Chapter 16 #2
Darcy’s mouth went dry as Elizabeth focused her attention on him.
She thought for a moment, taking a sip of tea while she formulated a response.
“I would not describe Mrs Laurence’s work merely as Gothic thrills, Mr Darcy.
I find her work to be very real and raw, but without being vulgar.
She seems to be striving to understand the human heart, and the longings that come from the deepest part of a person — both men and women. ”
“Which makes me think she must be married,” Mrs Annesley put in. “How can someone who has not been married have such insight into the male mind?”
Miss Bennet looked down at her hands. “No one can know for sure. What I do know is that I am thankful for Mrs Laurence’s novels.
Perhaps she is a mother of ten, or a young woman like myself, or even a man.
I will only say that her books have given me courage when I did not think I could go on.
They have given me comfort when I thought the night would never end.
And she has given me hope that, perhaps, tomorrow will be the day I find love. ”
Their eyes caught and held. She had spoken so quietly that the words were almost inaudible. Darcy had the sense she had not meant them to be heard at all. They were only an expression of her secret heart, and too deeply felt to be repressed.
He could understand that well — the hope that the feelings welling up in him were real, and reciprocated. She made him hope as he had never hoped before…
He cleared his throat and looked away from her, smiling at Georgiana across the table. “Well, this Mrs Laurence certainly sounds as if she can weave a mesmerising tale.”
“She is wonderful! Whoever she is, I bless her for taking up her pen!” Georgiana said.
Upon an urgent request from the Gardiner children, Georgiana got up from the tea table and went to join their games. Laughingly, Elizabeth went with her. To his amusement, Darcy noticed she ran as swiftly and laughed as heartily as any of her cousins.
Darcy turned to his guest, eager to turn the subject away from Georgiana’s insistence that he read her favourite novels. “It is a fine day, do not you think, Mrs Gardiner? And I assume it will only improve. I hope the weather is fine for the Bingleys’ visit.”
“Yes, I wonder that you wish us to stay, Mr Darcy, with more guests arriving so soon. Are you sure that you would not like us to visit our relations in Meryton?” Mrs Gardiner asked.
Darcy shook his head, surprising himself with his own vehemence. “No, do not think of it! Your company is very welcome to me. It will make the visit all the more pleasant.”
It was not long before the children grew tired and fell about the lawn, releasing the young ladies to return to the tea table.
Georgiana sat down with a pleased huff. “They have so much energy. And how much fun they have together! I should have liked to have a sibling nearer my own age growing up, should not you, Fitz?”
“I was more fortunate,” Darcy told her. “I had our cousin Fitzwilliam, who was as good a brother to me.”
“And now the very best of men,” Georgiana agreed. She turned a cheery smile toward him. “What were you all discussing?”
“The Bingleys. As you will remember, they are to join us soon.”
“Oh, yes. I had forgotten,” Georgiana replied. Oddly, she did not seem pleased. He would have thought she would welcome the company, fond of society as Georgiana was becoming. But perhaps she felt shy at the thought of welcoming people of fashion. Miss Bingley was not the most reassuring companion.
When tea was concluded, Darcy took the first opportunity to lead Georgiana away from the others, that they might have an opportunity of speaking privately. That opportunity came when Mrs Gardiner and Elizabeth led the children away to rest after their wild romping.
“They are dears, are they not?” Georgiana asked as they walked inside.
“They are indeed,” he said. He cleared his throat. “Is that the first time Mrs Gardiner has mentioned leaving? I hope I did not offend her by inviting the Bingleys.”
“Not at all. But I can understand if she feels she is intruding. She must be eager to be back in her own home.” Georgiana linked her arm in his again.
They went and sat in the little sitting area by the empty hearth.
A pleasant breeze travelled in from the open windows, and they could still hear the birdsong from their vantage point.
“I will be sad when their house is rebuilt and ready for their return. I do so enjoy having them here.”
“Yes, I do as well,” he said.
Georgiana grew serious. “I hope you were not upset at me earlier, for pressing you to read Mrs Laurence’s novels?”
“No, I could never be upset at you, Georgiana,” he said. He leaned forward with a sigh. “I simply do not hold modern novels to have the same value that you do.”
“And I am sure all people of learning would agree with you, and think me very silly. It is only that her novels were such a help to me after Ramsgate.” She looked down at her hands, as if remembering every detail of what had befallen her under Mrs Younge’s callous treatment and Wickham’s devious attempt to seduce her into an elopement.
“Two things helped me to recover from the shame and despair I suffered after that incident. The first was Mrs Laurence’s novels.
The second was Miss Bennet’s friendship.
I cannot believe we met only a few months ago. I feel I have always known her.”
Darcy swallowed. He knew exactly how she felt, for he, too, felt he had always known her — that he had always been meant to know her and love her. She had come into their lives like a healing balm. How could he be parted from her when it came time for the Gardiners to return to London?
“I am glad to know that Ramsgate is behind you now. Indeed, Miss Bennet has been a staunch friend to you.”
“And she will continue to be, I know. I have not told her of the mistake I made, but I feel that, if I were to share it with her, she would understand and love me all the same. As a sister might.” Georgiana pinned him with a knowing stare, but said nothing more.
Darcy stood and kissed his sister on the forehead. “She is a bosom friend. And I am glad to see you two becoming so close. I have always wanted that for you.”
“Now that Pemberley has seen its share of guests, I hardly think we shall be able to go back to the way things were before. You know that, do you not?”
He smiled. “I would not have it any other way.” Now that the house had been restored to life, he did not want to return to the stony silence they had endured for the five years after their father’s death. He would keep the Gardiners here forever if he could.
The Gardiners, and Elizabeth. She, of all the guests, ought to stay at Pemberley with him always.