Chapter Nine
“Miss Elizabeth.”
It took Elizabeth a moment to force her weary eyes open.
Darcy had ordered his coachman to push hard, and with a prime team of six horses in the traces and regular changes for fresh steeds, they had covered the miles between Derbyshire and Meryton faster than she would have ever thought possible.
They had spent but a single night on the road, in a fine coaching inn, but they had not stopped until after dark and were off again before dawn.
Despite the superb quality of Darcy’s carriage, she had managed little sleep.
Mrs Gardiner drowsed beside her, head against the cushioned squabs, and opposite Mr Gardiner was soundly asleep too, small snores emitting from his open mouth. Only Mr Darcy appeared wide awake, his eyes fixed on her face. It was his voice that had spoken her name, she realized.
“We are almost arrived,” he said, and she started, looking out of the window to see that he was correct. Indeed, they were just passing the avenue of silver birch trees which led to Netherfield’s front portico.
“What time is it?” she asked, her voice thick with sleep. It was that strange, extended summer twilight outside, a faded grey colour washing over the landscape.
“Almost nine,” Darcy said after consulting his pocket-watch. “Are you well? I was loath to wake you, but we will be at Longbourn soon.”
She smiled at him. He had been all consideration on the journey, and it was remarkable how the Darcy name saw everyone leap to serve them at every stop.
They could never have made such good time in the Gardiner’s smaller carriage, either.
Indeed, the Gardiner coachman had been ordered to follow along behind and certainly would not arrive for several days, having to rest the horses regularly to avoid running them to foundering.
Elizabeth could not express her gratitude enough, but Darcy would not hear it, stating only that the blame for Wickham’s actions lay on his shoulders.
Darcy smiled back at her, his eyes filled with warmth, and Elizabeth looked away to cover her confusion. Does he still admire me? How can he, after the way I treated him at Hunsford? And yet... and yet...
Beside her, Mrs Gardiner stirred, and Elizabeth touched her hand lightly.
“We are almost arrived home, Aunt Madeline. It is late and I expect the children will be abed, but no doubt they will be delighted to be woken by our arrival.”
Mrs Gardiner smiled even as she leaned forward to pat her snoring husband’s knee. Mr Gardiner woke with a snort, but soon found a smile for his wife.
Just a few minutes later the horses were drawing up in front of Longbourn’s mellowed-stone facade, Darcy’s footman opening the door immediately and lowering the step.
The two gentlemen exited first, Mr Gardiner immediately turning to offer his wife his hand, which left Darcy to assist Elizabeth.
Even though he could easily have left the job to his footman, Darcy extended his hand to Elizabeth with another of those warm smiles just as he had been doing at every stop since Derbyshire.
Even though she wore gloves, she could have sworn she could feel the heat of his hand through the thin cotton as his fingers folded firmly around hers.
He was rock-steady as she stepped down, and just as her foot landed on the ground Longbourn’s door swung open and Jane’s glad cries of welcome reached her ears.
Elizabeth still spared a moment for a quiet word of thanks to Darcy, and he inclined his head to her in return before releasing her hand. A moment later she was enveloped in Jane’s loving embrace.
Jane was not the only one overjoyed to see her; Kitty was exceptionally clingy and even Mary showed a surprising amount of emotion when Elizabeth drew her into a warm hug.
Elizabeth only hoped they were not looking for her to magically fix things, because she had not the slightest idea what to do next.
“Have you heard from Papa yet?” she asked, once they were all inside, the Gardiners hurrying off to the nursery to see their brood.
“Just this afternoon,” Jane said, but she was looking strangely at something behind Elizabeth. Turning, she realised Mr Darcy stood quietly behind her, hat still held in his hands.
“Ah,” Elizabeth said. “Mr Darcy was with me when your letters arrived, Jane. Indeed, it is his carriage that has conveyed us here from Derbyshire so quickly, and he intends to go on to Brighton to ensure that Wickham will present no difficulties.” She gave Jane a meaningful look.
“I... see.” Jane glanced sideways at Mary and Kitty, who were both staring at Darcy with utter confusion on their expressions.
“I will be departing for Brighton imminently,” Darcy said, “I only wished to pay my respects, Miss Bennet.”
