Chapter Eleven #3
Elizabeth blushed. “What type of person would not approve of such a home? It is so well situated. I have never seen such wonderful prospects.”
“Your opinion is valued, Miss Elizabeth,” he said earnestly.
His voice betrayed his anxiousness and the intensity he felt, and he again attempted to reel in his emotions.
“Miss Elizabeth,” he forced calmness into his tone, “please excuse my manners. Would you do me the honor of introducing me to the rest of your party?”
He detected a hint of a smile as she moved past him. “Mr. Darcy, may I present my aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. My sister Jane stayed with them in Cheapside on her recent journey to London.”
Darcy had taken the couple for people of fashion.
He quickly understood Elizabeth’s hint of a smile; these were the same people he criticized at Hunsford.
Although the folly of his earlier opinion stunned him, Darcy did not turn away.
Instead, he walked with them and conversed with her uncle.
Admittedly, he did not expect Mr. Gardiner to be the man of intelligence, taste, and good manners he was, and he did not expect to notice “hints” of his own father in the man’s phrasing and gestures; yet, Darcy discovered he enjoyed the short conversation with her uncle.
As they approached the stream, Mr. Gardiner paused to observe the trout.
“Mr. Gardiner, do you enjoy fishing?” he asked cordially.
“Indeed, I do, sir.”
“Then please feel free to fish the stream, or the lake, for that matter, at any time you choose. I will have my man furnish you with the necessary tackle; let me point out some of my favorite spots.” He led Elizabeth’s uncle towards the stream.
“I hope you will fish at Pemberley before you leave the area.”
His actions a complement to her earlier censure of his manners, Darcy could feel Elizabeth’s gaze upon him.
He hoped she observed the changes. Curious about some water plant, Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner walked in the direction of the riverbank while Darcy spent his time with Mr. Gardiner, but Darcy kept her in his line of vision.
He would not allow Elizabeth from his sight.
And, as luck would have it, Mrs. Gardiner found Elizabeth’s arm inadequate support when they turned towards their carriage.
Mrs. Gardiner reached for her husband’s arm, allowing Darcy the luxury of assuming a position beside Elizabeth.
They walked on in silence with the lady speaking first. “Mr. Darcy, again I must apologize for disturbing your privacy. Your housekeeper informed us you would assuredly not be at Pemberley until tomorrow. Indeed, before we left Bakewell, we were informed you were in London and not in Derbyshire at all. I feel horrible at your having found us here. It seems so inappropriate, but my aunt had her heart set on showing me Pemberley, and I had no means of denying her that pleasure without a complicated explanation.”
“Miss Elizabeth, please do not stress over my finding you at Pemberley. I am pleased to see you again. As I said previously, business with my steward precipitated my coming forward a few hours before the rest of my party.” At this point, he hesitated, but he knew some reference to their acquaintances could not be avoided forever.
“Among those who travel from London with me are several of whom you are familiar: Mr. Bingley and his sisters.”
Elizabeth lowered her eyes but gave a slight nod of her head as an acknowledgement of what he said.
Darcy worried about the images of Bingley’s name besetting her.
There were scenes of their time in Hunsford such as the sharing of his mother’s favorite walk, which brought them both joy, but there were also moments of pain, which affected their ease with each other.
Yet, Darcy felt the pain softening, and he hoped for friendship and reconciliation.
Anything beyond that was a distant dream.
They walked on, both embarrassed by their earlier folly.
After a pause, he continued, “There is also one other person in the party who more particularly wishes to be known to you. Will you allow me, or do I ask too much, to introduce my sister to your acquaintance during your stay at Lambton?”
Although her voice came out in not much more than a whisper, Elizabeth said, “Mr. Darcy, I would be honored to meet Miss Darcy.” Whether she realized it or not, Elizabeth had agreed to be in his company again. Darcy’s happiness could barely be contained.
Silence prevailed. Elizabeth still did not appear to be comfortable, but the tension had eased.
There was so much he wanted to tell her, but he simply had to find a means to extend her stay in Derbyshire so the words could all be spoken.
At the moment, it was enough that he would see her again, and, finally, Georgiana would meet Elizabeth.
They soon outstripped the others, and when they reached the carriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were nearly a quarter of a mile behind.
“Would you care to step in the house, Miss Elizabeth, for some refreshments?” he offered.
