Chapter 23
Elizabeth’s plan was to take a long trip—first to visit her family in Hertfordshire, then to visit the orphanage in Oxfordshire and the properties in Brighton and in Bath. Afterwards she would return to London before beginning a new journey to Sheffield and Warwickshire.
“I am excited at the prospect of returning to Netherfield,” Jane said. “I long to see Mama and Papa, and of course, Kitty, Lydia and Mary.”
“So am I,” Elizabeth answered pensively. “I last saw Longbourn when I left for Kent. It seems an age ago. I miss our daily quarrels, our laughter and cries, and Papa’s mocking comments...I miss everyone in Meryton.”
“We left Hertfordshire a month ago but it still feels like an age,” Jane continued.
“Perhaps we could invite Lydia, Kitty and Mary to stay in London for the season. I remember poor Lydia was so upset when the regiment moved to Brighton. Mrs. Forster had invited her to accompany them, but Papa was too ill to even think of it and we could not allow her to go without his consent. She was devastated and cried for days.”
“It was wise of you to not allow her to leave. Unchaperoned, in a camp full of soldiers would not be an appropriate situation for a girl of fifteen. Hasty or thoughtless decisions can ruin one’s life forever,” Elizabeth concluded gloomily.
“August and September, even October are lovely months for long journeys,” Cece said to ease Elizabeth’s apparent sadness.
“I hope so. And I hope you will join me,” Elizabeth answered.
The young woman was dumbfounded. “Your ladyship wishes me to travel with you?”
“Of course. And since you are the only one acquainted with Lady Sedgewick’s properties, your presence will be invaluable. But only if you wish to.”
“I would be honoured, Lady Barrington.”
“How lovely!” Jane interjected! “You must all stay at Netherfield—it is only three miles from Longbourn and so much larger. There are plenty of rooms for everybody!”
“Thank you, Jane, but I would rather stay at Longbourn, with Papa, this time. I hope you understand. But Cece may stay at Netherfield—it would be much more comfortable for her.”
“I wonder if Darcy will come with us,” Bingley interjected. “I hope he will. He might bring Georgiana too. I will ask him as soon as he arrives!”
“That would be lovely,” Elizabeth answered. “But dear brother, please do not insist. I know he is your best friend, but I feel I have abused his kindness by asking for his support again and again. I do not wish him to feel that he needs to be our guardian for our travels.”
“Do not worry, Lizzy, I am sure he will not mind! Darcy never does anything against his will. Just remember that I could not convince him to dance with you at the Meryton assembly, as much as I insisted!” Bingley laughed.
Elizabeth smiled at the heartwarming recollections of those carefree times.
“Lizzy, I am so glad you invited Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy for dinner!” Jane said.
“It was long overdue, out of consideration for Mr. Darcy. He changed his summer plans for my benefit, which affected his sister too. I am grateful to both of them for such generosity. And I confess I look forward to a closer acquaintance with Miss Darcy. Last time she visited us with Lady Matlock, I was quite cold and distant with her. I could not have possibly left town without meeting her again.”
“Lady Barrington...Elizabeth...are you absolutely certain you want me to stay for dinner? Mr. Darcy’s sister might not feel comfortable in my presence,” Cece enquired.
“My dear, Mr. Darcy left no room for doubt when he thanked me for the invitation. He said ‘my sister will be happy to meet you all again and quite delighted to finally make Miss Cecilia’s acquaintance.’ His statement was surely meant to dissipate your concern.”
“Mr. Darcy is an outstanding gentleman. I never met anyone in his situation in life so considerate to those outside his circle,” Cece said.
“He is, indeed. And yet, until recently his manners led people to believe otherwise,” Bingley added.
“Yes, I heard that, but I find it hard to believe. And to be honest, I wonder that he is still single. He seems to be the sort of husband every woman dreams of,” Cece continued.
A tremor of unease shook Elizabeth while her cheeks coloured. Cece was right—every woman, except for those blinded by prejudice and readily deceived by rascals with the appearance of goodness.
“I have known Darcy for more than five years and as far as I remember, many women have pursued his attention and favours in that time. I am embarrassed to admit that my own sister has been one of the most persistent hunters. Also his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, ceaselessly tried to convince him to marry his cousin, Anne. But he is hard to impress and I am quite sure his heart has never been touched.”
