His impromptu meal complete, Darcy headed along the flagstone hallway to the boot room to leave his riding boots. With the others still out, Darcy hoped his sister might bear him company. The last thing he wished for was his own, for that way lay nothing but his interminable thoughts of how he could prove himself to Elizabeth and—should he ever manage it—how to let her understand his intentions without making a total fool of himself.
He had just removed his boots and up-ended them onto the rack, when the door to the garden opened and someone came hastily inside.
‘Miss Bennet!’
With a gasp, the lady turned around from closing the door. ‘Mr Darcy!’
Colour invaded Elizabeth’s cheeks, and she curtsied hastily before raising startled hazel eyes to his.
Feeling a little awkward, Darcy gestured at his feet. ‘Forgive me; I am come to leave my boots.’
‘I—I am come to meet with Miss Darcy. She wished for us to go walking, sir. I trust it is not an inconvenience?’
Darcy blinked. When had this arrangement been made? More to the point, why had Georgiana not advised him?
‘No—not at all. Georgiana had not spoken of it, and I...’ Darcy stopped, then frowned. ‘Do you make a habit of entering the house through that door?’
Elizabeth looked uncomfortable. ‘I – I prefer it; I do not wish to cause a disturbance.’
There was silence for a moment, then she added. ‘Please excuse me. I am late for your sister.’ Elizabeth moved past him, but as she turned towards the door leading into the corridor to the main house, Darcy placed a hand on her arm, staying her progress.
‘Miss Bennet.’ Her eyes locked on his, and he cleared his throat. Was he truly going to say this? ‘You should know, whichever way you choose to enter my home, you will always disturb me.’
The words had come out in a rush, and he could feel his heart pounding in his breast. Why did she not speak? There was nothing of any sense he could draw upon, and if she did not break this silence, they would still be here when the cows came home.
‘I should go now, sir?’
Darcy realised he still held her arm, which he quickly released. ‘Yes, er – run along.’
Elizabeth turned quickly and let herself out into the hallway and the door closed with a quiet snap. For a moment, Darcy stared at the barrier between them; then, he turned and dropped onto a nearby settle, staring at nothing as he recalled Elizabeth’s flustered air and countenance.
Did he comprehend this correctly? Had Georgiana been right in her assumption? Was the lady truly not indifferent to him? Then, his head dropped into his hands. Had he truly just told her to 'run along', as though she were one of the twins?
~o0o~
Georgiana proved adequate distraction for Elizabeth during their walk, for which she was deeply thankful, for her encounter with Mr Darcy had unsettled her, as had his words.
She even found herself enjoying Georgiana’s undemanding but essential companionship as they strolled around the parkland. Until, that is, Elizabeth began to see some similarity of expression and demeanour between her companion and her brother. As soon as she realised she was making such a comparison, she pushed the notion ruthlessly aside.
Thus it was only as their walk drew to a close, and they approached the rear of the house, that Elizabeth felt a strong desire to escape from Pemberley, keen to indulge in her own thoughts.
‘Will you not step inside, Miss Bennet?’ Georgiana gestured towards the door to the boot room through which Elizabeth had entered earlier.
‘You are most kind, Miss Darcy, but I must return home. Papa insisted on my using the carriage and the coachman has waited long enough on me.’
‘Of course.’ Georgiana smiled tentatively. ‘And might we do this again soon? I do so enjoy your company!’
Elizabeth smiled ruefully. ‘And I yours, Miss Darcy, but did you not say you have even more visitors arriving on Monday? I am not certain you will have sufficient time to bestow outside of your commitments to them.’
With a sigh, Georgiana nodded. ‘It may be so.’ Then, she brightened. ‘But we have the picnic to look forward to on the morrow, do we not?’
Elizabeth raised sceptical eyes to the heavily overcast skies. ‘Should this weather hold off. I am not confident of its doing so.’ She met Georgiana’s gaze with a smile. ‘The Miss Bingleys may find themselves disappointed.’