“I am not tired, Mr. Darcy,” she assured him. “I hope it will not offend you if I ask that we remain here and enjoy the view.”
“Not at all,” he responded, finally achieving a long look into her eyes.
He wished to forward their relationship, but neither he nor Elizabeth could find the words to speak of their past and mayhap their future.
At length, she began a discourse of her travels, telling him about Matlock and Dove Dale and also of Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, Kenilworth, and Birmingham.
It was not what he wanted, but it was enough.
He would allow Elizabeth to define the parameters of this first encounter.
He would define those of the second. Darcy would tell her of how much she had changed him.
Shortly, her aunt and uncle appeared. “Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner,” Darcy offered, “may I persuade you to join me in the house for refreshments before returning to Lambton?’
“We thank you, Mr. Darcy,” her uncle began, “but my wife has made arrangements for us to dine with friends in the area.”
“I was unaware of your knowing others in the area. How good it will be for you to renew acquaintances,” he said, hoping Elizabeth understood his double meaning. He chanced a quick glance and saw her suppressing a smile.
“I grew up in Lambton, Mr. Darcy,” Mrs. Gardiner stated, bringing his attention from her niece.
He said honestly, “It is a delightful village.”
“I am afraid I have filled Elizabeth’s head with tales of Derbyshire. I find it to be the finest county in England.” Mrs. Gardiner beamed.
“You will discover no contention on my part,” Darcy said easily. “Derbyshire offers the best of everything.”
Elizabeth and Mr. Gardiner chuckled at this cordial exchange. “The two of you have something in common,” Mr. Gardiner offered.
When it was time for them to leave, Darcy assisted the ladies into the carriage, taking the liberty to hold Elizabeth’s hand a bit longer than necessary.
“Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner.” He acknowledged them with a bow. He bowed separately to their niece. “Miss Elizabeth.”
“Mr. Darcy.” She nodded her farewell.
“I look forward to presenting my sister to you,” he said hoarsely.
“And I to meeting her,” she said as the carriage pulled away. Their eyes remained on each other until the carriage turned into the tree line, and only then did Darcy return slowly to the house.
Entering his home, he knew he should send for Mr. Howard as he promised, but he did not.
Exhilaration overwhelmed his ability to concentrate on mundane matters.
He entered his study, closed the door, and sank into one of the more comfortable chairs in the room.
The chaotic condition of his mind was pleasant for a change; he ran his fingers through his hair and realized his hands were trembling.
“At last. Thank you, God, for another opportunity. I shan’t disappoint you,” he whispered in an open prayer.
Darcy closed his eyes and replayed the encounter and every nuance of Elizabeth’s reaction.
Not knowing how long he sat in isolation, a light knock on the door roused Darcy. “Come,” he called automatically as he adjusted his clothing.
He was a bit surprised to see Mrs. Reynolds bringing him tea and biscuits; normally, she was too busy overseeing the house to serve him personally. “I thought you might enjoy some refreshments, sir,” she began as she set the tray on a low table. “Would you like me to pour, Mr. Darcy?”
He acceded with a flick of his wrist. After preparing the brew the way he preferred, Mrs. Reynolds handed him a cup, but after he took it, she remained waiting for his recognition. “Mrs. Reynolds, is there something else?”
“Mr. Darcy,” she vocally stumbled, “I hope … I hope you are not angry with my behavior regarding your visitors. If I have offended the family in any way, I am most apologetic.”
So becharmed with the memory of Elizabeth’s being at Pemberley, for a few seconds, Darcy did not comprehend what his housekeeper confessed.
He looked stunned and then assured her, “Mrs. Reynolds, you have been a part of the Pemberley household for nearly five and twenty years. I trust you implicitly. I assume you said no more to Miss Bennet than you would to other visitors.”
“I have only praise for the Darcy family; yet, sometimes, I fear, I may show too much pride in being chosen to oversee Pemberley.”
At the mention of the word “pride,” he actually chuckled with the irony of what she shared. He looked upon the woman he had entrusted with maintaining his household and saw the discomfiture upon her countenance. “Do not concern yourself, Mrs. Reynolds,” he said softly. “I found no offense.”
“Yes, sir,” she said as she curtsied to leave. “Thank you, sir.”
The woman was nearly to the door when he called to her, “Mrs. Reynolds.”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy.”