Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Darcy had ridden out early that morning, pressing his horse hard in an effort to still the restless thoughts that had troubled him since dawn.
His cousin was to arrive that day, and though he told himself there was nothing in the circumstance that ought to unsettle him, he could not help but wonder how Richard and Elizabeth would get on.
He knew the earl favoured the match, and he could not deny that his cousin and Elizabeth shared many similar qualities; it was therefore reasonable to expect that they would be agreeable to one another.
Reason offered little comfort in this situation, for he could not dismiss the possibility that he might be compelled to observe his cousin pay his attentions to the woman he himself desired—and that he must do so without betraying the depth of his feelings.
His cousin’s arrival soon removed the comfort of speculation.
Darcy had only just returned to Millwood as the household assembled for breakfast. The meal passed pleasantly enough, and Darcy found himself imagining that his own home might one day possess such cheerfulness as he listened to Georgiana and Elizabeth talking together.
They had scarcely settled in the morning room afterwards when the butler entered and announced a visitor.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, my lord.”
Everyone rose at once. Lord Granfield stepped forward with open cordiality. “Colonel Fitzwilliam, I am very pleased to see you again so soon,” he said, extending his hand and accompanying the greeting with a genial pat to the shoulder. “We are delighted to have your company here for a time.”
“I am much obliged to you for the invitation, my lord,” the colonel replied, returning the greeting with an easy bow. “And, very likely, for the leave that has allowed me to return to England as well. I cannot imagine it was easily accomplished with officers so much needed on the Continent.”
Darcy followed, offering his own hand in greeting. “Richard. I am glad you have returned unscathed.”
“I am glad to be here again, Darcy,” his cousin replied, the warmth of his tone unfeigned. “As much as I value my service to the Crown, it grows harder each time to leave England behind.”
The remark, offered without thought, nevertheless tightened something in Darcy’s chest, giving him yet another reason to remind himself that his own inclinations must not be permitted to outweigh his duty to his family.
Georgiana, forgetting herself for a moment, stepped forward with an eagerness that surprised even her.
“Richard!” The colour rose at once in her cheeks, and she checked herself, lowering her gaze.
“I—I am very glad you have come, and that we are to spend these next weeks together in congenial company.”
“My dear Georgiana,” he said warmly, “it is very good to see you again.”
Elizabeth moved a little nearer and laid her hand lightly upon the girl’s arm, an instinctive gesture that Darcy read as an attempt to ease her discomfort.
Georgiana’s greeting had been, perhaps, more exuberant than would have suited a London drawing room; yet Elizabeth appeared, to Darcy’s eye, determined to treat it as entirely proper in the present circumstances.
The earl then turned, his hand indicating Elizabeth more formally. “Colonel, allow me to introduce my granddaughter, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
Elizabeth inclined her head, her smile open and genuine. “Welcome, Colonel. We have anticipated your arrival. Your cousins and my grandfather have spoken of you often. I am delighted to make your acquaintance and am pleased you will join us through Christmastide.”
Richard returned her greeting with a bow that carried him a fraction closer to her than courtesy strictly allowed. Taking Elizabeth’s hand, he bent to it and brushed a brief kiss across her knuckles, his smile easy and unselfconscious as he straightened.
Elizabeth withdrew her hand at once, the faint frown that crossed her face leaving little doubt of her opinion of the liberty he had taken.
“Miss Bennet, the pleasure is entirely mine. I am delighted to find myself at Millwood among such kind company, and I hope I may soon justify the favourable opinion in which I appear already to be held. I have heard a great deal of you—sufficient, I think, to make me very glad of this introduction.”
The earl observed the exchange with what appeared to be evident pleasure, a smile playing about his mouth as though the moment had confirmed something long anticipated.
Darcy, however, felt his own expression tighten before he could prevent it, a faint frown settling upon his brow as he turned his attention once more to the colonel—keenly aware that the gesture, though politely executed, had ventured just far enough to invite remark.
