Page 39

“Very good, sir,” he replied. Darcy had hardly settled into his seat before the crisp snap of the reins sent them on their way.

Darcy sighed. For once, he might have hoped that his coachman was less efficient and his horses less speedy, for he dreaded the meeting to come.

As he bumped along in the carriage to Gracechurch Street, he could only hope that Elizabeth would receive him.

She could not know how crucial it was that she listen to what he had to say.

When he arrived, a servant informed him that Mr and Mrs Gardner were out. “Shall I inquire if Miss Bennet is available to take your call, sir?”

Darcy nodded, his throat suddenly parched.

“Yes, please ask her. It is a matter of some importance.” He waited in the foyer, turning his hat in hand.

After a few moments, he spotted a pair of eyes looking at him from the landing.

The child peered out from the corner of the passageway, as slowly as though she thought she could not be seen.

Meeting his eyes, she jumped a little, then came out.

The little girl smiled at him and waved.

He waved back, some of his nervousness taking flight. “Hello, Miss. And how are you on this fine day?” he asked.

“I am fine. Are you here to see Cousin Lizzy?”

The little sprite could not have been over six years old. “I am. And who might you be?”

The girl came out from behind the corner railing and bounded down the steps. He met her at the bottom and she shuffled her feet. “I’m Harriet. You’re tall.” She looked at his hands and frowned. “Why didn’t you bring her a bouquet? The other ones do.”

“Why, yes. I suppose I am tall,” Darcy replied. Elizabeth’s cousin was charming, though her news was rather alarming. How many other gentlemen were coming to call on Elizabeth? The thought caused a flare of jealousy to spread through his chest.

Darcy quickly masked any ill-feelings that might have been playing across his face. He straightened, feigning a serious frown. “I do not know why I did not think to bring flowers. I shall not forget the next time I call.”

“Here, you can give her this,” Harriet said, taking a simple daisy from behind her ear. “She likes them.”

Darcy took the offering and thanked her. “You are very kind.”

“Yes, and I think you should run along back upstairs and take your nap, as you ought to be doing already,” came Elizabeth’s voice from the corridor to their right. He looked up, and the sight of her nearly took his breath away. How was it she grew lovelier every time he saw her?

He straightened and nodded a greeting. Harriet shrunk, but smiled mischievously behind the railing’s post. “I wanted to see your beau. And I’m not sleepy!”

Elizabeth’s cheeks immediately flushed, and Darcy turned away to hide a chuckle.

“You cheeky thing! Get back up to the nursery this instant,” Elizabeth chided, but she could not hide her smile. Harriet giggled and hurried back upstairs, though not before turning back and giving Darcy a nod, exactly as though she thought them conspirators in the game to win Elizabeth’s heart.

Elizabeth turned to him and gave a short laugh. “Forgive her. My cousin has not yet learned proper manners, and I am afraid she is sometimes rather cheeky. I am not sure where she gets it from.”

“Perhaps she is not cheeky, but rather spirited. I can think of at least one cousin with whom she shares the trait.” He smiled, and she gave a weak smile in return.

It was odd. Every time she saw him, Elizabeth seemed to shut down, as though she thought she must shield him from her spirited nature.

Did she not know it was that very nature that had drawn him from the beginning?

He loved to see the life dancing in her eyes.

And he would do anything to see it there always.

He handed her the little daisy, and she thanked him with a nod. “I cannot take credit for this. Harriet came to my rescue when she saw I had not brought a bouquet. I promised I would bring one next time I come to call.”

There was a brief pause. Darcy noticed with a sudden thrill that Elizabeth was blushing.

“That is not necessary.” She then turned and looked at the maid behind them.

“Betsy, please call for some tea, if you would.” Her face turned serious again, their private moment shattered. “Come this way, won’t you?”

Darcy nodded, following her down the hall toward the drawing room. She turned as they entered the room. “I will leave the door open, if you do not mind. As Harrison has already informed you, my aunt and uncle are not in.”

“Yes, that is perfectly acceptable.” He placed his hat aside on a table and took a steadying breath. She sat down and then motioned for him to do the same, but what he had come to say was too serious for him to sit.

