Chapter 7

7

E lizabeth returned home from her walk, feeling much more awake. She had stayed up into the early hours after the assembly, so she could write out the words of the song she and Charlotte had completed. And she was happy that she had remembered everything perfectly. Now she needed time at the piano — privately at the cottage, to change the music a little to fit, and then she could send the score to Uncle Gardiner to publish for her. This one would really work, she just knew it.

But she had still woken at her usual time in the morning, and slipped downstairs, smiling at their cook as she pressed a bag with a few pastries into Elizabeth's hand.

"Enjoy your walk, Miss Lizzy. Although I wasn't quite expecting you this early the day after the assembly."

Elizabeth had smiled. "Waking early is too ingrained as a habit, I'm afraid, Mrs. Cram. And it'll help to clear my head, too." She'd laughed, peeking into the bag. "There is a sweet little squirrel with very red tufts to his ears, at the top of Oakham Mount. He is ever hopeful that I will drop a few more crumbs for him than I usually do, but your pastries are just too delicious." Elizabeth glanced through the window to check that Stephens was ready to follow her.

"Why didn't you say before now, Miss? Here, let me add a crust of bread for you to give him. Squirrels used to be my favourite creatures when I was just a girl."

But now she was home, wondering what Sir William was talking to her father about. They had apparently been in Papa's library for nearly half an hour already, and she really hoped they were not making too much of Mr. Darcy's odious comments. She would far rather try to forget about it. She could write a song being angry with a man, and then erase him from her mind. She sighed; perhaps she should not be angry with people too often. She ought to be writing happier music; she'd been melancholy long enough.

Yes, definitely happier works — those who bought her music would appreciate that.

She looked up as the door opened and her father peered round it. "Elizabeth, please come with me."

She put down her sewing. "Yes, Papa," and followed him across the hall. She might find out what had happened at Netherfield.

Sir William rose to his feet as she entered and bobbed a curtsy. "Good morning, Sir William."

He bowed slightly. "Miss Eliza. Thank you for joining us."

She huffed a laugh. "I admit to being curious as to your success at Netherfield."

He looked over at Papa, who sighed. "Much better tell her now, my friend. She'll worm it out of us anyway, so let us take the easier path."

Sir William chuckled. "Very well." He turned to her.

"So I sent an early note and arrived at eleven o'clock. I have to say that Mr. Darcy looked somewhat fatigued. I think he'd not slept much."

Elizabeth gave a small smile. "I did hear he has his valet sleeping on a cot by his chamber door, sir. The man is renowned for snoring."

There was an appreciative chuckle from Papa, and when Elizabeth looked indignantly at him, he shrugged. "A tired man may be less restrained in his manner of speaking, Lizzy."

"True," she said tartly. "But he had only arrived in the country the previous day."

"So," she turned to their caller. "Did he use the excuse of fatigue for his display of bad manners?"

"Not at all, Miss Eliza." Sir William settled into his chair. "He was very apologetic, and intended to ride here this morning to apologise. I had to tell him that I had an appointment here first, and it would be much better if he came this afternoon."

Elizabeth huffed in annoyance. "I was going out this afternoon with Charlotte. Now it will have to be tomorrow."

"Yes, it will," Papa sounded stern. "I think you ought not to let him feel you are avoiding him — he might think you are afraid of him."

He laughed at Elizabeth's indignant look. "Yes. Of course he does not yet know the level of your temper. Lizzy, you need to be here and you need to accept his apology. Sir William has assured me he believes the man is genuinely contrite."

Their caller beamed at her. "He is indeed. I think he was surprised I can appear sterner than he saw last night."

Elizabeth grinned. "That you can, sir!"

"Yes." He nodded. "He was extremely discombobulated when I happened to mention your presentation, and that the queen herself had commanded it — and no, I did not offer to tell him why." He leaned forward. "I have told him that I expect him to attend the next gathering and show the town he has better manners than he has displayed before this."

Papa laughed. "And have you arranged the date of the gathering be brought forward?"

"Yes, indeed. My wife was as incensed as I. It will be on Thursday next, Miss Eliza, and I hope your singing and playing will be as enchanting as always."

"Lady Lucas is most kind." Elizabeth blinked; the kindness and generosity of all her neighbours had touched her heart last night, and now again this morning.

"Cheer up, Lizzy. You must not make Mr. Darcy feel that he has actually touched a sore spot," Papa said bracingly. "I will also attend the gathering, and make him feel young ladies ought to be protected from him."

Elizabeth laughed. "And what if he has fled to London after coming here this afternoon?"

