Chapter 3
Flirtations
Elizabeth was awake early the following day.
Even in town, she struggled to sleep late, and it rarely made a difference how late she went to bed.
She quickly dressed before going downstairs to cajole a footman into escorting her to a nearby park for a walk.
While she could not walk as far or as long in town, this was a familiar routine for Elizabeth and the servant, and this morning, it felt far more necessary than usual.
Never before had Elizabeth received the attention of a man.
She had participated in a few slight flirtations with boys in the neighbourhood, but there were few available men in Hertfordshire.
Her cheeks burned when she recalled how she had allowed Mr. Darcy to hold her hand the previous night, knowing she should not have allowed such a liberty, but …
it had felt so right to do so. Every time he touched her, she felt a jolt of energy or something, leaving her feeling …
unsure. “It could not be love, could it, not so quickly,” she thought.
She was pleasantly surprised to see a familiar figure approaching her in the park as she enjoyed her morning walk. A tall gentleman gracefully dismounted from his imposing stallion and approached her.
“Miss Bennet,” Darcy called out, his eyes lighting up with the excitement of encountering the woman who had occupied his thoughts the night before, “do you make a habit of morning strolls in the park?”
“I am an avid walker, Mr. Darcy,” she replied, smiling up at him.
“Whenever I am at my father’s estate, I walk nearly every morning.
If I neglect to do so, I become restless.
It is also my preferred way to think since my mother reminds me pacing indoors is unladylike.
Therefore, I prefer to wander amidst nature.
However, I must persuade my uncle’s servant to accompany me to the park when I am in town and cannot venture out as frequently or as far.
Fortunately, the park offers enough space he need not trail too closely, allowing me to savour the illusion of solitude. ”
“You take such solitary strolls in the countryside as well?” Darcy inquired, genuinely intrigued by the lady he had met only the night before.
She flashed him a mischievous grin. “I confess, I am quite the hoyden,” she teased.
“I used to take walks with my grandmother, but I have never managed to coax any of my sisters into accompanying me. For the most part, I traverse the lands belonging to our estate, and the tenants there recognise me and keep a watchful eye. Our small community rarely receives visitors, so I have never had cause to fear for my safety. Both my grandmother and uncle have taken great pains to ensure I can defend myself.”
“From both men and animals?” Darcy asked, his curiosity piqued even further.
She arched an eyebrow playfully. “Indeed,” she replied pertly. “Would it surprise you to learn I carry a small pistol during my countryside walks, and my uncle has seen to it that I am proficient in its use?”
Darcy nodded appreciatively. “I commend your resourcefulness. You see, I have a younger sister who is still in the schoolroom. Yet, I often wonder what measures we might take to protect her once she ventures out alone. She has a greater penchant for riding than walking, though a groom is assigned to accompany her. Nonetheless, there are various hazards on our family’s estate.
If, for instance, she were to have an accident while riding and became stranded somewhere on the grounds, it might be quite challenging to locate her if no one is with her or aware of her whereabouts.
Miss Bennet, do you also ride? If you relish the outdoors as you do, I think you might appreciate the opportunity to explore even more of the countryside. ”
Her expression turned rueful as she recalled her brief encounter with riding.
“I am afraid I am not a proficient horsewoman,” she confessed.
“As a child, I did attempt it, but a rather undignified tumble left me apprehensive around horses. Papa would not allow me to continue afterwards, and as we never really kept horses appropriate for riding, I never pressed the issue.”
Darcy’s eyes brightened with a spark of genuine interest. “Would you consider taking it up again?” he inquired. “My family keeps horses at our stables in town, and I am certain we could find a gentle mount for your use during lessons.”
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks at his suggestion. “I believe I would enjoy learning,” she admitted, her voice a tad softer. “I imagine my uncle would be amenable to the idea, but you would need to broach the subject with him.”
A warm smile graced Darcy’s lips as he replied, “I shall certainly discuss it with him this afternoon when I call on you.” However, a flicker of uncertainty crossed his features as another thought occurred to him, making him nervous.
“Did you happen to inform your uncle about my intention to call? As he is your guardian here in town, I should have spoken to him last night but did not. Was he, by any chance, displeased with my request to see you? Will he permit me to call?”
Elizabeth shook her head, her chestnut curls swaying gently. “We retired immediately upon returning home last night, and I have not yet encountered him this morning. Rest assured, Mr. Darcy, my uncle and aunt hold you in high regard, and I cannot envision any objection to your calling on me.”
Darcy exhaled in relief. “Mr. Gardiner has been a valued friend and mentor,” he explained. “I would hate to jeopardise his goodwill by presuming upon his permission to call upon his niece. Nor would I wish to mar our acquaintance before it has had a chance to blossom properly.”
His candour prompted her to blush once more. “Are you accustomed to speaking so candidly with every lady you meet?” she inquired archly.
Darcy, his own cheeks tinged with a blush, replied, “No, Miss Bennet, I must admit before today, I was more prone to offend than charm a lady, though I cannot say for certain which path I have chosen in your case. I have often been accused of being rather blunt. But I do believe I have not managed to offend you—at least not yet—though I would caution against ruling out that possibility entirely.”
Her laughter was like music to his ears.
“I would venture to say you have been far more charming than offensive,” she replied, mirth dancing in her eyes.
“Now, should I convey your intention to call upon my uncle, or would you prefer to speak with him directly? I must make my way home soon, or my family will grow concerned. I have been away longer than usual this morning.”
A gleam of hope sparked in Darcy’s eyes.
“Might I accompany you to your home, Miss Bennet?” he inquired, trying to extend their time together.
“I could inform your uncle that we crossed paths during our morning exercise and, if it pleases him, request permission to call upon you later this afternoon.”
