Page 8 of Darcy’s Guarded Heart

Elizabeth

E lizabeth stepped down from the staircase and made her way down the hall to the dining room from where Lydia’s voice spilled to her ears.

“Georgiana is her name,” Lydia said. “Mr Wickham says she just arrived in town a few days ago and she will be at Lucas Lodge tomorrow, so we shall meet her.”

Elizabeth only caught the end of the conversation and was thus confused at the mention of George Wickham.

A member of the Derbyshire militia, he had caused quite a stir in their small town since his arrival a few weeks ago.

He had a way about him that was utterly charming but after initially falling for his easy conversation and handsome smile, Elizabeth had discovered he was a ladies’ man and had thus kept her distance.

Her younger sisters, likewise, had been warned away from him—although evidently not as effectively as she’d hoped, if Lydia had spoken to him.

“Mr Wickham?” Thomas said as Elizabeth sat down. “And where exactly did you meet this scoundrel?”

“I chanced upon him in town,” Lydia replied. “I was talking to Mr Denny, and you know he and Mr Wickham are friends. So we spoke for a time. He mentioned that Mr Darcy’s sister is in town now—Georgiana.”

“I had heard of a sister,” Jane said. “Mr Bingley mentioned she was coming but I did not think it was for some weeks.”

“How does Mr Wickham know the Darcys?” Elizabeth asked. Her father looked up at Lydia who shrugged.

“I am not certain but he knows them well. He said Mr Darcy has always been rather puffed up on his own confidence, and we know that is true.”

“At any rate, she has arrived now and is to attend the gathering at Lucas Lodge,” Lydia added. “We shall all be able to make her acquaintance then.”

“We can hope that she is more amiable for Mr Darcy is certainly no friend to this family. We must place our hopes upon Mr Bingley; he will surely prove the better acquaintance,” Mrs Bennet declared. “I am surprised he has not invited you for tea yet,” she said to Jane.

“He cannot invite me, it would be improper. It would have to be his sister,” Jane said. “But he assured me Mrs Hurst would issue an invitation shortly for tea.”

“My goodness!” Mrs Bennet exclaimed. “Why did you not mention that before? When did you see him? When did this conversation take place?”

“This afternoon in Meryton,” Jane explained. “He was in the bookshop when I came upon him. We spoke but briefly, and he said that he would have his sister extend an invitation for tea—perhaps even this weekend.”

“Well, you must simply go! It will be splendid. An invitation from Mr Bingley himself is a most precious opportunity,” Mrs Bennet exclaimed.

For the remainder of the meal, little conversation took place, save for Mrs Bennet’s ceaseless commentary regarding the many virtues of Mr Bingley, whom she had met a grand total of once thus far.

She paused only to take brief bites of food before resuming her meticulous planning of Jane’s visit to Netherfield—from the gown she would wear to the arrangement of her hair.

Elizabeth cast Jane the occasional look of sympathy, silently grateful that, for once, she was not the subject of her mother’s scheming.

By the time dinner concluded, Elizabeth was utterly spent from her mother’s reveries and soon retired, though not without thinking once more of Mr Darcy and this mysterious sister who had arrived.

And how did Mr Wickham know him? It seemed off that he had shared his knowledge of the Darcys with Lydia but never mentioned how he knew them.

With her thoughts in utter disarray, she found herself drifting away to sleep, though it was not an easy one for somehow, thoughts of Mr Darcy had made her so uneasy, her rest was a fitful one—and she awoke the next day as though she had not rested at all.

***

The following evening, the Bennet family descended upon Lucas Lodge, and almost as soon as they had entered, Elizabeth spotted Charles Bingley and his sisters.

Joining them this time was a younger woman—undoubtedly Mr Darcy’s sister.

Unlike the haughty gentleman, the young woman looked amiable.

She carried a sweet smile on her lips as she listened intently to Miss Bingley.

“Is that Miss Darcy?” Thomas asked as he entered and saw the direction Elizabeth was looking.

“I am almost certain,” she said before spotting Mr Bingley wave at them. “We shall find out momentarily.”

As the rest of the Bennets crowded into the Lucases’ comfortable home, Mr Bingley made his way towards them with his sister and the young lady. Slinking somewhat behind was Mr Darcy, though from whence he’d come, Elizabeth could not say.

“Jane, go to the front, be the first Mr Bingley sees,” their mother murmured, and Elizabeth and Thomas stepped aside so Jane could stand between them, in a prime position for Mr Bingley’s attention.

Not that this was necessary, for the young man came directly to them and bowed deeply before kissing Jane’s hand.

“Miss Bennet, what a delight it is to see you this night,” he beamed at her, as did Jane, and for a moment, Elizabeth felt as though she were an intruder in someone else’s most private moment.

Then, however, Miss Bingley joined them, and her arrival appeared to extract her brother from his momentary trance.

“Ah, Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth,” she said, then looked at Thomas.

“And young Mr Bennet. How good of you to join the family,” she said, and at once, Elizabeth’s bristles were set up.

Why did she speak as if Thomas’s presence here was somehow unusual?

He was a member of the family, as were all of them.

“Thomas always accompanies the family to social calls,” she said.

“Of course he does,” Miss Bingley replied, then glanced at Mrs Bennet. “It is very good of you to be so benevolent to your charge.”

Elizabeth’s mother stepped forward. “It is one’s Christian duty to treat others with kindness, Miss Bingley,” she said, and it was rather clear that she was speaking of Miss Bingley’s snide remark rather than her own actions.

“But of course. Allow me to present our guest,” she said and stepped aside. “Miss Georgiana Darcy.”

The young woman stepped forward and looked around the group, clearly overwhelmed by the onslaught of Bennets. Her brother joined her side then and took it upon himself to introduce them all to her, as though they were old friends.

