Chapter XI

C uriosity was foremost among Elizabeth's feelings as the carriage moved its way onto Longbourn's drive and toward the house. They had all made Mr. Darcy's acquaintance, of course, for the gentleman had visited the parsonage in Woodborough more than once, though not for several years now. Georgiana Darcy, however, was an unknown, and given Mr. Bennet's testimony of some event having discomposed her of late, Elizabeth could not help but wonder what could bother the scion of so prominent a family.

? Not that the wealthy and important were immune to the cares of life, as her father would have pointed out had he known of Elizabeth's thoughts. A glance at her father showed he was watching the approaching coach with anticipation. The sisters had teased him for some time that morning about his eagerness to have another gentleman in the house with whom to converse, as he was so often caught up in the cares of three young ladies. Mr. Bennet would neither agree nor disagree with their inferences, favoring them all instead with a mysterious smile, as if he knew something they did not. Elizabeth suspected he would relish Mr. Darcy's presence, and not only for the instruction the gentleman would offer in estate management.

? As the carriage was now upon them and would soon stop before the door, Elizabeth pushed her woolgathering to the side in favor of the demands of the moment. When the coach, a large, superior conveyance pulled by a team of four noble horses, stepping high and proud, stopped before the house, the door opened from the inside, the gentleman within not even waiting for the footman. He stepped out and turned, offering his hand to the young woman within, and when she had stepped out, they turned to the waiting Bennets, giving Elizabeth her first view of the visitors.

? As Elizabeth had some experience with Mr. Darcy, she moved past his handsome features and broad shoulders at once, noting that he had filled out from the gangly young man he had been to one of solid stature and form. There was nary a hint of stubble on his cheeks or chin, his wavy brown hair combed in neat lines. This was, Elizabeth noted at once, a man to make ladies' heads turn when he passed.

? By contrast, his sister was both fairer of features and possessed a lighter shade of hair, almost approaching blonde. She stood taller than the Bennet sisters except for Jane even with her tender age, her figure slender and willowy, her eyes green. Those eyes, Elizabeth noted, the girl fixed upon the ground at her feet, her manners appearing more than a little shy, as Mr. Bennet had informed them. What she did not see and had not expected given what she heard of this girl's recent trials, was any hint of superiority or haughtiness. Already Elizabeth imagined the possibilities of friendship and confidence they could forge with Miss Georgiana Darcy.

? "Mr. Darcy," said Mr. Bennet, stepping forward to clasp the other man's hand at once. "And Miss Darcy, of course. You are very welcome here!"

? "Thank you, Mr. Bennet," said Mr. Darcy, the timbre of his voice suggesting genuine pleasure. "Shall we handle the introductions here, or would you prefer to go into the house?"

? "If we do not do so now," said Mr. Bennet with a glance at the ladies, "I am not certain my daughters will contain their displeasure."

? Mr. Darcy laughed, a rich, hearty sound, and agreed, taking the duty upon himself. In short order, the four ladies were known to each other. The Bennet ladies, eager to establish the friendship, stepped forward and took charge of Mr. Darcy's sister.

? "Miss Darcy," said Elizabeth, grasping the girl's hands, bringing her eyes to meet Elizabeth's with a hint of surprise, "how happy we are to make your acquaintance."

? "Shall you not come inside?" asked Jane, gesturing toward the door. "After your journey this morning, you will no doubt wish to refresh yourself."

? "I am a little tired," said Miss Darcy, a measure of hesitancy remaining in her response.

? "Then let us show you to your room," said Mary, taking the girl's hand from Elizabeth's. "I hope the room we assigned you will be comfortable."

? "I am certain it shall."

? "Perhaps you should wait to see it," said Elizabeth with a laugh. "Longbourn was outdated when we arrived, and we have not yet had time to see to all the rooms that require attention. Mrs. Hill, our housekeeper, has done excellent work maintaining the place given the restrictions under which she worked. It is clean, but the décor may make your eyes water."

