Duels of Every Sort Read online

  John nodded. “When shall you tell them? When you come to Longbourn tomorrow?”

  “Yes, that would be best, I suppose. I would not want to darken this evening with such sordid tales, after all. Elizabeth is having too good a time to ruin it for her.” I looked back into the ballroom to see that Elizabeth had collected Miss Lydia from the officers and was making her stay and converse with Miss Lucas and her younger sister Miss Maria by holding on to her arm. I had to admire her as a sister. No matter how futile her efforts, Elizabeth always tried to have a positive influence on her younger sister.

  “Excellent,” John said. “I shall tell my father to expect your coming in the morning then.”

  John and I returned to the ballroom, and I went to join Elizabeth. I noticed that Miss Lydia eyed me warily. I could only imagine what Wickham had told her, but I was sure he had been convincing about it. The man lied as easily as he talked of the weather and could charmed even the most discerning individuals—my own father included. God only knew how many others in the neighborhood he had poisoned against me with his tales.

  Elizabeth looked at me with concern, having noticed my more melancholy demeanor since speaking with her brother. She drew me a little away from the others, releasing Miss Lydia who scampered off, and asked, “Are you well? I noticed you and John step outside. I hope nothing is amiss.”

  I gave her a slight smile. “No, everything is fine.”

  “Is this to do with what Mr. Wickham told Lydia?” she asked, her brow furrowed. “I could not believe he would spread such lies.”

  My mood lightened that she had given not a moment’s credit to her sister’s report. My smile became genuine. “Yes, we were determining how to deal with him. However, please do not let that man spoil our evening together. I promise I will explain all to you tomorrow at Longbourn.” She nodded and smiled. I offered her my arm, and we moved across the room to join Bingley where he was speaking with Miss Bennet and Mr. Bennet. I made a conscious effort to put Wickham out of my mind and began to enjoy the evening again.

  About a half hour later, a servant appeared with a message I did not expect. He told me that Colonel Fitzwilliam himself was awaiting me in the library. Elizabeth sent me a quizzical look. I briefly explained, “Excuse me, please. It seems that my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, has arrived unexpectedly. I must speak with him.” I bowed and left the ballroom.

  Upon entering the library, I saw Fitzwilliam attired in a dusty red coat pouring himself a brandy from Bingley’s sideboard. “Well, this is unexpected,” I said. “I had not thought you would come personally to see to Wickham.”

  He offered me drink, which I declined, and answered, “Sorry, to barge in on the festivities, Will, but I did not trust anyone else to ensure Wickham’s safe arrival at his new regiment in Newcastle. I had business up north anyway, and I intend to accompany him. I arrived unannounced because I only finalized his transfer this morning and came straight from London.”

  “It is no problem, Fitz. I am sure Bingley will be happy to accommodate you and to have you join in the ball. I am very happy to hear that you have found Wickham a new post.”

  “Oh, and quite a post it is too. I am sure you will understand, but I could not help but make things a bit difficult for Wickham, given the chance. His new commanding officer does not take kindly to vile layabouts and philanderers.” He grinned shrewdly.

  “Excellent. I shall be more than glad to see him go. I just learned tonight that he has been spreading lies about me to the local populace and disregarded my warning to stay clear of the Bennets. However, he did at least have the intelligence not to show up tonight, despite all the officers being invited.”

  Fitzwilliam downed his drink. “Well, I shall speak to Colonel Forster tomorrow and remove Wickham immediately if all goes as planned. You may come along if you’d like.”

  I said that I would. My heart lightened that Wickham would be soon gone. It could not happen too soon. Making a concerted effort to shake Wickham from my mind for the remainder of the evening, I said, “Well, regardless of why you are here, it is good to see you Fitz. Been several months since we last met.”

  Fitzwilliam smiled, and I saw his countenance shift from business to pleasure. “Good to see you as well. Though I had a strange report of you from your sister when I saw her a few days ago. She says that your letters are unusually cheerful recently and full of a young lady of the neighborhood. Can this be true? Can a woman have finally caught the fancy of the great Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley?”

