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Darcy frowned. Had she provoked his disdain already? “But they must be occupied with their own children.”
How did he even remember the Gardiners’ children? His unexpected concern was touching but also somewhat disconcerting. “Yes. Still, they have been most generous with their time and assistance.” Darcy still frowned. Did he think her family should do more for her? Did he believe she should not live alone? Perhaps he would rather she had not taken possession of his cousin’s house.
Mr. Darcy did not seem inclined to speak again. Elizabeth swallowed some coffee as she considered what to say next. “To be honest, some
quiet time for reflection has been welcome. The days of Richard’s illness were … frantic and difficult.” Mr. Darcy was silent, so she returned her attention to her plate. Oh, what could she say to him? He was always so inscrutable!
Perhaps a change of subject … “But, I am pleased you and Georgiana are returned. It will be good to have your company.” Oh dear, did that sound as if I expect Mr. Darcy to bear me company? Not that his visits were precisely unwelcome, but he was so unsettling and … How does he always manage to unnerve me so?
Mr. Darcy gave her a guarded look, then returned his gaze to his plate. “Yes, Georgiana will undoubtedly be a frequent visitor, and you will be a great comfort to each other.”
Apparently he did not anticipate visiting often, Elizabeth thought with relief. Very well, I can bear the deprivation.
However, she could not help wondering why he was not planning to visit. Perhaps he would seize this opportunity to sever his family’s association with a woman of such low connections. But, no, then he would discourage Georgiana from visiting her. Oh, he was such a vexing man!
Elizabeth was startled by a knock at the front door, followed by the sounds of Grayson, her butler, opening it and a chorus of male voices she immediately recognized. Ah, another welcome distraction! She smiled despite herself.
Chapter 7
Darcy scowled. Whoever the visitors in the entrance hall were, they were too early and too loud to be intruding on a house in mourning. Not to mention, too male. Certain Elizabeth would resent the discourtesy, he was surprised to see a slight smile playing about her lips. Clearly she recognized the intruders’ identities.
An all-too-familiar sensation pressed against his chest, speeding his heartbeat. Why were men visiting Elizabeth? The previous night, as he tossed unsleeping in his bed, Darcy had sorted through the emotions provoked by Richard’s death and come to a painful realization. He might have expected shock and grief to destroy—or at least lessen—his desire for Elizabeth, but it had not. His heart still contracted when he heard her voice, and now he ached with the need to alleviate her pain.
Thus was his guilt doubled and re-doubled. It made his stomach churn with nausea. Darcy not only lusted after his cousin’s fiancée, he lusted after his dead cousin’s fiancée, practically his widow. He should be comforting her, not desiring her, and certainly not reacting like a jealous beast at the thought of other men visiting her home. There must be a special level of hell reserved for his particular kind of betrayal.
The butler entered with a small smile. “Forgive me, Miss Bennet, but you may have surmised who is calling.”
Darcy suppressed a sigh. Only Elizabeth would have her servants addressing her with such familiarity after being the head of household for only a few weeks.
Elizabeth’s smile was more than tolerant. “Yes, Grayson. Please show them to the blue drawing room. I will be there directly.” Grayson left, closing the doors behind him, and Elizabeth looked back to Darcy. “Some of Richard’s friends have come to visit, as is their wont over the past weeks. But you must have pressing business matters and should not feel obligated to remain on my account.”
After nearly a year’s absence, Darcy did indeed have numerous matters of business that required immediate attention, but Napoleon’s army could not have prevented him from accompanying Elizabeth as she received an unknown number of male visitors. “I would be pleased to join you. I will remain until Georgiana is ready to depart in any event.”
Her eyebrows rose in surprise, but Elizabeth merely nodded and led the way out of the breakfast room. As they crossed the entrance hall, Darcy’s entire body tensed as if he were preparing to defend Elizabeth from these other men. The savage side of his nature was asserting itself. Despite loathing the sensation, Darcy was helpless to stem the tide of jealousy.
Full of visitors, the blue drawing room appeared far smaller than Darcy recalled from his previous visit. He recognized most of the men as friends of Richard’s, although he knew none of them well. Lieutenant Johnson and Colonel Grant had served with his cousin on the continent; Richard had thought highly of both men. Gregory North, a friend of Richard’s from school, had the decency to bring his wife, a petite woman with dull brown hair. At least Elizabeth was not the only woman.
However, he had a difficult time not frowning at the fourth man, Lord Michael Kirkwood, the son and heir of a viscount in Surrey. Darcy knew Kirkwood the best since they often traveled in the same circles. He was tall and handsome, with a quick wit and pleasing manners.
Greetings were exchanged, and everyone settled into chairs or settees. A maid entered with refreshments. The conversation was amiable but in subdued tones and of little consequence. Nevertheless, Darcy noticed how the visit buoyed Elizabeth’s spirits; she smiled at little jokes, and some of the color returned to her face. No doubt Elizabeth had spent much time in the company of these men during her engagement to Richard.
Darcy distracted himself by marveling again at how similar Richard and Elizabeth had been in temperament, interests, and amiability! What could Darcy offer by comparison but a resentful temperament, taciturn disposition, and jealous heart? True, he could provide far more material advantage, but he now understood Elizabeth well enough to know fortune meant nothing to her. No, all he could have offered was a desperate, pathetic love—and that she did not need.
He would have preferred to believe his distaste for the visitors sprung from loyalty to Richard, but he must be honest with himself. Her fiancé, his cousin and best friend, was hardly dead a fortnight, and he still wanted her passionately, desperately. He disgusted himself. But his heart, treacherous organ, refused his command at every turn and insisted on beating only for Elizabeth.
Perhaps this time I will need to visit India. For two years.
Darcy forced his attention back to the conversation. The men were relating a story about a prank some years ago involving an acquaintance who raced horses. Kirkwood had taken over the narrative. “And Livingston never suspected a thing! Fitzwilliam had arranged it—” Kirkwood’s voice faltered as he glanced warily at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth’s head was tilted slightly to one side, and she regarded the man with a soft, open expression. “Pray, continue. If we attempt to avoid Richard’s name, I fear our conversation will be extremely stilted.” The accompanying smile was designed to set her visitors at ease. “I love to hear stories of his misspent youth.”
“Youth?” Colonel Grant said. “I believe Fitzwilliam was six and twenty at the time!” Subdued laughter followed this pronouncement. As Lord Kirkwood finished his story, Darcy wondered if the others recognized how neatly Elizabeth had rescued the situation. And, did they know what it cost her?
Mr. North launched into a tale about Fitzwilliam and a Latin instructor, which kept everyone amused for several minutes. The animation in Elizabeth’s face was not completely feigned and prevented Darcy from fully resenting the men’s presence. Accustomed to being surrounded by family, she was coping with a devastating loss all alone and must sometimes welcome company.
The visitors also fed her hunger for stories about her lost fiancé. She did not wish to forget Richard but to collect more memories of him to last the rest of her life. Darcy would give his entire fortune to inspire such love in a woman like Elizabeth!
As the visit drew to a close, Darcy scrutinized Elizabeth’s visitors. She valued them for their connection to her lost love, but it did not necessarily follow that the other visitors’ motivations were likewise honorable. Whatever fortune Richard had bequeathed to Elizabeth was likely sufficient to make her the target of fortune hunters. The very thought made him want to stand at her doorway with a loaded pistol.
