Chapter 12

It was not without some doubts that Elizabeth made ready to pay a visit to Miss Darcy and her brother. She stood at the kitchen table, arranging a basket of fruits from their orchard, a jar of preserves, and some apple tarts which Cook was particularly skilled in baking.

Jane entered the kitchen and looked at her curiously. "I did not know you were off to visit the poor this morning. I will come with you," she said.

"I am not going to visit the poor. We can go with the parson tomorrow and bring some of our harvest. No, this is for the Darcys. I thought they might enjoy some of the fruit from our orchard. And I wanted to see how things are going in the village for her. I thought she made a good impression on the townspeople yesterday. I hope the tide is turning in Miss Darcy's favour." Elizabeth placed a few more of the apples in the basket, careful not to let them crush the tarts. It would be a pity for them to crumble on the way to Miss Darcy's lodgings.

"That is very kind of you. I am sure Miss Darcy will appreciate it." Jane fell silent, looking as if she wanted to say more.

Elizabeth gave her a sideways glance, waiting. When her sister did not go on, she prodded. "What is it?" She tucked a piece of cloth over the contents of the basket.

"Do you think Mr Darcy will appreciate everything you've done for Miss Darcy? He seems quite a sour fellow," Jane said.

Elizabeth gave a short laugh. "I do not think I have ever heard you speak so harshly about anyone. Even someone who deserved it." She hung her head, leaving the basket for a moment. She went around the table to stand in front of Jane. Elizabeth shrugged and gave an exasperated sigh. "I do not know what is wrong with Mr Darcy. I have tried to think of what I have done to make him dislike me. But perhaps I may make amends today when I call on his sister. I am sure there has simply been a misunderstanding between us. If I can only talk with him, perhaps I can smooth things over."

"Are you sure that is wise? Perhaps you should have Papa speak to him on your behalf. He may be more willing to tell Father what has happened than you." Jane placed her hand on Elizabeth's arm. "I too have been trying to think what might have gone awry, but I cannot understand what cause he might have to be offended with you. It defies the imagination."

Elizabeth shrugged. "Well, I am not so dense as to believe I am above making a mistake. But I cannot understand it either. I would have thought he would be happy his sister has a friend in Hertfordshire. And hopefully, will have many more by the end of the winter. She is a sweet girl, and I hate to see her isolated." Elizabeth bit her lower lip. "In all honesty, I wonder if Mrs Younge plays some part in it. She seems to think Miss Darcy is a cut above her company."

Jane nodded. "Perhaps you are right." Elizabeth's attempt to make light of her strained relationship with Mr Darcy must not have been convincing, for Jane still looked concerned. "Have a care, Lizzy."

Elizabeth hugged her sister, retrieved the basket, and walked out of the cosy little kitchen. Her walk to Meryton was pleasant, although she could feel a slight chill in the air. She would not be surprised if a light rain fell that afternoon on her way back from town. Dark grey clouds were looming in the distance, heading straight for their sleepy village. Elizabeth did not object to the rain. The weather was still mild, and a walk in the rain was one of her simple joys in life. Her mother did not understand how she could enjoy walking about in damp clothes, but to Elizabeth, there was something very calming about having the rain on her skin, a time when all the world seemed to go quiet except the raindrops falling to the expectant earth.

When she arrived in Meryton, she went to the milliners and purchased some ribbons for Lydia, who had expressed the need for some light blue silken ribbons to tie into her hair for the next assembly. The girls had been in a frenzy, preparing for what they seemed to consider as the event of the winter season, as the newly arrived militia would be in attendance.

Elizabeth did not mind buying little frivolities for her sisters, within reason. However, Lydia and Kitty seemed to be getting more out of hand as of late. She hoped her father would take them in hand and help calm their excited nerves. Heaven knew their mother would not do such a thing. She was just as restless as Kitty and Lydia.

"Good afternoon, Miss Bennet!" a neighbour called as she passed. She went over to the woman and exchanged friendly greetings. Mrs Daughtry was a widow with a daughter only a little younger than Elizabeth, and a very pleasant neighbour. "Where are you off to this afternoon? There will be rain, you know."

