by Kay Bea
“But what brought about this closer acquaintance?” her aunt persisted.
“I believe the credit must go to his sister. Miss Darcy has been in Kent these many days. She called at the parsonage, and we soon became friends. Invitations to join her for some entertainment or other at Rosings Park put Mr Darcy and me in frequent company.”
“From your letters you were often in company before Miss Darcy came,” Jane observed.
“Aye, we were. But in his sister’s presence, Mr Darcy is more at ease, and I now see what I thought was arrogance was truly reserve. I believe he tires of hearing himself all the time referred to only in terms of his income and estate. For how can one find friends among strangers when all the world speaks of is position and wealth but never of character? Through his sister, I begin to comprehend that Mr Darcy has no improper pride.”
“And what of his treatment of Mr Wickham? How does that compare with your new knowledge?” Mrs Gardiner persisted.
Elizabeth chose that moment to sample a biscuit and sip some tea. She had not yet decided how much of the information regarding Mr Wickham she should make known, and she dearly wished to speak to Jane in private before saying too much. At last she answered, “I believe we may have been misled in that regard. I am ashamed I did not consider the impropriety of Mr Wickham speaking to me of so intimate a subject on such short acquaintance. He did not share the story of his misfortunes widely until Mr Darcy was no longer in the neighbourhood to defend himself. I fear that my prejudice against Mr Darcy caused me to believe Mr Wickham’s pretty manners when I should have been more cautious.”
“Perhaps we shall be able to see all this improvement for ourselves tomorrow if Mr Darcy does call with his sister and was not merely being polite,” suggested her aunt.
“I believe you shall. Now, if you will please excuse me, Aunt, I am tired. We left early this morning and even a coach so fine as Mr Darcy’s is no place to rest.”
Elizabeth retreated upstairs to her room where Jane joined her a few minutes later.
“Now Lizzy, you must tell me what I do not already know. What did you not want to say in front of my aunt?” Jane fairly burst with curiosity as she sat on the bed.
Elizabeth spent the next hour telling her all the particulars of her last weeks in Kent. Leaving out only that information which pertained to Jane and Mr Bingley, Elizabeth told every detail of Darcy’s proposal, her rejection, the letter, the change in Darcy’s behaviour over the course of time, and Miss Darcy’s arrival in Kent.
“Mr Darcy proposed? Then he is in love with you?” Jane was no less astonished at this news than Elizabeth had been on first apprehending it.
“I do not know if he is still in love with me. I was really quite cruel in my rejection of his addresses. I was far kinder to Mr Collins than to Mr Darcy.” Elizabeth sighed. “Oh, Jane. How I longed for your advice.”
“But Lizzy, he must still love you. Can you not see that? Why else would he seek an introduction to my aunt and uncle? Why ask to call here with his sister? Surely if it was only to advance her friendship with you, you could be invited to his townhouse.”
“I do not know.”
“He said he wanted a better understanding between you, did he not?”
“He did.” Elizabeth nodded.
“He still loves you. But, do you love him?”
“I hardly know. It is all so confusing. I do not hate him. I believe I even like him. To be certain, I find him more agreeable than I once did. In time, I think I could love him.”
“Then you shall have to give it time.”
Lizzy asked about the other matter that was heavy on her mind. “What should be done about Mr Wickham? Mr Darcy did not authorise me to make the information public. Especially not as it pertains to his sister. She is now as dear to me as our own sisters, and I would not want such a story about them to be circulated abroad.”
“Nor would I. Perhaps Mr Darcy should be consulted on the matter.”
Elizabeth was nearly asleep when Jane added, “Lizzy?”
“Yes?”
“Do not tell Mama about Mr Darcy unless everything is settled between you. I do not think she would ever forgive you for turning down a man with…”
“Ten thousand a year!” the girls laughed as they exclaimed in unison.
