The faint ring of shod hooves on gravel and a laugh I knew too well halted my progress. I reined up sharply to behold George swinging into Jupiter’s saddle, blithely nodding to whatever comment Bingley had uttered beside him.
“Going somewhere, Brother?” I inquired pointedly. At George’s guileless smile, my hand shot out to snatch the riding crop from his gloved fingers.
“Good God, man, what is amiss now?” His dancing eyes clouded, taking in my bedraggled appearance. “Has something happened?”
I drew breath to blast both thoughtless dawdlers from here to Wales. But Bingley’s uneasy shift in his saddle recalled discretion’s necessity in his presence.
“I have just come from Matlock where your absence was remarked upon,” I bit out instead. “You do recall a prior engagement today? Lord and Lady Belmont andyour betrothedawait you even now for the intended excursion to Dovedale.” My meaningful stare bore down until a faint color rose on his neck.
“Confound it, Fitz, cannot a fellow enjoy other friendships occasionally?” George blustered, kicking at Jupiter’s oil-brushed hooves. He slanted an abashed glance toward Bingley. “Forgive me; it’s only I have neglected you since our arrival. Seems my time is forever spoken for elsewhere of late.”
The naked appeal for understanding twisted my conscience. I moderated my biting retort, attempting patience. “Far be it from me to discourage you from doing your duty as host. But best not keep your betrothed’s family languishing further, hmm?” At his mulish look, I added grimly. “I shall instruct Hardwicke to drive you over directly in the barouche. Go and change, George.”
He rolled his eyes skyward dramatically. “Heaven forfend Lucilla pines in my absence a quarter hour longer! You worry overly, Brother.” But a speaking look from me set him grumbling toward the house, pride offended at receiving orders before Bingley.
I turned apologetically to my bemused guest the instant George was out of earshot. “Forgive that uncomfortable scene. Family obligations, you understand. I am afraid George will not be riding with you today.” Glancing at the sun’s climb, inspiration struck. “Perhaps you would care to join me on an errand nearby to pass the time until George returns?”
Bingley’s face transformed instantly, his ready grin returning in full force. “Capital idea! I should be delighted to accompany you. And look, here is a fresh horse saddled for the occasion.”
I shook my head. “I am afraid for this outing, a carriage is needed. Perhaps my phaeton?”
His brow crumpled, but he lifted his shoulders with a cheerful grin. “It seems I am at your disposal, Darcy.”
Seventeen
Elizabeth
Ipouredanothersteamingcup, sighing inwardly at the uninspiring leaves before me. The morning room seemed lifeless and dull despite the golden morning light pooling around us. Or perhaps some deficiency lay in my own low spirits of late, out of tune with nature’s unfolding splendor outside tall windows.
Across from me, Aunt Gardiner added a liberal splash of cream to her tea, glancing up with a smile. “This new blend is quite smooth. What do you think, Lizzy?”
I opened my mouth to reply when sharp hoofbeats and wheels crunching purposefully on the drive brought my head around. We so seldom received calls, with Mrs. Westing abed. Perhaps it was the parish priest and his wife, come to look in on her again. Before I could voice curiosity, Jane went to the window and gave a little gasp.
“Lizzy! Is not that Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley arrived outside?”
Hot tea sloshed over my suddenly trembling fingers. Darcy here? Which one? Surely, Jane must be mistaken in saying “Mr. Darcy.“ She must mean George, which meant…
I rushed to peer over her shoulder, pulse kicking into a canter. Sure enough, a highly polished carriage waited just outside, Pemberley’s crested oval gleaming clearly on the door. My breath stopped, joy leaping irrationally. George had come! Every fiber of my being strained toward the door, body taut as bowstring vibrating for beloved fingers to pluck it into song once more.
As we watched, Mr. Bingley’s hat tipped so we could see his face, laughing at some remark from his companion. He turned to offer a polite hand down to... But abruptly, my view was blocked by Jane whirling away from the window, dismay writ large on every feature.
“Oh heavens, my hair! And this old gown...” Frantically, she began attempting to pin stray blonde tendrils back into some semblance of order.
I might have smiled watching such unusual agitation in my serene sister if my knees had not unexpectedly liquefied. Aunt bustled over, straightening Jane’s fichu as she cast a wondering look between our flushed faces.
“What possible reason could the gentlemen have for calling unannounced?” Her dark eyes narrowed, coming to rest assessingly on me. “You don’t suppose... But no. That would be highly irregular.”
A glimpse of flawlessly polished Hessians mounting the front step galvanized me from helpless speculation. “No matter now, they are already at our door! Come, let us greet them calmly. Oh, how glad I am that Lydia and Kitty are not here!”
Then the door swung wide, and my spirit plunged instantly down from dizzy heights. For there, haloed unexpectedly against mellow sunlight, stood Fitzwilliam Darcy, suddenly materialized when I had ardently expected another. Hot blood washed my cheeks, shock and dismay barely mastered behind a rigid smile. I could not even summon proper pleasure at this further evidence of the elder Darcy’s restored goodwill, so violently had longing warred with reality in that instant.
Praying for the poise that still eluded me, I managed a passably cordial curtsy in answer to the gentlemen’s bow. If Mr. Darcy marked my heightened color or the betraying quiver in my knees, his countenance gave little indication. But oh, I fancied his piercing eyes saw straight through to the sudden riotous beating beneath my breast as he regarded me somberly.
“Miss Elizabeth. Miss Bennet. Please forgive this intrusion.” Darcy’s rich voice sent an inexplicable shiver racing down my spine, even as bitter disappointment curdled in my heart. He had come in his brother’s place—but where was George, who ought to have stood smiling down at me instead?
I found my voice, though it trembled faintly. “Of course, what a… surprise to see you just now, Mr. Darcy. To what do we owe the unexpected pleasure?” I faltered under his enigmatic stare, pulse skittering unevenly.Wherewas George?
Fortunately, Mr. Bingley stepped smoothly into the gap with an easy smile. “We happened to be riding nearby and could not resist stopping in when we caught sight of your delightful situation.” His gaze lingered on Jane for several seconds, then took in Aunt Gardiner as well. “Seeing you all looking so cheerful through the windows, Darcy thought perhaps you ladies might care to join us for an open carriage tour of the area?”
