Page 18 of Requirements for Love (Love in London with Mr Darcy #3)
“I am sorry he was indifferent to you, Lizzy,” Georgiana said to her the Wednesday morning after Elizabeth explained her impromptu meeting with Mr Walsh.
“I do not think he will come to dinner this week. He had no interest in knowing me better, and I think he tried your brother’s patience a little. It might be best if their next meeting was in a larger gathering.”
Georgiana frowned. “We have made little progress with your list.”
Elizabeth shook her head. “I have no expectations, I promise you. Mr Walsh and Sir George were not for me, and I bear them no ill will for not falling in love with me at first sight. Now, I am sure we can find other things to do today while your brother is gone than talk about men who might or might not suit me.”
They passed a companionable afternoon talking and working.
When she found her needlework tiresome, Elizabeth read aloud to Georgiana and Mrs Annesley while they worked.
Not long after she began, the footman told her she had a visitor.
She was surprised and elated when Jane was shown in.
For a moment, she nearly forgot her ankle and tried to rise to hug her sister .
“Oh, Lizzy. Do not move,” Jane cried before throwing her arms around her. “I have missed you.”
“I am so glad to see you. Is my aunt still ill?”
“She is, and she hopes in a few days to be so much improved that she can leave the house and visit you.”
“But how did you get here?”
“Last evening, I dined with Caroline and Mrs Hurst, and Bingley was there as well.” Elizabeth noted her sister blush and look at Georgiana. “When I said I had not seen you since Friday, he sent his chaise with a man to bring me to Mayfair to visit you.”
“That is extraordinarily kind of him,” she said meaningfully, wondering if there was any more news to share.
Jane merely smiled, but it was with a glow of such happy expression that Elizabeth suspected Jane had reason to hope. His sisters had been told to befriend her, and he had called himself. Perhaps after a few more visits, Jane and Bingley would be engaged.
“His man will return to collect me in an hour, if Miss Darcy does not mind?”
Georgiana did not look like she would object, and probably would not assert herself even if she did.
Elizabeth asked to make Jane known to her friends, and soon they were all seated comfortably together.
However, with a new person in their midst, Georgiana grew quiet.
She again spoke in monosyllables, although she followed the discussion.
Jane strove to include her and spoke gently to her, and between Elizabeth and Mrs Annesley’s conversation, their time passed pleasantly.
Elizabeth had no wish for Georgiana to leave, but after about half an hour, Mrs Annesley said expressively to Georgiana, “Perhaps since Miss Elizabeth has company, we can take this opportunity to finish our shopping?”
“Very well.”
Georgiana parted from Jane politely and succinctly, and from Elizabeth with more warmth but still with more reserve than was typical.
When the ladies were gone, Jane said, “She is quite timid, but I can tell she is good-humoured. ”
“She is no rival for Bingley,” Elizabeth said quickly. “I have seen them together, and there is nothing between them. Besides, she is too young and has hardly been in the world.”
“I know that now, even before I met her. Caroline mentioned her accomplishments last evening, but I know it was only her hopes talking.”
“What about your hopes?” Elizabeth pressed. “He has called on you, he has encouraged his sisters to keep up the acquaintance, he is helping you visit your injured sister.”
“Bingley is being a considerate friend,” Jane said primly.
“I think he is considering marrying you!” Jane blushed, but said nothing. “And do not speak to me of your indifference. You love him too.” In a more serious tone, she said, “You are not concerned about Miss Darcy, are you?”
“No,” she said earnestly, “but I admit I was curious about her. Are you getting on well?”
“Oh yes. I am determined to love her forever. She is shy, but eager to befriend me. I will help her along until she likes me because she actually does and not because she feels she must.”
Jane smiled. “Be serious.”
“She is a generous-hearted girl. I like Georgiana very much.” Now was not the time to confess Wickham’s duplicity or what he had done to Georgiana. That could wait until she was home, and perhaps until after Darcy had written to her father. “And she has taken it into her head to find me a husband.”
As Jane’s mouth fell open, Elizabeth explained Georgiana’s wish to soothe her own slight disappointment in love by finding Elizabeth a proper husband. She pointed to the writing desk across the room, and Jane took out the sheet at the top.