When Darcy and Georgiana arrived at Darcy House, both were exceedingly glad to be home. Darcy House was not Pemberley, by any means, but after weeks at Rosings it was good to be back in more welcoming environs. Georgiana retired to her rooms to rest after the long journey, and Darcy found that in addition to the large stack of correspondence on his desk, there was another matter he could not delay. Therefore, Darcy took tea in his study and had a message carried to his old school friend, Charles Bingley.
It was not an hour later when a servant announced, “Mr Bingley, sir.” Darcy sighed and steeled himself for the conversation to come.
“Bingley, come. Sit. Is it too early for brandy?”
Bingley bounced a little on the balls of his feet, a nervous habit that Darcy had observed in him often over the years. “Since the winter, I do not believe I ever think it too early. I had not expected to hear from you so soon. You can have only just arrived from Kent.” He took the glass offered and lowered himself into a side chair.
“We have been in town not two hours.”
“You look entirely too pleased for having spent three weeks in the company of your least favourite aunt.”
“I found the company there more agreeable this year,” Darcy admitted.
“I cannot imagine that Lady Catherine has improved that much!” Bingley teased his friend.
“My aunt is much as she has ever been. No, there was an addition to our party that made the visit more agreeable. Particularly the last several days.” Darcy could not entirely restrain the smile that threatened.
“Shall I have to wring the information from you in pieces?”
“Do you recall Miss Charlotte Lucas from Meryton?”
Bingley’s face blanched and he seemed to withdraw, as he did any time the subject of Hertfordshire was broached. “I do.”
“Well, it seems Miss Lucas married the cousin of the Bennets, Mr Collins.”
“I do not recall that Miss Lucas, excuse me, Mrs Collins, was a great conversationalist. Surely, Mr Collins was not responsible for your pleasurable visit to Rosings. More entertaining perhaps, but not more agreeable.”
Darcy grimaced. “While Mrs Collins is a kind, sensible woman, I fear I could not tolerate her husband’s company more than is required by common civility. No, the welcome addition to our party was Mrs Collins’s guest, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
At the mention of Elizabeth Bennet, Bingley became more attentive. “How wonderful! And was she well?”
“She is well. She returned to town in the Darcy coach and is to be in London all week, staying with her aunt and uncle.”
“Ah, yes, the ones in trade.” Bingley looked at his friend hesitantly.
“I met them this afternoon and will call tomorrow with Georgiana.”
Bingley’s eyebrows shot up. “In Cheapside? That is singular, given your strictures against the Bennets’ connexions when last we spoke on the subject.”
Darcy took a deep breath before he spoke. “I have done you a great wrong.”
“How so?”
“Miss Bennet, Miss Jane Bennet, has been in town these past four months. I knew, and I did not tell you. I have no excuse. It was an arrogant presumption. I truly believed she did not love you, and I wanted to save you the heartache of an imprudent marriage. I was wrong to interfere.”
Bingley leapt from his seat and began pacing the room in an agitated manner. Darcy watched for a few moments before speaking. “I now have reason to believe that I was mistaken in my impressions of her feelings, and I would like the chance to make this right.”
Bingley stopped his pacing and spoke. “All this time you have known she was in town—but how?”
He resumed p
acing. “Of course, she would have called on Caroline and Louisa. So, they knew as well?”
“Your sister informed me they returned the call but only after a significant delay and only to make clear they did not wish to continue the acquaintance.”
Watching his friend agonise made Darcy see anew the officiousness of his interference. Well, Elizabeth, if you could see this, you would see me well and properly humbled. God forgive me.
“My hope is that you will accompany Georgiana and me when we call at Gracechurch Street tomorrow.”
“Of course I shall go with you! How could I not? Jane is truly there?”
Darcy noticed his friend’s use of Miss Bennet’s first name but did not remark upon it. Instead, he smiled and said, “She is. I saw her myself when we left Miss Elizabeth with her family.”
“How did she look? Is she well? Is she happy?”