  I laughed at this. Richard Fitzwilliam and I had always been good friends as well as cousins. We had grown up together, playing and fishing on the grounds of both Pemberley and his father’s estate at Matlock. Though Fitzwilliam was several years older than I, we had always been a pair in our childhood pranks—often with Wickham along with us—particularly against his elder brother, the future Earl of Matlock. After attending Cambridge, Fitzwilliam had joined His Majesty’s Dragoons and distinguished himself in combat on the continent. He and I shared guardianship of Georgiana. I knew of few men better than he. I was proud to call him my family and trusted him with my life.

  Unfortunately, like John and occasionally Bingley, Fitzwilliam had a tendency to make sport of me. I unwittingly seemed to surround myself with such people, perhaps to counteract my natural reserve. In any case, I replied, “Indeed a woman has. In fact, you shall meet her tonight. You already know her brother. I have entered into a courtship with Miss Elizabeth Bennet and intend to make her my wife.”

  “Really, with John’s sister?” he asked. “I shall look forward to meeting the girl who could finally get past your dreaded mask and start you thinking of settling down. Although, you realize the family will not be particularly pleased. I know John’s connections cannot be the best.”

  “I do not care,” I said, simply.

  “Good for you,” he replied. “Finally got off that high horse of yours, have you?”

  I was not going to reply to that comment. “Speaking of settling down, old boy.”

  Fitzwilliam snorted inelegantly. “Oh, do not start with me. I have already had this lecture from my mother when I visited her last week. And now you will just make me look bad.” He rose and walked to the window. I looked after him curiously. He seemed more pensive than was his wont. “As a matter of fact, I have been thinking about retiring from the army. Or at least seeking a position at Whitehall. I find myself tired of traveling and encampments and battles. But I cannot marry where there is no fortune, being a younger son, and I cannot stomach the idea of a marriage of convenience. I have seen the distasteful outcome of too many such unions.”

  He was silent for a moment before he turned back to me. “Well, it makes little difference in any case. I have yet to meet a woman whom I would even consider marrying.”

  I looked at him quite seriously. “I am sure she is about, Fitz. After all, I never expected to find love on a random trip to Hertfordshire, but there it is.”

  Fitzwilliam shrugged. “Well, anyway. Would you mind calling Bingley? I should like to wash off the dust from the road and could use some food as well.”

  “Of course,” I rang for a servant and asked him to fetch his master. “I hope you will join us at the ball. The call for supper should be in about an hour. I would very much like to introduce you to Elizabeth.”

  “And I should very much like to meet her,” he replied.

  When Bingley entered the room, he started at the sight of Fitzwilliam. “Why, Colonel!” he cried. “To what do we owe this unexpected pleasure? For indeed, it is a pleasure to see you at Netherfield.”

  “Thank you, BIngley. I apologize for arriving unannounced, but I came to deal with the Wickham problem. I did not intend to interrupt your ball.”

  Bingley shook his hand merrily. “Oh, think nothing of it! You know you are always welcome here. Let me have a servant show you to a room so you can clean up, and then I hope you will join us in the ballroom and for supper.”

  “I
should be delighted.” With that, a servant was called, and Fitzwilliam was led to a guest room above stairs. Bingley and I returned to the ballroom, and he went to notify Miss Bingley of his new guest so that she could see to any arrangements for him. I joined Elizabeth, Miss Bennet, and Miss Lucas and explained the happy circumstance that necessitated my absence.

  Half an hour later, Elizabeth had left me to dance with one of the officers. I was watching her move down the line, vaguely maintaining a conversation with John and Bingley, when Fitzwilliam reappeared. John saw him first as he made his way to us, the gold buttons on his redcoat gleaming. “Why, Fitzwilliam,” he called, extending his hand. “Welcome to Hertfordshire. Good to see you again.”

  Fitzwilliam and John had become well acquainted during the Ramsgate incident this summer. Fitzwilliam had the highest respect for John and John for him. Fitzwilliam took his hand in a hearty greeting. “And you too, Bennet. I came to deal with your little pest problem, and Bingley was kind enough allow me to crash his ball.”

  “Of course,” Bingley said. “The more the merrier.”

  “I paid my respects to your sisters on my way through the room. Was it me or was Miss Bingley even icier than usual?” Fitzwilliam asked, good-naturedly.

