Forgetting Darcy Read online

  Chapter One

  The manor house on the opposite side of the valley was breathtaking. Elizabeth could not imagine a place more happily situated. The house itself was large and stately with its wings spread wide and its windows sparkling in the sunlight, but even more impressive to Elizabeth’s mind were the extensive grounds surrounding the manor house.

  Nature had been generous in this little corner of England. The high woody hills and the stream that swelled into a lake made the view idyllic. Elizabeth was pleased to see that very little had been added beyond the trails that would allow one to wander and enjoy the views.

  “Well, Lizzy, what do you think of Pemberley?” asked her aunt, Mrs. Gardiner, with a smile. “Well worth the carriage ride from Lambton, is it not?”

  “Indeed it is,” replied Elizabeth. “I do not think I’ve ever seen a house more happily situated.”

  “Shall we apply to see the place then?” asked Mr. Gardiner. “Or would you rather ask to see just the grounds?”

  Elizabeth felt a brief moment of anxiety. What if the maid at the inn had been mistaken? How humiliating it would be to encounter Mr. Darcy at his home after their last argument at Hunsford! She quieted her fears by reminding herself that the maid’s information was almost surely correct. Lambton was not any larger than Meryton and so news and gossip, especially concerning the principal family in the neighborhood, would be widely known among the residents.

  “If the interior is as charming as the grounds are, I should like to see it very much,” she answered after a brief pause.

  The three travelers were met by the housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, who showed them the principal rooms. Elizabeth was happy to see that the same simple and elegant style filled the rooms as had been evident in the grounds. She would have expected a man as proud and haughty as Mr. Darcy to have a much more ostentatious taste. She had been prepared to see a style similar to what she had seen at Rosings Park.

  Mrs. Reynolds also surprised Elizabeth. She was much more friendly and open than Elizabeth had any expectations of finding her. Mrs. Reynolds spoke well of the family, often pointing out small things that Mr. Darcy had arranged to provide comfort and happiness for his sister, Miss Darcy.

  “How long have you been with the Darcy’s, Mrs. Reynolds?” asked Mr. Gardiner after Mrs. Reynolds had explained that Mr. Darcy had recently purchased a new pianoforte for his sister. “It is clear that you hold the family in high esteem.”

  “I have served the family for more than twenty years now. When I first came to work here Master Fitzwilliam was just a young boy. Four years old, I believe.”

  “That is a very long time to be in service to the same family. Such loyalty is commendable.”

  “I cannot imagine working for another family. The Darcy’s have always been good to me and the current Mr. Darcy is an excellent master. I have never had a cross word from him in my life.”

  “The same cannot be said of many people. You are indeed blessed to work for such a man,” joined Mrs. Gardiner.

  Elizabeth was astonished at Mrs. Reynolds words. That Mr. Darcy was a proud and unpleasant man had been her firmest belief. Could this be the same man she met in Meryton? What an agreeable light did this shed on him?

  “Is your master much at Pemberley?” asked Mr. Gardiner as the group descended the staircase to the foyer at the end of the tour.

  “Not so much as I would wish him to be,” replied Mrs. Reynolds. “But we expect him and a party of friends in time for supper today.”

  In her shock at hearing that Mr. Darcy would be at Pemberley that day, Elizabeth missed her next step and tumbled down the last few stairs and lay in an unconscious heap on the foyer floor with a pool of blood quickly forming around her head.

  “Lizzy!” cried Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner as they rushed to her side.

  “Oh Mr. Gardiner! What are we going to do? Mr. Bennet will never forgive us for allowing Lizzy to get hurt. And your sister’s nerves will be unable to handle the news.”

  “Calm yourself, Madeline. We don’t know how bad the injury is yet. First let us tend to Lizzy and then we will worry about how best to inform her family of the accident.” He turned to Mrs. Reynolds and asked, “Would it be possible to have a doctor or an apothecary sent for? And perhaps a room where we might move Miss Bennet until she can be examined? I am so sorry to intrude, especially when you are expecting your master and his guests so soon, but I fear moving Miss Bennet back to our rooms at the inn until we know how serious her injury is.”

