Page 24 of Count the Cost (The Secrets of Elizabeth Bennet #2)
T hat night, in the sitting room of their shared suite, Elizabeth looked at her putative great aunt. “Are you well, my lady? You look very tired.”
“It is the penalty of getting older, my dear. But it is very much better than being dead, I am sure.” The old lady laughed. “It is the journeys that tire me, and a good night’s sleep will serve me well.”
“I am glad to hear it. Is there anything I can do for you other than leave you in peace?”
“No, no. My maid knows what I need, and yours is probably waiting, too.” She looked at Elizabeth.
“I like your Mr. Darcy, and I’m sure it is right to tell him tomorrow.
But I must ask that if you do go out for an early brisk walk before I am awake, and you meet up with him, you must say nothing until we are all together. ”
Elizabeth got to her feet. “I would not dream of it, my lady. And I need to write to Papa and Aunt Gardiner, don’t I?”
“Better to leave them unsent until after tomorrow morning, perhaps.”
“Very well.” Elizabeth smiled at her. “I remain very grateful that you are doing all this for me.”
The next morning, Elizabeth descended the stairs quietly beside Lady Palmer. They had taken breakfast trays together in their suite and discussed their plans, although it remained to be seen what entertainments their hostess had decided to arrange.
“But don’t worry, Elizabeth. At my age, I am expected to dip in and out of entertainments, and, as my relation, you will be with me, and that will not surprise anyone.”
Mr. Darcy appeared to have been waiting for them. He bowed politely. “Good morning, Lady Palmer, Miss Bennet. I hope you had a restful night.”
Lady Palmer relinquished the bannister and took his proffered arm. Elizabeth smiled at him and walked beside her aunt as they walked through the empty drawing room and descended the wide steps from the terrace to the gardens.
“Hmm. A little muddy, perhaps,” Lady Palmer said. “Let us walk the gravelled paths.”
“As you wish, my lady.” Mr. Darcy seemed quite composed. “I believe the rest of the party has not yet arrived downstairs; I had the breakfast room to myself.”
Elizabeth grinned. “A peaceful start to the day, then. Did you hear anything last night about the planned entertainments ?”
He shook his head. “No, it was not mentioned. I believe at this time of year, they may wait until they are certain of each day’s weather before deciding.”
But the lady on his arm seemed not to wish to wait for the social niceties. “Well, while we are alone, I think we need to talk of the private matters first, if you will permit. Mr. Darcy, were you the subject of any enquiries about Elizabeth after we had finished our conversation?”
Elizabeth was aware of his faint blush, and kept her gaze on the path ahead. While Lady Palmer’s plan involved telling him about part of Elizabeth’s life, she did not wish to embarrass him.
“I imagine you will have expected me to be the subject of that interest, my lady. But the questions were all devoted to whether …” he coughed, seemingly embarrassed. “Whether we had some arrangement for the future.”
“Were there any questions about how well you had known her and where?”
“No, madam. I had already explained that I had met the neighbours when visiting a friend. But I added nothing more last night. So nobody knows Miss Bennet is from Hertfordshire, or that the friend I stayed with is Bingley. And I had previously said that I only met Miss Bennet occasionally.”
Elizabeth was surprised to see a mischievous grin on Lady Palmer’s face. “I expect they are now surmising that last statement to be disingenuous.”
“Perhaps.” Darcy’s tone was wry, and Elizabeth blushed.
“Well.” Lady Palmer was not about to delay matters.
“I need to tell you that a short while ago Elizabeth came into a respectable inheritance. This fact is known only to her father — and her aunt and uncle, of course. Not to any of the rest of the family. However, my niece has not changed the way she lives her life, nor told anyone else.”
Elizabeth broke in. “I am not entirely certain that I wish to change my place in society, Mr. Darcy. Whether I stay as I am, not tell anyone, and merely invest the money to secure myself and my sisters; or whether to take a place in rather higher circles …” she hesitated.
“I was not sure what to do, and once my position was known, it might not be possible to go back if I did not enjoy it.”
He seemed to understand, and nodded, smiling slightly.
“When Miss Bennet came to town to stay with her aunt and uncle, they were trying to decide what the best course was. I have been friends with her aunt for a number of years, and discovering our connection was a lovely surprise. So when my son asked me to attend this house party, I rather saw it as the opportunity for Miss Bennet to try this sort of life without long-term consequences — it certainly does not suit all. But it was entirely predicated on no one knowing who she was.”
He smiled wryly. “I apologise for confounding your plans.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I do not suppose it was a deliberate action, sir. Rather that fate delights in throwing obstacles in our paths!”