10. Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
T here was little doubt in Elizabeth’s mind as to how the rest of the week would unfold for her sister. She watched in happy contentment as Jane and Mr Bingley gradually returned to their former state of affection. Though Jane took a sensible amount of time to assure herself of the sincerity of his regard, she was soon visibly warm towards him every time he entered the room.
Elizabeth had the satisfaction of hearing Mr Darcy spoken of by an admiring friend who had no ulterior motives in his relationship with that gentleman. She frequently wondered at how many around Mr Darcy had schemes for his future and did not bother consulting his possible happiness. Miss Bingley, Mrs Younge, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and Wickham. All were guilty of conniving in some manner or another. No wonder he valued his time with Mr Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam so highly. Other than his company, neither seemed to desire anything from him.
How refreshing that must be for a gentleman in his position! How startled he must have been to have a lady refuse him before he even was able to state his purpose for calling! It must have been a mortifying, novel experience for him. Poor fellow.
Such considerations ran through her mind as she speculated whether that very gentleman would call upon her at the end of the week. He had respected her wishes and had not called. It was just what she would have expected of him. However, that did not prevent her heart from leaping every time she heard a knock at the door. Each time she hoped so powerfully that it would be Mr Darcy that by the time he did arrive, almost to the exact hour of her arrival in London, at the Gardiners’ door, Elizabeth was frantic with anticipation and desperate happiness.
“Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy,” Bessie declared at the door of the drawing room. The young servant gave a proud, small smile towards Elizabeth. But she was too distracted by what was unfolding to give the girl more than a brief nod.
“Please, do come in and join us,” Mrs Gardiner said with only the merest hint of ruffle in her tone. Elizabeth could not ignore the sharp glance her way that her aunt gave her.
Mr Darcy made his way over to Elizabeth, and they exchanged brief pleasantries. He was so controlled in his demeanour that she wondered if he had experienced a change of heart. Elizabeth glanced around the room, overcome by the speculation that he was fault-finding in the style of the furniture or the fabric of the gown that Mrs Gardiner wore.
Recalling his early hesitancy when in company, Elizabeth sat straighter and met his gaze. “And are you finding everything to your satisfaction here in London, sir?”
“I would not use the word ‘satisfaction’ to describe what I am experiencing at this exact moment. It hardly seems to do the sensation justice.”
Elizabeth could not help but smile at this teasing from him. Her urge to needle him back overcame her. “Just how recent was this brightening of your outlook?”
“Oh, well, I think five minutes ago. Give or take a few moments.”
This confirmation made Elizabeth’s heart leap. Her pulse was flashing through the flesh of her neck, her eyes blurring.
His feelings are unchanged. This pause in our acquaintance did nothing to lessen his affection for me.
Elizabeth smiled broadly, hoping to convey that she was gladdened to hear that her demand of one week had apparently only strengthened his feelings towards her.
“And you, Miss Elizabeth? Have you had a pleasurable week?”
“Yes, I thank you for your enquiry. One night at the theatre has been enjoyed, Hyde Park has survived my inspection, any sort of misunderstandings…” She peeked in the direction of Mr Bingley and Jane who were in conversation with her aunt. “…seem to have begun to clarify remarkably well.”
Mr Darcy had the good grace to look down sheepishly.
“The timing of his visit here was so strange! Just after my arrival and, I believe, your arrival in London.”
“You are a remarkably good timekeeper. I visited Bingley just after coming to town, properly contrite, I assure you.”
Elizabeth smiled warmly and without any hesitancy, unashamed to allow him to witness how glad this news made her. It was returned from the gentleman with an equally warm smile that caused her heart to swell within her chest in a startling manner.
“And will your stay in London be long? It is that time of year when gentlemen sometimes begin to hear the call of estate business. Will you be travelling on to Pemberley soon?”
“Uncharacteristically, it seems that London has my full attention at the moment.”
“Out of character? Then perhaps you have been unnaturally swayed from your typical inclinations. An enchantment? Are you the victim of some sort of sorcery?”
