Chapter 12 #2
Unconsciously, he pulled on the reins as Longbourn appeared around a bend in the road. The path was sheltered from the sun by old trees, and a soft breeze cooled his flushed face.
He dismounted, allowing his horse to take a few steps, and briefly considered entering the house to ask Mr. Bennet for some water for his stallion. A moment later he was ashamed of himself for concocting such a ridiculous scheme.
He gazed at the house with its open windows and looked for someone in the yard.
“Mr. Darcy! You are already here!”
He startled to hear the voice that he craved and feared. He turned slowly to confront the image of his dreams and his nightmares in front of him, her eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks crimson, and her hair loosened at the back of her bonnet.
He bowed as he struggled to suppress the tremor of his tone. “Miss Bennet…”
∞∞∞
At Netherfield, Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley showed considerably less interest than usual in the Darcys’ expected visit.
With the possibility of their brother’s ever marrying Miss Darcy completely ruined and Mr. Darcy’s presence considerably reduced, any hope for a bond between the families was lost forever.
Consequently, the presence of the severe and aloof gentleman, his sister, and his aunt became more a burden than a joy.
Mr. Hurst expressed his hope that Darcy would be in a mood to hunt and play cards. In the two ladies, he had no interest at all.
Bingley, however, was impatient to see his friend and anxious for his estate to make a good impression with Lady Hardwick. Therefore, their rooms were impeccably arranged, and fresh meat, fish, and fruits were purchased along with special demands of the cook.
But Mr. Bingley spent little time at Netherfield. He usually had his breakfast then called on his betrothed, spent the day with her, returned home to change his clothes, and joined the Bennets for dinner.
Longbourn was overwhelmed with a cacophony from the moment the Darcys and the countess’s visit was announced.
Mrs. Bennet spread the news all around Meryton, taking it as a compliment and proof of consideration for her beautiful daughter.
And her success was not insignificant since Mrs. Philips and Lady Lucas called several times to ask for details.
Mr. Bennet appeared oddly preoccupied with Mr. Darcy’s visit too.
He rearranged some of the shelves in the library, refilled his reserve of wine and brandy, and often mentioned his admiration for the named gentleman.
When the family was alone, he instructed his wife and youngest daughter to watch their manners, to treat Mr. Darcy with due consideration, and to “mention Wickham only if the man happens to die unexpectedly.”
“Oh, Mr. Bennet, you are joking of course. Surely, we do not need your ungenerous censure! When have we ever not treated Mr. Darcy with consideration? He never visited Longbourn, so we barely spoke to him. It was he who was rude and refused to dance with Lizzy,” Mrs. Bennet responded.
Jane was —as always —the peacemaker and the centre of calm in the house, although her own excitement and nervousness often coloured her face and moistened her eyes.
As for Elizabeth, she could not describe her state of mind and heart as other than agitated. She knew not what she felt, but she admitted she had never been as nervous. Whether the cause was related to her sister or to other persons, she could not —would not —dare examine too closely.
That she was happy with the prospect of seeing Miss Darcy and Lady Hardwick again, Elizabeth had no doubt. But how she felt regarding Mr. Darcy’s return was still uncertain.
Her opinion of him had changed a great deal since April and had also changed since she knocked on his door in London.
Then she was relieved —although slightly regretful —at the notion of never seeing him again.
And now, they would meet one more time on the same ground where their acquaintance began but in completely different circumstances.
Could this be the real last time? Would there ever truly be a last time since his best friend would now be her brother-in-law and his sister maintained a correspondence with her? Did he understand as well as she that they might be thrown into each other’s path in the future?
“Lizzy, would you come for a walk with Charles and me? Mama says she has no use for us inside,” Jane whispered.
“Of course.” Elizabeth smiled at her blushing sister. She had assumed the role of a chaperone for the two betrotheds, but that, fortunately, would end in five days.
They walked in the small grove near the gate, crossed the path, and continued beyond.
Soon, Elizabeth found herself preoccupied with her surroundings while Jane and Bingley walked well ahead, barely visible from behind the trees.
Her sister’s happiness was so great that it passed from Jane’s soul to fill Elizabeth’s too. Life had been good to them.
In the silence of the autumn day, the sound of hoof-beats raised her curiosity, and she turned towards the road to observe the newcomer.
