Chapter Twenty Eight #2
The next day, the Gouldings orchestrated an elaborate scavenger hunt on the beach, calling it a pirate treasure hunt.
The young people split into pairs and small groups, each given a map of the grounds and the shoreline near the manor, with an X marking the spot – not of treasure, but the first of many clues that would lead them to the treasure.
Miss Bingley attempted to claim Georgiana's company, having been thwarted several times the night before in detaching the girl from Elizabeth’s side.
She was no more successful on this occasion, for Lady Dorothea insisted that there was still much to be done in preparation for the wedding that would take place on the final day of their house party.
She would be kept far too busy to hunt for treasure, when she already had the great treasure of her dearest wish – an auspicious match, which would likely be much talked of.
Thus Elizabeth found herself happily grouped with Georgiana and Mr. Darcy, for all the young people had broken into couples.
The confusion she had felt in his presence weeks ago had cooked into something more tranquil and gratifying, and she was able to behave quite naturally despite her keen awareness of the way that he watched her – and the way Georgiana watched them.
Whether or not there had been any devious intent on Georgiana’s part, the sweet girl had managed to make Elizabeth defend Mr. Darcy, and the truth of all the words she had spoken had settled indelibly into her mind.
He was a good man, and she enjoyed his company very much.
She had forgiven him his many offenses against her, and she deeply regretted her own bad behavior.
She esteemed him very well now, she laughed freely every time they spoke, and she fell asleep every night with her head full of what sort of lively frivolity they might fall into next.
She had come to love him, to wish never to be parted from him.
The day after the treasure hunt, the whole party travelled once more to Marbleton Park, this time to pick fruit in his vast orchards, tour the house, and picnic under canvas tents that ran along a winding stream in the meadow.
The weather was quite perfect for the outing, and Georgiana brought along her sketchbook, for the expansive grounds were said to be exceedingly picturesque.
Elizabeth did not spend long plucking apples from the trees and strawberries from the vine with Jane and Anne, before the two ladies apologetically abandoned her for the company of their beaux.
She spent the rest of her time beneath a happily situated canopy that overlooked a small waterfall in the narrow stream, in the company of all the Fitzwilliams. Mr. Darcy also brought a sketchbook, though not for his own use. He offered it to Elizabeth.
“It is not a proper gift – it is not new, I fear – I wasted a few wretched pages attempting to create the very fine eyes of a pretty woman, and grew fed up with the pastime when I could not do her justice.”
She laughed. “And you think I shall do better, as I have done so well in sketching character?”
“No indeed,” he said with feigned severity. “But Georgiana has seen your terrible portraits, and desires one of her very own.”
“I shall make one of you, too, if you like,” Georgiana said.
“I have seen your sketches,” Elizabeth told the girl – there were several of Pemberley that had filled her with awe at the house she might have been mistress of. “You must do your very best, and I shall promise to do my worst.”
“And excellent bargain,” Mr. Darcy agreed.
“And what will you do, sir?”
“I shall observe you, of course, and give you many unsolicited suggestions that will surely please and inspire you.”
The countess was sitting nearby, whispering gleefully with Lady Blanche and Richard, occasionally teasing Rebecca and Mr. Bingley, who laid side by side in the grass, staring up at the clouds.
Elizabeth tipped her head toward the others.
“And do you think you can get away with being so wicked, sir, without your relations attempting to beat you?”
“Certainly not. I expect my aunt will demand a portrait, as well, and you shall most assuredly impress her once more.”
“I ought never have told you I was not afraid of you sir, for you shall be forever making sport of attempting to frighten me. Very well, you just allow me a moment of deep concentration before I begin my craft of comic misrepresentation; you know it is an art I have assiduously studied.”
Georgiana laughed. “You mean when William said that you had a habit of willfully misunderstanding him!”
Mr. Darcy arched a brow, looking curious at what else Elizabeth may have told his sister.
“I once accused her of such impudence, and she did not deny it, but her style of art is beyond any common miscalculation. I hope to cherish many enchantingly abysmal pictures of all my beloved family, for I can think of no more suitable means of venerating them in all their glory.”
Elizabeth grinned, happy to oblige him. It was delightful that she could find such humor in his abusing her talents, and though his critique was quite accurate, she felt as if he were strangely proud of her great failing.
She was indeed entrusted by Mr. Darcy’s relations, and the countess was prodigiously fond of every bizarre distortion that Elizabeth produced. As Elizabeth sketched, she chatted idly with all her companions, feeling quite conscious of how she acted, and was treated, as one of the family.
Elizabeth could no longer deny that she wished it to be so – that she wished to be one of Mr. Darcy’s family, that she was sorry she was not already his wife.
Perhaps he might never had troubled himself to improve his behavior, and perhaps she might not have learned to understand him better, but Elizabeth could not bear to lose any more time to the anxieties that had lately plagued her.
She took every chance of giving him gentle encouragement, and fortunately their companions were so wildly indiscreet that any attempt at subtlety would have been extraneous.
She spoke boldly to him, she smiled and laughed until her face hurt, and she utterly lost herself in the sheer joy of Mr. Darcy’s company.
Above all, she hoped he could see that in every look she gave him, he might see how materially her feelings had changed, and how ready she was to admit it.
She was perfectly and incandescently ready to accept him.
***
The next morning, Lady Matlock chaperoned “her young people” about the village, for the annual fair in honor of Royal Oak Day.
As he had done for the last several days, Darcy utterly relaxed in the company of Elizabeth and all his relations, whom he hoped to very soon call her relations.
He had never so thoroughly immersed himself in revelry and common amusement, but it somehow felt perfectly natural in Elizabeth’s company.
It helped that she had begun to bestow her encouragement so freely. There was no room for subtlety amongst the overpowering Fitzwilliams, but it was a boon to Darcy that Elizabeth’s open manners left little room for doubt in his heart.
And yet, he was not past the last, lingering ounce of uncertainty.
It had been ten days since Wentworth converted his heartfelt letter to the Bennets.
When the captain returned to Richmond Cove, he informed Darcy that Mr. Bennet had accepted Darcy’s offer – largely, Wentworth speculated, out of a sardonic sort of curiosity.
There had been no written reply. Darcy had depended on at least some word being sent to Elizabeth, finally easing the last sting of the aspersions he had once cast on her family.
He had asked after her relations that morning, and Elizabeth had even jested that her father had written an affectionate letter of congratulations to Jane, and must mean to be mischievous by delaying his next communication to her.
To his relief, things took a happy turn when they returned to the manor in the early afternoon. Elizabeth had finally received a letter from her father, but she did not appear entirely pleased by it. When Darcy suggested she sit with him in the garden and read it, she shook her head.
“I doubt he has intervened in Lydia’s plans. I am past the worst of my apprehensions, thanks to you, but I think I will save the letter for another time. We are all so very merry.”
Darcy dearly wished to know what Mr. Bennet’s letter might contain.
He had offered to let a large house for the Bennets and the Gardiners in Brighton, with enough space for Lydia to remain with them rather than under the colonel’s roof.
Mr. Bennet had indeed accepted, and they were expected in two days’ time.
Darcy hoped Elizabeth would not be offended by his gesture, that she would see his intentions to improve himself, and strive to deserve her.
But he could not press her about the letter, for he did not have the chance.
Just as the whole party was on the verge of breaking up to dress for dinner, Richmond Cove received an unexpected visitor.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh was shown into the parlor, and Miss Bingley grinned like the very devil.