With a small laugh, Mr Darcy shook his head. “Nothing so extraordinary. Yet, perhaps I am incorrect. I believe I am under a spell of sorts. Rare. Unsettling.”
Mr Darcy sat near her, close enough so that it would be difficult for any other in the room to overhear their conversation.
“But this spell will not fade or weaken. The last week has made that even more evident. It is not slight or passing in nature. It is steady, and I hope to convince the one who cast it of this fact.”
Elizabeth turned her gaze from him. Again, the speculation of when the moment of love began rose up in her mind. Was it a sudden sweeping transformation? The bolt of lightning that was shouted about from poems and legends? Or was it the gradual slow progression of a full moon across a winter sky?
She was in little doubt that her own heart was growing with strong affection for this man whom she had viewed as almost an adversary during the first few weeks of their acquaintance.
Do any of us truly know the moment when cupid’s arrow cuts into the heated flesh of our hearts?
A glance up at the rest of the company caused her to start. Mrs Gardiner was watching them with the unmistakable sheen of curiosity glowing in her eyes. Elizabeth sat up straighter, hoping to dispel any inappropriate appearance of ease in the gentleman’s company.
“I am looking forward to the Drury Lane Theatre reopening,” Mr Bingley exclaimed as the talk had turned to attending plays and opera. “I attended a performance there the year before it burned to the ground. A wonderful opera with singing and dancing. I was not in town when the fire consumed it. What a tragedy!”
“It was indeed,” Mrs Gardiner said with a slow shake of her head. “It is not too great a distance from here. How we were all awake and praying for those who might be affected!”
“I remember it was just after midnight when we could see that tall plume of fire over the tops of the buildings,” Elizabeth said.
“You were in town at that time?” Mr Darcy asked.
“Yes, visiting here. We had been to several performances in the month prior to the fire. It was tragic and frightening to behold.”
“It was a great misfortune,” her aunt added, “but we were lucky that the conflagration remained within the high stone walls of the theatre, shooting straight up. There was little wind to carry sparks to the roofs of other buildings. We were terrified at the thought that it would spread! Were we not, Elizabeth?”
“Yes. I had already requested that the horses be put to harness in anticipation of needing to leave. The nursemaid was awoken, and we had already discussed the best way to load up little Hugh and the twins.”
“Goodness! I recall now.” Mrs Gardiner nodded. “At the time, I was completely unaware, and my recollections of that evening are a bit confused.”
“If memory serves, you had other concerns upon your mind.” Elizabeth turned to Mr Darcy, explaining, “My uncle was out of town for business. The Speckled Crow was several weeks late coming into port, and there was concern that some valuable cargo had been lost.”
“Yes!” Mrs Gardiner turned towards Mr Bingley and said, “I was already confined, awaiting the arrival of little James. Things were not proceeding as smoothly as could be hoped, though all was well in the end.”
Mr Bingley muttered some stifled “Ahhs” and “Quites” at the intimate news of one of Mrs Gardiner’s confinements. Elizabeth smiled, amused by his discomfort, and stole a quick glance at Jane who was blushing brightly.
“And so,” Mr Darcy said, “all of the business of organising a home full of very young children and an indisposed mother to possibly flee a fire fell to you, Miss Elizabeth? When you were but…seventeen?”
She nodded. “Sixteen, if memory serves.”
His expression was an odd blend of quiet warmth, fascination, and admiration.
“And where was your man? Were there no male servants to attend you?” Mr Darcy asked Mrs Gardiner. A tone of disapproval that one would expect from the owner of a large estate edged into his voice.
“Perkins was quite ill. In fact, it took him several weeks to recover enough to stand and return to his duties. So, our brave Elizabeth was preparing to save us all. I now recall that she was even helping to hitch the horses, all whilst still in her night rail! Coaxing old Samson with an apple, the servants told me later. He was a magnificent horse, though he never cared for his slumber to be disturbed. You did manage it though, did you not, Lizzy?”