"I know, Mrs Daughtry. I am on my way to pay a call to Miss Darcy."

"Ah yes, Miss Darcy, a fine young woman. She came to visit my Denise yesterday and was very kind. You know, at the assembly, we all thought she was not a good sort at all. We all believed she thought herself much above her company then. It is good to see we were mistaken."

The portly woman's cheeks were flushed, and she wore a wide smile. Elizabeth was relieved to hear it. "I am glad you find her so agreeable. I know how difficult it must have been for her at the assembly. Truly, I believe she was only shy, and did not mean to offend anyone."

"I am sure we can all see that now. Well, send along my greetings to her, and friendly greetings from Denise as well."

Elizabeth went on her way with a skip in her step, happy that her friend was making other acquaintances around the village. It had been a kindness to visit Mrs Daughtry and Denise, for they lived in a very simple, quiet style on a small income. Having heard Mrs Daughtry's good opinion of Georgiana, Elizabeth thought it might be time for her to make her apologies to Sir Lucas. The gentleman was usually very genial and understanding, but he was not without his pride. When Miss Darcy had unwittingly snubbed Sir Lucas' son, she had snubbed the whole of the community. Until she had healed that breech, she could not count herself to be truly welcome in Meryton.

She soon arrived at the Darcys' rented house, and the maid let her in just in time to escape the first drops of rain.

"Yes, Miss Bennet?" the girl asked. Elizabeth smiled at her, unsurprised to be recognised. The girl was one of Mrs Hill's many nieces, and she had visited below stairs at Longbourn often.

"I am here to see Miss Darcy, if she is receiving visitors," Elizabeth replied. "I've brought some things from the garden for her as well."

"How very kind. I am afraid Miss Darcy and her companion have gone out to make some calls this morning, but they should be back any minute. Would you like to wait for her in the drawing room?"

Elizabeth looked at the grandfather clock, noting that she could afford to wait for a few minutes. "Yes, I shall be glad to wait," she replied.

The maid showed her into the drawing room. Elizabeth thanked her and placed the basket on one of the side tables. Feeling too energetic to sit still, she walked about the room, looking through the well-stocked bookshelves. Mr Darcy appeared to have provided his sister with all manner of books with which to amuse and instruct herself during the long winter months. With a private chuckle, Elizabeth hoped that her young friend would not have time to read quite so many books. Now that her path had been smoothed in Meryton, she could expect some social calls to interrupt her reading.

She picked up a book that had a lace bookmark tucked in its middle and began to scan its contents where the reader had left off. The first sentences were highly engaging, and Elizabeth turned back to the first page to begin in earnest. She quickly lost herself in the story, standing by the light of the window and unconscious of everything around her.

Elizabeth was startled from her concentration some time later when the door opened with a loud creak. Mr Darcy stood there, looking first as startled as she was herself, then rather annoyed.

"Miss Bennet," he said with a swift bow. "What do you do here?"

Elizabeth pushed down her feelings of awkwardness. She had intended a joyful meeting with her friend, not a confrontation with her unpleasant brother, but that did not mean she had done anything wrong by accepting the invitation to wait. "Forgive me, Mr Darcy. I came to call on Miss Darcy and the maid showed me in, saying I could wait for her return." She put the book down on a side tables at random, for she could not remember now which one she had taken it from. "I did not mean to stay so long. I'm afraid I availed myself of a book and could not put it down."

With a determined effort to treat him as she would any of her neighbours, Elizabeth gave Mr Darcy a friendly smile. Unaccountably nervous as she felt, she ought to clear the air with him, for certainly there could not be a better opportunity. Elizabeth walked around the couches and settee that made up the cosy sitting area. "I wanted to say something to you, Mr Darcy, if you will hear it?"

Mr Darcy looked surprised, but no longer annoyed. "Of course."

Elizabeth hesitated a moment. Though she disliked the awkwardness of confrontation, she would not allow some foolish misunderstanding to ruin her friendship with Georgiana. Even if it cost her an awkward conversation with Mr Darcy, it would be better to have matters out once and for all.

