Suddenly, Wickham realized he did not need to speak to Georgiana at all. From the way Darcy was looking moon-eyed at the other young lady, Wickham could tell he had feelings for her. All he would need to do was confirm his suspicions and get to Miss Bennet somehow. So it seems your heart of ice has finally been captured, eh, Darce! We shall see how you like it when I ruin your happiness the way you ruined mine.
Wickham settled himself onto a bench and again took up his newspaper to wait.
* * *
Elizabeth was trembling slightly as she ascended the steps into Darcy House. She removed her outerwear and handed it to the waiting servant as she looked around the grand hall. It was the most beautiful home she had ever seen. The grey marble was elegantly presented with splendor next to the warm tones of the cherry wood walls and ornately carved wooden railing lining the wide marble staircase.
Darcy watched Elizabeth as she looked around. His lips turned into a satisfied smile as he recognized her admiration for his home. He had a sudden feeling that she belonged there, and he contented himself to think on that for a few moments.
“Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy, you have a very beautiful home,” Mrs. Gardiner said.
Elizabeth could only nod her head and add, “It is truly very beautiful.”
Mr. Darcy stepped closer to Elizabeth and said, significantly, “I am glad you like it, Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth colored, and Mrs. Gardiner’s eyebrows rose in interest at what she was seeing. Her eyes caught those of Miss Darcy, and Georgiana smiled as she raised her shoulders up in obvious excitement.
They were led into a large sitting room where Elizabeth again admired the fine taste of the owner. The furnishings were elegant and expensive but without any ostentation or false grandeur. She and her aunt sat together on a settee, and Georgiana took the chair next to Elizabeth.
Before long, Mrs. Gardiner revealed her connection to Lambton in Derbyshire and its proximity to Pemberley. An easy discussion followed as the tea things were brought in. While Mr. Darcy and Mrs. Gardiner spoke of Derbyshire, Elizabeth and Georgiana quietly got to know each other better. Elizabeth was embarrassed to hear Georgiana give her praise, especially when told it was first spoken by her brother.
Georgiana was determined to learn as much as she could about her new friend, as it was more than obvious that her brother preferred Elizabeth. She also found a great deal of pleasure at the teasing comments Elizabeth directed at her brother and was astonished at the good-natured way he received them.
Darcy was more than thrilled to have Elizabeth in his home and in his company again. Whenever he looked at his sister and Elizabeth conversing happily together, he was filled with such contentment as he had never before experienced. He marveled at the easy way Elizabeth helped to move Georgiana out of her shyness, and gratitude filled his breast at the way she brought light back into his sister’s eyes. It had been her influence all along that had begun the changes seen in Georgiana. Ever since learning about Elizabeth, Georgiana had started to become more independent, less despondent and more confident.
It was with these happy thoughts that Darcy was interrupted by the opening of the sitting room doors and the entrance of Richard and Aunt Ellen. Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner immediately stood as the new guests arrived and looked to each other.
Georgiana exclaimed, “Cousin Richard! Aunt Ellen! What a lovely surprise to see you here this afternoon!”
Darcy stepped towards his aunt and bowed after kissing her gently on her hand. He then shook his cousin’s hand, giving him a knowing smile that Richard did not understand.
“Aunt Ellen, Richard. I have the pleasure today to introduce an acquaintance of mine from Hertfordshire. May I introduce to you, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and her aunt, Mrs. Gardiner. Miss Bennet and I met during my stay with Bingley this fall.” He turned to wink at his cousin’s astonished face as he continued with the introductions. He turned to Elizabeth and her aunt, and said, “Miss Bennet, Mrs. Gardiner, this is my aunt Lady Matlock and her son Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam gave Darcy a hardy slap on the back and spoke under his breath, “Tallyho, Darcy!” before taking a few steps towards the ladies and bowing properly to them. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Miss Bennet, my cousin has spoken most highly of you and his time in Hertfordshire. I am very pleased to finally meet you.”
Elizabeth smiled sincerely at his easy manners and engaging address. “Colonel Fitzwilliam, you are most kind.”
