Chapter 20 #2
“I am always cautious, Mr Bennet. Perhaps too much so at times. And I would be happy to host your family — all twelve — at Pemberley. I am sure my sister shares my opinion, and there will be something to enjoy for everyone.”
“Yes, of course! We would love having you at Pemberley!” Georgiana exclaimed with genuine excitement.
“Do you have more horses at Pemberley?” young Thomas enquired.
“Yes, we do.”
“And if we came, could we ride more?”
“You may do whatever your parents allow you to,” Darcy answered with a friendliness that encouraged the children to continue.
“I want to learn to ride really well!” young Andrew declared. “And Ellen said she wanted to, but she was afraid to say so yesterday. Did you not, Ellen?”
The girl, more unassuming than her brothers, shyly leaned as close to her mother as she could, but she nodded in approval.
“But girls do not ride as well as boys,” Thomas said decidedly.
“I am afraid I must disagree,” Darcy said. “My sister is an excellent rider, better than many boys or young gentlemen I know.”
“Miss Darcy told us yesterday that it was you who taught her, Mr Darcy. Will you teach us too?” Thomas continued.
“I am sure he will — my brother can teach anyone anything,” Georgiana said affectionately.
“That is absolutely not true — my sister is always too generous in her praise. But I shall do my best to assist you in any way I can,” Darcy assured the children.
Elizabeth watched him, mesmerised, surprised, and delighted at the same time.
To see him so open, so unguarded, so friendly in the midst of her family, to offer the children — who were until yesterday perfect strangers to him — his undivided and serious attention, and this after he had just invited her entire family to Pemberley, was almost as improbable as it was unthinkable.
“But if we all learned how to ride, Lizzy would be the only one who would not be able to,” Andrew said, frowning a little with apparent preoccupation. “Could you not teach her too?” he asked, with a hopeful gaze at Darcy.
Darcy was momentarily disconcerted and, unconsciously, he raised his eyes to look at Elizabeth, who was now flushed, with an expression of equal parts affection and ashamed stupefaction. He was uncertain how to reply to both please the children and prevent further discomfort to Elizabeth.
“I would be delighted to assist Miss Elizabeth too — in any way she asks me,” he eventually responded formally, and Elizabeth forced a smile while she kept her eyes on her plate.
“Children, let us not abuse Mr Darcy’s kindness and not bother him any longer,” Mrs Gardiner interjected, ending the amusing yet disquieting conversation. “Mr Darcy, we must apologise — our children are quite outspoken. I hope they did not offend you or ruin your dinner.”
“Please do not apologise, Mrs Gardiner. I cannot imagine a better way to spend the evening, nor better company.”
“Mr Darcy, why are you so nice and amiable all of a sudden? This certainly does not seem like you!” Mrs Bennet suddenly burst out after watching the exchange silently for some time.
Elizabeth froze in mortification and looked up in panic, while the others glanced from Mrs Bennet to Darcy as though in a stupor. After a moment of confusion, he responded honestly.
“Mrs Bennet, I admit I am not sure how to answer your question.”
“It is a question that cannot be answered, so let us all assume it had never been asked,” Mr Bennet intervened firmly and loudly enough to get his wife’s attention. “Mrs Bennet, I would recommend a glass of wine before continuing any conversation — it is very tasty and helpful at settling nerves.”
“I am not nervous, only shocked,” Mrs Bennet spoke further, ignoring the veiled message. “I have never heard Mr Darcy speak so warmly and gently and obligingly. As a matter of fact, I have not heard him speak that much for all the time we have known him. Nobody will believe me when I tell them!”
“I assure you that my brother is the kindest and most generous man,” Georgiana managed to intervene, alarmed by the discussion.
“We do not doubt he is, Miss Darcy,” Mr Bennet said with a meaningful and severe glance at his wife who remained mostly oblivious.
“If some of us believed otherwise, we certainly were wrong in our observation, and that is our fault. It should definitely not have been even brought up in conversation.”
