The two weeks before the ball kept Elizabeth and the servants of Fitzwilliam House busy with preparations.
Lady Matlock came faithfully to gather the Bennet sisters in the ballroom and guide them through the many scenarios the event might present.
Mrs. Bennet had gone in with her daughters the first time and an argument commenced not ten minutes after Lady Matlock arrived.
Elizabeth and Mr. Harley had slid open the ballroom doors a tiny bit and watched in horror as the ladies stood eye to eye hurling the worst insults. Lady Matlock had whirled in disgust and headed for the door.
Mr. Harley wisely stood aside but Elizabeth charged in nearly colliding with Lady Matlock. She begged the lady’s forgiveness. “You must not go, not on the first day. I will deal with my mother. Please, forgive her for she is only concerned with matching my sisters to wealthy suitors.”
Mrs. Bennet rushed to Elizabeth’s side. “We will not beg her to teach the girls her ways. What young man would like such a snob for a bride?”
Lady Matlock’s face grew as red as a beet and Elizabeth pulled her mother close. “If you had only taken them in hand, there would be no need for tutelage now, Mother. Lady Matlock has done us a great honor to come and see to the girls. You would like for them to marry well?”
Mrs. Bennet could not argue this point. She opened her mouth but Elizabeth shook her head and led the woman from the room. “Lady Matlock, there will be no further interruptions from my mother.”
Pleased that the odious woman had been removed, Lady Matlock turned and made her way back across the ballroom floor.
Elizabeth gave a sigh as she recalled that first day. She stood and left young Richard sleeping on the sofa in her sitting room. She meant to have a walk in Hyde Park before her son awoke.
The ball was more than a diversion for her sisters. It would be the talk of the Ton, there was no avoiding her celebrity.
She called for Nanny to sit with Richard and hurried downstairs to retrieve her spencer. Mr. Harley called a footman to go with her and Elizabeth waited until Thomas appeared.
How she wished for her old paths at Longbourn! Perhaps she would return there for the summer with Richard. Her father would take him fishing and allow him to go along when he collected rent from their tenants.
The park was busy for the early afternoon and Elizabeth walked along briskly enjoying the sight of the riders along Rotten Row. She did not care for horses and so she set her feet towards The Serpentine. It was a pleasure to walk along its banks in the afternoon away from the odor of the horses.
As she made her way across the grass, Mr. Darcy called out to her. Elizabeth was surprised to see him and hoped he was not still upset with her over Major Wickham.
He handed his horse to a servant and caught her up in three long strides. “Why did you not send a note to say you would be here today? I would have left my horse at home and joined you.”
Elizabeth had not thought to bother him as Mr. Darcy was a very busy man. “I only came for a short walk before Richard awakens. How is Georgiana? I know she wanted to come for tea, but Mrs. Greaves would not allow it. I agreed that one more day of rest would be beneficial.”
Mr. Darcy nodded. “She wanted to come riding too but Mrs. Greaves had cleared her orders through me first. The poor girl is nearly mad to leave Darcy House.”
They walked along in silence for a time and Elizabeth spotted a bench off the path but still in view of the lake. Thomas followed them at a respectable distance.
They sat and Mr. Darcy took her hand. He blurted out his thoughts surprising Elizabeth. “Have you thought of marrying again? You are certainly young enough still to want such a thing.”
Elizabeth did not know how to answer. She was shocked at his boldness. Was he asking because he wished to be the man she might marry one day? Or did he think she might have become enamored with another gentleman? Her sisters hoped to find suitors, but when Elizabeth pondered such a thing her mind often went to Mr. Darcy.
Unwilling to admit such a thing to the man beside her, she looked out across the lake. “I had not thought of it to be honest, at least not in any serious manner. I would love for Richard to have a father before he is too much older.”
A flame of hope ignited in Mr. Darcy’s heart. “When you do consider it in a serious manner, I ask that you come to me. I would not ask for your hand now, for I know you would only refuse me. But you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire you Elizabeth, and young Richard. I could be a wonderful father to him for I love him as my own. Surely you have seen it?”
Her idea of walking in Hyde Park had not included such a serious meeting with Mr. Darcy. He was not proposing to her but asking to be considered above any other gentleman she might meet when her heart and mind were in agreement. It was a fair and honorable request. He did love her son, she knew that in her heart, but could his admiration for her grow into a feeling more akin to love?
It was her turn to speak plainly and surprise Mr. Darcy. “You do not ask of me more than I had thought to offer. I have seen the bond between you and Richard and I cherish it. Sometimes I think the colonel led us to you, for your protection and guidance has been a great blessing.”
Mr. Darcy was speechless for a time and they sat in comfortable silence watching birds flitting across the lake.
Finally, he spoke. “I am no longer surprised Richard captured your heart. It pains me greatly that I left Hertfordshire when I did. That party at Lucas Lodge, you recall? I longed to know you better, but left thinking I ought to forget you. Our connections were so different. My pride got the better of me and I have been jealous of my cousin and sick with grief over his passing. I am happy you came to London and happy to know a piece of Richard lives on in his son.”
Elizabeth squeezed his hand and looked up to the clouds. She whispered the words that would give Mr. Darcy hope for their future. “Loving by halves is not my nature, William. If I take another husband, it will be because I love him more than life itself for I have never settled for less.”
The pair lingered for but another half hour by the lake speaking of things besides love and when Elizabeth stood after he rose, Mr. Darcy offered his arm. “I would see you safely home for there is a boy I wish to see before the day is done.”
Elizabeth patted his arm as she laid her hand upon it. “You may stay for dinner if you wish. I expect my sisters will be full of gossip about Lady Matlock.”
Mr. Darcy grimaced. “I did not think she would come. One night last week over dinner, she and my uncle argued over Richard. Aunt Margaret asked Uncle Reginald to take him from you, but he refused. They fought bitterly until I simply quit the dining room and returned home. Uncle Reginald was quite angry. I had never seen him like that. He told her that she had ruined her relationship with her sons and he would not stand by and watch her do such with young Richard.”
Elizabeth sighed. “I believe she does wish to take my son but I will never allow it. She seems to care for him, but I will never trust her.”
Mr. Darcy was sorry he had relayed the news to her but he felt she should know. “I find no fault in that sentiment, Elizabeth. At least she came and attempted to help your sisters. I am pleased for that.”
Elizabeth raised one eyebrow. “My mother was not very pleased. Mr. Harley and I risked our lives to settle a spat between them. Come to think of it, he only guarded the ballroom door.”
“Wise man, that Harley,” Mr. Darcy said and led the woman he truly loved back toward Rotten Row along the banks of The Serpentine.