Chapter 17
The hunting party set out at dawn.
From the window of her room, Elizabeth watched them depart, heavy-hearted and regretful. The sun was just rising, and it was impossible to decide whether the sky or the fields looked more beautiful. She should have learned to ride earlier.
She could see Jane near Mr Bingley, and she smiled, imagining how happy her sister must feel.
Though their engagement had yet to be approved by Mr Bennet, Mr Bingley proved to be incapable of withholding such a secret—so much so that the happiness of it seemed to illuminate his face.
Generously, Mrs Gardiner took on the task of writing Mr Bennet herself, and she did not hesitate to assure Mr Bingley and Jane that they would surely have Mr Bennet’s consent and blessing.
Hence, the engagement lost its secrecy almost immediately.
Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst were shocked and angered by the news, and their rudeness increased accordingly. Though they made an effort to display civil behaviour, their displeasure and disapproval could hardly be concealed.
Lady Sinclair wasted little time and even less interest on the event, but she could not be remiss in congratulating Jane for the good fortune of “securing a husband whom you surely could not hope to find in your own neighbourhood.” Kindly, Jane thanked her for the good thoughts while Elizabeth wondered how Lady Sinclair managed to be even more disagreeable than Miss Bingley.
Still attempting to bring order to the storm of thoughts that invaded her mind and heart, Elizabeth returned to her bed as soon as the house quieted.
When she woke again, the sun was up, and a beautiful, warm, sunny day invited her outdoors.
She hurried downstairs and found the children and their governesses having breakfast together.
Three little boys and a girl instantly claimed her notice with restless determination, and their joy soon captured Elizabeth’s complete attention.
Immediately after breakfast, the children went out and played together on the front lawn under the close supervision of their governesses.
Alone in the house, Elizabeth tentatively returned to the library and, more precisely, to the subject of her deep curiosity.
As she had spied a few days before, on the shelves were miniatures in which she could easily recognise Lady Selina, the colonel, the viscount, Mr Darcy and Georgiana—some alone and others with their parents.
For a moment, Elizabeth took up and looked closer at a portrait of the entire Darcy family: a beautiful, blonde lady and a handsome and impressive father together with their young son and baby girl.
At length, Elizabeth reached the miniatures that had intrigued her earlier.
Undoubtedly, in all three of them, Mr Wickham was pictured—at various ages—with a lady who should have been his mother.
Her handsome features were inherited by her son, and their eyes seemed as similar as the pictures were able to reveal.
Elizabeth looked at each with growing interest and no little puzzlement, trying to uncover the mystery that induced Lord Matlock to keep those miniatures close to his family’s.
After all, Mr Wickham was merely the godson of his brother-in-law.
The only answers she could find gave her little satisfaction, so she abandoned the struggle, and for some time she allowed herself the delight of reading a favourite book.
Then, a couple of hours later, she returned to the miniatures—to those of the Darcy family—lost in her thoughts and troubled by other worries: What would Lady Anne and Mr Darcy say about their son’s choice?
Would they accept for their heir a woman from a situation so below their own? Would they ever have accepted her?
She was abruptly interrupted by a din of voices, and she barely had time to raise her eyes before she saw Lady Selina and her husband, Mrs Gardiner, Jane, Mr Bingley, Georgiana and Mr Darcy filling the large room.
All were dressed in their hunting attire, obviously tired but in high spirits, followed by the children, coming in search of Elizabeth.
As Lady Selina and Mrs Gardiner were instantly claimed by their brood, Lord Brightmore and Mr Bingley hurried to find drinks for everyone.
Mr Darcy moved towards Elizabeth, and their smiles met halfway.
His hand asked for hers, and only then did she notice she was still holding the miniature of the Darcy family. She blushed in embarrassment and struggled for an excuse.
“I was looking at the pictures…” she said, showing him the miniature.
He appeared surprised and glanced at the picture then at Elizabeth.
“I remember when that one was drawn. Georgiana was so small… My mother held her but she was not feeling well…so my father took her from time to time, but she was not accustomed to his arms so she cried all the time. Poor father was so distressed.” He laughed nervously as he explained, his countenance changed by evident emotion.
