Before she could think of a suitable reply, Darcy said, “Would you allow me, or do I ask too much, to introduce my sister to your acquaintance during your stay in London?”
The surprise of such an application was great indeed; Elizabeth was quite aware that very few people even knew of the existence of Miss Darcy, let alone had met her in person. “It would be my very great honor to meet Miss Darcy,” she said earnestly.
“She is… quite shy,” he said, “and I’m afraid her self-assurance and spirits are very low. Our nurse did her best to raise her with confidence, but between our father’s slights and her former maid’s abuse…”
His voice trailed off, and Elizabeth replied, “I can only imagine. I have suffered my mother’s complaints about my wild nature and conceited independence for years, as well as comparisons to Jane’s beauty, but I have always had my father, Sir William, Aunt and Uncle Gardiner—there have always been others who help me see the best in myself.”
“Precisely. Georgiana has only myself, her companion, a few servants, and on occasion, our Fitzwilliam relations. We are all either family or paid domestics, however, and she is hesitant to believe us.”
“Whereas I am a stranger, wholly unconnected with her, and therefore more likely to share the ‘truth,’ as it were.”
“I see we understand each other.”
“As opposed to before—”
“When you seemed to willfully misunderstand me at every turn,” Darcy interrupted with a smile.
“Ah, so hecanbe taught to tease! Well, sir, be warned: you may have now begun a war you cannot win.” Her eyes twinkled up at him.
“I look forward to doing battle with you.”
∞∞∞
Three days later, Elizabeth, Jamie, and Elizabeth’s maid—a tenant girl named Penny who had been sent for from Hertfordshire—set forth in the Darcy carriage which had been sent for them to Grosvenor Square where Darcy House was located. Penny’s eyes widened as the smaller homes of Gracechurch Street gradually grew into the large mansions of Mayfair.
When the carriage arrived, it was all Elizabeth could do to keep from gasping as she was handed down in front of the largest home she’d ever seen. The front steps were made of white stones, which gleamed brightly in the sunlight.
“Gee, Miss Lizzy,” whispered Penny, “he must pay a fortune to keep the stairs this clean.”
The different Highway Acts and Public Nuisance Laws over the decades—in an attempt to reduce the filth in Londonstreets—had put the burden of maintaining the cleanliness of front steps and doorways on property owners. As the streets were covered with thick mud—primarily composed of horse droppings which were swept to the sides—most people chose colors of stone and brick that would mask the dirt as much as possible.
“Yes, I know,” Elizabeth said, “but come, we mustn’t gawk.”
Jamie, who had ungainly dismounted from the box seat by the coachman, walked behind the two girls. Penny handed Elizabeth’s card to the butler, who stepped aside and permitted them to enter.
Darcy stood just inside the door, and Elizabeth felt a flurry of butterflies rise in her stomach upon seeing him, which caused her to pause in confusion.
What do I have to be nervous about?
She pushed the thought aside, determined to think on it later. Instead, she moved forward to greet him. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy, for having me to your home. I am eager to make your sister’s acquaintance.”
He bowed low. “She is anxious to meet you as well. I hope you do not mind, but I told her she did not need to receive you at the door. Instead, she is in the music room.”
“Not at all,” she assured him.
“Then if you will follow me.”
He extended his arm, and together the two of them walked down the long corridor, followed closely behind by Penny and Jamie. As they did so, Elizabeth could not help but admire the rich, yet tasteful, furnishings. “Your home is quite lovely,” she told Darcy.
“Thank you. Georgiana had the assistance of my aunt, Lady Matlock, in redecorating last year. Everything was quite out of date before that, having last been done by my mother before her…confinements.”
His arm tensed on the last word, and Elizabeth gently gave him a reassuring squeeze before realizing what she had done. Quickly, to cover her embarrassment, she asked, “LadyMatlock?”
“Yes, my uncle’s wife. You… you did not know that my mother’s elder brother is an earl?”
She gave a startled little laugh. “I think I do vaguely remember Miss Bingley saying something about that, but I had entirely forgotten.”
He shook his head and looked at her admiringly. “Only you, Miss Bennet. Only you.”