She needed less than a heartbeat to recognise Darcy as he halted, dismounted, and seemed to walk slowly towards the house.
He was only a few steps away, and if in the past she had avoided his presence many times on her strolls, now he was the guest eagerly awaited by her father and her future brother.
She hurried to him and called his name, trying to sound composed and polite when she greeted him.
Her eyes were instantly drawn towards his hair, which had been disturbed by the wind, the neckcloth loosened to cool his skin, the dark gaze, and the familiar severe countenance.
His right hand —ungloved —held the reins, and for a moment, her eyes lingered on his long, powerful fingers.
She felt her cheeks burning and finally glanced at him, just in time to see his proper bow.
“We did not expect to see you…I mean, we did but not today. Mr. Bingley informed us of your arrival,” she mumbled, blushing even more from embarrassment for her incoherent speech.
It was not surprising, though, considering that their earlier private conversations had turned into arguments and turmoil.
Their history was not a good precedent for a calm and pleasant conversation.
Darcy continued with a slight uneasiness. “I am sorry to hear that. I did send Bingley all the details of our travels. I do not want to intrude —”
“Oh no, you are not intruding, I assure you. My father will be happy to see you…and Mr. Bingley…I believe he forgot to tell us the specific date of your arrival, but you are welcome nevertheless.”
“Thank you. Is your family in good health?” he inquired, unable to keep his eyes from her.
“Yes…they are in excellent health. We are very happy,” she said.
Then she lowered her voice, took a step forward, and locked her eyes with his. “And I must take this opportunity to thank you for that, Mr. Darcy. I am aware that your kindness had a great influence on my family’s tranquillity and my sister’s present felicity.”
He interrupted her with a determination that was close to severity.
“Miss Bennet’s felicity is entirely due to Bingley’s decision to pursue his happiness despite some ungenerous past advice and interference. I have no merit in it —quite the contrary. As for any other past events, let us forget about them and hope things will improve for the better.”
A little smile twisted his lips, and she stared, mesmerized, at the dimples that appeared on his cheeks. She had not seen him smile since that dreadful day at the Parsonage.
“Have Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner arrived? I know they planned to come a few days before the wedding.”
“No, not yet. We expect them tomorrow,” she said, again astonished by his friendly tone as he mentioned her uncle and aunt.
“I see…and is Mr. Bennet at home?”
“Yes, he is. Would you like to come in? Forgive me; I am a very poor host. Papa will be very pleased to see you.”
“I look forward to seeing him again too. Do you happen to know where Bingley is?”
“Mr. Bingley? Yes, of course…he is here…somewhere…”
She looked around as Darcy kept his eyes on her face. Her obvious uneasiness, tentative smiles, and friendly voice enhanced her charms —and his distress. There, on her own ground, she was much as she used to be a year before when she had captured his heart.
His self-control, composure, and even his reason were again in danger of betraying him. He had just arrived and talked to her only a few minutes, and he already dreaded the moment he would leave without knowing when or whether he would see her again.
Still gazing at Elizabeth, Darcy heard the sound of a carriage then Georgiana’s voice calling timidly.
He briefly wondered how they had arrived so soon after he did, but his attention was drawn to Elizabeth’s countenance.
She was momentarily bewildered, then her expression brightened, and joy glittered in her eyes as she stepped cheerily towards the carriage.
If he previously had concerns about Elizabeth’s true feelings for Georgiana, all were gone in an instant. What he observed on Elizabeth’s face was pure delight on seeing his sister, and that could only come from sincere affection.
“Miss Anna, what a wonderful surprise! Forgive me, Miss Darcy…and Lady Hardwick! Welcome to Longbourn. This is quite amazing!”
To Darcy’s utter surprise, Georgiana jumped down and stretched her hands towards Elizabeth.
“Miss Lizzy, I am so happy to see you again!”
They held hands and looks for a moment, then Elizabeth laughed and impetuously embraced Georgiana, whispering,
“What joy to see you again!”
The young woman was momentarily abashed by the friendly gesture; then she hesitantly put her arms around Elizabeth, returning the hug. Watching her in contentment, Darcy tried to remember whether he had ever seen Georgiana embraced by anyone except their closest relatives.