“How thoughtful!”
“Indeed. My father and I were raised in the same spirit, and so was Georgiana. She has ridden horses as well as played with dogs and cats since she learnt to walk.”
“She must have learnt from her brother. I assume your mother loved animals too?”
“She did,” he responded after a brief hesitation. “But her health was fragile for as long as I can remember, so she spent more time resting than outside the house. She had a white cat who kept her company till she died.”
“Oh…I am very sorry…I did not mean to impose…”
The conversation had taken a most unexpected turn, and Mr Darcy’s willingness to discuss such private things with her became disconcerting. They walked at a very slow pace, taking a circuitous route towards the front of the house.
“It is I who should apology for burdening you with my sad stories, Miss Bennet.”
“In truth, I thank you for confiding in me, Mr Darcy.”
“Once again, I wonder what possessed me to do so,” he said, revealing a little smile twisted by sadness. “I rarely share my thoughts with anyone, including my relatives.”
“More rarely than you share your books,” she replied, and his smile brightened a little.
“Much more rarely,” he admitted.
“Then I feel privileged to be one of the very few. It is more important that you trust me than that you found me only tolerable.”
His face coloured, then turned pale, and Elizabeth gently touched his arm.
“I was only teasing you, Mr Darcy.”
“Oh…I am as ill qualified at teasing as I am at enjoying parties.”
“As long as you love animals and books, I find fewer and fewer faults in your manners.”
“Are you teasing me again, Miss Bennet?”
“Not entirely, Mr Darcy. May I ask what happened to the loyal white cat?”
“Oh…Molly… She was seven years old when my mother died — the same age as my sister. They had lived together all their lives, and Georgiana loved her deeply. Both of them missed my mother exceedingly and grieved for a long time. For many weeks, both Georgiana and Molly stayed in my mother’s empty room. Georgiana used to play the pianoforte there. Molly just lay on the bed.”
“I am so sorry,” Elizabeth whispered, suddenly feeling the burden of his sadness.
“Molly died almost three years after my mother. A few months after that, my father died too.”
“Children and pets grieve so deeply for their loved ones. Miss Darcy must have suffered so much, losing both her parents at such a tender age…”
“She did. It was a long while before she recovered reasonably well, although everyone in our family showered her with affection and tenderness.”
“Poor dear girl,” Elizabeth said in a low voice, feeling tears well in her eyes.
“My sister is the kindest, sweetest soul, and therefore, she is more prone to being hurt. I wish I could protect her more.”
“From the way you speak about her, even though we are barely acquainted, I am certain you are an excellent brother.”
“I try but often fail, and Georgiana gets hurt again. For instance…”
He paused as if trying to regain some composure.
“A few months after my father died, I purchased a kitten for my sister. An acquaintance’s cat had a litter, and Georgiana immediately fell in love with one of the boys. She called him Milo, and they became immediate friends. He slept only with her. He was as affectionate as he was protective of her.”
“I am sure Milo brings her comfort and peace.”
