19. Chapter 19
T he next afternoon, Elizabeth was seated at the dressing table fussing over her appearance when she heard a knock.
“Come in!”
Aunt Madeleine walked in and closed the door behind her.
“Just checking on you. How are you coming along?”
“Well enough, I suppose,” Elizabeth replied.
She fidgeted with a few loose curls, moving them back and forth. Next, she adjusted and readjusted her necklace. Finally, Elizabeth stood up and smoothed her dress.
Aunt Madeleine looked at her with a curious smile. “Elizabeth? Are you well?”
From the smile on her aunt's face, she knew she had probably given herself away. “Yes, Aunt, I am well.”
"Shall we go down, then?"
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth followed her aunt downstairs to await their guests.
Elizabeth was a little nervous about seeing Mr. Darcy.
She wanted to see him, but she also wanted to keep her sanity.
That would become increasingly harder to do the more attached she became to a man she could not have.
But he had said he hoped they would see much of each other in London.
Elizabeth had tried not to read too much into his words.
It was just that he had looked deeply into her eyes when he said them, and she could not help but be affected.
She entered the drawing room and seated herself in the chair beside Mary.
Her copy of Shakespeare’s Sonnets sat on the table.
Elizabeth picked it up and suddenly she was back in Longbourn's drawing room, watching Mr. Darcy hold the book in his hands as he read aloud about true love.
She could hear him reading in that lovely, deep voice that always seemed to wrap around her every time he spoke.
The sound of her uncle's voice as he walked into the room pulled Elizabeth from her reverie.
Would she ever again be able to read from this book of sonnets without thinking of him? She doubted it.
Darcy paced around his study. Each time he passed the windows facing Grosvenor Square, he would scan the street below.
Fitz was due to arrive at any moment. He was to accompany Darcy and Georgiana to call on the Miss Bennets and their relations.
His cousin was not late, but Darcy was having trouble sitting still.
He was eager to see Elizabeth. Miss Elizabeth.
She had been on his mind constantly. Darcy suspected he would not be quite himself until he and Miss Elizabeth had an understanding between them.
He knew it was unlikely they would have the opportunity to speak privately on this visit.
However, he hoped it would not be long before they did have such an opportunity.
Darcy had invited Bingley to join them in calling at Gracechurch Street. Bingley had sent his regrets, claiming a prior engagement. He did ask, however, to be remembered to them.
Darcy paced back to a window and paused. He was staring out at the street, focused on nothing but his thoughts when he was startled by a sharp rap at the door. He opened it to find his cousin standing there.
“Fitz!”
“Darcy.”
Darcy walked back to the window and looked out. Fitz’s horse was nowhere in sight.
“I was keeping an eye out for you. When did you get here?”
“While you were up here pacing about the room. Yes, I saw you through the window. I know you are anxious to see her, cousin, but you will be able to sit still in the carriage, will you not?” Fitz teased him.
Darcy scowled at his cousin. “Let us go.”
Fitz chuckled as he followed Darcy out of the study.
“Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy, and Mr. Fitzwilliam.” The butler, Fletcher, announced their guests.
Jane stepped forward to greet them.
“It is lovely to see you all again. Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy, and . . . Mr. Fitzwilliam?”
He nodded.
Jane continued, “Please meet Mr. Edward Gardiner and Mrs. Madeleine Gardiner. Aunt, Uncle, this is Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire, his sister Miss Georgiana Darcy, and their cousin Mr. Richard Fitzwilliam of Thornbridge Hall in Derbyshire.”
“We are pleased to meet you both,” Mr. Darcy said.
“The pleasure is ours. Please, make yourselves comfortable,” Aunt Madeleine invited them.
“Mr. Fitzwilliam?” Elizabeth questioned with a smile. She noticed he was not wearing his red coat and sabre.
He bowed to her as if they were meeting anew. “Yes, I apologize for the confusion,” he said. “I have come into an inheritance, and resigned my commission. As of Monday, I am no longer a colonel in His Majesty’s Army.”
