Bingley, who had been standing by the fireplace, approached Elizabeth. “Pray, Miss Bennet, tell me at once. Have your sister’s feelings for me–have they suffered a material change for the worse? Have I a chance, or is she lost to me forever?”

  Though exceedingly pleased by what the gentleman’s words portended, Elizabeth maintained a calm composure. “Sir, I am afraid it is not my place to tell you exactly what my sister’s feelings may or may not be; however, I believe were such a question to be posed to her in person, you would not be dissatisfied by her response.”

  It was enough said. Just as quickly as that, the Charles Bingley that Elizabeth had once admired so much stood before her once again. She suspected rather than knew that were they in Hertfordshire, he would be out the door, but they were in Derbyshire–several days of steady traveling away.

  “Oh, Miss Bennet–Miss Elizabeth, I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear that. I can hardly wait to see Miss Bennet again. Indeed, I believe I shall prepare for my departure this very afternoon.”

  “But, sir, I was given to believe you had planned to remain in Derbyshire for at least a month before heading to Scarborough for the remainder of the summer.”

  “To be perfectly frank, time and distance away from my friend Darcy and my dear sister Caroline are precisely what I need. As for Scarborough, with luck, the next time I visit my relations in the North, I shall be accompanied by the woman whom I love.”

  Elizabeth’s joy in hearing this was beyond expression. “Then, by all means, do not allow me to delay you, sir.”

  “Knowing that I may still have a chance with Miss Bennet, I will not allow anything or anyone to stand in my way from this moment forward. But you must promise me something before I take my leave.”

  “Pray, what is that, sir?” Elizabeth asked, ready and willing to be of service.

  “I know how close you and your sister have always been. Indeed, it is but one of the things I admire most about you–your unflinching loyalty to your sister. Saying that, I beg you not to write to her or anyone else in Hertfordshire of my imminent return.”

  Elizabeth wished she could say that she was not in the habit of keeping secrets from Jane, but that would be a lie. It seemed all she had done was keep secrets from Jane, especially regarding this particular affair. She had, of course, told Jane about seeing Mr. Darcy in Kent. She had even told Jane that she had rejected the gentleman’s proposal of marriage, even though she had allowed some time to pass before doing so. Still, she had not uttered a single word about Mr. Darcy’s role in keeping Jane and Bingley apart, and now she did not have to.

  “You may rely upon my discretion, sir. Besides, I wager your arrival in Hertfordshire will be far timelier than even the fastest express.”

  Soon after Bingley quit the room, Elizabeth looked outside the window and saw him hurrying off on horseback. She could not help smiling on behalf of her sister Jane and delighting in the joy of the happy reunion that awaited her.

  Elizabeth’s thoughts very quickly drifted from Jane’s future felicity to what her own might have been. Her curiosity over the timing of Mr. Darcy’s confession to his friend would not be repressed, and she could not help but wonder if what he had done had been done on her own behalf.

  She was hours away from receiving her answer, for Miss Darcy had invited Elizabeth and her relations to dine at Pemberley that very evening. Once again, supposing she was reading too much into the situation, Elizabeth silently cautioned herself to be sensible.

  Mr. Darcy was just as kind and attentive to Elizabeth and her relations during his morning call as he had been the day before, which surely meant something.

  Let me see how he behaves this evening, and then I shall know how to think and, most importantly, how to feel.

  Chapter 6

  The rain that Mrs. Gardiner had prognosticated the day before arrived on the heels of their arrival at Pemberley, accompanied by violent lightning, roaring thunder, and fierce winds. The duration of the torrential downpour rendered it unwise for the Gardiner party to return to Lambton in the midst of it all. Thus, an invitation to stay at Pemberley was extended and likewise accepted.

  This is going to be a long night, Elizabeth silently considered as she surveyed the drawing room after dinner. As this particular room had not been part of the public tour, she was once again impressed with all she saw: majestic ceilings, tall doors and walls trimmed in gold, rich Persian carpets cushioning her feet, and towering bouquets of freshly cut flowers in vibrant colors of red, white, orange, and yellow, purposely arranged on ornate marble-top tables all about.

