“My brother told me you walked to Netherfield to care for your sister when she was ill, and he enjoyed hearing you play and sing, Miss Bennet. I assure you he was entirely complimentary in his letters,” Georgiana said to her in a rush.
“Then he must have told you I arrived at Netherfield covered in mud from walking three miles after a rain and surely looked a fright,” she joked. “Miss Bingley mentioned many times during my stay that she was quite shocked at my wild appearance when I arrived on her doorstep with my hair blowing about me and my hem covered in mud. But truly, despite my appearance that day, I am not at all wild, but I was concerned for my sister.”
“You looked entirely lovely when you arrived at Netherfield that morning, Miss Bennet, and I would wish Georgiana would go to the same lengths to care for a sister, if she had one, as you do for yours. I admired your temerity in walking all that way to care for Miss Bennet. I believe not many women would do such, particularly Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst,” Mr Darcy stated. “Those two would barely cross the room to help each other andwould never dream of crossing a field when they could leave the care of their sister to the maids.”
Elizabeth stared at him, amazed at how often she misread him in Hertfordshire. “Anyone would be willing to do as much for Jane. She is one of the kindest, least assuming persons I have ever known,” she stated, still trying to reconcile her mind to this new understanding of Mr Darcy. Granted, they became more friendly in Kent, but he had not been this open there.
“Miss Bennet,” Georgiana said after a moment, “we have been remiss in not showing you to your room and offering you refreshments. Would you care for me to show you to your room now, or would you prefer to have refreshments first?”
“If it is all the same to you, Miss Darcy, I would like to be shown to my room to refresh myself from my travels. I walked to Rosings and back in this dress and could not change before boarding the carriage to London. We were in such a hurry to arrive in London before dark that we barely stopped for more than a brief rest,” Elizabeth said.
“When you have refreshed yourself, Miss Bennet, we will have tea served here,” Miss Darcy told her. “I will show you upstairs. Brother, where should we call for you when we are ready?”
Darcy stood as the two ladies did. “I will be in my study, Georgiana,” he said. “Miss Bennet, I am sorry for the circumstances that led to it, but Iamglad you are here. Later, if you do not mind, I would like to ask you a few more questions about my aunt and your sudden departure.”
“There is nothing else to tell, but I will gladly answer your questions. I would also like to know what you found when youvisited my aunt and uncle yesterday. I assume you still have my letters,” she replied.
“I do, although I did post the letter to your father, and I will give the rest to you when we speak later,” he said, his voice grave.
She nodded to him and followed his sister upstairs. As they walked, Miss Darcy pointed out the hallways that led to the library and the family wing, where her bedroom was located. She led Elizabeth up one more flight of stairs to a beautifully appointed guest suite with a dressing room and an attached sitting room. “This will be your room while you stay here, Miss Bennet. I do hope you will like it.”
“The room is lovely, Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth replied, looking around at the large room. The room was decorated in light blues and greens, and large windows opened to the garden, providing plenty of natural light. “I cannot imagine anyone disliking it. Did you choose the decorations?”
“No, my mother, Lady Anne Darcy, decorated most of the house not long before she passed away. My brother and I like it as it is, although some have suggested that it is not ‘opulent’ enough,” Miss Darcy said, sighing. “I know we just met, Miss Bennet, but my brother likes you, and I would like to get to know you better. Might we dispense with the formality and use our Christian names with each other?”
“I would be glad to, Georgiana; please call me Elizabeth, or Lizzy, as my sisters do. I am pleased that we will be friends,” Elizabeth returned. “Would you like to stay here while I change my dress so we might continue to get to know one another?”
Georgiana nodded her agreement, and Elizabeth began the conversation by asking a question about her music since sheknew from her conversations with Miss Bingley and her time at Rosings that Georgiana enjoyed the pianoforte and played exceptionally well. As a maid helped Elizabeth change her dress, they discussed favourite composers, and Georgiana told her some of the pieces she had been working on this spring with a master. Several times, Georgiana hinted at the excellent qualities of her brother and frequently praised him as ‘the best of brothers.’
Once Elizabeth was ready, they returned to the drawing room. On the way, Georgiana knocked on a door, which she told Elizabeth was her brother’s study. After only a moment, he joined them with a broad smile and offered an arm to each young lady to escort them to the drawing room for tea.
“Elizabeth, would you mind pouring the tea? I need to step into the music room and get something,” Georgiana said after the other two were seated. She quickly darted out of the room, careful to leave the door slightly open for the sake of propriety.
Darcy grimaced. “I apologise for my sister, Miss Bennet. She is rather obvious in her matchmaking.”
Elizabeth waved her hand, making clear the apology was unnecessary. “She is a sweet girl, very eager to please and, I think, eager to throw the two of us together. She sang your praises while we were upstairs,” she said, grinning as she watched his cheeks pink at the praise. “She has already requested that I call her Georgiana and expressed a wish to be friends. I hope you do not mind the familiarity.”
