Page 3 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

“So, you did leave me a ticket?” Elizabeth heard the tremble in her voice.

“Of course I did. You must know I obtained the tickets because you told me of your interest. I only wish I could have been there to experience it with you. I do not understand what happened, but if I had been in town, I would have ensured you were not excluded.”

“Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said. “I am gratified to be assured it was not by your design.”

“Certainly not! I told Bingley specifically to ensure you enjoyed yourself, and I asked him to give you my regrets. I will ask him later what happened.”

“It is no matter. Only a month or so before the museum incident, Miss Bingley apologized to me for her past behavior, so I had wondered if she had not been sincere and had told her brother I did not wish to see the exhibit. I suppose it was nothing more than a miscommunication as to the meeting place, after all.”

Still, Mr. Darcy looked as though Miss Bingley would be in danger of his wrath were she in the neighborhood. To everyone’s satisfaction, she and the Hursts had opted to remain in London until the wedding drew nearer. Elizabeth had not seen Miss Bingley even once since she had apologized at the end of April, so she was slow to trust her former friend’s frankness.

“Thank you again for procuring the tickets, Mr. Darcy. Even though I was unable to view the exhibit, it was very kind of you, and the days of excited anticipation I felt almost made up for my disappointment. I am now relieved to find you were never the one to cause that blow. You had every reason for it, I know.”

She said that last almost in a whisper, and it was clear he had not heard her over the music. She would speak to him of that at another time, when they would not be overheard. For now, he did not seem troubled by their final conversation in June.

Mr. Darcy’s visage had cleared, and for the remainder of the dance, he questioned her about her past week in Hertfordshire. By the time they moved to the dining area, she again thought he may consider her a friend. She would not count on it lasting, but she would accept his company tonight.

For supper, they sat near Mr. Bingley and Jane, while the rest of the Bennets were on the other side of the room. After exchanging a few words with the other couple, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy attempted a companionable conversation.

“I never did hear why you left London so precipitously in the summer, Mr. Darcy. I hope your aunt was not unwell.”

Mr. Darcy did not immediately answer, so Elizabeth looked up from her plate to take in his expression. He was looking at his meal, but his hands had stilled where they had been cutting his beef.

“Sir?” Elizabeth asked gently.

“Er, no. That is, my aunt is in good health, as far as I am aware. I did not go to see her. It was my sister. She needed my assistance, and I took her home to Pemberley.”

“I see. I hope Miss Darcy is well?”

“Yes, yes, as well as can be expected and close by in town again. Forgive me, Miss Elizabeth,” Mr. Darcy finally looked at her. “I apologize for departing London so quickly. I had wished to take my leave of you, but haste was required.”

“Of course I forgive you. Do not mention it. I know you had no cause to alert me to your plans,” Elizabeth said, thinking something quite different. He was not as open as she was accustomed to him being, so she could not speak of her real concerns, either. “I have merely been disappointed all these months about missing the exhibit and not understanding why it was so. I am now satisfied.”

“Good, good,” he said absently, returning his gaze and his attention to his plate.

As Elizabeth ate in silence, she again heard the gossip about Mr. Darcy that had surrounded him since his arrival at the assembly. Although she had known him for years, the local community was getting its first glimpse of the tall, handsome, and very wealthy gentleman. She heard whispers of “ten thousand a year,” “eligible bachelor,” and “far above Bingley” and wondered that he could endure it. Then she heard her own name combined with his and “upstart girl” and “fortune hunter” and found herself turning toward the source of the gossip with indignation. Mr. Darcy must have heard Aunt Bennet, as well, for he stood and glared at her until she stuttered to a halt.

“Miss Elizabeth,” he said, looking down to her and extending his hand for the second time that evening. “If you are finished eating, may I escort you from the dining room?”

Elizabeth reached up to take his proffered hand, which felt more gently given this time, and allowed him to pull her close to his side as they removed themselves from the vulgar company. At that moment, she remembered he had always made her feel safe. Even when she had despised him, he had never given her cause to be alarmed by him.

He had been away for so long, though.

“Who was that woman?” Mr. Darcy asked, with clear disdain in his voice, once they had crossed the near-empty dance floor and approached the doors to the balcony.

“Mrs. Bennet,” Elizabeth said with some mortification.

“Your aunt? But…does she…I know you told me about her, but how can she behave so in public when she raised you from the time you were a young child?”

“She never wanted to take me in. I am nothing but a poor relation, after all⁠—”

“Do not degrade yourself so, I implore you.” Mr. Darcy stopped and looked at her for a moment before opening the balcony door and leading her outside.

“It is true, though. You know my mother was my Uncle Bennet’s sister, and he loves me for her sake, but Aunt Bennet has found no such reason to treat me well. She finally got her wish to send me away when I turned fifteen. My birthday gift was to remove from my home and cousins to live in London, with Aunt Bennet’s brother and his family.”

“I know, but…it is different actually seeing your aunt behave so callously. The Gardiners are good to you, at least.”

“Yes. They have been nothing but kind. Far better than I could have expected from people not even related to me by blood.”