“Yes, I believe we spoke only of me, and strangely, the conversation with him did me a great deal of good. Perhaps also because he has, at least in part, endured a tragedy resembling mine. He told me that his mother had been to him what Papa was to me, the centre of his universe.”
“A great lady.”
“So you knew her.”
“Certainly. Lady Anne came to Lambton sometimes. She was the absolute model every girl my age must have. I was twenty when she died, and I remember it as the most touching tragedy of those days.”
“Yes, that explains why he knew what to say to me.”
“Am I to conclude that Mr Darcy is no longer upon your black list?” asked Mrs Cooper with a touch of irony.
“Precisely. You may strike him from it.”
And together they went downstairs to breakfast.
Chapter 19
The ladies entered an almost empty dining room. Only the colonel and another couple had arrived, though it was already the hour appointed for breakfast. The colonel immediately rose and hastened towards them, while Mrs Cooper, suspecting that he wished to speak with Elizabeth, approached the couple seated at the table.
And indeed, with a friendly gesture, the colonel invited Elizabeth towards the terrace. The French windows stood once more open, since the rain had ceased, and a splendid sun had appeared, already warming the air.
“I am so very sorry,” said the colonel once they had reached the terrace.
Elizabeth looked towards the roses, which appeared to have burst into bloom overnight after the rain—a fairy-like profusion of colours, exquisitely delicate, many still bearing drops of water glittering in the rays of the sun, and that familiar sight gave her a sense of normality her life had lately lacked.
“Thank you,” she returned at last.
“My words cannot express what I feel.”
Elizabeth nodded, looking at him with affection and gratitude.
“I admire exceedingly your courage and the strength you have shown.”
“I fear that, in truth, not so much courage is required to flee in search of forgetfulness, rather than remain and attempt to mend what has been broken. I feel guilty.”
“I believe you are doing precisely what is right. Even to continue living after so many blows requires courage. At least, that is my opinion.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth answered again.
“If there should ever be anything I might do for you, for any of you, I beg you not to hesitate a moment to ask it of me. After Kent, I feared you had remained displeased with me. Forgive me, but I wished to settle a matter which has long weighed upon my mind.”
Elizabeth made a slight gesture with her hand, as though putting aside all that had passed before. But the colonel required words, and seeing the anxious manner in which he looked at her, Elizabeth smiled faintly.
“Believe me, all that occurred in Kent, indeed, everything before…my father’s departure from us, now feels entirely foreign to me, as though it had happened in a life I had read of rather than lived.”
“It is natural. Such a tragedy alters the whole course of one’s life. But I am glad that we may continue a friendship which, even then, appeared to me remarkably easy, especially because it arose so naturally. We required very little time.”
“That is exactly what I felt as well. Yes, I am glad to meet you again.”
And he could not resist asking, “And are you glad to be at Pemberley also?”
Elizabeth’s smile faded slightly, though her expression became thoughtful rather than sad. She did not answer, and, taking advantage of the dining room gradually filling, returned to the table.
Miss Darcy greeted her cheerfully and indicated the seat beside her, at the opposite end of the table from that occupied by Mr Darcy.
Mrs Cooper was already pleasantly surrounded; Elizabeth glanced towards her, but she already was amongst her new friends, such as they already appeared.
“Fitzwilliam begs to be excused, but some important business upon the estate keeps him occupied. He will join us presently.”
