Page 71 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

What would she have done if Mr. Darcy had been present for all the merrymaking of the season? She still felt unsettled when she thought of him. She had met nobody else in London who could carry on a conversation with her the way he had. Oh, many friends could talk, and several were good listeners, but only Mr. Darcy had understood her hidden witticisms and references to history and literature every single time and added to them with his own greater knowledge. That was the only reason she missed him on occasion.

She was glad he had not come to spoil the holiday with his arrogant disdain, however. He no longer spoke to her, and his glares discomfited her no matter how she tried to ignore them. He would have found as much to complain about in the neighborhood as Miss Bingley did.

It would have been lovely to see Miss Darcy again, however. She had not seen her since that one sad day, and she wondered if they would still be friends were they to meet again.

Chapter Thirty-One

January 1811

Neither Edith nor Priscilla would return to town this Season, and Jane’s plans were as yet uncertain due to her father’s concerns. Whether at Longbourn or in London, though, her cousin was wholly focused on Mr. Bingley. Mary’s letters, never frequent, had all but disappeared before Christmas, and Elizabeth knew her betrothed occupied her thoughts. Seeing her cousins at Longbourn was exactly what she had needed after a difficult year, but the connection was never as strong when they were apart.

In early December, Uncle Gardiner had initiated plans to expand his business with a new supplier as soon as they returned from their Christmas holiday, requiring him to temporarily keep long hours again as he integrated the new stock into his Emporium. Baby Joseph was a darling and, along with his brother and sisters, took up most of Aunt Gardiner’s energy. The children were usually with their mother or governess but still gave Elizabeth a few minutes each day. Still, she felt more alone than ever after the presence of so many others at Longbourn. She was a social creature, even if she had been forced into a more solitary existence since coming to London.

She wondered whether Mr. Wickham would call on her today, as he had promised. Now that she was back in dreary London, she hoped so even more than before. If he called in the morning, she could still go to the Foundling Hospital in the afternoon. If he did call, she would inform him that she was generally out Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings. She would be willing to alter her schedule for him, but she would not give up her charity work and was already frustrated not to have made a more concrete plan for today. She had not expected to miss the children so much, but this was the longest she had been away from the hospital since she first began helping there nearly two years before.

That was one good thing that had come of Mr. Darcy’s reversal. Elizabeth nearly pricked her finger with her embroidery needle. Why would she ever give that man credit for her decision to help at the hospital? He had nothing to do with it. She had already been contemplating doing more charity work even before his behavior had helped her decide to give up balls that year.

She clenched her teeth. Why had she been softening toward him little by little ever since she overheard that despicable conversation with Mr. Bingley? He despised her, and she had no use for him and his privileged ways.

“Are you well, Lizzy?”

“Yes, Aunt. My apologies. My thoughts were wandering to unhappy memories.”

“You are not giving up hope that Mr. Wickham will call today? It is barely half past ten.”

“No, I still expect he will come. If he arrives before one o’clock, I believe I will have time to go to the hospital today. Do you have any objection?”

“Not at all. Are you not tired after our travels yesterday, though?”

“A little, perhaps, but if anything, seeing the children will energize me.” She smiled, remembering the warm welcome she always received from the boys and girls of all ages. Matthew and Dinah still loved volunteering at the hospital, as well, but they had to work around her schedule and always had other tasks to do when she stayed at Gracechurch Street.

Uncle Gardiner had hired a third footman the previous year, so Matthew’s time was dedicated to her needs as much as Dinah’s was. Her uncle had told her it was no trouble, as her allowance from Uncle Bennet remained generous, and replacing her masters with a footman was a good exchange at her time of life.

At the opening of the door to the drawing room, Elizabeth was surprised to see Matthew, instead of the butler, had escorted Mr. Wickham. After announcing her caller, he stood rigidly just inside the room with a look that told her he would not leave. Elizabeth was confused why he judged it necessary, but Matthew and Dinah were trusted servants, practically friends, and she would not send him away if he felt the need to remain.

Seeing Mr. Wickham made her forget all her concerns of the morning, and she welcomed him to the chair between her and her aunt. Mr. Wickham asked after her Christmas holiday, and then he and Aunt Gardiner spent the remainder of the call reminiscing about Derbyshire. Elizabeth reflected on a similar conversation her aunt had had with Mr. Darcy at the Royal Menagerie, but she shook off the thoughts. Instead, she noticed Mr. Wickham’s easy way with words. Something about his tone seemed off, but she could not quite figure out what it was. Perhaps it was only that he wore a scent she had never liked. It was faint enough that she could tolerate it, however.

Several hours later, while walking back to the carriage after making her rounds to every corner of the Foundling Hospital, she spoke to Matthew as she rarely had since he had first rescued her.

“I assume you were listening to my conversation with Mr. Wickham this morning.”

“I was.”

“Did something about it seem…odd to you?

Matthew glanced at her warily.

“You did notice something. Please tell me what bothered you.”

“It was hardly your conversation, Miss. He spoke mostly to the mistress.”

“Yes, I had hoped he would talk more to me, but I was content he wanted to get to know her, and her questions helped me to understand him better, too.”

Matthew nodded and did not seem like he would say anything else, so she tried to put into words what she had noticed.

“You were with me at the Royal Menagerie. Do you recall a similar conversation my aunt had with Mr. Darcy, who is also from Derbyshire?”

“I didn’t walk closely behind your group that day, as I trusted Mr. Darcy to care for you, but I noticed some things, yes.”