  “Of course, Sir. It will be no trouble at all.” Mrs. Reynolds summoned a footman and a maid. “Tom, I need you to go into Lambton and bring Mr. Carter back as quickly as possible to attend Miss Bennet. Lucy, please fetch some bandages and then have the blue guest room prepared.”

  Soon Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner found themselves sitting beside Elizabeth’s bed in the blue guest room. Mrs. Gardiner rubbed her niece’s hand while Mr. Gardiner looked on in helpless concern.

  “She looks so pale. And why has she not yet wakened?”

  “Do not let your fears overwhelm you, dear. Remember that Lizzy is young and healthy. I trust that she will soon be well and roaming the countryside in her usual manner,” said Mr. Gardiner with a forced tone of optimism.

  “Let us hope so. I cannot imagine how devastated Mr. Bennet and Jane will be when news reaches them.”

  “As soon as the apothecary has seen her I will send an express to Longbourn. We must wait until we have as much information as possible to send them.”

  Chapter Two

  Mr. Darcy and his party arrived at Pemberley at nearly the same time as the footman returned with the apothecary. He had just exited the carriage and was turning to offer his hand to Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley when he heard the riders galloping up the drive. Mr. Darcy assisted the ladies from the carriage and then joined Colonel Fitzwilliam, the Bingley’s, and the Hurst’s on the front steps.

  “Darcy, what is going on?” asked Colonel Fitzwilliam nodding towards the riders pulling up in front of the house.

  “I don’t know, Richard. It appears to be Tom and Mr. Carter, the apothecary from Lambton. If you gentlemen will see the ladies into the house, I’ll find out what has happened and join you in a moment.”

  “I’ll stay with you if the others do not mind,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam.

  “Of course. Let us go inside, ladies,” said Mr. Bingley.

  Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam turned back to the two men dismounting from their horses.

  “Tom, has there been an accident?” asked Mr. Darcy.

  “Yes, sir. A young lady was touring the house and slipped on the stairs and hurt her head pretty bad it seems. Mrs. Reynolds sent me to fetch Mr. Carter to come see her.”

  “Thank you, Tom. Please see Mr. Carter to his patient. I will find Mrs. Reynolds for more information,” said Mr. Darcy. He then went in search of his housekeeper.

  “Mrs. Reynolds, I understand there has been an accident today. I met Tom and Mr. Carter as we arrived.”

  “Yes, Mr. Darcy. Miss Bennet was touring the house with her aunt and uncle. She slipped and hit her head on the marble steps. She is still unconscious and I have put her in the blue guest room with her relations.”

  Mr. Darcy’s heart had dropped to the pit of his stomach at Mrs. Reynolds words. “Miss Bennet, you say?”

  “Yes, sir,” answered Mrs. Reynolds in some confusion as she noted her master’s unusual tone of voice and saw his face become pale.

  “Darcy, could it be Miss Bennet from Kent?” asked Colonel Fitzwilliam.

  “The young lady is not from Kent,” answered Mrs. Reynolds. “I believe her aunt and uncle are from London and Miss Bennet is from Hertfordshire.”

  “What is Miss Bennet doing at Pemberley?�
� Colonel Fitzwilliam asked Mr. Darcy.

  “I don’t know,” answered Mr. Darcy. “Mrs. Reynolds, do you know the young lady’s Christian name? I am acquainted with a family by that name that I met last Fall while staying with Mr. Bingley in Hertfordshire. They have several daughters.”

  “I believe it is Elizabeth, sir. Her relations called her Lizzy.”

  “Are you well, Darcy?” asked the colonel. “You look very pale.”

  “Yes, of course, Richard. I am merely concerned for Eliz--Miss Bennet. It is quite a shock.”

  “I know. I can hardly believe it myself. She was always so vibrant and lively at Rosings.”

  Mr. Darcy felt ill as he imagined Elizabeth lying still and injured upstairs in a guest bedchamber. “Mrs. Reynolds, I would like to be kept informed of Miss Bennet’s condition. Will you have Mr. Carter see me before he leaves? I’ll be in my study. Richard, please make my excuses to the others. I’m not fit company at the moment. I will join you all at supper.”

