Page 14

Darcy waited apprehensively as the carriage made its way up the driveway. Miss Bingley had wanted to be there to greet them, but he had insisted on being alone. While Georgiana was used to the fawning nature of Bingley’s sisters, Anne was not.

He wanted them settled in and rested before introducing Anne, who was still coping with the deaths of most of her family. She was still in a fragile state of mind from the reports he received from the housekeeper.

Darcy watched as the six outriders accompanying his wards turned for the stables. The coach continued on to the front of the house. As soon as it came to a halt, one of the coachmen dropped to the ground to open the door and fold the step down. He moved aside, holding the door as Darcy stepped forward to take his sister’s hand. She emerged with a big smile for him, and they exchanged happy greetings. Georgiana whispered to him that Anne had barely said anything the entire journey.

When his cousin did not come to the door, Darcy stepped forward and peeked in. Anne was on the opposite side, staring out the window at the fountain in the middle of the circle.

“Come now, Anne. It is cold out here.You will be more comfortable inside. It is a wonderful house, and your room overlooks the gardens.”

“I suppose it will do,” she replied sadly, not bothering to look at him but continuing to stare out of the window.

Darcy turned to his sister and told her to go inside, where a maid was waiting to take her to her room. Climbing into the warm coach, he sat next to his cousin. The coach moved about as trunks were handed down to footmen to be carried inside. He was unsure what to say when she did not even bother to look at him.

“Anne, come inside.”

“Why could I not have been with them?” She asked, turning to look at him. “It would have been so much easier.”

Darcy was stunned by her words. She had never expressed such feelings before, at least not to him.

“Anne, please do not say that. Then Richard would be alone. And you must know how much Georgiana and I care for you.” He said honestly, even though he barely knew her.

“It’s not the same,” she replied sadly, looking away.

“I know my sweet. We know, having lost our parents.”

“Not like mine, not at the same time,” she replied as she began to cry.

Darcy did not know what to do or say, he never knew how to react when she started crying.

“Come now. Wipe away those tears,” he said, handing her his handkerchief. “We shall get you settled in your rooms. You can stay in them if you like, but I think it would do the world of good if you occupied your time getting to know our hosts. Two ladies from a neighboring estate are also staying here as well. They are closer in age, although one is sick at the moment and confined to her room.”

With his arm around her protectively, Darcy brought her into the house and up to her room. Anne said nothing and kept her eyes to the ground. A door opened before they reached the room, and Elizabeth slipped out, quietly closing it behind her. She was startled when she turned away to find Mr Darcy guiding one of his wards down the hall. He gave her a brief nod of acknowledgement, which she returned before going to her room.

Elizabeth looked down the hall and saw him whisper something to the girl before guiding her into the room. She hurried into her own before he turned, not wanting him to know she had witnessed the moment.

Later that afternoon, Elizabeth was reading to Jane when a maid entered and handed her a note. She hoped it was not from her mother, telling them she planned to visit, but she was relieved to find it from Miss Bingley.

“What is it?” Jane asked from the midst of the pillows propping her up.

“An invitation to tea to meet their new guests.”

“She must think highly of you to invite you to meet them.”

Elizabeth laughed. “That I am only afforded a few minutes tells a lot about what she thinks of me. I think I shall not go.”

“You must. They will think you rude.”

“It is rude to give me such short notice even if we are in the same house. She knows why I am here. I do not look presentable.”

“Since when do you care about how you look?”

“Why Jane Bennet, that is the meanest thing you have said to me in years.”

“I did not intend it to be.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I know, dear Jane.”

“Besides, I am tired and could use another rest.” She said with a yawn as she stretched out her arms.

“I would call you a liar, but then I would feel guilty. So I shall pretend you are telling the truth.” They both laughed. Elizabeth went to the mirror and dabbed at her face with a cloth before fixing a few stray strands of hair.

“I’m not sure why Miss Bingley wants me there. She does not like me.”

“Why do you make such things up? Of course she does. You are always liked.”

“I’m not. I am convinced of it.” Elizabeth turned. “How do I look?” She asked with a flourish of her hands down her body.

“Like the hoyden you are, but perfect,” Jane said. “Listen and smile more, and none of your sharp tongue.”

“Yes, mother hen. I shall be the perfect gentlewoman,” she replied, walking stately out of the room.

Elizabeth was astonished to find Mr Darcy pacing back and forth near her destination. He stopped when he noticed her. As she approached, he subtly looked her up and down, and she perceived the slightest nod of his head.

“I am glad you could find the time, Miss Elizabeth,” he said happily.

“Jane urged me to attend even with the short notice.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I pray you allow your sister more time to ready herself. It sends girls her age into a panic.”

“That is my fault, I thought an hour sufficient. It was as much time as I could give you, as I did not know if they were up to it today. It was really Anne who I was not sure about.”

“An hour? I… never mind.”

Darcy did not understand what she meant but turned to the door when she said nothing further. He opened it after giving it a few light raps of his knuckles. Elizabeth stifled a laugh as he did it precisely like a footman would, even waiting for Miss Bingley to call out permission to enter. Pushing open the door and stepped aside for her to pass. When she did, he could not help but take in her smell. He could not tell what it was, but it was enticing, unlike the concoction Miss Bingley had come up with at Floris.

Elizabeth wanted to show her disapproval at the short notice she knew must have come from her hostess. Instead, she took Jane’s advice, smiled at Miss Bingley, and bit her tongue. All thoughts of the delayed message disappeared when she saw the two young ladies.

Both were dressed in gowns of simple design like hers. One wore violet, the other a dark grey, but the material was silk and touched with intricate lace. They starkly contrasted Miss Bingley’s overly elaborate and bright dress.

She would have deduced who each was by their demeanor, even if their dresses did not give it away. She was proven right when Mr Darcy introduced her first to his cousin, Lady Anne Fitzwilliam, and then to his sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy. After a few words to his wards, he unexpectedly bid them a good day.

“You are not going to stay?” A disappointed Miss Bingley asked in feigned sadness.

“No, I will leave the conversation for you ladies to enjoy,” he said with a bow. I believe I am leaving them in good hands.” He glanced at Elizabeth before turning to the two girls. “You will be fine,” he said to Georgiana in particular, as he had already prepared them for his not staying before they came out of their rooms.

“Yes, William,” she replied nervously. Anne simply nodded before gazing out of the nearby window.

When he was gone, Miss Bingley looked at Elizabeth, wondering why she had bothered to come at all dressed in such a manner and with her hair untidy. However, it made her wonder if she was mistaken. Maybe the country nobody was not trying to attract Mr Darcy. If she presented herself as she was now, a man of his caliber and connections would not fall for the daughter of an impoverished country squire. While irritated that the woman had shown up, her jealousy was mollified and turned her attention to her new guests.

Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to give Miss Bingley a scathing remark about common decency when it came to guests in her house. She held her tongue for Jane and the two girls sitting across from her. After a time, as Georgiana became less nervous, she became more talkative.

Anne sometimes volunteered part of the conversation but sat there looking forlorn as her thoughts were elsewhere. Elizabeth felt for the poor girl and did her best to talk to her without requiring a reply. Miss Bingley was somewhat obtuse about the situation and multiple times waited for a return comment from her. When this happened, Elizabeth would step in to break the silence.

An hour later, as the ladies were finishing, Mr Darcy arrived to take the girls away to prepare for dinner.