“My eldest sister is to be wed, so I return to my father’s house in two days. After her wedding, I set out on a 6-week tour of the Lakes with my aunt and uncle. I do not anticipate returning before the end of summer.”
“My congratulations to her. It happens that I also leave London within the month on my father’s business. I suppose it was not to be—at least, not at this time.”
Elizabeth nodded. She thought sheshouldbe more distressed by the lost opportunity to cement a friendship, at least.
“Perhaps we might meet again another day,” he suggested.
What exactly was on his mind?
Momentarily forgetting the rules of propriety, she leaned closer. “I would be happy to do so, Mr Oakley. Might I enquire—”
She belatedly realised her impoliteness and stopped, searching for an elegant exit from the trap of her own making.
"You wish to ask the nature of the call," said he, quite gallantly in her opinion, "but I could see the moment when you realised that might sound inappropriate."
“Yes sir,” she said quietly, happy he did not appear offended.
“We have discussed some out-of-the-ordinary matters, Miss Bennet. I admit I admire your obvious intelligence, and I also respect how you neither hide it nor use it as a weapon. I have seen both.”
Elizabeth nodded.Where did the conversation lead?
“Miss Bennet, I believe the connections people build during their lives are like a garden. What you have after some decades depends on what you plant and how well it is tended. Would you agree?”
“Most certainly. It makes perfect sense.”
“Pray do not read too much into this, but you remind me somewhat of my mother. She was very intelligent, and I was raised to respect that. They surrounded themselves with clever people, and I wish to do the same. As forintentions, I cannot say. Would you agree that relations between people of marriageable age are complicated and fraught with opportunities for error, misunderstandings, and expectations—especially given that society expects women to be entirely opaque?”
Even for Elizabeth, this seemed too much for a ballroom conversation, but she was not about to become queasy.
“That is why I asked… or at least started.”
“Decades hence, I would like a garden like my parents’. I would like friends, acquaintances, associates, and—well, please do not read too much into this—a wife much like you. I would like learn if we could have mutual places in each other’s gardens, without presuming at this pointwhat that place is. I believe it far too soon to presume what our future friendship might amount to.”
“I would be happy to be part of this enterprise. I cannot say how things might transpire in the future, but I can say with some clarity what the timing might look like. Perhaps you might write to my father when you return a couple of months from now. He could apprise you of my itinerary, then we shall see what we shall see.”
“I would like that.”
Elizabeth gasped and rose on her toes, peering across the ballroom. “I did not expect her here!”
Oakley turned, quite puzzled. Elizabeth grabbed his arm and started pulling him across the room. “Come, Mr Oakley. Youmustmeet my friend. She is definitely someone you need to know.”
The two dodged and wove between groups, and at long last caught up with her quarry.
Charlotte smiled broadly. “Lizzy, I did not know you would be at this ball.”
The ladies curtseyed and embraced.
“Charlotte, may I introduce my friend, Mr Oakley. Mr Oakley, Miss Charlotte Lucas, my very best friend in the world.”
“A pleasure, Miss Lucas.”
“The pleasure is mine, Mr Oakley.”
The two might indeed become very good friends, given some time together, and Elizabeth wanted a little time of her own to understand exactlywhyshe was no more interested in Mr Oakley than she seemed to be.
“Is Lady Catherine with you?”
A voice over her left shoulder made her jump. “Well met, Miss Bennet.”