? A giggle burst from Miss Darcy's lips unbidden. "Surely it is not so hideous!"

? "You shall judge for yourself," replied Elizabeth, with Jane leading the way into the house. "At least you need not see it when you are sleeping. When you are awake, I recommend the sitting-room, as we redecorated there; it will be easier on your eyes."

? As they entered the house, Elizabeth noted Miss Darcy's shy smile and knew the girl was already warming to them. Making friends had always been one of Elizabeth's favorite activities, and she knew they had made one that day. Now all they needed to do was provoke her to greater ease.

Curiosity may have been Miss Elizabeth's primary emotion at the Darcys' coming, but for Darcy, bemusement held sway. These people were not unknown to him, so he had known something of what to expect. Yet, it was clear he had not understood all, for several things had changed since he last saw them.

? The last time he had been in this family's company was more than five years gone, not long before his father's untimely passing. Much could change in the faces and characters of young ladies of teenage years, though Darcy had not considered it before. Miss Bennet, he remembered as a pretty young girl just coming into her adult years, and the promise of her youth now realized in the beauty of form and feature she displayed to the world. The younger ladies Darcy had not known nearly so well, but whereas Miss Elizabeth had been a gangly youth of thirteen, now she was as beautiful as her elder sister. Miss Mary had been a pretty, if shy girl, yet now she was not out of place among her sisters, her curly dark locks more than a match for her deep brown eyes.

? As they entered the house, Darcy watched as they congregated around his sister, chattering as they walked, already putting Georgiana at ease unless he missed his guess. While all three were among the finest ladies Darcy had ever seen, the instant attraction he had felt as he gazed at Miss Elizabeth's features had not escaped his notice. It was a shock, as Darcy had felt nothing close to it in all his time in London, for all that he had seen more young debutantes than he cared to remember. It was not only her face, which was beautiful, but something about her mannerisms, her instant welcome of his sister, and the way she carried herself, confident and poised.

? "Well, Darcy," came the voice of his host, the amusement in his tone unmistakable, "shall we enter the house? They are attractive young ladies if I say so myself, but we need to get you settled into your room."

? "I beg your pardon, Bennet," said Darcy at once.

? "Not at all, young man," said Bennet with a chuckle. "I shall neither give you a lecture based on my former profession nor blame you for your reaction, for I have seen it before. I have been blessed with beautiful daughters—knowing your character as I do, I am not offended by your admiration."

? Darcy nodded and allowed the former parson to lead him into the house. Longbourn was not a large manor house, perhaps even a little smaller than Pemberley's dower house. But it was comfortable and clean, and if the décor—as the ladies had suggested—was not the most modern, it was also not displeasing. Bennet showed Darcy to his room which was situated close to the master's, and he saw him settled there with Snell, his manservant, to attend him. Then he went away, informing Darcy that he would await his company in the sitting-room. When Darcy returned there, he noted the three ladies had already arrived with Georgiana, where they spoke with an easiness that suggested friendship of a long duration.

? "Welcome, Darcy," said Bennet, nodding to him when he stepped into the room. "My daughters and I were coming to know your enchanting sister."

? Georgiana blushed at this characterization, but she summoned a smile when Mr. Bennet waggled his eyebrows at her. Darcy noted all this, seeing Georgiana's confidence increasing at the tender ministrations of the Bennets.

? "You said you knew my father?" ventured Georgiana to Bennet.

? "Not so well as I am acquainted with your brother," replied Bennet with a nod. "But I knew him. I also knew your mother, if only a little, as well as your grandfather, who was a close friend of my father."

? Georgiana appeared impressed with the mention of her mother and grandfather, both of whom she had never met. "Have you made the acquaintance of anyone else in my family?"

? "I know the earl a little," replied Bennet. "I have met none of the rest. Unless I am not mistaken, I believe you have an aunt of decided opinions who would not approve of my friendship with your brother."

? "Some time I shall ensure you make Lady Catherine's acquaintance," said Darcy. "You would find her most amusing."

