Page 31 of Sketching Mr. Darcy
“Oh, I do,” she replied animatedly, attempting to dissipate the emotions. “Our cook, Mrs West, is very skilled too. And usually, this time of the year, my aunt Gardiner spoils us with some exquisite recipes stolen from her aunt in Lambton.”
“Did I understand correctly that Miss Bennet will come to London after the New Year with Mr and Mrs Gardiner?” Darcy inquired.
“Yes. My aunt invited Jane to spend a month in London with them.”
“I was thinking—perhaps we can invite them to dine with us the day after their arrival…if it is convenient for you and they have no other fixed engagements.” A tentative smile li t his countenance, his dark eyes resting upon Elizabeth’s surprised expression.
“I…I would like that very much, thank you. Oh, I am sure they will be happy to accept the invitation, and I will be so happy to have them all here!”
Darcy turned to his sister. “Georgiana, I am sure you will like Miss Bennet, as well as Mrs and Mr Gardiner, very much. They are delightful company.”
“I will be very happy to meet them,” Miss Darcy declared.
“And they will be happy to meet you too,” Elizabeth said. “My aunt admired your mother. She always said that such an exceptional lady could rarely be found.”
“Unfortunately, I do not remember her very well,” Miss Darcy whispered. “Most of what I know is from what my brother told me. Perhaps Mrs Gardiner could tell me more.”
“I am sure she can! You resemble Lady Anne very closely. My aunt will be impressed.”
“Thank you,” Miss Darcy replied, her emotion obvious.
They enjoyed dinner in silence for some time. As soon as the meal was over, Mrs Annesley and Georgiana retired, the girl apologising to Elizabeth for being such poor company.
Darcy invited Elizabeth to the settee, and she had a cup of tea while he enjoyed his brandy.
“As I told you, we are not a joyful company,” he said.
“I hope my remarks did not upset Georgiana. She seemed a little sad…”
“Do not worry. It was not your fault. She is often sad when we speak of our parents. We feel their loss most painfully, even after all these years.”
“I cannot imagine how it would be to lose both parents at such a young age. You seem very close to each other.”
“We are—at least I hope so. I believe that, for some time, she considered me more a father than a brother. I am very fond of her. She is my only close family. Forgive me—she was my only close family. Now you are here too.”
More than his words, his voice stunned her, and her eyes remained locked with his in complete silence. Then she suddenly said, wondering about her own words as she spoke:
“I am very happy to be here.”
Darcy stared at her, his surprise obvious and his gaze so intense that she bore it only a moment before averting her eyes.
He took hold of her hands, raised her right one, and placed a warm kiss on the back of it, his lips lingering.
Shivers shattered her skin, and her cheeks burned.
He did not release her hands, and she did not attempt to withdraw them.
“Thank you for suggesting my relatives come to dinner,” Elizabeth finally spoke.
“There is no need to thank me. Their company gives me pleasure. Besides, I imagine you are anxious to meet your sister as soon as possible,” he replied, releasing her hands.
“Yes, very anxious… I shall write to Jane immediately to tell her about the invitation.”
“Then I would suggest we retire so you will have time to write the letter.”
Once inside their apartments, both remained still in the middle of the room, gazing at each other, uncertain how to proceed. Lucky walked around their legs for a short while then lay at his place in the corner for a well-deserved sleep.
“So Lucky was given to you by Mr and Mrs Gardiner the same year you were in Brighton?” Darcy inquired, and Elizabeth felt relieved that he provided a subject of conversation.
“Yes—can you imagine a better uncle? To take his nieces on their first journey with his new wife and give me a dog for my tenth birthday. Truly astonishing!”
“Quite astonishing. But I am sure neither you nor Miss Bennet gave them much trouble. I am sure you were proper and well-behaved young girls.”
“Oh, I am embarrassed to say you are wrong.” Elizabeth laughed. “Jane was always perfectly well behaved, even from a young age. As for me, I am afraid I still do not excel in that area—as you have witnessed with disapproval several times. ”
“I rarely disapproved of anything in you,” he replied in earnest, and her smile vanished while their gazes held. “However, I confess you surprised me several times with your habits, especially walking across fields in bad weather. That can be very dangerous.”
“I am not sure ‘surprised’ sounds better than ‘disapproved,’” she joked.
“Surprise surely does not mean disapproval. You cannot argue with that although you seem decided to contradict me, Mrs Darcy,” he replied in jest.
“Oh, I must have given you the wrong impression. I would not dare to contradict my husband, Mr Darcy,” she teased him. His countenance became more serious.
“Elizabeth, I do hope you will continue to contradict me anytime you wish. I have always admired your spirit, your courage, and your determination in expressing your ideas. I do not want you to feel that you need to change because we have married.”
His words surprised her once more, and she needed a few moments before she was confident to reply properly. “Thank you for telling me that. And you may count on my impertinence in the coming years too if that is your wish, Mr Darcy.”
He laughed openly, and she joined him while their hands entwined. They looked at each other for a few long moments, then he slowly withdrew.
“I had better go to my room. You must be tired. It is quite late.”
“Oh, I am not tired. I have done so little today that I cannot be tired. And staying inside all day long is not very helpful for my sleep either.”
“Yes, I imagine. Tomorrow my aunt will call, and that might take some time. And in the morning, I have some business to attend to, even before breakfast. But the day after tomorrow we shall take a long walk in Hyde Park. The snow is beautiful indeed. ”
“I would really like that very much! I look forward to it.”
“As do I. Now I shall leave you…that is, if there is nothing else you need. You should ring for Molly to help you for the night.”
“Yes, thank you, I do not want to detain you longer. Good night then…”
Darcy placed a chaste kiss on her hand and walked towards his rooms. From the adjoining door, he glanced at her.
She was looking at him too. He wished nothing more than to stay longer and enjoy her company, and he could easily see that she was not opposed to it.
He had held her hands several times that day, and the feel of her warm, soft fingers moving shyly in his palm still affected him.
He wished to stay longer. He wished to stay for the entire night, but he left and closed the doors, forcing himself not to return.
After a few minutes, he heard Molly’s voice, and his mind filled with images of Elizabeth writing her letter on the small table, dressed in her nightgown, barefoot, her long hair falling loose…
That night, however, his mind was more at peace, and sleep finally took him. He had every reason to be content with the slow development of their relationship, and he had no doubt that, this time, he did not misunderstand her willingness to be around him.
In her room, Elizabeth postponed the letter for the next morning, but she filled two more pages in her diary, wondering why her husband, who declared his admiration for her several times, did not even ask her to have a glass of wine before they went to sleep.
Only a small glass would suffice—enough to talk more about the walk he had promised her.