“Oh Mr Darcy, no,” Elizabeth turned to him at once. “You would get no more than a few miles before it would grow too dark to proceed. Pray, stay at Longbourn tonight... I myself wish to go to Brighton tomorrow, and I hope my uncle will also accompany us.”
“You are most welcome to be our guest tonight, Mr Darcy,” Jane said immediately, ever gracious.
“Mary, Kitty, since Hill is presently occupied would you be so kind as to open the second guest chamber for Mr Darcy? I will have Hill make beds available for your coachmen too, Mr Darcy, and there is room in our stables for your horses although I do not doubt the accommodations are not what such magnificent beasts are accustomed to.”
It was the longest speech Darcy had ever heard from Jane Bennet. Knowing that she was aware of his role in persuading Bingley away from Netherfield, her gracious welcome was far more than he deserved. He bowed in profound gratitude.
“You are very kind, Miss Bennet, and I gladly accept your kind offer of Longbourn’s hospitality. As for travelling on to Brighton, Miss Elizabeth, of course I am happy for you to accompany me as long as an adequate chaperone can be found, if your uncle is not prepared to go with you.”
“I will go with you,” Jane said immediately, and Darcy saw Elizabeth look at her sister in surprise.
“Not knowing is driving me mad, Lizzie,” Jane continued.
“Papa’s letter said very little, only that they had arrived in Brighton safely and were staying in a hotel as guests of a General Lewes.
He says that he will write again soon, but it takes two days at least for the post to arrive and I cannot bear the waiting! ”
Small fists were clenched at her sides, and Darcy thought that he had never seen Jane Bennet show such emotion. Elizabeth did not seem particularly struck by her sister’s attitude, though, merely nodding.
“We will consult with Aunt and Uncle in the morning. Mr Darcy, shall we go down to the stables with your coachmen before we wash up? You can assure yourself that they are well settled and I can introduce them to John Coachman.”
He wanted to tell her to rest after the long, exhausting day of travel, but the truth was he would take any excuse to spend any moment of time in her company he could get.
So he offered his arm and she placed her gloved hand on it to accompany him back out to where his servants and horses waited patiently.
“We’ll be staying the night, Briggs,” Darcy said, and didn’t miss his coachman’s look of relief. “Longbourn’s hospitality is extended to us, and I am assured that not only can their stables provide shelter for our horses, but beds will be found for the three of you as well.”
“Very good, sir.” Briggs nodded, and the footmen did too, all of them bowing to Elizabeth as she pointed the way around the side of the house to the stables.
Darcy found himself looking around as they walked along Longbourn’s western flank.
He had not visited the house during his previous stay in the county, and he found it both larger and more charming than he had expected.
Built of a mellow pinkish-red stone, it glowed softly in the late evening light, warm and welcoming.
Seven or eight main bedrooms, he guessed from a surreptitious count of windows on the second floor, and several more in the attics, probably including the nursery.
Longbourn was a handsome house in good condition, but Darcy understood why Mr Bennet lacked for funds to dower his daughters.
Several of Meryton’s other residents had mentioned the insufficient lands attached to the estate, and without many fields to farm or tenants to pay rent, Longbourn’s income would never provide sufficient funds for such a large family to put any away for the future.
Elizabeth was already speaking to the man who came to the stable door at the sound of the carriage, introducing Briggs and the two footmen by their names and entreating her man to be sure Darcy’s horses were well cared for and his men provided every comfort.
“As you wish, Miss Lizzy,” the grizzled stableman agreed equably, tugging his forelock vaguely in Darcy’s direction even as his eyes greedily ate up the team of chestnuts hitched to the carriage. “Coo, I ain’t never seen bloodstock so fine as them!”
Confident the horses and his men were in careful hands, Darcy was happy to follow Elizabeth back to the house. They entered through a rear door into a smaller back hall, where a delicious smell reached his nostrils and caused his stomach to emit an embarrassingly loud rumble.
Elizabeth pressed her fingers to her lips to muffle a ladylike giggle, her eyes sparkling up at him.
“That smells as though Cook has been persuaded to rustle up a late supper for us, Mr Darcy. We shall not stand on ceremony, so if you would care to remove your coat, hat and gloves, you can wash up in here before we go in to eat.” She gestured to a small retiring-room off the hall.