And so would she, Elizabeth realised, and this thought prompted her to hurriedly take her leave of Georgiana and, as soon as the boot room door closed upon the young lady, she turned her steps along the path which would take her round to the front of the house. She hoped for no further encounter with Mr Darcy, and that was a sound reason for avoiding the house, was it not? No; she did not wish it at all!
Elizabeth blew out a frustrated breath, struggling with the conflict within. She seemed, against her volition, to desire the gentleman’s company. Merely the sight of him now brought a flood of sensations she could ill account for, a strange combination of excitement and agitation, of doubt but also of anticipation. She had tried to stop it, to not permit its presence, but to no avail. The sensations would assail her without any consideration for the demands of her good sense.
Her pace slowed almost to a halt, and Elizabeth gazed unseeingly across the beautiful gardens. How can Mr Darcy’s words have meant what she felt they had; that she had the power yet to disturb him? He cannot have meant it in such a way... yet his air and countenance, the tone of his voice and his touch all indicated it was so.
Yet what could it signify? His former feelings must be long relegated to the past, for he was contemplating marriage to another, was he not?
‘Miss Bennet!’
Chapter Thirty-Four
Elizabeth turned about, willing her cheeks not to fill with colour, but seeing the gentleman striding towards her, her heart began its strange leaping, and she drew in a shallow breath.
‘Mr Darcy.’ Elizabeth dropped a curtsey as he bowed, thankful for the brief respite.
‘Are you quite well?’
Elizabeth raised her eyes to his in confusion. ‘Most indubitably, sir. Why do you ask?’
‘I hailed you three times before you heard me.’
‘Oh!’ Elizabeth could not help it; the blush came. Surely he could not have told from the back of her head what she was thinking?
‘Miss Bennet?’ Elizabeth looked up and met his gaze. ‘I—er—and how was your walk?’
‘Most enjoyable, I thank you. Your sister is a delightful companion.’
He smiled and she could not help but return the gesture, despite her agitation.
‘My cousin has but a half hour since returned from his ride. He is keen to renew his acquaintance with you.’
He gestured for them to continue along the path and, falling into step beside him, Elizabeth tried to think of something to speak of, but to no avail. Looking everywhere but at the gentleman by her side, she fell back on an old faithful.
‘The weather looks set to break. We completed our walk at just the right moment, I suspect.’ She waved a hand generally at the heavily laden sky.
‘Then you must not walk home, Miss Bennet. It is all of two miles to The Grange. Will you let me arrange a carriage for you?’
Touched by his consideration, Elizabeth smiled. ‘There is no need, sir. My father insisted I came here in like manner.’
‘He is prescient, then, for it looked set to stay fair this morning.’
Elizabeth shook her head. ‘It is a precaution.’ She was aware of his quick glance in her direction, but she did not turn her head. She found it easier to be herself, to remain coherent if she did not meet his eye. ‘There has been a raid on the hens overnight and a suggestion of someone at large locally.’
They had turned the corner now to skirt the side of the house, and she risked a quick look in Mr Darcy’s direction. To her surprise, he was frowning.
‘Papa insists Jane and I do not walk out alone at present, though I am certain
he is being overly cautious.’
‘You must heed his word, Miss Bennet. I believe—‘
What Mr Darcy was about to say, Elizabeth never discovered, for just then the colonel came bounding around the corner from the front of the house to meet them, performing a neat bow as he reached them.
‘Miss Bennet! What a pleasure to see you again.’
‘Good day, Colonel Fitzwilliam.’ Elizabeth curtseyed.
‘It is quite a time, is it not, since last we met?’
‘Indeed, sir. The spring of last year.’ Elizabeth tried not to look in Darcy’s direction, but she could tell he was watching her. ‘And do you tarry long in Derbyshire, Colonel?’
‘But a se’nnight, ma’am, before duty recalls me to the South.’ He cast a sly glance in Darcy’s direction. ‘Unless my cousin sends me on yet another errand.’
‘You are fortunate to have such an obliging family, sir!’ Elizabeth looked to Darcy, surprising a look of wariness on his features, and she frowned.
‘My cousin likes to imply he is at my disposal, but in all honesty, it is quite the reverse.’
