Follies and Nonsense Page 26

  Charles snorted in laughter. “Please. I enjoyed Caroline’s set down. Let us find Miss Bennet and I shall assure you both of my regard for your family.”

  ++**++

  Inside Longbourn, Bingley and Elizabeth entered the parlour to find her sisters and mother sewing shirts for the tenant farmers.

  Rising, Mrs. Bennet smiled warmly, “Good morning Mr. Bingley. You are welcome to sit with us but you have found us working on the Christmas gifts for our tenants. Each year, we provide each man and boy with a new shirt to wear for Sundays.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Bennet, I would be pleased to sit with you as you sew.”

  Motioning him toward Jane, Mrs. Bennet returned to her sewing and directed Lydia to mind the length of her stitches. Bingley sat beside Jane who kept her eyes on the shirt in her lap as she stitched the cuff.

  “I hope you are well this morning, Miss Bennet.”

  She glanced up and then back to her work before saying, “I am well, Mr. Bingley. Thank you for asking.”

  “I have come this morning to express my deepest apologies for the poor behaviour of my sister and guests last night at Netherfield.” He swallowed nervously and continued, saying, “It would cause me great pain if your regard were to be lost.”

  “It is I who must apologize, Mr. Bingley,” Jane replied. “I was unkind to speak to Miss Bingley so at dinner.”

  “I enjoyed your speech Miss Bennet and believed Caroline deserving – I wish I could find a husband for her, even if it were your cousin, Mr. Collins,” Charles replied.

  “Oh, no!” Jane insisted. “I should not wish any woman known to me to be shackled to that…” She struggled for a moment before she completed her sentence, “…that small potato of a man.”

  Bingley smiled now and leaned toward Miss Bennet, losing himself in her presence and grace. Elizabeth and her mother exchanged glances and small smiles while Kitty and Lydia looked on in amusement. Mary worked to keep her two younger sisters distracted with stories about the tenants from Longbourn and from Lucas Lodge until Mrs. Bennet declared an end to their sewing for the morning.

  “Kitty, Lydia, shall we take Mary to call on Lady Lucas this morning?”

  “Oh, may we use the greys and fine carriage this morning, Mamma?” begged Lydia.

  “Certainly, my dear if Lizzy agrees to loan us her team.”

  Turning to Elizabeth, Lydia asked, “May we Lizzy?”

  “Yes, Lydia but you must go to the kitchens and politely ask Mr. Hill to have Mr. Thomas harness the team. It should take twenty minutes so you will have time to pin your hair and put on your bonnet.”

  “I shall go and pin my hair first!” Lydia declared.

  Elizabeth said, “Think Lydia. It takes Mr. Thomas twenty minutes to harness the team. If you fix your hair and bonnet first, then you will have to wait twenty minutes longer before you can leave.”

  “Oh, very well,” Lydia said as she dropped her sewing and hurried to the kitchens.

  Mary and Kitty gathered up the shirt Lydia had sewn though the looks they exchanged told all that the stitches would have to come out. Mrs. Bennet smiled and said, “I shall fix her stitching tonight. Let us remember she came and worked without complaint this morning which is a good sign.”

  “Yes, Mamma,” Mary said as the last of the shirts were folded and stored in a large basket. Kitty gathered the last of the needles and spools of thread to return to the sewing basket.

  “Make certain the clasp is tight on the basket Kitty,” Mrs. Bennet said. “I do not want Matthew to open it and stick his fingers with the needles.”

  Turning to her second eldest daughter, Mrs. Bennet said, “Lizzy, I know your mood this morning. I shall not tempt you to join us but rather will ask that you remain here as chaperone for Jane and Mr. Bingley.”

  “Thank you, Mamma,” Elizabeth replied.

  Within twenty minutes, the carriage was brought around to the front of the house and Mrs. Bennet with her three younger daughters left to call on Lady Lucas.

  “Your sister Mary seems to be fond of young John Lucas,” Charles commented to the two sisters remaining in the parlour.

  “Yes,” Jane agreed. “They have courted for almost six months. When father returns home, I think he will find Mr. Lucas knocking on his library door within days.”

