Impatiently, Darcy Read online

  Richard folded the newspaper and tucked it under his arm. He would go to his chambers to write the letter. Pretending to be Darcy would take some concentration.

  He had to tear up the first letter, when he inadvertently referred to his father as the Earl. He drew another sheet towards him, muttering.

  “Darcy. I must remember I’m writing as Darcy.” He hadn’t realised quite how difficult it would be. At least he was safe not trying to copy Darcy’s hand. He knew Lady Somerville wouldn’t know his handwriting.

  It took much longer than he had thought, but eventually he sat back and reread what he had written.

  Madam,

  I am writing with regard to your article in the Times and wish to avail myself of your services.

  I am Fitzwilliam Darcy, of Pemberley. You know of me, I am sure, and that I am able to offer a wealthy and secure life to a suitable lady. You must also be aware that I do not enjoy society events and that I attend as few as possible.

  I was therefore very interested when I read your piece yesterday. It might be that your service to find and approve young ladies would be very helpful for me.

  I do not wish to spend time with much to and fro correspondence …

  Richard chuckled comfortably, he did not wish Darcy to get any letter that made him suspicious.

  … so I would like to tell you my requirements now. The young lady must, of course, be suitable to be mistress of a large estate such as Pemberley, and Darcy House when in London. She must be elegant and pleasing to the eye.

  She must also be kind and gentle, because my younger sister is very shy and needs a friend. She must be accomplished, especially in music, and enjoy being out of doors.

  She must also have a lively wit and undertake the constant improvement of her mind by extensive reading …

  Richard felt gratified. He considered that he had caught Darcy’s idioms of speech really rather well. He skimmed the rest of the letter and nodded, folding it ready to send to the post.

  Dinner that evening followed the usual pattern when Richard was home. His father made a few comments about it being time that his younger son found himself a wife and bought himself out of his commission.

  Richard nodded but made no comment. There was nothing more to be said. He wondered what his mother would think if he announced whom he wished to marry. But he knew he should not. She would be disparaging, Anne was too sickly to make a good wife.

  That did not discompose Richard, he felt most protective towards her, and was convinced that Anne would be much improved if she could get away from her mother.

  He sighed. It was selfish of him not to make his feelings known to Anne, but having to live at Rosings Park with Lady Catherine as his mother-in-law was enough to prevent him taking any action.

  His mother looked at him sharply. “That’s a very heavy sigh, Richard.” He smiled tightly at her and shook his head very slightly. If she made any sort of comment, his father would be onto the subject at once.

  He wished they had guests, the conversation would then be more general.

  But he could not bear it if Darcy married Anne. He would often see them both together and would be unable ever to say anything. No, he shuddered, it was not to be borne.

  4

  Lady Susan entered her sister’s private sitting room. “We seem to have uncovered a great need, Amelia.” She fanned herself with the sheaf of letters in her hand and her sister looked up with a smile, waving her hand towards the chair.

  “How many responses do we have between us?” Amelia took off her delicate wire-rimmed spectacles and came to sit beside Susan.

  “I think we took half a dozen each, didn’t we?” Susan glanced through hers. “Mine are a good mix of the eligible but disinterested, and the completely unmarriageable.”

  Her sister nodded. “We must be honest with the young ladies we intend to place with the latter. There will always be a young lady desperate enough for the security — or maybe one not so young.” She laughed quietly. “One of mine is completely impossible. A gentleman who wishes for a lady to pretend to be betrothed to him to try and avoid marriage to a cousin.”

  Susan glanced at her curiously. But she and Amelia had made a decision that even if they discussed a case, no name would ever be mentioned, discretion being of the utmost importance.

  Amelia shook her head. “I must take the time to reply very carefully. It is a most foolish request, but, given the way he has worded his letter, I am sure he is not thinking properly. I must explain to him the possible consequences should we supply such a young lady — and in any case, we cannot possibly find somebody suitable as quickly as he has asked.”

  Susan leaned back. “Are you going to refuse to look for someone, or say that you will try provided he says he understands the difficulties but still wants you to go ahead?”

  Oh, I think I’ll tell him I will consider his request. After all, he is offering to add three thousand pounds to the lady’s fortune so her eligibility will be improved.” Her eyes twinkled. “If one can forget the stigma of having called off the engagement.”

  Susan laughed. “He really hasn’t thought it through, has he?” She glanced down at her own letters. “Mine are much more the sort of thing we had envisaged, although one gentleman doesn’t want to waste time with an exchange of letters, he’s been very clear exactly what he wants.”

  Amelia’s eyebrows rose. “And is it reasonable, what he has asked for?”

  “Reasonable, yes, but a trifle demanding.” Susan leafed through the letters and began to read out loud.

  “The young lady must, of course, be suitable to be mistress of a large estate such as … , and um, my London establishment, … elegant and pleasing to the eye.

  She must also be kind and gentle because my younger sister is very shy and needs a friend. She must be accomplished, especially in music, and enjoy being out of doors.

  She must also have a lively wit and undertake the constant improvement of her mind by extensive reading.”