  Once again, she reminded herself that of all this, she might have been mistress. Willing her mind to dwell upon anything but what might have been, she directed her attention instead to the various occupants in the room.

  Throughout the evening at Pemberley, Elizabeth observed that young Miss Darcy was painfully uncomfortable in her role as the hostess in her brother’s home and, thus, relied heavily upon her companion Mrs. Annesley’s guidance.

  Not too much unlike Miss Anne de Bourgh’s dependence upon her companion, Miss Jenkinson, Elizabeth surmised in recollection of having studied the young lady while at Rosings. Elizabeth laughed a little inside.

  I suppose Lady Catherine commanded such a considerable share of officiousness and mendacity as to leave none to spare for the next generation of Fitzwilliam women.

  Elizabeth could almost feel Miss Caroline Bingley glaring at her the entire evening, but the latter had remained somewhat subdued–perhaps even pleasant, at least towards Elizabeth’s relations.

  So long as the young woman was not disparaging of her relations, Elizabeth had no cause to repine. As for Miss Bingley’s silent treatment toward Elizabeth, the latter welcomed the verbal reprieve. Her good fortune ended all too soon when, at length, Miss Bingley came to the part of the room where Elizabeth was sitting.

  “May I prevail upon you for a turn about the room, Miss Eliza? I do so miss our little tête-à-têtes.”

  As much as Elizabeth did not want to take part in whatever scheme the young lady had in mind to garner Mr. Darcy’s attention–the same stratagem she employed to her own disadvantage when they were all in Hertfordshire last autumn, Elizabeth felt she had no choice. She was determined to match Miss Bingley’s feigned civility, which the latter had no doubt practiced for Miss Darcy’s sake.

  Half-smiling Elizabeth arose from her seat, accepted Miss Bingley’s proffered arm, and the ladies began a slow promenade about the spacious room.

  Miss Bingley said, “I understand your friend Charlotte is now the wife of Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s vicar: Mr. William Collins.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “Indeed.”

  “I wish I had an intimate friend whose home abutted the great lady’s estate so that I might have the privilege of being a frequent guest at Rosings. Although I do suppose it would prove rather awkward for Miss Anne de Bourgh.”

  Elizabeth looked at her walking companion questioningly.

  “Why, you are aware that she and her mother like to suppose that Miss de Bourgh is engaged to our Mr. Darcy, are you not? Although on the sole occasion I have been in company with the two of them when we dined at Mr. Darcy’s London townhouse, I detected absolutely no symptom of affection between those two. He has always been far more attentive to me.”

  Elizabeth laughed a little at the lady’s professed observation, for she was confident that if Mr. Darcy showed Miss Bingley even the tiniest sliver of affection, the young lady would be ordering wedding clothes.

  Miss Bingley was not insensitive to Elizabeth’s reaction. “Do tell me what you find so amusing, Miss Eliza, so that I, too, might enjoy my share of fun.”

  Elizabeth said, “You must pardon me. I am afraid my mind was elsewhere.”

  An awkward silence ensued which, at length, was broken by threadbare conversation which soon gave way to a particularly pointed speech once the two ladies were far enough away from the others to prevent being overheard.

  “I suppose I have you to thank for my brother’s hasty departure from Derbyshire earlier today.”

  Again, Elizabeth regarded the other woman questioningly.

  “Do you pretend that you were not responsible for his leave-taking? I am very aware that he called on you in Lambton this morning with Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy. I also have it on good authority that Charles called on you again not very long after taking his leave with the Darcys.”

  How on earth does Miss Bingley know about her brother’s subsequent visit? Surely she does not spy on her own brother, and if she does, then to what avail?

  “Miss Bingley, you speak as though you do not know your brother at all,” Elizabeth replied.

  Taken aback, Miss Bingley cried, “Why in heavens would you say something as ridiculous as that?”

  “We were both present when he boasted aloud that when he makes up his mind to do something, he does it in a moment’s notice.”