  Bingley grinned, “Perhaps there will be a race to see which gentleman gets there first.”

  Jane looked up and blushed bright red at Mr. Bingley’s words though Elizabeth moved to stand at the window and wonder where Mr. Darcy was this morning. When the conversation paused between Jane and Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth asked, “Mr. Bingley how is it that you came alone this morning? Always before Mr. Darcy attended you.”

  Charles frowned and looked away before answering. “Mrs. Hamilton, I am sorry to report that my temper was unguarded last night with Mr. Darcy. He brought that man into my house without asking for my permission – which I would never have given – and he failed utterly to understand why I was offended.”

  Elizabeth and Jane both waited. “Miss Bennet, I apologize for saying it, but Mr. Wickham should not have been at my table. He…”

  “Elizabeth has shared her information regarding Mr. Wickham with myself and our sister Mary. After meeting him at our Aunt Phillips, we have not allowed Kitty or Lydia to go into Meryton while keeping the information from our mother as well. We have kept our fingers occupied with sewing and their minds busy with reading and we have ridden the horses around our pastures every day.”

  Sighing with relief, Bingley said, “When I lost my temper, I ordered Darcy and his cousin from my house. They left at dawn this morning.”

  “Oh! I am so sorry, Mr. Bingley,” cried Jane. “He is such a particular friend to you.”

  When she noticed the look of disappointment on Elizabeth’s face, Jane rose to console her and Bingley stood, considering if he should take his leave of the ladies.

  “Please do not go, Mr. Bingley,” Elizabeth called. “My moment will not be of long duration – I am just surprised that Mr. Darcy should be gone so suddenly.”

  “It is my fault as much as Darcy’s,” Bingley explained. “But the man is so used to everyone and everything being just as he commands that when his plans affect others, he does not see it. This time I could not excuse his actions.”

  “It is not your fault,” Jane insisted. “And Mr. Darcy will learn from this experience – he will return and you will be even better friends.”

  After drying her tears, Elizabeth sent for her son and when Matthew was delivered by Nanny Brice to the parlour, he ran between the three adults, grinning and yammering to their delight. In a few more minutes, the parlour door opened and Mr. Hill announced, “Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

  ++**++

  The two gentlemen were ushered into the room and all five adults stood in embarrassed silence for a moment before Matthew rushed to Mr. Darcy’s legs, grabbed onto the man’s pants and called, “Up! Up!”

  Darcy’s face broke from his severe mask and he bent to lift the small boy into his arms and on up onto his shoulder where Matthew locked one hand in my Darcy’s hair and with the other reached for the ceiling and then the chandelier.

  “Good morning, Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth said assuming the role of hostess. “Will you sit with us?”

  “Thank you, madam, we will,” Fitzwilliam replied. “Though I believe my cousin has a command performance with the boy.”

  The others sat as Darcy walked about the room with Matthew on his shoulder and then in his arms; there was quiet conversation among the others until Mr. Darcy found his voice, “I came to Longbourn this morning to apologize ladies. I was in grave error to expose you both to Mr. Wickham last night. I assure you I have had the error of my ways pointed out to me by a wise friend as well as by an annoying cousin. And I wish to say that I am heartily sorry and beg your forgiveness.”

  Jane didn’t wait for Lizzy to speak but rushed ahead, “Mr. Darcy, my sister and I do for
give you and only hope that you will learn from this event.”

  “Thank you, Miss Bennet, I promise I shall learn.” He sat Matthew down on the sofa beside his mother before turning to Bingley.

  “We were going to Netherfield next to beg an interview with Mr. Bingley but since he is here already, I shall impose on everyone for a moment. Charles, I admit that I was totally in the wrong and beg you to forgive me. Our friendship is important to me and I hope that in time we can repair it.”

  Mr. Bingley who was a gregarious fellow struggled for a moment – his first impulse was to forgive and forget but he had matured and desired a friendship of equals with Darcy. Therefore, his reply was more restrained; “Darcy, I shall forgive you in time and we can remain friends. I only ask that you be more considerate of others. We are not all your servants or tenants.”

  Glancing at his cousin, Darcy nodded, “A failing that I shall admit.”

