Chapter Nine #9
“Of course.” Stephen bowed his acknowledgement of her caution. “Your family are lucky to have you as their protector, and I assure you I would never . . . contemplating a flirtation would not have me this out of sorts.”
They looked at each other, both surprised at his admission.
He laughed and then said, “Once again, I must make apologies. Please forgive my bluntness. I hope I have not lost the chance to call you friend. Darcy is always telling me I have picked up bad habits in the army. Please don’t tell him I finally realised he may be right. ”
“You are forgiven, and your secret is safe with me,” Elizabeth assured him. “I would be glad to consider you a friend. I seem unable to resist any of your family.”
“That is good to hear, and if I might, before we become prim and proper once again, express a similar caution to you regarding my family—some of them are so used to things being one way they have a difficult time adjusting to something new. Be patient.”
“Georgiana is doing so well adjusting to her role as mistress. I do not know that my patience is required, but I will always support her,” Elizabeth answered, uncertain why the colonel thought this advice necessary.
“I agree and have no doubt she can always rely on you, but I was not speaking of Miss Darcy.”
Elizabeth tried to discern his meaning, but in the moments she took to form her questions, the carriage rolled up the drive and Jane, Bingley and Georgiana came out the door, followed by Darcy.
Goodbyes were said—with Georgiana and Bingley being the most effusive about the sorrow of parting and the necessity of meeting again soon.
“I shall not lament overlong,” Georgiana sighed dramatically, grasping Elizabeth’s hands. “I know I shall see you the day after tomorrow for our ride.”
“Capital,” Bingley declared before immediately enquiring if Miss Bennet would join.
“I am afraid I cannot. I promised my aunt I would accompany her on her calls that day,” Jane said. “But I believe you all shall be invited to Barlow Hall for dinner next week. My aunt does not let visitors to the neighbourhood go too long before entertaining them.”
“We are always delighted to visit Barlow Hall,” Darcy offered his first comment.
Though he said delighted, his tone was the formal indifferent one Elizabeth disliked.
Regardless, she offered him a smile and then accepted Mr. Bingley’s hand up into the carriage.
When she saw the colonel perform the same office for Jane, she wondered how he had outmanoeuvred Bingley.
Then she remembered he had been recognised in the military for his strategic prowess, so it was probably an easy accomplishment.
She was laughing to herself about this when she caught a glimpse of Darcy out the window.
He stood apart from the others, and his gaze was fixed on the carriage, on the window, on her?
His expression was not one she liked at all.
He was looking at her as if she were a puzzle that he needed to solve, and this did not please him.
It did not please her either. She wanted her friend back, wanted to be his friend once again.
She wondered what had caused this distance between them.
Two days later, Elizabeth arrived at Pemberley once again, eager to see her friend and take their horses out. Mrs. Reynolds ushered her into the front parlour, indicating Miss Darcy would be there presently. Before her arrival, another lady swept into the room.
“Miss Elizabeth,” she said. “It seems like you just left and here you are back again.”
“Miss Darcy and I are to ride this afternoon,” she answered, trying to maintain her equanimity.
It was clear that Miss Bingley did not like her, and she knew it was likely because Elizabeth was an intimate with the family and Miss Bingley desired this for herself.
But what did she think would be accomplished by her rudeness?
“Are you having a pleasant visit?”
“Oh, yes,” Miss Bingley enthused. “Mr. Darcy is the perfect host, and Pemberley is beyond compare.”
“Pemberley is quite special,” Elizabeth agreed, glad they had found common ground. “And I know Miss Darcy is delighted to host you all. Though she is young, she is already a wonderful mistress, is she not?”
“Certainly,” Miss Bingley agreed. “She is doing as well as can be expected, although I am certain Mr. Darcy longs for a wife to fulfil that role. It is natural Miss Darcy, being full young, does not know all that is required.”
This critique surprised Elizabeth, as she was ready to bond with Miss Bingley in their mutual admiration of all things Pemberley and Darcy.
“I thank you for the compliment, Miss Bingley,” Georgiana said from the doorway. “Hello, Lizzy.”
“Good morning, Georgiana,” Elizabeth said, wondering at her friend’s formal tone. “Miss Bingley, would you excuse us?”
“Yes, of course. Enjoy your ride, and perhaps when your friend has gone and it is just the intimate party once again, I could assist you in planning the menus for the remainder of our visit.”