“Miss Darcy, will you not play for us tonight? I believe you promised me,” Elizabeth suddenly asked, desperate to change the subject and to dissipate the embarrassment that had fallen over the party.
The girl was slightly surprised but understood Elizabeth’s approach. “I will, if you wish. But only if you will join me, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Very well, I shall. I just hope you will not be disappointed by my lack of skills, Miss Darcy. My sister Mary might join us too — she is a proficient player and very fond of music.
The purpose was fulfilled as the conversation moved towards music and the easy atmosphere returned just in time for dessert. Afterwards, Bingley sought to ask permission to invite Jane to the library, as he had a gift prepared for her.
He civilly asked Mrs Bennet to join them, and the lady became more excited than her daughter.
During that time, Mrs Gardiner took the children upstairs, to a room specially prepared for them, as the adults enjoyed the after dinner activities.
“Miss Darcy, I hope you are not overwhelmed by our family’s…cheerfulness,” Mr Bennet said in his usual teasing tone.
“No, not at all. I am really enjoying myself. I believe that a little more cheerfulness is what our small family needs,” Georgiana replied, looking somehow disquieted at her brother.
“I agree,” Darcy approved with an affectionate look at his sister.
“Considering you seem to have everything else, hopefully this ‘need’ will be fulfilled when your brother marries,” Mr Gardiner added genuinely, completely unaware that he had touched on a most sensitive and disturbing subject.
“I am certain he will choose wisely and will find a wife worthy of your family and a sister you can depend upon.”
The innocent and respectful statement affected Darcy, Elizabeth, and her father, while Darcy needed a long moment before he managed to answer, “Yes, that is my intention and my purpose. However, lately I have discovered that it is not something that can easily be attained.”
“Is it not? I would have thought that you — of all men — would have no trouble finding a wife to your liking, Mr Darcy,” Mr Gardiner continued.
“A wife may be easy to find, but the genuine affection and respect of a woman worthy of being pleased is more difficult to gain,” Darcy declared.
He did not dare to steal more than a glance at Elizabeth out of the corner of his eye, trying to keep his attention on Mr Gardiner who — most unwittingly — had disturbed their equanimity more effectively than Mrs Bennet with her ill-advised questions and comments.
“Mr Darcy, you impress me as the sort of man who always achieves the objective he has set once he puts his mind to it,” Mr Bennet interjected, trying to lighten the conversation.
“It might seem a challenge, but I trust you will conquer it. And I understand your struggle. Had I been in your place and had the opportunity to choose freely, I would not have settled for anything less than what my mind and heart told me were perfectly suited to me.”
“Thank you for your confidence, Mr Bennet. That is my plan, too,” Darcy said in a hoarse voice, again avoiding looking at Elizabeth.
By that time, Mrs Gardiner had returned, and shortly after, Bingley, Jane, and her mother reappeared.
Mrs Bennet was almost bursting with pride and overjoyed to tell everyone how Bingley had offered Jane the most beautiful necklace of emeralds set in gold, with matching earrings and bracelet.
Miss Bennet was already wearing the bracelet, looking pink with pleasure, serene, and very much in love on her betrothed’s arm.
While the others were suitably admiring the gift, exclaiming over the beauty of the stones and complimenting Jane, Elizabeth remained a few steps behind to compose herself when she felt Darcy’s presence near her.
She looked up at him, and their eyes met for a moment.
He looked unsure and apprehensive — probably because of the earlier conversation.
She felt embarrassed, and the jumble of thoughts whirling in her mind made her doubt her comprehending his statement in regard to finding a wife, fearful to imagine more than he actually meant.
Suddenly, a little smile rose on her lips and his expression lightened.
“Poor Bingley had been desperate to offer your sister his gift. He worried so much that she might not like it,” he said.
“Why would he?” Elizabeth wondered. “Jane would have liked any gift from him, however small.”
