Chapter 2

Darcy looked with satisfaction at the people gathered in his drawing room. The visit that afternoon to Castleton had been wonderful, and he was certain Elizabeth was growing to love Derbyshire—and if he were exceedingly fortunate, him. This evening, she and the Gardiners had joined them for dinner. His sister and Elizabeth were at the pianoforte, Georgiana playing while the woman he adored lent her support and turned the pages. While still very shy, his sister seldom looked like she wanted to flee the room, and she even spoke upon occasion, which was remarkable, given the presence of people she had not known a week earlier.

It was possible the Bingleys and Hursts recognised how well Georgiana responded to Elizabeth; the Gardiners and their niece could not, being unfamiliar with her. He wanted to thank them for their kindness to his sister. He knew it could be trying to be with her, requiring patience and a willingness to exert oneself to take on the burden of conversation and cheerfulness, but all three of them were wonderful to her. It pleased Darcy immensely since he had every intention of making Elizabeth his wife. He would be glad to call the Gardiners his aunt and uncle, as much as that had surprised him at first. But they were an agreeable, polite couple and excellent company. Georgiana’s life would be enriched by having them in it.

Of his other guests, his opinions were mixed. A bubble of dread settled in his stomach when he looked at Bingley. Darcy hoped he would always be a close friend, but he must tell him the truth about Miss Jane Bennet, including that she had been in town and he had concealed the news. He was determined to make the confession before his friend left for Scarborough.

Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley sat whispering together, and Hurst appeared afflicted with ennui. It was an improvement on their behaviour while Elizabeth was performing. Then, they had spoken loudly and asked her about the militia stationed in Meryton, making an allusion to Wickham. Darcy had been ready to evict them from the estate if they dared mention the man’s name. Although they did not know why he despised his childhood friend, they understood his sentiments well enough. Few knew the entire story.

How I wish there was no more to tell than what I shared with Elizabeth at Easter!

When it was time for the Gardiners and Elizabeth to depart, he walked to the carriage with them. The couple thanked him politely and stepped aside to allow him and Elizabeth a few moments alone.

Everything about her made him feel easier and more complete. Whenever he was near her, and as he grew more confident that she genuinely liked him, he felt less alone than he ever recalled feeling in his life, certainly since he became an adult. Her eyes were bright, her skin glowed, and she seemed to embody health and happiness.

“It has been a wonderful day,” she said.

“What made it so enjoyable, if I may ask?”

“Do you need to?” Her eyebrows arched elegantly, and he could hear a teasing note in her voice.

“I would not like to assume, and I do have a purpose to my question. Shall I tell you what it is?”

“Please do, my good sir, for I assure you, I cannot possibly guess.”

Darcy was not accustomed to flirting, and if he were being honest, it both thrilled him and made him shake with nerves. “My dearest wish is to ensure each of your days is as happy as possible. While I know I shall not always succeed, I hope to do so more often than not. Understanding what you found remarkable about today will provide me with necessary information.”

Colour blossomed on her cheeks. “I find it does not take much to please me of late. I suppose the ingredients for wonderful days are a pleasant location, agreeable conversation, but most especially excellent company. That is what makes all the difference.” Her eyes seemed to open a little wider, and she did not blink as she regarded him. What was she trying to communicate? Dare he hope it was that for which he most wished?

“We have two days before you must depart. I intend to continue doing whatever I can to convince you that Derbyshire is the best of counties. I shall be at the inn by nine o’clock tomorrow morning, if that suits.”

She said nothing further but nodded and smiled at him for a long moment before curtseying and moving towards the carriage.

After watching the conveyance drive off, Darcy returned indoors ready to burst with energy. If it were possible, he would have taken a long ride or walk through the park, but he could not leave his sister for long, and he had guests to attend to. Each conversation with Elizabeth did more to convince him that she would agree to deepen their connexion. Before she left the county, he would speak. While he most desired her acceptance of an offer of marriage, he would assure her that he was prepared to wait should she require time to reflect before committing herself. He would go to Hertfordshire as soon as he could and remain as long as it took for her to be comfortable with the prospect of being his wife.

When he again joined the party, Miss Bingley called, “Oh, Mr Darcy! Louisa and I were about to send Charles to search for you. We feared Eliza Bennet and her relations had kidnapped you.”

The ladies chuckled, but he found no humour in their supposed joke.

“Caroline, what a ridiculous thing to say!” Bingley snapped.

Darcy left the brother and sisters to their squabble. His immediate concern was Georgiana. With Mrs Annesley having retired, his sister was on her own and clearly uneasy.

“Would you like to take a turn on the terrace?” he asked.

She nodded and accepted his assistance to stand. He kept her hand in his until they had crossed the threshold and stepped into the open air; then he wrapped it about his elbow, keeping her close to him and offering whatever portion of his strength and love she would accept.

After strolling for a short time, he said, “I am afraid Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley have never particularly liked Miss Elizabeth or her family. I did once think they were friends with the elder Miss Bennet, but?—”

“Is her family disagreeable?” Georgiana sounded alarmed.

“No. I admit I once thought so, but I have come to realise I was being unfairly harsh in my judgment. I admit, some of the Bennets can be…a little difficult to tolerate, but it is similar to the way some of our relations are not the most pleasant companions.”

“Lady Catherine,” Georgiana murmured.

“The dragon of Kent. Yes, but I believe there is more kindness in the Bennets than there is in our aunt.” Darcy gave a resigned chuckle.

It was a very real possibility that his anger at the world and despair over Georgiana had led to his being especially discourteous when he was in Hertfordshire, but the underlying reason for his judgment of the local people had been the arrogance he had carried with him since childhood. Elizabeth had shone a light on it, giving him the opportunity to correct the way he perceived and treated people in society. While it was not always easy, the approval—the genuine liking—he saw in her eyes was his reward.

“Georgiana, what is your opinion of Miss Elizabeth?” he asked gently.

His sister bit her lips together, and one hand reached for a curl hanging by her cheek. She pulled at it as she answered. “I-I like her. She is such a happy person, and I am sure it does me good to see it.”

“I am glad.”

“Will you marry her?”

“That, along with your continued recovery, are my most fervent wishes.” He placed a kiss on her hand and led her towards the path through the rose bushes.