“I have come to clear the air between us, if you will.” He cleared his throat, splaying his hands in a supplicating gesture.

“Your behaviour has left me in no doubt that you have heard the rumours, for your unease with me has been obvious. I only wish I could deny them, but I will not insult either of us with anything less than the truth. I was wrong, back in Meryton. The rumours you have heard about the night of the Netherfield ball are true. When I cautioned Bingley about getting too entangled with your fair sister, Miss Bennet, I admit I slighted your family. Bingley was right: it was insulting and wrong of me. It was not my intention, but I wanted to apologise for any pain I might have caused you.”

Elizabeth’s brows raised slightly, but she said nothing.

He went on with his speech. “I left Netherfield after that night at Bingley’s request. Indeed, it was necessary, after so insulting him, and it gave me time to think things over.

My upbringing, excellent as it was in many respects, had failed me in this one.

My father was very harsh about some aspects of the gentry and social standing.

I see now that all of that does not matter, and I have thus come to beg your forgiveness. I hope we might start anew.”

She was still and silent for a long while. Elizabeth looked down at her hands, and his chest swelled with hope that she was considering his request. She might yet forgive him.

When she looked back up at him, that hope died. Darcy’s breath caught in his throat. She was obviously infuriated, but why?

Elizabeth stood. “Mr Darcy, I had no idea that this incident had occurred the night of the Netherfield ball. I am shocked that you would admit to such a thing.”

Darcy was taken aback. He shook his head, trying to understand. “Is that not why you have been so cold toward me? I thought you had overheard what I said, or that Bingley had told you.”

“He told me nothing, for he is a gentleman and a better friend than you have shown yourself to be.” Elizabeth’s chest heaved with each breath.

“I am cold, as you put it, because of the contemptuous treatment I have received in your presence. Indeed, I have never been in the same room with you without feeling your judgement and scorn for my upbringing and family. Though I did not have proof before this moment that you did not approve of myself or my sister’s connection with Mr Bingley, I am not surprised.

You have only confirmed what your coldness and arrogance have been telling me every moment of our acquaintance. ”

“I —” Darcy began, his mind scrambling as he tried to absolve himself in her eyes. His head was spinning, however, not knowing what she was referring to. “I have never judged you, Miss Bennet. Indeed, I have only the highest respect —”

“Respect?” she gave a derisive laugh. “Is this what you call respect? Sharing your contempt for me and my family? Warning Mr Bingley that Jane is not good enough for him? Or that our family is inferior in consequence?” She shook her head and turned her back on him as she paced.

“That alone would more than justify my disapprobation, but I have other reasons, you know I have.”

“What reasons?” Darcy asked. He felt all his hopes crumbling to the ground. He was very much afraid he knew what she would say. If that scoundrel had repeated his old lies once again —

“Your treatment of my family is bad enough, but it is nothing compared to what I have learned of your cruelty to Mr Wickham.”

Darcy’s anger flared, not at her, but at the man whose lies seemed endless. “Mr Wickham?” he asked, stepping closer. “And what have you heard about that gentleman?” Gentleman was a strong word. Wickham was a blackguard and a snake. He ought not to come within a mile of Elizabeth.

“Far more than I would have wished, sir. He told me you refused to give him the living that your father put aside for him. You cast him out and gave what was rightfully his to another. Do you really think I could have any other reaction to the man who had so dashed his hopes?” Elizabeth stopped pacing, staring at him unflinchingly.

She waited, glaring at him, but she had no understanding of what was at stake.

“How did you come to know the gentleman?” Darcy asked.

“We met in Meryton, if you must know, shortly after your departure from the vicinity. His regiment is stationed there.” She raised her chin defiantly. “I have answered your question. Now answer mine.”

Darcy let out a frustrated sigh, turning away for a moment. When he glanced back at her, she was staring daggers at him.

Yet it was not his reputation that he had to worry about, but hers. If she had fallen in with Wickham, she was already half-lost. He would have to put his anger aside and think only of Elizabeth.

He turned toward her once more, pleading with her. “Miss Bennet, I do not know what sort of falsehoods Mr Wickham has told you, but —”

“Did you refuse to give him the living after your father’s passing?” she interrupted.

“Yes, I did, but —”