“I told him precisely the same thing. But I suppose a deep affection always comes with worry and doubt,” Darcy added, his eyes still upon Elizabeth’s. She did not reply, because she could neither think of an answer nor trust her voice.
The others were all gathered together, still admiring Jane’s gift, until Bingley, who had moved towards the windows and peered outside suddenly exclaimed, “Look! It is snowing again! And so heavily. By tomorrow, the snow will be simply wonderful.”
“How lovely!” Jane whispered.
“If we were at Pemberley, we would have taken a long ride in the sleigh,” Georgiana added with equal enthusiasm. “For as long as I can remember, we have always celebrated the first snow, and my brother helps me to keep up the tradition when we happen to be home in the winter.”
“Which is sadly not every year,” Darcy replied. “But I am sure we could take a ride tomorrow, could we not, Bingley?”
“Oh, yes, of course we can! I mean, we can if there is a sleigh on the property. I shall ask at the stables in the morning. I do not remember seeing one.”
“That is not a problem. We have a rather large sleigh at Longbourn, and nobody has used it in the last five years,” Mr Bennet offered. “Except for Lizzy, and Jane on rare occasions, the rest of us are not fond of going out in blizzards, snow, and rain.”
“Excellent plan! It is settled then,” Bingley decided, as joyful as a child, then he turned to Jane with a trace of concern. “Would you like a sleigh ride tomorrow?” he asked his betrothed, and she nodded in acceptance with a glowing face, bright eyes, and a most enchanting blush.
“Good. Good. Capital! Who else is coming? I mean — except for Darcy and Miss Georgiana. Miss Elizabeth, of course. And who else?” he looked at the others who shrugged or shook their heads in refusal.
“My children might want to go, if you have space for them and the disposition to bear such tiresome company. If not, they can just play in the garden, it would suit them just as well,” Mrs Gardiner uttered.
“Of course there will be room for them, if you will allow them to join us,” Darcy answered readily. “There is nothing more diverting than seeing children’s joy at the fresh snow.”
“You are very kind, sir. In such a case, either I or my husband will have to go too. We cannot leave them unsupervised.”
“Surely you do not have to, dear Aunt. If you do not wish to go, Jane and I are perfectly capable of taking care of them, and it would be our pleasure. It will be delightful, I am certain.”
“My dear, it sounds wonderful, although I am still doubtful and somehow anxious to leave them with you. They will exhaust you, you should know that.”
“I will accept the challenge,” Elizabeth answered, laughing. “If only it snows enough overnight to make our plan possible tomorrow, the rest we shall handle.”
The enthusiasm spread through the young people in the party for a number of reasons, some obvious, others unacknowledged. A mere ride in the sleigh became a greatly anticipated outing which they were already waiting anxiously for.
For the rest of the evening, the party continued with Mary, Elizabeth, and then Georgiana taking turns at playing the pianoforte.
All the performances were pleasant, but Mary’s was only technically good, Elizabeth’s more heartfelt than skillful and definitely not proof of intense or constant practice, while Miss Darcy’s talent and feeling left everyone speechless.
Such was her performance, the audience was left with lumps in their throats.
Even Mrs Bennet was so impressed and charmed that she found nothing to say and could only applaud, while Georgiana timidly accepted the praise.
Kind and considerate, she then asked Mary to join her in a duet, which the third Miss Bennet considered a great compliment.
Elizabeth was only too happy to allow her sister the benefit of Miss Darcy’s influence, so she stepped away, allowing the two to continue performing.
She looked around the room for a place to sit and saw Darcy on a sofa by himself.
As he had been watching her for a while, he noticed her glance, and with a small nod of his head towards the seat next to him, invited her to join him.
Her heart stopped, then raced wildly, so loudly that she feared her companions could hear it.
Her feet refused to obey her for a moment.
Then, still hesitant, she walked across the room and, with apparent boldness belied by her internal thrills, she sat next to him.
Nobody gave the gesture any particular significance, except for Mr Bennet, who took a sip from his glass, finding the brandy more delightful than ever.