Darcy was accustomed to his cousin’s easy flirtations and knew that in London such behaviour was often expected, even indulged; yet with Elizabeth, he could not help but hope she would recognise them for what they were.
While he was well aware that she was intended for his cousin, he could not wish that Richard should trifle with her feelings.
Her composure now offered some reassurance, for she appeared wholly unimpressed.
“You are very kind, Colonel,” she replied evenly, her tone courteous but a little more distant than Darcy was accustomed to hearing from her. “I trust you will find Millwood agreeable during your stay.”
Her words and tone caused the earl to frown while Darcy suppressed a grin.
Richard had been there scarcely five minutes and had already put his foot in his mouth.
The smile faded almost at once as Darcy recalled how readily he himself had done the same.
At least Richard had been introduced to Elizabeth before making a muddle of it, he thought ruefully.
Nevertheless, Darcy had corrected his earlier error, and in recent days it had seemed to him that he had made some small progress in establishing a friendship with Elizabeth.
His time with her beneath her grandfather’s roof had not altered his resolution to afford his cousin every proper opportunity to recommend himself to her; yet it had undeniably strengthened his own inclination.
He would not cease to act as her friend, whatever the outcome. If Elizabeth should, of her own judgement, decline his cousin’s attentions, Darcy would no longer hold himself bound to silence, but would permit himself to seek her regard openly.
“I have no doubt that I will, Miss Bennet, particularly with such good company as this to welcome me here,” the colonel said with a wink, apparently not noticing his hostess’ tone.
“My dear Colonel,” the earl said, indicating a chair next to Elizabeth’s, “you are most welcome at Millwood. I trust the journey from Town was not overly fatiguing. You have come some distance in the last fortnight, and I suppose you had little time to rest.”
“Not in the least, my lord,” Richard replied. “I am grateful for so kind a reception. But I confess, I did rise early this morning to make my way into Hertfordshire, having little desire to remain at the barracks longer than necessary.”
Elizabeth stood without hesitation at these words.
“You must allow me to offer you some refreshment, Colonel. We have only just finished breaking our fasts, but there remains a little in the breakfast room. Travel often sharpens one’s appetite, and I imagine you may not yet have had anything substantial. ”
“You are very obliging, Miss Bennet,” he replied with a smile. “I should be glad of coffee and a few bites of something, if it is no trouble.”
“None at all.” She rang the bell beside her, exchanged a few quiet words with the footman who appeared, and then returned her attention to her guests.
Georgiana moved a little closer to where the colonel sat, her hands clasped before her, colour still lingering in her cheeks.
“I hope you will be comfortable here, Richard,” she said softly.
“Millwood is very pleasant—and we are glad to have you with us. Miss Bennet—Elizabeth—and I have become fast friends already. It is different from Pemberley, but I have enjoyed it ever so much.”
“I could not doubt it,” he answered warmly, a momentary seriousness passing over his expression. “It is a great pleasure to see you again, Sprite. I hope you have been well.”
He paused then, regarding her with a careful eye that matched Darcy’s own, and whatever he perceived appeared to reassure him, for his smile widened at once.
“I am very well,” Georgiana replied, lifting her gaze to his with a steadiness that would once have been beyond her.
Darcy observed the change with quiet satisfaction.
“Miss Bennet, I mean Elizabeth, and I have had many conversations about what it means to be mistress of an estate, and Mrs Annesley has been instructing us both in that and in other matters.”
Elizabeth laughed softly. “Georgiana has been instructing me in how much improvement my playing still requires,” she said. “Mrs Annesley has been most patient with us both; I suspect I have profited most from the arrangement.”
This was said with a glance at the lady, who sat quietly in the corner of the room keeping watch over her charge. She met Elizabeth’s gaze with a brief smile before returning her attention to her knitting.
Colonel Fitzwilliam inclined his head towards that lady. “Mrs Annesley, I am very glad to make your acquaintance.”
Then, he turned back towards the young ladies.
