Page 13

“Oh, dear girl, I shall spare you more embarrassing expressions for the moment, but I shall hold you to your own revelations.”

Saye brushed what Elizabeth desperately hoped was not a droplet of her champagne from his lapel and went on.

On and on and blessedly on, for she was not certain she could remain apace with a tête-à-tête; she coughed quietly and dabbed her eyes, trying, with no little difficulty, not to think about Darcy’s bottom.

“Alas, be it too cold for toads and frogs, Darcy does need to be embarrassed, for he has been dull, dull, dull these past months, and all because of you, Miss Elizabeth Bennet. Do you know Darcy is practically garrulous when asked of you? Your charms, your wit, your laugh, your joy...! Only one topic can stir his interest. You. He despises parties, is only here because of you, and yet despite declining my invitation, here you are. And he does not know! Oh, I think we should play a game. ‘Let’s Hide Lizzy in the Closet!’ Everyone but Darcy shall know you are here. ”

Miss Goddard laughed too much, and may have made quite a pretty picture of it had he been able to actually look at her.

But the first moment she tittered, her bosom, sat nearly to her chin, began to quiver, and Darcy was too much a gentleman—and far too desperate for his own high-spirited lady—to allow his gaze anywhere near her.

It was best to let his soup grow cold and tell her all she wished of his lovely Elizabeth.

His next partner, Miss Bentley, had a curious, wistful quality about her; her gown had an odd look to it, nearly as odd as some of the observations she made before they settled on the topic of love and proposals, and he recognised that he was the gentleman with the most expertise, at least the most recent, in the pursuit and winning of a lady’s hand.

How amused Elizabeth would be to hear that he was confessing his heart and his missteps to these ladies—ladies, he suddenly realised, who bore a strong resemblance to other Bennet ladies, Lydia and Catherine.

He had not seen Miss Hawkridge for at least two years; was she more a Mary or a Jane?

One evening into this gathering, and he had spent every minute thinking of Elizabeth, and every course talking about her. Am I a tiresome bore? Would she be amused? Would that she were here!

Why had she not come? He ached that she had not come, and despised that her insufferable, self-righteous father had denied her pleas.

Lady Aurelia had shown him the invitation, returned with a note of regret, and said no more.

He had yet to receive a reply to his latest letter, a letter he was embarrassed to recall writing while holding a lock of her soft dark hair in his other hand.

He reached the library door, relieved to know he would dine in a room where he was at his most comfortable.

He could hear laughter behind the closed doors and wondered briefly whether he was too early.

Then the footman swung open the door, and he saw a familiar face.

..was it Robbins? One of the maids from Longbourn?

He practically threw himself into the room, and there she was.

His beautiful Elizabeth, sitting at a small table with Saye, laughing at something the ridiculous man had just said.

“Elizabeth?”

“Darcy?”

The amusement on her face, her lovely face, faded quickly into an expression of warmth and love.

She began to stand, and he moved quickly across the room to take her hands in his.

She is here! Mindless of anything but the lady in front of him—not miles away, but mere inches—he held her gaze before allowing his focus to travel down her neck and take in the fullness of her.

Elizabeth shivered, and a blush of pink blossomed on her cheeks as he lifted her hands to his lips.

“Yes, yes, Darcy, Elizabeth. Elizabeth, Darcy. We all know you know one another. You have ruined all of my plans for a game.”

Caught up in the wonder of the woman he adored, Darcy could scarcely register that his cousin was still prattling on and had not left his seat. He kissed Elizabeth’s fingers and spared a quick glance at Saye.

“Elizabeth was just telling me about your proposal, which does seem rather underwhelming. Walking on a dirt path, in a drab field of dead wheat, neither ring in your pocket nor flowery words from your lips?”

“Yet my ring is on her finger, and it is my name on her lips. Take a lesson from a man who is most happily betrothed, and?—”

“And most happily welcomed,” Elizabeth finished his sentence and beamed at him. Something inside him grew explosive, and it appeared even Saye could see it. Pithily observing that he had much to do before the fourth and fifth courses were served, he finally left.

The moment the door closed behind Saye, Elizabeth was in Darcy’s arms. As he held her tightly, Darcy gestured to Robbins that she was dismissed, for this course, at least. When the door clicked shut behind the maid, Elizabeth loosened her hold to look around the room, and thus satisfied they were alone, smiled up at her beloved.

