Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

O ver dinner that evening, Elizabeth and the Gardiners laughed cheerily over her misadventures of the afternoon.

"And so the ghosts lured you into the room only to trap you in there? How inhospitable!" Mr Gardiner said, wiping a tear from the corner of one of his eyes.

"I was not trapped, Uncle," Elizabeth disagreed, her own mirth overflowing. She had been sure to tell her relations of her spectral encounters with the type of spirit such a tale deserved, even feigning suspenseful, expressive pauses whenever a new incident had been revealed. They had both savoured her theatrical recitation. "The window was locked against me, but the door to the hall was still wide open. I suspect the ghost was merely playing a little prank on me."

"As with the Bible?" her aunt enquired.

"I always assumed ghosts preferred Mrs Radcliffe's novels," quipped Mr Gardiner, earning another laugh from his wife.

Elizabeth's amusement flagged, and she disguised her chagrined grimace by taking a bite of her turnips. She had mentioned the falling tome but not which quotation it had presented for her consideration. Not that she truly believed a spirit was communing with her via the holy text—no, certainly not!—but it still caused a blush for her to think upon the Song of Solomon despite her more rational conjectures.

Of course, the lingering disquiet she felt for the manor house at Pemberley was nothing to what she experienced over its master. She still recalled the tingling sensation of Mr Darcy's fingers grasping hers, the intensity of his gaze as he looked upon her with wonder as if she were some fantastical apparition.

Stop it, Lizzy! She shook her head, banishing the image of Mr Darcy to the depths of her mind, even if the anxiety remained. If you continue to dwell on this nonsense, you will be sent to bed to rest your poor nerves! There is nothing stalking the halls of Pemberley save for the likes of Miss Bingley, and I refuse to fear her . Though, she considered with a wry smirk, Mr Darcy ought to watch himself with that one.

"And then, after all that," Mr Gardiner continued, "to stumble across Mr Darcy in such a state! Tell me, my dear, did you think he was a phantom or a sea serpent when he rose from the muck?"

Feeling that the best remedy for her affliction of nerves was to laugh at herself, Elizabeth affixed a smile on her face and said, "I hardly know what I thought, but I was certain that whatever it was intended to eat me for dinner!"

Mr Gardiner slapped his hand upon the sturdy wooden table repeatedly as he howled at his niece's latest sally, while his wife snorted into her napkin. "I shall take great pleasure in the experience when we tell your father of this. Please, Lizzy, promise that you will not write to him of it and spoil the moment. "

"I believe I can faithfully promise you that. It loses something in the retelling on paper, anyhow."

"But shall we write to him of Mr Darcy?" Aunt Gardiner asked, peeping at Elizabeth through the corner of her eye as she replaced the linen napkin upon her lap.

Elizabeth could feel the blush rising in her face as a wave of embarrassment overtook her. "I do not know what you mean, Aunt. Why should I write to Papa of Mr Darcy?"

Mrs Gardiner shook her head. "I rather think that your uncle and I might have to take on that responsibility. It would not be right to leave him unaware of the young man's interest, if, indeed, he does not already know."

Elizabeth grew so warm that she almost felt as if steam should be coming out of the top of her head like a steeping teapot. "Interest? Do not be ridiculous!"

"Mm," replied Mrs Gardiner, her attention seemingly fixed upon buttering her roll. "I suppose you embrace many young men, then?"

"Of course not!"

"Then Mr Darcy is a special case?"

Becoming frustrated, Elizabeth's tone was a touch sharper than she generally used with her aunt. "He was simply helping me to right myself. When he rose out of the lake like a great sea monster come to feed upon a helpless maiden, I tripped upon my skirts and fell. He was kind enough to assist me back to my feet."

"I see. And I suppose he plied us with tea and a future invitation because you dirtied your frock?"

"He…he was being a proper host, that is all. Any true gentleman would do the same."

"Perhaps, but he seemed unusually keen to keep you at Pemberley. For a moment, I rather wondered whether he was going to let you leave or instead hold you captive in the attics." Mrs Gardiner chuckled at her jest, joined by her husband. Then she sobered and said, more gently, "Really, Lizzy, you are being intentionally obtuse."

How could she make them understand without revealing the events at Hunsford? She knew that Mr Darcy would never pay her any sort of attentions again, not after being rejected so thoroughly, but it would be nigh impossible to convince her well-meaning relations of this without admitting to something of their shared past. However, Mr Darcy did not deserve to be humiliated by having the affair shared with others, even those as trustworthy as the Gardiners, and it would bring her no small amount of pain to relate her shortcomings as well. No, she would have to try and dissuade them some other way or simply let them think what they would about the situation; when she left the country without an offer, they would then realise their error.

"Lizzy." Mrs Gardiner placed a hand upon Elizabeth's forearm. Her tone was changed to one less teasing and more motherly, soothing the nerves she had so lately ruffled. "I do not mean to question you about such a sensitive matter, but I think you must accept that Mr Darcy has some form of intentions towards you. He was most gracious to us all but particularly attentive to your comfort whilst we were in his presence. He could hardly take his eyes off you! Whether you return his affections or not I do not know, but do not be caught unawares if he makes his feelings known."

Elizabeth lowered her head and stared at her aunt's hand, which stroked soothingly at her arm with a thumb. "Mr Darcy cannot have any intentions towards me. He made it very clear in Hun—Hertfordshire that I and my family are beneath his consequence. There can be no match." He had also made it very clear during his proposal, but Elizabeth was hardly at liberty to divulge that .

"He did invite us to dine."

"True, but he probably felt obligated due to my previous acquaintance with him and the Bingleys. It is nothing, I am sure."

Mrs Gardiner huffed—a sure sign of her exasperation. "He also asked to call upon you. Is there a surer sign of a gentleman's romantic interest in a lady than that?"

"I am certain he meant nothing particular by it. It might be considered rude if he did not call upon me whilst I reside in his neighbourhood for several days."

"He made a point of introducing you to his sister, did he not?" Mrs Gardiner raised her brow as if daring Elizabeth to counter this argument.

"Yes, but…" She hardly knew what to say to that. Mr Darcy was protective of his sister; she was perfectly aware of that fact and could not suppose that he would encourage—nay, insist upon—an acquaintance to just anyone, especially when Miss Darcy was not yet out.

"Trust me," said Mrs Gardiner with an air of forced patience. "A man will not risk introducing a lady to his family unless he is intending to mark her as special. Most will not unless an offer is imminent."

There was nothing to say to that; they were at an impasse.

"Ahem," Mr Gardiner interjected, dabbing one last time at his mouth before depositing his napkin on his plate. "Anyone for cards?"

Elizabeth, even though she had no great liking for card games, enthusiastically championed her uncle's suggestion. Any distraction from her muddled feelings was most welcome.