  “Quite reasonable,” Amelia commented, “but not necessarily easy to find.” She turned and rang the bell. “Let’s have some tea and discuss where we are in looking for young ladies.”

  Susan waited until the maid had taken the order for tea and closed the door behind her. “I don’t think we’re going to have any problem in getting applications from ladies — we already have several dozen just from our piece yesterday. It is harder to know if we are going to consider them suitable marriage material for the wealthiest gentlemen.”

  She glanced at her sister. “But you’re very good at that, Amelia. You improved the reputation of Almacks by refusing vouchers to so many.”

  Amelia nodded. “We cannot do that quite so …” she stopped as the maid entered with a tray of tea.

  “Thank you.”

  As soon as they were alone again, Susan saw her sister marshalling her thoughts again. “No. We must be careful not to exclude all possibilities. We need to have quite a large number of young ladies, as gentlemen will have their individual preferences.”

  Susan nodded. “I think, even if a lady is not quite right, we might teach her suitable manners and deportment, things like that.” She frowned. “As long as their background is all right, of course.”

  Amelia’s brows creased. “We decided that we would visit every lady at home, didn’t we, to make sure they are of a suitable family?”

  Susan took a sip of tea. “We may be too busy to do things with as much attention to detail as we would have wished.”

  “But we must,” Amelia said firmly. “We may have had a greater response than we first anticipated, but they’ll just have to wait for us to get it right.” She put down her teacup. “At least I have a lot of knowledge about all of the best families. I will know if anyone is lying to me.”

  Susan nodded. “Well, I will start reading through the letters from the ladies that we have received this morning.” She glanced over at her sister. “Were we going to discuss our visits to the fin
ishing schools? I think the principals will be interested to know how to widen the choice for their young ladies, now we have a better idea of the numbers of gentlemen who are not to be found in the ballroom.”

  Amelia laughed. “I will assist you with that, Susan, when I have devised a letter to my gentleman wishing a temporary fiancee.”

  “Well, I wish you good fortune with it.” Susan rose to her feet. “I will see you at lunch.”

  5

  Two days later, Darcy returned to Pemberley for lunch. He’d been immersed in estate matters all morning with Mr. Reed, his steward, but on the ride back to the house, his difficulties began to crowd into his mind again.

  He wondered if there’d be a letter from Lady Somerville today. Reason told him that today was the first day he might expect it, but he had still been disappointed when the post arrived yesterday.

  He was also uneasily aware that he needed to go to London, needed to solicit Richard’s support to go against Lady Catherine’s wishes. He frowned, last time it had been mentioned, Richard had seemed distracted at his words.

  He handed over his horse to the groom and ran up the steps to the hall. Within a few minutes, he was leafing through the letters on his desk in the library. Yes! It looked as if it could be.

  He dropped his hat and cane on the table and sank into the chair, breaking the seal.

  His scowl deepened as he read. Of course, he had considered the pitfalls! This Lady Somerville must think he was still a child. But it was the only hope he had.

  He put the letter down and ran his hand distractedly through his hair. It appeared she might not find a suitable lady by Uncle Henry’s celebration.

  A quiet knock on the door and a footman carried in a tray with his coffee.

  “Thank you,” Darcy nodded and seized the cup gratefully. He stared out of the window as the door closed silently behind the footman.

  He could still hope a young lady would be found, but he must begin to think about what to do if it was not soon enough.

  Perhaps he could invent an emergency in her family and promise that he would bring her to another occasion.

  But first, he must reply to Lady Somerville. He took a sheet of notepaper from the drawer and carefully checked the pen, trying to think of a way to answer politely, but also say that of course he had considered his request carefully.

  Finally, he shook his head and sighed.

  Madam,

  I thank you for your communication of Wednesday. I confirm I am well aware of the pitfalls of my request, but I am certain that it is the best way to deal with the situation.

  I am grateful that you have agreed to search for a suitable young lady and will look forward to hearing from you very soon.

  In the meantime, I will return to London. I would be obliged if you communicate with me there.

  Yours, etc,

  Fitzwilliam Darcy

  He sealed the letter and gave it to his butler when the man announced lunch.

  “Express post, please, Mr. Payne. And please tell Mr. Maunder to pack. I am leaving for London after lunch.”

  The man bowed. “Yes, sir. And I will tell the coachman.”

  Over his solitary lunch, Darcy gloomily contemplated the thought of two days of travel, with nothing pleasant at the end of it, apart from the opportunity to see Georgiana.

  He wondered what books to take from his library. He would at least be able to read when travelling the better-kept roads.

  6

  One hundred and fifty miles away, Elizabeth and Jane were persuading their mother to let them both go to London.

  “It’s only for a week or two, Mama,” Elizabeth explained. “Aunt Gardiner has been so kind as to offer to take us round to the best warehouses, so that Jane might obtain a lovely gown.” She flashed a smile at her sister. “She will do you justice as the most beautiful of brides.”

  She had said the right thing. Mama had looked as if she was going to object, but she could not deny the truth of the final comment.

  “Oh, yes! You are the most beautiful girl in the whole country. And Mr. Lawrence being the grandson of an Earl! Oh, it is so shocking that younger sons get so little fortune.”