He drew in a breath at the smile on her face as she teased him. “I am pleased at how well you are getting along, Elizabeth. I had hoped you would befriend her and that she would feel comfortable with you. And she has done so very quickly, which isunexpected as she is normally timid,” he said, smiling at her in return. “However, while we have a moment, I need to ask if you wish to stay here, or would you prefer I ask my aunt to host you? I understand she will not be home until late tonight, but I can speak with her tomorrow if I cannot tonight.”
“When will my aunt and uncle return to London, sir?” she asked. “I did not know they were going out of town and had not considered they might until I received your note in the carriage.”
“I attempted to visit Mr Gardiner at his office first since you kindly included both addresses. After some convincing, I was told by his man of business that Mr Gardiner and his entire family travelled out of town for a day or two, and the butler at their house confirmed it. I understand they are to return sometime the day after tomorrow,” he said.
Elizabeth considered this. “There seems little reason to involve others at this point. Your sister has a companion who can serve as my chaperone; is that correct? It seems easier to remain here than spend one night and another elsewhere. That is, if you do not mind or think it would affect your reputation.”
Darcy nodded. “I agree with you, although my concern is for your reputation, not mine. I did want to offer you the option to stay with my aunt. I will have dinner with you, but I can spend these nights at my club if you want me to. I would like you to agree to marry me willingly and not be forced into it.” Once again, his cheeks and ears pinked at his words, and he watched as she reacted the same way.
“I am not certain what is best to do in this situation, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth said haltingly, her face uncertain and embarrassed at his words. “You have asked to court me, but it is not official as you have not spoken to my father or uncle yet. None of myfamily knows where I am, and I worry my cousin may contact my family to tell them some ridiculous story about my expulsion from his home. I did ask Charlotte to prevent him from sending any letters, but I do not know how successful she might be. If any of today’s events become known, my reputation will be ruined regardless. You have acted to protect me, but I remain in a precarious situation.” She took a deep, shaky breath, her shoulders slumping slightly with the weight of the day’s events.
Darcy noticed this and felt an almost desperate desire to take Elizabeth in his arms and comfort her. He moved towards her but halted before he did more than begin to rise from his chair. “Elizabeth,” he started softly in a slightly husky tone, making her name nearly a caress. “I am sorry to have put you in this position. I did not anticipate your relations being away from home, which would have made today’s events much simpler to contain. My aunt is responsible for putting you in this situation; I have told her I will not marry my cousin for years, but she has refused to listen to me and continued to believe that someday I could be persuaded to marry Anne. She may have been informed that I took my leave from the parsonage yesterday after speaking with her and set herself against you. I worry she may continue to threaten your person or your reputation. I hope you know I wish to marry you and would gladly marry you to protect your reputation, although I desire you to wed me willingly, not out of obligation. My only concern is I am not certain you wish to wed me … yet … and I hoped to give you time to get to know me better.”
He hesitated, moving to kneel in front of her and taking her hand in his, and then continued speaking earnestly. “I do not know if you realise it yet, Elizabeth, but I do love you, most ardently. I have for some time, although I confess it took some time to know what to do in this situation. I had never been in love before, andthe unfamiliar feelings left me unsettled and uncertain. Since reaching my majority, it has been expected that I know what to do in nearly all situations. I took over the running of Pemberley from my father shortly before my twenty-first birthday, as he learned he was sick then and hoped to extend his life by handing over the estate to me. I was forced to take on the mantle of master far sooner than I would have liked, first with my father there to support me, but he did not live long after the transition.
“Additionally, I have been told my entire life that I must marry a well-dowered, well-connected woman of theton, and especially since meeting you, I have struggled between doing my duty and following my heart. When I saw you again at Rosings, I knew doing my duty could not compare to what I felt for you. I would be honoured, dearest Elizabeth, if you would accept the offer of my hand in marriage. However, I do not want you to feel obligated to accept me; I will protect your reputation regardless of your response.”
Elizabeth was shocked and overwhelmed by his words. She attempted to speak several times before finding the words to respond. “I cannot say I am in love with you at this moment, sir, but after you left Rosings, I have come to realise Icouldfall in love with you. I would like us to court first, and if we can keep others from learning I have spent two nights in your home, we will have time to do so. However, I am uncertain what will happen should others find out I am here. I would not like to be forced into a marriage I am not yet prepared to accept.”
“Other than Richard, no one knows I am in town, and as the knocker is not on my door, my presence here should go undetected for another day or two. Once your relations return, I will escort you to their home, and you can explain as much or as little as you like. While here, we will have opportunities to speakfrequently with Georgiana or Mrs Annesley as chaperones. I hope to show you a better version of myself than I did in Hertfordshire,” he confessed.