  Bingley gave him a small smile. “Sorry about that. I’m afraid she is a bit upset that John’s sisters have captured my and Darcy’s eye.”

  Fitzwilliam chuckled. “I expect she is a bit more upset about Darcy than you, Bingley.”

  “You might say so,” Bingley responded with a grin.

  “So, you have been caught by one of John’s sisters as well? When do I get to meet these paragons?”

  John responded, “My sisters are dancing currently. Look, there is Jane, who Charles is courting. And over there is Elizabeth, who Darce is courting.” Fitzwilliam glanced at Miss Bennet’s classic beauty with approval, but he looked at Elizabeth with real interest.

  “Those are your sisters, John? Good Lord, it is a wonder they are not married already. I expected that they were special to have caught the fancy of these two gents, but they are absolutely beautiful. I can see why you have kept them hidden away in the country.”

  I snorted. “Down, Fitz. I happen to be rather grateful that Elizabeth has never been to town for the season.”

  We all laughed. John added, “Well, as none of the Bennets are very fond of town with the exception of my mother, we did not feel it necessary.”

  Just then, the music ended and the Miss Bennets’ partners returned them to our group along with Miss Lucas and Miss Maria. Elizabeth took my arm and Miss Bennet took Bingley’s as introductions were made. After the general courtesies, Fitzwilliam said, “I am particularly delighted to meet you, Miss Elizabeth. I did not think any woman could break through the arrogant front Darcy puts on in public. I am quite glad to see his armor pierced at last, for pierced it you certainly have if all that I have heard about you is true.”

  Elizabeth laughed. “Well, it took some doing and a good bit of impertinence on my part, not to mention several threats from Johnny about exposing the full extent of Mr. Darcy’s net worth to the local mamas, but we finally loosened him up.” She looked up at me as she said this with such a look of affection as to take my breath away. I smiled down at her.

  I did not think either of our looks was lost on Fitzwilliam, who was clearly trying to reassure himself that I had not been caught by a fortune hunter. Apparently satisfied, he laughed, “Well, I have yet to see the dreaded Darcy Mask of Inscrutability tonight, even with all the people here, so you must have been successful.”

  John added, “Oh, I believe he learned at his first gathering, not to try that in Hertfordshire. Lizzy and I gave him quite the time about it at the assembly where they met.”

  Fitzwilliam’s eyes glinted at me. “That is something I would have paid to see.” Now, that he had determined to like Elizabeth, Fitzwilliam felt free to give the rest of the party his attention. He soon fell into conversation with Miss Lucas and when the music began for the supper dance, he quickly secured her hand.

  Each of us escorted our respective ladies to the floor, John escorting Miss Maria. After a pleasant time spent dancing with Elizabeth and telling her a little of my cousin, our small group reconvened and led the way into dining room, Miss Bingley and the Hursts joining us. I made sure to seat Elizabeth and I as far away from Miss Bingley as we could be at the same table. Fitzwilliam and Miss Lucas joined us along with John and Miss Maria. Bingley and Miss Bennet sat near us as well, leaving Miss Bingley with the Hursts, the Forsters, and Sir William and Lady Lucas. This suited me well, as I was determined that Elizabeth would not be subjected to Miss Bingley’s jealousy any more than absolutely necessary.

  We enjoyed lively and pleasant conversation, with much teasing and laughter. Miss Lucas, who, in the midst of all the lively personalities at the table, was revealed to have just as perceptive a mind as Elizabeth, further impressed me. She offered intelligent insights into any topic and, along with John, was very adept at teasing Elizabeth.

  Fitzwilliam seemed to be equally impressed. He engaged her on a number of topics from literature to music to politics. Miss Lucas smiled and laughed with him. She was really quite pretty when she relaxed and let her humor show forth. Unlike her sister who was by far the youngest of our group and seemed uncomfortable with so much liveliness as occupied our table, Miss Lucas showed herself to be just as pleasant as her friends.

  I had never in my life had such an enjoyable meal as that, particularly with so many people present. The eight of us passed the dinner hour completely oblivious to anything beyond our party and the good humor that pervaded. At one point, Elizabeth called on Fitzwilliam to reveal to her what I had been like as a child. “I have heard stories of his years at Cambridge from John but would dearly like to know how he behaved as a child.”

