Anne turned and stared at Mr. Darcy. “Truly?”
“Of course; I had no wish to deceive her.”
“And has she any idea that your feelings have changed?”
“I have been trying to show her –“
Anne shook her head. “It is not enough.”
“It will have to be enough; she will see, she will understand.”
Anne was silent.
***
At the parsonage, Mrs. Collins welcomed her guests and called for Elizabeth to join them. She excused herself to have her fine wedding tea set, the wedding gift from the Gardiners, taken from the cupboard so that it might be used to serve her important guests.
Elizabeth had seen the phaeton arrive; it was Miss de Bourgh as well as Mr. Darcy. If it had just been Mr. Darcy, she would have had a convenient headache, but she felt could not so treat Miss de Bourgh without incurring a good deal of reprimand from Mr. Collins. She tidied her hair, washed her face to remove any trace of tears and made her way downstairs.
Anne rose upon seeing Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, you look quite pale! I hope we do not find you unwell?”
“No, I thank you, Miss de Bourgh. What you see is merely the result of a poor night’s sleep.”
“I slept ill as well, Miss Bennet,” Mr. Darcy interjected. “Perhaps it was something we both suffered last night.”
“If you refer to our meal, I beg you not to say so to Lady Catherine,” Elizabeth replied, looking at the floor. “Our dinner was delicious, and I would not want her to think otherwise.”
“Quite right, Miss Bennet,” Mr. Darcy replied. “Though I was not referring to the food.”
Elizabeth refused to be drawn. Instead, she directed her attention to Miss de Bourgh. “I saw your little equipage as you drove in; it must be delightful to drive it around the park.”
“It is, when the weather is fine.”
“I would think the weather to be often temperate here in Kent,” Elizabeth continued.
“It is, though we get rainstorms and snow just as you do in Hertfordshire. Of course, it is nothing compared to the weather in Derbyshire; is that not right, Fitzwilliam?”
“Oh! It is quite a bit colder in Derbyshire, though I believe Pemberley stays warm even in the worst weather.”
“Yes, so many fireplaces! And lovely rugs to keep out the cold!” Anne continued, watching Miss Bennet for any sign of interest.
But Elizabeth refused to be drawn into a discussion of Pemberley. “My relatives, the Gardiners, plan to visit the Lake District this summer. Have you ever been there, Miss de Bourgh?”
Anne shook her head. “No, I am afraid my mother thinks I am not well enough to travel.”
“I am sorry to hear it,” Elizabeth replied, politely.
“But my cousin here has traveled a good deal, have you not, Fitzwilliam?”
Mr. Darcy agreed that he had, and he list off the various counties he had visited.
Anne, eager to assist her cousin, added, “Fitzwilliam must travel a good deal to visit his various estates, is that not so, Fitzwilliam?”
Mary looked from one speaker to another, increasingly confused, until understanding dawned. Of course! Mr. Darcy was interested in Lizzy, but Lizzy had given up on him. Miss de Bourgh was trying, most valiantly, to advance her cousin’s cause, but mentioning his material advantages was not the way to go about it.
Her guests finally got up to leave, Mr. Darcy’s face now sad and confused; Mary had one brief opportunity, and she took advantage of it, putting a gentle hand on Miss de Bourgh’s arm and whispering, “Love.”
Anne’s face lit up, and she nodded quickly at Miss Mary before taking Mr. Darcy’s arm and returning to the phaeton.