? "From what you told me," said Bennet with a grin, "suggesting she is ‘amusing' would be most offensive to the lady."

? "Lady Catherine has no sense of humor at all!" blurted Georgiana, and then appeared mortified that she had spoken out of turn.

? "Do you know what the trick is to deal with such imposing people?" asked Miss Elizabeth to Georgiana with an air of secrecy. "Just imagine they are wearing some ridiculous hat or have an enormous mole on the tip of their nose. Then, you will focus more on your amusement than your fear of them!"

? While Georgiana did not appear to understand whether Miss Elizabeth was jesting, she responded to the laughter of all three Bennet sisters, along with their father, who regarded his middle daughter, showing fondness and amusement in equal parts.

? "Perhaps you should not frighten our guest so, Lizzy," said Bennet. "Not everyone understands your lively and jesting nature."

? "Not at all, Papa," said Miss Elizabeth with an airy wave of her hand. "After all, that is how I endured Mrs. Porter whenever we saw her in Woodborough."

? "Mrs. Porter was not nearly so stern as that!" exclaimed Miss Mary.

? "Perhaps not to you, Mary," said Miss Elizabeth. "But you did not knock her eldest into the mud when playing as a child."

? "Mrs. Porter was always a little more severe to Lizzy," observed Miss Bennet.

? "It was not my fault!" protested she. "Stanley Porter should have known better than to attack the French when his position was so ill. He should count himself fortunate that all the lesson he received for his trouble was muddy clothes!"

? "A British general commanding her troops," said Darcy, winking at Miss Elizabeth. "If my cousin is to be believed, you might do a better job at it than his commanding officer."

? "Of course, I shall do no such thing, Mr. Darcy!" said Miss Elizabeth with a superior sniff. "I am now too much the lady for such things!"

? It was through this and other such comments that Darcy learned much of Miss Elizabeth's lively nature, as she called it herself. Naturally more outspoken than her quieter siblings, she appeared to believe it was her duty to make them all laugh as often as she could manage. When she was not engaged in it, her sisters were teasing her, bringing them all to laughter anyway.

? The Darcy family had long been a small one, their characters rendering them more reserved and less demonstrative. Being a Fitzwilliam, Lady Anne Darcy had possessed a character in keeping with the more garrulous Fitzwilliam clan, yet even she had not been as lively as Miss Elizabeth. Since his mother's passing and then his father following five years prior, Darcy did not think he could remember a time when Pemberley's halls rang with the laughter of its occupants.

? Longbourn had no such limitations. Though Miss Elizabeth was by far the most demonstrative of the family, they were all free with their mirth, the love they possessed for each other shining through in every word and deed that passed between them. In some ways, Miss Elizabeth was perhaps even a bit of a black sheep, for her sisters were far more reserved, and Mr. Bennet tended to observe rather than speak his mind. It was the contrast that struck Darcy with such force, that told him there was a gem here, a woman who would not attract much attention in London because of her history and lack of a significant fortune. Those who dismissed her—or any of the Bennets—for such reasons were nothing less than fools. Darcy understood this within fifteen minutes of his arrival.

? Such were the thoughts whirling about Darcy's mind when he retired with his host for a nightcap after the ladies said their good nights and went to their rooms. It was far too early to be entertaining the thoughts that flew through the jumbled chaos of his mind, but rationality did not prevent them, regardless. The question in Darcy's mind was what he was to do about it. He was living in her father's house at present, and he was uncertain an open courtship in such circumstances was at all advisable or even proper. There was no rush, and Darcy was not a man to jump into anything without due thought, so he resolved to study her and come to know her better. What was not in doubt, however, was how much joy she would bring to his home, how she would brighten his days and bring passion to his nights. It was so very precipitous, and Darcy could not bring himself to push away the thoughts that plagued him.

? "What did you discover regarding the steward when you returned?" asked Darcy, grasping onto his memory of their previous discussion to distract himself.