"Mr Darcy, I have sensed over the course of our acquaintance that I have done something to offend you, but I am at a loss to discover what. I should very much like to fix the error, for I see much to admire in you. Even from the first occasion of my meeting Miss Darcy, she praised you in terms so warm I could not help but look forward to meeting you with uncommon interest. Now that I have seen your love and care for her, not to mention your dry wit and good sense, I find none of the praise was exaggerated. I cannot help but be disappointed to be on bad terms with someone so deserving of my respect. Will you not tell me what I have done to discredit myself in your eyes?"

∞∞∞

Darcy stared at Elizabeth for a long moment, too taken aback to speak. At last, he identified the source of his confusion. He had thought Elizabeth might offer him pretty compliments on his person or his estate, or perhaps Georgiana's accomplishments. He had not expected any praise so very much to his own taste.

How often had he struggled with the many difficult decisions to be made in raising Georgiana? How often had he wished he might know better what he ought to do for her? Elizabeth's words had hit their mark. He had not realised how much he had missed his father's guidance and encouragement. Added to this, the praise of his mind and spirit could not help but touch him deeply.

And all this was coupled to directness of the type most appealing to him, and requiring great courage on her part. It could not have been easy to make herself so vulnerable.

Darcy hardly knew how he ought to answer her. As he was about to attempt a response, Mrs Younge's warnings came flying back to the forefront of his mind. She is a clever little actress…

An icy chill went down his spine. She had taken a significant social risk in speaking openly of his coldness — a risk that would be well-justified if all her plans depended on doing away with that very coldness. She had offered him praise, warm and highly satisfying — praise that could not have been more exactly to his taste if she had planned out every word of it. Perhaps she had done exactly that, sitting down to tea with Mrs Bennet and scheming out each word she would use to make good on her friendship with Georgiana and entrap him…

How could he have imagined it all genuine even for a moment, when Mrs Younge had so carefully warned him against Elizabeth Bennet's schemes?

Darcy straightened. "I will be frank with you, Miss Bennet. I am not in the habit of being cajoled and corralled." She visibly startled, looking confused. He plunged onward. If she would go even so far, the record must be set straight before he left for London. "I know your mother wishes us to create an alliance between our families. Considering the entail on your estate, it is more than understandable. But I will not allow myself to be manipulated. I do not wish to be trapped into marriage for my money, as I am sure you would not wish to be plucked up only for your beauty and sparkling wit."

His heart skipped a beat as the words left his mouth. Darcy had not intended to say so much. Even in rebuking her, he could not seem to omit mentioning her loveliness and intelligence. But by the storm clouds gathering on her brow, he was sure she had missed that part entirely. "Let me be clear, I will not be easily controlled because you have befriended my sister — whether that friendship was genuine or merely a scheme to win over my favour by getting close to Georgiana."

Darcy hardly knew what he expected as a response. Could any young woman be brazen enough to deny it to his face? At first, Elizabeth only looked confused. Then she frowned, squaring her shoulders and taking a deep breath before beginning to speak.

"Mr Darcy—"

How she might have answered him would remain forever a mystery, for at that moment, they heard the front door open. Even at a distance, it was easy to identify Mrs Younge's crisp, elegant tones and the lively answers of Georgiana.

It seemed only an instant before Georgiana was entering the room. Darcy dropped his eyes upon seeing his sister's face light up on perceiving her friend. If there were only some way to protect her heart — but he was certain there was none. None, at least, that would not put her at risk of still greater heartbreak to come, when she at last discovered the friendship was false.

"How delightful to see you, Miss Bennet!" Georgiana exclaimed. In her open-hearted way, she ran to Elizabeth and took her hands. "It is very good of you to come and see us. I was just telling Mrs Younge as we came in that I wanted to stop by your house, for it seems an age since we last spoke, though really, it is no time at all!"

Darcy stepped forward, catching Georgiana's hand and drawing her away.

"Georgiana, I do not think it is wise for you to see Miss Bennet anymore. Nor the rest of the Bennet family, for that matter. I have learned something most concerning over the last few days of my stay."

Georgiana pulled her arm away from him, looking more distressed than he had seen her in a long time. "Brother, what are you saying? How could you be so rude to Miss Bennet? She is my friend!"

