The Gardiner residence provided a comfortable routine, and Elizabeth resumed her habit of walking out, alternating Hyde Park and the Royal Gardens at Kew with Green Park. Where she walked was due largely to the weather and the availability of the Gardiner carriage; her uncle frowned upon her use of hackney cabs.
As the Gardiner family would forego travelling to Longbourn for Christmas this year, Elizabeth anticipated the bustle of the capital. The crisp, clear air fairly called her to take her exercise in Hyde Park before the crowds overtook the pathways.
Elizabeth thought she looked particularly well in a new dark green bonnet with rich brown trim that complemented her light brown wool redingote and fur-lined wool muff. The winter-bare trees and shrubs through which they strolled stood out starkly against the patches of snow.
Her aunt had sent her out with a maid and a footman. They had walked a full circuit of the park, and Elizabeth’s toes and nose felt the chill. She stepped off the path under the branches of an immense yew tree to tighten the strap on her boot when she heard the unmistakable whine of Caroline Bingley. She gestured to her escorts to be silent and they stepped off the path into the bushes.
“Hurry, Louisa! They will be coming past at any moment. We do not want to miss them!”
MrsHurst’s indistinct grumble followed.
“Why in the world would you expect Mrand Miss Darcy to be out at this ungodly hour, Caroline. Decent people are still abed… Where I should be without your scheming.”
Elizabeth saw fashionable boots peeking under the hems of woollen coats, just yards away at the intersecting path, out of sight from anyone approaching unaware.
She eased slowly to her full height, attempting to keep from the notice of the two women. The low rumble of a man’s voice, interspersed with the occasional giggle of a young lady, preceded the appearance of the very prey Miss Bingley stalked. Stepping closer to the ornamental shrubbery, Elizabeth held her breath, one hand firmly on her mouth to hold in her mirth at the scene.
“Now, Louisa, hold my arm and look surprised,” murmured Miss Bingley before the two turned onto the path, looking at each other as though absorbed in conversation.
Elizabeth knew the instant MrDarcy realised he had been ensnared. Then Elizabeth recognised her own dilemma ofdiscovery. Oh, that she had rushed away as soon as she heard Caroline Bingley!
Miss Bingley and MrsHurst stopped abruptly, facing MrDarcy and a warmly dressed young lady in a lovely blue bonnet, and barely three yards from Elizabeth. Caroline exclaimed as if in surprise, “Why, it is MrDarcy! Dear Georgiana!” in a breathless, overly sweet tone.
Elizabeth looked on in fearful fascination as Mrand Miss Darcy greeted the ladies. She prayed her clothes blended into the sparse foliage, aware that if she could see MrDarcy over Miss Bingley’s shoulder, he could most likely see her.
Miss Bingley’s nonsensical words diverted Elizabeth, as the lady gushed over Miss Darcy, all the while casting sidelong glances at MrDarcy as if to be certain he appreciated her efforts.
Poor girl. Miss Darcy was pink with embarrassment, her eyes darting back and forth as she twisted her gloved hands.
“MrDarcy,” said Miss Bingley. “One of my acquaintances mentioned meeting a Miss Bennet at the museum this past week. Do you suppose it is Miss Bennet from Hertfordshire? I could learn nothing more as Charles joined me, and I was compelled to excuse us for, of course, I could not risk Charles’s sensibilities. To think that that brazen woman would have the temerity to follow us to Town!” Miss Bingley’s tone sharpened. “Have you heard anything, MrDarcy?”
Elizabeth resisted a surge of anger as she noticed MrsHurst take Miss Darcy’s arm, drawing her away from her brother, speaking animatedly about the winter foliage.
MrDarcy’s reply sounded snappish. “I have not the pleasure of understanding you, madam.”
Miss Bingley’s colour rising, she persisted in a cloying manner, “You take such prodigious care of our poor besotted brother. I am sure you understand that it would not be in hisinterest to encounter Miss Bennet at this time. He remains much under her power.”
The gentleman stared coldly at Miss Bingley. Elizabeth could almost see storm clouds forming about him.
Miss Bingley stepped a bit closer, now reaching a hand towards MrDarcy. “Surely, I—we—can count on you, sir, to help keep Charles from a disastrous mis-step! You were so helpful in persuading him to leave Miss Bennet in the wilds of Hertfordshire, where she belongs…”
MrDarcy abruptly stepped aside to avoid her touch. “You have mistaken me entirely, Miss Bingley. I do not ‘persuade’ my friends. You coerced Bingley to your bidding. You, madam, have never hidden your desire for your brother to wed to advance your ambitions.” MrDarcy looked to his sister with MrsHurst, and Elizabeth saw Miss Bingley’s face redden further.
“My friend asked if I believed Miss Bennet felt any regard for him. I spoke with all honesty that I did not know the lady’s heart and merely advised him to examine his feelings before proceeding.”
Miss Bingley burst forth, “That does not negate the facts, sir. You would not inform my brother that Miss Bennet has chased him to Town?”
“Has Miss Bennet written to you, sent her card, or called upon you in the time she has been in Town?”
Miss Bingley looked away, avoiding his eyes.
Elizabeth could see the disdain in her expression.
“Then how can you possibly accuse a gentlewoman of impeccable character of vulgarly chasing your brother?”
Though MrDarcy had not raised his voice, Elizabeth could see that the lady’s persistence vexed the man.
MrsHurst must have realised that the tête-à-tête was unravelling her sister’s aspirations and returned Miss Darcy to her brother. “Dear Caroline. My apologies, MrDarcy, but wehave completely lost track of the time. Sister, if we do not depart immediately, we shall be late for our appointment at the dressmaker. You know how fastidious Madame is about her schedule.”