? "It was as you thought," said Bennet, his amused manner suggesting he understood Darcy as well as Darcy understood himself. "He even attempted to steal further funds from my desk before he fled."

? Interested, Darcy turned his full attention to his companion while Bennet explained what had happened while he was in London. Darcy agreed with his assessment of the reasons the steward had made such an attempt. It had been foolhardy, but fortunate for Bennet that he had apprehended the man before he could escape.

? "Now, however," continued Bennet when his explanation ran its course, "I must concern myself with replacing him, for I am not accustomed enough to managing the property without guidance." Bennet turned to him and grinned. "I do not consider you my steward, of course."

? "I suppose I shall fill a similar role at present," replied Darcy, not offended in the slightest. "If you are willing, I may have a thought about that."

? "Oh?" asked Bennet. "I would never presume to reject advice."

? "I have a friend in the north," said Darcy, "and his steward's assistant has been there for several years and is looking for a position."

? Bennet regarded him with interest. "This friend of yours—he must be a wealthy man to own an estate that can support an under-steward."

? "It is a handsome estate," agreed Darcy, "perhaps a quarter smaller than my own."

? "Do you suppose he would consider managing one that is not a fraction of the size or prestige?"

? "I believe he will," replied Darcy. "Whitmore is a good sort and has been training under my uncle's steward for several years. He is also at a time in life when I believe he would like to start a family, and a position as an under-steward is not sufficient for him to do so. You could not afford to pay him as much as my uncle pays his steward, but you could offer him employment now, whereas finding another position is not a simple matter."

? Bennet nodded. "Then, by all means inquire if he will meet with me. If you recommend him, I know that at least he will be of excellent character, which is not a virtue the previous man possessed."

? "I shall write to my friend tomorrow," promised Darcy.

? For some time thereafter they spoke of Longbourn's concerns, Bennet mentioning what he had done since arriving at the property. For a small estate, Longbourn was diverse, boasting cattle and sheep, several large tenant fields, and a home farm that fed the family and generated more than a little excess income. Or it would when Bennet put everything to rights, as the previous owner had not much concerned himself with the estate in the last few years of his life. Inevitably, as they spoke, the conversation drifted to more personal matters, among which numbered their families. Bennet had some knowledge of Darcy's relations, and some acquaintance with the earl, but Darcy was most interested in speaking of his daughters.

? "The ladies have changed much since I last saw them," observed Darcy.

? "Yes, young ladies of their age often do," replied Bennet, a note of humor in his voice.

? "Miss Bennet is now two and twenty?" asked Darcy, wishing to elicit more information about them.

? "She is," said Bennet. "And Elizabeth is twenty and Mary nineteen. I suspect, however, that you are not interested in speaking of my eldest so much as my second daughter."

? At Darcy's look of surprise, Bennet indulged in laughter at his expense. "I am not so old as to forget what it was like to be fascinated by a woman, Darcy. The moment you stepped from the carriage I noticed your interested looks at Elizabeth. It would be a surprise to learn you tore your eyes away from her for even an instant before they went into the house."

? "I beg your pardon!" stammered Darcy, abashed by how easily his host had seen through him.

? "Not at all," countered Bennet. "As I suggested before, I noted your interest at once and did not think it anything out of the common way. They are pretty girls; in so saying, I understand I risk sounding like a besotted father."

? Darcy snorted at the turn of Bennet's phrasing, and the other man grinned at him. "As for Elizabeth, I am not surprised that she caught your attention at once. While most men notice Jane, Elizabeth often draws them like a moth to the flame by virtue of her effervescence. Of all my daughters, she is the most like me, both in interest and temperament."

? "Yes, I can see that," murmured Darcy, wondering why he had not thought of it before.

? "For a man such as you," said Bennet, "she would be an excellent companion, for I suspect you desire a lively woman. It is, of course, too early to speak about such things."

? "Yet as you said," replied Darcy, "she caught my interest at once. I wonder if we can forge a closer connection, for I am not at all opposed to coming to know her better."

? "That is something only you and Elizabeth can answer," said Bennet.

