Giving a gentle tug on the reins, he backed his mare away from Longbourn, purposely distancing himself from temptation. For he, who prided himself on his honesty, had lied at the Meryton assembly. Miss Elizabeth Bennet was certainly handsome enough to tempt him.
She saw him.
Through the dampness of the windowpane, her eyes met his icy blue stare—except they were soft and inviting, welcoming, yearning. Elizabeth scoffed at herself. Was it the blurriness from the rain that caused her to see something that, in truth, was not there?
When his horse side-stepped, Mr. Darcy looked away. With a final glance, the gentlemen turned their animals and rode away.
Her chest throbbed from the pounding of her heart. Her damp palms slid down the glass.What was Mr. Darcy about?Since she had no clue, she inhaled and exhaled slowly until her pounding heart calmed.
Settling back in the window seat, grateful the wind had subsided and the rain was but a heavy mist, Elizabeth was two paragraphs into the first detailed account of a hurricane hitting England in Defoe’sThe Stormwhen Jane burst through the door, her face a rosy pink. She waved a folded piece of parchment.
Barely breathing, she said, “Lizzy, Mama was in the kitchen discussing the menu with Cook when this arrived. Papa is in his study, and since I recognized Miss Bingley’s handwriting, I took it from Mr. Hill.” She drew herself up and opened the missive.
“Jane! If you were not able to alert Mama, then good for you.” Elizabeth was stunned that her sister had done something so out of character.
“It is from Mr. Bingley. An invitation to a private ball to be held on the twenty-sixth of November at Netherfield Park. He says it is in my honor to celebrate my recovery from the cold I had last week. We are, all of us, invited to attend.” Shetwirled, pressing the paper to her chest. “Oh, Lizzy. I am truly the happiest woman alive. Mr. Bingley is just what a young man ought to be. Sensible, good-humored, and lively, with happy manners and ease.”
“He is also handsome,” replied Elizabeth, “which a young man ought to be if he possibly can. I give you permission to like him since he is far superior to his friend.”
“Oh, Lizzy, Mr. Darcy should never have insulted you. That was unfortunate,” Jane said. “I do wonder if circumstances kept him from acting properly that evening. Perhaps a business deal he was pursuing went wrong or a beloved family member was facing injustice. Or perhaps he was unwell. It was ill-judged of him to say what he did, but we might excuse him if we knew the details.”
“Possibly. Dearest Jane, you wish to think all the world is respectable, and are hurt if I speak negatively of anybody. I do not see universal goodwill in everyone I meet. There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think are genuinely kind. Every day confirms my belief in the inconsistency of all human characters and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense. The more I see of the world, the more I am dissatisfied with it.” Elizabeth studied her sister’s expression carefully when she revealed, “There is a new arrival at Netherfield Park, an officer recently returned from the continent. His name is Colonel Fitzwilliam. He is a cousin of Mr. Darcy’s.”
To Elizabeth’s pleasure, Jane asked, “Is he an amiable man?”
“Yes, I believe he is.” After explaining the circumstances of their introduction, Elizabeth wondered, “Shall he be at the ball, do you think? Being so long on the continent, would he be familiar with our dances?”
The image of her and Colonel Fitzwilliam standing up on one side of the quadrille opposite Jane and Mr. Bingley grew moredetailed as she held the picture in her mind. They would smile at each other when he realized they were of even temperament. His gloved hand would be firm under hers as they moved around the other couples.
Jane interrupted her reverie. “Even if he is not, Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst could see that he practices before the music begins. Or a dancing master could be brought from London. Meryton is a mere four hours from Town, do recall.” Jane spun around the room. “Oh, Lizzy, what a glorious evening it will be.”
Elizabeth was happy that Jane, the most deserving of all her sisters, was joyous. She, too, was happy with the invitation. She loved to dance. She loved to laugh. She loved to spend time with her neighbors…except Mr. Darcy. She disliked him, though not to the same degree as before when she spoke with Mrs. Hammond. Would he ask her to dance? Of course not.
The following day,there was not even a hint of wind or rain. Elizabeth stopped at Mrs. Hammond’s cottage to check on her welfare. Again, her mother packed enough food for a small army in case the weather turned bad again and it would be days before Elizabeth could walk into Meryton. As it was, the rain soaked into the thirsty earth, so there was not one puddle to jump over.
The vivid blue sky and the few gold and orange autumn leaves carpeting the ground delighted her. The lingering fragrance of damp soil soothed her while the crisp air invigorated her. Seeing water finally flowing in the brook reassured her. She loved each season. Winter was a time for rest and restoration. Spring for new growth and reawakening. Summer for joy and abundance. Autumn for slowing down and taking stock of the more important things. It was a time whenfamilies gathered and celebrated the year’s harvest. Autumn was her favorite time of the year.
“Miss Lizzy, do come in, for I have something of great importance to show you.”
Jane, Kitty, Mary, and Lydia greeted the widow but did not stop.
“Will they not join us?”
“Dear Mrs. Hammond, I have no doubt they appreciate your kind offer, but they are on a mission to the haberdasher for new ribbons. Mary, who prefers reading to dancing, will search for a new piece of music to torment everyone with until she achieves proficiency.”
Mrs. Hammond ushered her inside. Beside her rose-colored teapot sat an invitation to the ball. However, it was the small basket covered with a fine, cream linen cloth with the letterDelegantly stitched in the corner that captured Elizabeth’s attention. As she considered who the bearer of the present must have been, her breathing shallowed.Mr. Darcy? What was he about?
“Do look inside, Lizzy.”
Before she could step toward the table, Hannah took the food basket from her. Touching the corner of the linen, the maid said, “Oh, Miss Elizabeth, it’s the most elegant thing I’ve ever seen.”
Not needing any more encouragement, Elizabeth pulled back the corners of the cloth to reveal two daintily decorated chocolates, four orange-flavored sweetmeats, and a length of ribbon the same shade as Mrs. Hammond’s tea set. Within the folds of paper was a piece of exquisitely designed lace. On one side of the enclosed calling card, in a masculine hand, was written:We appreciated your port in the storm. Please join me for supper at the ball. My carriage, along with a maid, will be provided as your escort.Engraved on the other side wasMr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Esq. Park Lane.
Elizabeth simply had no words. Few individuals recognized Mrs. Hammond’s value. Over the years, unthoughtful neighbors would leave their young children with the widow for the simple reason that she had no children of her own. Others took advantage by insisting she help with their sewing since she had no husband to occupy her time. That Mr. Darcy, a stranger, in fact, a rude stranger, had given the lady consideration would certainly elevate her at the ball, for few would have as fine a trim to wear. Possibly, only Mr. Bingley’s sisters would embellish their gowns with the equal.
Elizabeth’s gaze moved from the precious items to the lady. Was Mrs. Hammond standing taller? Her cheeks were flushed with a lovely shade of pink. Her eyes twinkled from the light coming through the window, or was it from the gifts?
“I do not know what to say, Mrs. Hammond. In a million years, I would not have guessed that an act of kindness of this magnitude would have originated with that man.” Elizabeth glanced back at the items. “Unless he intended them as gifts for his hostess, he would not have brought these things with him to Hertfordshire. This meant he sent to London for them last evening so that they would be delivered today. I am astonished! You have a discerning admirer.”
