Page 3 of Drawn to Love

The master’s appearance was now flawless; he was wearing a dark green coat, and his neckcloth was covering his throat to the line of his jaw. And yet, in her mind, it was still his earlier image which made her shiver and grow warmer at the same time.

“Please allow me to introduce Mrs. Reynolds, our housekeeper, to you,” Mr. Darcy said.

“I remember Mrs. Reynolds, even though I have not seen her in more than fifteen years,” Mrs. Gardiner answered. “I am Margaret Turner, Mrs. Reynolds. My father, Tom Turner, owned a shop in Lambton.”

Mrs. Reynolds’s eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with her hand.

“My dear! Margaret Turner! How are you? You look so lovely, so beautiful!”

“Mrs. Reynolds, let us help Mrs. Gardiner into the house. You will have time to share memories later on,” Mr. Darcy interjected with a little smile. His voice was determined but soft and gentle, and Mrs. Reynolds laughed and stepped away.

“Of course. How silly of me!”

With the help of the coachman and another servant, Mr. Gardiner aided his wife out of the carriage.

Mr. Darcy helped too, after a brief look exchanged with Elizabeth, which proved to her he was at least equally as uneasy as she was.

Then he said, “I believe it would be more comfortable for Mrs. Gardiner if she sat on this chair and was carried. There are several steps which might cause harm to a wounded leg.”

“Thank you, sir, that is an excellent idea,” Mr. Gardiner replied, while Mrs. Gardiner claimed — one more time — that they need not go to so much trouble.

“I am sorry if it was presumptuous, but I sent for Dr Hodge. I thought it would do no harm if he examined Mrs. Gardiner.”

“Mr. Darcy, please do not apologise for being kind and considerate,” Mrs. Gardiner responded, slightly flushed, “but please do not trouble yourself further. It is but a little accident, of no importance.”

“My dear Margaret, I beg to differ,” Mrs. Reynolds interjected. “Look, your leg is swollen, and it is bleeding! I think the doctor’s presence would be very useful. The master is never wrong, I assure you.”

“That is hardly true, Mrs. Reynolds, but I heartily thank you for such praise,” Mr. Darcy answered in a light tone, his cheeks slightly coloured as he glanced at Elizabeth again. She felt her cheeks heat too.

“Let us enter,” Mr. Darcy continued. “Mrs. Gardiner, Mrs. Reynolds will show you to a guest room. A maid will attend to anything you need.”

As he spoke, Mr. Darcy led the way; Mrs. Reynolds was following him, and Mr. Gardiner and the servant were carrying Mrs. Gardiner.

Elizabeth walked behind them, and the moment she actually entered the house, she held her breath, while her heart seemed to pause.

Her strength betrayed her, and her courage evaded her, and she could not take another step.

Her gaze met Mr. Darcy’s and locked momentarily.

She thought he might be about to walk to her, but Mrs. Reynolds interjected, approaching her.

“Miss Bennet, is there something wrong?”

“No…” she mumbled, Mr. Darcy’s insistent gaze making her even weaker.

“You look flushed. I am sure you would like to refresh yourself and have some tea. You must be hungry too since you have travelled such a long way.”

Elizabeth looked at the kind woman, then her eyes met Mr. Darcy’s again.

“I thank you for your concern, but I am well… I might be a little tired and hot…but it is mostly the emotions of being a guest at Pemberley, a place about which I have heard so many wonderful things. It was such an extraordinary surprise — I would never have dared to imagine finding myself here.”

She spoke to the housekeeper, but Mr. Darcy’s look and his frown showed that he understood her meaning.

“It was a surprise for me too, Miss Bennet,” he suddenly said. “Extraordinary indeed but also delightful. Though I am very sorry for Mrs. Gardiner’s accident — that was certainly not delightful,” he quickly added, clearly realising what he had implied.

His apparent distress amused Elizabeth, and she responded with a little smile. Mrs. Gardiner, still sitting on the chair, uttered, “I have always hoped for an opportunity to visit Pemberley House, Mr. Darcy. Hurting my leg is a small price to pay for that.”

“I would have preferred to invite you without any accident,” Mr. Darcy said, while the entire group slowly resumed walking.

The entrance hall opened into a large chamber — as impressive as a ballroom — and from there, a majestic staircase climbed towards the first floor.

“There is a guest apartment here on this floor — next to the library. My aunt Lady Matlock prefers to stay there when she visits, as she is not fond of stairs. Mrs. Gardiner may rest there while waiting for her cousin and the doctor.”

Mrs. Gardiner’s eyes and mouth opened wider, and Elizabeth was no less astonished. Had he just offered the apartment preferred by his aunt — to her aunt?

Mrs. Gardiner was taken into the chamber by all the servants, including Mrs. Reynolds.

For a brief moment, Elizabeth remained outside the door with Mr. Darcy. Facing each other, at a distance no greater than a few steps — large enough to be proper but small enough to be tormenting — they shared a moment of heavy silence.

Their glances met timidly, then locked.

“Mr. Darcy, I…I am so sorry… I deeply apologise for—”

“Miss Bennet, please do not apologise. If you do not feel comfortable being here, I shall prepare a carriage to take you to the Lambton Inn immediately. Your relatives may join you later. I can understand that my company might not be agreeable to you, and I do not wish to prolong any unpleasantness for you.”

“Oh…no, no…I mean…I am not comfortable at all…but it is not unpleasant…not your company. I should not be here, considering…”

“I am happy that you are here, Miss Bennet. However, your happiness is my only concern. So please let me know if you wish to leave…”

His tone was low, his countenance pale, his gaze misty.

“I do not wish to leave unless my presence bothers you,” she whispered.

“It does not. It never will,” he replied.

Several more minutes of silence followed. There were so many things she wished to ask, to say, but it was neither the place nor the time.

The door to the apartment opened, and Mr. Gardiner and Mrs. Reynolds came out.

“Margaret is resting comfortably. Would you like to go to her, Lizzy?”

“Yes, Uncle.”

“We shall bring Mrs. Gardiner some soup and tea. Would you join her, Miss Bennet? Mr. Gardiner?”

“Mr. Gardiner, if you wish, I would be happy to offer you a drink in the library. We may order something to eat there,” Mr. Darcy offered.

“I would like that very much, Mr. Darcy. I am sure my wife will not mind my absence and will be content with Lizzy’s company.”

“The doctor should arrive soon, unless he had an urgent appointment somewhere else,” Mr. Darcy said.

“So should my wife’s cousins,” Mr. Gardiner agreed.

With that, the two gentlemen left together, while Elizabeth entered the apartment, marvelling at the beauty and elegance of the furniture and carpets.

There were two large rooms, separated by a door, and in the first one, Mrs. Gardiner was resting.