Page 33 of Count the Cost (The Secrets of Elizabeth Bennet #2)
E lizabeth was bathed and ready long before Lady Palmer appeared in their private sitting room. Clarke had brought up a few slices of toast with her tea tray, as breakfast must wait until they were both ready.
“Good morning, my lady.” Elizabeth jumped to her feet and dipped a brief curtsy.
“Get on with you, girl; no formality, I have told you that before.”
“But I like to show my respect — and my gratitude to you for bringing me here.”
“Hmmph! Well, are you ready to go down for breakfast? It is rather nice there at the hour when most of the guests have not stirred.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Indeed it is. Let us go down if you are ready.”
But they were not the first down. Mr. Darcy rose to his feet as they entered, and bowed gravely. “Good morning, my lady, good morning again, Miss Bennet.”
Lady Palmer nodded at him. “Yes, Clarke told me you had walked her to exhaustion this morning, Elizabeth. Sit down, Mr. Darcy; do not let your breakfast get cold.” She moved to a seat opposite him, and allowed Elizabeth to hold the chair for her.
Elizabeth kept her head down, smiling as he fidgeted, obviously wishing to come to her aid and do the gentlemanly thing.
“I am sorry, Aunt. I will ask Lady Bedford if she has a more active maid she might lend me for my early walks.” It would not be possible for her to walk out alone here, as she did at home, and she must accept that.
But she had quite enjoyed her walk with Mr. Darcy, even if she had wanted time to think alone about what her uncle’s letter had said.
“So how did you find your walk this morning, Mr. Darcy?” Lady Palmer glanced at him as Elizabeth collected a plate for her from the selection laid out along the table at the side. She knew the old lady’s preferences quite well already — and that she did not like too much on her plate at once.
She placed the breakfast in front of the lady as the footman poured her coffee, and returned to collect a rather more substantial meal for herself, despite the toast. She smiled to herself. Fresh air always made her hungry.
She listened to the conversation while sipping her tea, and trying not to eat too fast. Mr. Darcy would probably think ill of her for her poor manners, she thought, given that the ladies of the ton seemed to eat very sparingly when she observed them.
She smiled at her plate, she was willing to wager that they ate well in their chambers when not being observed.
Not all of them were thin and undernourished, however fashionable that was.
At least her active lifestyle kept her slender, no matter how much she ate.
But Mr. Darcy seemed to be regarding her with some expression today, instead of that impassivity she was used to. Good heavens! Was that warmth in his eyes?
She swallowed and began listening more intently to the conversation, but she had not caught up with the discussion when Lady Palmer turned to her.
“Is that true, Elizabeth?”
She blushed. “I am sorry Aunt, I was not attending properly.”
“Mr. Darcy says you wish to see the sea, but more especially the untamed coasts?”
“Well, yes. I have not yet had the opportunity to travel widely, as you know.”
The lady glanced thoughtfully at her. “But that could change, if you wished. Do you not have a friend you wish to travel with? You have fortune enough to take tours where you might wish.”
Mr. Darcy cleared his throat. “I might suggest you do not think of France at this moment, though, Miss Bennet.” His eyes were amused, and she stared at him in shock. Mr. Darcy — teasing her!
She recovered herself quickly. “It is a pity. There is much in France to admire. I hope that it remains the same after the war is over. Then I can travel there.”
“So, where do you think you will take this initial journey?” He had laid down his knife and fork and was looking at her intently.
“I — I have not thought of it, sir. I am constantly busy, both at home and in town, and there is so much to do, I have had little cause to repine at not travelling.”
He smiled a little more widely. “Yes, you said this morning on our walk that you disliked being organised so much here.”
“Oh, Elizabeth!” Lady Palmer scolded. “You know that if you had a single free moment, you would find something to fill it.” She sighed.
“Look at you in town; stepping straight into working at the orphanage to help others. One day you must be still long enough to think about what you wish for in life. I think gaining a few memories by travel could not but be beneficial to you.”
Elizabeth stared at the older lady. “I suppose you must be correct, knowing that you have greater experience than I do, but I cannot imagine more than a few days would pass before I would be impatient to fill my time again.”
“You are a lively and engaging lady, madam,” Mr. Darcy spoke and Elizabeth jumped, having almost forgotten he was there. “But I agree with Lady Palmer. I believe you would take great delight in travelling.”
She smiled mechanically at him. Why was he being so pleasant? And her aunt, whom she hardly knew, was also trying to decide what was best for her.
Then she remembered her aunt Gardiner. She and her uncle had said much the same thing; Elizabeth needed to stop and think of the path ahead of her.
She dipped her head. “I thank you both for the advice. Perhaps I will manage to steal some time to myself today.”
Mr. Darcy raised his eyebrows at her. “I wish you good fortune at that. I believe you ladies are marshalled to activities even more strictly than we gentlemen!”
“Too true.” Lady Palmer patted her mouth with her napkin and laid the linen square down. “Elizabeth, we had better go upstairs to prepare for whatever is thrown at us today.”
Mr. Darcy’s warm laugh was most attractive, Elizabeth considered as she followed her aunt from the room.