Book Preview and Cover Reveal – A Respectable Gentleman – Chapter 3

I’m late!! Forgive me! I totally thought I’d had this completely ready to go.

Today, we  have a cover as you may have noticed on the home page of the site 🙂 Just click to see the preorder that is up for anyone who wants to order a copy so it’s ready to go as soon as it’s released. I will get a universal url soon. Sorry, the last couple of days have been hard and I’m a bit scattered.

I’ll have a larger version of the cover after the chapter. Let me know what you think!

Chapter 3

Wednesday (March 11^th)

“Miss Bennet, your father requests you come to the library.”

Elizabeth looked up from the volume of Chaucer she had been reading. One of the maids stood in the doorway. “Yes, thank you, Claire.”

She placed a ribbon between the pages before she closed the book and rose from her comfortable place on the couch near the fire. The slight dampness in the air had necessitated a shawl in the house, which she adjusted as she made her way into the hall.

At the door to the library, she knocked and was quickly bid to enter. As she stepped inside, a tall figure made her come to a halt. Was that. . .? No, he was a little taller and broader. This gentleman must be George Darcy’s elder brother.

“Lizzy, my dear, I introduce to you the brother of the young man you met in Hyde Park yesterday, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Mr. Darcy, this is my daughter Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

She curtseyed as the gentleman bowed. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance, sir.”

The man gave a tight—was that a smile? He was certainly more handsome than his younger brother, but he held himself as though proud. The forced smile did not improve his features; it only made him seem more pompous.

“Lizzy, Mr. Darcy wished to enquire of your meeting with his younger brother. I believe he has some concerns.”

She frowned. “Nothing untoward occurred. From what he said and how he acted, I believe he just wished to make a friend.”

“A friend?” A scowl marred Mr. Darcy’s face.

“Yes, your brother approached while I was wool-gathering and spoke to me. He requested permission to sit on the other side of the bench, which I allowed. His manner was charming, but I recognised that he was quite young.”

Mr. Darcy held up a hand. “I beg your pardon. Charming?”

She tilted her head. “Yes, I even teased him that he was flirting with me.”

The man startled. “He smiled?”

“Yes, sir. He was amiable indeed.” Why was this so surprising to him? Did he not know his own brother?

“Mr. Darcy, I am uncertain what you are hoping to learn,” said Papa. “But what from what my son as well as the footman and maid who accompanied Lizzy have told me, your brother sat and spoke with my daughter for a short while. They had at least a foot between them and never touched. While your brother’s approach was not necessarily proper, he is young and can be forgiven the transgression. Neither my daughter’s reputation nor your brother’s has been tarnished by his impetuousness, so I see no reason for this interrogation.”

The man closed his eyes and exhaled loudly. “My brother has been rather unpredictable the past couple of years. He will not speak to me, so I hoped—”

Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest. “You hoped I would tell you what, if anything, he confided in me.”

“Well, yes. I am convinced that whatever you tell me would be helpful, particularly if he was as unreserved as I suspect.”

Of all the nerve! She may not have been close to George Darcy, but if his brother wished to know his feelings, he should ask himself. Her conscience would never allow her to betray any information someone told her in confidence. Even though the younger Mr. Darcy never mentioned what he said was a secret, she had to assume that he never expected her to meet the elder brother.

“Mr. Darcy, while I understand you may be concerned about your brother, I believe you have put me in a difficult position.”

The gentleman’s brow furrowed. “I do not understand.”

“Well, you claim his unreserved behaviour is not in his nature. What if he confided in me believing you and I would never meet? If I told you, then I would be betraying his trust. My advice is that if you want to know what is bothering him, you should find a way to speak to him.”

“Do you think that I have not tried?” The gentleman’s voice had raised some. She stepped back.

“I do not know you, sir, so I cannot say. Master George and I spoke of what seemed to be trivial nothings, but I still shall not speak of them. What if the only person you felt comfortable sharing confidences with recounted your conversations to someone else? I will not do it.” Her volume lifted some to match the gentleman’s.

“I must insist!” He took a stride closer, but she held her place. She would not allow him to intimidate her.

“Mr. Darcy!” Papa shoved the taller gentleman back. “I believe your interview with my daughter has come to an end. As the father of four boys, I am aware that when they are your brother’s age, their moods can be unpredictable and frustrating, but I cannot allow you to berate my daughter to further your means. From what I can tell, I believe she is correct, and if she is the sole person with whom he is comfortable speaking, you could ruin the connexion. My eldest told me your brother was invited to call upon our family, and the invitation stands. He is welcome, but we will not share privileged information with you. You may not wish him to call, and that is your right, but since the association causes no harm, you may want to leave matters as they are. I am sure a friend or two would do him good since he is not in school where he could be sociable with others his age.”

The gentleman stiffened and his countenance became unyielding. “I do not require your unsolicited advice on how to raise my brother. Since you will not be of aid to me, I will take my leave. Good day.” The last was spoken with a curtness that confirmed his discontent. What an ill-mannered boor!

