Chapter Eleven #4
“Would you come sit with me for a few minutes? Join me for tea.” Although his request was most uncharacteristic, the lady consented.
When she settled in the chair directly across from him, he took a deep breath.
“Would you please tell me everything said by Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner or their niece, Miss Bennet? It is important I know the words and the tone they used in speaking them.” His housekeeper did a poor job of disguising her surprise, but she told him of the visit.
Darcy listened with an intense desire to know more of Elizabeth.
Later, Darcy busied himself with the delivery of the pianoforte he had ordered for Georgiana.
A surprise gift, it had spurred him to return to Pemberley early.
He also called in Howard to conduct the estate’s business and only occasionally did not focus on the task at hand.
With the financial books approved, Howard left Darcy alone once more.
He leaned back in the chair, interlaced his fingers, and closed his eyes.
Elizabeth’s staring back from the carriage filled his wonder.
The words, the elation, the marvel, and the anticipation jostled for dominance. He felt sweet agony.
With Elizabeth only five miles from Pemberley, he could not divorce himself from thoughts of the woman.
He wandered into the garden, took off his jacket, and enjoyed the late summer breeze.
How he wished to know her sentiment! Could he be mistaken?
Was he looking for more than was there? Elizabeth had apologized for being found at Pemberley, but he did not believe her disliking the place; his discovering her simply made her uncomfortable.
In fact, she offered compliments on the estate.
She accepted his trepidation over mentioning Bingley; she also accepted his request to meet Georgiana.
No, he had not made a mistake. Elizabeth no longer felt disdain for him, but what did she feel?
Finally, Georgiana would meet Elizabeth. His sister deserved someone such as Elizabeth in her life. So many times, Georgiana expressed a desire to meet Miss Elizabeth Bennet; now, she would form that acquaintance. The prospect overjoyed him. How often had he imagined the three of them at Pemberley?
The prospects led him to another thought: Elizabeth would not expect Georgiana to call until Thursday, but perhaps he could convince his sister to call on Elizabeth tomorrow; then they could invite her party to Pemberley for the evening meal on Friday.
Darcy wanted her to be relaxed and to enjoy Pemberley and to see him as its master.
Any change of her feelings would happen at Pemberley.
He was confident of that fact. Encountering her elsewhere would mean sharing Elizabeth with others, but at Pemberley he could shower Elizabeth with his attentions, and he cared not who saw.
Mr. Gardiner had confided as they walked the park that he, his wife, and his niece would soon return to Longbourn.
Darcy had only a few days before Elizabeth would be gone again. Only a few days to claim her regard.
With Darcy checking the clock repeatedly, the morning crawled slowly by. When the carriages appeared, he sprang from his chair to meet his party in the courtyard. Hurst lumbered from his coach and groaned because of his indolence; he turned and assisted Mrs. Hurst and Caroline Bingley down.
“Ladies,” Darcy bowed in acknowledgment.
“Mr. Darcy,” Caroline intoned. “Finally, we have reached Pemberley. Obviously, one would suffer much to spend time under Pemberley’s roof.”
“I apologize if you have suffered. Perhaps you require time to rest and recoup your energies. Mrs. Reynolds will show you to your usual rooms,” he said as he stepped past her and sought his sister’s company.
“Bingley,” he said, “I see you survived the journey!”
“In the comfort of your coach and in your sister’s company, the journey was far from insufferable,” Bingley openly declared with a broad smile.
“Your chambers are awaiting your pleasure.” Darcy winked at his friend. “I have included something to wash away the road dirt.” Darcy shook Charles’s hand. “Would you be so kind as to escort Mrs. Annesley into the house?”
“Gladly, Darcy.”
Darcy assisted his sister from the coach. He literally lifted her from the coach’s steps and set her down several feet away.
“William,” she giggled, “you are assuredly in a good mood. “What brings such a smile to your face?”
“Is my mood that apparent?”
“You have a secret. This is just what you used to do when I was a child. Oh, please tell me now.”
“You must wait until we are in the house,” he taunted.
“Come then,” she pulled on his hand in anticipation, her laughter contagious.
Once inside, he said, “I actually have more than one surprise.”
“Brother, please stop teasing me. I can wait no longer,” she pleaded.
“If you will kindly look in the music room, something may claim your notice.”
Georgiana grasped the lapels of his jacket, pulled him towards her, and kissed his cheek.
Then she nearly skipped through the hallway to the music room.
She came quickly to a halt, and he heard her gasp as he strode into the room behind her.
“What do you think of your first surprise, dearest?” he asked as if he expected her to object.
“William,” her voice was breathy, “it is magnificent.” She ran her fingers lightly along the keys. “When … I mean, I do not deserve this.”
He embraced her. Tears misted her eyes. “Do you not know it gives me pleasure to see you happy?” he whispered as he stroked her cheek. “Now you know why I left you in Bingley’s care yesterday.”
