Summoning his courage, Darcy took a deep breath, hoping he had chosen a safe topic. “Miss Elizabeth, I would like to thank you most sincerely for your kindness to my sister.”
Her eyes darted to his briefly, then straight forward. “She is a delightful girl, Mr Darcy. I was very glad to make her acquaintance.”
“She was most eager to meet you,” he added warmly. At this, the lady’s eyes flashed uncertainly to him again, but she did not reply. “She has made few friends. I cannot tell you how relieved I am that she seemed so happy just now.”
“Do you choose her friends for her then, Mr Darcy? I seem to recall your tendency to make decisions for others. I cannot fathom why such a charming girl should have no friends, other than she has had no opportunities to do so for herself.”
Her words stung. He stiffened, schooling his offended feelings before making reply. It would not do to take her bait just now, when he needed to gain her good opinion. Tight-lipped, he attempted to avoid the obvious reference to their quarrel from the day before and focus on her concerns for Georgiana. “Miss Bennet, not everyone is as articulate as you are, nor as comfortable making conversation with strangers. She does not prefer a great deal of company. You must have found that Georgiana is rather shy.”
Elizabeth dropped her arm and turned to him, stopping them. “She has been left too much alone, Mr Darcy. The ability to make friends comes with practice, which one cannot gain with only a hired companion. I cannot pretend to know all on such a short acquaintance, but anyone with eyes can see the girl is desperately lonely and unsure of herself. She is barely sixteen! One might wonder why such a ‘kind and caring’ brother as she describes would choose to leave her so often to her own devices?”
Darcy bristled. “Do you mean to imply that I neglect my duties to my sister? Miss Bennet, nothing could be further from the truth! Would you prefer instead that she be allowed to run freely, largely unchaperoned, without suitable guidance and protection? Do you think it preferable that a young lady who istoo young to be outshould be allowed improper liberties for her age?”
Elizabeth gasped, her eyes now full of fire. He so clearly held her father’s neglect and her mother’s mismanagement of her younger sisters in contempt. The words may not have provoked her so greatly had they not exposed her own shame at her sisters’ wild behaviour. Indignant, she harshly repressed her feelings and rushed to attack the words which her sensibilities confirmed as so true.
“At least, Mr Darcy,mysisters know affection and the pleasure of one another’s company! Do you truly care enough for this dear sister of yours to make your sentiments known to her and to spend time with her? Or do you find it more convenient to shuffle your responsibilities to those in your employ?”
“Miss Bennet, you overstep your bounds!” Her narrowed eyes declared to him that she did not care for his reproof and would stand her ground. His blood boiling, he flung all caution to the wind. “Howdareyou accuse me of negligence and callousness with regards to my sister! Georgiana has my very heart. I care for her to the best of my abilities! She wants for nothing!”
Elizabeth tilted her chin brazenly, meeting his searing gaze without flinching. “Nothing but a friend!” she cried. “The child has only false companions who would exploit her position! There is no one in whom she can confide, no genuine attachments to brighten her existence. Why is that, Mr Darcy? Why should you keep her sequestered away from others her own age, exposing her only to the frivolous attentions of those who have more interest in yourself than in her?”
He ground his teeth, clenching and unclenching his fists to control his temper. He had desperately wanted to avoid another scathing argument with Elizabeth, but it was too late, and her accusations were too much to bear. “Iprotecther! Miss Bennet, you have no idea of what you speak. Why do you think I did not bring her to Netherfield before? Do you think I do not wish for her company?”
“She certainly wishes for yours!” she lashed back. “Tell me, Mr Darcy, are you such a poor protector that you cannot defend her from the grasping attentions of others when you come away to stay with your own friends? You do not bring her with you, so what has she when she is alone in London? Are you so afraid for her that you would not welcome to your home other young women her own age whowouldbe true friends?”
“Miss Bennet, I did notchoosemy situation!” he hissed. “I am well aware of my inadequacies as both guardian and brother to Georgiana. I have done my best, but some things have proven beyond my control. Trustworthy companions, the like of which you speak, are rarer than you can know. I had hoped thatyoumight be the sort of companion she so desperately needs! Is it your intention, Miss Bennet, to simply lecture me regarding my failings, or willyoube a friend to my sister?”
She slanted a grimace at him. “Iwillbe her friend, but it is forhersake alone, Mr Darcy, not yours!” Elizabeth turned and marched homeward, blinking tears of frustration mixed with the stinging rain.