  A solemn Colonel Fitzwilliam made his way to the drawing room to join the other guests. His concern for both Miss Bennet and his cousin was almost overwhelming. As a military man Colonel Fitzwilliam was used to being able to solve problems through action but in this case there did not seem to be much more that could be done. Determined that the only true help that he could currently provide would be to make Darcy’s excuses to his guests and attempt to fill the role of host for a few hours, Colonel Fitzwilliam composed himself before entering the drawing room.

  “Colonel Fitzwilliam, where is Mr. Darcy?” asked Miss Bingley as soon as the gentleman entered the room.

  “Has something happened?” asked Bingley at the same time.

  “Darcy sends his regrets. A young lady of your acquaintance, Miss Bennet, has been travelling through Derbyshire with some relations and while touring Pemberley she fell down the stairs and hit her head. That is who Mr. Carter has come to see. Her injury appears to be quite serious. I’m afraid Darcy has taken it rather hard and will be unable to join us before supper.”

  “My God,” said Bingley with more feeling than politeness. “Is Jane going to be all right?”

  “Jane?” asked Colonel Fitzwilliam in confusion. “Of course,” he continued. “I had forgotten that there are several Misses Bennet of Longbourn. It was not Miss Jane Bennet who was injured but rather Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

  Bingley, who had looked frantic while asking about Jane, calmed somewhat and became more pensive.

  “What was Miss Elizabeth doing here at Pemberley? It is a great distance from Hertfordshire and I do not believe the Bennet’s have the means to travel extensively,” said Miss Bingley.

  “Nor did I, Caroline,” added Mrs. Hurst. “Their estate is rather small for the support of five daughters.” The sisters exchanged a look of disgust for the fortune of their former friends.

  “I believe Miss Elizabeth is touring the area with her aunt and uncle from London.”

  “It must be her relations in trade from Cheapside,” mused Miss Bingley.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam gave the sisters a hard look before continuing, “I am saddened to hear of Miss Elizabeth’s accident. I had the pleasure of meeting her while visiting Rosings Park over Easter and found her to be a charming and lovely young lady with a keen wit. Her presence made it the most enjoyable stay at Rosings that Darcy and I have ever had.”

  Several eyebrows rose at this information. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst exchanged another look, but this one was full of shock and disbelief.

  “Hmm. Well I am rather surprised to hear of her ‘accident’,” Miss Bingley said in a doubtful voice. “In Hertfordshire she was known for her walking abilities. Three miles of muddy country lanes were no hindrance to the young lady but she couldn’t manage one staircase?”

  “Caroline!” said an outraged Mr. Bingley. “How can you say such a thing?” Miss Bingley merely shrugged and looked away refusing to take back the insult.

  “Really, Charles, I agree with Caroline,” said Mrs. Hurst. “That entire family is a disgrace. And I find it rather curious that after meeting Mr. Darcy in Hertfordshire Miss Elizabeth appeared first in Kent and now at Pemberley. She has obviously set her cap for Mr. Darcy. Or perhaps Mrs. Bennet has decided to throw her at him. She certainly never made any attempt to conceal her ambitions for her daughters to marry wealthy gentlemen.”

  Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Bingley stared at the sisters in shock. Mr. Bingley could not believe they were saying such things about a family that they had befriended while staying at Netherfield the previous year. Miss Darcy meanwhile listened to the conversation in stunned silence. Naturally shy, she had not murmured a word and was all but completely forgotten by the others in the room.

  “I am disappointed in you both,” said Mr. Bingley once he had recovered his ability to speak. “This is not the behavior I would expect from well-mannered ladies.” He quit the room without another word and made his way to Mr. Darcy’s study.

  “Darcy, have you heard anything more about Miss Elizabeth?”

  “Have a seat Bingley and I’ll tell you what the apothecary said when I spoke with him a moment ago.” Bingley settled into a comfortable chair in front of Darcy’s desk and accepted his offer of a drink. As he poured, Mr. Darcy continued, “Mr. Carter says Elizabeth hit her head on the marble stairs. He had to stitch the back of her head and there is a large knot where her head struck. That is probably why she is still unconscious.”

