Darcy looked carefully down at his plate as the image of his beautiful mother comforting a small child came back to him. How many times had she done something similar for him when he had fallen and hurt himself or he had been in a pet because he had quarrelled with Cousin Richard or George Wickham?
“That sounds very like my mother,” he said, his voice embarrassingly thick with emotion. “She was the kindest, most warm-hearted person I ever knew. I am so glad you had a chance to meet her.”
“She sounds very special,” said Elizabeth in a gentle voice. It took Darcy some effort to pull himself together lest he fall apart at the precious memories assailing him.
“She was. I miss her every day.”
“I hope I have not unsettled you,” said Mrs Gardiner in a gentle tone. “I would not have —“
Darcy smiled and shook his head. “I am not upset. I do not often have a chance to talk of my mother. Thank you for sharing your memory with me. I will tell Georgiana of it later.”
“Does your mother have family still living that might like to discuss her with you?” asked Elizabeth kindly. She sounded so genuinely concerned, so far from her teasing tone.
“She has a brother and sister still living,” said Darcy. “My uncle does not like to speak of her. He loved her dearly but he is not easily given to showing emotion. And my aunt is…” Darcy’s lips curved into a smile. “My aunt is not at all the sort of woman one can discuss tender memories with. She is rather formidable and likes to get her way. She does not invite intimacy.”
A bolt struck Elizabeth as she recalled her conversation with Georgiana. Their aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, was a strong-willed woman. She also had a daughter — as daughter Mr Darcy was expected to marry. Her heart sank as though too heavy to bear. Darcy had a rueful smile on his face as he thought about his aunt, the woman who would one day soon become his mother by law.
“What about your cousin?” she could not resist adding. “Is she not someone you can confide in?”
Darcy gave her a puzzled look. “My cousin?”
“Your sister told me. Your cousin, Anne.” Named for his beloved mother. It seemed fitting.
“I could not imagine speaking in such a way with Anne,” said Darcy. He said no more about it.
Sensing the mood of the table had changed, Mr Gardiner reminded his wife of a story she often told him about running to a tree on the green by the smithy when she was a child. Darcy joined in with stories of his own, including taking a tumble from the very tree one day when he had climbed to the very top on a dare. As he spoke, his face was warm and animated. Elizabeth thought how well it became him more than the aloofness of his usual careful demeanour.
“You sound rather like Lizzy,” said Mr Gardiner. “She was forever falling from trees as a girl. My poor sister wrote to me almost every month recounting some new mishap. It did not help that my brother Bennet was proud of her spirit and he did all he could to encourage her.”
“Poor mama despaired of me,” said Elizabeth. “She never could make me sit still and behave like a proper little lady like one of the Longs.”
“I am glad to hear of it,” said Darcy. “I have always observed that girls can be every bit as lively and playful as boys. It pains me when they are expected to sit still and quiet with their hands folded before them when they could be running about with their brothers. If I ever have daughters, I hope they will be as lively and as mischievous as —“ His eyes met Elizabeth’s, still bright with humour but it faded from them as he realised what he was saying. Elizabeth also looked rather alarmed. Darcy cleared his throat. “Well, I shall encourage them to play and explore as much as I would my sons,” he said finally.
“I quite agree, sir,” said Mr Gardiner. “Amelia and Julia would chafe if we expected them to sit like little dolls. It doesn’t help that they have their cousin’s influence anyway. We would not have stood a chance if we had expected them to behave,” he said with a quick smile at his niece.
The sky had grown dark by the time Darcy handed Elizabeth into his carriage.
“Thank you for today,” she said softly before he had a chance to release her hand. “I am most grateful. Not just for what you did to help me, but also for helping me to forget it. I never thought I would pass such an enjoyable evening after an experience like that.”
“I know I enjoyed this evening more than any I have passed in a long time,” said Darcy. “It pleases me more than you can know to know I am not alone in it.”
Their eyes held. “Definitely not alone,” said Elizabeth. Their fingers pressed together before Darcy finally released her.
Darcy refused their offer to come into the inn when the carriage turned into the courtyard.
“I had best return. Georgiana will worry for me.” He looked at Elizabeth. “I hope we will have the honour of your company for dinner tomorrow? All of you? If you have no other plans,” he added with a touch of anxiety.
Elizabeth smiled. “I can answer for it. We have no other plans.”
He smiled. “Then I shall see you then.”
22
Darcy’s mind was full of Elizabeth when he entered the drawing room where Georgiana sat with the Bingleys. Darcy knew she would not have enjoyed a day with the sisters but he was slightly sorry to think all he could care about at that moment was Elizabeth and the prospect of seeing her again the next day. He was determined that he would find a way to sit by her so they might talk alone. He wanted more of her sparkling conversation and shining eyes. He was greedy for her and he could not find it in himself to regret it.
“Mr Darcy,” Miss Bingley cried as soon as he entered the room. “There you are, sir! What a shabby way you have of treating dear friends. Here we have all been waiting for you and you did not return home all day. We have been most concerned, were we not, Charles?”
Bingley looked up from where he had been playing chess with Georgiana. His cheerful expression did not look distraught.