“It is lovely to meet you all,” Georgiana said in a quiet tone that betrayed her shyness.

“As it is lovely to meet you,” Thomas said. “Have you been at Netherfield long?”

“Only a few days,” she said. “I came down from town a little earlier than expected, but I am glad I did now, as the Lucases have been so very kind to me this evening.”

“Have you had the seed cake yet?” Lydia asked then and stepped forward. “Lady Lucas always serves the very best seed cake and almond biscuits.”

“I have not had the chance,” Georgiana said, and at once Lydia stepped forward. “We shall rectify this at once. Come,” she said, pulling Georgiana away, with Kitty and Mary right behind.

“Georgiana,” Darcy called, but Mrs Bennet cleared her throat.

“I assure you, your sister is in wonderful hands with my daughters, Mr Darcy. They are entirely genteel and respectable.”

Elizabeth watched Darcy carefully. Knowing his temperament, she assumed he would not reply, as he did not want to appear impolite—and she was right. He nodded his head once.

“Of course,” he said.

“I shall keep an eye on them,” Thomas offered, to which Bingley clapped his hands.

“Capital, Thomas. In fact, I am rather famished myself, and seed cake sounds just what I can use right now. Miss Bennet, would you do me the honour of accompanying me?” he asked, and Jane instantly beamed with delight while taking his proffered arm.

Once they were out of earshot, Mrs Bennet cleared her throat. “You see, Mr Bennet, Mr Bingley is utterly delightful. So considerate of our Jane’s wants and needs, and politeness itself.”

It was another veiled barb in Mr Darcy’s direction, for Mrs Bennet remained sourly upset with him for his refusal to dance with Elizabeth.

Fortunately for the gentleman—and Elizabeth—her mother was soon distracted by Sir William and Lady Lucas, who had come to greet their newly arrived guests, having been held up somewhere until then.

Suddenly quite alone with Mr Darcy, Elizabeth took a deep breath.

“Well, I wish you a pleasant evening, sir,” she said and hurried away, though not before noticing Mr Darcy’s lips part as if he wanted to say something but did not.

Leaving him to stand on his own, she found Thomas, Lydia, and Kitty, who were standing with Miss Darcy at the refreshment table, where they indulged in seed cake and Negus.

“Lizzy,” Thomas said with a smile. “Miss Darcy was just telling us about the Negus at Pemberley which is served during Christmastide. It appears to be the most divine.”

“Oh, I would not say the most divine—certainly, any region will have its particular taste—but I will say it is the highlight of Christmastide when my brother tells me it is the season for Negus,” she said and beamed.

“Ah, I should love to attend a ball at Pemberley, it sounds so grand, do you not think so? Perhaps Mr Darcy has reason to be as arro—prideful as he is regarding his estate,” Lydia said.

“Faith! Do not mistake my brother’s pride for arrogance,” Miss Darcy said quickly, as if alarmed. “He is proud, but he has reason to be. Pemberley is rather lovely.”

Her defence of her brother disarmed Elizabeth somewhat, and it appeared the same was true for her family, as Lydia and Kitty spent the next twenty minutes conversing with their new friend, under the close attention of Thomas, who likewise found Miss Darcy a delight.

Indeed, Elizabeth herself could scarcely believe the young woman was any relation to Mr Darcy.

She was the opposite in every way. She was kind, charming, and unpretentious.

“When will the dancing start? I can hardly wait,” Lydia complained after a while.

The strains of a lively country dance filled the room, and Lydia clapped her hands together in delight.

“Oh, how splendid! I have been simply dying to dance all evening,” she declared, already scanning the room for a suitable partner. But in the next instant, her excitement dimmed. “Oh! But where is Mr Denny? He promised he would come!”

“I am sure he shall arrive soon,” Thomas offered. “Perhaps he has been delayed.”

Lydia sighed dramatically. “Well, I shall not dance until he does. Kitty, you go on ahead.”

Kitty, less inclined to let the absence of one gentleman ruin her evening, accepted the arm of one of the Lucas sons and made her way to the floor with an eager step.

Georgiana, who had been watching the exchange in quiet amusement, smiled softly. “I think I shall just watch for now,” she said. “I have always enjoyed observing the dancing. It is quite as diverting as joining in.”

“Indeed?” Elizabeth asked, surprised. “I would have thought you had danced at many a grand occasion.”

“Oh, I have,” Georgiana admitted. “But I always feel more at ease watching. Besides, I am rather wondering where my brother has gone.”

Elizabeth glanced about the room but did not immediately spot Mr Darcy. “I am about to look in on my mother,” she said. “If I see him, I shall be sure to let you know where he is.”

Georgiana nodded gratefully. “Thank you, Miss Bennet.”

With that, Elizabeth excused herself and made her way through the throng of guests.

She found her mother quite happily engaged in conversation with Lady Lucas, both ladies deep in animated discussion—likely about the latest news of Jane and Mr Bingley.

Satisfied that no intervention was needed, Elizabeth turned to return to her sisters.

That was when she spotted him.

Mr Darcy stood a little apart from the main gathering, keeping his own company. His expression was carefully composed, polite but unreadable.

For a moment, she hesitated. Ought she approach him? She had no real reason to approach, but something about his manner intrigued her. He did not seem wholly at ease, yet there was nothing in his bearing that suggested he wished to leave. Was he, perhaps, merely biding his time?

As if sensing her gaze, Mr Darcy suddenly glanced up, his eyes meeting hers across the room.

Elizabeth’s breath caught.

For a fraction of a second, something flickered in his expression—something unreadable, something that made her pulse quicken against her will. Then, just as swiftly, his composed mask returned, and he gave her the smallest of nods.

Elizabeth inclined her head in return before turning away, her heart unaccountably unsettled.