Page 55 of Shields and Roses

"Less than an hour ago, yes," Richard told him. "On hearing that you were in this evening, since we knew Bingley is having dinner here with you, we decided to come right over so my cousin could clear the air with Miss Elizabeth. I should like to see her for a moment as well. It has been too long."

Edward nodded. "I hate to disappoint you both," he said. "Lizzy returned to Longbourn with Jane last week. They are preparing for Jane's wedding to Sir Barnaby Linton next month and you know my sister. She wants this to be the biggest event Meryton has ever seen. The girls are hoping to keep their mother from going too far with her plans."

Darcy said nothing, but he felt completely crestfallen and, in some slight measure, unaccountably relieved. Even the mix of feelings confused him. He remained silent, and Richard answered for them both.

"My cousin had told me of the betrothal. I wish them both joy. Since our errand cannot be completed tonight, I will stop by another day to catch up with you and your wife. For now, we should probably be going and allow you to return to your guests."

"Please, Colonel, it is just family and Mr. Bingley here. We would be delighted to have you both join us for dinner this evening."

Darcy could tell the invitation was sincere, so when Richard looked to him, he nodded and answered, "Thank you, Mr. Gardiner. I would be happy to accept if you are certain we would be no trouble. I know I have not necessarily made the best impression upon your family."

"Let this be a chance to start again. If you have revised your previously professed opinion about my nieces, I think we can all manage to get along together for the space of an evening. Please do join us."

Darcy smiled, "The opinions I previously professed were not my own. I made the mistake of accepting my aunt's opinions as truth without asking the proper questions to confirm the facts. I hope I have learned better since."

"Very good," said Edward. "I will just have the boy take your horses around to the mews and see that they are cared for." He slipped past them both and stepped outside for a moment to speak with the boy who held the horses.

"I am sorry she is not here, Will," Richard said softly, "but getting to know her relatives is a step in the right direction. Miss Elizabeth is very fond of the Gardiners and values their opinions. You will want them firmly on your side if you hope to pursue her."

"That is good to know," was all Darcy had time to reply.

Mr. Gardiner returned and gestured for them to precede him down the hall. He ushered the two men into a pleasantly appointed sitting room. For an instant, Darcy thought Mr. Gardiner had been mistaken when he told them Miss Elizabeth was not present. Then, he realized the dark-haired woman sitting next to Bingley must be Miss Mary. With a closer look, he could see the obvious differences in her appearance although in general the two sisters shared a close resemblance.

"Richard!" Bingley and Mary exclaimed with surprised delight at their entrance, at the same time as Madeline said, "Colonel Fitzwilliam! It is so good to see you have returned to us safely."

Richard bowed to acknowledge all of them. "It is my pleasure to be back, and an equal pleasure to see you all."

"Allow me to perform the introductions," Edward offered.

In short order, Darcy was formally introduced to Miss Mary, Mrs. Gardiner, Mr. and Mrs. Cathcart and Miss Lucy Cathcart, the strawberry-blonde he had mistaken for Elizabeth Bennet on previous occasions. Of course, he was already acquainted with Mr. Damask, although Richard was not and had required an introduction to him along with the others he had not yet met.

"I am very surprised to see you here, Darcy," Bingley said when the introductions and greetings were complete.

"It was not a planned visit," Darcy replied. He could not resist adding, "I was hoping to speak with Miss Elizabeth Rose Bennet, but I understand she has already returned to Meryton."

He saw Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner exchange significant glances with the rest of the room's occupants even as Bingley said, "Miss Elizabeth? Why would you..." Suddenly the full impact of what Darcy had said hit him. "Oh!" he added in surprise. He looked at Mary, then looked back at Darcy "Oh!" he repeated.

"Yes," Darcy said, grinning, a sight which seemed to surprise Bingley almost as much as the news. "Richard, here, cleared up the mystery of why no one I asked seemed acquainted with Miss Elizabeth Rose even when I knew she was present at an event."

"I am glad he did, although I must say that we have all been curious for some time how you came to the mistaken belief regarding her name," Gerald said pleasantly. "While we took some guesses, it would be nice to hear the real reason from you."

Darcy explained what he had overheard and what he had not heard that night at the assembly. He saw some looks exchanged, some smiles and some nods as what he said agreed with they had already surmised.

"That is along the lines of what we suspected," Gerald said when the explanation was complete. "The additional detail and your perspective on events makes even more sense."

"You mean, you all knew that Darcy was looking for Miss Elizabeth under an incomplete name?" Bingley asked.

"Yes," Mary replied, "but Lizzy asked us not to reveal her identity unless it was a choice between that or lying."

Although Bingley was still clearly confused, Darcy understood. "I expect she was rather annoyed with me," he said.

"Oh, I think furious would be a far better description," Honoria told him. "She really did not know what to make of your comments and feared saying too much if she corrected you then and there."

"I understand," Darcy said, "although it took me some time to come to it. As my cousin will tell you, I have always had an unreasonable belief that my aunt is a better person than I have recently learned she is. Whether her opinions were accurate or not, however, I should not have been spreading them. This time, the apology I offer is heartfelt and genuine. I am very sorry for my comments on the night of the assembly."

Mary spoke up. "As the only Bennet present, I will accept your apology on our family's behalf. I think it best if we leave your comments of that evening behind and take this opportunity to learn who you truly are, not who you appeared to be then. We must give you some benefit of the doubt, after all, because you are Colonel Fitzwilliam's cousin and Mr. Bingley's friend. We think well of them, and they think well of you."

Darcy bowed to Mary. "You are most gracious, Miss Bennet. I hope the new impression I will make this evening can expunge the poor impression I made before."