Chapter 15
Lord Bramwell was eager to arrange excursions, Elizabeth presumed in order to see Rebecca.
He called at Mrs Ryde’s townhouse later the same day Mr and Miss Darcy had been there.
When he was announced, she anticipated him appreciating her company, unlike his young cousin.
Why Miss Darcy had been so reluctant to speak to her, even to be interested in what she had to say—because she nearly acted as though she did not hear when Elizabeth spoke—she did not know.
Mrs Ryde had posited that she was shy; Elizabeth wondered if Mr Darcy had shared his doubts about her with his sister.
It was a mean-spirited thought, however; while they were not friends, he had been polite to her, she would even say amiable.
Further, he had been clearly dismayed by his sister’s demeanour.
Once seated in the drawing room, the viscount said to Mrs Ryde, “I have come to request Miss Bennet’s company in two days’ time.
I am developing a scheme to explore London with her and a few others—Miss Rebecca Darcy, Miss Strachan, my brother, and my cousin Darcy.
Georgiana, too, if she is not occupied with her lessons or companion.
” Turning to Elizabeth, he went on. “I had such fun seeing Dublin with you, and you know me well enough to understand I think entirely too well of myself, thus I am convinced you also found it diverting. Would it not be pleasant to take advantage of the fine autumn weather to explore London? Before it gets too cold, that is.”
Elizabeth smiled. “I did enjoy myself in Dublin, as you well know, and I shall not deny that your company was part of the reason.”
He thanked her and addressed Mrs Ryde next. “You are welcome to join us, of course. Since I have been assured it will not rain for the next several days, I thought a walk through the park followed by taking refreshments at some nearby confectionary would be a suitable first outing.”
Mrs Ryde glanced at her before responding. “I know Lizzy would appreciate it. She has always loved being amongst trees. As for me, so long as there is another lady with you—as I am sure there will be—I am content to let you young people take your exercise. I shall visit with my friends.”
“Excellent!” he said, grinning broadly.
Elizabeth wanted to ask him if he had yet approached Rebecca, but she thought it would be unkind to tease him.
Through the next quarter of an hour, during which the three of them chatted easily about diverse topics, she had the impression that she was the first person he had spoken to about going to the park, apart from his brother.
He also informed them that, “My mother will be sending you an invitation to a dinner party. She had not yet decided on the best date, but she says she will soon make arrangements. Lord Halsley is on her guest list, as well, naturally. Do say you will be able to come.”
“I would like to see your parents again,” Mrs Ryde said. “I have not yet this autumn. We shall endeavour to attend, shall we not, Lizzy?”
Seeing the expression of curiosity on the lady’s face—one that said she was certain there was something she did not know that would explain the viscount’s behaviour—Elizabeth gave her a slight nod to indicate they would talk when they were alone.
To the viscount, she said, “We shall. I am sure it will be a lovely evening.”
“Good!” he said, almost as though in relief.
“Good. That will be…excellent. Hyde Park in two days, dinner at Grosvenor Square in the near future, and I might just find another way for us to divert ourselves in between the two.” He stood.
“But for now, as much as I wish I could stay longer, I should depart.”
He was gone a few minutes later, and Elizabeth took the opportunity to tell Mrs Ryde that she believed his purpose was to find opportunities to know Rebecca better.
“Oh!” she said. “What an interesting notion. I wonder what the Romsleys think of it. But they are excellent people, and I am sure they would most wish for his happiness. So, that is one romance. Tell me, do you know of any others? Have any gentlemen caught your eye yet?”
Elizabeth laughed and thrust aside the image of Mr Darcy that came to mind. “No. I am content to support Rebecca while the viscount attempts to make her fall in love with him. I am not entirely convinced he will succeed.”
The outing to the park took place on the day Lord Bramwell had decided upon, but there was one amendment to his plan.
Instead of visiting a confectionary after their walk, the party would return to Mr Darcy’s townhouse for refreshments.
Mrs Annesley, Miss Darcy’s companion, accompanied them, strolling beside her young charge.
“This is quite like old times, is it not, Miss Bennet?” the viscount said. “Darcy, I am sure you recall our walks through Dublin with as much pleasure as I do, especially when we were fortunate enough to have more company than each other.”
“I do,” the other gentleman agreed.
“What was the name of that square? You know the one I mean. It was large, we went to it the morning after we first arrived. Starts with an ‘m’.”
“Merrion,” Mr Darcy said.
Elizabeth happened to glance at him at the same moment he looked her way.
