Chapter 15
“You are beautiful, Lizzy,” Mrs Gardiner said from the doorway.
Elizabeth abandoned her image in the mirror and glanced at her aunt.
“You look beautiful, Aunt. I really believe this trip suits you very well indeed.”
“Thank you, dear. I am just enjoying the pleasant company, and I am glad to see my children so happy.”
“I am grateful to know you have good friends like Lord Matlock and Lady Selina. I am well aware that your situation is perfectly safe and there is no need to worry for your and my cousins’ well-being, but the comfort of a close friend is more valuable than anything.”
“True, dearest; Lady Selina and her family have been of great help. I could never thank them enough,” Mrs Gardiner replied, and Elizabeth saw that her aunt was slightly embarrassed.
“And I have to say, aunt, I felt honoured and a little overwhelmed that Lord Matlock offered us rooms in the family wing. It is quite astonishing.”
“I was surprised, too. I never thought that… It is an honour, indeed. Lord Matlock is very kind, and he is truly fond of you, dearest. I wonder whether he still tries to marry you to his sons,” Mrs Gardiner tried to joke. “Did you speak with Jane? How is she?”
“Yes, I did. I visited a little earlier. She has a splendid apartment on the corner, just at the end of this wing. I thought we easily could have stayed together; there was no need to have separate rooms. I miss talking to Jane. I think she has a lot to share, and I have not spent enough time with her these last few days.”
“Well, you will have plenty of time to spend together when you return to Hertfordshire. And, with God’s will, perhaps she will have even more things to share then. I wonder when Mr Bingley will take the plunge.”
“Mr Bingley seems completely bewitched, poor man. I think he cannot even breathe without her. He must do something sometime soon; I am certain of that.”
“And what about you, Lizzy, do you not have anything to share?”
“No…nothing to share at the moment. I think we are expected at dinner; it is quite late.”
Elizabeth’s estimation about being late proved correct. By the time they arrived, the entire party was gathered in the drawing room.
Their hosts greeted them and then seated them near Jane and Georgiana. Elizabeth cast a quick glance to Darcy; he was seated in a corner next to the colonel and the viscount.
“Lady Selina was so kind as to offer me one of her horses,” Jane whispered to Elizabeth.
“I have one for Mrs Gardiner, too.” Lady Selina smiled. “Tomorrow we shall go for a long ride to become accustomed to the horses. We do not want surprises during the hunt.”
“What about you, Miss Elizabeth? Did you bring your own mount?” Lady Sinclair asked.
“Oh, Eliza does not ride. She is much fonder of walking,” Miss Bingley replied.
“Walking? What do you mean walking? Surely you cannot pretend to walk on country roads—any farther than the back garden!”
“Eliza is quite fond of walking on country roads. I remember one time she walked more than three miles to Netherfield, and it was just a day after rain,” Miss Bingley continued.
“You cannot be serious,” Lady Sinclair replied, looking straight at Elizabeth, her tone as contemptuous as her gaze.
“I am perfectly serious, I assure you,” Miss Bingley insisted. “Eliza is here; she can tell you all the details.”
Both women looked at her, but Elizabeth remained silent, holding their stares.
From the corner of her eye, she could see Darcy and the young Matlocks obviously on edge.
She turned to Darcy for a moment, and their eyes met enough to share a smile.
He took a gulp from his wine. She did not need his help; her smile told him as much.
“Well, Miss Elizabeth?” asked Lady Sinclair impatiently. “What have you to say? Is it true you do not ride? And did you really walk three miles?”
“I could say quite a lot, but I will restrain myself from doing so. I have learned that it is a lady’s virtue not to say everything that crosses her mind,” Elizabeth said with sharp mockery.
“As for whether I prefer riding or walking, Miss Bingley seems excessively familiar with my likes and dislikes; it must be a proof of her affection and friendship—for which I am grateful.”
“But if you do not ride, I am certain you do not hunt either. Why did you come to a hunting party?” Lady Sinclair asked impatiently. The rudeness of her question made Georgiana and Jane turn pale and took Elizabeth by surprise.
“That is not—” Darcy began firmly, but Elizabeth interrupted him as she replied.
“I do not ride and certainly do not hunt, but I can still enjoy the beauties of Matlock, and I dare say that is sufficient reason to accept Lord Matlock’s generous invitation.
