Scotch and Sirens

Chapter Thirty Eight

 

Lizzy walked away from the fair with Vian full of confusion. She could not stay there any longer after Mr. Darcy had ridden away. She had intended to walk home alone, but Vian would not hear of it. She was vexed with him for taking her ribbon like he had, and she feared that Mr. Darcy had misinterpreted the act. Did he now think she was promised to Monsieur Vian? Her emotions were in turmoil, and she spoke very little while trying to maintain an appearance of calm.

After walking some distance through a wooded area, she finally turned to the Frenchman and said, “I find I must be bold and ask for my ribbon back, Sir. I did not give it freely.”

“I am afraid, Miss Bennet, that I cannot. Such a token is the dearest award for my victory.” He looked into her eyes and smiled slightly. “Miss Bennet, as much as I like competition, I wanted to win only for you.”

She was momentarily struck dumb. When she could finally speak she had decided he was only jesting – he must be.

“You are trying to humour me, I know, Monsieur Vian, but I do not jest. I am in no need of flattery, I assure you, and so you do not need to use it on me at this juncture. I only desire my ribbon. That is all.”

“Miss Bennet, I can offer you anything you want instead. Please, name your price.”

His answer threw her into even more confusion. Did he toy with her after all or was he sincere? How could she suddenly find herself here without any previous inkling of such feelings on his part? It just could not be so.

“There is nothing else I desire. I only wish for that one item. Surely it cannot have such a special meaning that you could not part with it. You will remember your victory in the duelling in some other way, I am sure!”

“On the contrary, Miss Bennet, I assure you. Come.” He took her arm and led her among the trees. “I will gather the most impressive autumn bouquet for you.”

Vian bent and started to collect fall leaves from the forest floor. She did not know what to say or if she should press the matter any further. She did not want her fears that he cared for her confirmed, yet she could not ignore his behaviour now, nor could she imagine he would play such a game with her either. If it were true, she had no idea how it came about. Did she do something to encourage him in that line of thought? She did not think so, but then she had been surprised by Mr. Darcy's first proposal as well. Mr. Darcy! The thought of him complicated things all the more for her.

She breathed deeply and spoke as calmly and coolly as she possibly could to him.

“Monsieur Vian. Let us talk for a moment. Please stop gathering leaves and speak plainly to me. What could my ribbon possibly mean to you? Surely you do not care so deeply for it, or the having of it, as to be so insistent in the matter. It can mean nothing to you.”

Vian stopped his activity and moved closer to her. She took a step backwards and found herself with her back against a tree.

“Miss Bennet, you cannot be so much mistaken as to not understand my wishes. I know what you were occupying yourself and Mr. Darcy with, and I know that you care for him much more than is advisable in the situation. Certainly more than he cares for you.”

“And what do you know, Sir, that we were occupying ourselves with?” she managed to breathe out in her anguish and shock, her knees almost buckling with the sickening realisation that she indeed knew precisely what he thought it was.

“Let us play coy no longer, Miss Bennet.” He moved even closer and took her chin in his hand. “I cannot imagine how he could have abandoned you. I would never leave. Let me take care of you. Let me bring you comfort.”

He moved his hand to the back of her neck and put his other on her waist. He pressed against her, tightening his grasp, and pushed his knee between her thighs. His mouth claimed hers in a hungry kiss, his tongue parting her lips impatiently.

Lizzy was inexperienced in such things and had not realised what was coming quickly enough. It had happened so fast. She immediately tried to push away so that she could move to a safe distance, but he had her enveloped firmly in his arms.

When she bit down rather hard on one of his lips he moved his face inches away from her, startled by the level of play she was ready to engage in. Searching her eyes, he was both surprised and excited by the fire he found there. Yet, her anger seemed in contrast to what he was sure she was feeling, as she immediately and vehemently demanded her release. He wondered what sort of games Darcy liked to play with her.

He put his mouth to her ear and whispered, “Come now, it is not a time to be missish. Elizabeth, my dear, I know you are filled with passions, but I am a gentle man. I will not demand such games from you.”

“Please…”

She continued to push hard against him, so he grasped her arms even more firmly.

