Eclipse

Chapter Twelve

 

Bingley arrived as expected and entered the study where Darcy awaited him with a smile on his face at seeing his friend. "Darcy, it is good to see you, especially before my family arrives." He strode across the room shedding his overcoat, and took the waiting hot drink from the table.

"Was it a long journey from London?"

"Not so unpleasant, cold though. We stayed in a fairly wretched inn one night. My sisters were displeased, and are happy that I have left them at The White Swan in Henley where they may rest before completing their journey here." He grinned at Darcy, "Caroline is very impatient to be reunited with your sister whom she has missed severely."

Darcy turned from the fire and sat in his favorite chair. He took a drink of the aged whisky, but avoided Bingley's glance. "My sister anxiously awaits her guests and has been preparing for them for days."

"Umm, Darcy..." Bingley's tone was uncertain, and Darcy looked up at him. He was still warming himself by the fire. "I have a favor to ask you this time, now that we are the guests at Pemberley." A shadow crossed his face at the reference to their former time together, but it passed quickly and he continued at Darcy's nod. "I would not want to seem rude, but we have brought another guest. She is my cousin, our grandmothers were sisters. It is unfortunate really. She was living at home with her eldest brother, and the next brother went missing after a naval skirmish. The elder, of course, went to inquire and she was sent to stay with us on very short notice. We had no choice but to bring her with us. I hope it is not an inconvenience."

"Bingley, I would be honored to meet a new member of your family. I did not know you had cousins so near."

"Their estate is in Wales. I am sure you will find her most agreeable. My sisters are fond of her, as am I. We have not seen her in some time and have not heard all the details concerning her brother as of yet." He paused and savored the warm drink in his hand. "I believe it was a battle near Venice and I hope she will be able to enlighten us once she arrives. I have not heard current news concerning such in a while, what with traveling."

Darcy agreed and the two men spent their time before dinner talking of the weather and business in London. Afterwards Miss Darcy joined them and played another delightful melody on her mother's harpsichord. Darcy watched Bingley clap enthusiastically after her performance and congratulate her. She smiled nervously and curtsied before retreating upstairs for the evening with Mrs. Annesley who had only recently arrived from a holiday visit with her relatives.

The two gentlemen then left the music room and slowly walked down the long gallery towards the study.
"Your sister is very talented Darcy."

"Yes, she practices often and enjoys learning new pieces." He watched Bingley as he paused often to study a painting or examine some other object that caught his interest. Soon they neared the open doors of the library and Bingley stepped inside as they passed.

"Darcy, would you mind if I looked through the collection?"

"Of course not, read any at your leisure."

Bingley ambled in front of the shelves, his hands clasped behind his back as he studied the titles. Suddenly he stopped and pulled a large one from its place. He flipped through the pages and then tucked it under his arm and met Darcy back at the door. Darcy noticed the title as they exited and made their way to the study, A Brief Account of the Picturesque Scenery of Hertfordshire.

 

 

The day before Bingley's family were to arrive was filled with sunshine causing the deep snow to sparkle invitingly. Darcy granted Georgiana's wish and the three of them toured the estate in the sleigh bundled beneath layers of quilts. The merry bells rang their presence to the tenants who stood in their doorways to wave as they passed. He watched his sister, her eyes bright and her face flushed as she laughed. She had not seemed this happy since before last summer. Bingley too was infected with the gaiety, and nudged him to join in the fun. Darcy in his own quiet way was elated and smiled good-naturedly at the two.

The next day Darcy and Bingley greeted the visitors at the steps of Pemberley. Mr. Hurst exited the carriage first and helped his wife out before they hurried into the house out of the bitter cold wind. Bingley offered his sister a hand to steady herself on the snowy ground, and then turned to help the last occupant. Miss Bingley accepted Darcy's arm but could do little but glance at him as the cold drove her to seek shelter in the house as well. He caught only a glimpse of their cousin as she stepped down with Bingley's aid.

Mrs. Reynolds ushered the guests to their rooms with the instructions that Miss Darcy would be waiting to greet the guests in the sitting parlour after they had refreshed themselves from their journey. Miss Bingley was the first down and greeted Miss Darcy with much affection. She sat near her on the sofa and talked of their travels and the appalling conditions of the inn in one of the towns. Darcy watched from his customary place by the window and saw that Georgiana was composed, even though nervous. Soon the rest of the party had entered and Darcy moved to stand near his sister as Bingley introduced the guest to her hosts.