Lady Matlock, who had come with her son with the express purpose of speaking to Darcy regarding his affections towards Miss Bennet, was more than astonished to find herself in company with that very lady. When she had sequestered her son the evening before to manipulate him into sharing the reason for Darcy’s recent reticence, she had not anticipated hearing that her nephew was in love with a girl from Hertfordshire. Richard had related Darcy’s fears about the girl’s lack of connections and her acceptance by society.
Lady Matlock was only concerned that Darcy did not fall in love with a fortune hunter. She determined, then, to speak with him immediately and decide for herself that the lady was not merely interested in his wealth. If she found that to be the case, then she would give her nephew a good peel over his head for his ridiculous and pompous notions of familial duty. Therefore, she listened with interest to her son’s conversation with Miss Bennet.
“Miss Bennet, I pity you for having to put up with my cousin’s presence for so long in Hertfordshire.” Colonel Fitzwilliam chuckled and shot Darcy a teasing smile.
“Indeed, Colonel, he was most dreadful in the beginning.” She also gave a teasing smile to Darcy and lifted her eyebrow in challenge, the way he loved.
“Do tell, Miss Bennet, I should like to know how my cousin behaves amongst strangers.”
Elizabeth smiled at Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Darcy found he did not like seeing her smile at another man. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair as Elizabeth responded.
“Prepare yourself for something dreadful, then, sir. When I first saw your cousin, it was at an assembly in Meryton where he danced only two sets though gentlemen were scarce. I suppose he did not want to give consequence to women who were ‘slighted by other men’.”
Mr. Darcy clenched his jaw and heard his cousin say, “Now that I can easily see, and it surprises me not at all. My cousin does not like to dance.”
Elizabeth smiled at the colonel again and continued. “But I believe your cousin improves upon further acquaintance.” She directed a smaller, more serene smile at Darcy.
Darcy’s eyebrows rose in challenge, and he surprised her with his address. “However true that may be, further acquaintance did not prevent you, Miss Bennet, from refusing my hand to dance on two separate occasions thereafter.”
Elizabeth sat back in astonishment. “I do not know what you mean, Mr. Darcy. I cannot recollect these two instances.”
Darcy smiled as he folded his hands together at his chest. “As I recall, I asked you to dance at Sir William Lucas’s house shortly after that assembly.”
Elizabeth bit her lip enchantingly as she thought back to the occasion to which he referred and began to laugh. “I stand corrected.” She chuckled as she turned to the rest of the group. “I did refuse him then.” Turning back to Darcy with a saucy smile, she said, “However, sir, I believe that is only one instance. You spoke of two.”
At that moment, Darcy wanted nothing more than to stand up, march over to Elizabeth and kiss that smug smile off her face. She was so delightful, and he knew he was making a fool of himself by displaying his feelings for her openly to her family and his, but he did not care.
“The second time you refused me was at Netherfield when you came to care for your sister Jane when she was ill. I asked you one evening if you would care to dance while Miss Bingley was playing a lively tune on the pianoforte.” He watched as recollection of the evening dawned on her, and her smug expression turned into one of disbelief.
“Mr. Darcy, yo
ur memory, I see, is better than mine. However, in my defense, I am sure at the time I thought you to be insincere in your request.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed heartily at the exchange along with Georgiana and his mother. “To have refused him twice! I wish I could have been there to witness the phenomenon. I do not believe I have ever known any lady to refuse Darcy’s request for a dance.”
Lady Matlock listened to her son’s words and realized the truth of them. Her fears regarding Miss Bennet’s status as a fortune hunter began to dwindle, and she enjoyed seeing the liveliness the lady brought to her usually somber nephew as well as to her niece.
“I wonder, Miss Bennet,” Darcy paused to gain her full attention, “if you had known I was sincere in my request, would you have accepted my hand?”
Elizabeth turned her face into one of mock seriousness and pretended to think about his comment. She tapped one slender finger on her bottom lip, and the action nearly drove Darcy to distraction. She turned sparkling eyes on him, bewitching him even further, as she said, “Probably not.”
The whole room broke into laughter, including Darcy, much to the astonishment of his relations.