? Darcy felt his host's scrutiny for some moments after, as Bennet considered him. "Forgive me if I speak out of turn, Darcy, but is it wise to fix upon my daughter as a potential bride? I understand something of your family and history; for you to marry a woman so low in society's estimation, possessing only a fraction of the dowry you might expect, a woman elevated to a gentlewoman from the daughter of a lowly minister would set tongues wagging."

? "You suppose the wagging tongues of the ton would cause me a moment's hesitation?" asked Darcy.

? Bennet snorted, and Darcy knew this man felt the same disdain he espoused whenever he thought of those of so-called high society. "No, I suppose you would not at that. The question is whether your noble relations would appreciate such a step."

? Sitting back in his chair, Darcy considered Bennet's question, knowing he had every right to ask it. "You suppose my uncle is proud and would disapprove of your daughter."

? "You know your uncle better than I do," replied Bennet, "for I only met him once or twice. He never struck me as a man above his company, but meeting with a parson and allowing his nephew to marry the daughter of one are different matters."

? "They are, but I will correct you on one point," replied Darcy. "I am my own man, and no one, not even my uncle who I respect, can prevent me from doing as I please."

? Bennet nodded but he did not speak.

? "My relations would not protest much for that reason," continued Darcy. "Lord Matlock is an excellent man who respects my judgment. If anything, the countess is more difficult to please, and in this situation may have proven the greater obstacle. Yet, I believe she will relent when Miss Elizabeth impresses her as I am certain she will. Before I left London, she asked me to inform her of any developments so she could prepare the earl should it become necessary. The earl's children will all fall in line, and while not all will welcome her with open arms, they will not be detractors either."

? "What of Lady Catherine?"

? Bennet laughed at the sour look Darcy knew adorned his features. Darcy did not wish to think of his cantankerous aunt, for her opinion did not signify, not when it pertained to Darcy's future happiness.

? "Lady Catherine possesses even less ability to direct me than her brother," said Darcy, aware his tone was short from his disinclination to discuss his aunt at any length.

? "Yes, I suppose you must be correct," replied Bennet. "Yet she will be the loudest voice of condemnation."

? "She may speak all she likes," replied Darcy. "Lady Catherine rarely leaves Kent and has much less influence in society than she believes."

? "What of the matter of her daughter?"

? "There is no contract," said Darcy. "If there was, she would have used it to compel me and relished her triumph. I make it a practice to avoid the subject wherever possible and I associate little with my cousin because of it. Anne understands this and agrees, for she has no more desire than I do to join in matrimony."

? Bennet watched him for a long moment as if trying to take his measure or determine the truth of his assertions. Knowing he had nothing to hide, Darcy met his gaze with no hesitation, noting when Bennet nodded in satisfaction.

? "I have nothing but the highest opinion of you, Darcy, and I would not shame you by suggesting you are not trustworthy. My concerns are what I suggested."

? "This I know, my friend," replied Darcy.

? "Very well," replied Bennet. "It is, as you said, still premature to be engaging in discussions such as these, and I shall not push the matter further. Should anything happen between you and Lizzy—and I recommend you use this time to learn if you wish to take it further—we may revisit the subject at that time."

? "That is for the best," agreed Darcy.

? "Then let us sleep on it," said Bennet, rising to his feet. "If you think this time at Longbourn will be a holiday, I mean to abuse you of the notion tomorrow, for there is much to do."

? Darcy grinned and nodded. "As I would have supposed. Let us be about our business in the morning."

? The two men agreed and made their way above stairs, where they separated into their bedchambers. When Darcy lay in bed with the candle snuffed out, he considered what they had discussed and decided he was anticipating the coming weeks very much. As much as he agreed with Bennet's assessment and had spoken the same words himself, a part of him already knew that Miss Elizabeth would prove irresistible should he allow her purchase in his heart. The future remained unknown, but Darcy suspected he knew how his heart would react to Miss Elizabeth's constant presence in his life.