Page 94 of His Pride and His Prejudice

Forty-Six

Unsurprisingly, Elliot was overcome with inquiries from his uncles the moment they were alone. He answered as honestly as he could but said nothing about the proposal and not least because he knew his uncles would never understand his refusal.

Elliot barely understood it himself anymore.

But he had no reason to fear his uncles’ curiosity. It was not their wish to force a confidence. It was evident to them that Elliot was much better acquainted with Mr. Darcy than they had any idea of before.

It was just as evident that they were very much in love.

And so, the Gardiners took care to express to Elliot how touched they were by Darcy’s politeness, by the comments of his servants on his good character, and then later that evening, the reports they drew from the patrons of the inn where the worst that could be said of Mr. Darcy was his prideful nature, but that it showed itself well in the care of his tenants and his family, and so could not be censured.

As for Elliot, his thoughts were entirely at Pemberley, and he dressed with unusual care for the day and evening ahead. He looked forward to seeing Darcy again, to meeting Miss Darcy, but was at most ambivalent about meeting the Bingleys—not Charles, not now Elliot understood the extent of what had occurred, but certainly of Miss Bingley and the Hursts, who he had not particularly liked before and felt sure he would not like now.

On reaching the house, they were shown through the hall into the saloon, whose northern aspect rendered it delightful for summer. Its windows opening to the ground, admitted a most refreshing view of the high woody hills behind the house, and of the beautiful oaks and Spanish chestnuts which were scattered over the intermediate lawn. In this house they were received by Miss Darcy, who was sitting there with Miss Caroline Bingley and Mrs. Louisa Hurst. Eleanor Hurst was nowhere to be seen, and Elliot imagined she was tramping over the grounds. Miss Darcy’s companions were also present, as were Colonel Fitzwilliam’s sister and her family. Elliot looked around hoping to see the man himself but alas, Fitzwilliam, Bingley and Darcy were nowhere to be seen.

Miss Darcy’s reception of Elliot and the Gardiners was very civil, but attended with all the embarrassment which, though proceeding from shyness and the fear of doing wrong, would easily give to those who felt themselves inferior the belief of her being proud and reserved. Elliot saw it immediately for what it was, he recognised it from Darcy himself, and soon put her at ease with a bow and a smile. She gestured to the seat next to her on a beautifully embroidered chaise, which Elliot immediately took. The younger Mr. Gardiner too was at his most charming and soon had Miss Darcy smiling quite charmingly.

Introductions were made across all parties though the Bingleys were noticed only by a brief bow and the thinnest of smiles from Elliot. Caroline Bingley narrowed her eyes on him.

“Mr. Bennet.”

“Miss Bingley,” he said back.

She smirked. “How delightful to see you again.”

“The delight is all mine,” Elliot replied.

They were seated, there was a pause, awkward as such pauses must always be, but it was soon broken by the Gardiners and by the Annesleys as they began a spirited discussion on the planned fishing excursion of which they were joining. Elliot soon joined in, as did the Fitzwilliams, and even Mrs. Hurst added a few words. Caroline Bingley simply smirked, her eyes on Elliot as he encouraged Miss Darcy to join in. She did venture a short sentence, usually when there was the least danger of its being heard, but she smiled often at Elliot and he was struck by her strange beauty. She looked quite like Darcy but not at all. It was quite odd.

After sitting in this manner a quarter of an hour without hearing Miss Bingley’s voice—and Elliot was glad of it!—she finally made an inquiry after the health of the Bennet family.

“They are well,” Elliot simply said before turning aside and back to Miss Darcy. It was not quite the correct behaviour of an omega towards an alpha, but Elliot did not care. He had thought upon it quite a bit since receiving Darcy’s letter, and he was still not convinced that Caroline had not played some part in separating Jack and her brother. And certainly, she had been eager enough to drop Jack’s acquaintance the moment she could!

It was a little while before Elliot noticed Mrs. Annesley gesturing to Miss Darcy. She eventually gave a start and called for the servants to bring in a selection of cold meat, cakes, and a variety of all the finest fruits in season. There was now employment for the whole party, for though they could not all talk, they could all eat, and the beautiful pyramids of grapes, nectarines, and peaches soon collected them round the table.

While thus engaged, Elliot awaited the arrival of Darcy, and he did not have to wait long. The three men, he, Bingley, and Fitzwilliam along with Eleanor Hurst, arrived in a flurry of good wishes and exuberance.

No sooner did he appear than Elliot wisely resolved to be perfectly easy and unembarrassed, a resolution the more necessary to be made, but perhaps not the more easily kept, because he saw that the suspicions of the whole party were awakened against them, and that there was scarcely an eye which did not watch Darcy’s behaviour when he first came into the room.

They all knew.

There could be no doubt.

Oh, not of the proposal. Few knew of that. But of their connection, of what was happening between them, they all suspected.

In no countenance was attentive curiosity so strongly marked as in Miss Bingley’s, in spite of the smiles which overspread her face whenever she spoke, for jealousy had not yet made her desperate, and her attentions to Mr. Darcy were by no means over. It was not even that Caroline Bingley wanted Darcy so much, certainly he was not her fated mate, she just did not like that someone else should have him when she could not!

“Mr. Bennet.” Darcy bent over Elliot’s hand once more and Elliot smiled up at him.

“Mr. Darcy.”

“I am pleased to see you here,” Darcy said.

“On your invitation,” Elliot replied.

“Indeed,” Darcy said, and ignoring all conventions now, he took the seat right next to Elliot. It was not a large chaise, and they both shifted to make room with Miss Darcy laughing as she moved along. Elliot then found himself in between brother and sister and he felt…most comfortable…most happy.

It was the oddest of sensations, for Elliot did not know Miss Darcy at all and yet he already knew they would become good friends if given the change. She was an omega after all, and they were naturally drawn to their own kind. As for Darcy…his thigh was pressed against Elliot’s and there was a marked heat where their bodies touched. Elliot placed his teacup upon the table, not convinced he could hold it steady otherwise.

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