“Nothing of the sort. I said he might have some other business to attend to. A man is entitled to have his own concerns without answering to friends.”
Miss Bingley threw her brother a poisonous look then turned to Darcy with such honeyed sweetness he wondered how she could keep her expressions straight.
“Where have you been all day? We have been desolate without you, were we not, Georgiana?”
Georgiana snapped her head up in alarm and looked between Miss Bingley and Darcy.
“I…I…”
“Desolate,” said Miss Bingley firmly. She beamed at Darcy. “We did not know you intended to stay away all day or we should have joined you.”
“Come, Caroline, let the man sit down,” said Bingley carelessly as Georgiana swiped one of his pieces. “I am sure if Darcy wanted a lady to accost him and expect him to account for his day when he is scarcely in the door, he should take a wife.”
Darcy blanched at that. Miss Bingley was not subtle about her determination to become mistress of Pemberley. If she had her way, she would have married him a long time ago and he would have had several years of her cloying behaviour already. Some man somewhere would one day have the misfortune of granting Miss Bingley with his surname, but it would not be Darcy.
Miss Bingley threw Bingley a wounded look though there was a flash of steel in it.
“I was concerned because a dear friend of mine said he had some business with his solicitor and then did not return until after nightfall. I wonder you were not more worried, Charles, when Darcy is supposed to be your closest friend. I sometimes think I am a better friend to him than you are…” She threw Darcy a coy little look that Darcy suspected was supposed to convey some intimacy between them. He barely managed to avoid shuddering. If it helped keep him safe from Miss Bingley’s cloying attentions, he might marry the first woman he saw who was not her.
“I suppose you are right, Caroline, it is rather late,” said Bingley as Georgiana swept his last piece with a triumphant cry. “I have been terribly concerned. It is exact
ly why your sister has been beating me at chess all evening, Darcy. If you had been here, I would not have been in tears with worry and Miss Darcy would not have beaten me at every game.”
“That must be it,” Georgiana agreed genially.
Darcy smiled. There were few people Georgiana was comfortable around but Bingley was one of them. Then again, everyone was comfortable around Bingley. He had the happy manners that meant he could put everyone at their ease, while he, Darcy, seemed to constantly give offence. Georgiana offered Bingley another game, rather saucily adding that he should play better now that Darcy had returned but Bingley quickly cut away from the topic by turning to Darcy and, despite his admonishment to his sister, demanding that Darcy give them an account of his lateness.
“I met with someone in town,” said Darcy. “They needed my assistance and I remained with them until I was sure all was well.”
Miss Bingley sighed and gazed at Darcy with melting eyes as though he had walked on water.
“That is just like you! Always thinking of everyone else without a care for yourself. I hope the person was suitably grateful?”
Darcy recalled Elizabeth’s fierce eyes and the look that came in them when she realised she owed him her thanks. He smiled at the memory.
“As grateful as anyone might be under the circumstances.”
“Who was it?” Bingley asked. “Anyone we know?”
Darcy could not avoid such a direct question. He was not quite sure why he was reluctant to admit to spending the day with Elizabeth and her family. Perhaps he wished to keep it to himself without having others dissect it and speculate on it?
“As it happens, yes. Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Is she well?” Georgiana asked anxiously just as Miss Bingley knitted her brow together and asked “Miss Bennet? Who is Miss Bennet? I recall no one of that name.”
“We met her yesterday, Caroline,” said Bingley, still looking at Darcy. “You cannot have forgotten that quickly.”
Miss Bingley frowned and tilted her head and her lips moved as she silently repeated the name as though she had never heard of such a person in the entire course of her existence.
“Miss Bennet. Miss Bennet.” Her eyes widened with affected surprise. “Oh, you mean the girl you and Miss Darcy found wandering through your woods yesterday. The one we had to accompany home. Yes, I think I recall her.”
“Caroline…”
“I cannot be expected to recall every person who crosses my path,” she said defensively with a sharp look at her brother.
Bingley ignored her. “What happened, Darcy. You were about to tell us.”
“I hope nothing has happened Elizabeth,” said Georgiana.
“Elizabeth — Miss Bennet is perfectly well. She just had an unpleasant encounter.”
Darcy outlined the events of the day. He hesitated over whether to tell them how Elizabeth had chased the thief by herself but he reasoned Elizabeth would already tell people the same story.
Bingley’s eyes widened in admiration. “She chased the fellow all by herself? A young woman like that! I cannot believe it.”
“Neither can I,” said Darcy. “I was not impressed at the time.” His lips curved into a smile. “But I cannot help admiring her spirit. She is as brave as a lion. I can think of few people who would have done the same.”
“I would hope that would be the case,” said Miss Bingley with an offended look as though Elizabeth had wounded her personally. “What foolishness. Oh, I know Charles will think it a great yarn, but this girl cannot have good judgment if she would do something so ridiculous. It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence.”
“It shows bravery and spirit and that is much to be admired,” said Bingley while Georgiana nodded in agreement.
Miss Bingley ignored him. “I am sure you would not wish dear Georgiana to behave in such a manner, would you, Mr Darcy?”