"May I present my cousin, Miss Griffith." She curtsied and smiled genuinely at Miss Darcy, who was quite surprised and tentatively returned the expression. She gave a momentary polite glance at Darcy who reciprocated with a brief nod and welcome before retiring to his customary place.

Miss Bingley offered her seat near Miss Darcy to her cousin, and made her way to the window overlooking the snow-covered landscape and Mr. Darcy. "I have acquainted my cousin with a description of Pemberley on our journey. She was very impressed, as I have always been when visiting."

Darcy had turned from the window at her approach and thanked her for her kindness.

"We had our visitor before leaving London. Miss Bennet called." She spoke in a low voice and watched Darcy for a response to the name, but found none. He only nodded as an offer for her to continue. "I did not inform my brother as we agreed, although I will have to return the call once we are home again."

"Of course."

"I did not amend our original plans to Miss Bennet...of your sister coming to visit us in London prior to us joining you here. I am sorry she was not feeling well and could not keep her plans." She turned to watch the others. Bingley was entertaining the two young misses with a lively tale, and they were laughing shyly together. "Charles has recovered his old wit and seems perfectly at ease with our cousin. I have always thought that they seemed suited...until I noticed his interest in Miss Darcy."

Darcy swirled his glass of sherry and drank before answering her statement. "Thank you for your concern of Georgiana's health. Your cousin seems to be of the same age as my sister." His gaze had followed hers and he too watched the threesome with interest.

"She is seventeen and the youngest of three, but she spent her childhood in India, poor dear. I hear she became quite wild and had to be sent home in the care of her eldest brother. Charles, of course, considers that as adventurous."

Darcy only nodded and a slight frown creased his brow as he thought of another who had once been described as such by Miss Bingley.

"Her father was made a baron after he fought with Nelson in some battle." Darcy sighed and turned again to the window as he listened to Miss Bingley. "Unfortunately they do not live in London, but prefer to keep their house in the country in Monmouth. I suppose that is to be expected since they are not at home, but I would think they would want poor Marged educated by the best, especially after being in India for such a long time."

"I believe Bingley said she was there for three years."

"I know it would be dreadful. Can you imagine? The heat, the society," She laughed disdainfully, "and I detested our little foray last autumn into Hertfordshire."

Darcy did not answer, but indicated his glass was empty and left Miss Bingley standing by the window alone while he joined Mr. Hurst in accepting more sherry.

 

 

Before dinner Darcy escaped into the library expecting to find solace from the busy household. He perused the shelves for a book that perhaps he had not already read. He discovered Miss Griffith sitting in a cushioned window seat contemplating a large book of prints. She looked up as he neared her and smiled. Even though near the same age, she did not bear that young shyness that Georgiana did. He bowed slightly, "Miss Griffith."

She stood and quickly curtsied. “Mr. Darcy, I was just looking at your book of Daniell prints. They are remarkable.”1

He returned her smile. “Yes, that is one of my favorites. I believe he truly captures the spirit of his subjects, although I have never seen them personally.”

“Oh, but I have and I agree the likeness is correct. This one,” She held the book up towards him and he took a step closer to better see the print. “this is my father’s residence at the fort, and this...” she lowered the book to her lap and turned several pages before holding the book out towards him again. “...is where we spent our summers away from the sweltering heat of the city.”

“I do not suppose you met Mr. Daniell or his nephew, but your father perhaps, did he?”

“No, I don’t believe so. These were painted before my father accepted the position.”

“I see, and you were only in India three years?”

“Yes, I returned when I was twelve. My father sent my eldest brother home to attend to the estate. My mother thought that I was becoming too impertinent and wild. I needed to be sent back to civilization to be schooled.” She laughed, “I suppose she was correct.”

“You shall have to tell us of your travels this evening after dinner. I should be interested in hearing more of India, especially with it being in our expanding territory.”

She inclined her head slightly, “Thank you Mr. Darcy, it would be an honor.”

“I will leave you to your book now.” Darcy bowed slightly and walked away to the other side of the library. When he had made his selection and was returning near her place, she had gone.

That evening reassembled in the music room, with Miss Darcy by her side, she recounted her story. Her older brother had fought at the Battle of Lissa in the Adriatic Sea against the French. He had been serving as lieutenant aboard the Kingfisher, a frigate in a small British flotilla of four ships. They had encountered the French ships and though outnumbered, had skirmished and then gave chase successfully winning the battle. It was reported afterward that her brother was missing, presumably overboard. Her father who was the Viscount of Prayag, a small city in the Allahabad region of Northeast India, summoned her eldest brother and sent her to her cousins.

