Mrs. Bingley’s Sister (The Austen Novels)

Chapter 11

Elizabeth startled as none other than Darcy appeared before her at the Thompson wedding breakfast. Her heart stopped, and she glanced at Jane for a mere moment before exclaiming, "Mr. Darcy! What are you doing here?"

She watched his face redden ever so slightly and felt hers heat too, and she dejectedly wondered if she might ever speak with the man again without causing their mutual embarrassment. She felt the baby wriggling in her lap, and her attention was drawn to Lizzy.

"Oh, Jane, dear, I believe Lizzy must need her mama—"

"Oh no, please," Jane said, standing abruptly and acknowledging Darcy with a smile, "Please allow Mr. Darcy to see his goddaughter for a moment. I shall go speak to Caroline and offer my congratulations before we depart."

And gone was her sister, leaving Elizabeth in bewilderment. Jane never left the baby! But baby Lizzy gurgled and caught Elizabeth's attention once more, and she momentarily forgot about her distress over Darcy's sudden presence as she stood up and cradled the baby, swaying and cooing to soothe the infant.

"May I?"

The deep, masculine voice of Darcy's spoke near her ear. Elizabeth stopped swaying and glanced up at the man, who was opening his arms in an offering to hold the babe.

"Why—why, yes, of course," she stammered without much thought, quickly handing him the infant, her hands brushing his arms as she passed her over to him. She blushed and pulled her arms away hastily after he had a gentle hold of the baby, who suddenly quieted and gazed at Darcy with her blue saucer eyes.

Elizabeth watched in fascination as Darcy bounced his arms ever so slightly and began to speak softly to the little babe. Seeing this man be so domestic and tender—it nearly melted Elizabeth's heart. Here was the man she had been so mistaken and wrong about, cradling her very special niece with reverence, softness, and delicacy. His eyes sparkled as he smiled down at baby Lizzy, and a thought dashed through Elizabeth's mind: Darcy would be a father, and a good one, at that.

This gave Elizabeth a rather uncomfortable feeling, as it naturally led to the thought of him finding someone else to marry. She could never voice this discomfort aloud to anyone, however, not even Jane. Who was she, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, to pine after Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy—and is that what that feeling even was? How could Elizabeth claim to feel anything significant toward the man? She had barely seen him but once in the last year!

But regardless, there she was, wondering who the lucky woman would be, the one who was to inevitably marry him. She thought sadly of Lady Catherine's daughter, Miss de Bourgh. Elizabeth ought to release herself from any growing feelings she might have been harboring for the man. It mattered not that he was very handsome, very kind, and a doting godfather...

Elizabeth had no right to feel anything for him.

Although this deeply depressed Elizabeth (though she would never admit it aloud), she accepted this for the fact that it was and thus, tried every single day to not let her mind be consumed with thoughts of him.