Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Almost too soon for Elizabeth’s comfort, the carriage arrived in Mayfair and stopped in front of Darcy House. It was a large, imposing structure built of white stone, several stories tall, and one of only two houses on that block. Almost directly across the street was an entrance to Hyde Park.
The front door opened before Elizabeth could exit the carriage, and Mr Darcy stepped out.
Waving away the footman who opened the carriage door, he held out his hand to help Elizabeth down.
“Welcome to Darcy House, Miss Bennet,” he said in his deep voice, sounding gravely pleased, his eyes reflecting his turmoil.
“I wish it were under better circumstances, but I cannot express how pleased I am to have you here. I hope you like Darcy House.”
“Thank you, sir,” she breathed, suddenly shy of the man.
“I thank you for the arrangements you made on my behalf. Lady Catherine insisted I was to blame for your abrupt departure and for your refusal to marry her daughter. She demanded Mr Collins kick me out of the parsonage immediately, and he was pleased to do so. I honestly do not know what I would have done had the carriage not arrived at the door when it did.”
He scowled at his aunt’s actions but, recalling her presence, quickly shifted his mouth to a smile as he offered his arm and escorted her inside.
On the way to the drawing room, he asked a footman to call his sister to join them in a few minutes.
He led her to a settee, where he sat beside her and said, “I must apologise for my aunt, Miss Bennet. Before we left for London, Richard and I discussed my aunt and felt that she might take out her anger at my refusal on you. He told me I was not as circumspect in my admiration for you as I believed and that our aunt noticed my attention to you, especially since she brought your name up when I refused her demand to marry Anne. I do not know why she thought that, as I have refused to do as she commanded for years now, I began to worry she may take action against you after I left. I apologise if my actions to protect you were in any way officious; it was not my intention to be high-handed, but I do try to protect those I care about.” He blushed slightly as if he had not meant to blurt out the last part of his statement.
Elizabeth also coloured at the implication of his words and the confirmation of his care for her—or was it something more driving his actions?
“Again, I thank you for the steps you took to ensure I was protected. Your notes assured me of your good intentions, and I appreciate that you attempted to ensure my reputation and safety. Lady Catherine was not concerned for either, and my cousin, miserable toad that he is, was more than happy to cast me out without concern for either. I believe he was hoping for my ruination and was pleased by the prospect of getting retaliation for my refusing him. He was confused and dismayed when the carriage arrived and obviously displeased to learn it had been sent for me. I do not know what Lady Catherine’s reaction might have been, but I doubt she was pleased about the circumstances of my rescue either. ”
He scowled and muttered something that sounded like an imprecation directed at Lady Catherine and Mr Collins under his breath.
Just then, a lovely blonde-haired young lady walked into the room, her eyes wide in surprise.
Elizabeth and Darcy both stood, and Darcy reached his hand out towards the girl.
“Georgiana, allow me to introduce you to Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” he said. “Miss Bennet, this is my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy.”
They curtsied to each other, and Miss Darcy mumbled, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Bennet,” barely glancing up from her feet.
Elizabeth immediately realised Miss Darcy was extremely shy and likely embarrassed at finding her brother and a lady alone in their house.
“I am so pleased to meet you, Miss Darcy. I have heard many good things about you from your brother and cousin. I have been looking forward to making your acquaintance since your brother mentioned it.”
This startled the girl, and she looked up at Elizabeth.
As Darcy encouraged everyone to take a seat, Georgiana spoke again, slightly louder this time.
“I confess, Miss Bennet, I have been looking forward to meeting you ever since my brother wrote of you when he was in Hertfordshire last autumn.” Darcy and Elizabeth both flushed at this, but Elizabeth recovered more quickly than he.
She laughed. “I can well imagine what Mr Darcy may have said about me then,” she teased.
“You will have to tell me what he wrote so I can counter it and correct your opinion of me. He has not always thought so well of me.” She grinned at Darcy as she said this, and he laughed out loud at her teasing.
“Although, I believe his opinion of me has become more positive since meeting me at Hunsford.”
