Page 9 of A Sisterly Bond

“My brother is the same,” Miss Darcy said, and Elizabeth could not repress a frown of disbelief.

“I have not had the pleasure of meeting the present Mr Darcy in person,” Mrs Gardiner explained. “I mean, I did see him a few times in Lambton, when he was very young, but we have not been formally introduced. And by the time I arrived in Hertfordshire for Christmas last year, Mr Darcy had already left.”

“I am sure he would want to make your acquaintance, Mrs Gardiner. Nobody works harder than my brother, for the benefit of everyone who is under his protection — our family, his friends, the tenants or people of Lambton. My uncle, Lord Matlock, as well as my aunt Lady Catherine, trusts my brother with advice about managing their estates. Nobody who asks for his help is rejected. But if someone is refused, it is always for good reason.”

Miss Darcy spoke with utter confidence, which increased Elizabeth’s scepticism. Of course she had the best opinion about her brother; she might not even know the truth about his nature, character, or manners. He might be generous — in his own way — with his tenants and friends like Mr Bingley, but that certainly did not excuse his flaws and wrongs against other people.

“And Pemberley is by far the most beautiful estate I have ever seen,” Elizabeth heard Mrs Gardiner saying. “I only had the chance to go inside the house once, many years ago, and I remember being charmed immediately and forever.”

“Thank you for your kind words. I love our home,” Miss Darcy replied.

“I heard the library is exceptional,” Elizabeth interjected on impulse.”

“Oh, have you visited Pemberley, too, Miss Elizabeth?”

“No, not at all. In fact, I have never been even close to Derbyshire. I have just heard Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst praising it.”

“Ah… Indeed, the library is beautiful and very rich in books of every sort, from the oldest tomes available to new publications. My grandfather and my father were avid collectors, so the library is the work of several generations, as my brother says.”

Elizabeth noticed how much the girl enjoyed mentioning her brother, and she smiled to herself. To a young girl who had lost both her parents, an older brother must be twice as valuable, especially as he was kind to her.

“My fondest memory of the library is my father reading to me on cold days. My brother was mostly at school, so for a few years there was only Papa and me, and—”

She suddenly paused, and a shade of distress brought paleness to her pretty face. She sipped from her cup of tea and forced a smile, while Mrs Annesley promptly interjected.

“I have not seen Pemberley yet, and I am quite thrilled to spend the summer there,” the lady uttered, indicating she had been in Miss Darcy’s service for only a short while.

“I hope to visit Lambton again in the near future, and I shall certainly take the opportunity to admire Pemberley once more,” Mrs Gardiner declared.

Upon hearing this, Miss Darcy regained her composure and immediately said, “If you happen to be in Lambton when we are at Pemberley, please send me a note, Mrs Gardiner. I would be delighted to introduce you to my brother and to have you to dinner at Pemberley.”

The invitation surprised Mrs Gardiner, as well as Elizabeth. The girl’s kindness was undoubted, but Elizabeth suspected her brother would not be so happy to entertain cordial relationships with someone so below their social status.

“That is exceedingly kind of you, Miss Darcy. I shall certainly do that,” Mrs Gardiner responded.

The conversation turned to the Derbyshire hills, the excellence of the local stone, the particular beauty of the lime avenue in early summer. Elizabeth contributed only when politeness demanded it, her mind elsewhere. How easy it would be to ask, in the most casual tone, whether Miss Darcy remembered a certain companion of her brother’s youth — whether Mr Wickham’s name still held any place in the household. The temptation flickered, sharp and dangerous. She closed her lips firmly and reached for a biscuit she did not want.

Mrs Gardiner was relating an episode from when she was a child, in which Lady Anne had brought some treats for her and her companions, when the sound of footsteps and a servant’s voice startled and silenced them.

To Elizabeth’s astonishment and dismay, Mr Darcy strode into the room, then stopped as soon as he laid eyes on the party. His countenance changed immediately, and he stared in obvious stupefaction.

For an instant no one moved. The gentleman’s eyes, dark and startled, travelled from his sister to the unexpected visitors and fixed, with unmistakable shock, upon Elizabeth. Colour drained from his face, then returned in a deeper flush. Elizabeth felt her own cheeks flame in answer; her teacup rattled treacherously against its saucer.

Elizabeth hastily stood up, and so did Miss Darcy, then Mrs Gardiner and Jane.

“Miss Elizabeth?” he said with a frown.

“Mr Darcy!”

“Dear brother, what a wonderful surprise!” Miss Darcy hurried to him, while his eyes remained fixed upon Elizabeth. A grip of distress and anxiety tightened in her stomach, while her heart pounded and raced.

“I am certain you did not expect to find old acquaintances here, did you? You will not believe what happened!” Miss Darcy continued joyfully.

“It is a surprise, for certain,” Mr Darcy finally replied with a bow after clearing his throat. “Good day, ladies. How lovely to see you again.”

Elizabeth and Jane curtseyed, silently and awkwardly.

“Oh, I understand you have not met Mrs Gardiner yet!” Miss Darcy exclaimed. “She grew up in Lambton, can you believe it? And she knew our parents very well!”