by Lory Lilian
“As for your father, the late Mr. Darcy,” concluded Mrs. Gardiner, “I did not meet him more than three or four times, I think, but I remember him being a handsome gentleman and that he was considered by many people as the best master and the best landlord. My father used to say that he did not hear anybody ever complain about Mr. Darcy’s generosity and fairness.”
“And my brother is the same, Mrs. Gardiner, I assure you.” Both Elizabeth and her aunt smiled at the expression of love and pride on Miss Darcy’s face; it would have been difficult for anyone to doubt for a single moment the young lady’s adoration of her brother.
“I am sure he is, Miss Darcy,” offered Mrs. Gardiner. Then she leaned toward Miss Darcy to whisper. “I confess I have heard nothing about Mr. Darcy’s abilities as a landlord, but I can heartily testify that he is one of the handsomest young men I have ever seen. Would you not agree, Elizabeth?”
Miss Darcy quickly hid a chuckle behind her hand. Elizabeth blushed and nodded in agreement, trying to conceal her laugh and her mortification as three pairs of eyes turned to the subject of their conversation. Mr. Darcy could do nothing but wonder at the reason for the ladies’ sudden amusement. Yet, none of them seemed inclined to share it with him, so his only alternative was to smile sheepishly at them.
Shortly thereafter, the visitors took their leave. Miss Darcy promised to return their visit the next day or the day after as soon as her brother could find the time to accompany her. Elizabeth had to bear another surprise when she understood that Mr. Darcy intended not only to encourage the growing closeness between the ladies but also to return the call himself. New questions made her head spin as she attempted to maintain her countenance on her way out of the house. Fortunately, the warm—hot—air of the June day provided a legitimate explanation for the redness of her cheeks.
The master of the house handed both ladies into the carriage. When her hand entwined with his, Elizabeth shivered and unconsciously tightened her hold, seeking support. She could not be certain whether in the next moment his fingers gently squeezed hers or if it was only her imagination. However, there was no doubt that his hand lingered against her palm a moment longer than propriety dictated.
The carriage departed, but after a short distance, Elizabeth braved a look back and saw Mr. Darcy still in the street, his eyes following her as though trying to hold her presence in an extended farewell.
***
The ride home was silent. Elizabeth could not find the strength to speak and was grateful to her aunt for not requesting details.
The interactions between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy did not escape Mrs. Gardiner’s notice. It was obvious they were not mere acquaintances, but the nature of their relationship was more difficult to gauge. Yet, she was almost certain she noticed Mr. Darcy’s admiration for her niece, though about Elizabeth’s feelings she could not be certain. She had learned in Hertfordshire of Elizabeth’s dislike for Mr. Darcy, but the interaction she had just witnessed was by no means dislike. She reserved her assessment for the future, as it was likely they would all be in one another’s company again.
Later that evening when Mr. Gardiner retired to his library, Mrs. Gardiner finally approached her niece with great gentleness and equal determination.
“My dear, you have been very quiet this evening.”
“Have I? I am sorry, Aunt; I am not quite myself these days. I think I should go and rest. I am sure tomorrow I will feel much better.”
“I think you should tell me what is bothering you so, for I am now preoccupied with both you and Jane.”
“There is nothing, Aunt, believe me. Or actually, there is nothing that can be solved for now.”
“As you wish; I will not force your confidence—for the moment.”
She watched Elizabeth’s sigh of relief carefully and smiled. Not too hasty, my dear; we are not done yet.
“We have had an eventful day, would you not agree? As the colonel said, it was very fortunate that Mr. Darcy noticed your presence.”
“Yes, indeed, Aunt.” Elizabeth forced a smile, but she was clearly flustered as she played with her cup of tea.
“And I have to say I very much liked Miss Darcy and the colonel—and Mr. Darcy even more. He was nothing but polite and amiable. Which makes me wonder at how you ever came to tell us he was so disagreeable. I should have known that the son of Lady Anne could not have been as bad as you proclaimed.”
