Page 87 of Master of Himself

“You know, of course,” she said once he had released her, “that courting couples don’t kiss.”

“So I understand.”

“Nor are they ever alone together,” she said with a crooked smile.

“It’s quite regrettable,” he said, then pulled her into his arms and kissed her again. “But that works perfectly into my plan to be seen everywhere in Meryton with you.”

“Instead of promenading at Hyde Park or sharing ices at Gunter’s Tea Shop, we’ll be seen in Fletcher’s Butcher Shop and Honeyfield’s Green Grocery. If we give the appearance of a couple in the throes of the deepest affection, they’ll have something other than Lydia to talk about.”

“We’ll not have the slightest difficulty doing so, and when Charles returns, he’ll do the same with your sister,” he said, then took her hand. “I’m intrigued by this spinney you mentioned. Perhaps we might explore it together.”

Her eyes glimmered, and she laughed merrily. “I think you’ll find it quite diverting, Mr Darcy.”

When they returned to the house, Elizabeth joined her sisters upstairs, and Darcy found Mr Bennet in his study.

“Come in, Mr Darcy,” he said, offering a cup of coffee. “I’m sorry you had to witness that scene in church this morning. I never would have suspected that my boyhood friend would betray me so spectacularly.”

“Who?” Darcy said, stunned by this suggestion.

“Sir William intended the snub as a personal affront to me,” he said, pausing for a sip of coffee. “We grew up together. If you can imagine two scrappy boys running around the neighbourhood, that was Will Lucas and me. He was the green grocer’s son, and I was a gentleman’s son, but we were inseparable…until I went away to Harrow, and he was put to work in the shop.”

Darcy hadn’t considered Sir William’s role in this morning’s disaster, but now realised he had been the chief instigator. “I have a similar story with Wickham, except we went to school together.”

Mr Bennet nodded thoughtfully. “How we idealise those early friendships, thinking nothing could ever change.”

“I certainly wouldn’t have thought it possible,” Darcy said, recalling his shock upon learning of the elopement scheme in Ramsgate.

“I believe we may blame this morning’s incident on the power and influence of the crowd. They witnessed Sir William’s slight and followed his example.”

“With the exception of the vicar and the Fletchers,” Darcy said, recalling their kindness.

“Indeed, which leads me to a possible solution. Private encounters might be more successful, especially with the merchants in their shops,” the older man said. “I doubt the butcher wishes to lose me as a customer, nor the milliner. Mr Ward has already lost Lydia’s business and wouldn’t also want to lose my wife and remaining daughters.”

“I see your point and suspect the Finches also wish to preserve my patronage, and Mr Bingley’s.”

“Precisely,” Mr Bennet said in a confident tone. “With some careful planning, we might be able to win them over.”

Darcy advised his host that he already planned to be seen everywhere in the village with Elizabeth. “We might even spread the story that Lydia has been sent back to the schoolroom as punishment for her mischief. When your neighbours see that I haven’t abandoned the Bennets, but have accepted you, they might be convinced that Lydia is redeemable.”

Mr Bennet glumly shook his head. “How ironic that we are being scorned for Lydia’s folly, while she suffers no consequences whatsoever. What’s more, she’s being rewarded with an excellent education.”

An image of Lydia labouring over her textbooks flashed into Darcy’s mind. “I doubt she’ll share your opinion when she’s forced to study the classics, mathematics, Italian, music, and a myriad of other subjects.”

Mr Bennet laughed heartily. “I should like to witness her comeuppance, but I suspect my brother will keep me informed of her progress.”

“On the other hand, Wickham will likely get on famously in the army and suffer no ramification for his excesses,” Darcy said, recalling his indolent friend. “That reminds me, he left a few debts behind, so I must take a full accounting at the shops tomorrow. With your permission, I’ll bring Elizabeth with me and take the opportunity to announce our courtship.”

Mr Bennet nodded his consent. “You’ll need a chaperone, so bring Jane, too,” he said, then sat back to regard Darcy. “Are you certain you wish to align yourself with a house of scandal?”

“I am entirely at your service.”

In all honesty, everything Darcy planned to do was for Elizabeth’s sake. He couldn’t take her away from her family while they still suffered the scorn of the community, nor would she agree to leave them to their fate. No, Elizabeth was worth waiting for, and he would do everything in his power to please her.

Chapter 26

Monday 2 December

As planned, Darcy called for his carriage for the short ride to the village. While her two sisters donned their pelisses, Elizabeth drew him aside.