Page 8

Elizabeth and her sister remained in London another week after the announcement of the engagement. As expected, Bingley spent every day with his betrothed, and Elizabeth was their chaperon. As a delightful surprise to Darcy, Georgiana was often invited to join their party, whether they were taking long walks in Hyde Park or shopping.

Despite his resolution to pursue Elizabeth, Darcy found enough self-control to be patient, to observe her, and to be certain of her approval before taking any further steps.

Since her sister was to marry Bingley and she was befriending Georgiana, Darcy became even more cautious. As much as he hoped to win Elizabeth’s good opinion and her heart one day, he despised the idea that she was receiving his attentions out of gratitude. Therefore, he did not impose his presence on her, and he was rarely in her company.

Besides, he was busy settling the disaster Wickham had left behind after he boarded the ship to New South Wales. Furthermore, Mrs Younge’s building was seized by creditors, and several families who had been residing there, barely surviving, were in danger of being thrown out on the street. Darcy ended up buying the place, for a sum much smaller than he had expected, and was in search of someone to manage the business, to clean it up, and to take care of it. The further he progressed, the more problems were revealed: so many creditors, so many complaints, so much misery that he asked his solicitors to hire help to conclude the sordid affair. He revealed to Georgiana the details of Wickham’s departure, and she seemed distressed but rather relieved and asked for no further explanation.

His only comfort was that Elizabeth and her sister, together with Bingley, accepted invitations to have tea with Georgiana twice. The first time they visited, Darcy joined their group and spent a couple of hours with them. From that day on, Elizabeth’s slow change of heart became even more visible to Darcy. They did not speak much but glanced at each other often, and her smiles to him were wider and brighter every time. On her second visit to his home, several small gestures spoke about her feelings more eloquently than any speech. She took a cup of tea from his hand, and their fingers touched briefly. She sat by his side on the sofa, and he helped her climb into her carriage, her fingers lingering in his for a moment too long.

The night at the theatre came with both nervousness and anticipation for Darcy. He owned a box, together with the Fitzwilliams, but it was rarely full. On that particular evening, Lord and Lady Matlock, as well as their eldest son, attended too. They were polite and restrained in the company, but they congratulated Bingley and Miss Bennet on their engagement and asked Elizabeth whether she had enjoyed her time in Kent. For the rest of the evening, everyone paid attention to the stage and only spoke briefly during the interval.

To Darcy, the evening provided more reasons for delight and hope. Elizabeth was sitting next to Georgiana, on the front row of chairs, while he sat just behind them. She said or did nothing special, but her hand brushed over his foot as she reached back to retrieve her fallen shawl, she accepted the opera glass he offered, and she glanced back at him while talking to his sister. To others, all those would seem small, meaningless gestures; to him, they meant the world.

After the spectacle had finished, each party returned home. It was a beautiful, serene night, perfect for a walk, but Darcy did not dare suggest it.

In the carriage with Georgiana and Bingley, he was silent and thoughtful. Elizabeth was to leave in three days, and he was not sure when he would see her again.

“Brother, shall we travel to Netherfield for the wedding?”

“Of course you will!” Bingley replied. “I mean, I hope you will. It would mean a lot to me and to Jane.”

“I really like Jane,” Georgiana said. “And Elizabeth… Their bond is so loving, so supportive. As much as I love my brother, I would dearly love to have a sister too.”

“Well, it depends on the sisters,” Bingley said. “Some are more loving and supportive than others. Hopefully, Darcy will marry someone more like Jane and Elizabeth, so you can have the sister you desire. Although I believe Elizabeth’s outspoken and daring nature would suit Darcy better. He would be too frightening for a wife as sweet and gentle as my Jane.”

“Oh, come now, Mr Bingley. My brother is not frightening!” Georgiana argued.

“Yes, Bingley, of course we shall be at Netherfield for your wedding,” Darcy finally replied. “I was thinking… You used to spend a month every summer at Pemberley with your sisters. Perhaps you would care to come this year too, with your wife? Of course, you may bring your sisters too — and hers.”

“Oh, that would be truly wonderful!” Georgiana exclaimed.

“That is very generous of you, Darcy. I shall talk to Jane, but I am sure she will like the idea as much as I do. However, just to be clear, how many sisters can we bring? All of mine and Jane’s?”

Darcy laughed. “Well, I assume Miss Elizabeth will come since she is so close to her elder sister and to Georgiana. As for the others, you may invite the entire Bennet family, if you wish. And your own sisters, of course. There are enough spare rooms at Pemberley. As soon as you settle the plan with your future wife, I shall convey the invitation to Mr and Mrs Gardiner too.”

“Oh, Brother, that would be lovely!” Georgiana replied.

“Then it is settled. I assume you will marry in about a month, so there will be plenty of time for you to arrange to bring your party to Pemberley at the end of July, as always.”

“That sounds like a perfect arrangement to me, Darcy.”