I am certain I will find other pleasant ways to employ my time.
Besides, though your ladyship enjoys riding and hunting, I am certain those are not the only reasons you decided to join the party, Lady Sinclair,” Elizabeth said, her expression light and amused.
Lady Sinclair needed a long moment to reply.
“I am an excellent rider and an excellent hunter,” she stated impetuously.
“Nobody doubts your hunting skills, Eve,” said Lord Matlock, approaching and patting her shoulder. “You need not share it so openly. I would suggest more discretion, dear.”
The colonel’s laughter burst out like a gust of wind while all the others seemed dumbfounded. Darcy properly hid his laugh behind his glass while Bingley looked completely lost, uncertain whether he should laugh or not. Jane’s apparent discomfort forbade his being amused.
Lady Sinclair’s anger changed her countenance; she looked pointedly at Elizabeth and demanded a glass of wine as she struggled to regain her composure.
“Why are you laughing, Robert? More discretion would do you no harm either from time to time, boy,” Lord Matlock continued, oblivious to the tension around him. It was difficult to ignore that he had already enjoyed a few more brandies than he should have.
The colonel laughed louder; this time, Mr Bingley considered it safe to join him.
“Eve was questioning Miss Elizabeth about why she came to the party,” explained Lady Selina. “It seems Eve is equally displeased with the children attending the party and with Miss Elizabeth, but unfortunately we can do little to improve her comfort.”
“Well, I can easily understand Eve being displeased with Miss Elizabeth’s presence.
Come, let us go the dining room; dinner is waiting.
I am starving; brandy always makes me hungry.
Eve darling, do not be upset; hunting skills are not always successful,” the earl concluded, attempting to take Lady Sinclair’s arm.
But she turned her back to the others, walked alone to the dining room, and then seated herself towards the middle of the table without asking whether there were fixed arrangements.
Elizabeth remained a few steps behind while the pairs followed Lord Matlock: Jane and Bingley, Lady Selina and her husband, the colonel and his brother.
The Darcy siblings stayed with Elizabeth. Mr Darcy was silent and seemed preoccupied while Miss Darcy was positively worried.
“Eve is very impolite; she always has been,” whispered Georgiana.
“Miss Bennet.” They turned and looked at Mr Darcy, surprised by his intervention. His eyes were locked on Elizabeth’s face.
“I understand your wish of my not interfering, but if this kind of conversation continues, I shall not remain silent.” He seemed severe and preoccupied, and Elizabeth smiled at him.
Dinner passed uneventfully as their attention was deservedly directed towards their plates and the skilfully prepared dishes meant to satisfy the most pretentious and severe tastes.
Afterwards, the entire party returned to the drawing room, where coffee and drinks were served together as Lord Matlock declared he was not inclined to separate from the ladies; shortly, he kindly asked the ladies to play and sing for them.
Georgiana instantly paled, looking at her brother with obvious worry. However, she had no reason for concern. Miss Bingley, Mrs Hurst, and Lady Sinclair instantly responded to the request, eager to entertain the gentlemen.
Elizabeth could not help wondering why such a beautiful woman as Lady Sinclair was trying so hard to raise Mr Darcy’s interest—and with apparently so little success.
She slowly turned to watch his expression closely.
He was speaking with his uncle and his cousins without a trace of interest in the performer at the pianoforte.
He caught her glance and their eyes locked an instant; a small, barely visible smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
She smiled back, slowly averting her eyes from him.
After the ladies performed, the guests took their places around the card tables. Mrs Gardiner declined playing as did Elizabeth.
“Miss Eliza, you still despise playing cards?” asked Miss Bingley.
“I do not despise playing cards, Miss Bingley, as I previously had the pleasure of informing you last year at Netherfield. I am simply not inclined to play at the moment.”
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet always prefers reading to cards.” Miss Bingley smiled with irony.
“I am not surprised,” Lady Sinclair replied. “Reading is exceedingly boring. Mr Darcy, why are you still standing, sir? Will you not come and play with us?”
“No…no thank you. I am not inclined to play cards at the moment, either. In fact, I would rather read if I could only find a book to raise my interest.” He then turned to Elizabeth and said with perfect composure:
“I am considering searching for a book in the library. Miss Elizabeth, Georgiana, would you care to join me? I am sure you will find something to interest you.”