“I should rebuke you, sir, for deserting me, but I believe you are absolved of guilt,” she said in mirth. “But you said there were two surprises.”
“You are a greedy girl, are you not?” he tapped her on the chin with his finger.
Georgiana laughed as he pulled her to the settee.
He took her hands in his, looked into her countenance in earnest, and took a slow, deep breath.
“The second surprise,” he began, “is actually one for both of us.” Georgiana giggled as she watched his apprehension.
“How would you like to make the acquaintance of Miss Elizabeth Bennet?”
“Oh, yes …” she started and then checked her enthusiasm. “I have always wanted to make Miss Bennet’s acquaintance, but not if it brings you pain, William.”
“I appreciate your concern,” he continued the smile, “but even if there was no hope for my regard, I would still wish Miss Elizabeth’s acquaintance for you. She is the type of person you should have as a friend.” He thought sister rather than friend, but he would not voice such hopes.
“How may I meet Miss Elizabeth? Do we travel to Hertfordshire?”
“She is here,” he blurted out. “Actually, Miss Elizabeth is in Lambton at the Royal Crown.”
“How?” The incoherency of his explanation was written on his sister’s face.
“Permit me to start at the beginning.” He unraveled the details. “Miss Elizabeth travels through Derbyshire with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. When I returned to Pemberley yesterday, they were visiting the estate.”
“Oh, William,” she consoled him. “How awkward for both of you!”
“There were moments of disbelief,” he recalled. “I stumbled through inquiries, often repeating myself, attempting to engage her in conversation. She blushed often, but she was civil, and there was none of the disdain from before. I was covered in road dirt, so I left her on the lawn.”
“Is that all you said to her? Please, brother, tell me there is more.”
“There is more,” he reassured her. “I sent servants scattering as I hastened to make myself presentable. Then I sought her on the park’s pathway.
We spoke again, and I was more composed.
Her aunt is from Lambton. Miss Elizabeth’s relations, I found, were people of taste and fashion.
I managed to ask her permission to present you to her. ”
“What did Miss Elizabeth say?” Georgiana asked in continued doubt of her own worth.
“Miss Bennet is looking forward to forming an acquaintance.”
His sister squeezed his hand with joy. “When shall we meet?”
“I hoped,” he began more slowly, “you would agree to go as soon as you freshen your clothes.”
“Oh, William,” she said, “so soon?” He saw the fear again slip into her composure.
“Georgiana,” he patted her hand, “I would not ask it of you if there was time, but Miss Bennet will leave Derbyshire in a few days.”
“Of course,” she said in uncertainty. “I will be happy to go with you today.” She stood and straightened her dress. “Let me freshen my clothes. I will return in a quarter hour.”
“Thank you, Georgiana,” he stood and held her at arm’s length.
“Elizabeth Bennet will love you as I do.” She smiled weakly and turned to leave.
“Georgiana,” he called, “perhaps we should keep this our secret for now. A private introduction will be more comfortable for us all.” She nodded and left the room.
While his sister was preparing for her introduction, Darcy’s thoughts raced through the possibilities.
Wondering about this decision, he paced the room.
Elizabeth would receive Georgiana cordially.
Of that, he was confident, but how would she see his impetuous actions?
He assured Georgiana of Elizabeth’s goodness, but it was his own self-confidence which required shoring up.
He ordered his curricle and waited on Georgiana’s return to the front foyer when, unexpectedly, Bingley came down the stairs only seconds before his sister.
“Darcy, are you going out?”
Darcy debated whether to tell his friend his plans, but the appearance of Georgiana in a fresh pelisse and bonnet left him no other choice. “Bingley, Georgiana and I are going into Lambton to call on an acquaintance.”
“But, Darcy, we just traveled through Lambton on our way to Pemberley,” his friend protested.
Darcy glanced at his sister. Georgiana’s uneasiness at the meeting showed.
Having to deceive Bingley would play havoc on his sister’s gentle nature.
“Bingley, the acquaintance is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and she is in Lambton. She travels with her aunt and uncle. I happened on her yesterday at Pemberley. She has agreed to make Georgiana’s acquaintance. We plan a short morning call.”
“Georgiana, you will like Miss Elizabeth,” Bingley assured. “She is a delightful young lady. I understand your desire for a private introduction, but I would very much like to see Miss Elizabeth again if you would have no objections to my accompanying you.”
Georgiana’s eyes pleaded with her brother, and Darcy, reluctantly, agreed, but he asked Bingley to wait below until after Georgiana’s introduction.
Bingley readily agreed, saying he would saddle a horse and follow them to Lambton.
Darcy then hinted as politely as possible for his friend to keep this information from his sisters.
“I understand,” his friend grinned. “Caroline would be an impediment.”