“Your ladyship is as discerning as ever! Why, yes, it is. your ladyship must quite agree that, while nothing to the glory of Rosings Park….”
Caroline finally succeeded in blocking him out. She began to smile, the first time she had done so all day. Arrogant and poorly bred as Lady Catherine was, she was firmly on Caroline’s side of matters. This was going to be an encounter to remember.
“Mama,Aunt,wehaveguests arriving.” Elizabeth bit her lip painfully. How she wished she did not have to call her mother away from her amusements! Darcy, however, had clearly recognized the coach and desired that the lady of the house should be present to welcome it. She had silently pled against such a course but recognized that he was correct. Anything less would be bad form. Her mother would have to be alerted to the presence of their visitors.
“Guests, my love?” Mrs Bennet was all tender affection for the bride-elect. “They must have come to wish you well, is that not so? Come, my dear, we shall be happy to receive them!”
By the time Elizabeth had emerged from the kitchen with her mother and aunt in tow, their guests had already entered the drawing-room. Elizabeth braced herself. Such a large carriage could only mean….
“Darcy! There you are!” a strident voice carried to her. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door aside. Elizabeth, her aunt and her mother filed silently into the sitting room behind the new arrivals.
The figure before her turned sharply at her entrance. “Colonel Fitzwilliam!” she greeted him joyfully.
“Miss Elizabeth!” He swept her a bow. “Darcy, you must allow me to perform the introductions. Father, this is Miss Elizabeth Bennet, Darcy’s betrothed. My father, Miss Elizabeth, the Earl of Matlock.”
Elizabeth dipped a curtsey. “I am honoured to make your lordship’s acquaintance.”
“The honour is mine, I assure you, Miss Bennet,” the earl offered a reserved smile.
“May I present my mother, my lord?” Mrs Bennet was truly aghast. Pale and speechless, she fumbled a curtsey to the earl. Somehow it had escaped her notice that the handsome colonel she had so roundly abused on the previous evening was the son of nobility. That, to her mind, was enough exoneration to secure her good opinion of him. Elizabeth had momentary reason to hope that her mother’s excitable spirits might suffer enough of a shock to diminish them through the duration of the earl’s visit.
Elizabeth discreetly found her way to Darcy’s side as he took it upon himself to make the remainder of the introductions to his uncle. She recognized a calculating gleam in his eye and began to relax some. Perhaps he had planned this, too!
The earl quickly fell into easy conversation with her uncle Gardiner, a fact which readily surprised Elizabeth. She still felt the gentleman’s eye upon her rather frequently. She found herself wishing that her younger sisters had made an opportunity to excuse themselves to town before the earl’s visit, but even Lydia was sensible to the import of such a call. The girls settled on the sofa but mercifully remained somewhat mannerly—if one overlooked the occasional inexplicable giggle and bold stares originating from that region of the room. Even Mrs Bennet was in sufficient awe that Mrs Gardiner was usually able to tactfully direct her.
“Richard,” Darcy drew near his cousin, “how did you find Her Ladyship your mother?”
“Why, she is… she is well enough, Darcy.” The colonel’s eyes narrowed curiously. Darcy never referred to his aunt by her title when he could help it. Why would he make a point of doing so now?
“I thought you had told me she was doing rather poorly? I am glad to hear you found her improved.” Darcy levelled an arched brow at his cousin.
“Oh…” the colonel inhaled sharply. “Yes, she suffers somewhat, the poor dear, but she rallies as best she can.”
“Are you to take over the management of your grandfather’s estate, then? Her Ladyship had some concerns about the steward, the last I heard.”
“Why… not as yet, Darcy.” Fitzwilliam tilted his head, confused at his highly private cousin’s mention of family affairs before a public audience. Darcy flicked his eyes silently toward the youngest Bennet sisters, who had ceased their quiet chatter and leaned forward in earnest attendance. “I recall,” he added cautiously, watching his cousin’s face for signs of approval, “that she did make mention of securing a pension against old Bayard’s coming retirement.”
“Yes, of course, that is proper. When you are ready to interview potential new stewards, I shall be glad to offer you any recommendations.”
“Darcy, you know I have not inherited the estate in my own right—Grandfather left it to Mother, you know, as there was no entail. She desires it to come to me eventually, but for now, any changes are surely up to M... Her Ladyship,” he corrected himself at a look from Darcy. “She would takeyouradvice over mine; I am not involved at all.” Richard glanced about the room. By now, more than the youngest Bennet sisters overheard their conversation. Mrs Bennet eavesdropped shamelessly, and he could see even his father and Elizabeth’s uncle were sparing some attention for Darcy’s remarks.
“That is not how she was speaking of the matter at her last visit to Pemberley,” Darcy continued, drawing a nearly horrified expression from Fitzwilliam. What had come over his cousin? “Do you not recall?” Darcy gave another meaningful cock of his eye. “She was rather insistent that a certain nameless gentleman in our family should continue to pay court to Lord Ellsworth’s daughter to secure a future heir for the estate.”
“Darcy! That was y—” he coloured and broke off, darting his eyes to the earthy beauty standing at Darcy’s side.Closelyat his side. Evidently, a deal had happened in a day. Her dark eyes sparkled roguishly, and she cast him a barely perceptible wink. He looked back to Darcy, who pinned him with a compelling gaze.What the devil is the old man up to?
“Georgiana!” Darcy beckoned abruptly. “Why have you not yet greeted your cousin?”
Richard turned, thoroughly befuddled. Georgiana drew near, her light blue eyes cast to the floor and her hands clasped before her. “Dearest Georgie!” he welcomed his cousin. At leasther,he would be able to comprehend.
“Good morning, Cousin,” she acknowledged him softly, offering her hand for him. Her eyes remained cast down, her cheeks stained brightly, but she smiled a little at the carpet as he took her hand. Georgiana too bashful to look up to him? What was going on?
“Richard,” Darcy brought his attention back, “I am glad you are here. I find it necessary to return to London for a few days. Georgiana wishes to remain to further her acquaintance with Miss Bennet, but of course, she cannot do so without one of us nearby. Might I presume to hope that you would be able to look after her for a few days while I am away?”
“Why… of course, Darcy, by all means. I expect Pater will return just after you; he only intended a short visit, but I have several days’ leave.”
“Excellent, I thank you.” Darcy directed his gaze toward Elizabeth, pointedly leaving Fitzwilliam alone with Georgiana. Fitzwilliam shot him a brief curious glare, then turned his attention to the less mysterious of his two cousins.
Chapter 27
