Mr. Darcy and the Missing Diamonds

October 1811

Elizabeth would rather be capturing moments on canvas in her quiet London attic than living this one. Recognizing her present duty in Hertfordshire, however, she pretended gaiety as best she could.

“Can you believe this is the first and last assembly we shall attend together while you both remain unwed?” Elizabeth asked as she twined another flower into Mary’s hair.

“The only public assembly, perhaps, but we have the private ball at Netherfield next month before the wedding,” Jane replied dreamily.

“And you know, you may always come to either of our homes to dress before future assemblies, Lizzy.” Mary twisted around in her chair to better see Elizabeth. “Any time you visit Longbourn, that is.”

Elizabeth nodded but did not comment on the rarity of these familial moments.

She could remember only a handful of balls in the past for which she had the company of either Jane or Mary to share ribbons and hopes for the evening.

Having lived in London for more than four and a half years with her aunt and uncle, since she was fifteen, she had missed so much that her family had experienced together.

In reality, the Gardiners were not her aunt and uncle, but Jane and Mary were her cousins, and she had been raised with them at Longbourn for most of her life. Now they would not even be here when she visited.

She refused to dwell on the imminent changes their marriages would bring, however, as she could do nothing to slow their progress.

“You both look stunning,” Elizabeth said, standing back to get a better look at them. “Mr. Bingley and Mr. Lucas will be well-pleased tonight.”

Jane smoothed her gown, while Mary tugged at her sleeve, each coloring at the mention of their betrotheds.

“And who will be best pleased to see how lovely you look tonight, Lizzy?” Mary asked.

Elizabeth laughed uncomfortably. “Not a soul around Meryton has seen me in above nine months, but I cannot imagine anyone is awaiting my arrival at the assembly.” Or anywhere else. Her plans to enter service as a governess were in motion, but she had not yet informed anyone of this intention.

Although she was not yet twenty, she had missed more than one chance for love.

None could have ended well even had the men not cried off once they learned who her father was—or who they thought he was.

It would have been even worse had they learned the truth.

She had been foolish enough to tell only one man the fullness of her past. She had known he had not loved her, but she had not been able to help loving him, and she had thought he at least cared for her.

How she could have made such a mistaken assumption more than once she did not know, but she berated herself anew.

“No matter,” Jane said, rescuing Elizabeth from an unproductive distraction. “You will have partners enough, so let us go down. I have no wish to miss the first set.”

Mary grasped Elizabeth’s hand, squeezing briefly before releasing it and following Jane out of the room and to the waiting carriage.

Though not a true resident of the local community, Elizabeth was enough a part of it to be overlooked when she returned for her annual sojourn.

She generally spent only one or two weeks at Longbourn each year, arriving in late December with the Gardiners for their Christmas visit.

This was to be an extended stay, however, as Mary and Jane had requested her help before their double wedding.

She had arrived at Longbourn the week before and had already added a great deal of embroidered detail to the gown Mary would wear for the wedding.

Jane was embellishing her gown herself, except for some particularly intricate stitches she wanted Elizabeth to add later.

Elizabeth was happy to help, especially when she thought of December, which she was dreading.

What was she to do at Longbourn for an entire month before the Gardiners arrived for the festive season?

Jane and Mary would be away on wedding trips, and she would be left behind with their younger sisters.

Elizabeth stood straighter, reminding herself this was hardly the time to consider dreary events not yet come to pass.

It was only the eighteenth of October; she had plenty of time to share Jane’s and Mary’s company.

Her shift in posture and attitude came at precisely the right time, as Mr. Robinson was approaching to claim the first set, which he had requested as soon as they had arrived at the inn.

As she took her place in the line of dancers, she noted that Jane and Mary each stood across from their beaux.

She also noted out of the corner of her eye that Mr. Darcy was on the other side of the room and…

was he glaring at her? She had not observed his entry, but of course he must have arrived in the area that morning as Mr. Bingley had expected.

She raised her chin and turned to Mr. Robinson with purpose.

She did not know why Mr. Darcy glowered, nor would she care.

She had not seen the man since the summer, when he had abruptly left London with no explanation.

The Bingleys knew only that he had gone to Kent and then to Pemberley.

Elizabeth knew only that he had not considered it important to alert her of his plans or to say goodbye.

