“You are very kind, Mrs. Gardiner. What a wonderful surprise to meet a former neighbour. Pemberley is indeed the place of which my sister and I are most fond. We spend most of the summer there. Do you still visit Lambton?”
“Sometimes. We hope to travel that way later this year, but our plans are not yet fixed.”
“If you do happen to be in Derbyshire, please call at Pemberley. My sister and I should be delighted to welcome you,” he said, bringing Elizabeth equal pleasure and amazement.
Mrs. Gardiner also seemed stunned by such an invitation, and she could only respond with a joyful, “Thank you, Mr. Darcy!”
The evening proved even better than Elizabeth’s highest expectations. She found herself content in a manner she had not anticipated. Hope, delicate yet insistent, bloomed within her as she observed Mr. Darcy’s easy manners and the warmth in his occasional glances towards her.
When at length the gentlemen took their leave, Mr. Darcy lingered a moment.
“If I may beg the favour,” said he, addressing the room but with his eyes resting particularly upon Elizabeth, “I should like to introduce my sister Georgiana to your acquaintance in the coming days.”
The invitation was met with universal delight and honour. “We should be most pleased,” replied Mrs. Gardiner warmly, while Elizabeth’s soul was filled with a mixture of anticipation and joy.
That night, Elizabeth’s heart remained full of more hopes and dreams than ever before, until sleep finally enveloped her. She dreamt of Mr. Darcy, but in the morning she could not — or dared not — remember the particulars of that dream.
***
A whirl of unexpected and most fortunate events overwhelmed Elizabeth and Jane in the next week.
Loyal to his word, Mr. Darcy indeed introduced his sister to them, but he did not bring her to Gracechurch Street. Instead, Mr. Bingley appeared one morning, bearing a note from Mr. and Miss Darcy. The invitation was for Mrs. Gardiner and her nieces to take tea at Darcy House, an honour that pleased them beyond measure. Mrs. Gardiner accepted with gracious warmth, and Mr. Bingley, ever obliging, offered to escort them himself.
The appointed day arrived, bright and fair. Elizabeth, though she endeavoured to appear composed, was inwardly nervous as they entered the elegant halls of Darcy House. She wondered, with a humility newly awakened in her, whether she truly deserved to stand there, after she had abominably abused its master. Yet Mr. Darcy received them with perfect politeness, performing the introductions with a quiet dignity that put the party at ease. Miss Georgiana Darcy proved all that was modest and amiable, her shyness soon giving way to genuinefriendliness as she conversed with Jane, Elizabeth, and their aunt.
Before long, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley excused themselves to the library on some matter of business, leaving the ladies to their tea and conversation. Elizabeth found herself immediately drawn to Miss Darcy’s gentle manners, and the acquaintance blossomed with surprising ease. They spoke of music and books, of the pleasures of the country and the bustle of town, and Elizabeth could not but admire the young lady’s sweetness of temper.
Their harmonious visit was suddenly interrupted, however, by the unannounced arrival of Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. The two sisters entered with all their accustomed airs, only to halt in evident shock at the sight of Mrs. Gardiner and the Bennet sisters. Miss Darcy rose politely but did not extend any invitation to sit, while Mr. Bingley, who had stepped out of the library at the sound of their voices, spoke with uncharacteristic firmness.
“Louisa, Caroline,” he said, “you might have sent word of your intention to call. As you see, we are engaged with company at present.”
The sisters, their faces colouring with mortification, offered a few stiff civilities and were obliged to withdraw almost as quickly as they had come. Elizabeth could not suppress a small, satisfied smile at this little act of justice. The slight they had once given Jane was not so easily forgotten, and to witness their discomfort brought a measure of quiet revenge that pleased her more than she cared to own.
Scarcely had calm been restored when another unexpected visit occurred. Lady Matlock and Miss de Bourgh were announced.
Elizabeth was delighted to see Miss de Bourgh, who appeared genuinely pleased to see her too. Introductions were performedwith all due ceremony to Lady Matlock, who, surprisingly, accepted the invitation to join them for tea.
The countess was impressive in appearance and manners, yet polite. She asked questions and engaged in conversation, which flowed with increasing ease.
“Miss de Bourgh, please allow me to tell you how happy I am to see you so well recovered. Indeed, you look exceptionally well,” Elizabeth said.
“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. I do feel exceptionally well. My aunt’s care and the new medicine I am taking seem the perfect remedy.”
Miss de Bourgh spoke with more animation than Elizabeth had ever observed in Kent, and she understood how much Lady Catherine’s influence had hurt the young woman.
Yet the sequence of surprising occurrences was not at an end. With all the force of a summer storm, Lady Catherine de Bourgh burst into the room, declaring that she had been informed her daughter was present. Her eyes widened in astonishment upon beholding Elizabeth and her relatives.
“Miss Bennet!” she cried, her voice sharp with indignation. “What, pray, are you doing here? I demand an explanation at once!”
“Oh, stop yelling, Catherine,” Lady Matlock scolded her. “Why on earth are you always shouting? Can you not use a proper tone? It is even more embarrassing since we are in company.”
Lady Catherine’s face coloured with increasing rage.
“I would not yell, Elinor, if you would not interfere in my affairs and would not steal away my daughter! And I must know what Miss Bennet is doing here! How does she know Georgiana? By the way, Miss Bennet, you should know I sent your cousin home. He was wasting his time in London instead of attendingto his duties in Hunsford. How can he imagine I need his help? That man annoys me exceedingly!”
Before Elizabeth could frame a reply, Mr. Darcy appeared from the library, his countenance composed yet resolute. “Aunt,” he said with quiet authority, “as you see, my sister is entertaining guests. You are welcome to take a seat and enjoy a cup of tea with us, or to excuse yourself and return at a more convenient time for further discussion. But I must beg you not to disrupt the party.”
Lady Catherine’s face flushed with violent anger. She burst forth in a torrent of reproaches and demands, decrying the impropriety of the company and the insolence of her nephew.