‘For shame, Darcy!’ The colonel grinned at Elizabeth. ‘You would have Miss Bennet believe I direct you, when nothing could be further from the truth.’
To Elizabeth’s amusement, Darcy all but rolled his eyes at this, a faint smile touching his lips.
‘Colonel Fitzwilliam was drilled well in such accomplishments, Miss Bennet, long before the army took him in hand. My aunt is quite the formidable commanding officer when she puts her mind to it.’
Despite her present discomfort, Elizabeth laughed. ‘I would enjoy meeting such a fine woman.’
‘I believe she would say much the same of you, Miss Bennet.’ The colonel bowed extravagantly, and Elizabeth’s smile widened.
‘This is too much flattery, sir.’ She turned to his cousin. ‘I will take my leave, Mr Darcy; I have trespassed long enough on your time when you have guests.’
A few spots of rain fell as she said this, and they all looked to the sky as they reached the driveway in front of the house.
‘It was good to see you again, Colonel. I trust you are to be a guest at the picnic on the morrow?’
Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded. ‘Indeed, I am. The young misses are full of plans.’ He glanced skywards again, then laughed. ‘They will be disappointed if the weather prevents their scheme from going ahead. I declare, I have never seen so much planning for such an informal gathering.’
The colonel stepped back as the coachman lowered the steps, and Elizabeth turned towards the carriage, to find Mr Darcy not only at her side but offering his assistance.
Her gaze flew to his, which was fixed upon her and before she knew it, he had taken her hand in his and assisted her up the step and into the carriage.
‘Thank you.’ What else was there to say? She clasped her gloved hands in her lap, though she could swear she still felt the touch of his own on hers.
‘Until the morrow, Miss Bennet.’ Mr Darcy closed the door and she watched from the window as the carriage turned about. Though the colonel had turned away, the gentleman remained at the bottom of the steps until the carriage reached the bridge and she could see him no more.
~o0o~
Darcy’s eyes followed the carriage bearing Elizabeth away, wishing he could have accompanied her. Then, he frowned. Mr Bennet’s caution to his daughters was a concern. Could it truly be the poacher from the woods? If so, he must be singularly inept to have to resort to raiding chicken coops.
‘Darce! Come on, man. You will be drenched.’
The rain had indeed begun to fall in earnest, and Darcy turned reluctantly away. His cousin was standing under the portico, and he took the steps two at a time to join him.
Soon, they were both settled by a blazing fire in the library, a cup of tea to hand, and the colonel stretched out his legs before the hearth before turning a direct look upon his cousin.
‘So, I see you are making an effort, but with your hands tied until Latimer is here, what do you intend?’
Darcy studied him over the rim of his cup before taking a sip of his tea. ‘I have told you, Fitzwilliam. You must let me do this in my own way.’
The colonel grunted and drained his cup. ‘That is what I feared. It did not go terribly well last time, did it?’
Darcy smiled ruefully. ‘Touché, Cousin.’
‘You do not wish me to tell Miss Elizabeth Bennet about placing the flowers on the graves in Meryton, that the request came from you?’
His gaze drifting to the fire, Darcy shrugged. ‘I did not give the notion due consideration. It was a foolish impulse.’
‘How so?’ The colonel put his cup on the side table and leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. ‘Then why did you do it, Darce?’
Darcy looked back at his cousin, uncertainty writ upon his countenance. ‘I am not sure.’ He paused, remembering. ‘Miss Bennet—when I saw her that day, she looked... unhappy; distressed, almost. I acted without thought in sending the Express to you, and thus I am caught in a trap of my own making.’ Darcy stared solemnly at his cousin. ‘I wished to ease her unhappiness, yet without revealing the act, I cannot.’
‘But surely she will be comforted by such intelligence? Is that not what you desired?’
Impatient with himself, Darcy got to his feet. ‘What would you have me do? How would it seem if I were to say, ‘Here, Miss Bennet, look at this fine thing I have done for you. Will you not think well of me for it?’ He placed his now empty cup on the same table and walked over to the window and stared out at the rain-lashed landscape. ‘I considered only her, yet she gains nothing from the exercise. Why do I do things without thinking them through?’
