Revelations an adaption of Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 112

Having sat with her sister and her friends for another whole day, talking and teaching them new stitches from Mrs Annesley's repertoire, Elizabeth is readying herself for her visit to Mrs Drummond's attic. Darcy is surprised at his beloved's patience with her sister, though he must admit Lydia improves a lot in the presence of her friends. One more morning with the Drummond family, not a penance since Darcy is very curious what the colonel has decided with respect to his plans for Mr Miller's horses. And then they'll have the afternoon and evening to themselves, and the whole day tomorrow, until they are expected to join the Kembles for dinner and a show in their theatre on their last night in Newcastle. Since his hair is already perfected and Fanny is still busy gilding Elizabeth just a tiny step further, Darcy decides to keep Bob company for a while. He knows his driver will be waiting for his beloved in the dining-room, they use the rooms opposite to the other guests, since they are staff but their landlady wants them to feel as if they are just a young couple on an early honeymoon. Mrs Herbert is a treasure, and Darcy will certainly recommend her guesthouse to anyone looking for a place to stay in the vicinity of Newcastle.

Finding Bob where he expects him to be, Darcy sits down and accepts a cup of coffee from his driver.

'Fanny still busy with the mistress, sir?' Bob asks, much more comfortable with his master since they started to talk once in a while. 'She certainly didn't expect to be so busy on this trip, the mistress told her she'd mainly be along to unpack and keep me company. Though I think she likes making Mrs Darcy look the perfect London lady.'

Darcy merely nods, there is something he wants to discuss with Bob and he doesn't know where to start. It's not as if a fellow likes to hear his fiancée is actually out of his league.

'Do you get jealous, Bob?' Darcy asks bluntly.

'You mean of other men?' the plain little driver asks. 'I would, if Fanny showed any interest in another man. But though they really fancy her, and generally find it hard to believe she is engaged to a plain fellow like me, she never returns that interest. She just rebuffs them steadily until they give up. She's friendly and all, just totally uninterested in other men. It makes it easier, as does being known as the driver of your thoroughbreds, sir. Somehow, the status of your team reflects on me. More so at the Drummond estate than here, scribes don't care all that much about horses, and they certainly like Fanny's looks.'

'That is what I meant, yes, jealous of other men admiring your girl. I get jealous sometimes, and I don't want to, it's petty to feel that way. I've asked other men with beautiful, popular wives how they cope, hoping to learn something. Mr Kemble said more or less what you just said.'

'But you've no reason to be jealous at all, master. Mrs Darcy never so much as looks at another man, and you're rich and handsome, I've seen her look at you often enough to know she worships you as much as you worship her. Just last Sunday, in church, I nudged Fanny to have her see how much you were both admired by everyone there, but Mrs Darcy, she saw only you.'

'I know she loves me, and still I feel jealous sometimes.'

Bob nods again, as if he understands.

'I'm a very calm person, master, remember how you were ready to challenge that gentleman who dared lay a hand on Fanny? I was merely happy to find her all right, and no longer in danger of being molested. I guess you have more of a temper. If I had a temper I'd be in a world of trouble with your thoroughbreds, sir, they'd pick it up instantly.'

And then he seems to realise something.

'But you're good with sensitive horses, too, you never lose your temper with them. I suppose that's not it, then.'

'No, I think you're onto something. Mrs Darcy rarely loses her temper, I do so much more quickly. Except I know I need to let that go when dealing with a horse, or I'll never be able to ride the kind of horse I like. So maybe I can find that state when dealing with men admiring my beloved. Mr Kemble is also a very even-tempered man, and when I was standing beside him I wasn't feeling jealous at all. Thank you, Bob, I think talking to you has helped a great deal, I'll contemplate what you said and see whether I can be more like you and keep my cool.