“I am glad to be here again, Darcy,” his cousin replied, the warmth of his tone unfeigned. “As much as I value my service to the Crown, it grows harder each time to leave England behind.”
The remark, offered without thought, nevertheless tightened something in Darcy’s chest, giving him yet another reason to remind himself that his own inclinations must not be permitted to outweigh his duty to his family.
Georgiana, forgetting herself for a moment, stepped forward with an eagerness that surprised even her. “Richard!” The colour rose at once in her cheeks, and she checked herself, lowering hergaze. “I—I am very glad you have come, and that we are to spend these next weeks together in congenial company.”
“My dear Georgiana,” he said warmly, “it is very good to see you again.”
Elizabeth moved a little nearer and laid her hand lightly upon the girl’s arm, an instinctive gesture that Darcy read as an attempt to ease her discomfort. Georgiana’s greeting had been, perhaps, more exuberant than would have suited a London drawing room; yet Elizabeth appeared, to Darcy’s eye, determined to treat it as entirely proper in the present circumstances.
The earl then turned, his hand indicating Elizabeth more formally. “Colonel, allow me to introduce my granddaughter, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
Elizabeth inclined her head, her smile open and genuine. “Welcome, Colonel. We have anticipated your arrival. Your cousins and my grandfather have spoken of you often. I am delighted to make your acquaintance and am pleased you will join us through Christmastide.”
Richard returned her greeting with a bow that carried him a fraction closer to her than courtesy strictly allowed. Taking Elizabeth’s hand, he bent to it and brushed a brief kiss across her knuckles, his smile easy and unselfconscious as he straightened.
Elizabeth withdrew her hand at once, the faint frown that crossed her face leaving little doubt of her opinion of the liberty he had taken.
“Miss Bennet, the pleasure is entirely mine. I am delighted to find myself at Millwood among such kind company, and I hope I may soon justify the favourable opinion in which I appearalready to be held. I have heard a great deal of you—sufficient, I think, to make me very glad of this introduction.”
The earl observed the exchange with what appeared to be evident pleasure, a smile playing about his mouth as though the moment had confirmed something long anticipated. Darcy, however, felt his own expression tighten before he could prevent it, a faint frown settling upon his brow as he turned his attention once more to the colonel—keenly aware that the gesture, though politely executed, had ventured just far enough to invite remark.
Darcy was accustomed to his cousin’s easy flirtations and knew that in London such behaviour was often expected, even indulged; yet with Elizabeth, he could not help but hope she would recognise them for what they were. While he was well aware that she was intended for his cousin, he could not wish that Richard should trifle with her feelings. Her composure now offered some reassurance, for she appeared wholly unimpressed.
“You are very kind, Colonel,” she replied evenly, her tone courteous but a little more distant than Darcy was accustomed to hearing from her. “I trust you will find Millwood agreeable during your stay.”
Her words and tone caused the earl to frown while Darcy suppressed a grin. Richard had been there scarcely five minutes and had already put his foot in his mouth. The smile faded almost at once as Darcy recalled how readily he himself had done the same. At least Richard had been introduced to Elizabeth before making a muddle of it, he thought ruefully.
Nevertheless, Darcy had corrected his earlier error, and in recent days it had seemed to him that he had made some small progress in establishing a friendship with Elizabeth. Histime with her beneath her grandfather’s roof had not altered his resolution to afford his cousin every proper opportunity to recommend himself to her; yet it had undeniably strengthened his own inclination.
He would not cease to act as her friend, whatever the outcome. If Elizabeth should, of her own judgement, decline his cousin’s attentions, Darcy would no longer hold himself bound to silence, but would permit himself to seek her regard openly.
“I have no doubt that I will, Miss Bennet, particularly with such good company as this to welcome me here,” the colonel said with a wink, apparently not noticing his hostess’ tone.
“My dear Colonel,” the earl said, indicating a chair next to Elizabeth’s, “you are most welcome at Millwood. I trust the journey from Town was not overly fatiguing. You have come some distance in the last fortnight, and I suppose you had little time to rest.”
“Not in the least, my lord,” Richard replied. “I am grateful for so kind a reception. But I confess, I did rise early this morning to make my way into Hertfordshire, having little desire to remain at the barracks longer than necessary.”
Elizabeth stood without hesitation at these words. “You must allow me to offer you some refreshment, Colonel. We have only just finished breaking our fasts, but there remains a little in the breakfast room. Travel often sharpens one’s appetite, and I imagine you may not yet have had anything substantial.”
“You are very obliging, Miss Bennet,” he replied with a smile. “I should be glad of coffee and a few bites of something, if it is no trouble.”
“None at all.” She rang the bell beside her, exchanged a few quiet words with the footman who appeared, and then returned her attention to her guests.
Georgiana moved a little closer to where the colonel sat, her hands clasped before her, colour still lingering in her cheeks. “I hope you will be comfortable here, Richard,” she said softly. “Millwood is very pleasant—and we are glad to have you with us. Miss Bennet—Elizabeth—and I have become fast friends already. It is different from Pemberley, but I have enjoyed it ever so much.”
“I could not doubt it,” he answered warmly, a momentary seriousness passing over his expression. “It is a great pleasure to see you again, Sprite. I hope you have been well.”
He paused then, regarding her with a careful eye that matched Darcy’s own, and whatever he perceived appeared to reassure him, for his smile widened at once.
“I am very well,” Georgiana replied, lifting her gaze to his with a steadiness that would once have been beyond her. Darcy observed the change with quiet satisfaction. “Miss Bennet, I mean Elizabeth, and I have had many conversations about what it means to be mistress of an estate, and Mrs Annesley has been instructing us both in that and in other matters.”
Elizabeth laughed softly. “Georgiana has been instructing me in how much improvement my playing still requires,” she said. “Mrs Annesley has been most patient with us both; I suspect I have profited most from the arrangement.”
This was said with a glance at the lady, who sat quietly in the corner of the room keeping watch over her charge. She metElizabeth’s gaze with a brief smile before returning her attention to her knitting.
Colonel Fitzwilliam inclined his head towards that lady. “Mrs Annesley, I am very glad to make your acquaintance.”
Then, he turned back towards the young ladies. “I am glad to hear that she has been instructing you both,” he said with a wry grin. “Such pursuits are best undertaken in good company, something that has been sadly lacking at Pemberley, through no fault of my cousin’s. It is simply that all your cousins are so much older than you. Worse, Pemberley has few close neighbours, and barely a female amongst them.”