  “Good and settled for the day then,” Fitzwilliam declared.

  Kneeling on one knee before Matthew who had escaped from his mother and prepared to run about the room once more, the colonel came face to face with the child. “And who are you young fellow?”

  “This is my son, Matthew Hamilton,” Elizabeth replied and watched as the colonel’s face turned pale as though he had seen a ghost.

  He gently scooped up the boy and examined his face closely before approaching the sofa and sitting beside Elizabeth, setting the child on his knees. “His father…”

  “My husband was killed in Spain before Matthew was born,” she explained.

  “His father was Major Matthew Hamilton, of His Majesty’s ____ Battalion?” Colonel Fitzwilliam asked.

  Leaning forward, Elizabeth replied, “Yes, how did you know?”

  “I knew your husband madam. His son has his father’s face for certain. Major Hamilton saved my life in battle after landing in Spain and I was with him when he died.”

  “Did he…” Elizabeth’s words stumbled – she did not know how to ask.

  “He felt very little pain madam,” Fitzwilliam lied convincingly. “He was lucid until the end and he spoke of you and the child you had written of.”

  “He received my letter?” Elizabeth asked and looked toward Mr. Darcy.

  “Indeed, he had Mrs. Hamilton,” Fitzwilliam reported. “And as I owed him a debt, he asked me to seek out his child after the war.”

  Addressing the boy on his lap, Fitzwilliam said, “Master Matthew, your father was a very brave man and you will be very proud of him when you are older.”

  “I thought he never knew of his child,” she admitted. “Thank you for telling me colonel.”

  “And I shall tell the boy more when he is older,” Fitzwilliam assured Elizabeth. “Major Hamilton was honourable and brave – his son will be proud.”

  Sensing the need for more privacy for everyone, Mr. Bingley asked. “Miss Bennet, would you care to walk in the garden for a few moments?”

  “Elizabeth, can you spare me?” Jane inquired before answering Bingley.

  Nodding absently, Elizabeth simply watched her son play with the buttons on the colonel’s uniform.

  “I hope this has not distressed you too much, Mrs. Hamilton,” Darcy said. Wiping her eyes briefly, Elizabeth looked up with the beginnings of a smile.

  “I am affected but not distressed Mr. Darcy. I have pleasant memories of Matthew that will remain with me for the whole of my life and I shall share them with our son when he is older.”

  “When my father died five years ago, it was very hard to bear but now we remember the good in him,” Darcy admitted.

  The smaller party was silent for a moment but for the child who continued to run back and forth between the two men.

  “Where are you staying Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth asked. “At the White Pig in Meryton?”

  “Yes, we must remain here until our business with Mr. Wickham is complete. It will take a few days to collect the final papers and transfer him into Colonel Fitzwilliam’s regiment.

  “And why do you want that man in your regiment, colonel?” she asked.

  Glancing at Darcy for permission, he explained, “Under my command, Mr. Wickham will be closely watched and not allowed to harm another young woman. Colonel Foster is a good officer but he does not see the scoundrel in Wickham.”

  “Mr. Wickham has injured too many families to be allowed to roam at will about the countryside,” Darcy said. “I am at fault for not publishing his misdeeds in Derbyshire years ago when he demanded a living that he had already been paid for. But I did not want to besmirch my father’s name at the time.”

  “And today?” Elizabeth asked. “Can you publish his misdeeds today?”

  “No,” the man admitted. “I have even more reasons not to publish his misdeeds today.”

  “It was not many years we could have laid hands on him and thrown him into a dungeon, locked the door and forgotten about him,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said. “At my father’s estate, there are castle ruins left from ancient times and there is just such a dungeon for men like Wickham.”

  Elizabeth reached out a hand to touch Mr. Darcy’s arm. “I am sorry to hear of the disagreement with Mr. Bingley. I hope it can be made right in time.”

  “I have no doubt that with time, Mr. Bingley and I shall be friends again, Mrs. Hamilton.”

  The parlour door opened and Barrow entered the room and bowed. “Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Hill inquires if you should like tea served now?”

  “Thank you, Barrow. Tell Mrs. Hill to give us ten minutes more and then serve the tea in here.”

