Chapter Twelve #2
“Miss Bennet,” he explained, “is beautiful, but I once told Charles I thought she smiled too much.” His sister stifled her laughter. “Miss Elizabeth,” he continued, “has beauty of both body and mind.”
“Her eyes. I recall you once saying her eyes are the secret to her soul.”
“It was my comment on Miss Elizabeth’s fine eyes which instigated Caroline Bingley’s antagonism. I am afraid Miss Elizabeth has suffered rebukes, although indirectly, at my hand.”
“Miss Elizabeth, I believe, can fend off the reproofs of someone as shallow in her opinions and her own consequence as is Miss Bingley.”
“Miss Darcy!” He half-heartedly chastised. “You continue to amaze me. Where was I when you became a young lady of such astute opinions and discernments?” His sister was no longer that pesky little girl who followed him everywhere. He must nurture this new understanding between them.
When they returned to Pemberley, Caroline Bingley and the Hursts were enjoying tea and a light meal in the morning room. “Ah, there you are, Mr. Darcy,” Caroline delivered a statement more in the form of a question.
Neither Darcy nor Georgiana responded. Instead, they moved to the serving tray.
Handing her brother a cup, Georgiana rolled her eyes and grinned while his response included a light tap of his finger on her chin, a gesture he often used with his sister when he wanted to show he cared for her.
Others did not understand it, but they knew the unspoken truth.
Darcy turned back to his houseguests. “We have been to the village, Miss Bingley.”
“What? Why would you submit your sister to the discomfort of traveling again so soon?”
“I assure you, Miss Bingley,” Georgiana came to his defense. “My brother never asks more of me than I am willing to provide.”
“Yes … yes, of course,” Caroline stumbled, not wishing to offend her hosts, “but what could take you out on the road again so soon?”
As she asked her question, Bingley joined them and provided the answer.
“We have been to Lambton to see Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Is it not fortuitous that she is in Derbyshire at the same time as we are at Pemberley?” If Bingley looked at his sisters following this question, he would have observed their shared horror.
Louisa Hurst recovered her voice first. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet! Are all the Bennets on holiday in Derbyshire?”
“No.” Charles carried his tea and scones to the table. “It is only Miss Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle.”
“Please tell me,” Caroline pronounced with hauteur, “this is not the uncle who is a lawyer in Meryton.” Meanwhile, Louisa guffawed.
“Assuredly, not,” Darcy corrected, “it is the uncle from Cheapside.”
“Heaven help us,” Caroline gasped.
Darcy’s hard stare froze the room with its intensity.
“I hope the planets are aligned, and the heavens are favorable,” he said curtly.
“For we dine with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Elizabeth the day after tomorrow. It will provide you an opportunity to renew your acquaintance.” With that, he took Georgiana’s hand and said, “Come, dear, I require soothing music, and I am most curious to know how well the new instrument sounds.” He prayed their exit spoke volumes to those who professed fine manners but greatly lacked even common civilities.
Mr. Gardiner took full advantage of Darcy’s invitation to fish the Pemberley stream.
Darcy joined him, as did Bingley and Hurst. Eventually, Darcy and Gardiner isolated themselves from the other two.
The former, as a true sportsman, understood patience and quiet time brought success to an angler.
The two spent nearly an hour in peaceful companionship before Mr. Gardiner said, “Mr. Darcy, I do not recall when I have spent a more pleasant morning. Some may find this waiting for the fish to bite boring, but with a house full of children and servants and a business, which demands much of my time, tranquil contemplation is a luxury. However, although I enjoy your company, please, sir,” he added, “if you have business at your house, I am content to entertain myself.”
Darcy wondered if the man recognized Darcy’s admiration for his niece. By now, Darcy did not hide his feelings for Elizabeth. “I did promise my sister,” he remarked casually, “to step in where she entertains the others in her drawing room. Miss Darcy does not often entertain.”
“My wife and niece are likely with Miss Darcy as we speak.” Mr. Gardiner seemed to be expecting Darcy to look shocked by this information. “A call of such honor as your sister bestowed on my family requires a like response.”
“If that is the case, it is prudent on my making an appearance.” Darcy bowed. “I will return shortly.”
He walked away quickly. Elizabeth was at Pemberley, and he would waste none of the time they might share together.
To hell with what the rules of propriety may require.
God had provided him a second opportunity to keep Elizabeth Bennet in his life.