“How you must suffer now that your desires are awakened but not fulfilled. I saw you yesterday waiting for Darcy. Your body relaxed and awaiting pleasure. Oh, how I wanted to join you. I would have if I had known he was such a scoundrel that he would not show up. Let me have you, Elizabeth. Let me caress every inch of your sweet body.”

He moved his lips down her neck and started to cover her skin with gentle but passionate kisses.

“I will be better than him. I will marry you. You are the woman I want to come to every night.”

She struggled with as much force as she could muster. After some effort on her part, he finally allowed her to break free. She moved quickly and took off running as fast as she could through the trees.

“Merde!” Vian exclaimed. “What just happened?!”

Watching her running from him, he finally came to the realisation that she was serious in her refusal and strove to stop her in order to explain himself. It had not been his intention to scare her.

“Elizabeth, please wait! Elizabeth!”

He ran after her. They had to talk before she returned to Rosefarm.

She heard him calling but still continued to run randomly through the woods, not knowing any longer where she was but not stopping for anything. Crying now, she ran blindly until she could run no further, her lungs bursting.

She stopped for a moment to get her bearings and to ascertain if he had somehow followed her. She heard nothing but the sounds of the rushing water. Her breath ragged, she searched her surroundings for some sign of where she was. Not recognising anything, she ran toward the river. Following the bank, she soon came to a clearing where she fell to her knees and crumpled into a heap on the grass, crying tears of hopelessness and despair.

After some time her mind finally began to function again, and she began to wonder what she was to do now? She could not go back to Rosefarm like this, with herself in this state and with Monsieur Vian probably waiting for her along the way.

Mr. Vian! The things he had said to her spun through her mind. She could not be sure, but it seemed obvious now that he must have seen her and Mr. Darcy on the day of their last ride together, probably both riding one horse or he could not have jumped to all of the wrong conclusions. All of his strange questions about the kind of horse Mr. Darcy owned made a sickening sort of sense to her now. Many of the previous conversations she had had with the Frenchman, in fact, now took on a whole new meaning in her mind. His repeated use of the phrase close friend now mortified her. She could see what he had been thinking and how he may have had his suspicions inadvertently confirmed by herself or by the overheard conversations she had held with Mr. Darcy in his presence – and Vian's poem at the picnic now made a perfect ironic sense to her.

It seemed clear that Monsieur Vian's point of view would not be easily altered by any feeble protestations she might make to him. What was worse, she was now afraid to be alone with him, so she could not even attempt to speak to him about it. She sat there feeling hopeless and realised there was little she could do about it. Her tears and sobbing began all over again.

She stood up, still almost hysterical, thinking she had better move on before Vian found her. The tears were still trickling down her face, which was smudged with dirt from wiping them away time after time with hands she had used to scramble her way through the woods and underbrush. Hearing a sound behind her, she instinctively made to run, only to be held in place by two strong hands.

She twisted around only to find herself looking into the very concerned eyes of Mr. Darcy. Shaking, she fell against him and gave in to the tears. He instinctively put his arms around her and started to gently stroke her hair with his hand, his heart aching for the woman in his embrace. So small. So fragile. They stood there in silence until her weeping ceased.

“Miss Bennet, can you tell me what has happened?” he whispered against her hair.

It took some time before she could gather herself enough to pull back from his warmth and comfort. She wanted to stay there where it felt safe, but she knew she could not. His mind must be racing with the possibilities of what could be the matter.

She reluctantly parted from his tender embrace and stood back. She took the handkerchief he held out to her and tried to dry the tears. She knew she must look a sight. Her hair coming loose from its pins, and her face smudged and red from all of the crying.

She looked at him carefully and saw the anxiety written clearly on his countenance. She needed to say something now although she knew she could say nothing that would ease it, only make it worse. Once she began she found that she could not stop. She paced around in front of him and told him all that had happened, from setting out from the fair until she found herself here.