While his sister and friend were enthusiastic, Darcy reflected in silence. The notion of having Elizabeth at Pemberley — even as a friend, as a guest — was something he had stopped dreaming about after she had rejected his proposal. Would she agree to come? If not for him, at least for her relatives and for Georgiana.

The next day, Darcy had several meetings with his solicitors, so he was out of the house most of the time. He had little opportunity to think of Elizabeth until nightfall, when he was again invaded by thoughts that chased all chance of sleep away. He would see her again the next day when he and Georgiana called to say goodbye. What should he say to her? What would he ask her?

The night passed slowly, and the morning found him restless and tired. At breakfast, he ate little and hardly listened to his sister, and he had only calmed down a little when Bingley finally arrived to take them to Gracechurch Street.

As they reached their destination, Darcy’s nervousness returned, and it increased further when they entered the house. He glanced about for Elizabeth, and his heart began to race when his eyes met hers.

They all gathered in the drawing room, all friendly and familiar. Mrs Gardiner suggested showing Georgiana the house and introducing the children, while Mr Gardiner offered the gentlemen something to drink.

“Mr Darcy, may I have a moment of your time?” Elizabeth suddenly asked.

“Of course,” he answered, puzzled and slightly anxious.

She led him to a sofa in a corner of the room, some distance from the others.

“Mr Darcy, there is something I wish to tell you before you hear it from someone else, and it might offend you.” Her voice was serious and timid. “Mr Bingley told us about your generous invitation to spend a month at Pemberley. As wonderful as it might sound, I cannot accept it. I shall find a reason to decline, so nobody will suspect my true motive.”

A pain in his chest took his breath away for a moment.

“And may I ask what is your true motive?”

“You may ask, but I am sure you know it already, sir. I have no right to be a guest in your house. I do not deserve your amiability after I treated you so horribly and offended you so dreadfully. I would be ashamed to admire Pemberley’s beauty, which everybody speaks so highly of, after I abused its master so abominably.”

“Or, perhaps you loathe the notion of being my guest, considering the abhorrent manner in which I addressed you that day at the parsonage and your ill opinion of me. Perhaps you consider me the last man in the world whose house you would like to visit. If this is your true motive, I can easily understand it and will accept your decision.”

“That is not my true motive, Mr Darcy. It is not my poor opinion that induces me to refuse your invitation — quite the opposite. If I thought less of you and felt less ashamed of myself, I would readily accept it.”

Darcy breathed deeply, looked ahead, then gazed at Elizabeth again.

“Miss Elizabeth, this is neither the time nor the place for such a conversation. But I can assure you that my invitation was heartfelt, and if your reluctance is due to your own guilt, I find it unjustified. That day at the parsonage, your words were harsh, but most of them were true, and a misunderstanding induced the rest. Nothing you said or did would diminish my pleasure in having you as my guest.”

He paused for a moment, taking another deep breath.

“A few weeks ago, I hoped your presence at Pemberley would mean much more, but now I understand I was wrong to presume too much. Your presence there would be most welcome, but the decision is yours. I shall not insist upon this invitation, as I fear you might feel forced to accept it against your will.”

“Thank you, sir,” she replied with a sigh and in a trembling voice. “My heart induces me to accept, but my conscience opposes it. If you truly wish me to be there, your will might be more convincing than mine and overcome my reluctance.”

“There is nothing I wish more, Miss Elizabeth. And please do not be alarmed that I might open a subject that once upset you so deeply…”

“I am not alarmed, sir. In truth, I cannot imagine a gentleman such as you would ever discuss that particular subject again after my refusal, as much as I regret it.”

She paused, and he looked at her, bewildered. “Miss Elizabeth, I would gladly open that particular subject at any time, if you would be willing to discuss it. Your refusal was hurtful, but my proposal must have been the same, and your regrets cannot be deeper than mine!”

Her eyes were now sparkling and revealed disbelief, wonder, and the trace of tears.

“Mr Darcy, please be assured that, if you can find a better place and time, I would be more than happy to discuss any subject with you. Especially a past misunderstanding that requires clarification.”

She offered him a warm, reassuring smile, causing his heart to beat even faster. He needed a moment to regain some composure, then he added, “Georgiana and I shall be at Netherfield a week before your sister’s wedding.”

“We shall eagerly await your arrival, Mr Darcy,” she replied.

With that unexpected, heartwarming understanding between them, they joined the rest of the party, engaging in conversation. They chose to sit next to each other, on the same sofa where Georgiana was sitting. Even though their bodies did not touch, Darcy could feel Elizabeth’s warmth, and her nearness made him dizzy.

He still wondered whether he had understood her correctly, whether she had truly granted him permission to talk about a marriage proposal, and whether she had truly admitted regretting her refusal.

His doubts vanished when the time for farewells arrived. After he wished the sisters a safe and comfortable trip back home, Elizabeth said, “We hope to see you and Georgiana in Hertfordshire very soon, Mr Darcy. I greatly anticipate continuing our conversation at an appropriate time.”

“So do I, Miss Elizabeth. Please convey my best wishes to your sisters and parents. I shall be glad to call at Longbourn as soon as I am able.”