Even though Miss Bingley had heard the details before she gasped and clutched her throat while leaning on Darcy's arm. "Bingley have you sent word to her family that she is to be reached at Pemberley?" He asked, and Bingley nodded.

Darcy was surprised that it was Georgiana that spoke next. "Miss Griffith, my thoughts will be with you until you hear of your brother." He watched as the two young women smiled again at each other. "Would you mind telling us of your life in India? I believe we are all very interested."

Miss Griffith smoothed her skirts and began, "My father fought with Lord Nelson at the Battle of the Nile which halted the French before they reached India. He was wounded which ended his naval career and for that he was rewarded with the viscountcy. My mother, brothers and I did not join my father until a few years later. He feared for our safety." She paused and laughed. "Of course later they feared that as children we were becoming too native and had me sent home." She drank from her cup and continued. "The fort sat overlooking the Jumna River." She turned to Mr. Darcy, "That print that I showed you in the library earlier today." He nodded and she continued the narration of her former life. She did not notice the odd look given to Mr. Darcy by Miss Bingley upon finding that he had been in the library with her that afternoon, apparently alone.

Darcy stood behind the sofa on which Bingley sat listening to tales of wild elephants in the forests near the fort and to descriptions in colorful detail of the fabrics woven by the people. His sister was just as attentive, her eyes round with surprise at the adventures in which a young Miss Griffith had participated. She was a natural narrator, her voice softly accented by the Welsh and possibly a bit of the native Indian as well. Her eyes were light brown and flashed with excitement as she told of riding a runaway elephant through the trees, her brothers chasing behind, yet her hands remained serenely folded in her lap most appropriately. He noticed her hair was darker than Georgiana's, and there were wisps that had escaped to curl over her ears and at her temples.

Bingley had moved to the edge of his seat, awaiting the outcome nervously of the newest encounter. She told of climbing into a basket because she wanted to see the festivities on the Day of the Snakes, and her mother had forbid her from leaving the fort. Of course, she was sure that was not the correct name for the holiday, but one of her nurses had tried to explain it to her. The people painted themselves with bright colors and some walked the streets with live snakes wrapped around their necks feeding the reptiles from their palms.

She had climbed the lowest wall of the fort and found a collection of various sized wicker baskets neatly stacked in an alley. As she crouched in one of the larger baskets, she peeked out through the barely raised lid and had just seen the colorfully painted holy men approaching when she also saw her frantic mother emerge from a side gate accompanied by soldiers. She watched the soldiers disperse through the crowd looking for her, leaving her mother standing by the gate.

Being only eleven she was in a predicament of a decision, when she felt something rasp along her hand and up her arm. Darcy watched as Georgiana muffled a cry with her hand and he tried not to smile as Bingley moved still closer to the edge of his seat. Even Miss Bingley and her sister were listening now, a look of revulsion mirrored on their faces. Miss Griffith continued with her story of how she had looked down and through the dappled sunlight filtering through the narrow holes in the wicker basket could see she was not alone.

Her decision had been made, she could not move. She remained motionless as the young snake, it was only the length of her arm, slowly made its way up her arm, across her shoulder, and hovered eye to eye with her as it balanced trying to reach the opening left by the hastily dropped lid. Then it was gone. She had watched its tail slip out the gap and immediately had leapt out of the wicker basket in the other direction only to collide with one of the searching soldiers.

Georgiana and Bingley were applauding and Darcy found himself joining in congratulating the young lady on her excellent storytelling, indelicate though it might be at times. For the rest of the evening he watched as she sat with his sister and they conversed quietly while he and Bingley talked of the news Mr. Hurst had brought from the neighboring villages. Georgiana did not seem so nervous in her presence.

Presently Bingley asked Miss Darcy to play the piece that she had played for him previously. She consented and filled the room with the notes. Darcy watched two of his guests for their reaction and was pleased that both were agreeable to his thoughts. Miss Griffith did not perform for them, citing her story as her performance, thus leaving Miss Bingley as the last to present a song accompanied by her sister on the piano.

The evening drew to a close and everyone retired to their rooms, except Darcy. He sat alone in the empty music room lit only by the dying fire recalling another evening when he had first become enchanted by a lady's discourse.

1 Thomas Daniell, Oriental Scenery

 

 

This story is written by Cristal, and she owns full © copyrights to it.

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