All kinds of thoughts ran through Darcy’s mind as he listened to her narration. The first was relief upon apprising that she was not physically hurt and was able to collect her thoughts and talk to him about her misfortune. Second, was his confusion at the realisation of his misreading the state of affairs. Then, however, his anger grew when she described recent events to him. He was incensed at the thought of Vian taking such liberties with Elizabeth. It pained him to see how much her feelings and sensitivities were hurt, as well as her pride. He had to solve the situation, and solve it now. However, he also needed to make sure that she would calm down.

“Miss Bennet, please do not grieve yourself. Let me handle it. Please, stay here and wait for me.”

Lizzy looked around in panic. What could he possibly do but fight him, she thought, and then her eyes fell on his horse and the sword tied to the saddle.

“What will you do? You will not challenge him to a duel? You cannot risk your life for me! I will not have it!”

Elizabeth’s care for him was touching. He took her hand in his and bowed to kiss it, continuing to tenderly hold it as he spoke,

“Do not concern yourself with me, Miss Bennet. I will be back, I promise.”

She could not allow it. No matter what she had to say to stop him she would say it.

“Mr. Darcy, you have just lost a duel to Monsieur Vian. I cannot allow you to do this for me. I mean this sincerely. He has a great deal more experience with the sword and this is not an exhibition. You cannot fight him!”

Darcy had just caught a glimpse of Vian approaching the clearing from the woods.

“Indeed? I see you have a lot of faith in me, Miss Bennet. Can you at least believe my word? I told you I would come back.”

“Of course I have faith in you! I just cannot bear that you could be hurt in defending my honour. I know you have great skill, I just do not want you to have to prove it.” She looked into his eyes and said more softly, “I know you will come back.”

Darcy glanced once again at the sight of Vian waiting. He quickly took his coat off and put it around her shoulders.

“Very well, then. Please, promise me you will stay here no matter what, and try to calm yourself.”

Twisting around, she saw Vian standing there in the distance, his sword held in his hand at his side.

Darcy gently grasped her by the shoulders and turned her to face him once again.

“Elizabeth, promise me.”

The earnest plea in his eyes allowed room only for her to nod her assent.

“I will be back as soon as I can.”

Darcy approached his horse and detached the sac with his swords. He had not planned on using anything more than a rapier during the contest, however, since Ned McMahon, was famous in the neighbourhood for his military skills, he was prepared for duelling with heavier weapons as well. Inside, along with his rapier, were two curved sabres. He cast one last reassuring look back at Elizabeth, before he left her there.

He approached the Frenchman and silently motioned for him to follow. Vian seemed reluctant.

“Darcy,” he said, “I really have no business with you. There was a severe misunderstanding, and all I want is a short conversation with Elizabeth.”

“You mean Miss Bennet.”

“Miss Bennet, yes. I need to explain something to her. She must understand…”

“Must she?” Darcy kept walking without even glancing Vian’s way.

“No, I did not mean it. Listen, she just mistook me. I do not want her to be afraid of me.”

“I am sure you do not, Monsieur.”

“Darcy, can we be reasonable?”

Darcy did not answer, and so Vian followed him in silence. When Darcy decided that they were far enough to be out of Elizabeth’s sight and hearing, he stopped and offered Vian his choice of swords.

“Darcy, are you out of your mind? Do you want to die? You know I am a better fencer than you are, and you certainly should not be risking a fight using sabres with me.”

Darcy looked at him most seriously, “You have not seen my anger yet, Vian.”

“A duel? Without seconds? I do not wish to go to prison for killing you!”

“En garde.” Darcy took his position without giving Vian any more time to prepare, and came at him with his first attack.

He drew his left foot near his right and lunged forcibly. Vian dodged right while parrying the attack and Darcy immediately followed with a slash left to strike a blow to his head. Vian encountered the edge of his sword with his own to push it away and stepped left, keeping his sword point down toward Darcy so that he would impale himself if he were careless. Darcy easily beat his opponent’s blade to the side and aimed a cut at Vian's head, which Vian parried with the edge of his weapon and then made a reverse thrust with his sword's point aimed at Darcy's face. To defend against the thrust, Darcy parried inward and traversed to the right by stepping broadly back with his left foot. He then lunged and thrust solidly at Vian's chest from this new angle. Vian parried his thrust and made as if to thrust at Darcy's stomach, only to feint and try for a cut to his left side. The move was meant to force Darcy to expose his side while protecting his middle, however, Vian's use of such a deceit only showed him Vian's contempt for him and the man's overconfidence – which was a path to sure death for such a fencer. Darcy parried the blow and moved to his right.

