“I assure you, Miss Bingley,” Georgiana came to his defense, “my brother never asks more of me than I am willing to give.”
“Yes, of course,” Caroline stumbled, not wishing to offend her hosts,“but what could take you out on the road again so soon?”
As she asked her question, Caroline’s brother joined them from his ride and provided the answer.“We have been to Lambton to see Miss Elizabeth Bennet; is it not fortuitous she is in Derbyshire at the same time as we are at Pemberley?” If he looked at his sisters during his response, Charles Bingley would have observed their shared duplicity.
Louisa Hurst recovered her voice first.“Miss Elizabeth Bennet! Are all the Bennets on holiday in Derbyshire?”
“No,” Charles brought his tea and scones over to join the party. “It is just Miss Elizabeth and her aunt and uncle.”
“Please tell me,” Caroline pronounced the words slowly,“this is not the uncle who is a lawyer in Meryton.” Louisa guffawed.
“Of course, not,” Darcy snickered,“it is the uncle from Cheapside.”
“Heavens, help us,” Caroline gasped.
Standing quickly, Darcy added before he exited the room, “I hope the planets are aligned, and the heavens are favorable for we dine with Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Elizabeth the day after tomorrow. It will give you a chance to renew your acquaintance.” With that, he took Georgiana’s hand and said, “Come, Dearest One, I am in need of your soothing music, and I am anxious to hear how well the new instrument sounds.” Georgiana and Darcy left the insipidity of the breakfast room to find privacy in the music room.Their exit spoke volumes to those who professed fine manners but greatly lacked even common civilities.
Mr. Gardiner took full advantage of Mr. Darcy’s invitation to fish his stream and found great pleasure in joining the master himself, as well as Mr. Bingley and Bingley’s brother, Mr. Hurst. Eventually, Darcy and Gardiner isolated themselves from the other two. The former, as true sportsmen, understood patience and quiet time brought success to an angler.They spent nearly an hour in peaceful companionship when Mr. Gardiner turned to Darcy and said,“Mr. Darcy, I do not know when I spent a more pleasant morning. Some may find this waiting for the fish to bite boring, but with a house full of children and servants and a business, which demands much of my time, tranquil contemplation is a luxury. Although I enjoy your company, please, Sir,” he added,“if you have business at your house, I am content to entertain myself.”
Darcy wondered if the man recognized Darcy’s admiration for his niece. By now, Darcy did not hide his feelings for Elizabeth. “I did promise my sister, Sir,” he remarked casually, “to check on herthis afternoon.”
“My wife and niece are probably with Miss Darcy as we speak.” Mr. Gardiner seemed to be expecting Darcy to look shocked by this information, but Darcy’s eyes only reflected the urgency of his desire to leave.“A call of such honor as your sister bestowed on my family requires a like response.”
“If that is the case, it is prudent on my, at least, making an appearance.” Darcy bowed.“I will return shortly.”
He walked away quickly and headed for the house. Elizabeth was here at Pemberley, and he would not waste any time they might share together—to hell with what the rules of propriety may call upon his actions. God gave him a second chance to keep Elizabeth Bennet in his life; he wanted her here with him at Pemberley, but, more importantly, Darcy desired her happiness and her friendship. He found the ladies in the salon; his entrance brought a veil of silence as all eyes fell on Darcy and Elizabeth. Everyone in the room knew why he came there; Elizabeth blushed slightly, but unlike the other ladies, her eyes locked on his face. Georgiana had enough composure to serve her guests light refreshments of cake and fresh fruit, but she struggled with the conversation. Her awareness of Miss Bingley’s vehemence for Miss Elizabeth and her brother’s desire for her and Elizabeth to be friends took its toll on her abilities to play hostess.
Darcy assessed the scene quickly, and moving to his sister, he took her by the hand and said,“Come, Dearest One,” and he seated her next to Elizabeth on the settee. He took up a position next to Mrs. Gardiner. “Your husband, Mrs. Gardiner, is a superb fisherman,” he offered. “I may need to restock the stream after today.” Mrs. Gardiner reached out and lightly patted the back of his hand and chuckled softly.
Elizabeth managed to offer her thanks. “My uncle graciously allowed my aunt and me all the pleasures on this trip.We are most thankful for your providing him time to enjoy himself in an avocation he so loves.”
“I am gratified to see him so content.” Darcy did not take hiseyes from her face. After an awkward pause, he added, “I bet, Miss Elizabeth,” trying to bridge the lull, “you brought something with you to read for your travel time. Reading seems to give you great pleasure.”
“I did, Sir,” the lady smiled in that mischievous way which told him to expect some sort of barb.“I hope to improve my mind with extensive reading.”
Darcy nodded at her remembrance of what he said at Netherfield, telling him he was in her thoughts at least some of the time. Georgiana turned to Elizabeth, “What, Miss Elizabeth, do you prefer to read?”
Her brother wanted to add his own memories to the mix. “I recall Miss Elizabeth to prefer poetry. Is that not what you chose to read the last day in the library at Netherfield?”
“Oh, Miss Darcy,” she turned to his sister,“your brother wishes to reproof me for disturbing his privacy that day. I thought him engrossed in a volume on William the Conqueror, but I fear, I caught him napping instead.”
“That is difficult to believe, Miss Elizabeth. My brother devours books,” Georgiana giggled.
“I was reaching for a volume of poetry on an upper shelf,” Elizabeth explained to Georgiana, but she really spoke to Darcy,“and I knocked over something which caught your brother’s attention. He retrieved the collection for me, however. He was actually very chivalrous.”Then she pursed her lips in that all-knowing challenge he came to recognize.
“Which poets do you prefer?” asked Georgiana.
“I believe that particular day,” Elizabeth added, “it was William Cowper I chose to read.”
“No Lord Byron for you then?” Georgiana continued. Darcy showed his surprise at his sister’s mentioning of Byron, often considered controversial, especially for a schoolgirl to be reading.
“Cowper or Scott is more to my liking,” Elizabeth confided. “When I was with the Collinses at Hunsford, I had little to read besides Fordyce’sSermons toYoungWomen.Lady Catherine was kindenough to allow me access to her library, though.” Darcy saw the glint of mirth creep across Elizabeth’s face before she added, “I thought Mary Wollstonecraft’sA Vindication of the Rights of Womenmight be found there. I hoped to share it with Mrs. Collins.”
Georgiana laughed out loud and reached out for Elizabeth’s hand, which Elizabeth offered willingly. Mrs. Gardiner stifled a laugh of her own; Elizabeth feigned innocence and gave Darcy that smile which possessed him from the first time he saw it.
Miss Bingley, who offered little to the conversation up until this time and who, secretly, wanted the visit to be a failure, moved beyond curiosity to desperation. Caroline was astute enough to see how Darcy anxiously wanted Georgiana and Elizabeth to become friends and how he encouraged the conversation on both sides. In the imprudence of anger, she took the first opportunity of saying, with sneering civility, “Pray, Miss Eliza, are not the—shire militia removed from Meryton? They must be a great loss toyourfamily.”
Darcy froze, and Georgiana dropped Elizabeth’s hand, gathering her own hands nervously into her lap. He could little believe Miss Bingley could be so cruel; she knew nothing of Georgiana’s distress; Caroline’s comments were to serve as a reminder to Darcy Elizabeth once preferred Mr.Wickham to him, and the rogue’s lies unreasonably influenced her. Darcy, obviously agitated, earnestly looked to Elizabeth.Georgiana’s reputation is in your hands. She offered him a slight nod as if to say I will protect your sister as my own.