Darcy sagged. He stood alone, his head drooping and arms hanging uselessly at his sides. His hopes had begun to rise, only to be blasted again. Elizabeth and his sister had shown every propitious sign of the blossoming closeness he had desired to foster between the two women dearest to him. Skilfully and gently, she had drawn Georgiana out of her shell, infusing the girl with her liveliness and sparkle. She had even drawn sword to vehemently defend his precious sister—unfortunately, she imagined she was defending Georgiana from himself. Elizabeth Bennet had proven once again that she was everything he had ever dreamed she could be... except in love with him.
Slowly he trudged toward Longbourn, heedless of the now steady drizzle dripping from his hat brim and soaking through his woollen coat. They had not walked far from the house before Elizabeth had diverted them to the grove, and he found himself at the doorstep sooner than he could have wished.
Fitzwilliam was looking out for him and held the door. The colonel clapped him comfortingly on the shoulder, and in a low voice, suggested, “Better give her that letter, after all.”
Chapter 11
WhenElizabethsteppedintothe drawing-room, her eyes flew immediately to Jane’s face. Her sister’s flushed and happy smile told her all she needed to know. Elizabeth’s joy for her sibling was reinforced by the proud satisfaction written across Bingley’s features. Elizabeth concluded they had not yet informed her mother of their understanding, since that lady was chattering contentedly to Miss Darcy. Mrs Bennet had seated the quiet girl near herself, hoping to work her way into the brother’s good graces.
Elizabeth winked at her sister, respecting the new couple’s present silence on the matter. Surely Bingley and Jane would wish to speak to either her father or Uncle Gardiner before making any kind of announcement. She glanced round the room and saw the colonel rise from his seat and walk toward the door to greet his cousin. With quick decision, she excused herself and bolted upstairs.
She stepped softly into her father’s room and looked expectantly, desperately to Mrs Cooper. “How is he?”
The woman shrugged. “No change, Miss. He swallowed some broth from Mrs Hill a short while ago, but little else.”
Elizabeth heaved a sorrowful sigh. Nodding her understanding, she closed the door softly and walked down to the room she shared with Jane. She closed her own door and leaned against it, wishing to burrow under the covers of her bed and remain there until the next day.
The soft hum of voices below drifted through the thin walls and through the door. She knew that she owed it to Jane, to Georgiana, to make her appearance for tea. Their guests would be leaving soon enough, and surely, she could survive another quarter-hour in the same room as Mr Darcy. A glance across the room at her bedraggled appearance in the mirror made her frown. Resignedly, she began tugging at her old gown, now splattered with mud. The least she could do was to clean up a little.
Darcysatuncomfortablynextto Georgiana, and nearer than he liked to Mrs Bennet. He did not even have to try to ignore the matron’s giddy ridiculousness. His mind was solely occupied with his latest argument with Elizabeth. Georgiana could not miss his saddened expression and placed a hand gently on his arm. He acknowledged her with a tight, grateful smile. Then his thoughts turned inward again. How was it that every conversation with such an intelligent, reasonable woman devolved into accusations and misunderstandings?
Elizabeth stepped softly into the room. He looked immediately to her, noting the sage green gown he remembered from Netherfield. Her hair had been neatly rearranged, and as she moved by him, he caught the scent of lavender. The most readily available seat in the room was opposite him, allowing him to command a full view of her downcast countenance. She would not look at him. She half-heartedly followed the conversation between her mother and Colonel Fitzwilliam, who rallied valiantly to the cause. She said as little as possible, while he said nothing at all.
When the tea was brought, Mrs Bennet insisted that Elizabeth should serve the guests, in particular Mr Darcy, forcing her to draw near. Darcy looked at her steadily until she met and held his gaze, hoping the contrition in his eyes would be apparent to her. She blinked, pursed her lips, and moved on to serve Fitzwilliam.
Just as she had resumed her seat, hot cup in hand, Lydia and Kitty burst into the room, late for tea and trailing a fit of giggles. Elizabeth blushed, glancing furtively at Darcy. The girls plopped on the sofa near Elizabeth.
Noisy, boisterous Lydia banged her spoon against her cup heedlessly as she stirred a lump of sugar. “Lizzy, guess what! You’ll never guess! Mr Collins is engaged to Charlotte Lucas!” the girl bubbled over her cup.