"No, Georgiana. Forgive me for being so blunt, Miss Bennet, but I have been told that you only befriended my sister so you could get close to me. I even overheard your mother saying how fortunate it was that you came to her rescue at the assembly when no one else would speak to her. It leads me to believe that you only planned to use her to secure an advantageous marriage."

Mrs Younge stepped forward as if to shield her charge from Elizabeth. "It is true. I overheard the same sentiments several times, when the Bennet sisters did not think we were listening. And it has been corroborated by several members of the community since. You only wish to trap Mr Darcy into an unwanted marriage." She raised her chin. "Shame on you!"

Elizabeth actually took a step back, as though shocked by hearing the accusation. Darcy looked away. He must think of Georgiana, only of Georgiana, and comfort her. If he were hurt, if he had hoped for better from so charming and intelligent a woman, that was nothing compared to the need to protect Georgiana.

Georgiana turned to Elizabeth, her eyes questioning. "Is it true? You only helped me to get to Fitz?"

"Of course not," Elizabeth protested. "I came to you in good faith, because I saw you were struggling. Sir Lucas asked me —" She stopped short.

Mrs Younge stepped in quickly, turning to Georgiana. "You see? Miss Bennet was only being kind because Sir Lucas asked it of her, and she saw her opportunity. She does not believe you are intelligent enough to do this on your own. She means to help you only so you would help her in return."

Darcy shook his head. She had as much as admitted it. She had been motivated at first not by genuine friendship for Georgiana, but only as a favour to her neighbour.

Georgiana's eyes pooled with tears, her lower lip quivering. She looked from him to her former friend. Then she ran from the room, her sobs audible until they heard her bedchamber door close behind her.

"How dare you!" Elizabeth said to Mrs Younge. Darcy looked at her in surprise at her audacity, only to take a step back as she turned to him. "I assure you, Mr Darcy, I could not be less interested in you. My only reason for coming to Miss Darcy's aid at the assembly was because no one would talk to her after she had snubbed one of our leading gentlemen. I could see she was shy, and needed only a little encouragement to make a most charming friend. And I have worked tirelessly to welcome her into our community. Did my actions yesterday seem questionable to you?"

Darcy only stood there in silence, staring at her. He could not for the life of him think of anything to say.

She did not give him much time to formulate a reply. "You are ungrateful, and I am sorry to see your true colours. You barely know me, and yet you believe ugly rumours about me, likely started by this woman. For what reason, I cannot fathom."

Mrs Younge stepped up to Darcy's side. "You have no right to speak to Mr Darcy that way. Do you know who he is?"

Elizabeth looked him up and down pointedly. "I am sorry to say that I do." She stopped there, letting her words hang in the air before she brushed past Mrs Younge, walking out of the house with alacrity.

Darcy stood stock still for a moment, feeling a dagger of guilt pierce his heart. He turned, looking after her through the window as she hurried away toward Longbourn.

Had he been wrong about her? She had seemed to genuinely care about Georgiana as she spoke. And her actions had not always seemed scheming. But then who was he to trust—a woman he barely knew, or Mrs Younge, in whose care and tutelage he had placed his precious sister?

Darcy shook his head. Surely, he had done the right thing. He could not be worried about Miss Elizabeth's feelings. Nothing was as important as protecting Georgiana. He would not allow her heart to be trifled with by the pretended friendship of an unprincipled fortune hunter.

Mrs Younge lightly placed a hand on his arm. "You did the right thing," she said soothingly. "We shall not see hide nor hair of Miss Elizabeth Bennet again, nor the rest of the Bennet brood, I dare say." With that, she walked out and closed the door behind her.

When she had gone, he could not help but feel the pain in his chest, the guilt at how he had berated Elizabeth in front of Georgiana and Mrs Younge. He should have taken a moment to speak to her privately. Then again, if he had allowed her to tell her side of the story, would she have been truthful, or filled his head with lies, as Mrs Younge suggested was her goal?

It was too late to change things. He would likely never see her again, and for a moment, he was sorry. Despite his best efforts, she had captured his curiosity. Darcy shook his head, trying to put all thoughts of Elizabeth behind him. No doubt London would take his mind off what had happened that day.