“Oh.” It was a small sound, but it spoke volumes, and she paled.
Trying to catch his sister’s eye across the room, Miss Bennet looked up and he caught hers instead. He mouthed the word wine to her with one hand mimicking bringing a cup to his mouth. With a quick nod and a glance to her sister, Miss Bennet excused herself to retrieve a glass of wine.
“Mrs Carrington, Miss Bennet is bringing you wine. I am very pleased for you and master Alex. This is what Captain Carrington would have wanted.” Darcy spoke to give her something to focus on, aside from the thoughts which were affecting her.
Elizabeth saw his mouth moving, shaping into words, when she heard her late husband’s name she found she could focus again. “Yes, Gregory would have been pleased our future is now secure. It pains me, though. If Lord Carrington had not died, would he have continued his attempts to seize the inheritance?” Her eyes were flashing with an emotion he had not witnessed from her before.
“Doubt not, madam, that no other result than this would have been acceptable. The law was on your side, and no move had been made to give way to the earl. However, yes, it might have taken longer.” Darcy shrugged, “Lord Carrington had frightened the man into a stalemate.”
Jane arrived with the wine and placed it in Elizabeth’s hand. “Drink a little, Lizzy. You are very pale.”
By now the rest of the room was quiet and attention was focused on where Elizabeth sat.
“Lizzy?” Mrs Gardiner rose and approached her niece. Georgiana followed behind her.
Darcy had stood when Jane joined them. Now he stepped aside to offer his chair to one of the ladies.
Colour was returning to Elizabeth’s cheeks. “Oh, Aunt, Mr Darcy and his uncle have been so kind. Uncle Gardiner and I may present ourselves to Mr Haversham tomorrow morning and begin the arrangements for my inheritance.”
Cries of congratulations and words of thanks reverberated around the room. It took several minutes for Mrs Gardiner to calm and place a hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “But what has you so undone, dear. This is good news, is it not?”
“It is wonderful, but I am not undone, I am livid. This fortuitous result only came about so precipitously due in large part to Lord Matlock, but also because Gregory’s father, Lord Carrington, is dead.” The gasps following her statement did not stop her from continuing, “It infuriates me to think if it were not for his death, he would have persisted in his avarice.”
Silence met her last statement.
“So?” Everyone turned to look at Jane, who shrugged. “Lord Carrington is dead, the struggle is over. Focus on the good, Lizzy.”
Elizabeth did not like this further shade of Jane’s altered character but allowed herself to be appeased. She stood and faced Mr Darcy. “Sir, kindly give Lord Matlock my deepest appreciation for assisting with this matter.”
“I will, Mrs Carrington, I assure you he was happy to oblige the widow of a Royal Navy hero.” His expression was warm, “As was I.” He cleared his throat, “Georgiana, I am afraid we must take our leave. It is getting late.”
“You are welcome to stay and join our meal, Mr Darcy,” Mrs Gardiner was quick to offer the invitation.
“You are very kind, madam, but we have obligations which cannot be put off.”
During the minutes it took to accompany the guests to the door and prepare to leave, Elizabeth had time to raise a concern. “Mr Darcy, we adore having Georgiana here, and you, of course. But I would not want to be the cause of gossip spreading due to her frequent visits to a widow still in full mourning.”
So caring. I dare Lord Matlock to find a woman worthier than this bundle of contradictions; livid in righteous anger one moment, kind and thoughtful the next.
“I assure you, it is of no concern to me. After all, there is another young lady here, not in mourning.” His mouth quirked up on one side and he bowed to her before escorting Georgiana out the door.
Goodness, even his teasing smile renders him beautiful.
~ / ~
When the door closed behind them, all three ladies returned to the drawing room. Elizabeth rushed over to the bassinet to check on Alex, who was still sleeping, and then flopped down onto the sofa in a most unladylike fashion.
Mrs Gardiner was the first to speak. “Lizzy. I am so happy for you. Now you can begin making plans for your future.”
“Indeed. I admit to still being overwhelmed, even though this was the very reason we came to London.”
“Lizzy, Georgiana wanted me to let you know she will visit soon. I invited her for tea, but also to accompany me to the park when I take the children.”
Elizabeth smiled at her favourite sister. “That is wonderful, Jane. Perhaps when you go you might discuss attending the museum or a lecture.”Or maybe an assembly or a ball. Now this worry is behind us, we must get Jane introduced into some society even if it is not the higher spheres.
“Your uncle will be quite pleased with this turn of events. I know it weighed on him when he could not do more in the effort to release your funds. Do you think the Darcys would accept a more formal dinner invitation?”
“We can ask Georgiana when she comes to visit.” Jane had picked up her sewing basket and was working on her current project.