Their eyes met, and she thought she detected a blush on his cheeks; her own were heated.
It was in Merrion Square that they had exchanged their final words in Dublin.
And where I overheard them before we had even met.
That was when she had decided she did not like him.
How could she, when he spoke so arrogantly about himself and the lady he would marry?
But could she truly say that the man she had spent time with—both in Ireland and in England—was as unpleasant as he had sounded that morning?
It cost her nothing to admit that he was not, not always, in any case, and not recently.
It did not mean she liked him, however. Perhaps I ought to say that I am not sure if I do or not—or whether I might, one day, once we know each other further.
At the ball, he had been polite, but she believed he had felt as awkward in her company as she had in his.
She believed he would have apologised for their disagreement in Ireland, but she had stopped him, preferring to put it in the past. It spoke well of him.
These positive thoughts were disrupted by seeing Miss Darcy, who was almost glaring at her.
Mr Darcy stepped towards his sister and spoke urgently and softly.
Although curious what he was saying to her, she immediately began to walk away from them, knowing it would be impolite to attempt to overhear a private conversation.
She followed Colonel Fitzwilliam and Marian, who were leading the way, but had not gone far when a tall figure approached.
It was Mr Darcy. A quick look over her shoulder showed that his sister and her companion were not far behind them, presently strolling with Rebecca and Lord Bramwell.
“Am I correct that you have been to the park before?” Mr Darcy asked.
“I have,” she admitted. “Many times over the years, and even since I came to town this autumn.”
“Do you miss the country when you are here? I believe you prefer the countryside.”
“I do, and I have a habit of seeking it out whenever I am in a city, as you might have guessed.”
He nodded, and they were silent for a moment.
Behind them, she heard Rebecca and Miss Darcy chatting.
It was good that the young woman was on easy terms with her cousin.
She had even seemed pleased when she spoke to Marian, with whom she was previously acquainted.
It is only me she does not like. What did he tell her about me?
Mr Darcy cleared his throat. “When Bramwell mentioned Dublin, my first thought was our excursion to the Botanic Gardens. I wish we had been permitted longer to explore the site. I appreciate the availability of well-arranged squares, which make for a pleasant setting for a walk or ride, such as today’s, but it takes a much larger area to really satisfy me. ”
The longer he spoke, the more Elizabeth wanted him to continue. It struck her that what she knew of him, she had discovered in tiny pieces over the course of many encounters; he guarded himself closely—at least from her. “Is Hyde Park large enough for your purposes?”
He made a noise that suggested he had not considered the matter before. “I suppose I would say there are usually too many people about to remind me sufficiently of being in the country. But I am very glad we have it at our disposal.”
Elizabeth chuckled, although she was not sure why.
It might be because his answer was exactly what she would have expected of him—and, coincidentally—what she would have said.
“It is a little too orderly, as well, do you not think? And there is a lack of diversity I find unfortunate. A greater variety of trees and a few flowers here and there would make it much more interesting. But is it permitted to speak of the great park in such a manner, sir?”
To her surprise, Mr Darcy laughed, and in so doing, he smiled more easily and broadly than he usually did. There was no denying it added to his good looks. “I think we are safe, as long as no one learns of our opinion.”
She pressed her lips together to avoid smiling too much. It took even more effort not to shake her head in wonder. If she did not know him, and how they had always been together, she would be tempted to say they had just flirted with each other.
They walked in silence for a short while, and she occupied herself by taking in everything she saw about her.
She no longer heard Rebecca and Miss Darcy speaking, and a quick glance over her shoulder showed that Rebecca and Lord Bramwell were not far behind Mr Darcy and her, with Miss Darcy and Mrs Annesley at a greater distance.
The viscount was speaking animatedly, and although Rebecca did not appear to be listening, Elizabeth suspected she was; it was the position of her head that gave her away.
Mr Darcy evidently also took in where their companions were and said, “Mrs Annesley is not a great walker. I arranged for my carriage to meet her and my sister at one of the gates. They will return to my townhouse ahead of the rest of us and ensure refreshments are available once we have joined them.”
She nodded in thanks for the information, and they continued to stroll for some time.
For the most part, Lord Bramwell managed to keep Rebecca to himself, but after Miss Darcy and Mrs Annesley left them, the remaining four—Marian, Mr Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and herself—remained more closely together, enabling them to chat.
All in all, it was a pleasant way to occupy the afternoon.
And there is more to come, she reflected. They would return to Mr Darcy’s house, and although she had not anticipated it previously, she was curious to see what his home was like.