“Congratulations on receiving your legacy,” Uncle Edward said.
“Thank you,” Mr. Fitzwilliam replied with a smile.
“Georgiana, have you made further progress with your sheet music?” Elizabeth asked.
“I have! What about you, Mary?”
“I have not had the time,” Mary replied. “We were quite busy right up until we left Hertfordshire. I did, however, bring it with me so I can practice while I am here.”
“Oh good! We can practice together,” Georgiana said.
“Yes, I would like that! With your help, I am sure I shall accomplish quite a bit.”
“Miss Darcy, are you as fond of the pianoforte as Mary?” Aunt Madeleine asked.
“Oh, yes, Mrs. Gardiner, I am very fond of it.”
“Then I hope sometime we shall hear you play.”
Georgiana blushed. “I would be delighted. Perhaps Mary and I can perform a song together as well.”
“We shall look forward to it,” Uncle Edward said.
“Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, I believe you know my parents, Lord and Lady Matlock,” Mr. Fitzwilliam said.
“Yes, we do,” replied Uncle Edward. “I just realized a few moments ago who you are. How are your parents?”
“They are well, thank you.”
“Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy, I also knew your parents,” Aunt Madeleine said. “My family moved to Lambton years ago, somewhere around the time of my come-out. Your mother and father were very kind and welcoming to us.”
“It is nice to meet an old acquaintance of theirs,” Mr. Darcy said, smiling. “My aunt mentioned that Mr. Greer was your father.”
As her aunt responded to Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth could hardly attend to the conversation she was so surprised. Aunt Madeleine had explained the day before how she knew Mr. Darcy’s parents, but now it seemed she and Uncle Edward knew the earl and countess as well!
“Mr. Darcy, I must thank you for assisting my nieces before and after the storm. They were quite on their own with their father here in London,” Uncle Edward said.
“Not at all,” Mr. Darcy said graciously.
“Whirlwinds seem to happen more frequently these days,” Uncle Edward said.
“Yes, they do,” Mr. Darcy replied. “It would be interesting to learn what the scientific reason is behind it. Perhaps one day we will know the answer. Speaking of science, there is a new exhibit here in town.”
“Oh, really?” Elizabeth asked.
Mr. Darcy looked at her, but his sister spoke before he could.
“Yes, Elizabeth! We have heard it is quite spectacular!” Georgiana said enthusiastically.
“We could all go view it tomorrow if that is convenient,” Mr. Darcy suggested, looking first at Elizabeth and then at her aunt and uncle. “It is being hosted at Rutherford House.”
“Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Darcy,” Aunt Madeleine replied.
“That does sound very nice, however, we have plans in the evening. I believe this excursion would probably last into the afternoon, not leaving much time in between to rest and prepare for that evening’s engagement.
Could we do it the next day instead? Of course, we will require a later start since we will have been out late the night before. ”
Mr. Darcy turned to his cousin. “Our schedule is free, Fitz. What about yours?”
“Yes, that works for me as well,” his cousin replied. “Do you mind my asking what event you will be attending?”
“Not at all,” Uncle Edward said. “It is Sir Anthony Stanholdt’s ball.”
“How fortunate! We shall also be in attendance,” Mr. Fitzwilliam said.
“It will be nice to have some familiar faces there,” Mary said, looking at her sisters.
“Indeed!” Jane agreed.
“Miss Elizabeth, may I request the first set and the supper set?” Mr. Darcy asked.
Elizabeth’s stomach dropped. She felt herself beginning to blush. “Yes, you may. Thank you.”
“Thank you,” he said with a smile.
Mr. Darcy then turned to Mary. “Miss Mary, may I have your second set?”
“Yes, thank you,” Mary replied, smiling.
“Thank you, Miss Mary.”
“Miss Bennet, is your first set available?” Mr. Fitzwilliam asked jovially.
“Yes, it is,” Jane replied.
“And your supper set?”
“Yes, sir, it is.”
“May I secure them both, please?”
