Page 23

Darcy saw the top of Miss Elizabeth’s bonnet and adjusted his path through the garden to intercept her. Hearing the crunch of heavy steps on the gravel approaching her. Elizabeth stopped and looked up, then stood on her tiptoes to try and see who, but the hedge was slightly too tall. She started again, knowing they would meet at the junction ahead.

She was not surprised when Mr Darcy appeared before her. He approached her with such a stern expression that she took a step back.

“Miss Elizabeth, about last night.”

“What about last night?” She asked nervously.

His stern expression was replaced by one of uncertainty. He cleared his throat and looked away as if he did not want to say what he had sought her out to say. Her nerves started acting up even more, and she wondered if this was what her mother was always going through. Although, in her case, she did have something to agitate her nerves.

“I wanted to apologize for last night. I was not myself.”

She felt relief at his words. “There is no need. It was understandable, considering the circumstances…” Her voice trailed off, not wanting to say what had brought him so much anguish.

He reluctantly nodded. “I want to thank you as well.” He paused and again looked away briefly. “You did not have to stay.”

Elizabeth blushed slightly. “It was the natural thing to do. Even if I had not known you, I would have tried to offer some sort of comfort.” Would she have stayed, though, she thought. No.

“Then you are a better person. I would not know what to say nor do.” Especially if it was a woman of short acquaintance, he would think it a way to entrap him. He did not even know how to break the news to his sister and cousin, let alone comfort them. He could not help but look into her eyes.

“Shall we put it behind us and forget it happened? What is done is done.”

“I cannot. I would not either.” He looked at her intensely. “You were a great comfort when I needed it. Just being able to talk with you helped a great deal. It also kept me from drinking more.”

She put her hand on his forearm. “That would not have been good. I’m happy to have helped.”

He gazed down at the small hand resting on his coat. “Shall we continue your walk?”

She agreed, and they set off, her hand resting where she had placed it. They did not speak for several minutes. Elizabeth was unsure what to say. Darcy was uncomfortable about what he needed to say, which was why he had sought her out in the first place.

“Miss Elizabeth. I must confess, I woke up as you left the room. I am aware of the time. To put you in that situation was unforgivable of me.”

“As far as I am concerned, there is nothing to forgive. It was completely innocent.”

“What if we were seen?”

“I do not believe so. I saw no one as I went up to my room.” She colored as the thought of waking in his lap came to mind.

“We can hope as much. It is my fault for being weak.”

“Mr Darcy, I’m shocked you would say such a thing. There is nothing weak about grieving for your cousin.”

“I was not that way when my father passed.”

Elizabeth thought for a moment before looking up at him. “And your mother.”

“I was a boy. I was inconsolable for a time. I was still suffering the effects when I was sent off to Eton. It was Richard who pulled me out of the doldrums there.”

“From your stories, I could tell you were close.”

“He was like an older brother. I was angry when he went to Eton two years before me because I could not go with him.”

“As I told you. I have a cousin I have never met, and my other cousins are too young to be considered friends. Their mother is close in age to me, and I consider her more of a friend, unlike my aunt Philips.”

They turned a corner and saw Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst walking arm-in-arm their way.

“If you are willing, I would like you to be close by, maybe even with me, when I break the news to Georgiana and Anne. I am still unsure how to go about it, especially with Anne, without losing my composure.”

“I’m not sure how much help I would be. The only consoling of a sister I have done is about lost items and a few pets that passed. Hardly the same, but I will try my best.”

“Good, if you could be in the library at the top of the hour. I will have made up my mind by then if I am prepared to tell them without support.”

Elizabeth readily agreed with his thanks.

“Mr Darcy, you did not tell us you were going for a walk. We were searching for you to see if you wanted a turn or two about the gardens,” Miss Bingley chastised him. She gave Elizabeth a brief glare. “And here you are with Miss Eliza.”

Darcy did not bother to reply, as it was none of her business.

Elizabeth felt differently. “A chance meeting.”

“Then we shall join you if you do not mind.”

“Not at all,” Darcy replied. He had accomplished the task he had come out for. “If we are to walk together, I suggest we move to one of the larger paths.”

“There is no need for that. I must check on Jane to see if she ate and is comfortable.”

Elizabeth looked up at him and squeezed his arm slightly to let him know she would be ready before reluctantly releasing his arm. Not because she desired to stay close to him but because she knew her hand on his arm irritated Miss Bingley, who could not keep glancing at it as if it did not belong there. She knew she was being petty but did not care. She wished them a good morning and left.

Darcy reluctantly held out his arm for Miss Bingley after she glanced down at the place that had just been vacated by who she perceived as her rival.

“The way you two were close, you could have been conspiring a plot. What, pray tell, were you discussing?” Miss Bingley asked calmly, although she was filled with jealousy and anger.

“Sisters,” he replied flatly.

“I have one. Perhaps I can help.”

“I am well aware.” He leaned his head forward a little to see. “No offence to you, but Miss Elizabeth’s sisters are almost the same age as Georgiana and Anne.”

“Yes, it is such a shame that there are so many of them as what little money will be available is dived amongst the five.” Miss Bingley stated smugly.

Darcy ignored the comment and patiently listened to Miss Bingley denigrate Elizabeth by repeating what he had already heard from her. Mrs Hurst did not join in but interjected parts of her youth that she liked and disliked.

The conversation he endured was why he did not enjoy being out in society. They were either putting others down or discussing topics that held no interest or were inane. He excused himself after what he thought was an appropriate amount of time.

“Do not forget my offer to help with Georgiana and Lady Anne.”

“I have not. Good day,” he replied with a slight nod. It annoyed him when they curtsied as he was about to turn away.

“What do you think, sister?”

“About what, Caroline?”

“About that woman. Do you think she followed him to throw herself at the Earl?”

The title rolled off her tongue like a prize waiting to be had. She had aspired to be Mrs Darcy before she had ever met the man. Now, she would be a countess.

“If they were talking about Lady Anne and his sister perhaps he does mean to hire her as their companion. What grown man wants to be saddled with that burden? Much less an eligible bachelor.”

“If I have anything to do with it, he will not be a bachelor for long. After all, he will need an heir and a spare.”

“Do not mention such things. I hear enough nagging about it from Mr Hurst.”