  “Very good madam,” the man said as he bowed and withdrew.

  Fitzwilliam looked up, “I should like to have a word with your man, Mrs. Hamilton. I believe he served with your husband.”

  “He did Colonel Fitzwilliam and returned home to marry my lady’s maid. They have stayed near my son since that time.”

  “Darcy, why don’t you be good fellow and step outside to fetch Miss Bennet and Mr. Bingley? They have had time enough alone for him to get to the subject of courtship if not matrimony,” Fitzwilliam joked with his cousin.

  Darcy frowned to be sent on a servant’s errand but he realized his cousin wanted to speak more with Elizabeth and she seemed compliant with the colonel’s intent.

  “As you wish cousin,” he said before bowing to Elizabeth.

  “Go out the side door, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth told him. “They will be in the rose garden where the sun is shining in the afternoon.”

  Once Darcy was gone, Fitzwilliam bounced Matthew on his knee before turning toward Mrs. Hamilton to find her gaze fixed upon him.

  “Forgive me, Lady Hamilton, I wanted to speak a moment further,” he said, emphasizing her title. “My cousin is prickly from time to time but he has good intentions. His life is very hard with demands and pressures from everyone about him.”

  “I have recognized that in Mr. Darcy, sir. And I hope that our friendship has helped him to relax during his visit in Hertfordshire,” Elizabeth explained.

  “I believe it has my lady.”

  “Please colonel, no one here about knows of my position except for my sister Jane,” Elizabeth said and she motioned to her son. “We have not published Matthew’s position or title and shall not do so until my father returns. And I hope to protect my son’s identity for a while longer – my servants only call me Mrs. Hamilton.”

  “Darcy does not know?” Fitzwilliam asked.

  “No,” Elizabeth blushed. “I have not known how to tell him.”

  Shaking his head, Fitzwilliam laughed softly. “You both have secrets to confess then ‘Mrs. Hamilton’. I recommend not delaying long.”

  Elizabeth asked, “And George Wickham; will he be removed before too long? I cannot bear the man’s company – the things he said of Mr. Darcy – I could not believe them.”

  “Darcy is a good man, though used to having his own way on every occasion. I think that you and your son would be good for him,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said as
Matthew began to wiggle and reach for his mother.

  As the colonel handed the boy to Elizabeth he said, “When next I see my own father, I shall tell him that earls are simple to entertain. A ride on the knee satisfies them to a great extent.”

  The door to the parlour opened again with Jane, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Darcy and Barrow delivering a large tea tray with pots, cups, biscuits and apples.

  “Mr. Barrow,” Elizabeth said as the man stepped back from the tray.

  “Yes madam?”

  Elizabeth looked at Colonel Fitzwilliam and then to her footman before she said, “The colonel would like to speak to you. I believe he knew Major Hamilton.”

  “Very good Mrs. Hamilton,” Barrow replied before leading Colonel Fitzwilliam from the parlour.

  “What was that about Lizzy?” asked Jane as she served as hostess and poured the tea.

  “Should I go with them?” Darcy asked just before Matthew reached out his arms to Mr. Darcy again.

  “Up! Up!”

  “I think you are needed here, Mr. Darcy,” she answered before reminding her son, “Say ‘please’ Matthew.”

  “Up peas! Up peas!” Matthew begged as Darcy placed his cup on a table top before lifting the little boy onto his shoulder again.

  ++**++

  “Barrow, it is good to see you again,” Fitzwilliam said as the two men stopped in the hallway.

  “Thank you, colonel,” the footman replied.

  Leaning in close, he asked, “Are the major’s wife and child well and safe here?”

  “Generally well and safe, sir though there two matters that I have asked Lady Hamilton to convey to His Lordship; the men known as George Wickham and William Collins,” the footman replied. “May I tell you of these matters?”

  “I am dealing with Wickham and will soon have him in the regulars under my immediate command. I intend for the French to make short work of him next spring; but what of the other fellow?”

  “Very good sir. The other man – Collins – is a pompous clergyman who may inherit this estate someday. On Friday last, he came to supper but put the entire household into an uproar by repeating slander against Lady Elizabeth and her marriage to the major sir.”