“I admit I was wrong in my estimation of Mr. Darcy’s character. On the other hand, Aunt, his manners at the beginning of our acquaintance were utterly different. I never saw him as amiable and polite as today; he truly astonished me. I do not know how to explain it, but perhaps it was due to his sister’s presence; he is obviously very fond of her.”
“Yes—that must be the explanation—his sister’s presence, indeed.”
Elizabeth could not be certain, but she thought she detected a trace of mockery in her aunt’s voice; however, she had no time to dwell on the subject overmuch as her aunt continued.
“What do you think? Will they call on us as they promised? I would not be surprised if they changed their minds about coming tomorrow. Such important people as Mr. Darcy may be a little whimsical in their civilities.”
“Do you think so, Aunt? I…I would say that Mr. Darcy will not break his word. I mean, he would not promise so earnestly if he did not intend to do so. He is a man of his word.”
“Yes, so he seems. Well, you must be correct; it appears you are better acquainted with Mr. Darcy than I am. We shall see.”
“Aunt, I have to tell you I am so looking forward to tomorrow evening. My uncle was so good to procure tickets for my favourite play.”
Mrs. Gardiner chose to indulge her niece’s desire of changing the topic—at least for the moment—and for another half an hour they talked of the coming evening at the theatre. They retired rather early though neither of them fell asleep for several hours.
In the privacy of their rooms, Mrs. Gardiner shared her impressions with her husband. Surprised and intrigued by his wife’s suspicions of a possible relationship between his niece and Mr. Darcy, Mr. Gardiner insisted he be informed whenever any of the gentlemen happened to call, as he wanted to meet them personally and form his own judgment.
Sleep eluded Elizabeth for a time as her mind was not ready to rest. She recollected and twisted in her head every moment of their meeting—every word, every gesture—continually wondering about the reasons for the alteration of his manners. She did not dare to admit to herself that it was for her—that her reproofs at Hunsford could have worked such a change in his character. Moreover, she dare not ask herself whether the meaning of his attentions might be that he still loved her.
Miss Darcy’s friendly behaviour also must be a result of his kind words about her; she said as much. Of course, Miss Darcy clearly had been taken by Mrs. Gardiner’s pleasant manners and by her connection with the late Lady Anne as well. Still, from the first moment they met, it was obvious that Georgiana already knew about Elizabeth and showed an inclination to make a friendly acquaintance; no doubt, her brother had said much in her favour.
The way he spoke to her when she entered the house—his concern for her well-being and the gentleness in his voice—were recollections that increased Elizabeth’s distress. What could be the meaning of it? Why was he disposed to encourage an increasing closeness in their relationship? Was it possible he did so only to indulge his sister’s wishes? Undoubtedly, a future friendship between her and Miss Darcy might generate a difficult situation for the two of them after their tumultuous history; he must be aware of that.
Finally, she decided there was no point in increasing her torment by speculating so after only one meeting with the man. It was likely they would be in each other’s company again, so she would have time to discern his true motivation.
Suddenly, the idea of being in his company again consumed her mind, and for a few moments, she thought only of that. She could not deny that a friendly, polite Mr. Darc
y was rather pleasant company even if he spoke little. After this first meeting, being in his company again would be neither as awkward nor as difficult, so she had reason to await the Darcys’ visit eagerly.
Finally, she indulged the sleep that threatened to overwhelm her, and full of restless dreams, she greeted the dawn unsettled and still tired.
Neither the Darcys nor the colonel indicated their intention of returning the call the next day. In fact, Mr. Darcy had said he had previous engagements. Thus, her good sense told her it was unlikely they would visit her so soon, but she found herself still waiting and looking anxiously out the window at every passing carriage. She was quite amazed at her own discomposure and eagerness, yet she did not feel courageous enough to question the undoubted reason behind those feelings.
As time passed, she finally ceased her waiting: firstly, because it was not a proper hour for a call without notification and, secondly, because she needed to prepare for the theatre and found herself grateful for something to distract her from disappointment.
