“Congratulations, cousin, Miss Bennet!” Richard cried as the group drank to the health of the couple. The look in his eyes made it abundantly clear to his cousin that they would discuss this development later.
Colonel Fitzwilliam was introduced to Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle, and soon after, the ladies separated from the gentlemen. Richard was brought a plate of food while the gentlemen drank port and discussed their fishing expedition for the next morning.
In the music room, the three ladies chatted about music and books and everything Georgiana had been learning during the spring. Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth helped put Georgiana at her ease, and when the men joined them, both Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled to see how talkative their charge was in these ladies’ company.
Darcy went and sat next to Elizabeth while Bingley and the Colonel sat next to his cousin. Mr. Gardiner joined his wife.
“Will you play for us tonight, Georgie?” Fitzwilliam asked. “It has been an age since I have had the chance to hear you play.”
“I will agree if Miss Bennet also plays. My brother and cousin both spoke of enjoying your playing while in Kent,” Georgiana suggested.
“Since your playing is contingent upon mine, I will agree,” Elizabeth said, arching her brow at Darcy. “However, I plead with you to allow me to go first. As I have heard often of your superior talent at the pianoforte, I fear I would not show well if I had to follow you.”
“But my brother said he enjoyed your playing both in Hertfordshire and in Kent. I can scarcely imagine that your playing is anything lacking,” Georgiana protested.
“I am afraid that you will find your brother has exaggerated my talents for some mischievous reason. However, I do love to play, so I will gladly play a song. This company will no doubt forgive any lack in my performance.” With this speech, she smiled archly at Darcy before rising to go to the piano.
Elizabeth sat at the piano and selected a familiar piece to play. The company applauded when she finished, so she rose and indicated to Georgiana that it was her turn. Just as she made to sit again next to Darcy, Caroline Bingley came barging into the room.
Pushing past Elizabeth again, she commandeered the seat beside Darcy, sitting far too close to the gentleman. “I am sorry to have missed you all at dinner,” she cooed. “The journey today; it was too much for my poor nerves. I am so looking forward to enjoying all that Pemberley has to offer on this trip.”
Rising, Bingley stalked toward his sister. “Caroline, come with me back to your room. We have already discussed that you are leaving in the morning with the Hursts.”
“We were invited to stay for the month. Why are you suddenly insistent on our leaving, Charles? Really, it is rude for us to depart so soon after our arrival,” Caroline pouted.
“I was invited to stay; you tagged along on my invitation yet again,” Bingley growled. “That invitation has since been revoked, and now I insist that you leave to stay with our aunt. I have business that I need to attend to and will be leaving myselfwhen my carriage returns. Now come with me back to your rooms.”
“I will not,” Caroline said firmly. “And why would you imply in front ofthesepeople that I was not invited? Mr. Darcy is my friend too, and he has always included me in his invitations.”
“Actually, Miss Bingley, I have not,” Darcy interjected as he rose from his seat. “I have tolerated your intrusion in my invitations to your brother, but that ends now. We spoke of this intrusion earlier when you arrived as well.
“Georgiana, I am sorry not to hear you play tonight, but I think we all should retire for the night. Miss Bingley, I understand you are leaving early, so I will say my goodbyes now. Have a good journey on the morrow.”
Everyone rose from their seats except Miss Bingley, who remained, looking both shocked and indignant. Darcy offered his arm to Elizabeth and began to escort her from the room. Seeing that action roused her fury once more. She quickly stood up and moved to separate the pair once again.
“Mr. Darcy,” she cried. “You surely cannot mean to escort Miss Eliza. Should not your sister take your arm?”
“It is rather expected for a man to escort his fiancée,” Darcy drawled, subtly motioning for a footman to approach.
“Whatever can you mean, Mr. Darcy?” Caroline asked, shock and anger evident on her face.
“Since you missed dinner tonight, you missed our celebration. Elizabeth has graciously consented to be my bride. We will be wed in two months,” Darcy informed her.
“You cannot possibly be serious. You cannot marry this, this nobody. This country mushroom? She will be a laughingstock amongst theton,” Miss Bingley protested.
Darcy was seething, and his entire body tensed. Elizabeth applied pressure to his arm where she held it, and he took a deep breath to calm himself before smiling down at her and patting her hand with his free one.
Before he could speak, Fitzwilliam spoke on Elizabeth’s behalf.
“Tell me, Miss Bingley, in society, is the daughter of a landed gentleman not still higher than one whose father made their fortune in trade? Darcy is a gentleman, not a peer, as is Miss Elizabeth’s father. That makes them equal in standing, all things considered, and both of them hold a higher standing thanyou. Your family does not own an estate, which means you are not even a part of the gentry.Youare merely the daughter of a tradesman.”
“And who are you, and why are you intruding into my conversation with Mr. Darcy,” Caroline huffed.
“I am Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy’s cousin and son of the Earl of Matlock.Heis a peer, and my mother, Lady Matlock, will no doubt take Miss Bennet under her wing to introduce her to theton.” He glared at her for a moment before continuing. “And she will not hesitate to do anything in her power to ruin in society anyone who speaks out against a member of her family. Since Miss Bennet isnowfamily, she will have the full support of the Fitzwilliams.”
Miss Bingley paled, finally realising her misjudgment. Bingley, recognising this, took her arm and half-dragged her toward theguest wing and her room. He could be heard whispering at her furiously as they walked away.
“I am sorry, Elizabeth,” Darcy said.