All eyes turned towards Elizabeth. She shook her head and laughed lightly.
“My aunt tells the tale with quite a sheen of heroics covering me. I was trembling so, I am shocked that Samson heeded a word I said. Anyone would have done half as much, and there was no need in the end. Such a tragedy, though, for the interior of the old theatre was so grand. Quite in keeping with the sort of awe a theatre ought to inspire.”
Mr Bingley sat forward eagerly. “I hear the new theatre is near completion. Any day now we shall be sitting again for a fine showing. Perhaps we could all meet for a performance!”
Elizabeth sat back, glad to no longer be at the centre of the attention. However, one person’s attention did not waver from her. Mr Darcy was unmindful of the conversation in the room, for his gaze stayed upon her. Elizabeth raised her chin. “Sir, if you mean to admonish me for my scandalous actions, running about the stableyard in the middle of the night, chattering away to stubborn horses, an apple in one hand, I will pay you no mind. I do not regret what I did. I willingly risk your shock and condemnation. If the fire had leapt about to the other buildings, we would have been caught unawares. To sit idly by and await a rescue that would not be coming would have been foolish.”
“You mistake me, as seems to be a curious habit of yours. I was not at all attempting to lecture you. This tale merely increased my admiration of you. You were sensible and bold in a way that not many sixteen-year-old ladies would be capable of. I believe any estate you are mistress of would be fortunate indeed.” He leaned in closer. In a soft voice, he said, “But I find myself unable to dismiss the image of you in your night rail, under a starry night sky. Forgive me.”
Elizabeth felt her cheeks scald with embarrassment of the sweetest kind. She dropped her gaze and remained silent, unsure how to respond to his speculations.
“It is decided, then!” Mr Bingley declared loudly. “What say you, Darcy? Will you be joining us?”
“Excuse me, I was not attending.”
Mr Bingley sighed and shook his head. “Really, Darcy. How could you not be anxious to view the new theatre? We were just consulting as to whether we could obtain box seats to the pantomime that will be occurring before the first official play at the new Drury Lane Theatre. The first play will be Hamlet , a very fine production, no doubt. But you know I prefer something a bit jollier.”
“I would be happy to attend Hamlet . A pantomime of singing and dancing is not what I typically seek out.”
“Let this be the exception! Mrs Gardiner has already agreed, if Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth have no objection.”
Mr Darcy quirked one eyebrow up as he gazed back at Elizabeth.
She gave him a slight smile of encouragement. “I thought you enjoyed hearing a well-performed song.”
“It is all dependent upon the artist. But I will be pleased indeed to see you there.”
Mr Bingley beamed. “Excellent! I shall go at once, for I believe the box office just opened today. Tomorrow night will be the pantomime before the more scholarly, serious performance of Hamlet next week.”
“And will you be attending Shakespeare’s work as well, Miss Elizabeth?” Mr Darcy asked.
“I am delighted at any opportunity to watch a work of Shakespeare on the stage. You know how much I relish well-written prose.”
“I am glad that you have not been permanently soured by the notion of poetry. One unpleasant experience has the power to cool an interest.”
She laughed. “Or cultivate a greater enjoyment of mastery.” This scene of private jokes between them caused her breath to halt in her throat momentarily. When had they become so attuned to each other? A small world of secret meanings and hidden humour now existed between herself and Mr Darcy that no one else was privy to. And Elizabeth ached for that world to grow and expand, pressing against the walls of her heart with deep longing.
She bit her cheek and looked towards the rest of the company, her heart and mind reeling at the strength of her feelings towards this gentleman whom just a month ago she had loathed. Blinking in happy surprise, Elizabeth Bennet made peace with the fact that Mr Darcy was no longer solitary in his regard. Whether his longing for her was the result of a spell or ordinary, miraculous love, it was no longer his alone, for she joined him in a strong, mutual admiration.
After the gentlemen had departed, Elizabeth gazed out the window in the direction of the Drury Lane Theatre, anxious for the performance to arrive so that she could be by Mr Darcy’s side once more.