***
Mr. Gardiner’s business, though tiresome, demanding, and often interfering in his vacation plans, truly gave him little reason to complain—quite the contrary. It helped him make a more than comfortable living for his wife and their four children, comfortable enough to secure their future and sustain their hope of eventually purchasing a small estate.
Indeed, he considered himself a fortunate man, but he knew his greatest fortune had been in his choice of wife. He believed that a man never had been more blessed than he had in his family: his astonishing wife and their wonderful children. From the first blush of married life ten years earlier, Edward Gardiner’s love, respect and admiration for Marianne Gardiner only grew stronger and deeper with each passing year. He knew he had every reason to be proud of his wife—and so he was.
Enjoying a glass of port, he was anticipating her descending the staircase — together with Elizabeth—to attend the theatre. Truth be told, he was tired and would have preferred to stay home and enjoy the benefit of a quiet evening. However, complying with one of his wife’s wishes was more important to him than his own comfort, and considering that his favourite niece was equally fond of the theatre left him little choice. So there he was, ready to accompany them.
When their carriage reached its destination, Elizabeth noticed, as did her aunt, that they had been wrong in assuming not many people would attend the Little Theatre that evening. The season was ending, and many of the fashionable families were leaving town for the comfort and gentle air of their country estates. However, to their utter surprise, a crowd was gathered in front of the theatre.
It was still early, and many people seemed inclined to linger outside the entrance. Animated conversations were carried on in low voices as propriety demanded. A parade of the latest fashions and jewels—worn with grace by young ladies attempting to draw the attention of eligible gentlemen—made Elizabeth’s lips twist in a hidden smile. Her mother was not so different after all from the ladies of the ton—at least in this regard.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner exchanged greetings with acquaintances on their way inside the theatre while Elizabeth could feel a few gentlemen’s eyes scrutinizing her with what her mother would call admiration; yet, she knew it was mere curiosity at an unknown face, and she smiled again.
Their party had almost reached the entrance when Elizabeth’s attention was drawn by a lady’s laughter—open, full of joy, and unrestricted. She could not help turning her head, and her eyes fell upon a young lady whose stunning beauty made Elizabeth stop for a moment to admire her. She was taller than the other ladies, and her hair—light brown—was masterfully arranged. Equally impressive was the evident costliness of her elegant gown; she also wore a necklace and earrings set with diamonds and emeralds, which increased the brightness of her green eyes. She looked around and then down the street, clearly waiting for someone and being inattentive to her companions. Her entire demeanour demonstrated self-confidence, and the condescension with which the others were treating her indicated to Elizabeth her noble breeding. Her companions called her “Lady Cassandra.”
For a moment, the lady caught Elizabeth’s eyes, and her inquiring look was not friendly. She did not seem pleased to find Elizabeth staring at her nor did she find it necessary to hide her displeasure. Yet, instead of being offended by that look, Elizabeth smiled at her with unconcealed admiration; in the next moment, the lady’s eyes widened in surprise, and then she returned the smile as Elizabeth passed by her and entered the theatre.
Elizabeth and the Gardiners took their places in a small box on the second level, some distance from the stage.
In a short time, the arena grew crowded. Elizabeth noticed the lady from the entrance hall alone in a large box—the third from the stage—and it was obvious that her presence drew numerous eyes and prompted various comments. Elizabeth heard people nearby talking loudly enough about “Lady Cassandra” to be a subject of great interest; she could easily understand the lady’s cold and annoyed gaze earlier. No doubt, she had been the subject of whispers and stares from the moment she arrived. Elizabeth felt suddenly inclined to sympathise with Lady Cassandra without even knowing her.
The bells rang for the last time; the play was ready to start, and the theatre patrons were taking their seats. The theatre seemed filled to capacity. While Mrs. Gardiner was relating to her what she knew of the actors, Elizabeth, with a smile, cast her eyes around the beautiful theatre once more and abruptly caught her breath in a quiet gasp.
