Mr. Fitzwilliam chuckled and took his seat. “Very well; but I am ready at any time.”
***
It was a full hour before everyone was ready, but finally Mr. Bingley, Mrs. Bingley, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Fitzwilliam were in the Bingley carriage, headed for Longbourn. Mr. Fitzwilliam was in high spirits, but the rest of the company were rather quieter. Mrs. Bingley was considering the fact that her brother was interested in her new friend Elizabeth; Mr. Darcy was wondering how Miss Elizabeth would receive him after these many weeks; Mr. Bingley, much to his credit, was concerned only for his wife’s comfort.
Once ushered into Longbourn’s parlour, the company was offered refreshments by Mrs. Bennet, which were declined. Mr. Darcy made a beeline for Miss Elizabeth. How lovely she was! How her eyes danced, how her hair shone in the winter sunlight coming through the window! His heart beat fast as she rose to greet him, blushing rosily.
“May I sit beside you?” he asked, quietly.
“I hope you will,” she replied, smiling at him.
“Have you been well, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Very well, I thank you, although –“
“Although?”
“Not entirely well in spirits. I rather missed a certain gentleman.”
Mr. Darcy smiled broadly at her; his entire countenance, often rather severe, lit up. “And I missed a certain young lady.” He glanced about; the other inhabitants of the parlour were busy with their own conversations. “Would it be too much to ask that we walk in the garden? Doubtless there are blooms worth visiting.”
She laughed at him. “It is almost Christmas and the garden is quite barren, but I think everyone will understand.”
Mr. Darcy addressed his hostess. “Mrs. Bennet, I thought I might escort Miss Elizabeth on a short walk, despite the chill. Would that be acceptable?”
Mr. Fitzwilliam added his own request. “And I thought Miss Bennet and I might do the same.”
Mrs. Bennet assented readily, and the two couples soon made their way out through the kitchen door to the back garden. Leaving Mr. Fitzwilliam and Jane at their customary bench, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth found privacy behind the rosebushes. Mr. Darcy began, “I have prayed that you would not forget me.”
“Your prayers have been efficacious,” she assured him. “I have thought of you quite often.”
Mr. Darcy stepped forward and took her hands. Despite the cold, neither of them had worn gloves. The skin to skin contact affected both of them deeply, and they each gasped aloud at the other’s touch.
Still holding her hands, he whispered. “Miss Elizabeth, I am still very, very angry with my sister. But can you not understand that this anger does not affect my feelings for you? I would very much like –”
She put a finger on his lips. “Speak with your sister, Mr. Darcy. Let the poison in your heart out so that it may dissipate. Only then can we have a future together.”
Mr. Darcy’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. Silently, they returned to the parlour, where a spirited discussion of theupcoming wedding was in progress. Jane’s dress had already been sewn, the flowers had been chosen, the menu for the wedding breakfast decided; in short, all was in readiness. Mr. Fitzwilliam was then asked about Chestnut Creek, and he was happy to speak about his new estate at length.
Mrs. Bennet invited everyone at Netherfield to come to Longbourn for Christmas dinner, and her invitation was immediately and happily accepted.
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Mr. Darcy vanished the minute they returned to Netherfield. Mr. Fitzwilliam looked in the drawing room, then banged hard on Mr. Darcy’s bedroom, then went back downstairs to check the library. He finally ran his cousin to ground in the billiard room. “I have looked everywhere for you, Darcy,” he complained.
“And you have now found me.”
“What is the matter with you?”
Silence.
Mr. Fitzwilliam shrugged. “I shall not waste my time, then,” and he headed for the door.
“Wait.”
“Yes?”
“Miss Elizabeth still says I must speak with Georgiana in order to let the poison out of my heart. I had hoped she would have changed her mind over the past weeks and would permit our relationship to progress.”
