Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

M r Bingley being no longer accessible, Mrs Bennet and Lydia made their excuses and quickly departed. Elizabeth made her own, citing the need to settle Jane back into her chamber, having no desire to hear any snide remarks from Miss Bingley. Once Jane was resting, however, disquiet meant Elizabeth could not return to her book. A few enquiries gave her the information that Mr Goulding’s father had fallen asleep in the carriage during the short journey to Netherfield, leading to a decision not to disturb him. The footman and coachman had been tasked with keeping an eye on the old gentleman, but engrossed in conversation, they had failed to notice his waking and subsequent exit.

The Gouldings had only been visiting for a quarter of an hour, and one would think he could not have gone far—but to everyone’s dismay, after thirty minutes of searching, he was still nowhere to be found .

Elizabeth found a spot to keep watch from the library windows overlooking the extensive gardens, where the greatest hub of activity seemed to be centred. The rain had begun in earnest now, and she could see a new haste in the searchers.

Suddenly, from the direction of the western gate, she saw the unmistakeable, tall form of Mr Darcy, his arm supporting the bent figure of the elderly Goulding—Mr Darcy’s own greatcoat cast over the man’s shoulders. There was a certain obvious gentleness in the way he shepherded Goulding forwards, as if he carefully coaxed him along the garden path.

This is the man whom I once believed hateful, because of a thoughtless insult uttered about a perfect stranger. This is the man who kissed me passionately, tenderly, in this very room.

Several people converged on the two men at that moment, and perhaps only Elizabeth noticed when Mr Darcy slipped away from the crowd, his quest now complete.

Taking a chance on his direction, she slipped down the stairs and to a terrace side door, well out of the way of the returning searchers and any footmen stationed at the more public entries. She had guessed correctly; she met him just as he shut the door behind him, removing his sodden hat and staring at the ruined accessory with some disgust. He looked over at her with surprise when he noticed her entrance.

Now that she faced him, Elizabeth had no idea what to say; she only knew she wanted to say something .

“I-I saw you returning from the library windows. Where did you find him?”

“In the maze,” he said, not taking his eyes from her. “He was very bewildered, and it took some time to persuade him to return to the house with me.”

“I am so relieved you were able to convince him. Everyone has been very worried.”

“My housekeeper’s husband at Pemberley was thus afflicted. He had worked as our chief stableman for many years, and yet was suddenly, it seemed, no longer able to fulfil his responsibilities and began wandering about unpredictably. We set up a system, people who would watch over him whenever his wife could not, giving him small duties or shared jobs that he often could still manage. We found that the busier we kept him, the better he slept. On the rare occasions that we lost track of him, however, developing a very persuasive manner became a necessity once he was found. He rather liked his adventures, you see, and was not always easily induced to abandon them.”

“Were you one who watched him?” She could not keep incredulity from her voice.

He shrugged, appearing embarrassed. “Reynolds taught me to ride—taught me everything I know of horses, really. He was always patient with a lonely child who tagged after him constantly, asking endless questions, and he picked me up and dusted me off from too many foolish spills to count. The least I could do was bring him with me on the occasional outing about the estate.”

Mr Darcy’s inherent kindness to one so many in his position would never even notice touched Elizabeth deeply; it was a side of him she could not have imagined before today.

“Thank goodness you were able to find poor Mr Goulding. I have never been through the maze, and would have been just as lost as he,” she said, casting about for things to say, feeling as if she were grasping at straws in order to detain him.

“I shall accompany you through it, if you would like, once the weather clears,” he said promptly, and her cheeks warmed at the implication that she had been giving him a hint. Still, she determinedly cast away her pride.

“I would like that.” Her voice emerged almost as a whisper.

“I would, too,” he said, his voice lowering a pitch, his eyes steady upon hers.

They stared at each other for what seemed a full minute, as Elizabeth suddenly recalled those kisses. He had told her he wanted to marry her! Why had she not said ‘yes’, immediately? Would she be as silly as her mama if she were to bring it up again, now? It was as if there was a pull between them, drawing her in, urging her to confess every longing her heart held. Only the sound of splashing distracted her from the dark intensity of Mr Darcy’s eyes. With a start, she finally realised that there was a large puddle forming on the tiles at his feet. He had not received his coat back from old Mr Goulding.

“You are so wet. I am sorry to have kept you,” she blurted, feeling suddenly foolish.

“I am at your disposal, wet or dry,” he said soberly, but was that a glimmer of humour in his eyes? He followed his remark with a low bow, which she answered with a curtsey.

Elizabeth grabbed her courage with both hands. “Tomorrow morning might be a good time to explore the maze,” she murmured. “John Stevens swears it will be dry. ”

“Tomorrow morning,” he repeated. “Let us say eleven o’clock. Rain or shine.”

Rain or shine. She smiled up at him in dawning comprehension. He would ask her, again, to marry him.

This time, she knew how to answer.