Vian renewed his attack by trying a cut to Darcy's right arm and thought to cut him with his words as well. “I can see your anger grows when it comes to your property,” he uttered, breathing heavily.

Darcy parried, took a step back, and used a reverse angle to attempt a cut to Vian's arm from below. “Miss Bennet is no one's property, Vian.” His breath growing heavy as well. “You took far too many liberties with her. I have warned you before against it, have I not?”

Vian defended himself from the last move, and thrust high, going for Darcy's head again. “Oh yes, you have. Well, it seemed to me she remained friendless after all.”

Darcy deflected the aimed blow and backed up from Vian, pausing for a moment. “What?” He renewed his attack on the man.

Vian circled away from Darcy's latest attack and attempted another cut, this time feinting as if to cut his left side, but instead going for his arm. Darcy parried, and Vian stopped for breath. “You know, she waited for you yesterday in your meeting place, but you never showed up. She led me to understand that she was trying to get used to the thought and reconcile herself to the fact that you had lost your interest in her. I know that a woman like her would not wish to be lonely after knowing the blessings of a man's company.”

Although confused, Darcy was in a white fever of temper. He aimed a cut at the Frenchman’s head. “You forget yourself. You are talking about a lady, Vian.”

The Frenchman parried the blow and backed away from him to gain ground for a new attack.

Both men took the opportunity to catch their breath and glared at each other, the fight with the weightier weapons taking its toll.

“A lady? Darcy, please, you fool yourself. Do you really believe that decency has anything to do with the rank of birth? Have you never seen how easily a noble woman follows a man's lead if only properly attended to?”

Darcy was about to answer when he suddenly saw Georgiana in his mind’s eye standing in Wickham's embrace.

Vian held back for a moment. “I can see I have somewhat refreshed your memory. Does it refer to Miss Bennet, Darcy? Can you see that I am not so very mistaken?”

Darcy remembered himself and renewed his attack on Vian. “Really? Did you receive any encouragement from Miss Bennet? Did she give you any reason to think she would welcome your advances?”

Vian danced around the attempted blow and made another feinted move, only to aim for somewhere else once again. “No, indeed, she did not. And it is what astonished me most.”

Darcy easily escaped the move and made his own direct thrust at Vian's stomach. “That I can easily believe. Only you could be astonished by a woman's decency.”

Vian parried and backed away once again, stopping for air. He was quite honestly surprised that this duel was not yet at an end, and now realized with some trepidation that Darcy had not been applying all of his skill at the fair as he had thought. Or maybe it was simply that, when push came to shove, the man was truly in his element. He thought to involve him in conversation in order to gain time to work out Darcy’s weaknesses.

“Darcy,” he ventured, “you may think me cynical…, but I have my reasons. I am not such a cad as you think. True…, I have had many women…, indeed, younger and older, married, single… or betrothed. But I assure you that none of them was misled as to my intentions. None of them expected anything more from me than brief pleasure.”

Darcy circled around him. “You do not hold women high in your esteem, do you?”

“On the contrary, Darcy. I simply do not judge them. That is all. With all of the arranged marriages around one cannot be really surprised. They had never really loved their legal partners, nor did they love me. Believe me, if it had ever been otherwise I would have married a long time ago.” Vian, having now devised a new strategy, engaged him once more, his sword held high, going for the throat.

Darcy danced away from Vian’s sword. “I know women, I grant you, but I have some problems with trusting your opinion, Vian. I do not think that a brief pleasure could tempt a woman like Miss Bennet.”

Vian made another feinted move, aiming for the head only to go for his opponent’s side. “No, indeed, it could not. That is why she impressed me so.”

Darcy defended himself from the blow and made to cut Vian's sword arm. “Women would do better to not impress you if that is how you show them your appreciation.”