And why would he? She and Mr. Darcy were barely even friends, if they were that, despite what she may have once thought.

She had been mistaken in the sincerity of many friendships; she had been too trusting in the goodness of others, too hopeful for better outcomes.

Now she would give her attention to her dance partner and delight in this evening without thoughts of the past or future.

Elizabeth soon found herself caught up in the lively country dance surrounded by people who had come for entertainment rather than manipulation.

What a change this was from the London balls she had more experience with over the past few years.

Here, the men and women did not hide their pleasure in the music and the company, and they easily forgave each other’s missteps in the quick dance.

When her set with Mr. Robinson had ended, he escorted her to the edge of the room, thanked her with a bow, and departed to seek his next partner.

Elizabeth took in the scene around her with satisfaction and turned to seek Mary, only to be confronted with the broad shoulders she knew belonged to Mr. Darcy.

Startled, she looked up past his fine cravat and clean-shaven jaw to be taken aback by his penetrating gaze.

“Miss Elizabeth.” Mr. Darcy nodded, as they were standing too close for his usual polite ritual.

Elizabeth took a step back and curtsied. “Mr. Darcy.”

“Would you do me the honor of dancing the next with me?”

“My next two sets are taken.”

“Then may I have the fourth?”

“Very well,” Elizabeth said with some exasperation.

The corners of Mr. Darcy’s lips turned up a fraction before he bowed fully and walked past her.

It was these odd behaviors that had always confused Elizabeth about whether Mr. Darcy considered her a friend.

They had not seen each other for more than four months, and their parting had been painful, yet he had nothing to say to her now?

Only then did Elizabeth remember that the fourth was the supper set.

She wished she had not answered so quickly.

She could have offered him the final set and then returned to Longbourn early.

After all, she had nothing to say to him, either.

It was fortunate that Mr. Bingley was her next dance partner, as he was too focused on Jane beside her to care that Elizabeth was not inclined to talk.

Her thoughts were on one of the last times she had seen Mr. Darcy, in June.

He had invited her to join him in viewing an exhibit at the British Museum three days hence.

“Were you able to obtain tickets?” Elizabeth had asked excitedly. She and Mr. Darcy had spoken of the exhibit before, and she had lamented the difficulty her Uncle Gardiner had had in attempting to secure admission.

“I have five tickets for this Friday at eleven o’clock. Bingley and I will meet you and your aunt and uncle in front of the museum, if that is convenient.”

“Oh, yes! Thank you. They will be nearly as happy as I am when I tell them your news.”

She had learned about the exhibit months before and had been disappointed to learn it would not be easy to see it.

On the morning of the excursion, Elizabeth had barely been able to eat any breakfast, so excited was she.

She had traveled with her aunt and uncle to the museum, arriving a few minutes early.

When no Mr. Darcy or Mr. Bingley appeared, her uncle had walked around the museum and even tried to look inside the entrance but had been denied.

Finally, when their two-hour viewing time had nearly expired, they had returned home, hot and disappointed.

Elizabeth had urged her uncle to return home earlier, as she suspected she knew why Mr. Darcy had changed his mind about meeting them.

She could not argue her point too strenuously, however, as that would require her to reveal their final conversation the morning before.

That she would never do. Her uncle had sent a note to Mr. Darcy when they had returned home and was confused by the lack of a reply.

It was not until the following Monday that she received a note from Caroline Bingley that satisfied her aunt and uncle and confirmed her own suspicions.

Dear Miss Eliza,

It is unfortunate that you missed the excursion on Friday.

With your scholarly interests, you likely would have appreciated it far more than the rest of us did.

We waited at home for as long as we could, but my brother did not wish to miss the entry time.

Once it was clear you would not join him, he invited Mr. Hillyerd, Mr. Hurst, Louisa, and me.

We were together already, and we thought it better to go than to waste all of the tickets.

My brother asked that I inform you Mr. Darcy left in a hurry Thursday afternoon, stopping only long enough to send the museum tickets here.

We do not know why he left. He said only that he had to go to Kent with all haste.

He must have had news from his aunt that caused his rush.

We are not concerned that the news was dire, as he expected his stay in Kent to be quite brief.

I should imagine we will see each other at some card party or ball soon enough.

Regards,

Caroline Bingley