“She looked as elegant as ever. I will not speak to her happiness as I have already demonstrated my poor skills in that regard. You shall have to come and judge for yourself. I plan to leave tomorrow as soon as proper calling hours begin if that suits you.”
“Excellent.” Then with an obvious shift in his countenance, Bingley drew himself up to his full height and looked squarely at his friend. “I should not have listened to what you or my sisters had to say on the matter. It was up to me to discover Miss Bennet’s true feelings. But for you to deceive me as to her being in town was too much. If you should betray my trust again, it will be the end of our friendship.”
“I would expect nothing less. May I ask one thing of you?”
“What?”
“Will you wait to talk with your sisters until after tomorrow?”
“Why would I do that? If our aunt was not on holiday, I would send Caroline to Scarborough in the morning! As for Louisa, we shall see what Mr Hurst makes of his wife when he can no longer foist her off on me!”
“I would not wish to give your sisters any reason to crow if your visit with Miss Bennet does not go as well as we hope.”
Bingley immediately saw the sense in this. “In this instance, I will accept your advice. However, do not think that I shall always yield to you. If Miss Bennet does not cast me on my ear tomorrow, I will speak with both my sisters immediately. They shall be made to understand that their time of interfering is at an end.”
“As is mine, Charles. I swear to you. You are your own man, and I shall only offer that advice which you seek from this day forward.”
“Do not try me on this Darcy. I have long valued our friendship, but henceforth, it shall be one of equals, and I shall demand the same loyalty from you that I have given to you.”
“You shall have it.”
“I shall see you tomorrow then.”
“Until tomorrow.” He could scarcely fathom how he had allowed things to progress as they had. Where once his life was predictable, ordered, and controlled, it appeared now all was in chaos. His sister was giving him advice, his usually pliable companion had threatened to end their friendship, and his cousin Anne was orchestrating his pursuit of a woman he had not six months previously considered to be wholly unsuitable. There is my answer. Order and control left my life at the same moment in which I encountered Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
As he turned his thoughts back to the stack of business correspondence, he was chagrined to find himself once again meditating on the great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman could bestow. Darcy shook his head and resolved to reply to the correspondence demanding his attention. He could continue to repair his reputation with Miss Elizabeth tomorrow. For now, there was work to be done.
The afternoon was quiet in the Gardiner residence. The children were content playing with their nanny and were hoping their favourite cousins might take them to the park later in the day. Mr Gardiner was reading in his library and the ladies of the house were enjoying a quiet tête-à-tête in the parlour as they attended to their needlework. Elizabeth struggled to avoid watching the passage of time, yet she found herself becoming increasingly anxious as the hour for Darcy’s visit approached.
“Really, Elizabeth. For someone who claims to be only interested in sketching the man’s character, you seem most anxious for Mr Darcy’s visit today,” exclaimed Mrs Gardiner.
“I merely desire to stretch my limbs. I wish I had walked this morning, for now I find that I have an excess of energy.”
Mrs Gardiner regarded her niece with raised brows but did not challenge her assertion. Instead she replied, “I am sorry for you then, dear niece. You certainly cannot walk out now, for our visitors will arrive soon, and it would not do for you to miss them.”
“Perhaps you could persuade Mr and Miss Darcy to join us in taking the children to the park,” Jane said.
Before Elizabeth could make any reply, a servant announced their visitors. “Mr Darcy, Miss Darcy, and Mr Bingley.”
“Mr Bingley?” Jane said with an inquisitive look to her sister. Elizabeth shook her head, denying foreknowledge of his presence. Jane first grasped her needlework more firmly, then set it aside in favour of smoothing her skirts. Next, she picked up her work once again, though she could not pretend to focus any effort on the piece.
The visitors were led into the parlour and Mrs Gardiner rang for tea. She then greeted her visitors and was introduced to Mr Bingley.
“Please pardon my intrusion, Mrs Gardiner. When Darcy informed me the Miss Bennets were in town, I found I could not delay paying a call. I hope you will forgive my presumption of welcome.”