Vian backed away from him once again. “Darcy, you are such a hypocrite. You used her deeply felt attachment to you only to satisfy your own desires, and you tell me that I am a rogue! You know, if she loved me like she loves you I would marry her at once. But she is not good enough for you, is she?”

Darcy's hand wavered for a moment. However, he quickly collected his thoughts and renewed his attack. “Maybe... I am not good enough for her, Vian.”

Vian reacted and made his own attack. “I am sure that is the case. She is quite remarkable, is she not?”

Darcy, enraged now, shouted, “Enough!”

Darcy lunged forward, almost at a run, blinded by fury, and easily deflected the man’s sword from a cut to his neck with a wide, angry swing that sent it flying from Vian’s grasp. The Frenchman, seeing the look in Darcy’s eyes, quickly made to back away and in his haste stumbled over a protruding root. He fell, and Darcy, continuing his advance, moved in with a thrust to the chest which he somehow held back from finishing. He stood there over the prone man, the point of his sabre pressed against the fabric above Vian's heart, his breath coming in ragged bursts, until the look of horror on Vian’s face brought him back from the dark place instinct had taken him. He slowly removed the sword from its resting place and let it hang down at his side.

“Vian.” Darcy looked him straight in the eye. “You have managed to disrespect the woman I hold in the highest regard,” he said between clenched teeth. “A lady who is worth every praise. You have abused and threatened her. You do not even deserve to kiss the ground she walks on. You will leave Rosefarm at once.”

Vian gave him a long look, and his voice dropped to a whisper when he finally spoke.

“You are right.”

Silence ensued, only the sound of their heavy breathing and Vian’s view of Darcy’s sword filled the space between them, until Vian sighed heavily and cautiously sat up. He slowly pulled back the few feet to the offending tree, whose roots had caused his fall, and leaned against it. After what seemed an eternity, he spoke.

“I am guilty of everything you accuse me of. I have made a terrible mistake that cannot be forgiven. One even I cannot forgive myself for. You have every right to think ill of me.”

He looked away, contemplating his options. “Let me at least explain myself. I know it cannot erase the evil, but since you are to despise me I would rather if you did it for my real deeds.”

Darcy silently waited for him to continue. Vian inhaled deeply, and began.

“I found Miss Bennet very much to my liking the very minute I saw her. I think it was the day after my arrival that I spotted you and her having a respite near a stream. From what I saw it was obvious to me that you two had an intimate understanding.”

Darcy groaned but said nothing, waiting for the story that would follow.

“Such a situation was very much to my benefit. A beautiful woman, not a stranger to these things, seemed an easy catch. However, there you were. I made an effort then to accompany her every morning on her walks. Since she did not protest, and you were never in our sight, I decided that either she did not care for you very much or it was you that was not much interested. Either way suited me well, for it meant she was available. With time I started to consider the latter to be true. Although you were always attentive and friendly to her, it never seemed to me that there was any serious attachment on your side. While she never sought my company, neither did she make up any false excuses to be rid of me. I knew that she did not care for me, but I had hoped that with time she might be persuaded otherwise.”

Vian decided not to mention the stolen kiss and continued his narration.

“When you left she seemed to feel your absence acutely. Her first reaction was especially telling when a few of days after the picnic, while out on one of our walks, we met Miss Lucy Steele and were informed of your departure. Miss Bennet did not want to believe it. It was obvious she thought you would have informed her of your plans. However, the next day when we called on Lord Brougham, he not only confirmed the news but also skilfully avoided answering the question about whether you intended to return. It seemed certain that you would not come back at all.

“Yet, I think Miss Bennet still held out some hope until yesterday, when she left home much earlier than usual and went to the place by the stream where I saw you together for the first time. I went out riding to look for her and saw her lying there on the grass. I watched her from afar for some time. I assumed that she was waiting for you, but you did not show up. I joined her later, on her way home, and she suggested to me that I should not expect to fence with you today. Darcy, till then I already cared far too much for her not to be overjoyed with such news. True, it did not give me any right to believe that she would now transfer her attention to me, but I did not think a woman like her, when left alone, would refuse me.”