“That is so kind of you, but I must decline. I have already set the menus and Mrs. Reynolds has arranged the procurement of the ingredients needed for the planned meals, so I would not want to make any changes at this time. It would be a great inconvenience to the staff.”
“You mustn’t be so concerned with such things,” Miss Bingley advised with a wave of her hand. “Your staff are here to please you and—”
“Thank you for so generously and persistently offering your opinions, but I must insist that the menus are set. Will you excuse us now? I do not wish to detain Lizzy any longer when I know she is longing to set out.”
Miss Bingley gave a regal nod of her head, and Georgiana practically dragged Elizabeth from the room. When they had reached the path to the stable, and her friend had not slowed down or offered a word of explanation, Elizabeth asked, “What was that? Why were you so curt with Miss Bingley?”
“I am sorry, Lizzy,” Georgiana said, throwing her hands in the air. “I cannot cope with her anymore!”
“She has been difficult?”
“You have no idea, but let us not waste time on her. Her party is to depart tomorrow week. I can survive until then.”
They had reached the stables, and Pemberley’s stablemaster led Neptune and Zeus out to where they stood.
“Thank you, Branson,” they said at the same time.
“Miss Darcy, Miss Elizabeth.” He nodded to them. “Enjoy your ride. Adam will be here when you return and can take charge of their care.”
They mounted and set out side by side. After a few minutes, Georgiana spoke.
“Shall we ride hard through the fields and then go to the pond?” she asked.
They had almost reached the edge of the fields, but going all the way to the pond on the far side of Pemberley would take them at least another hour.
It was not a route they took often because of the distance, but it was one of Elizabeth’s favourites.
There were several jumps, and the path wound through the woods for about half of the journey.
It meant a slower pace, but the scenery was beautiful and unique.
After she agreed to the plan, Georgiana spurred Zeus on, leaving Elizabeth behind. But not for long.
The girls’ laughter as they raced across the last pasture echoed against the trees, after which they slowed their pace and entered the woods.
“Now, I hope you will explain yourself to me,” Georgiana said suddenly. “We seem to be working at cross purposes, and I must know your intentions.”
“Explain what? Intentions with what?”
“Your sister, to start with.”
“What has Jane to do with anything?” Elizabeth was genuinely confused.
“I was trying to create opportunities for Mr. Bingley and Jane to get to know one another, and you seemed intent on preventing it.” Georgiana sounded truly put out.
“I had not realised,” Elizabeth laughed. “I certainly was not actively trying to stop you. It is only,” here she paused, uncertain how to explain herself. “I was only trying to do what it seemed would make Jane the most comfortable.”
“Did I overstep?” Georgiana asked. “I would not wish for Jane to feel uncomfortable at Pemberley for anything.”
“It is not that. You did nothing untoward.”
“Very well, then can you assist me tomorrow at dinner—let us ensure she and Mr. Bingley have every opportunity to spend time together.”
“I have no objection to Jane and Mr. Bingley getting to know one another, but let us not be prescriptive about it. There are a number of people Jane and I do not know, and tomorrow’s dinner and the other outings we have planned over the next two weeks will provide opportunities for us to see and know all of the new people. ”
“So you are hoping for time with someone in particular?”
Elizabeth and Georgiana had never spoken of Elizabeth’s feelings for her brother.
Lizzy assumed her friend knew only because when she was younger, Lizzy was less than subtle about it.
Thinking on those years sometimes still made her blush with embarrassment.
Since Georgiana had never brought it up, Elizabeth had not either.
“That is not what I said.”
“That is not an answer,” Georgiana countered.
They rode side by side, still about half an hour from their destination. “Have you developed a preference for my cousin?”
Without meaning to, Elizabeth pulled Neptune up short. “Colonel Fitzwilliam? Whyever would you think that?”
As it turned out, the easy rapport she and Stephen had quickly established could be misconstrued.
“I am sorry,” Georgiana said once they had canvassed it all and it was clear Elizabeth had no interest in her cousin and implied that she suspected some mutual interest between him and Jane which, as it turned out, thwarted another of Georgiana’s plans—this time for Jane and Mr. Bingley.
“Perhaps we should both give up any pretence at matchmaking,” Elizabeth laughed. “We are hopeless.”