“I am glad to hear that she has been instructing you both,” he said with a wry grin.
“Such pursuits are best undertaken in good company, something that has been sadly lacking at Pemberley, through no fault of my cousin’s.
It is simply that all your cousins are so much older than you.
Worse, Pemberley has few close neighbours, and barely a female amongst them. ”
Darcy inclined his head. “You will find my sister has learnt a great deal in the short time since meeting Miss Bennet,” he said.
“She has already undertaken several tasks at the estate and has written to Mrs Reynolds to ask questions about what has been done at Pemberley since Mother died. I have little doubt that my tenants will find their lives improved when we return. Miss Bennet has been a good friend to her.”
Elizabeth smiled at that. “Georgiana is very sweet, and I cannot imagine anyone not enjoying her company. I have several female cousins and spent many years living among them, but Georgiana and I have enjoyed our time together very much. It is different from spending time with my cousins, but I cannot say that I would trade it for anything.”
As she spoke, the door opened once more and a man entered, bearing a tray laid with the coffee service, a few pastries, and a small dish of fruit.
He set it down with quiet efficiency beside Elizabeth’s chair.
A maid followed with a serving tray bearing several cups, along with some other needed items.
Elizabeth turned at once to attend to her guest, asking Richard how he took his coffee and selecting a small assortment of items from the tray. She poured the cup herself and handed it to him, then placed a plate within his reach.
“You are most considerate, Miss Bennet,” Richard said, accepting the cup and watching her with evident interest as she completed the task.
The earl nodded approvingly. “You see, Colonel,” he said, with a satisfied glance at his granddaughter, “Millwood takes good care of its guests.”
Richard’s gaze lingered upon Elizabeth a moment longer than courtesy strictly permitted, his smile sharpening with intent.
“Then I see I am fortunate indeed,” he said lightly, “to have arrived where intelligence and kindness are so gracefully united. A household so ordered cannot fail to be improved by its mistress.”
Elizabeth met the compliment at once. Her smile did not falter, but it cooled perceptibly as she looked at him.
“My grandfather expects his guests to feel at ease,” she replied, her tone light yet precise, the faintest trace of dryness beneath it.
“I endeavour to provide hospitality to all whom he is pleased to invite here—since, after all, Millwood is his concern, not mine.”
The earl’s brow creased at once, and he glanced at her with mild reproach before smoothing his expression into genial approval.
“So they shall,” he said warmly as though nothing untoward had passed between them.
“Millwood does not often lack for company, but it improves greatly with the right sort.” He spoke with deliberate cheer as if he were determined to make up for the lacklustre welcome his granddaughter had offered.
Richard accepted his cup with a nod, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Then I am indeed most pleased to have not only been granted this extended leave, but also to enjoy this invitation. I do thank you, Lord Granfield.”
Elizabeth inclined her head, and responded exactly as courtesy demanded, choosing not to respond to the gentleman’s flirtations. “We do hope your stay will be a pleasant one, Colonel.”
Darcy watched as Elizabeth sat back once her duty to her guest was complete, her manner returning at once to its former ease.
It was evident to him that she was aware of her grandfather’s intentions—and that she was not entirely pleased by them.
It was possible she simply did not care for the colonel’s manner, being entirely too familiar with this sort of flirtation and preferring instead a plainer mode of address.
He could not help wondering whether she might, in time, prefer a different manner of address—though he did not yet allow himself much hope of it.
The thought nearly provoked a laugh, and he was obliged to suppress it; his amusement only drew Elizabeth’s attention.
She shot him a look of exasperation—one that spoke plainly of her own impatience with their guest—and once again Darcy was forced to check his reaction.
He found himself pleased that she appeared so wholly unimpressed by his cousin and so entirely at ease with himself, and he could not help but wonder what that distinction might signify.
Still, he would give Richard time to make his case and observe how matters stood once that opportunity had been fairly afforded. The longer he remained at Millwood, the more difficult it became to imagine leaving it without Elizabeth as his wife.