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“I wish to be with Jane.” Bingley answered instantly.
“Then you should and ignore your sisters’ comments. They can remain in London. In fact, I will be visiting Hertfordshire in three days. I would be happy to have you accompany me.”
“Good!” Bingley exclaimed. “You must stay at Netherfield. That is an excellent plan. Going with you gives me a reason to travel there. Thank you.” Darcy smiled, happy that he could be of service to both his friend and Elizabeth’s family.
Elizabe
th had passed a restless night. How quickly I have grown accustomed to Darcy’s presence that now I ache for him when he is absent! During the long night, she recited to herself the reasons for not revealing their marriage, but they seemed to pale compared to the longing she felt for him. She wanted his lips on her…his arms around her…his hands…No, it would not do to further fan the flames of desire.
Apparently her listlessness was noticed at the breakfast table. “Are you feeling unwell? You seem peaked.” Mrs. Gardiner asked.
“No, Aunt, thank you I am perfectly well. Simply fatigued. The traveling wore me out a bit.” Elizabeth attempted to butter her toast in a more lively fashion.
“You must take every opportunity to rest today,” her aunt insisted. “I can see that you are still recovering from your illness.” There was a knock at the front door; moments later the housekeeper entered with an elegant, creamy white envelope, which she gave to Mrs. Gardiner. Elizabeth’s aunt looked surprised, broke the seal, and opened it at once. “Oh my!” She exclaimed.
“What is it?” Elizabeth asked.
“The Earl and Countess Matlock have invited us – and you – to a ball tomorrow night.” She looked bewildered. “I do not believe I have ever met Lord and Lady Matlock.” Still frowning in confusion, she handed the invitation to Elizabeth.
“I believe they are Mr. Darcy’s aunt and uncle,” Elizabeth said as she perused the invitation. Experiencing a need to behave casually, she took a sip of tea.
“Oh, I see. He must have arranged for the invitation. How nice!” Her aunt was eyeing Elizabeth speculatively and then appeared to have made a decision. “I suspect Mr. Darcy of some partiality to you. Has he said anything of an attachment?”
Elizabeth blushed and set her tea cup down quickly, thinking of the last time he expressed his affection forcefully. How much should she reveal? She was uncomfortable with outright untruths, but could not allow her aunt to guess the truth. “He has expressed a warm regard for me,” she confessed. There, it was not a lie, but did not reveal too much.
Her aunt drew her breath in quickly. “Oh, Elizabeth, truly? And how do you feel about him? I know that once you disliked him.”
“That is all in the past…I…experience affection for him….” She allowed. “He took excellent care of me when I was sick.”
Mrs. Gardiner smiled as she regarded her niece over the rim of her tea cup. “You may not be aware of the great honor of such a man’s affections. His estate of Pemberley is very large and house is very grand – one of the grandest in England, I daresay.”
The raptures of her aunt, who was not prone to exaggeration, had a peculiar effect on Elizabeth. She was eager to see Pemberley since Darcy spoke of it with such love, but now she reflected on the responsibilities of being his wife. Was she prepared to be mistress of such an estate? She took a deep breath, attempting to quell her apprehension. It would happen whether she was prepared or not; the decision had been made.
“Are you all right?” Her aunt asked. “Your face suddenly became rather white.”
“Yes, I am fine.” Elizabeth attempted to calm herself by envisioning William’s face: his slightly crooked smile, his beautiful dark eyes and the way they twinkled when he was teasing her.
“There is no time to order you a new gown before the ball, but I have one that we could alter for you.”
“Nonsense! I can wear the yellow silk I wore in France.”
“No, a ball at an earl’s house demands greater elegance. Plus Mr. Darcy has already seen that gown. We shall visit the modiste once we have finished breakfast.” Her aunt’s tone was very emphatic.
Elizabeth sighed in acquiescence. It seemed foolish for her aunt to give up a gown in hopes of securing a man who had already become her husband. But, Elizabeth realized, this ball would also afford the inhabitants of the ton their first glimpse of her. It was important to give a good first impression. “Very well.”
Only an hour later, Darcy brought his sister to the Gardiners for a visit. When he entered the drawing room, Elizabeth’s heart started to flutter and she wanted to do nothing more than to fling herself into his arms. When they had devised the plan of concealing the marriage, she had not anticipated how difficult it would be to see him and desire him, but be unable to act on it. How have I become so brazen in only a few days? She blushed at the thought. But, then, we are married. Surely it is permissible to desire my husband.
Darcy’s eyes sought hers as soon as he entered the room and he gave her a heartwarming smile. She returned it, trying to put all of her unspoken love into each glance.
Elizabeth enjoyed making Georgiana’s acquaintance. She was a lovely girl, although painfully shy, and initially answered questions with the shortest possible sentences. However, Elizabeth diligently sought out subjects that would elicit some conversation from the younger girl and was rewarded with some longer answers. After a few minutes, she was freely speaking to Elizabeth about her school, her friends, and her love of music.
Whenever Elizabeth glanced at Darcy, she noticed approval on his face. During a lull in the conversation, Mrs. Gardiner took the opportunity to ask Darcy questions about his family and Pemberley. Elizabeth was happy that they were becoming better acquainted. After they had been there an hour, Darcy suggested a walk in the nearby park.
It was a clear day and not overly warm – ideal for a walk. After the four of them had been strolling a few minutes, Darcy and Elizabeth lagged behind the others, so he offered her his arm and they took the pathway at a leisurely pace. Mrs. Gardiner was showing Georgiana a pond and other features of the park, providing the lovers with some privacy. Georgiana seemed content, but did not respond as readily to the older woman as she had to Elizabeth.
Darcy shook his head in disbelief. “I have never seen Georgiana take to someone as quickly as she did to you. Usually it takes her months to become comfortable with a stranger – if it happens at all. She has been especially reticent…after recent events.”
“I thought her a very pleasant conversationalist.” Elizabeth said.