“Certainly not.”
“I would never be able to do so,” said Georgiana. She shuddered. “I could never be so brave.”
Miss Bingley crossed the room swiftly and put her arm around Georgiana’s shoulders to pull her into a rough embrace. Georgiana looked most uncomfortable.
“No, and I am glad for it,” she said in a fierce voice as though she were a bear protecting her cub. “I could not endure it if you were in any danger.” She gave Darcy a concerned look over Georgiana’s head. “I hope this Miss Bennet is not going to be a poor influence on Georgiana. I would hate if anything happened to her as a result of an undesirable acquaintance.”
Georgiana looked up to protest but Bingley burst out laughing before she could speak.
“Oh, come, Caroline. I doubt Miss Bennet spends all her time pursuing ruffians. This was a rare situation. I hardly think Georgiana is about to become a vigilante because of an acquaintance with her. What do you think, Darcy?”
“I think Miss Bennet is aware of the foolishness of her actions and would not do so again if the opportunity arose. I see no reason to prevent a friendship between her and Georgiana.” He smiled at his sister’s relieved face. “Besides, I already told her you had written to her and invited her and her family to dine with us tomorrow. And I obtained her response. She would be delighted to see you again.”
Georgiana squealed with delight. She ducked under Miss Bingley’s smothering arm and ran to embrace her brother. He looked a little startled by the show of affection but not displeased.
“I look forward to hearing Miss Bennet repeat her tale,” said Bingley cheerfully. Only Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst looked annoyed. Miss Bingley sniffed as though it were of little matter to her but she did not think much of it.
“Far be it from me to come between anything Georgiana delights in,” she said in a tone that left everyone clear that she was highly offended. “I only spoke because what is best for Georgiana and what will influence her is always utmost in my mind. I hope you know, Georgiana, that I am the dearest friend you have. I will always put your interests first.”
“Thank you, Miss Bingley,” said Georgiana in a soft voice.
Miss Bingley grimaced. “Caroline,” she said, slightly too sharply.
Georgiana merely nodded. And when Miss Bingley turned away to join her sister on the couch, she looked up at her brother with shining eyes.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Darcy hoped his eyes didn’t shine as brightly as hers as he dropped a kiss on her forehead.
23
Georgiana could hardly contain her excitement as she waited to hear for the carriage to arrive.
“Are they late?” she asked. “I think they are late. I hope their horse has not thrown a shoe. Or perhaps there is a problem with their carriage. Should you not ride out to see where they are, Fitzwilliam?”
“It is not yet time for them to be here,” Darcy reminded her though he scarcely felt less impatient himself. All day long, he had worried that a letter might arrive from Lambton with Elizabeth sending her apologies and explaining why they could not possibly join them after all. He had not begun to relax even a little until now, when it would surely be too late for them to cancel their plans.
“Do rest, Georgiana,” Miss Bingley laughed. “You will wear yourself out with all this worry. Honestly, there is nothing to feel so fussed about. I do not think Miss Bennet would be pleased to think she is causing such concern. Anyone might think we were expecting a visit from Princess Charlotte instead of some country nobody,” she added in a muttered aside to Mrs Hurst who merely rolled her eyes in support.
Georgiana and Darcy walked out into the hall again to see if there were signs of the carriage lamps coming up the drive. Miss Bingley scowled after them.
“What kind of spell has this wretched girl cast on them?” she demanded. She looked at her brother. Bingley had his arms folded and looked after his friends with his usual amused expression. “Has Darcy said anything to you about it?”
“What would he say to me about it?”
“Anyt
hing at all. He must have said something. Why is he inviting her here?”
“He did not invite her. Georgiana did.”
“Oh, you know what I mean. Look at how he is hurrying forward to wait for her. I do not understand it.” She pursed her lips. “I am afraid this Miss Bennet might just be an opportunist. Poor Darcy is always going to be prey for young ladies who should not dare to raise their eyes to him.”
“I am quite confident Darcy can look after himself,” said Charles mildly. “And I am not afraid he might be taken in. Darcy is savvy to the manipulations and arts employed by ladies. He thinks very little of them. If Miss Bennet was dishonest, he would not give her the time of day.”
“Oh, what would you know, anyway. You are forever falling in love with one young lady or another. You have not the sense of a gnat where it comes to women. Anyone might fool you.”
“And am I not fortunate to have such a sweet, darling sister here to concern herself with my affairs,” said Bingley in a cheerful voice. “It makes me rather teary to think of your devotion to myself and Darcy.”
Caroline did not hear him. She had already flounced from the room, her head held high. Bingley turned back to the window with a low laugh.
If Darcy was taken with this Miss Bennet — and Bingley was quite sure he was more taken with her than he had ever been with any other young lady, at least as far as Bingley was aware — Bingley would be thrilled to see it. Darcy was the finest man he knew but he took too much on his shoulders from a young age. But if he found a woman he really loved and admired, it would be the saving of him. And if that meant the disappointment of Bingley’s sister, well, Darcy was a far better friend than she was a sibling. Caroline would just have to find some other way to manage her disappointment.
An Engagement at Pemberley Page 10