Elizabeth shyly nodded her agreement. The footman who had accompanied her approached at her signal and offered to take the horse’s reins, allowing the couple to walk together.
Darcy extended his arm toward Elizabeth, and she readily accepted it, once again feeling the jolt of electricity passing between them.
It seemed to occur each time they touched.
Their conversation was light as they walked the few blocks to the Gardiners’ house.
However, just before they arrived at the door, Darcy stopped and turned toward his companion: “Miss Bennet, I think it is important for you to know I have never been so forward with a woman. I am astounded at my behaviour last night, and while I cannot find I regret it, I do hope I did not offend you in any way. I cannot explain what impulse struck me, causing me to act as I did last night, and while you have assured me I have not offended, I did wish you to know such behaviour was not typical.”
She blushed. “Thank you for telling me, sir. I did not believe it to be so, nor would I have you thinking such behaviour was my wont,” she replied in a near whisper.
“I am glad, Miss Bennet,” he replied.
“Might I ask a small favour, sir?” she asked, surprising him.
“Of course, Miss Bennet,” he replied.
“It is … it is your mode of address, sir,” she stammered.
“I am … I am unused to being addressed as Miss Bennet, and I keep looking for my sister to appear. Would you … that is, do you feel comfortable addressing me as I am at home? As the second sister, I am Miss Elizabeth and am far more used to that appellation.”
Unexpectedly, Darcy felt a warm sensation in his heart at her request. “I would be delighted to call you by your first name, Miss Elizabeth,” he replied, joying at the simple privilege of addressing her more informally.
They entered the house quietly, and Elizabeth escorted her companion to the breakfast room to greet her aunt and uncle.
“Look who I found wandering the park this morning,” she greeted her relatives cheerily upon their entry.
The Gardiners looked up from their meal. “Darcy! What a surprise to see you here this morning. How did this come about?” Mr. Gardiner asked as he looked between the pair.
“Quite by accident, I assure you, Gardiner,” Darcy stated.
“I was riding in the park as I do most mornings since this is the nearest park to my lodgings. I noticed Miss Bennet walking and dismounted so I could approach her. We began to speak and were unaware of how long we did so. When she realised how long she had been away from your home, I thought to accompany her here to explain my role in making her late. And … I hoped to speak with you privately, Mr. Gardiner.”
Gardiner looked between the two young people.
While he was only a decade or so older than the man standing before him requesting this audience, he suddenly felt much, much older as he realised the gentleman standing before him was about to ask his permission to court his niece.
Having known Elizabeth since her earliest days, the thought made him feel old as he contemplated how to inform his brother of this new development.
“I appreciate your accompanying my niece to save her our chastisement, and I am glad Lizzy, you had the foresight to ask a footman to accompany you, as you are not always inclined to do so, despite our many requests,” Gardiner lightly scolded his niece.
“Well, Darcy, I would gladly grant you an audience, but perhaps it might wait until after breakfast. Would you care to join us?”
Darcy seemed to recognise the invitation as a tacit acceptance of his suit. While it would not change anything about the conversation that would need to happen later, it made him feel somewhat less anxious about the coming interview.
The meal was consumed leisurely, although both gentlemen kept an eye on the clock. Before too long, they concluded their meal, leaving the ladies to their own devices and retired to Gardiner’s study.
“Now, Darcy, what would you like to speak with me about?” Gardiner asked as soon as both gentlemen were settled.
“Last night, before I departed, I asked your niece for permission to call on her. I … I should have asked you as well; perhaps I should have requested of you first, but …” Darcy stammered before coming to a stop, uncertain of how to continue and sure he had embarrassed himself dreadfully.
Gardiner merely laughed. “Calm yourself, son,” he said.
“Yes, you may call on my niece. As my daughters are too young for this sort of thing, I have yet to have to grant a young man permission to call on one. I would say you should have asked the lady first, and now I give you my permission to call. My brother permitted me to speak for him in ‘the unlikely case’ that anyone sought his daughter’s hand while she was with me.
He said it rather offhandedly, but I made him write a letter granting permission since I know how slow he is to put pen to paper in most instances.
You may call on her and even court her if she agrees, as I saw how you seemed rather thunderstruck in each other’s company last night. ”
Darcy was surprised Gardiner had found his feelings so obvious but was pleased to realise his friend believed his niece to be equally affected.
“Thank you, sir,” he stammered. “I look forward to getting to know Miss Bennet better. Perhaps you should know she has also requested I call her Miss Elizabeth since she uses that name at home.”
Once again, Gardiner grinned at the earnest young man. “That is perfectly acceptable, Darcy. She commented on it last night, although she was very insistent on being addressed properly last night by your friend’s sister.”
It was Darcy’s turn to laugh a little. “Miss Bingley tries to keep her claws in me so she might have a chance with my brother someday. She would settle for me if she thought it would get her greater access to Pemberley, but she would much rather capture the heir than the spare. As long as I am the heir presumptive, she will pretend a closeness with me, though she would gladly throw me over if she got a more attractive offer. I am a means to an end, in her opinion, and were my brother to drop dead, I would find her giving an imitation of a lamprey very quickly.”
A clock chiming out the hour made both gentlemen aware it was time to depart—Gardiner to his warehouses and Darcy to his office.
However, it was agreed Darcy could call upon Miss Elizabeth later that afternoon.
In the meantime, the ladies had yet another shopping trip scheduled as they intended to prepare for the trip to the seaside in the summer.
Mr. Bennet, in a rare occurrence, had promptly responded to his brother’s letter asking permission to escort Elizabeth there this summer and to keep her with them until the autumn.
In fact, Mr. Bennet’s letter had seemed to imply Elizabeth could stay in London as long as she liked as neither her parents nor her sisters missed her presence.