Jane chuckled softly. “They are yours.”
“Thank you.” Mr. Fitzwilliam then turned to Mary and secured her third set.
Later, after seeing their guests out, Uncle Edward returned to the drawing room.
“They seemed very amiable,” he said.
“Indeed,” Aunt Madeleine agreed. “I am glad the gentlemen will be in attendance tomorrow evening. As you said, Mary, it will be nice for you girls to have acquaintances present at the ball.”
“No doubt it will,” Uncle Edward said. “Well, if you need me, I shall be in my study.”
“Thank you, darling,” Aunt Madeleine said, smiling.
He winked at her and closed the door behind him.
Elizabeth giggled silently at her aunt and uncle.
“Well! I believe you girls have set some kind of record. You each already have two sets claimed for a ball that does not even begin until tomorrow evening!” Aunt Madeleine said.
“It was kind of them to ask us,” Jane said.
“Mm-hmm,” Aunt Madeleine replied in a tone that suggested there was more going on here than what she was being told. “It was kind. Perhaps it was also something else?”
“What do you mean, Aunt?” Jane asked.
“Oh, I thought you might tell me,” she said with raised brows.
They looked at their aunt with innocent expressions on their faces.
“Aunt, you know that if one of us had an understanding with either of the gentlemen, we would tell you,” Elizabeth said.
“Yes, I know you would. I do not mean to embarrass you, but it is a significant thing when a gentleman such as Mr. Darcy or Mr. Fitzwilliam requests a young lady’s first set or her supper set.
It is even more so when said gentleman requests both!
I think you realize this. No, it is not a declaration, but it is clear there is some interest. Lizzy, would you be opposed to Mr. Darcy taking a romantic interest in you?
I was under the impression that you thought well of him. ”
“No—I mean—yes! I do think well of him, and I would not be opposed to his taking a romantic interest in me.”
Elizabeth could not believe they were having this conversation. First Jane, now Aunt Madeleine! Both of them had suspicions that Mr. Darcy had designs on her!
“Jane, I shall ask you the same question,” Aunt Madeleine said. “Are you opposed to Mr. Fitzwilliam taking a romantic interest in you?”
“No, Aunt, I am not.”
“Very well then,” she said, looking from Jane to Elizabeth, “I suppose we shall see what comes of it.”
After arriving back at Darcy House, Georgiana declared her intention of practicing at the pianoforte. Darcy and Fitz headed to the study.
“So, cousin,” Fitz said as he accepted a drink from Darcy, “what did you think of the Gardiners?”
“I liked them,” Darcy said, taking the seat across from Fitz. “They were friendly, well-informed. What was your impression of them?”
“I liked them as well. They have a lovely home. Mr. Gardiner clearly does well for himself.”
“Yes, it appears that he does,” Darcy said.
“Then, have all the obstacles been cleared away for you?”
Darcy smiled. “All the obstacles were cleared away for me when your mother and father admitted an acquaintance with the Gardiners and had nothing negative to say about them.”
Fitz chuckled. “You said you were going to take more time to be sure about Miss Elizabeth, but it seems to me that you have had your mind made up since the day we left Hertfordshire. I do not believe it would have mattered if there were some concern about her relations.”
“No, it would not have mattered,” Darcy said, grinning to himself.
“It is fortuitous that we shall be attending the same ball.”
“Yes, it is!” Darcy said. “Good thing you thought to ask, Fitz!”
“Good thing indeed! I noticed you wasted no time in setting yourself up quite nicely for tomorrow evening.” He inclined his head. “Well done.”
Darcy wore a self-satisfied expression on his face. “And you as well. I owe you, cousin.”
“Yes, you do.”
“You know we shall draw quite a bit of attention by dancing the first and supper sets with the Bennet ladies,” Darcy said. “I hope they will not be too discomfited by it.”
Fitz sighed. “I shall also draw attention due to my newfound wealth.”
“Ah yes! That, too. This ball promises to be quite interesting, does it not?”