“Your mother was very beautiful,” she whispered.
“My sister was one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.” Lord Matlock’s interruption startled them both; they were still holding the miniature with their joined hands and had no time to separate. The earl seemed not to notice their improper posture.
“I think Georgiana will be just like her one day. She is still very young, but she looks very much like Anne.”
“Forgive me, your lordship, I did not mean to intrude; I just found the miniatures and—”
“Oh, do not trouble yourself, my dear; there is no intrusion at all. You will find many other pictures in the house. There is even a larger gallery upstairs. You may look as much as you want. George Darcy was very lucky to marry my sister; I think every bachelor in London hoped to court her, but he was the fortunate one. He was a good man; he almost deserved her.” The earl laughed as he fought a tear.
“Mathew, be so kind as to pour me a full glass of brandy, son; it is the least you can do since you took away my daughter.” His son-in-law obeyed instantly, laughing in good humour, oblivious to their conversation.
The earl enjoyed a generous gulp of brandy. “Miss Elizabeth?”
“Yes, your lordship?” she whispered, her hand finally separating from Darcy’s.
“Anne always hoped and prayed that her children would have a happy life; she wished nothing less and nothing more for them. As for George Darcy—he was not a man easy to please, but he would approve of you very much.”
Elizabeth stared at him in disbelief; with a large smile on his face and with sadness impossible to conceal in his eyes, Lord Matlock watched her with tender care.
She struggled against her own emotions, considering what she should say and briefly wondering whether the earl knew about their arrangement or was only perceptive enough to guess the truth.
Finally, still uncertain how to proceed, she allowed her heart to guide her, so she gently embraced the earl and only whispered, “Thank you.”
“There is nothing to thank me for, my dear.” He took another gulp from his glass then returned to the other guests, followed by Elizabeth’s smiling eyes.
Darcy and Elizabeth were alone again, face to face, a short distance from the others; their intense gazes needed no words to convey their feelings.
“I wrote your father last night, and I asked Miles to send the letter early this morning. I suspect your father might receive it tomorrow,” he eventually broke the silence.
“Oh,” she said. So he had already written her father; he had little patience for waiting. She felt content—and happy.
“I also asked him to keep the news private for now. I think we should wait a little longer before making an announcement. I do not wish to suspend Bingley’s joy. He deserves to be the centre of attention for a time. I hope you approve my plan.”
“I do—most heartily.” She smiled. “I can wait as long as you think necessary.”
“Not too long. Though I care about Bingley’s joy, I care more about my own. I have been a selfish man all my life, and I surely shall not start being generous now.”
∞∞∞
The entire party retired to change and prepare for an early dinner.
Elizabeth spent some time with her sister, who seemed not fatigued at all.
Jane was more talkative than ever before.
Elizabeth never would have imagined Jane displaying her happiness so openly, and though she did not entirely agree with Jane’s praise of Mr Bingley, her heart melted seeing that Jane had finally found the happiness she long desired.
Though they did not have Mr Bennet’s response yet, Jane hoped their father would approve a wedding date at the beginning of October. Elizabeth smiled in tender understanding; surely, there was no reason to worry about Mr Bennet’s consent.
Dinner began earlier and lasted longer than usual.
The conversation was mostly dominated by discussions of the hunting party and the performance of each rider.
Lady Sinclair had the pleasure of being much admired and praised for her skills; more than once, she commented that she raced against Mr Darcy, and only the superiority of his horse allowed him to win the competition.
After the third mention of her defeat by Darcy, the gentleman finally intervened.
“Lady Sinclair, I must beg your pardon; I was not aware that we were racing. I thought we were merely riding with the others. Had I known it was a competition, I gladly would have allowed you to win it.”
“You are most generous, sir, but I do not like easy victories. There would be no need for you to allow me to win. I always find a way to win competitions that truly interest me.”
“I dare not contradict you further,” he said briefly, and Elizabeth wondered whether it was possible that Lady Sinclair did not recognise his sharp irony. He was not being generous but slightly rude.