‘You must allow me to tell you how ardently I love and admire you...’ His words, coming from the past where they had been despised and rejected, sounded different in the present where they would be most welcomed if they were not so forbidden.
Elizabeth shivered and wrapped her shawl around her shoulders.
“Cece, may I ask you a favour?”
“Of course!”
“There is still time until our guests arrive. Since the pianoforte is still in this room, would you play something for us? I last listened to you when Lady Sedgewick was still with us.”
“Play? Yes, of course...I have not practiced at all since I returned. I feared that Lord Barrington would sell this splendid instrument too...”
“He likely had no time to sell everything he intended to. Let us not think of him again. Let us have some music, I beg you.”
Cece sat at the pianoforte that had been brought into the drawing-room when Lady Sedgewick had used it as a bed-chamber and had never been moved back to the music room.
She brushed her fingers over the keyboard as if she was caressing a dearly-missed treasure.
Then she began to play, tentatively at first, slowly reconnecting with the music after months of separation.
With every passing moment, with every heartbeat, her fingers moved faster and more instinctively over the black and white keys.
Her flawless execution spread the divine sound around the whole house and out, through the open window.
As she played one song after another, time passed unnoticed. The three spectators admired the exquisite performance, mesmerised and enchanted, oblivious to the arrival of the three guests, who remained in the doorway, drawn into the spell of the music.
Eventually Cece finished and, brought back from the reverie, Bingley hurried to greet Darcy, his sister and his cousin, Colonel Robert Fitzwilliam.
“That was wonderful. Exquisite,” Miss Darcy whispered.
“Indeed. A stunning performance,” Darcy agreed. “Georgiana, allow me to introduce Miss Cecilia to you. This is my sister, Georgiana, and my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
Greetings were exchanged and the colonel bowed with formal politeness.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Cecilia. Miss Bennet—errrr—Lady Barrington—I am so happy to see you again. Forgive me for barging in, I called on Darcy and since he was on his way here, I took the opportunity to step in briefly and convey my best regards. I do not wish to intrude.”
Elizabeth offered him her hand and the colonel kissed it respectfully.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam, there are few people whose company gives me more pleasure. You are most welcome, sir. I imagine you already have other fixed engagements, otherwise, I would insist on you joining us for dinner.”
“I have no other engagements, Lady Barrington. And even if I had, I would readily abandon them for a delightful evening in your company!”
“Excellent. I intended to organise an appropriate dinner party to invite your family and express my gratitude for their support, but the circumstances did not allow it. And now I will soon start a long journey to visit the properties that are under my care, so again I must postpone any other plans. But please convey my respectful thanks to them once again.”
“I will. I believe Darcy has already done so several times,” the colonel said in his usual, jolly voice.
“Then let us move to the dining room, dinner is ready.”
As they walked together, the colonel addressed Cece, who seemed astonished by his attention.
“Miss Cecilia, you have an extraordinary talent and obviously exceptional skills acquired through years of study. I have heard many performances, but only Georgiana’s might come close to equalling yours.”
“I have heard so much about Miss Darcy’s talent,” Cece said shyly.
“I have told my sister and my cousin how impressed I was by your vast knowledge and deep understanding of affairs that are often daunting even for educated men. But I was unaware of your proficiency in music too,” Darcy answered.
“Lady Sedgewick often praised Cece’s many accomplishments, and none of her praise was exaggerated,” Elizabeth added with affectionate admiration.
“Please...you are all too kind...I do not deserve such praise...I have never played in company until now...I am glad you were not disappointed,” Cece whispered.
“I am too shy to perform for strangers too,” Georgiana answered.
The innocent words were almost identical to Darcy’s statement from a certain night at Rosings and made his gaze lock with Elizabeth’s.
“I am not shy, just...” Cece attempted to explain, but Georgiana’s genuine expression stopped her.
The dinner was served and enjoyed. To Elizabeth’s satisfaction, there were no tedious moments, no awkward silences, no inappropriate comments.
After a reluctant beginning, Cece appeared to feel comfortable and encouraged by the others’ consideration. She engaged in conversation on various subjects and gained enough self-confidence to express her opinion decidedly.
“I must ask you both to play for us after dinner,” Bingley addressed Cece and Georgiana. “I know that very likely you both hate me at this moment, but I cannot lose this opportunity. I hope Darcy and the colonel will support me!”