Chapter 6

Two days later, Elizabeth again found herself walking with Mr Darcy. She had contrived to have him to herself, but she did not think anyone noticed. They were at an afternoon party at Haye-Park, the estate owned by Mr Bennet’s childhood friend Mr Goulding. Since the day was warm and dry, many of the guests were spending time out of doors, Elizabeth and Mr Darcy amongst them. She took Mr Darcy into the gardens, which he had never seen. As soon as they were away from others, she laughed.

“Goodness, you are very popular! I have noticed how much everyone has wished to speak to you since your return, thus inconsiderately disrupting my intentions to monopolise your attention, but it was almost comical!”

He covered his face as though hiding in embarrassment. From the moment he and Mr Bingley had entered the house, two or three people had attempted to speak to him at once, usually on different subjects. “I have done nothing to deserve it, and I would thank you to stop laughing at me!”

She did her best to suppress her amusement. “You are free to tease me as much as you like should I ever find myself in a similar position. As for not deserving it, I disagree. I have never thought so highly of my neighbours as I have since seeing how much they value your company. They have excellent taste.”

“Do you see why I prefer to stand at the side of the room being taciturn and disagreeable? I could hardly make sense of what everyone was saying.”

“It was a bit much,” she agreed. “We do not often see new people in the neighbourhood, and I admit we can be a little too eager at the prospect of hearing different voices. You bore it very well.”

He shrugged. “I cannot fault your neighbours for their friendliness. I am grateful that they have welcomed me so warmly, despite how dreadful my manner was last year. Though, if I can be forgiven for saying it, I would prefer it if Mr Long did not speak so loudly, especially when he is standing beside me. I am not sure my hearing has yet recovered!”

Elizabeth brought her hand to her mouth to hide yet another laugh. Elderly Mr Long was almost entirely deaf but refused to admit it. She pointed to the left. “Shall we walk in that direction?”

He nodded, and they strolled in a companionable silence for several minutes before he spoke.

“The Gouldings have a fine property. I did not realise it was so large.”

“I have always considered it one of the prettiest in the neighbourhood. Mr Goulding’s mother was an avid gardener, and she is largely responsible for how the grounds look even today.”

“Like my own. I often feel closer to my mother when I walk through the gardens she arranged.”

She linked her arm with his and smiled gently. From the way he had spoken of Lady Anne, he had evidently loved her dearly and still grieved her death. “I wish I could have known her. Do you and Miss Darcy most resemble her or your father?”

There was a brief pause before he responded. “Georgiana reminds me of her more and more each year, though in looks I believe we both are like my father. Speaking of family, I have not heard you mention any other Bennet relations, apart from Mr Collins.”

“Because there are none. My father had an older sister. She never married and died when I was still very young. We are a small family, and not a particularly illustrious one, but I am fond of them. Well, perhaps not Mr Collins, but I trust you not to tell anyone I said that!”

He earnestly vowed to keep her secret. His teasing pleased her because it showed how comfortable he was with her. They wandered a while longer until they reached a pond, where they stopped to watch a flock of ducks.

“I must go to London for a few days,” Mr Darcy said. “I hope I shall be away for no more than a week, though it might be a few days beyond that. No more than a fortnight. There are meetings I must attend related to various ventures I am involved in, and more of my family will be in town. No doubt, they will wish to spend time with me and Georgiana. It has been some months since we were all together.”

“Is this your mother’s family or your father’s? I do not recall you mentioning the latter as much as the former.”

“I suppose that is true. I do not have an especially large family, though there are distant cousins I rarely see. On my mother’s side, other than Lady Catherine and her daughter, it is Colonel Fitzwilliam’s family—my aunt and uncle, Lord and Lady Romsley, and my older cousin, Viscount Bramwell. I am closest to them. My cousins are presently in London, and Fitzwilliam is staying with my sister, but the earl and countess are away. My father had a cousin, Mr Reed, with whom he was good friends, and I often see him, his wife, and their daughter, Rebecca. Now that I think of it, it must be six or seven months since I have, however, which is too long.”

Elizabeth gave him a smile of thanks for his explanation. It would be too bold to say she looked forward to meeting them, so she did not.

“I am glad you and Miss Darcy will soon see your relations. When I was a child, I wished I had more. I still do. The idea of being surrounded by aunts and uncles and cousins appeals to me. One benefit of Jane marrying Mr Bingley, assuming he proposes”—they chuckled—“is that it means I shall have a new person to call family, one for whom I need not blush.”

Their eyes met, and they shared an unspoken understanding that soon Elizabeth’s family would be substantially enlarged, as would Mr Darcy’s.

“I cannot promise none of my relations would make you blush,” Mr Darcy said. “Two in particular, whom you have met, would almost certainly cause you vexation, if they have not already.”

“And yet, I would gladly embrace them as my own.”

“I hope you will have reason to before long.” His fingers gently caressed hers, and she clasped his hand.

“As do I. I might even say I am counting on it,” she whispered.

“As am I.”

A noisy group of young people drew close, causing Mr Darcy to withdraw his hand. They moved on, Elizabeth leading him along a path to a small copse.

“Now, sir, to return to the matter of your absence, I noticed your definition of ‘a few days’ does not entirely accord with my own. First, you give me reason to hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing you by Saturday, now you admit it could be a week beyond that? For shame.”

He took her hand and placed it on his arm. No one would look askance at them walking thus, although anyone who knew her well—and everyone present did—would know she did not require his assistance for such an easy walk. She did not care if they commented on it. What did it matter when soon they would be sharing the happiest of news with the entire world?

“I shall make it as short an absence as possible,” he vowed.

“Thank you. You will find me here, patiently awaiting you.” She spoke softly.

They exchanged a long look, their gentle smiles conveying a great deal. Although part of Elizabeth wished he would speak, there was something terribly romantic about this period of their lives and the anticipation of what was to come. Her happiness was like a balloon in her stomach, slowly leaking all the emotions it contained, and once he proposed, it would burst and cover her with so much joy she would not know what to do.

Except throw myself into his arms and entice him to kiss me. She chuckled to herself. I suspect it will not be a difficult task!