Both men fell silent, each engrossed in their own thoughts.

Vian finally said, “Darcy, I did not mean to bring her any dishonour. Actually, I was ready... I hoped to marry her. But I took only false steps. Moreover, the bitter truth is that there were no right steps available for me with her. No matter what I might do she would never care. Care! She would not even notice. She loves you far too much. Amazingly so! I have seen many women who fancied themselves in love, as well as many pretending to be in love, and this had never been a great impediment for me. But Miss Bennet, in some peculiarly stubborn way, is determined to love only you.

“You can tell me to leave, you can run me through with your sword, but the greatest punishment I could be handed has already been doled out by my own behaviour. Not only can I never gain her love, but I have also lost her respect.”

Darcy started to pace the clearing back and forth without uttering a word. Vian watched him closely.

“Darcy, you hurt her severely, but if that is what she wants, and if you are content to have it so, then there is nothing I can do. I will leave whenever you wish, but if I may, I would request that you grant me at least a couple of days before I do. There is an important reason for it – one that might not matter to you but is very valid for me. I have a family matter to settle. I need to take care of them before I depart since they have no one else to act on their behalf. That is all I ask for. The decision, of course, is yours.”

Darcy finally stopped pacing and spoke.

“No, Vian, the decision will be Miss Bennet's only. However, if she wishes not to be in your presence any longer you will have to leave at once. I will come back to you with a reply.”

Thus said, Darcy left Vian.

 

 

Once Mr. Darcy had left she could do nothing at first but hold his coat closely to her body and pace the length of the small clearing. Not willing to consider what might be happening between the two men, she berated herself most soundly instead. She wondered how she could have been so preoccupied with her own thoughts and feelings about Mr. Darcy that she had dismissed everything and everyone around her as less important. She had obviously not given enough attention to the things Mr. Vian had said to her, had not even questioned them, but had only observed the things happening in her presence as if they were stones skipping across a pond. She only witnessed their initial splash on the surface and had missed the ripples created by their landing and subsequent path. She wondered what else had escaped her notice. What other words or actions by others had she not heeded in her selfish obsession?

No longer trusting anything she thought she knew, she began to wonder anew over her understanding of Mr. Darcy and his actions and words. Could she now trust the conclusions drawn about the one person she had devoted all of her attention to? Or had she given it so much that she had gotten it wrong as well?

She simply did not know what to think or feel any longer, stunned as she was by recent events, but she knew for certain that she had caused all of this, every single step that led to this confrontation now taking place between these two men – one she loved and one she had somehow deeply misread and very likely misled in so doing. If either were hurt it would rest upon her shoulders, and she felt the weight of it most severely.

She tried to console herself with the fact that Mr. Darcy was cool-headed and would more likely talk before drawing on Mr. Vian, but she could not think on that part of it long before panic would set in and her circle of thought would begin all over again.

She finally thought to wash her face and hands and tried to compose her appearance as best she could, and then, still waiting, she began her pacing once again, this time unable to keep the possible outcomes from running through her mind. He must return, she thought. He would return! He had said so!

 

 

As Darcy headed back to Elizabeth he tried to collect his thoughts along the way. For the first time in many months he allowed himself to feel hope. Not just a glimpse of it, but a steady, trustful feeling. It seemed like a completely new emotion to him, one he had never experienced before, or if he had, the memories were too distant. The feeling was such a stranger to him that he knew he would need time to become accustomed to it. He suddenly realised he did not hold any grudge against Vian. In fact he could sympathise with him.

His thoughts now wandered to the clearing where he had left Elizabeth, and he realized he had made her wait far too long. He hastened his steps.

Even from afar he could tell that she was very pale and scared.

When she saw him coming through the trees, and could see no cuts or bloodstains on his clothing, she let out the breath she had not realized she had held since her first sighting of him. She instinctively ran to him, throwing herself into his arms and holding on tightly to assure herself he was still intact and alive. Her relief at his safety was almost a living, breathing, palpable thing.