“That is not true, Miss Bennet, as I told you only yesterday. I have always had a high opinion of you, despite how poorly I might have expressed myself on occasion,” Mr Darcy countered.
Georgiana looked between the two of them, uncertain of how to respond. She was surprised to hear her brother laugh in company, especially with a lady, and was somewhat shocked by Miss Bennet’s teasing him. He seemed to enjoy it, so she smiled and relaxed a little more.
“My brother told me you walked to Netherfield to care for your sister when she was ill, and he enjoyed hearing you play and sing, Miss Bennet. I assure you he was entirely complimentary in his letters,” Georgiana said to her in a rush.
“Then he must have told you I arrived at Netherfield covered in mud from walking three miles after a rain and surely looked a fright,” she joked.
“Miss Bingley mentioned many times during my stay that she was quite shocked at my wild appearance when I arrived on her doorstep with my hair blowing about me and my hem covered in mud. But truly, despite my appearance that day, I am not at all wild, but I was concerned for my sister.”
“You looked entirely lovely when you arrived at Netherfield that morning, Miss Bennet, and I would wish Georgiana would go to the same lengths to care for a sister, if she had one, as you do for yours. I admired your temerity in walking all that way to care for Miss Bennet. I believe not many women would do such, particularly Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst,” Mr Darcy stated.
“Those two would barely cross the room to help each other and would never dream of crossing a field when they could leave the care of their sister to the maids.”
Elizabeth stared at him, amazed at how often she misread him in Hertfordshire.
“Anyone would be willing to do as much for Jane. She is one of the kindest, least assuming persons I have ever known,” she stated, still trying to reconcile her mind to this new understanding of Mr Darcy.
Granted, they became more friendly in Kent, but he had not been this open there.
“Miss Bennet,” Georgiana said after a moment, “we have been remiss in not showing you to your room and offering you refreshments. Would you care for me to show you to your room now, or would you prefer to have refreshments first?”
“If it is all the same to you, Miss Darcy, I would like to be shown to my room to refresh myself from my travels. I walked to Rosings and back in this dress and could not change before boarding the carriage to London. We were in such a hurry to arrive in London before dark that we barely stopped for more than a brief rest,” Elizabeth said.
“When you have refreshed yourself, Miss Bennet, we will have tea served here,” Miss Darcy told her. “I will show you upstairs. Brother, where should we call for you when we are ready?”
Darcy stood as the two ladies did. “I will be in my study, Georgiana,” he said. “Miss Bennet, I am sorry for the circumstances that led to it, but I am glad you are here. Later, if you do not mind, I would like to ask you a few more questions about my aunt and your sudden departure.”
“There is nothing else to tell, but I will gladly answer your questions. I would also like to know what you found when you visited my aunt and uncle yesterday. I assume you still have my letters,” she replied.
“I do, although I did post the letter to your father, and I will give the rest to you when we speak later,” he said, his voice grave.
She nodded to him and followed his sister upstairs.
As they walked, Miss Darcy pointed out the hallways that led to the library and the family wing, where her bedroom was located.
She led Elizabeth up one more flight of stairs to a beautifully appointed guest suite with a dressing room and an attached sitting room.
“This will be your room while you stay here, Miss Bennet. I do hope you will like it.”
“The room is lovely, Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth replied, looking around at the large room. The room was decorated in light blues and greens, and large windows opened to the garden, providing plenty of natural light. “I cannot imagine anyone disliking it. Did you choose the decorations?”
“No, my mother, Lady Anne Darcy, decorated most of the house not long before she passed away. My brother and I like it as it is, although some have suggested that it is not ‘opulent’ enough,” Miss Darcy said, sighing.
“I know we just met, Miss Bennet, but my brother likes you, and I would like to get to know you better. Might we dispense with the formality and use our Christian names with each other?”
“I would be glad to, Georgiana; please call me Elizabeth, or Lizzy, as my sisters do. I am pleased that we will be friends,” Elizabeth returned. “Would you like to stay here while I change my dress so we might continue to get to know one another?”