  Miss Bingley scoffed. “I certainly know him well enough to know that he relies heavily on the counsel of others–particularly his best friend, Mr. Darcy. I cannot imagine that Mr. Darcy put the idea of leaving Derbyshire for Hertfordshire in my brother’s mind, which leads me to conclude that you were the instigator.”

  Elizabeth laughed a little at this conjecture.

  “I am very aware of how much you love a laugh, Miss Eliza, but as I have said nothing to arouse your wry sense of humor, I must beg you to say what is on your mind.”

  “Oh, I find it ironic that not only do you know so little about your brother, you know even less about his best friend.”

  “I suppose you consider yourself an expert on the gentleman’s character, having thrown yourself in his path and thereby obliging him to call on you this morning as well as invite you to his home once again this evening.”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “I suppose, having spent several weeks earlier this year in his company, I have gained far more insight into his character than our time in Hertfordshire allowed.”

  Miss Bingley stopped abruptly, compelling Elizabeth to do the same. “Several weeks? When did this happen? I know your sister was in town, but I do not recall your being there as well.”

  “Did I say I spent several weeks in Mr. Darcy’s company in town?” Elizabeth cried. “I ought to have specified that the time we spent in each other’s company was when we were in Kent.”

  “At his aunt Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s home! Why! I have never been invited to Rosings Park. If what you are saying is true, then why did you not mention your enjoying such an honor when I spoke of Rosings mere moments ago? Why should I believe her ladyship would invite such an inconsequential person to her home even if you are the distant cousin of her vicar?”

  “Aside from the fact that I have no reason to lie about visiting Rosings Park, I certainly suffer no obligation to apprise you of my comings and goings.”

  “I would mind my tongue if I were you, Miss Eliza. Your falsehoods are easy enough to disprove, but in doing so, I would have to ask Mr. Darcy directly. You and I both know that disguise of any sort is his abhorrence. Should I expose your lies, he might see you and your relations from his home in the blink of an eye, the raging storm or not. Surely you would not want that.”

  Fortunately for Elizabeth’s sake, their debate had drawn Mr. Darcy’s attention. She said, “Let us speak with Mr. Darcy this instant.”

  Almost pulling her walking companion to where the gentleman sat, Elizabeth stood before him and said, “Mr. Darcy, may I prevail on you to join Miss Bingley and me for another turn about the room. I find this exercise most refreshing, but I fear that the two of us are in severe want of a gentleman’s perspective to temper our disparate opinions on matters having to do with Mr. Bingley’s leave-taking, among other things.”

  Standing, Mr. Darcy accepted Elizabeth’s invitation and taking his place between the two ladies, the three of them proceeded.

  Miss Bingley was the first to speak. “Sir, why did you not tell me that you and Miss Eliza spent so much time in each other’s company in Kent?”

  “Miss Bingley, when have I ever been in the habit of sharing my comings and goings with you?”

  She jerked her head back. “Then, you are saying that it is true. You and Miss Eliza were together in Kent!”

  Without awaiting a reply, she scoffed. “Well–I would ask how such a fortuitous prospect for Miss Eliza came to be, but then again, she is here at Pemberley. She seems to have a particular knack for finding herself in the same place and at the same time as you.”

  “Sir, in informing Miss Bingley of our spending time in Kent, she seemed quite skeptical that a cousin of Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s vicar might possibly be a guest in her home.”

  “A frequent guest,” Mr. Darcy added.

  “How fortunate for you, dear Eliza,” Miss Bingley replied, her voice dismissing.

  “I consider it to have been very fortunate for me as well,” said Mr. Darcy.

  “For you, sir?” Miss Bingley cried. “Pray, do not keep me in suspense. Enlighten me on your good fortune.”

  “For one, I do not know when my time spent in Kent was ever so pleasurable. More than that, had Miss Bennet and I not renewed our acquaintance as we did, I might never have fully understood the depths of her elder sister’s affections for your brother.”

