25. Chapter 25 #2
They visited the breakfast room, the dining room, the study, the ballroom and dining hall, as well as the adjacent card room.
“Since we have about thirty minutes before my relations arrive, we can save the rest of the house to show you another time. However, I would be remiss if I did not show you the library on this visit,” Fitzwilliam said, meeting Elizabeth’s eyes with a crooked grin.
“Yes, you would indeed!” Elizabeth declared, her eyes wide but lit with humor.
He chuckled, then led her upstairs. When they reached the third floor, they walked across the landing. There, situated between the family wing and the guest wing, was the library. When Elizabeth entered the room, an expression of delight came over her face.
“Elizabeth, I think this must be your favorite room in the house!” Georgiana teased after seeing her reaction.
Elizabeth chuckled. “I think you are right! This is remarkable!”
“I am glad you like it,” Fitzwilliam said. “However, I must tell you, Elizabeth, this library is nothing to the one at Pemberley.”
She looked at him with her mouth slightly open in surprise. “What?”
Fitzwilliam nodded, a slight grin on his face.
“The library at Pemberley is larger ?” Elizabeth asked, stunned by the prospect.
“Several times larger," he replied. "It is the work of many generations.”
Elizabeth was amazed at this. She tried to imagine a library that was several times larger than the one before her.
This library was not insignificant by any means.
It was a large room. The walls were lined with shelves, and the shelves were filled with books.
Bookcases, too, were filled to the brim with new and old tomes.
“It sounds wonderful!” she said.
Elizabeth took some time to browse, then they returned to the drawing room to await the Darcys’ relations.
“Uncle Byron, Aunt Sophia, Stafford, this is Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn in Hertfordshire,” Darcy said.
“Miss Elizabeth, please meet my uncle, Lord Byron Fitzwilliam, Earl of Matlock; my aunt, Lady Sophia Fitzwilliam, Countess of Matlock; and my cousin, Lord Andrew Fitzwilliam, Viscount Stafford.”
Elizabeth curtsied. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Stafford bowed over her hand and smiled at her. “Miss Elizabeth, the pleasure is ours.”
Aunt Sophia stepped forward, smiling. “Indeed, it is, Miss Elizabeth. We have been eager to make your acquaintance. Come, please, let us sit and get to know one another.”
Aunt Sophia sat next to Elizabeth. “So, tell us, how did you two meet? William told us the estate Mr. Bingley leased borders your father’s estate, but he did not tell us the circumstances of your first meeting.”
“We met at the bookshop in the village. Two of my sisters and I had accompanied my father there. Mr. Darcy, Georgiana, and Mr. Bingley were preparing to enter the shop just as we were. My father and Mr. Bingley were already acquainted, and so introductions were made all around.”
“Did my cousin make himself agreeable?” Stafford asked with a mischievous grin.
“Well . . . eventually,” Elizabeth said with a cheeky grin aimed at Darcy.
“No, I did not make myself agreeable,” Darcy said to his cousin, “but it was not my intention to be offensive. You know I am reluctant to form new acquaintances.”
Stafford grinned again. “Yes, we know.”
“Unfortunately, I made a poor first impression,” Darcy admitted. “As a result, Miss Elizabeth did not like me at all.”
“Is that so?” Uncle Byron asked, surprised.
“I am afraid it is, my lord,” Elizabeth replied.
“As Mr. Darcy said, initially, he did not make much of an effort to make himself agreeable to the neighborhood. He seemed rather dismissive of everyone. So, after our first meeting, I left him to himself and did my best to avoid him whenever we were together in company.”
“I did not realize all of this,” Georgiana said, looking back and forth between Darcy and Elizabeth.
“You are used to your brother’s reticence, Georgie,” Fitz said. “However, when he is overly so with people who do not know him, it can be perceived as a slight.”
“When I realized Miss Elizabeth disliked me, I determined to find out why at the next opportunity,” Darcy said, omitting the fact that he had slyly created the opportunity.
“So, that is what I did. I asked if I had offended her. She was hesitant to speak of it at first, but in the end she did. Fortunately for me, since I learned there were a few things I needed to apologize for. She was also gracious enough to accept my apology.”
