Chapter 17 #2
“Mr Darcy, you should call him out and teach him a lesson; you are taller than that man, I was told, and have a much better constitution!” she continued to Elizabeth’s utter shock.
“Mama! How can you say such a thing?” Elizabeth’s voice matched the scowl on her face as she looked from an imperturbable Darcy to a pale Georgiana.
“What? Am I not right, Mr Darcy?”
“You are perfectly right, Mrs Bennet.”
“See? See Lizzy? Mr Darcy agrees with me!”
Elizabeth was heartily grateful to her father when he interrupted his wife quite unceremoniously and invited both gentlemen to the library to have a drink before dinner.
She seized the opportunity, with a brief glance directed at Darcy, took Jane and Georgiana by their hands and hurried to their rooms to prepare for dinner.
Downstairs, Mrs Bennet’s nerves discovered another reason for even greater distress: Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy were to remain for dinner, and she was not properly prepared for such an event!
Oh, and the Gardiners were expected to arrive any minute—and tomorrow was the ball!
She would gladly faint and ask for her smelling salts if she did not have so many things to take care of! And nobody around to help her!
“Hill! Mary! Kitty! Where are you all? Come here this instant!”
∞∞∞
Mr and Mrs Gardiner finally arrived at Longbourn, and the reunion was pleasant; the entire evening was generally a relaxing and enjoyable time for everyone.
At some point after dinner, Hill discreetly fetched Elizabeth and directed her to the library, where her father was expecting her.
She obeyed with no little surprise, but her surprise turned to shock when she saw Darcy waiting for her in the hall.
He took her hand and directed her not to the library but into a small adjoining room. He closed the door behind them.
“William, what on earth are you doing?” She was half-amused, half-worried about his strange behaviour in the proximity of her family.
“Do not distress yourself. I have your father’s permission to talk to you a few minutes.”
She instantly turned pale. “William, what has happened?”
He held her hand tightly as they sat together on a small settee, facing each other.
“Please do not worry, Elizabeth. Nothing has happened, but there is something of importance I wish to talk about with you, and I do not think we will have another chance for privacy before the ball.”
She looked at him intensely. “Something did happen…”
“My love, are you still willing to announce our engagement tomorrow night and to share a double wedding with Bingley and Miss Bennet?”
“Why should I not be? I mean…if you are…” She stopped, a little disconcerted, not knowing what he intended.
“Very well then; that is how it will be. Your father seemed quite excited about making the announcement. I dare say he finds great amusement in anticipating reactions to the news.” He laughed shortly, and she joined him.
“But, William, I am sure that is not what you wanted to talk to me about so privately—though I do not mind spending a few minutes alone with you,” she said sweetly.
He lifted her hand to kiss it and then leaned forward, his lips brushing lightly against hers.
“Something will happen…immediately after the ball. I have to return to London as I left some unfinished business that needs my attention immediately. After that, I promise I will not leave you again before the wedding.”
Elizabeth instantly turned pale, and any trace of a smile vanished from her face. Some time passed in complete silence, only their eyes searching the other’s with intense interest and worry.
Finally, she breathed again and whispered, “Then you should go. If you say you need to go, I trust you completely. Last night you returned unexpectedly, so of course you had no time to conclude your affairs.”
Her voice sounded weak but determined, and her eyes, moist with tears, never wavered from his.
“I…” Darcy tried to speak, yet his voice seemed more affected than hers. “There is old business and some new, as well. I just spoke with Mr Bennet and informed him about its nature.”
“I see…and will you tell me more about the nature of this business? Is it related to me?”
“It is,” he answered after a brief hesitation. “But I would rather tell you everything upon my return.”
“Can you not trust me now?”
“Elizabeth…” His voice was beseeching her, as were his dark eyes.
She felt ungrateful and ashamed. He had ridden wildly from London to be with her.
He showed the depth of his love when he believed her to be utterly compromised.
He shared his private affairs with her father.