  Aghast, Miss Bingley cried, “Do you mean to say that you told my brother about Miss Jane Bennet’s being in town–that you persuaded him to return to Hertfordshire like a lovesick puppy begging for scraps.”

  “I told Bingley the truth–the whole truth.” Mr. Darcy was looking at Miss Bingley, but Elizabeth knew and understood the words he spoke were spoken for her.

  “I made a mistake - one that caused another a great deal of heartbreak and yet another a great deal of consternation. For that, I am terribly sorry, and I am bound and determined to make amends. Telling Bingley was just the first step–the first step of many to come, for I shall do whatever it takes to prove the depths of my sincerity.”

  Hearing this, Miss Bingley was at a rare loss for a fitting retort and thus did the only thing she could. She quit Darcy and Elizabeth’s side and retreated to the part of the room where she would be in nobody’s way.

  Chapter 7

  At last, it was just the two of them taking a turn about the room, which suited Elizabeth perfectly and Mr. Darcy, as well, were she to judge by his easy demeanor.

  Never had she seen him so, which made her regret her part in misjudging him even more. She really liked this side of Mr. Darcy, and she began to wish her time in Derbyshire was of a longer duration than was planned.

  Though they slowly walked along beside each other, the gentleman with his hands clasped behind his back and Elizabeth with her hands either by her side or clutched together in front of her, in an attitude much the same as when they walked together in Kent, a part of her wished for something more.

  No doubt, Miss Bingley would be clinging to the gentleman like a leech, Elizabeth thought to herself while laughing inside. How he must hate such obsequiousness–women of Miss Bingley’s ilk who are always speaking, and looking, and thinking for his approbation alone.

  On the other hand, if I do nothing to encourage him, then how will he know that my feelings are no longer so severe as when we were in Kent?

  Elizabeth moved a little closer. Whatever were Mr. Darcy’s thoughts, he moved a little closer too, and now they were nearly as close as two people walking side by side could be.

  Before Elizabeth could even think to move a bit farther away, their arms brushed against each other’s. The warmest sensation flooded her body. There was no moving away now. Fortunately, no one in the room seemed to be paying attention to what was transpiring between the two of them, not even Miss Bingley.

  Concerning Miss Bingley’s brother, Elizabeth felt it incumbent upon herself to acknowledge Mr. Darcy’s recent disclosure.

  “Sir, I must thank you again and again for telling Mr. Bingley about Jane. I–” Here she paused, not wanting to sacrifice the harmony between them.

  He must have sensed her struggle. “Miss Elizabeth?”

  Thus encouraged, she said, “I have no wish to sound impertinent or ungrateful, but–” Again, she fell silent.

  “You and I have come a long way over the past couple days toward establishing a better understanding of each other’s character, have we not? I should like to suppose we have reached a point where we may freely discuss anything.”

  “Then, I must ask you why you waited until today to tell Mr. Bingley when you have been privy to the intelligence for months?”

  Mr. Darcy took Elizabeth by her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, but rather than linger as he had done the day before, at the carriage, he released it rather quickly. Again, no one in the room noticed his intimate gesture as best Elizabeth could tell. Her heart, however, slammed against her chest.

  “I have no excuse other than my belief of Bingley’s indifference,” Mr. Darcy said. “It would not have been the first time he fancied himself in love, only to lose interest in the wake of time and distance from the object of his affections.

  “However, when he learned you were in Derbyshire, the first thing he asked was if your elder sister had accompanied you. By his rapid change in demeanor to that of a man dying of thirst about to have his first drink in ages, I knew with certainty that his heart still belonged to Miss Bennet–that he was indeed in love with her. I could no longer keep what I knew hidden from him. I deeply regret not telling him sooner.”

  “Again, I thank you. It is better late than never,” Elizabeth said, her eyes willing him to look at her. And when he did just that, she smiled.

  “Miss Elizabeth,” Mr. Darcy said. “What I am about to ask is undoubtedly presumptuous, but as I am a firm believer that one who never undertook anything never achieved anything, I am compelled to risk it.”

  His melodic voice was such that she could listen to him speak all day and well into the night and never tire of it.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7