He wanted her with him at Pemberley, but, more importantly, Darcy desired her happiness and her friendship.
Upon entering Pemberley through the garden doors, he was told the ladies were in the salon.
His appearance brought a veil of silence as all eyes fell on him and Elizabeth.
Everyone in the room knew why he had come.
Elizabeth blushed slightly, but unlike the other ladies, her eyes locked on his face.
Georgiana had enough composure to serve her guests light refreshments of cake and fresh fruit, but she must have struggled with the conversation.
Her awareness of Miss Bingley’s vehemence for Miss Elizabeth and his desire for her and Elizabeth to be friends had apparently taken its toll on Georgiana’s abilities to play hostess.
He had overheard her weak response to a suggested topic by Mrs. Gardiner and the awkward pause which followed.
Darcy assessed the scene quickly. Instinctively, he took Georgiana by the hand and said, “Come, dear one,” before seating her beside Elizabeth on the settee.
He assumed a seat beside Mrs. Gardiner. “Your husband, Mrs. Gardiner, is a superb fisherman,” he offered.
“I may be required to restock the stream after today.” Mrs. Gardiner reached out and lightly patted the back of his hand in a casual familiarity and chuckled softly.
Elizabeth explained, “My uncle has graciously allowed my aunt and me all the pleasures on this journey. We are most thankful for your providing him time to enjoy himself in an avocation he so adores.”
“I am gratified to see him so content.” Darcy did not remove his eyes from Elizabeth’s countenance. After an awkward pause, he added, “I imagine, Miss Elizabeth, that you brought something with you to read for your travel time. I recall how reading gives you great pleasure.”
“I did, sir.” The lady smiled in that mischievous manner which told him to expect some sort of barb. “I hope to improve my mind with extensive reading.”
Darcy nodded at her remembrance of what he had said at Netherfield, telling him he was in her thoughts at least some of the time. Georgiana turned to Elizabeth, “What do you prefer to read?”
Her brother wanted to add his own memories to the mix. “I recall Miss Elizabeth prefers poetry. Is that not what you chose to read the last day in the library at Netherfield?”
“Oh, Miss Darcy,” she turned to his sister, “your brother wishes to reproof me for disturbing his privacy. I thought he was engrossed in a volume on William the Conqueror, but, I fear, I caught him napping instead.”
“That is difficult to believe, Miss Elizabeth. My brother devours books,” Georgiana giggled.
“I was reaching for a volume of poetry on an upper shelf,” Elizabeth explained to Georgiana, but she really spoke to Darcy, “and I knocked over something which caught your brother’s attention.
He retrieved the collection for me, however.
He was actually very chivalrous.” Then she pursed her lips in that all-knowing challenge he had come to recognize.
“Which poets do you prefer?” asked Georgiana.
“I believe that particular day,” Elizabeth added, “it was William Cowper I chose to read.”
“No Lord Byron for you then?” Georgiana continued. Darcy showed his surprise at his sister’s mentioning of Byron, often considered controversial, especially for a schoolgirl to be reading.
“Cowper or Prior or Coleridge is more to my liking,” Elizabeth confided.
“When I was with the Collinses at Hunsford, I had little to read other than Fordyce’s Sermons to Young Women.
Lady Catherine was kind enough to permit me access to her library.
” Darcy saw the glint of mirth creep across Elizabeth’s face before she added, “I thought Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Women might be found there.
I had hoped to share it with Mrs. Collins. ”
Georgiana laughed and reached out for Elizabeth’s hand, which Elizabeth offered willingly. Mrs. Gardiner stifled a laugh of her own. Elizabeth feigned innocence and gave Darcy that smile which had possessed him from the first time he viewed it.
Unfortunately, Miss Bingley’s jealous tongue claimed her reason. She seized upon the first opportunity of saying, with sneering civility, “Pray, Miss Eliza, are not the –shire Militia removed from Meryton? Such must be a great loss to your family.”
Darcy froze, and Georgiana dropped Elizabeth’s hand, gathering her own hands nervously into her lap.
He could little believe Miss Bingley could be so cruel; she knew nothing of Georgiana’s distress, but Caroline’s comments were to serve as a reminder to Darcy of Elizabeth once preferring Mr. Wickham to him.
Darcy earnestly looked at Elizabeth. Georgiana’s reputation is in your hands.
She offered him a slight nod as if to say I understand. I will protect your sister as my own.