It took but a moment for his lips to touch hers, and they spent some minutes happily reacquainting themselves with the small passionate pleasures common between two people deeply in love and too long separated.

“You are here,” Darcy whispered when they finally parted. He grasped her head between his hands, and gazed at her tenderly, reacquainting himself with every feature. “I thought your father would not allow you to come. My cousin–”

“He would not, and has not,” Elizabeth said.

“When my mother learnt of the invitation, she immediately had my trunks packed with everything we had already purchased for my trousseau and announced that her great-aunt Boothe in Bletchley—the one who is half-deaf and reads poetry to her cow—was ailing and in need of a visit. My mother, Aunt Philips, Robbins, and I left Longbourn five days ago,” she paused, yawning, and leant her head against his shoulder, “and Kitty is likely still mulish over being left behind.”

Feeling her fatigue, Darcy eased her onto the settee, then went to fill their plates.

“My mother was busily exchanging letters with your cousin, and after two days sitting by the lady’s bed, I was in a carriage he sent from Matlock. And here we are, as of two hours ago.”

Grinning, Darcy shook his head in wonder. Saye. What I owe him! “I am happy my cousin is as eager to arrange my affairs as I am to arrange those of others.”

“You are not angry that I refused, at first? I feared you would be as heartbroken as I, and sit in the corner of every room, cursing the fun we could not share at this party.”

“I could never be angry with you, my love.” Already the happiest he had been in weeks, Darcy felt as though his heart would burst. Elizabeth was here, in his company, for a fortnight.

Time with her was his greatest treasure, and finally, for the first time since they had reached their understanding, there was no one looming over them, suspecting motives or actions.

No chaperon to interrupt tender moments, although. ..

“Your mother and aunt did not accompany you? Only Robbins?” As much as he feared an answer in the affirmative, he knew he must be grateful for Mrs Bennet’s assistance in getting Elizabeth to the house party. He busied himself putting cheeses, bread, and salad on a plate and returned to the settee.

Her tired eyes lit up and she seized a piece of Stilton. “No, they will remain in Bletchley until I return. I am sure my father is enjoying his peace.”

He deserves to enjoy nothing, thought Darcy, keeping us apart for spite and mistrust of my constancy .

Why did I mention my father? Elizabeth did not wish to discuss him , or even think about him , or do anything else at this moment other than enjoy the close company of her beloved.

“I am glad to have surprised you. Writing to you with the news that I would be here held an element of uncertainty. Was the direction to be written for Matlock, or were you still in London with Georgiana?”

“I left her in town five days ago. Had she the joy of knowing you to be here, with me,” he gave Elizabeth a piercing look, “she would send her warmest felicitations and heartfelt regrets that her horrible older brother would not install her at Pemberley during her own cousin’s house party and bring you to Pemberley for a visit. ”

“Such a horrible older brother,” she whispered.

“Indeed.” He kissed her then, and would have again, but he heard her stomach rumble.

“Have you not eaten any of the preceding courses, my dear? The pheasant? The soup?”

“Only a few bites,” she confessed, not wishing to comment on Saye’s aversion to the sauce covering the pheasant or his preference for serving her champagne. “The fish course is next. I shall ignore my partner and concentrate only on my plate.”

“You will have no more partners. I shall bar the door and stay here with you.”

Thrilled as she was with his ferocious pronouncement, Elizabeth demurred. “I am a stranger to nearly everyone here. It would be a bad beginning if I slighted two gentlemen and you left two ladies to dine alone.”

“They can find one another and make a party of it,” Darcy grumbled. “You are the only partner I wish to dine with, tonight and for every meal thereafter.” She nodded her agreement and he pulled her closer. “I have missed you so?—”

Suddenly the door swung open and Robbins entered, nervous and red-faced. “Miss?”

“Is it true?” A deep voice boomed behind her. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet is here?”

Elizabeth watched wistfully as Darcy disappeared through the door. He was so handsome, and had been so happy; the arrival of yet another Fitzwilliam cousin to spend time with her had left him cross and her impatient. Indeed, only the colonel himself seemed to be satisfied with the arrangements.