“Of course, Mr Bingley. I believe your prior acquaintance with my nieces will excuse you. You are most welcome,” Mrs Gardiner said graciously.
Having executed her initial duties as hostess, Mrs Gardiner excused herself briefly to check on the tea. Elizabeth saw that her sister seemed to have lost the power of speech and quickly moved to mask any awkwardness. “Miss Darcy, are you recovered from our journey?”
“I am. I needed a short rest yesterday, but I find I am returned to myself today.”
“I am happy to hear it. Jane and I have been looking forward to your visit.”
Hearing her name seemed to at last rouse her sister to civility and she joined in the conversation. After a few minutes of listening to the ladies’ discourse, Bingley turned to Jane and said softly, “I must say I was most delighted to hear you were in town, Miss Bennet.”
“I have been visiting my aunt these four months, Mr Bingley. I arrived after Christmas.”
“I am grieved to know I missed such an opportunity to be in your company, for we have not seen each other since the twenty-sixth of November when we danced together at Netherfield.” Bingley did not once look away from Jane.
Elizabeth was struggling to attend to her conversation with Miss Darcy while studying how Mr Darcy might react to the reunion of Jane and Bingley. His face wore its usual impenetrable façade. Since arriving at the Gardiner residence, he had resumed his previous habit of observing without joining the conversation. She wondered at his silence and if the changes she believed had taken place in Kent were merely fleeting. She barely contained a sigh at the thought, not in the least because she was not yet ready to acknowledge why his opinion now made a difference to her.
Elizabeth’s musings were brought to an end when her aunt returned. “Mr Darcy, yesterday we were speaking of Lambton. It was a treat to hear of the changes in the village since I was last there, and of course, I always take pleasure in singing the praises of Derbyshire.”
Having been addressed directly, Darcy showed no sign of irritation. Instead, he seemed pleased at the opportunity to join in. “I recall Mr Gardiner mentioning a particular painting you did of the area. Perhaps after tea you would be so kind as to show it to my sister and me?” Mrs Gardiner smiled and agreed that she would.
Meanwhile, Jane and Bingley were speaking quietly, oblivious to the room. Elizabeth could see every emotion flicking through her sister’s eyes. First doubt, then relief, even a flash of anger and sadnes
s, and finally there was on Jane’s face a look of hope that brought Elizabeth no small measure of peace—and did much to raise her opinion of a certain gentleman from Derbyshire. At length, Mr and Miss Darcy were shown Mrs Gardiner’s painting of the Derbyshire countryside and both pronounced it superb.
As they returned to the parlour, one of the Gardiner daughters escaped the confines of the nursery and used the opportunity to beg for an outing to the nearby park. “Please, Mama? The weather is fine, and we would like to feed the geese! Cousin Lizzy could take us. Please?”
“Your cousins have visitors now, Susannah. You will have to delay your walk for another time.” Mrs Gardiner smiled as her daughter turned imploring brown eyes on Darcy.
“But surely they could join us as well?” The question was for her mother, but the look was for Darcy. He returned her look and knew he would be walking in the park. The little girl had Elizabeth’s eyes and it was not in his power to say no.
“I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours, Miss Gardiner.”
The matter was quickly settled, and the group found themselves walking through the park with bread for the geese. Bingley deftly manoeuvred himself and Miss Bennet a little apart from the group, and the pair could be seen with their heads tucked slightly together as they spoke. It was clear to Darcy that Bingley would renew his suit. The Gardiner children abandoned their cousins in favour of the company of Georgiana. Young Susannah took one hand, her brothers Edward and Michael took turns with the other, and together they pulled Georgiana to the water’s edge with a constant stream of laughter and chatter. This left Elizabeth and Darcy much to themselves. She accepted his proffered arm, and they continued through the park. They paused their stroll under a tree and for a brief while stood silently observing the others.