2. Chapter 2
E lizabeth knocked on Mary's door. “Are you ready to leave, Mary?”
Mary stepped out of her room, putting on her gloves. “Yes, I am.”
"Lizzy?" Kitty called.
Elizabeth and Mary looked up to see Kitty walking in their direction.
“Lizzy, do you mind picking out ribbon for me? Maria is coming to call with Lady Lucas, and I would like to stay and visit with her. I would also like to keep working on my sketches. I trust your judgement. Besides, you shall have Jane and Mary with you to offer their opinions should you need them.”
“No, I do not mind,” Elizabeth replied. “I am sure between the three of us, we shall be able to choose something for you. Which dress is the ribbon for?”
They followed Kitty into her bedchamber to look at the dress and discuss the amount of ribbon needed. When they finished, Elizabeth and Mary found Jane waiting for them. As they descended the stairs, they could hear their mother complaining.
“Mr. Bennet, practically all the gentlemen of the neighborhood have already made Mr. Bingley’s acquaintance. That puts our girls at a distinct disadvantage!”
“Indeed? And how is that so?” questioned Papa.
“Because their daughters will be acquainted with Mr. Bingley, and yours will not be!”
“Now, now, Mrs. Bennet, I am sure our daughters will make his acquaintance before long. He is part of the neighborhood now, is he not? If you will excuse me, I must have a word with Mr. Hill.”
At that, Papa walked away, leaving Mama staring after him, agape. It was at that moment Elizabeth and her sisters noticed Aunt Phillips standing across from the drawing room door.
“Oh, hello, Aunt! We did not see you there,” Jane said apologetically.
“Hello, girls,” she replied. “Are you on your way out?”
“Yes, we—"
“Sister! Do you see, Sister?" Mama interrupted, wailing. "Mr. Bennet—he will not be moved!”
“I do indeed, Sister!” cried Aunt Phillips.
Mama then entered the drawing room with Aunt Phillips on her heels.
Jane looked at Elizabeth and Mary. Her face held an expression that was equal parts humor and exasperation. Raising her brows, she asked, "Shall we go?"
As they exited the house, their father appeared and followed them outside.
Seeing the carriage in the drive, Elizabeth asked, “Where are you off to, Papa?”
“I am on my way to Meryton to Peterson’s Bookshop. I placed an order with him some weeks ago. He sent word to me that it has arrived. Will you three join me? You can ride into the village with your father and have more energy for your walk back home.”
They happily complied with their father’s suggestion and were on their way.
The carriage pulled up close to the bookshop.
Papa exited the carriage, turned and handed down Jane, then Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth stepped aside so that Mary could alight, she noticed two gentlemen and a young lady walking in the direction of the bookshop.
Just as they were about to enter the bookshop, one of the gentlemen called out a greeting.
“Mr. Bennet!” said the gentleman with fair coloring.
Papa looked toward the gentleman and smiled. “Mr. Bingley, good to see you!”
Mr. Bingley?! Elizabeth thought, shocked. Clearly, Papa has indeed made Mr. Bingley’s acquaintance! Her eyes met Jane’s, and they each quickly schooled their features into polite friendliness.
“Good to see you, sir! I hope you are well?” Mr. Bingley asked.
“Very well. And yourself?”
“I cannot complain,” Mr. Bingley replied good-naturedly. “Please allow me to introduce my friends. Darcy, Miss Darcy, this is Mr. Thomas Bennet of Longbourn. Mr. Bennet, this is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire and his sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy.”
The gentlemen bowed, and Miss Darcy curtsied.
Apparently, the praise had not been exaggerated.
Mr. Bingley was indeed attractive with strawberry-blonde hair and blue eyes.
However, Elizabeth had never seen a man as handsome as Mr. Darcy.
He was tall and broad-shouldered with an athletic build.
He had dark, curly hair. His dark brows and dark lashes enhanced the brown color of his eyes.
“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bennet,” Mr. Darcy said.
“Likewise, Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy,” said Papa. “Allow me to introduce my daughters. Miss Jane Bennet, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Miss Mary Bennet.” After another round of bowing, curtsying, and feelings of pleasure exchanged, Papa asked, “Mr. Bingley, how are you finding Netherfield?”
“It suits me quite well! I hope you will find time to join us for some sport,” Mr. Bingley said.
“Certainly, just send the word,” replied Papa. He glanced toward the door of the bookshop, then asked, “Are you all entering the bookshop as well?”
“Indeed, we are. Please, allow me,” Mr. Bingley offered as he held the door open so that both parties could enter.
Upon entering the bookshop, Elizabeth and her sisters headed in the direction of the sheet music.