  Fitzwilliam’s eyes kindled with mischief. “Well, Will. What story shall I offer? We had numerous escapades. I wonder which would be most interesting to Miss Elizabeth.”

  I eyed him calmly. “If I remember correctly, Fitz, most of those ‘escapades’ as you call them were your idea.”

  Fitz laughed at this. “Perhaps they were, but your careful planning was of invaluable assistance.” He turned his gaze to Elizabeth. “You see, Miss Elizabeth, my cousin has always been rather a logical being. Even in our childhood pranks he would always plan every detail, which usually meant that we met with success. In fact, I think I learned more of strategy and tactics as a child from Will than I have in all my years since as a soldier.”

  “Oh, please do enlighten us as to Mr. Darcy’s strategic prowess,” Elizabeth asked, eagerly leaning forward in her chair for more fodder with which to tease me.

  I shook my head and smiled at her. “Careful, Elizabeth. There are far more people here who knew you as a child than me. I just might ask one of them for tales of your childhood adventures. From some of the stories I heard from John at Cambridge, I am sure they were numerous.” Elizabeth tried her best to look affronted but soon gave in to the grin trying to overspread her features.

  It was Miss Lucas who answered, “I can assure you that there were quite a few of them, Mr. Darcy. Lizzy was always getting into mischief often dragging Jane and me or my brothers along.”

  Jane added, in her good-natured way, “But she always got us back out of it, too, Charlotte.”

  “Indeed, she did.” Miss Lucas then turned slightly to face Fitzwilliam and asked, “Well, Colonel, shall you share with us some of your cousin’s ‘escapades’? I shall return the favor and regale you with a tale of Lizzy’s exploits.”

  Elizabeth gasped. “Charlotte! You would not dare!”

  “Oh, I would Lizzy,” Miss Lucas said, her eyes gleaming. “I think it only fair that Mr. Darcy know just what he is getting into.”

  Fitzwilliam returned, “Indeed, that does seem reasonable, Miss Lucas. I in turn will ensure that your friend is fully aware of just what sort of man is courting her.”

  E
lizabeth and I looked at each other in consternation and alarm mixed with humor. It was apparent that Fitzwilliam and Miss Lucas had taken an immediate liking to each other. I did not look forward to acquainting him with Miss Lucas’ lack of fortune later. For now, I decided to let them have their fun and offered Elizabeth a resigned shrug. “Go ahead, Fitz. Do your worst. I happen to know there is nothing too dreadful in my past.”

  Fitzwilliam raised his eyebrows then spoke to the ladies present. “I remember one particular adventure when I was about eleven, which would make Darcy about nine. He and his family were visiting mine at Matlock, while my elder brother James, who would have been about fifteen, was home from school for the Christmas holidays. My brother has always been rather serious and uptight—“

  “More so than Darce?” John interjected. I rolled my eyes at him.

  Fitzwilliam chuckled. “Oh, Darce can be a stick in the mud in unfamiliar surroundings, but he’s usually lively enough. James, on the other hand, is perpetually dour. So, Darcy and I decided it was our job to lighten him up a bit.”

  “You decided, you mean,” I corrected him. I had figured out where this was going.

  “You did not disagree,” he shot back. “Well, as it had snowed quite a bit that year, and Darcy and I had engaged in several snow battles already, we had snow on the brain. We decided that since James’ demeanor was always so cold, he would hardly be affected by a little of the winter wonder.”

  Getting into the spirit of things, I joined in the telling. “The problem was that James refused to leave the house. The snow was too deep for your usual outdoor activities and was only hospitable for little boys who did not mind being frozen from head to toe. So, if James would not come to the snow, we determined that we would bring the snow to James.”

  “Well,” Fitzwilliam continued. “As I am sure you know, snow has a tendency to melt.” This comment drew chuckles from the group. “We thought long and hard about this, and at last, Darcy formed a daring plan. We sneaked through the kitchen in the dead of night when the battle-axe of a cook could not scold us for entering her domain and down into the icehouse. There, we commandeered two of the thick wooden buckets and straw and sawdust for insulation. Then we stole back to our rooms and hid the buckets till morning.”