Elizabeth looked at him with a half-smile. “In a hurry, Mr. Darcy?”
“Yes.”
She flushed and went silent, but the smile widened.
“And you upon a horse.”
She looked at him again shyly, from beneath her eyelashes. “I wished to surprise you… to — oh, it hardly matters the message I meant to give. I found I enjoy riding greatly for my own sake.”
She looked so lovely, her dark hair bound up in back in a sensible bun for riding, flushed and bright eyed, a blue pelisse and a brown riding dress that from its fit Darcy suspected had been modified from one of Jane’s. He leaned forward, almost sinking into her eyes.
“Ahem. Been a long road, Darcy. Time enough to stare into your lady’s eye after introductions.” Richard had a wide grin more appropriate for a weasel than a man.
Darcy turned to his sister who watched them with an intent interest. “Elizabeth, may I introduce to you my sister, Georgiana Darcy?”
The two ladies curtsied to each other, and Elizabeth smilingly exclaimed, “I have been told so much of you by Mr. Darcy — I was most eager to meet you.”
“And I you,” Georgiana replied shyly. “But you must know that… you must have heard that I have, ah…”
“Made a serious mistake, but one which by good fortune in the case has had no lasting consequences except as a useful lesson — I believe your brother’s letters have fully informed me upon all the pertinent facts, and I think you were most horridly used by those who ought to have deserved your trust.”
“Oh.” She looked down. “I have always wanted a sister. I know I am not so…”
“And I want another sister,” Elizabeth replied warmly.
“My turn to be introduced to this lovely creature,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said. “And then we can exit the cold.”
“My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Richard, Elizabeth Bennet, my betrothed.”
Elizabeth pinked at the possessive way he said that, but Darcy knew that his cousin had a reputation for being pleasing to women, and something about his manner towards Elizabeth put his hackles up. But it also in an odd way pleased Darcy to see that Richard clearly admired her as a woman.
Elizabeth stayed as close to Darcy as she could without interfering with his movement as they went indoors. She kept looking at him in this odd way — wide questioning eyes, shy smiles, and with just a hint of anxiety in her manner. Every time he glanced at her — which he did often — she was looking at him.
Only Mr. Bennet and Jane were present in the drawing room when they were brought up. Mr. Bennet watched Darcy with a frown as he settled down. “You are returned.”
“Yes.”
“Eh.” The older man picked up his book and appeared to read it, without pursuing further conversation, but Darcy perceived him watching him and Elizabeth over the top of the book closely. Elizabeth and Jane puttheirattention on Georgiana, speaking with her, working to set her at her ease.
A mere ten minutes after they had settled into the drawing room, the great crush entered Longbourn. All the other Bennet relations stuffing the room till it seemed that the apartment could barely fit them. From the conversation, Darcy found that they had returned earlier from their calls than planned because his carriage had been seen headed to Longbourn in the town, and someone had told Mrs. Bennet about it.
He watched Georgiana with a little concern, knowing how she disliked an excess of noise, but to his surprise she seemed delighted, and was laughing at something Jane had just said.
And then he was introduced to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner.
To Darcy’s surprise, they were a very gentlemanlike couple. She was younger and more fashionable than he had expected, and Mr. Gardiner had a very shrewd but friendly look to him.
Darcy firmly shook hands with them, and then said distinctly once the introductions were made, “We shall be in Town in the middle of February for the season, and I know Elizabeth looks forward greatly to having you dine with us at the earliest opportunity.”
The two looked at each other, and Mrs. Gardiner smiled and raised her eyebrow in a significant way to her husband. Darcy rather suspected thatsheat least had full knowledge of everything that he had said to Elizabeth. And while that rather embarrassed him, it did nothing to interfere with his intention to show every courtesy and kindness to them for Elizabeth’s sake.
Mr. Gardiner grinned at him and replied, “I will be very happy to see Lizzy then — she has always been one of my favorite nieces. Only tell us when, and I will happily be there.”
“That is a plan.” Darcy scarcely dared to look at Elizabeth. “I also believe from something Elizabeth said once, that you enjoy river fishing?”
“Oh, yes,” Mr. Gardiner replied with spirit. “Hardly enough opportunity with my business, but at least twice a month during the spring and summer I take an opportunity to go out from London to attack some open river.”
“You must visit us at Pemberley, perhaps this summer if your business permits it. I have what I humbly believe to be the best trout stream in all of Derbyshire.”