  Mr. Bingley raised one eyebrow at Darcy’s use of her Christian name but decided not to pursue it. “She has not woken up yet?” asked Mr. Bingley in concern.

  Mr. Darcy sat down in the chair behind his desk with a heavy sigh. “No. Mr. Carter says that head injuries can be difficult because there’s no way to tell when or even if a patient will wake up. He cannot tell how severe the injury is at this point. I have sent for my physician in London.”

  “And has word been sent to Longbourn?”

  “Mr. Gardiner is writing to Mr. Bennet now and as soon as he is done I will send it express.”

  “I would like to deliver the letter, Darcy, if the Gardiners will allow me to.” Mr. Bingley seemed to hesitate for a moment and then gathered his courage and continued, “I know you had reservations about a relationship between myself and Miss Bennet… and my sisters discouraged it as well...but when Colonel Fitzwilliam said that Miss Bennet had been injured I thought he meant Jane and I felt as if I would die. I love her and even if she does not love me now I still have hope that with time she could come to love me. Louisa and Caroline will be disappointed and upset with my choice but I hope I can count on your support.” Mr. Bingley looked nervous as he came to the end of his speech.

  “Of course, Bingley. I only want what is best for you. I feared you would find yourself in a marriage of unequal affections but I have something to confess that might rightfully make you angry with me.” Mr. Darcy stood to pace behind his desk as he searched for the courage to confess to his friend. A moment later he turned to face Mr. Bingley and continued, “Miss Bennet was in London for some months last winter. I knew of it, as did your sisters, but I concealed it from you because I feared that your attachment to her was still too strong. I was wrong to interfere in your concerns. Please forgive me. I have since learned that I may have been mistaken in my conclusions about Miss Bennet’s feelings for you. If you truly love her then I wish you both every joy and happiness.”

  Mr. Bingley was silent for a moment and Mr. Darcy began to dread his response. He realized how badly he had wronged his friend and acknowledged to himself that he never should have interfered.

  At last Mr. Bingley spoke, “I am not sure what I feel most strongly-anger that you and my sisters would conceal Miss Bennet’s presence from me, shame that I allowed myself to be persuaded out of what I wanted to do, or elation that I might still have a chance to win Miss Bennet’s heart.” He paused for a moment to consider all that he had heard and then continued, “I should have followed my own counsel and return
ed to Netherfield to determine Miss Bennet’s feelings for myself. But tell me, Darcy, what has happened to change your opinion of Miss Bennet’s heart? Did you speak to her while she was in London? And why did you not speak to me before if your opinion has changed?”

  “I should have spoken to you earlier. I was planning to talk to you about it during this trip before we learned of Miss Elizabeth’s accident. I did not see Miss Bennet in London. My information came from another source but the story is too long to share at present. I will tell you all about it another time.”

  “Thank you for telling me, Darcy.”

  Mr. Darcy sighed in relief knowing that he had been forgiven by his friend much more easily than he deserved.

  Chapter Three

  “What do you mean you are leaving tonight for Hertfordshire?” shrieked Miss Bingley. “We only arrived a few hours ago and we’re meant to stay here for a week before continuing on our trip.”

  “Hurst will accompany you and Louisa on the remainder of your trip.”

  “I still do not understand why you must take the message to Longbourn. Surely Mr. Darcy has a footman who could go or the Gardiners could send an express.”

  “I offered to go, Caroline. I like the Bennet family and they will be distressed to learn of Miss Elizabeth’s accident. I would like to offer my help.”

  “Then we will wait for you here. You can travel to Hertfordshire and back in a week. We will continue our trip as planned when you return.”

  Mr. Bingley gave his sister a stern look. “Darcy already has enough to worry about without needing to play host for you and the Hurst’s. Besides, I have business to attend and will not be available to accompany you on the remainder of your trip.”

  “What business?” asked Miss Bingley suspiciously. “You never mentioned any business before.”

  “I am reopening Netherfield. I hope to court Miss Bennet,” answered Mr. Bingley.

  “Charles, you cannot be serious!” shouted Miss Bingley. “You cannot mean to tie yourself to such a ridiculous family. Even Mr. Darcy agrees that it would be a dreadful match.”