Stafford chuckled. “You mean apologies, plural, do you not, cousin?”
Darcy’s ears turned red, and he sent Stafford an irritated look.
“He was very sincere in all his apologies, and he also explained what led to the reserve and caution he shows with people,” Elizabeth added, offering Darcy a smile.
“Yes, my nephew has had more than his share of dealings with mercenary individuals,” Uncle Byron said.
“Many, no doubt, were hoping to take advantage of his youth and inexperience. They obviously had no idea how well Darcy’s father had prepared him for his role.
Nor had they an inkling of how intelligent and capable he is.
Most of these instances took place years ago, but a man in his position will always need to be on his guard.
His wife must be as well to some extent.
For instance, she would need to exercise care whenever she ventures out.
If a person managed to abduct Mrs. Darcy, he would have a great deal of power over my nephew, would he not? ”
Uncle Byron had Elizabeth’s undivided attention. A look of sudden comprehension ran across her features.
“Yes . . . he would,” she said as she seemed to contemplate his uncle’s words. “I see what you mean.”
Darcy hoped his uncle had not unnerved her with his frankness or given her the impression she would need to be imprisoned in his home or kept in some tower.
“So, you are the second of five sisters. I would think your home is never very quiet with so many women,” Aunt Sophia said with a smile.
“You would be correct, my lady. My father spends a great deal of time in his bookroom for more than one reason,” Elizabeth said, humor in her eyes and her tone.
His aunt chuckled. “I can well believe it. Are all of you accomplished?”
“A few of us are.”
“William says you play and sing beautifully.”
Elizabeth glanced at Darcy with a small smile. “I appreciate his compliment, but I believe he is a bit too generous.”
“Not at all, Elizabeth! My brother is exactly right,” Georgiana said.
“Well, we hope to have the privilege of hearing you perform one day soon,” Aunt Sophia said.
Brandon announced that luncheon was served, so they all moved to the dining room.
Darcy smiled as he watched Elizabeth use the change in location to seize the advantage of asking questions herself.
She put questions to each of them—his uncle, his aunt, and Stafford, too.
She asked about their childhoods and their lives now.
He could see his aunt was pleased with Elizabeth’s confidence and poise.
By the time his relations had taken their leave, Elizabeth had become well-acquainted with them and they with her.
An hour later, the three of them decided to go for a stroll in Hyde Park. This proved to be a difficult thing to accomplish, however, because Fitzwilliam was stopped several times by various acquaintances.
“I apologize, Elizabeth, Georgiana. It is likely we will not be able to go five minutes without someone else approaching,” Fitzwilliam said.
“They are clearly curious about the young woman you are escorting, Fitzwilliam,” Elizabeth said, looking up at him with a smile.
“Yes, it certainly appears that way,” Georgiana added.
When they returned home, Georgiana retired to her room, wishing to rest. Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam decided to spend the rest of the afternoon in the library.
They sat together on the couch discussing books they had each read.
At times, when their discussion turned to a specific topic, he would walk to a shelf and choose a book on the subject.
They would then consider its contents together as their conversation continued.
They spoke about all sorts of things and learned one another’s opinions.
It was thrilling to be able to spend so much uninterrupted time with him!
Eventually, the time came for Elizabeth to prepare for the evening. They left the library, but just as they were about to separate, Fitzwilliam took her hands and looked into her eyes.
“How long before you are ready to go down?” he asked, his thumbs caressing the backs of her hands.
“An hour? Maybe less,” she replied.
He nodded. “I shall wait in the library for you and escort you down.”
He kissed her hands, making her heart flutter.
Elizabeth smiled at him, then began walking in the direction of her bedchamber.
She wondered if he was watching her, so she paused to glance behind her.
He was indeed still there! She felt her heart flutter again, then gave him a little wave.
He grinned and waved back. Elizabeth smiled, then continued on to her room.
When she entered her bedchamber, Emily was there waiting for her with a bath drawn, as Elizabeth had requested. The maid assisted her out of her morning dress, then Elizabeth sank back into the steaming water.