
Mr. Dumont whisked her away to the space in front of the piano forte and soon Jane and Mr. Bingley joined them. Elizabeth had never been held as close in a man’s arms as Mr. Dumont held her on their first dance.
He chose the waltz and Elizabeth had been out of breath by the end, and not only from the closeness of the man but because of the words he spoke to her as they moved about the small space.
She recalled them now and hoped he was only an impossible flirt as it would be difficult to avoid him at Bingley House during his visit if he were a seducer instead.
“Miss Bennet,” he had said as they twirled away from the Bingleys, “you are a rare English beauty like your sister. I am shocked no man has claimed you for his wife. Perhaps the men of your acquaintance are blind?”
At first she had merely laughed off his compliments as he was raised for a time in France. But he grew bolder as the dance wore on. “I would never allow such a lady as yourself to refuse me if my heart was set upon having you. Would you like to think of me as a suitor, Miss Bennet? I am skilled in the art of love and you would never be lonely as my wife.”
Elizabeth had answered him with a partial truth. “You make false assumptions as to my love life, Mr. Dumont. There was a young man, my father’s cousin, who came to visit and asked for my hand. I am not certain yet if I care enough to marry him.”
He smiled at her as if she were a simple child. “If a lady does not say yes to a proposal, she is saying no. I am certain your cousin has moved on to the next lovely lady by now. You are a prize indeed, but a handsome lady who will marry is worth more than the pretty one who will not entertain a man’s desires, non?”
Since her father’s cousin, Mr. Collins, had moved on and married her best friend, Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth could not in truth dispute Mr. Dumont’s conclusion.
She was glad when the dance ended at last. Elizabeth had declined another turn with him and made her way to Mr. Darcy’s side instead.
They had passed the remainder of the evening without further flirtations from the Dumonts and Mr. Bingley had entertained them all with tales of his wedding trip with Jane. They had toured the coast and met many eccentric people on their journey.
Now, as she sat before the mirror braiding her hair, Elizabeth chose to push the Dumonts from her thoughts and consider Mr. Darcy’s visit. He had not spoken to her of anything more than books, his sister, and whether he might remain in London when spring arrived. Elizabeth’s attention to his words was tested time and again as she was distracted by the strong line of his jaw and the way his shoulders fit his coat.
She felt her cheeks grow hot to remember now how easily she was distracted by his handsome features and hoped he had not noticed. Mr. Darcy was observant in his quiet way and so she doubted her ogling was missed by the master of Pemberley.
Placing her head in her hands, she sighed and hoped Mr. Dumont would refrain from pursuing her. Mr. Bingley would likely be most pleased if his cousin were to ask for her hand in marriage.
At Darcy House, Mr. Darcy sat alone in his study sipping his favorite port. The problem of Ferris Dumont had not been foreseen. The Dumonts were notorious for their amorous intentions, but the Bennet sisters had no experience where the pair was concerned.
He rose to pace the room as his hands closed into fists at his side. Watching Elizabeth in Mr. Dumont’s arms and not cutting in to sweep her away from the rake had taken all his composure. Even now, he burned with anger to think of the woman he admired dancing with anyone else, especially a scoundrel.
But he had not declared himself and therefore could not make demands upon her time or attention. With Dumont in the picture, he would not be able to take the time he wished to know her better and make his wishes known to Mr. Bingley without seeming to have lost his mind.
Bingley had known him many years and would not miss the opportunity to goad him if he professed love for Miss Bennet now after having warned against her family all those months ago in Hertfordshire. How might he ask for Miss Bennet’s hand without looking the fool?
Miss Bennet was naive to the type of character Mr. Dumont and his sister held. She would never prowl after men as Miss Dumont was wont to do and Mr. Dumont’s deceptive charm was the kind he was certain she had never seen displayed in Hertfordshire.
Returning to his seat to raise his glass, Mr. Darcy sighed. He would woo Elizabeth Bennet before them all if he must to keep Dumont from winning her heart and ruining his dream of making her mistress of Pemberley.