As soon as the slam of the front door vibrated through the house, her father lifted one eyebrow. “Well, Lizzy, you just offended an exceedingly wealthy gentleman. Your mother would have been appalled.”

“Yes, Mama was always more concerned with me marrying a rich man than other matters.” She looked down at her clasped hands. “Still, I do miss her.”

“Even though she preferred your brothers to you?”

She shrugged. “Mama was who she was. She favoured James as heir over all of us, but when I was little, I do not remember her being as critical of me—instead, she was kind and loving. I believe she always worried my younger brothers would not take occupations of their own and would be a burden on James.”

“I did assure her that would never happen,” said Papa. “If we had naught but girls, she likely would have gone on and on over finding husbands for all of you. Can you imagine?”

Elizabeth smiled. “We would all be out at fifteen, and she would push us towards any unwed gentleman who came into the neighbourhood.”

Papa chuckled.

“What is so amusing?” said James as he entered.

With a shake of his head, Papa stepped over to ring the bell. “A futile discourse if you must know. Your sister and I were musing over your mother’s behaviour should all you boys have been girls.”

James’s expression altered dramatically, his lips puckering and his nose crinkling. “What a dreadful thought. I have no desire to be a lady and subject to a gentleman’s whims.” He shook his head. “No, Lizzy will have one of us by her side at all times during these balls. Any gentleman who dances with her must abide by the strictest decorum. She should not have to fret over issuing a refusal.”

Papa clapped James on the shoulder. “You are the best of brothers, son. I am proud of you.”

“Sir, you rang?” said Mr. Jameson, the butler, who stood in the doorway.

“Yes; would you have the carriage brought around? Master James and I need to go to the solicitors this morning.” He faced her. “I believe Miss Elizabeth has a dress fitting.”

“I do.”

“Then we shall take you on our way. Jameson, pray, have Lisette come to the hall so she can accompany Miss Bennet to the dressmakers.”

“Yes, sir,” said Mr. Jameson before giving a slight bow and departing.

James leaned back against the desk. “Who left as I was coming downstairs?”

She shook her head. “That was the elder Mr. Darcy. He was put out when I would not tell him of my entire conversation with his younger brother.” Her first impression of the man was not favourable. He was prideful and arrogant, and she could understand Mr. George Darcy’s description of him. If the elder Mr. Darcy was so disagreeable, what sort of lady had he married? She could not be pleasant company at all!

“He truly wished for the entire contents of what was said?”

“And became angry when I refused. The younger Mr. Darcy described his elder brother at one point, and I should not confide such information as I do not believe it would benefit their relationship.”

“Enough of that,” said Papa with a wave of his hand. “Ah, and there is Lisette with your pelisse.”

“I beg your pardon,” said Mr. Jameson as he returned, “but the carriage is coming around now. The stablemaster recalled you mentioned the appointment today, so he was ready for you when word was sent.”

Her father clapped his hands together. “I am impressed by this new stablemaster. He is quite efficient. I am also quite pleased with the house. What of you, James?” Papa and James had worked to increase Longbourn’s income so they could afford the purchase of this house as well as the funds for her first season.  This all seemed so wasteful. Yet, they insisted it was necessary.

She had not lied when she said she would be content helping with James’s children, but if possible, she would love a home and children of her own someday. Yet not every gentleman would be interested in her forthright manner. The elder Mr. Darcy certainly was not.

“Are you well, Miss?”

Her attention snapped to Lisette, who smiled gently. “Yes, of course. Let us go, shall we? I selected a particularly lovely silk for a ball gown, and I am curious to see Madame’s finished work.”

Papa paused and turned to face her. “Silk?”

“Uncle Gardiner allowed me to select fabric from his warehouse as a birthday gift, if you recall. Aunt also selected some pale pink silk that she gifted me when they came to Longbourn for Christmastide.”

Her father nodded and joined his hands behind his back. “I am beginning to fear the cost of bringing you here for the season. The house is useful so that we do not have to impose on the Gardiners when we come to town, but the other fripperies may just drive me to an early grave.”

She rushed forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Do not say such things, Papa. What would we do without you?”

He kissed her cheek. “Do not fret just yet. Those two brothers of yours upstairs still require occupations as well. I would not put that on James. He also needs to be married and settled first. The estate is secure for now, but he requires an heir.”

Her brother squeezed his eyes closed and groaned. “The ladies I have encountered thus far are terrifying. I should rather flee than marry one of them.”

With a laugh, she took her brother’s arm. “Perhaps we shall find a gentle, shy lady who will suit. What do you think?”

“You cannot make her too timid, or a courtship will never occur,” said Papa. “They will both just sit and stare at each other or their laps in complete silence for half an hour every time he calls.”

“Papa!” Elizabeth burst into laughter at her father’s ridiculousness. One thing her father had not considered: James had her to encourage him at these balls. She would steer only the sweetest of ladies towards him. He deserved no less!