“It is a fine list of demands, is it not?”
Jane laughed. “They are all reasonable requirements, and well suited to you. But do you think any man could meet them all?”
Elizabeth’s mind passed over Darcy, and if he truly could suit her in every respect. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, might answer all her wishes. The more time she spent with him, the more she liked him—and the more she wanted him to be the man to meet her requirements.
Her heart raced as she thought of him, of what a life with him could look like. Every moment spent in his company showed her more of his character, his kind manner, his clever mind, his droll humour. It made her smile to imagine herself hand in hand, heart in heart with Darcy.
She was falling in love with Darcy.
It felt like a sudden change, but now that she knew him better, it seemed more strange that in spite of Wickham’s lies and Darcy’s pride, she had not noticed his true character and been attracted to him sooner.
In the past week she had come to know him better, and their tentative friendship now felt like something very like love.
She would not have believed a week ago that Darcy could have inspired these sentiments of affection, but now it felt possible she would be desperately in love with him by the time she left.
“Lizzy, what are you smiling about?” Jane asked. “Do you have a man in mind?”
While her heart did not feel it was too soon to be in love with Darcy, her mind knew it was too soon to admit aloud.
“So far, neither man has interested me,” she said, looking away.
Who knew how fond of her Darcy even was?
Even if the deepening feelings she had for him were love, what did he feel?
“But Georgiana has another man, or rather, Mr Darcy has found another friend, so perhaps I will be married to him the same day you marry Bingley.”
Jane frowned at her. “Does the scheme trouble you at all? There is a potential for heartache, after all.”
“No, I will not take it seriously. None of the men I meet are entering the acquaintance thinking they are being matched. They are just meeting their friend’s invalid guest to amuse her long hours. But Georgiana is entertained. I do not mind being her project or meeting Mr Darcy’s friends.”
The door then opened, and the footman said that Mr Bingley was here for Jane. He entered the room on the heels of the servant, smiling widely .
“Good afternoon, ladies,” he said. After inquiring after Elizabeth’s health, he said to Jane, “I have come myself to return you to Cheapside, if you are ready. I sent a note to your aunt, and she had no objections.”
Elizabeth gave Jane an expressive look at Bingley’s efforts to spend time with her, but Jane ignored her. “If my aunt has no objections, then I would be very glad for your company.”
The future happy couple exchanged shy smiles, and their engaging looks might have gone on for some time before Darcy entered, clearly having been told the moment he returned that he had guests.
Her eyes met his instantly, and they shared a private smile of greeting before he welcomed the others.
The intimate moment between them made her heart race.
“I have a house full of visitors, and I was not even home,” he said, smilingly.
“Neither of us are here for you,” Bingley quipped.
“Miss Elizabeth is far better company than I am.” He ignored Bingley as only friends of long standing could and greeted Jane.
“Your sister has gone shopping,” Elizabeth explained, “and Jane spent time with me. Mr Bingley was good enough to bring her and safely return her home.”
She watched Darcy’s gaze move between Jane and Bingley. She wondered if he was watching Jane for some sign of her affection for his friend or if he had accepted that whatever would happen between them had nothing at all to do with him.
“My sister is not here to extend an invitation, but would you both care to stay for dinner?”
Bingley gave a half-smile to Jane as he answered his friend. “I must return Miss Bennet home in good time. Her aunt and cousins are ill with colds and must miss her.”
“Another time,” Darcy said, and Jane and Bingley took their leave, with both of them promising to visit with Elizabeth soon.
She wondered if Darcy would invite the Gardiners to his table.
Jane would be welcome, but what about her aunt and uncle?
His pride was not what it once was, but would Darcy have a tradesman in Charles Street?
She hoped that his civility extended that far, but as much as she liked him—and as improved as he was—she did not know how much he approved of her family.
When they were alone, Darcy turned to her and said bluntly, “Your father replied to my letter.”
She gasped in surprise. “You only sent it on Monday! He must have read it and replied immediately.” Upon seeing his confused expression, she said, “Darcy, he has never replied to any letter that quickly in all his life. Was he amazed to hear you speak on the subject?”