Only Mr. Darcy Will Do

Elizabeth nodded, fighting back the threat of tears. She let out a soft laugh, “But to answer your question, Miss Darcy, I do enjoy teaching Emily. I am not proficient at all things—such as drawing and painting—she will, therefore, receive instructions from masters as she gets older. I confess that I enjoy reading and learning on my own, and I can only hope that Emily will see that she, too, can take opportunities to read and learn, even when her studies are completed.”

“There you are!” The voice pierced through the room, causing Georgiana to flinch. Both ladies looked up to see Rosalyn standing in the doorway. “I have been in the sitting room waiting for you, Miss Darcy.” Her eyebrows pinched in confusion. “I was hoping to talk with you.”

“I am sorry,” Georgiana offered. “I heard the music coming from in here and wandered in. I was not aware you were expecting me in the sitting room.”

“I understood you to say you were going to spend some time in there.”

Georgiana let out a very soft sigh. “I shall be there shortly.” She stood and turned to Elizabeth, saying, “I enjoyed our time, Miss Bennet.” She then joined Rosalyn, and the two walked out.

Elizabeth brought a finger up to her lips and tapped them thoughtfully as she watched them leave. She was not altogether certain, but it seemed to her that Miss Darcy did not wish to spend time with Rosalyn. If she knew Rosalyn as well as she had come to know her, her fervent aspirations for Mr. Darcy were such that they were causing Miss Darcy more than a little disquiet. Emily, who had stopped playing, confirmed her suspicions.

“I do not think Miss Darcy likes Rosalyn.”

“Emily!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Why would you say such a thing?”

“Because of yesterday. I could see it on her face while we were out looking at the peaks. Whenever Rosalyn came up to her, I noticed her eyebrows pinch.” Emily mimicked on her own face the appearance of pinched eyebrows. She then turned back to her playing.

Elizabeth had to laugh at her imitation. “Did you see her make that face very often?”

Emily nodded. “Whenever Rosalyn was with her or with her brother. I noticed a definite frown when Rosalyn was out walking with Mr. Darcy.”

Elizabeth smiled and patted the young girl’s head as she considered how discerning little Emily was. “Was Rosalyn often with Mr. Darcy… or Miss Darcy?”

“The only time she was not with Mr. Darcy or his sister, she was with Mr. Hamilton. He frequently joined them.” She stopped and looked at Elizabeth. “I think Mr. Darcy was most pleased whenever he came by.”

Elizabeth shook her head as she contemplated Rosalyn’s scheme. From Emily’s description of the events, Rosalyn had succeeded in achieving the exact opposite of that which she so greatly desired.

* * *

Elizabeth returned to the music room after getting Emily settled in her room to take her afternoon nap. She brought a book to read and hoped she could remain there undetected by Rosalyn. Elizabeth let out a long sigh. She had so enjoyed Rosalyn’s company when she first came to the Willstones’ home in London. Yet now she had come to dread her very presence. Had Rosalyn changed? Or had Elizabeth changed due to her now having similar feelings for Mr. Darcy?

The sound of footsteps coming down the hall caused Elizabeth to tense. She looked up to see Mrs. Goldsmith enter. She had not really spent much time with the lady and now actually welcomed the opportunity to get to know her a little better.

“Hello, Mrs. Goldsmith,” Elizabeth said softly.

“Oh!” Mrs. Goldsmith said as she turned. “I did not see you.”

“Do you play the piano?” Elizabeth asked her.

“I play a little. When Gladys and Harriet began learning, it helped me recall what little I learned when I was younger. I must confess that I had been rather neglectful of practicing through the years. I actually find now that I enjoy it more than I did when I was younger.”

“You can play if you like,” Elizabeth offered. “It will not disturb me. I am only reading.”

Mrs. Goldsmith waved her hand in the air. “Oh, I am quite sure it will disturb you. I said I can play a little,” she laughed. “But not well, at all!”

She came in and sat down next to Elizabeth. “I have always enjoyed this room,” she said softly. “I often thought that by just sitting in here, my music skills would improve.”

Elizabeth laughed. “How nice that would be if improvement came without all the practice!”

“Yes.” Mrs. Goldsmith leaned back in the chair. Elizabeth could see in the manner she was resting that she was quite comfortable.

“How long have you been acquainted with Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth asked.

“My husband, Benjamin, and Mr. Darcy went to Oxford together. From the moment they met, they became the closest of friends.”

“Hmmm,” Elizabeth replied with a nod.

“I used to be quite intimidated by him,” Mrs. Goldsmith continued. “And quite resentful.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “Truly? Of Mr. Darcy?”

Mrs. Goldsmith nodded her head. “I feared he would not think well of me. I had neither the connections nor the fortune that Benjamin’s family expected, and I believed he felt the same. I resented him because my husband always sought his advice. I felt as though he had some sort of control over Benjamin.”

“And now?” Elizabeth’s curiosity was piqued.

Mrs. Goldsmith smiled. “Now I am indebted to him.”

“Indebted?” Elizabeth’s surprise was evident.

She went on to explain, “Benjamin’s family did indeed consider that an alliance between us would be disgraceful, foolish, and dishonourable. They could not… would not… consider that the love we had for each other was sufficient grounds for marriage.”

“And Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth asked softly.

“Believe it or not, he is a man who believes strongly in a marriage based on love. He not only encouraged my Benjamin to make me an offer of marriage, but he also helped smooth things over with his family.” Her eyes lit up as she said, “Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised to discover Mr. Darcy was a very honourable man, who liberally gave very wise advice, and who also happens to believe in love.” She looked at Elizabeth and laughed. “You cannot find fault with a man like that.”

“No, no.” Elizabeth laughed nervously, her rapidly beating heart signifying its agreement.

The two talked for a length of time, eventually moving on to the subject of Mr. Bingley.

“Did you know him?” Elizabeth inquired.

“Barely. He studied quite a few years after my husband, and he and Mr. Darcy became good friends after my husband graduated.”

Elizabeth then told her that he was now engaged to her sister.

“I am very happy for him,” Mrs. Goldsmith said. “I know Benjamin always hoped for the opportunity to get to know him better, but our paths have simply not crossed all that often.” She took Elizabeth’s hand and said tenderly, “Perhaps with his upcoming marriage, we will find ourselves frequenting the same circles.”

Just as quickly, though, her face shaded. “I only wish we could find someone suitable for Mr. Darcy. He has spent so much time making sure his friends marry for love that he has had little time to find it himself.” She let out a downhearted sigh. “I do not think…” She stopped suddenly. “We can only hope he is waiting for just the right person!”

Elizabeth enjoyed her talk with Mrs. Goldsmith; she very much enjoyed her company. But she was eager to be left alone, because of a nagging thought. There was something she needed to think more on, and she required solitude to do it. Mrs. Goldsmith finally left, and once she had the music room to herself, she thought back over their conversation. Mrs. Goldsmith had said much, but what was it that had her so unsettled?

She sat at the pianoforte and played aimlessly until it suddenly came to her. Mrs. Goldsmith said that Mr. Darcy made sure his friends married for love, and that he seemed to have had little time to find it himself. Elizabeth knew he loved her when he first proposed. He was a man violently in love! He admitted it to her himself! But did he actually believe her to be in love with him? Would he have asked for her hand if he did not believe that?