Lady Matlock then turned to address Elizabeth. “How long are you visiting London, Miss Bennet?”
“My aunt, uncle and I will return to Hertfordshire in a week, milady. My elder sister is to be married in about three weeks.”
“Have you had an opportunity to attend the theatre or an opera since you have been in town?”
“I have not had that pleasure, Lady Matlock. I hope very much to attend before I leave.”
“Well, when you do, I should be happy to accompany you and your aunt and uncle in my box.”
Elizabeth was stunned with the condescension and, for a moment, did not know how to respond. She collected herself and replied demurely, “Thank you, your ladyship, it would be an honor.”
Darcy, too, was amazed, but pleased, at the civility his aunt showed to Miss Bennet. He glanced briefly at his cousin and was surprised to see a knowing smirk on his face. So, Aunt Ellen knows of my feelings for Elizabeth. He gave his cousin an answering look of recognition with a raised brow and was not surprised to see Richard’s smug smile in response.
Shortly thereafter, Elizabeth and her aunt indicated it was time for them to take their leave and for Darcy to order his carriage. As they waited, Darcy made a request.
“Mrs. Gardiner, if you are not otherwise engaged, my sister and I would like to invite you, Mr. Gardiner and Miss Elizabeth to be guests at our home for dinner.”
Elizabeth’s aunt smiled politely at Mr. Darcy. “It would be an honor, sir. Is there a specific evening you wished?”
“Would the day after tomorrow suit your schedules?”
“That would be fine, Mr. Darcy. Thank you.”
When the carriage arrived, Mr. Darcy left his relatives in the sitting room to see his guests out. He handed Mrs. Gardiner into the carriage first and said to her, “Thank you for coming today; your visit has been most enjoyable.”
“The pleasure was all ours, Mr. Darcy. Thank you for your hospitality.”
Mr. Darcy then turned to Elizabeth and looked at her in a soft and tender way that she had never seen from him before. She could not quite look into his eyes, for doing so did strange things to her insides.
“Miss Bennet, I cannot tell you how happy I am to have made your acquaintance again.” She accepted his hand, and he brought her fingers to his mouth and kissed them. “I look forward to seeing you again in a few days.”
Elizabeth’s courage rose, and she finally allowed herself to look Darcy in the eyes. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy. It was a surprise seeing you today, but I assure you, a most pleasant one.”
Mr. Darcy merely nodded as he assisted her into the carriage and closed the door behind her. He stood watching until the carriage rolled out of sight before he turned and went into the house.
Across the street a gentleman watched the exchange closely. He grinned with a wicked glint in his eye as he mounted his horse and prepared to follow Darcy’s carriage to wherever it conveyed Miss Bennet. He finalized his plan for his revenge on Darcy all the way to a Cheapside residence, where Miss Bennet and the other lady descended the carriage and entered the house.
Chapter 15
Elizabeth stretched her limbs across the expanse of her bed and sighed in contentment. For the first night in many weeks, she had slept most contentedly. Her night was still filled with dreams, and they still contained one similarity to her previously horrid dreams: Mr. Darcy. But this time, the dreams were pleasant, and she awoke that morning refreshed and happy.
She replayed the events of the day before in her head. She could not believe she had seen Mr. Darcy. He was obviously not staying at Pemberley for the holidays. She laughed to herself and shook her head in disbelief that she had actually met and became acquainted with his sister without even knowing it. She thought about Georgiana for a few minutes and compared her new friend to the many things she had learned about her from Mr. Darcy when they enjoyed supper together at the Netherfield ball. Elizabeth could see that Georgiana was every bit the sweet, shy girl he had described.
She remembered her father had told her about Mr. Wickham’s attempt to seduce and elope with a ‘near relation’ of Darcy’s. Elizabeth wondered whether, perhaps, this near relation was Georgiana. Darcy had seemed worried about his sister’s state of happiness, and she was, indeed, his nearest relation. Now, having made Georgiana’s acquaintance, she was filled with renewed distaste for Mr. Wickham and was glad her father had acted to protect her family from him.