"He won't do that, Miss Eliza. I told him that if he did, he would never be properly forgiven. And I think he might believe you have the ears of some of the first circles, having been presented."

Papa looked at her. "Perhaps we do need to reconsider your determination to stay away from town, Lizzy."

Elizabeth shivered. "Let's get over this incident first, and then we can talk about it."

After lunch, she sat in the sitting room with her mother and sisters, waiting for the arrival of the gentleman. She smiled slightly. It would be helpful if Mr. Bingley accompanied him; that would distract Mama. Of course, her mother had always made it clear that she also considered Elizabeth's looks only tolerable, but no one outside the family, no matter how rich, was ever allowed to disparage any of her daughters.

Elizabeth stifled a sigh. It would be too dark to go to the cottage afterwards, and she wouldn't play the piano here while they were waiting. It might be unkind of her, but she didn't want to be heard before the gathering. And the new song — Charlotte's words would very much make Mr. Bingley think.

She leaned over towards Jane. "Do you think Mr. Bingley will come with his friend?"

"I don't know, but it will be embarrassing to have to sit here if you're in with Papa and can't accompany us in a walk around the gardens. Mama is very loud today."

"You could ask Mary to chaperone you."

Jane looked brighter. "That's a good idea." She took a deep breath. "Lizzy, please don't be unkind to Mr. Darcy. He is good friends with Mr. Bingley, who is such a good man that he would not associate with a man who was not honourable."

Elizabeth smiled knowingly. "You like him, I think."

Jane blushed. "Don't speak of it. I have only met him once, although he is very amiable."

Mr. Darcy was in with Papa for only about twenty minutes before Elizabeth was called through to join them, although it felt much longer. She was glad she had been there to encourage Mary out with Jane and Mr. Bingley, before she gathered her courage and entered the library.

She curtsied in response to Mr. Darcy's bow, and Papa made the formal introductions. Then she took the chair which Papa had moved closer to him, and sat down, trying not to smile at the tense atmosphere in the room. She cared nothing for the man's discomfort, nothing at all.

"Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy asked for the honour of an introduction as he wishes to speak to you about what happened last night." Papa made the formal explanation and then sat back watchfully. She was glad he was there.

"I understand." Elizabeth sat up very straight and met Mr. Darcy's gaze. She was no simpering, blushing miss, and would not let herself appear to be so.

He looked exceedingly uncomfortable, and shifted slightly in his chair. "Miss Bennet, I wish to make a profound apology to you for my atrocious manners last night and my untrue statements regarding you." He paused, as if waiting for a response.

But Elizabeth sat quietly, without breaking her gaze.

He swallowed. "Yes. I knew at once that I had made a grievous error, and that was further brought home to me by the actions of your neighbours. I must confess that I have no excuse, and I slept little last night, determined to make my apologies as soon as I was able to."

He smiled slightly. "Then Sir William arrived and gave me a much-merited dressing-down and then a further explanation of how much in error I was."

He rose to his feet, and bowed again. "I was exceedingly wrong about your looks, Miss Bennet, and I apologise for any pain I occasioned you. I was also in error, both in thinking I could give any sort of consequence, and also in impugning you by imagining you were sitting out because you were being slighted by other gentlemen. I pray you might find it in your heart to forgive me."

He did look sorry, she thought, tipping her head on one side a little. But was he sorry at having been made ashamed and having to apologise, or really sorry for what he had said?

"Please sit down, Mr. Darcy. I would like to think a little before I make a response."

He looked slightly alarmed and cast a glance at Papa, whose unchanging expression probably gave him little comfort.

There was no point refusing to accept his apology, really. "While I accept your apology in the spirit in which it was given, Mr. Darcy, I would also like to ask you a question."

He looked simultaneously relieved and apprehensive, and Elizabeth was hard-pressed not to laugh.

"Yes, I wanted ask you — perhaps I am out of order — was your lapse in manners limited to myself at our little assembly, or do you regularly insult other young ladies?"

Mr. Darcy looked chagrined. "I confess, Miss Bennet, that I have lately begun to forget the manners and behaviour with which I was raised, and, looking back, I have not been as gentlemanly as I would now wish to have been."

She nodded. "I suppose your words can be considered as less offensive if they are similar to those you routinely utter."

He winced again and Elizabeth judged he would remember this moment for a very long time. She rose to her feet, and he also stood again, as was gentlemanly.

"Well, Mr. Darcy, I think this conversation at an end. I thank you for coming to apologise." She curtsied briefly and turned to her father.

"If you will excuse me, Papa."

"Of course, Lizzy. Mr. Darcy will stay here and we will finish our conversation."