Chapter 11 #3
When she looked at him, she was relieved to find that he was not offended. On the contrary, he seemed amused, and John burst into laughter.
"Mr Darcy, I believe I understand Mr Andrews de la Garza better when he speaks Spanish than I understand your explanation," John said, laughing so hard he could scarcely finish the sentence.
"Mr Darcy, I am sorry. I did not mean to be disrespectful, and neither did John. We truly appreciate the trouble you have taken to explain everything to us," Elizabeth said, casting her cousin a reproving glance.
"I beg your pardon as well, Mr Darcy," John added. "But Cousin Lizzy really is very amusing."
"Pray do not concern yourself; I am not in the least offended," Mr Darcy replied. "I believe it is time for us to begin our lesson. The wind appears to be most favourable."
John nodded and stepped back, and Mr Darcy moved closer to Elizabeth. He spoke in a quieter voice.
"Miss Bennet, I was obliged to assume far more responsibility than most boys of my age.
When my mother died, my father was overcome with grief.
I was only thirteen, and Georgiana was but two years old.
I became the person chiefly responsible for her care, for she had no one else to depend upon.
Then my father died as well. I was only one-and-twenty when I inherited Pemberley, together with the responsibility for the estate, the family businesses, and my sister's upbringing.
During the past six years, work has occupied nearly every hour of my life.
I fear it has made me rather a dull companion. "
Mr Darcy felt unusually at ease in Elizabeth's company.
She treated him as though he were simply another gentleman rather than one of the wealthiest landowners in England.
Perhaps she was the first lady he had ever met who neither flattered him nor sought his good opinion through insincere compliments.
Elizabeth scarcely knew what to think. Mr Darcy was confiding in her with a frankness she had never expected. For reasons she could not explain, such intimacy made her uneasy.
"Do not concern yourself, Mr Darcy," she said with a playful smile. "If I can learn to fly a kite, I am quite certain you can learn to laugh a little more."
"You may be right, Miss Bennet," Mr Darcy replied with a smile. "Perhaps there is still hope for me."
For the next half hour, he guided her patiently through each step of the process. To Elizabeth's astonishment, she soon had the kite soaring steadily above them.
"Mr Darcy, you are an excellent teacher," John declared. "I spent two hours trying to teach Lizzy, and she could not keep the kite in the air for so much as a second."
"Thank you, Mr Gardiner," Darcy replied, assuming an expression of mock gravity. "My methods may be dull, but they appear to be effective."
He could not remember the last time he had enjoyed an afternoon so thoroughly. Without a doubt, Elizabeth Bennet was the most extraordinary woman he had ever known. For one brief moment, he imagined how content she would be at Pemberley—and how perfectly happy he would be with her at his side.
"I must concede that your method is very effective, Mr Darcy."
Contrary to all her expectations, Elizabeth had thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. As she turned to say something else, she was startled to find Mr Darcy regarding her with the same stern expression that had so often unsettled her before.
"Miss Bennet, Mr Gardiner, if you will excuse me, I must return to Lady Campbell's house. My sister is waiting for me, and it is time for us to leave."
He was both worried and angry with himself. His emotions had carried him away. He had completely forgotten Georgiana and had left her alone in the company of Elizabeth's sisters.
Georgiana was a shy, well-bred young lady, and he was certain she must be feeling uncomfortable among people she scarcely knew and anxiously awaiting his return.
"Yes, it is time for all of us to return to my aunt's house," Elizabeth replied gravely.
The sudden coldness in Mr Darcy's manner immediately brought back all her former prejudices. Only moments before, he had seemed almost cheerful; now his reserve had returned so completely that she could not help believing he regretted having spent the afternoon in her company.
John, however, had reached a very different conclusion. He had seen how much Mr Darcy had enjoyed himself, and he thought he detected not contempt but disappointment in the gentleman's eyes, as though he wished the afternoon had not come to an end.
Unwilling to let him feel uncomfortable, John smiled and said, "Yes, Lizzy, I am rather tired myself."
Jane and Laura each tried their hand at flying the kite, but after a few minutes, their interest gave way to curiosity. They sat beside Matthew on a nearby bench and listened with fascination as he told them about his childhood adventures on the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean.
Elizabeth called Jane, Laura, and Matthew, and together they returned to Lady Campbell's house.
As soon as they entered, Mr Darcy heard cheerful laughter coming from the drawing room. Upon stepping inside, he found Georgiana seated beside Mary and Kitty, a music book open on her lap and a sheet of paper covered with Spanish notes lying on the table.
"Lizzy, I hope you do not mind," Kitty said excitedly. "We were showing Georgiana your Spanish notes and telling her how you practised for an hour just to surprise Mr Andrews."
Matthew smiled and bowed to Elizabeth. "I can only thank you for your effort, Miss Elizabeth."
"I am sorry, Mr Andrews de la Garza. I truly did my best! Besides, today I finally learned to fly a kite. Thank you, Mr Darcy, for your patience," Elizabeth said with a warm smile.
"You are most welcome, Miss Bennet," Mr Darcy replied with a slight inclination of his head. "I am pleased the lesson proved successful."
Lady Campbell was relieved to hear him answer politely, yet something in his manner had changed. His expression had grown distant once more, and the disapproving glances he cast toward Kitty and Mary did not escape her notice.
Mr Darcy was deeply disturbed. Kitty Bennet had addressed his sister simply as Georgiana, with an ease and familiarity that Mr Darcy considered wholly improper.
Georgiana, who only hours before had been the very picture of reserve, now laughed freely and blushed without restraint.
Watching her so perfectly at ease among the Bennet sisters, he could not help thinking that she was already beginning to adopt their manners.
Ashamed of himself, he silently reproached his own weakness.
For one reckless afternoon, he had allowed himself to imagine Elizabeth as mistress of Pemberley.
He had almost forgotten his family's expectations, his own station, and, above all, his duty to Georgiana.
How could he expose his sister to such society merely because of a passing infatuation?
Resigned, he turned to his sister.
"It is time for us to leave, Georgiana."
Georgiana looked up, still glowing with happiness.
"Yes, Brother. Lady Campbell has very kindly invited us to dine with her tomorrow. Mary and I were even practising a duet for the occasion."
Mr Darcy bowed respectfully to Lady Campbell.
"My Lady, you do my sister and me a great honour with your invitation, and I thank you sincerely for your kindness. I fear, however, that I must decline. We have a previous engagement tomorrow."