Elizabeth heard a knock on the door and then a multitude of giggles. She sat up in bed and pulled her robe around her as she called to her cousins to enter. The door flew open, and three little children ran to her bed and climbed on. Elizabeth laughed as the oldest ones reached her first and gave her big hugs around her neck. Then she reached over and helped Peter, who was having trouble with the ascent, up into her embrace.
“Are you awake, Cousin Lizzabet?” Peter asked.
“Of course she is. Can you not see her eyes are open and she is laughing?” Margaret, the middle child and only girl, answered smartly to her little brother.
Elizabeth laughed again and gave them all squeezing hugs until they groaned to be released. “How are my favorite cousins this morning?”
“Good!” they said in unison.
“Would you like it if I escorted you to breakfast again this morning, Cousin Elizabeth?” Edward asked.
Elizabeth pressed her lips together to keep from smiling and nodded her head politely. “I should be honored if you would, but I cannot go down to breakfast dressed like this.” She indicated her nightclothes, and the kids laughed as they slipped off the bed and left the room, closing the door behind them.
Elizabeth smiled as she quickly dressed for the day. She might have slept well but she did not necessarily know the state of her feelings yet. Seeing Darcy again and having him give her such polite attention, made her wonder at the state of his regard. It seemed that his current actions were very similar to his behavior in Hertfordshire.
She considered briefly whether, perhaps, Mr. Darcy was naturally affectionate in his addresses to ladies he knew well and felt comfortable with. That would explain his behavior as simply an innocent expression of his personality. She shook her head as she rejected that conclusion. If he was so naturally charming to every lady he was on familiar terms with, he would certainly be married by now or, at least, even more pursued by ladies of the ton. Besides, he knew Miss Bingley quite well and never seemed to be as warm with her.
But as soon as Elizabeth began to conclude that Mr. Darcy might actually return her regard, she could refute that conclusion based on one question: Why, then, did he leave Hertfordshire without so much as a by-your-leave?
Elizabeth finished preparing for the day and grabbed her bonnet and warm winter cloak before exiting her bedchamber. She decided a walk after breakfast would help t
o clear her thoughts and to understand her feelings better, both of which were essential if she was going to know how to act the next night when she dined at Darcy’s home.
She opened the door and smiled as she saw her cousin sitting on the bench in the hallway, swinging his legs and waiting for her. He looked up and quickly assumed the pose of a proper gentleman as he offered his arm. She curtsied and took it with a smile.
“You will be quite the gentleman someday, Master Edward, with all this practice.”
* * *
Wickham waved the sheet of paper he held in his hand to dry the ink. His plan was now fully in motion, and if everything worked as he hoped today, by the evening he would be a rich man. He folded the letter for Darcy and placed it in his coat pocket.
Wickham fantasized about the look of pure pain he hoped to see on Darcy’s face. Certainly, Wickham needed the money, but in the end, he knew it was not about the money with Darcy. He was raised as a near equal, educated as a gentleman and then denied what he felt was a just portion of the wealth George Darcy left to his son. Instead, the old man, for whom he had pretended affection nearly his whole life in hopes of gaining something in the will, gave him only a lousy position as a clergyman.
At every turn of his life, Wickham saw a Darcy trying to make him miserable. Today this is going to change, and Darcy will feel it for the rest of his life. Wickham pulled his boots on and left Mrs. Younge’s boarding house. He borrowed her horse once again and rode towards his destination in Cheapside. On the way, he reviewed the plan in his head. All he needed to do was be patient.
* * *
“Good morning, Lizzy,” her uncle cheerfully offered as he came in to break his fast.
Elizabeth stood, as she had just finished her meal, and smiled. “Good morning, Uncle.”
“Where are you off to this morning?” he asked, placing another cinnamon scone on his plate.
Elizabeth smiled sweetly at him as she took the second scone off his plate and returned it to the tray. When he protested, she merely raised her eyebrow in challenge. “You are lucky I do not tell on you. You ought not to have the sugar, Uncle, and you know it. And to answer your question, I think I will go on a walk to Moorsfield this morning.”
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