He had already offered her much more than any other gentleman would have.
How could she dare demand more from him?
However, her suspicions were painfully and unbearably strong, so she needed to ask—she needed to know.
“Early this morning, Mr Bingley sent a servant to inquire after the Markhams. He discovered they departed during the night in the direction of their own estate. Has…has your business something to do with that part of the country? Please tell me you will not leave London.” She searched his face thoroughly while speaking and did not miss the trace of a shadow on his countenance.
His eyes met hers, and she could easily read the turmoil inside him.
His voice came as another proof, but it was his words that calmed her; she was certain he would not deliberately deceive her.
“My business will keep me in London; I shall not travel to that part of the country. Please let us not talk more on this subject for now; I promise I will tell you all you want to know when I come back.”
Her heart was still heavy, and she felt somehow betrayed that he did not trust her enough to share his affairs with her.
After all, she would soon be his wife. Yet, her senses forbade her to go further.
He did promise he would tell her everything, and he did talk about those affairs with another gentleman he trusted—her own father.
She could hardly ask for more. She had to trust him.
“William, I shall not insist further; go, my love. I shall wait for you here, but please finish all your business, as I have no intention of letting you leave me again soon. I intend to keep you prisoner, sir.”
Neither her voice nor expression showed utter relief, but she undoubtedly gave him the opportunity of doing as he wished.
She was proving to him that she respected his will and trusted his decisions.
The first thought that came to Darcy’s mind was simply to thank her, but he had little time to do it, as her lips, soft and sweet, tantalised his and then captured them daringly.
There was only love and tenderness expressed in their kiss. Their lips did not part for a long time, as there was a stronger need for each other than the simple need for breathing. They separated only when a short knock on the door and Mr Bennet’s voice forced them to do so.
∞∞∞
She looked breathtakingly beautiful! David stood in the main hall of Netherfield unable to move, looking at Lady Cassandra as she walked down the stairs with Georgiana.
Everything was glowing around her, yet her face—still wearing the bruises despite her maid’s obvious effort to conceal them—was pale and inexpressive, almost lifeless.
Their eyes met only for a brief moment. He bowed to her, and she tried to force a small gesture of polite courtesy that barely succeeded. Georgiana hurried to her cousin and took his arm.
“David, are you well? I did not see you the entire day.”
“I am sorry dearest; I am simply in no mood for company lately, but I am well.”
“Indeed, you look quite handsome.”
He laughed nervously. “Thank you, my dear. You are too kind. However, you truly are beautiful. I am sure all the gentlemen in the room will fight for a dance with you.”
Georgiana blushed violently. “Oh, you delight in teasing me so! You know too well that I will not dance—I am not out yet. And in truth, I have not the slightest inclination to dance, even if I could.”
He kissed her hand with affection and then smiled and winked at her. “Well, well, and I was tempted to ask you for the first set. Now I shall have to wait for another ball. If you will excuse me, I think the Bennets are here, and I want to greet them.”
He departed with only another short glance at Cassandra. Georgiana’s puzzlement grew until it became distressing: something strange was happening. She had never seen Cassandra and David be in each other’s company and not talk to each other at all.
In another corner of the room, Bingley was looking around with eyes and mouth open in bewilderment: Who were all these people?
They had been arriving since morning, and Bingley barely remembered ever having met some of them before.
At least five families invited by Caroline and Louisa were completely unknown to him.
As for his sisters, he had been equally shocked to see Caroline’s disposition utterly changed from the previous day.
She was neither angry nor rude anymore. Was it possible for her to become so reasonable overnight?
Bingley could only hope for such a miracle.
Several of his guests—Lady Something and her cousins—were just walking down the stairs, attended by a most accommodating Caroline. He politely bowed to them and expressed his hope that they were comfortably installed at Netherfield. They said they were very pleased with their rooms.
He had no time to reply as Jane Bennet and her family entered at that moment. He hurried to her and instantly forgot about the other guests.