On Lady Cassandra’s left, closely engaged in a private conversation with her and oblivious to everything around him, sat Mr. Darcy. A disquieting chill travelled along her spine and down her arms to her fingers, which became as cold as ice. She struggled to turn her eyes away, but, mesmerised, they remained fixed on the couple until the performance began.
Startled by music from the orchestra pit, her head turned abruptly, and her absent gaze followed the action on stage as she was engulfed by new and disconcerting emotions she could not understand. Elizabeth struggled not to return her attention to that box, so she failed to notice the gentleman’s surprised eyes staring back at her or the expression on his face the moment he recognised her.
Chapter 2
So that is why he did not call today, was the first thought that came to Elizabeth’s mind. Less than a moment later, she felt her cheeks burning in mortification at such an outrageous statement. Surely, she had no right to question Mr. Darcy’s reasons for doing whatever he pleased, whenever he pleased, and certainly, with whomever he pleased.
Struggling to keep her eyes focused straight ahead and to pay attention to the performance met with little success as did an attempt to regain her composure. An uncomfortable sensation of being watched made her restless, and she wondered who else might be in that box. Did someone in the party recognise her? As far as Mr. Darcy was concerned, if he noticed her presence, she fully expected he would not be pleased to socialise with her and her relatives from Cheapside in the presence of his titled friends. This, she understood, was unlike their meeting in the park—but what of the others in the party. Was Miss Darcy in the box, too—or the colonel? Had they noticed her? Would they see her during the intermission?
She startled a couple of times under the impression she heard his voice, though she knew it was not possible. Mr. Darcy, a man who was highly proper at all times, certainly never would speak to be heard from such a distance. Then again, she could be wrong. Mr. Darcy’s recent behaviour seemed to be completely different from what she formerly knew of him. Based on their previous encounters, she never would have believed him capable of being as…animated…as he was that evening and certainly not in a crowded room under the scrutiny of countless curious eyes.
“Neither of us perform to strangers.”
The recollection of his words during an evening at Rosings brought back other unpleasant and embarrassing memories. She now spent countless minutes reflecting on their past interactions; an in
ner smile unconsciously lifted the corner of her lips as she recalled their sparkling verbal duels. How could she have been so thoroughly blind as to misinterpret every word, stare, smile and approach—she, who prided herself on her talent for observation and discernment?
He had always been so serious, stern and haughty with others but not with her—at least not all the time. Mr. Darcy did smile at her—and quite often. Moreover, he singled her out more than once during those weeks in Hertfordshire; he danced with her at the Netherfield Ball even though she had previously refused him in the presence of Sir William Lucas. Then, there had been all their talks at Netherfield about accomplished ladies and the “improvement of one’s mind by extensive reading” while she was reading, about his faults and hers, his reference to his sister’s height in comparison with hers, and his plea that she not “sketch his character at this time” after their harsh talk during the dance.
Everything seemed to her now to be cast in an utterly different light.
Of course, her friend Charlotte Lucas had been perceptive enough to notice the truth almost immediately and, most likely, so had Miss Bingley, which explained the lady’s rude dismissal of her.
Why am I thinking of all this now? No good will come of these belated revelations; indeed, these thoughts are not helping me. I must be grateful for Mr. Darcy’s civility, politeness, and apparent acceptance of a future acquaintance between us. Who knows? Perhaps I will have the chance to see Mr. Bingley again and he might —
An increase in the music’s tempo startled Elizabeth and brought her back to the reality of her surroundings. The seeming irrationality of her speculations caused her to censure herself again instantly. She must not entertain any certain hopes of Mr. Bingley for Jane or anything for herself.
She steeled herself to think of nothing but the exquisite performance on the stage and her long-awaited tour of the Lake country. If only they could leave sooner…Had Mr. Gardiner not been forced to return to town, they would have been far away by this time. Then, of course, they would not have encountered Mr. and Miss Darcy at all, and she likely would have had no occasion to meet Mr. Darcy ever again.
