Chapter 7

7

E lizabeth sat next to Jane, quite enjoying the relative peacefulness. Relative, only because Mama was bewailing how she missed her youngest daughter, Elizabeth tightened her lips. Mama would soon forget — at least, she hoped so. Her mother had ever been a character of the moment, unable to think much beyond the present, and Lydia might soon be … not forgot, but out of the immediate day-to-day life at Longbourn.

Jane, beside her, sighed, and Elizabeth glanced up. "What ails you, sister?" she murmured. "Is it Mama?"

"I feel bad about resenting it, Lizzy. After all, she is missing Lydia, being the first day. But Mr. Bingley is calling this morning. He wants to get Papa's consent to court me! I think Mama will be quite distracted."

Elizabeth nodded. "A courtship! I should think she would be." I will not say that Mr. Darcy is going to see Papa too. She raised her head and looked at her mother.

"Mama, do you not want to call upon Aunt Philips? You can tell her that Mr. and Mrs. Wickham had a private chaise all the way to Newcastle, at such expense!"

It did not take too much persuasion to get Mama and Kitty into the coach and she waved them off along the drive with some relief.

She was just in time. No sooner had they turned to re-enter the house than she saw Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley turning in from the lane. She smiled, it was a great relief that Mama was going the other way and would not have passed them, or she might have turned back.

"Good morning, gentlemen." She waited while Jane, as the eldest, spoke for both of them. "Please join us within."

Elizabeth could feel Mr. Darcy's searing gaze upon her, but he seemed more serious now with that frown on his face than he had been earlier, up on Oakham Mount. Had he had second thoughts?

She steeled herself. It was only since this morning that she had allowed herself to hope. She must distance herself from her feelings. She could not allow herself to be embarrassed by anyone noting that such feelings were not requited.

In the sitting room, it was just she, Jane and Mary with Mr. Darcy, who looked stern. Mr. Bingley must have asked to see Papa at once.

Did he really not approve of Mr. Bingley and Jane? But then, why would he have brought Mr. Bingley back with him, and why would he be pursuing her if her family was so unsuitable for even Mr. Bingley?

She shivered and glanced at Mr. Darcy out of the corner of her eye, then dropped her eyes in a hurry; he was staring at her! There must be something wrong. He had changed his mind, she thought despairingly.

But then, why had he come? It would have been easier for him to leave Hertfordshire, and return to London — or rejoin his sister at Pemberley.

She drew a deep breath. "How is Miss Darcy, sir? I hope she is well and still enjoying the new pianoforte." She knew her voice was higher than it ought to be, and winced at her own anxiety.

Mr. Darcy smiled, looking rather relieved. "I had a letter from her yesterday, Miss Elizabeth. You are right, she is enjoying her music, although I know she misses company when I am not there." He hesitated. "I wonder if you might enter a correspondence with her? I believe she would like to be friends."

"I would be pleased to continue our acquaintance by letter, Mr. Darcy. She is a pleasant girl, and very accomplished." Elizabeth's own hopes rose again. Surely he would not suggest a continuing connection with his sister if he did not wish to see her again?

His eyes softened, and she took rather more encouragement from that than she supposed she ought.

Then Papa entered the room with Mr. Bingley beaming behind him. "Well, well, my Jane." Papa offered his hand to her sister and drew her to her feet. "I have given my consent to Mr. Bingley entering a courtship with you, my dear. I hope you will take time to become fully acquainted with each other." He looked around the room. "And prepare yourselves for effusions of joy when your mother hears of it!"

It was only a few minutes later that Elizabeth found herself on Mr. Darcy's arm as they followed the other couple through the gardens.

He bent his head to murmur in her ear. "How did you arrange your mother be calling somewhere this morning? I presume it was you?"

Elizabeth huffed a laugh. "I think you know me very well already, sir. I suggested Mama and Kitty go to my Aunt Philips to tell her that Lydia and her husband had a private chaise all the way to Newcastle, and how much it must have cost!"

He chuckled. "I can see you are adept at framing almost anything to be advantageous!" His expression turned serious. "Has your mother not accepted that her youngest daughter needed to leave Longbourn?"

"Well, it is early days yet, Mr. Darcy. And while Mama has always been relentless in the need for us to marry, I don't believe she thought much about what would happen after the wedding day itself."

He nodded, sympathetic, and she was emboldened to continue. "I do believe, sir, that if Mr. Bingley's courtship of Jane leads to marriage, then perhaps they ought to discuss whether or not to take an estate rather further away from Longbourn." She grinned. "As I believe I have mentioned to you before, I do believe it is possible that a woman may be settled too near her family."

He laughed delightedly. "I am happy you remember our more polite conversations of the past." His expression turned rather more whimsical, and he lowered his voice. "Although I do wish you remembered this morning's." He raised an eyebrow. "You agreed to call me by my given name," he murmured, and the passion in his voice made Elizabeth's legs go weak.

"William," she whispered.

"Thank you." His gaze was searing, and Elizabeth struggled to maintain her composure. "Are you going to give Mr. Bingley and Jane their day in the sun and speak to Papa tomorrow?"

He shook his head. "If you do not object, I would still like to speak to him today. As long as he knows my intentions are honourable and consents to it, the fact that I am officially calling on you does not need to be broadcast unless you wish it to be."

Her heart swelled at evidence of his concern to ensure she shared in making decisions, and she smiled at him. "If you wish to speak to him now, then when Jane asks, I can say you needed to tell him something about Lydia."

His eyes softened. "There is something I can mention to him about that, so it would even have the benefit of being true." He glanced around at Mr. Bingley, and as that gentleman was not looking at them, took her hand and raised it to his lips, the pressure of his fingers causing a lump to rise in her throat.

"Thank you, William," she murmured, breathlessly.