“Miss Bennet, are you well?” he whispered, dropping his swords onto the ground, and enveloping her in his arms. This time his gesture more conscious, more aware of her willingness to look for comfort in his arms. He was still anxious about her feelings, yet more responsive to her closeness. The soft fabric of her dress brushed against his bare knees softly. His hands soothed her back in the gentlest of touches. His breath shy, as if the movement of his lungs might somehow make her small hands slip from his chest. She felt so frail against him that he feared he could crush her even in his most tender embrace. Yet he wished to hold her so, where he could protect her, where she belonged.

She moved away slightly, embarrassed a little at her action, but not sorry for it.

“I am well, Mr. Darcy, but more to the point, are you well? Was... is anyone hurt?”

“Mr. Vian is not physically hurt, if that is what you mean.”

She still could not breath easily. “And you?”

Darcy smiled slightly. “I feel very well, thank you.”

The relief she felt showed instantly on her face as she smiled at him, not able to take her eyes from his. “I am so very glad.”

His smile broadened, but he wanted to hear more about how she felt. “I am sorry I left you alone for such a long time. I am afraid I only added to your stress.”

His smile and his concern made her heart melt. “I am well now, truly.” Unable to contain the joyous feelings that were welling up inside of her, she grinned shyly. “Do not concern yourself with me. I am sure you had much to occupy your time. Can you... will you tell me what occurred?”

Darcy sighed.

“Miss Bennet, of course nothing excuses Mr. Vian’s behaviour, however, he can see his missteps and is genuinely sorry. He is ready to leave Rosefarm whenever your wish, although he has requested that you allow him to stay a few more days so he might deal with a family matter. I told him the decision is yours to make.”

Darcy watched her closely and saw her face take on an immediate change. She now looked more shocked and surprised than anything else.

“Yes,” she finally uttered. “He must stay. He is to help Miss Tournier with a matter that is most important. I could not live with myself if I were responsible for her having to endure for much longer what Monsieur Vian might be able to prevent.”

He saw that she still looked somewhat uncertain.

“Miss Bennet, if my opinion matters, I can assure you that you are not in danger from him any longer, but your comfort is more important than anything else at this juncture. If you are to feel any distress, he should go. Perhaps I can be of assistance to her?”

“Mr. Darcy, I trust your opinion. If you say I am safe, I know I am. If only I would have listened to what you had told me before, perhaps this would not have all come about.”

She did not look at him as she spoke now. The guilt was all too consuming and she could not bear the censure she might see reflected in his gaze.

“However, I think it is a matter best left to him. My aunt specifically asked him to help, and she…” Lizzy stopped in mid sentence, unable to finish that thought as well.

“Yes, she trusts him. I know,” he finished for her.

Not knowing how to respond to that, she could only utter, “But I trust you.”

They each held the other’s gaze for a moment, and she was suddenly certain he knew now that she truly meant it.

Realising that the two of them would have to suffer each other’s presence in the same house, for surely it would not be pleasant for Mr. Vian either, she asked, “Mr. Darcy, will he act as if nothing has happened? I would never discuss it with anyone, nor would I wish to rehash it with him. He would not either, would he?”

“I would not put you in any danger consciously. However strange it may sound, he did not mean to disrespect you. It seems that he wished to court you, though his methods were lacking any propriety. He was acting under a false impression. I am sure he will not tell anyone, however, he may wish to apologise to you.”

She was not as astounded by this revelation as she might have been an hour or two earlier.

She blushed before responding. “Yes, I am aware of the misunderstanding he was operating under. But that he wished to court me? That is somewhat surprising. I know I am not very experienced in such things, but pray tell me, that is not the normal way one goes about it in France, is it? I rather gathered he had other things in mind.” She laughed bitterly before another thought occurred to her. “He will not continue his interest, surely? I would not wish for that to happen, no matter what method he would use!”

Darcy smiled tenderly. “No, Miss Bennet, it is not the normal course, even in France. I think his missteps should be blamed rather on his inexperience in courting a woman he really cared for. I do not approve of his methods, however, I can see his problem. His actions were too forward, while mine used to be too obscure.” He looked at her to see if she knew what he was referring to. “He has accepted your rejection and will not bother you again.”