‘Because you are not the strategist of the family, old man. That falls to me.’ The colonel got to his feet and walked over to join him. ‘Shall I tell her?’
Darcy shook his head. ‘No, Cousin. Let it be. Besides, there are other matters to think on.’
‘Such as?’
‘Georgie confessed to having spoken to Miss Elizabeth Bennet about the guests who will arrive here directly.’
‘Ah. So when you say ‘spoken’, you mean, she told Miss Elizabeth Bennet that you had settled upon Miss Latimer; that you intend to marry her?’ Darcy said nothing, but the colonel nodded. ‘I see. So now you not only have no way of letting the lady know of the good deed you did in arranging for some flowers to be placed on the graves of her mother and sister, you also know she labours under the impression you are destined for another; something you have yet to untangle yourself from with regard to both Miss Latimer and her father!’
‘So it would seem.’
‘Good heavens, Darcy! I doubt there are novels more complicated than this.’
Before Darcy could formulate a response to this or even begin to think about how he could broach such an unspeakable matter to Elizabeth, the door opened and Bingley entered, his manner remarkably breezy.
‘A most invigorating ride, despite a soaking towards the end!’ He beamed widely at both his friend and the colonel. ‘The parklands here are truly capital, Darcy. I shall hope to emulate something similar—though of course smaller—when I find my estate in Yorkshire!’
‘I am pleased they continue to deliver, Bingley.’
‘And where are your delightful charges?’ The colonel gestured towards the now closed door. ‘I do not hear them, which is unusual.’
Bingley dropped into a nearby chair. ‘They pounced upon Miss Darcy the moment they returned and have dragged... I mean persuaded her to accompany them to their chamber whilst they changed out of their riding habits.’
Walking over to the hearth, Darcy tugged on the bell to call for more refreshments before he retook his seat. He was relieved by his friend’s interruption, for no doubt his cousin was already formulating his own plans to ‘assist’ Darcy with his conundrum.
‘Darcy, you did not tell me Sir Charles Seymour was to host one of his balls when we spoke of him the oth
er day!’ Bingley looked to him expectantly. ‘We happened upon him when out riding.’
‘What of it?’ Darcy glanced at his cousin, who rolled his eyes as he took a nearby seat.
‘They hold a ball every harvest, Bingley, and every one Darcy tries to avoid!’
‘And thus shall it continue.’ With two pairs of expectant eyes upon him, Darcy blew out a breath. ‘I have nothing against balls in principle. It is just—‘
‘The people!’ The colonel smirked.
‘And the dancing!’ added Bingley with a laugh.
‘And the eating of supper with strangers!’
‘And the—‘
‘Enough!’ Darcy shook his head at them both.
‘Sir Charles very kindly extended a verbal invitation to me just now. I should dearly like to go. But, Darcy, would it not be capital entertainment for your anticipated guests?’
The colonel laughed. ‘Quite right, Bingley; capital notion indeed! Yet I suspect it will take more than amusing his guests to persuade Darcy to participate.’
It was Bingley’s turn to laugh. ‘Darcy has always claimed there is no worse place than a ballroom.’ He paused, then cast his friend an amused look. ‘Especially when some of the guests bear the name of Bennet.’
Darcy blinked. ‘What did you say?’
The colonel snorted. ‘You may be ageing, Darcy, but do not pretend you lose your hearing or your reasoning.’
His interest immediately roused, Darcy ignored his cousin and looked to his friend. ‘What do you know?’
Bingley shrugged. ‘In the course of our conversation, Sir Charles happened to mention Mr Bennet and his daughters having accepted his invitation. He seemed desirous of receiving the same assurance from you, Darcy, with you having introduced Mr Bennet to his acquaintance.’
The colonel nodded. ‘Quite right; you are duty bound this time, Darce, and thus we are also obliged to include the Latimers. Sir Charles is unlikely to quibble over a few more guests.’
‘Of course! I had forgotten.’ Bingley grinned at Darcy. ‘If the rumours of the ton are correct, you are soon to be off the market, are you not?’
A Quest for Mr Darcy Page 22