  “Oh, Mama, thank you!” Jane leaned forward, knowing that as her mother had agreed to the last comment, so she had agreed to the request to go to London. Elizabeth worked hard to keep her face straight.

  “Yes, thank you for permitting us to go, Mama. Should I ask Papa to make the arrangements?”

  Her mother waved her handkerchief vaguely. “Yes, you do it, Lizzy. He will not refuse you, I know.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I will ask him now, Mama.” She stood up and gave Jane a pointed look acknowledging the success of their plan.

  Elizabeth climbed into the post coach behind her sister, as the horses at Longbourn couldn’t be spared for the whole journey to London. At least they had brought them as far Meryton, to the post, and their trunks were heaved up onto the outside as she leaned out to wave goodbye to Kitty and Lydia. Their two youngest sisters had accompanied them as far as the post, and were going to try and find some officers to talk to.

  “Anything to stay away from Mr. Collins,” Lydia had complained, as they all climbed into the coach at Longbourn.

  Elizabeth had laughed. “Perhaps Mary will finally be able to gain the attention and affections of Mr. Collins, which would be her deepest desire.”

  Lydia laughed immoderately. “I am sure you hope so, Lizzy. He has been most persistent in his pursuit of you, and I don’t think he will be sidetracked by Mary’s admiration of him.”

  Elizabeth suppressed a shudder. “Well, I think he cannot be in any doubt of the strength of my refusal.”

  Jane smiled serenely. “It is fortunate that Mama has finally accepted that you wouldn’t change your mind, Lizzy.” She leaned back against the seat as the coach pulled away. “And it was a masterful strategy to suggest to her that if you came to London with me, then he may well be persuaded to pay attention to Mary. She would not refuse him.”

  “I confess I am surprised that Mama agreed I could come with you,” Elizabeth sat back, too. “But I am exceedingly happy that she did.”

  “So am I,” Jane said fervently. “And I’m also glad that we have no company within this coach until at least the next stop, because I have a confession to make to you.”

  Elizabeth stared at her. “You do? Whatever for?”

  Jane reached for her reticule. “Please do not be angry with me, Lizzy. But I received this letter today and if you read it, then I can explain matters more clearly.”

  Puzzled, Elizabeth took the letter Jane handed over to her.

  Miss Bennet,

  I thank you for your letter, suggesting your sister might be interested in availing herself of our services, and I would be interested to hear from her directly if that is the case.

  I was particularly interested in your description that not only is a she a talented musician, but that she also reads extensively. I have heard from a wealthy gentleman who has requested specifically that we look for a young lady who reads widely to improve her mind, and who is also accomplished in other areas.

  I understand you are both intending to arrive in London shortly, and ask that you send me a note as soon as you arrive, to furnish your address in Town and whether your sister is in agreement with the opportunity of an introduction.

  There was no salutation, just the signature,

  Lady Susan Aldridge.

  Elizabeth looked at it suspiciously. “Who is she? I thought it was the Dowager Countess Somerville who founded this venture.”

  Jane smiled anxiously. “She is in the article, Lizzy. She is the younger sister of Lady Somerville. They must be in this business together.” She looked uneasy. “Please tell me you don’t mind, you did say you thought it might be an adventure, and you can always refuse the offer when you know all the facts.”

  Elizabeth felt her irritation dropping away. “I will always forgive you anything, Jane, you know tha
t. But I am rather overwhelmed with the thought of meeting a total stranger, and being expected to marry him.”

  “Oh, no, there will be a courtship period, I’m sure,” Jane hurried to reassure her. “It is an adventure, that is all.”

  Elizabeth reached over and touched her sister’s arm. “It’s all right, Jane. A gentleman wealthy enough to pay the amount these ladies must be demanding, cannot possibly be as odious as Mr. Collins.”

  The two collapsed into laughter as the coach drew into the post inn at Hatfield, and it was soon obvious that they would have company into London, so no more could be said.

  Elizabeth gazed out of the window as the coach swayed down the Great North Road, and wished, in a way, that it might have turned north. That way were the great towns of York and Manchester. Even further was Scotland and the city of Edinburgh. Would she ever have the chance of seeing places like that?

  For the first time, she began to consider the possibility that she might actually find a wealthy husband in this seemingly madcap scheme, and not merely an interesting adventure that could not possibly lead to success.

  She and Jane had always wished to marry for love, but it seemed love would be hard to find in the restricted company of Meryton. Jane had settled for the boring Peter Lawrence, and Charlotte, at twenty-eight, seemed destined not to find anyone.

  Elizabeth sighed. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity for her, and she should consider it seriously. She had celebrated her twenty-first birthday only a month ago, and had begun to despair of ever meeting the sort of gentleman she had once dreamed of.

  As they stopped once more to change the horses, she found herself longing to get to London and the chance to read the letter again quietly in the privacy of the bedchamber she knew so well at her aunt’s home in Gracechurch Street. If this gentleman wanted a lady who read widely to improve her mind, then surely he would be a gentleman worth knowing, a gentleman who would respect her love of adventure and her need to learn more about the world.