Mary approached a shelf and began thumbing through the pages.
Elizabeth noticed Miss Darcy followed a few steps behind them.
She watched as the young lady picked up a short stack of sheet music and sifted through it, creating a flow of air that blew through the blonde curls framing her face.
Smiling, Elizabeth asked, “Miss Darcy, are you in search of a particular piece of music?”
“No, not at all,” Miss Darcy said, blushing. “But I do like to browse. Sometimes when I travel, I come across bookshops that have unique pieces of music. I once found an old Scottish ballad that is quite beautiful.”
“What a fortunate find! What instruments do you play?”
“I play the harp a bit, but I am excessively fond of the pianoforte. Do you play?”
“Aye, but very ill indeed,” Elizabeth said, grinning. Nodding toward Mary, she added, “Mary is much more accomplished at the pianoforte than I.”
“Miss Darcy,” Mary said, “Even though she does not practice as she should, Lizzy is very skilled at the pianoforte.”
“Remember now, Miss Darcy, she is my sister,” Elizabeth said teasingly. “She is required to say good things, is she not?”
Darcy had been partly looking through some histories and partly keeping an eye on his sister, though she seemed to be faring well. The Bennet sister with the chestnut-colored hair and sparkling eyes had drawn Georgiana into conversation, putting her at ease.
“Lizzy,” called Mr. Bennet to the very same sister.
She excused herself and joined her father at the counter.
“Yes, Papa?”
Mr. Bennet looked at the proprietor. “Mr. Peterson?”
“Miss Elizabeth, I received a shipment this morning," the proprietor said to her. "Can you guess what was in it?”
Miss Elizabeth gasped. “Not Malcolm Dean?”
Darcy’s ears pricked up. Did she say Malcolm Dean?
“Volume II,” Mr. Peterson said with a smile as he handed the book to her.
“It got here so quickly! Thank you, Mr. Peterson. I cannot wait to read it.”
Darcy walked up to the counter and addressed Miss Elizabeth. “Pardon me, I overheard your conversation. Did you say that is volume II of An Exploration of the Canadian Wilderness ?”
Miss Elizabeth smiled brilliantly. “Yes, it is. Are you familiar with the author?”
For a moment, Darcy was at a loss for words. He could do nothing but stare into the enchanting eyes looking back at him. He began to wonder at the exact shade of her eyes when he remembered himself.
“I—ah—yes, I am. After reading the first volume, I was eager to acquire volume II. I meant to order it before leaving London, but neglected to do so.” Darcy turned to Mr. Peterson. “Would you happen to have an extra copy?”
“I do, actually,” he replied. “My supplier informed me of the author's growing popularity, so I made sure to order an extra copy. Would you like to purchase it?”
“Indeed, I would,” Darcy said.
“Very good, sir. Give me just a moment.”
The proprietor walked to the back room. Miss Elizabeth walked away as well.
Darcy could smell a hint of jasmine and citrus and .
. . something else in the air around him.
It was tantalizing. He first caught the scent as they followed the ladies into the bookshop.
Now, he knew whose scent it was—Miss Elizabeth’s.
While everyone’s attention was elsewhere, Darcy took the opportunity to observe her.
He could not deny his attraction to her.
She was lovely. She had a pleasing, shapely figure and the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.
Elizabeth stepped away and tried to slow her racing heart.
When Mr. Darcy approached her, Elizabeth’s focus had still been on the unexpected, early arrival of her book.
That is until he spoke to her with that voice of his—a voice so deep and warm it made her heart pound and robbed her of her focus.
After Elizabeth confirmed it was Dean’s book she was in receipt of, he seemed to look deeply into her eyes for a moment.
Had she imagined it? She certainly had not imagined how amazing he smelled.
In search of some distraction, Elizabeth looked around the bookshop. Though what she really wanted to do was look at him! He was so handsome, so incredibly handsome, but she could not just stand there gawking at him!
Determined to remain composed, Elizabeth redirected her thoughts. While she had been in conversation at the counter, Mr. Bingley had made his way over to her sisters and Miss Darcy and engaged them in conversation.
Papa called Mary over to him. “Have you chosen your sheet music?” he asked.
“Yes, I have.”
“Give it to me, and I shall conclude my business with Mr. Peterson.”
“Oh, thank you, Papa,” Mary replied.
“You are very welcome.”
Miss Darcy approached her brother. “William, I found some sheet music that I would like to purchase.”
Mr. Darcy nodded. “That will give you something to work on while we are here.”
She smiled and clutched her hands together. “Yes, I am eager to begin working on it! Are you waiting for something, brother?”