Page 81 of Sweet on Mr Darcy

“I suppose I must thank you for chasing me away from Isobel in my youth,” Matlock admitted. “She did not love me, and I thank the Lord for the day I married Eleanor Ashley.”

“I have heard that she was a good match for you. Did she come with you to Ramsgate?” Lady Barry asked with interest.

“She did,” he acknowledged. “We came to see our daughter and nieces after briefly seeing Cathy in Hunsford. I must thank you for your assistance in that matter.”

“No need, no need.” Lady Barry grinned. “Any opportunity to spend a day in a carriage chiding Cathy de Bourgh is a good one. Have your daughter bring your wife to call on me, and I shall be happy to receive her.”

“Lady Barry, I am happy that I was able to assist you.” Sir Dudley bowed. “I must return home, Lady Nibsby is expecting me.”

Elizabeth watched the gentleman take his leave as the viscount and his brother returned to them.

“I am so grateful you all came to help her,” she said to Darcy in gratitude.

“I am glad to perform any service to my mother’s old friend.” He smiled down gently at her. “But most of all, I am privileged to perform any small service for you. Shall we still enjoy another sweet adventure today?”

“I believe we must.” Elizabeth smiled. “You deserve to be rewarded with an ice.”

“I do not think that is the reward Darcy has in mind.” Viscount Fitzwilliam grinned as he and his brother looked on in interest. “Do you not agree, Richard?”

“Most definitely not,” Richard agreed. “He has his eye on a much sweeter prize.”

Chapter Thirty

Lady Barry called both of her carriages, one to escort the Fitzwilliams and Darcys back to Darcy Cottage and Mr Bennet to the cottage inhabited by his family. The second to convey Elizabeth to the confectioners, escorted by Peter and Darcy on horseback.

Elizabeth was confused when they did not stop to collect Georgiana, but thought perhaps the young lady might be in the market village shopping with Priscilla and Anne.

“I thought, when we did not stop for Georgie, that she might be here already.” Elizabeth looked about the shop as she entered upon Darcy’s arm.

“Georgiana and I realised on our last visit that she has finally tried everything, so her adventure has ended.” Darcy smiled down at her as he seated her at the table by the window that seemed to have become their own that summer.

“And us?” Elizabeth asked.

“It is my hope that our sweet adventure is only beginning.” Darcy bowed as she coloured prettily.

He went to the counter to place an order for them, and Elizabeth noticed the proprietor beam at him and hand him a slip of paper and a pencil. Darcy leaned down and wrote for a moment, then folded the paper and slipped it back to the man before he returned to her.

A young lady, likely the proprietor’s daughter, came around and filled their cups with tea, leaving the pot for them to serve themselves when she went back to the kitchen.

“What are we to enjoy today?” She asked with interest.

“Oh, a bit of this, a bit of that,” he replied, looking extremely pleased with himself. “I am owed an ice, if you recall, and you deserve one too.”

The proprietor himself rolled out a small cart with an array of everything Darcy had ordered. Elizabeth saw her favourite lemon ice, and Darcy’s favourite pineapple flavour, as well as a dish of marzipan sculptures, chocolate drops, prawlongs, and candied orange peel.

“Mr Darcy, I begin to believe that your visit to Ramsgate was not to improve your father’s health, but to spoil us all with indulgence.”

“Perhaps, but I have met with no resistance at all.” He enjoyed a bit of his favourite ice. “You ordered a second helping of apricot cakes just last Wednesday.”

“I required fortification after all the worry of last week,” she giggled. “You shall indulge me until I am fat, and then you will not wish to come back south after Christmastide.”

“There is no danger of that, I assure you,” he promised.

Elizabeth sobered. “I confess I shall miss this.”

His gaze sharpened. “The confectioner’s?”

“No.” She lowered her eyes, as heat rose to her cheeks.