Her blush deepened. She was even more confused now. Did he mean his actions of a long time ago, or did he mean his actions of late? It was all too much to think about now, although she was sure she would not be able to keep her mind from it later.

“Very well. It is decided then. He must stay. But I will not allow him to accompany me on my walks. I will stop my walks until he leaves in fact.”

“I am sure there is no need for you to refrain from your morning walk because of him. He will not accompany you. Actually, you can tell me what you wish him to do or not do, and I will convey the message to him.

“I will be fine, Mr. Darcy, if he stays. I will bear it as well as I can. I do not worry for myself as much as I worry about how my aunt and my cousin would be affected by his speedy departure. I will simply strive to act as if nothing has happened. It will be for the best. However, I hope it will be of a short duration.”

“And will you promise me not to change your habits because of him? He is really not worthy of such a sacrifice.”

He smiled to her and she nodded her agreement.

“Very well. May I convey this message to him now? Will you wait here for me? I will not be long, I promise.”

She smiled at him. “I am not going anywhere. I will wait right here for you.”

She pulled his coat tightly around herself as she watched him replace his swords and then walk away again. She buried her nose in the lapel and breathed deeply.

 

 

Vian, who was still sitting slumped and dejected against the tree trunk, stood quickly when he heard Darcy approaching again. The man may have won the battle, but he would not have the satisfaction of any perceived win over his spirit.

Darcy paid him a stern look.

“Miss Bennet agrees to your staying. I hope you know what that means.”

“Yes, I do. Thank you.”

“You will thank Miss Bennet, if she agrees to hear you of course.”

Darcy hesitated. “I have one more question to ask you. From something you said during our hunting the other day I understood that you had plans concerning Miss Tournier rather than Miss Bennet.”

“Miss Tournier.” Vian laughed bitterly. “I was to marry her. That is, it was my father’s wish and I was not against it. I still held with my plans for some time until I discovered it was too late for that, for I was entirely enchanted by Miss Bennet before I saw it coming. Can you believe it, Darcy? Such an old fox like me?”

“Yes, I can.”

The two men stood staring at each other, as if trying to decide whether or not they were quite through with one another, when Vian came to a decision.

“Darcy, has Miss Bennet told you what it is I am to do for the Tournier ladies?” When Darcy shook his head, he told him all he knew of the circumstances surrounding Tidwell and Miss Tournier leading up to today’s events, and he then relayed what had happened at the fair with Mr. Fisk and in the stands with Miss Tournier as well.

“I intend to make Mr. Tidwell sorry he ever decided to insinuate himself upon her. He assumes she has no protector and is therefore a prime target. He is a vile creature who preys on the weak. It seems he will not easily give up and has plans that surpass even Mrs. Tournier’s worst fears. He needs to be dealt with quite firmly and irrevocably.

“Darcy, I have told you all of this because there is something that even Miss Bennet does not know about. I overheard from the man’s own lips that he intends to use her as a way to blackmail Miss Tournier. He claims to know something sordid that will harm her reputation if it becomes widely known, and frankly, I do not think he cares if it is gets out in the end – after he has had his fun that is. I assume your dealings with Miss Bennet have been witnessed and he found out, but I suppose it could be something else.” Vian paused for the effect he was looking for. “I thought you should know since it is your doing.”

Darcy felt the blow of those words as harshly as Vian surely meant him to. He was angry, but more at himself now than at the Frenchman.

“Surely you cannot tell me all of this and expect me to stand idly by without assisting you in dealing with the man?”

Vian suddenly realised his mistake. He knew that Miss Bennet would probably tell him about the entire affair eventually, and he had only meant to gage how strongly Darcy really cared for her, and, he supposed, to make the man feel some pain of his own as well if he could inflict it.

“Darcy, do you really feel that is wise or preferable? The two of us working together on this?”

“Regardless if it is wise or preferable, you now have a partner whether you like it or not. I shall be in touch!”

The gentlemen then parted without another word. Vian headed off to Rosefarm and Darcy returned once more to Elizabeth.

 

 

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