Chapter 8

The rest of the season passed more gloomily for Darcy. He had not realized how much he had come to enjoy Miss Elizabeth's company. He almost decided to go back to Pemberley early, but then realized he could not deprive Melody of the delights of London and her cousins. So he visited with Georgiana, he went to his clubs, he spent time with Bingley and Richard, he went riding with Melody, and overall tried to find that joy in life again that he had had so briefly in Miss Elizabeth's company. As the days passed, he began to look forward to the house party with a sort of resigned eagerness. Surely, with so many people there, Miss Elizabeth would not look for his company; and yet he could not deny that he longed to see her again. Perhaps she could spare some time to talk to him on occasion.

To his relief, neither Lady Matlock nor his sister tried to convince him to go to any balls. He had no interest in them, at least not if Miss Elizabeth was not there to dance with him. He felt pathetic. Had he really become that person – the man who lusted over a girl young enough to be his daughter? And yet it was not lust he felt – or not only lust. He had certainly noticed her light and pleasing figure, her fine dark eyes and rosy cheeks, her curling chestnut hair. But it was her brightness and vivacity, her thirst for life that had truly attracted him to her. God, he really was pathetic.

When the season was finally over, he travelled with the Dunmores to their neighbouring estates in Derbyshire, and ensconced himself at Pemberley where he buried himself in estate business. It was only a couple weeks until the house party, and he found himself reluctantly excited. Would Miss Elizabeth be glad to see him? Would she notice him at all?

He focused on his daughter instead. Now that they were back at Pemberley, they could go on races as she had desired; although he almost always let her win. It was not as if her stubby pony could keep up with his stallion, after all. He read her the new children's books they had purchased in London. They played games in the nursery, and he helped her when she stumbled over her arithmetic lessons. Melody's tenth birthday was coming up soon. He was trying to decide what gift to give her. It had to be something special. Perhaps he could give her a new mother? He dashed away that thought immediately.

Melody brought up the upcoming house party one morning at breakfast.

"Papa, when are we going to see Aunt Georgiana and Aileen again?"

"We will leave tomorrow, sweetling. Their estate is quite close, so it will take less than an hour to get there."

"You said I could bring Patches with me, right?"

"That's right; but remember, she must stay either in the house or in the stables at all times."

"And we will spend my birthday there?"

"Yes, your Aunt Georgiana is planning a party for the children."

Melody crowed with delight, and Darcy could not help but smile.

Dunmore Manor was only a fraction of the size of Pemberley, but it was still a goodly size, nonetheless. It was Lord Dunmore's lesser estate, and he had visiting there one year when Georgiana was twenty; that was how they had met. As they left Pemberley land and crossed over onto Dunmore's estate, Darcy felt a pang of ridiculous nervousness. Was Elizabeth there already? How would she react when she saw him? He pushed the thoughts away and focused on greeting his sister as Georgiana and Malcolm came to the front door to welcome them.

"Fitzwilliam! Melody! I am so glad you could come!" cried Georgiana, while her husband shook Darcy's hand.

"Darcy, glad you could make it," he said.

"Thank you for having us," Darcy replied.

"Family is always welcome."

"Some of the guests are already here," Georgiana said, as she took his arm to lead him in. "I'm sure they shall be glad to see you."

Darcy could not stop himself from looking around at the gathered guests for one face in particular. Then he saw her, standing over by the window talking to her sister and Mr. Cranfield. Almost against his will, he was drawn over into that corner. He did not notice when Georgiana let go of his arm and watched him, smiling.

At his approach, the three turned around to look at him. Miss Elizabeth's face at once split into a bright smile. "Mr. Darcy! How wonderful to see you here!"

Darcy could not help the smile that spread over his own features. "Miss Elizabeth, it is good to see you." He turned to the others. "Miss Bennet, Mr. Cranfield."

They exchanged civilities, and then Miss Bennet and Mr. Cranfield returned to their private conversation.

"I was hoping you would come," said Elizabeth, and his heart leapt to hear the words. "Is Miss Darcy with you?"

"Yes. I believe she has run off to see her cousin."

"It is wonderful to have playmates one's age. I only ever had Jane."

"Your cousins are all younger?" he asked. He remembered the Gardiner children were no older than Melody.

"Yes. My mother had a brother and a sister. You have met Mr. Gardiner and his children. My mother's sister is a Mrs. Philips. She is the wife of the county solicitor in Meryton, and they never had any children." She shook her head. "I think it would be a sad fate to never have any children, but Aunt Philips always doted on Jane and me as if we were her own."

"Your father had no siblings?"

"He had a sister, but she died when she was only twelve."

"How tragic," he said. "I cannot imagine losing Georgiana in such a way."

"Lady Dunmore has been so kind as to invite us," Elizabeth continued. "Your family have become such great friends to me."

Darcy's heart quickened as he hoped that she included him among those friends. Could she see him as more than a friend? But he cast that thought aside immediately.

"You are a great friend to us as well," he said softly. Then he cleared his throat. "Did you have a good journey?"

She smiled. "The journey here was long, but the scenery was so beautiful! We rode with the Sedleys, and their carriage is very comfortable, so I have no cause to complain on that account. Three days is a long time in a carriage, however!"

"It is," he agreed. "But do you think it was worth it?"

"Oh, certainly!" she cried. "Derbyshire is as beautiful as my aunt said. She has talked about the Peaks before, and I certainly hope to see them someday, but Dunmore Manor is very grand and elegant."

"Perhaps while you are here you will be able to see Pemberley," said Darcy. "It is nearby, less than an hour by carriage."

"Oh! Would I truly get to see your marvellous library, Mr. Darcy? That would be wonderful. However, you had better count your books before I leave, just in case I pilfer some. I'm sure the temptation will be irresistible." Her eyes twinkled.

In that moment Darcy decided that he would have to make sure Miss Elizabeth got to see Pemberley before she went back to Hertfordshire. Not only for the library; he was sure she would love the grounds too, and the music room. Did she play?

"Do you happen to play the pianoforte, Miss Elizabeth?"

"I do, but not well. Jane is much better. She took our lessons seriously, but I will not take the trouble to practice, you see. My interests lie elsewhere."

"In reading?" he guessed.

"Well yes, but actually my favourite activity is drawing," she said with a blush. "I suppose I am not very good at it, but I do it well enough."

He had no idea she liked drawing. "Do you paint as well?"

"I do watercolours, yes."

"I would like to see some of your work sometime. Did you bring your portfolio with you?"

She blushed. "I did bring some of my drawings, but not a portfolio, per se. Perhaps you may see them sometime in the future."

Darcy had to be content with that answer and tried to think of something else to say. He was often tongue-tied around this woman, but he had no desire to leave her company yet.

"Did you finish Waverley?" she asked, saving him once again.

"I did," he said. "It was very good. I think you would like it."

"Perhaps we should exchange books then. I know you want to read Romance of the Forest," she teased.

Darcy laughed. "If you liked it, Miss Elizabeth, then I am sure I shall as well."

"You have too much faith in my taste, sir!" she said with a twinkle in her eye. "Perhaps you should read it before you proclaim my invulnerability."

"Then I shall," he replied with a smile.

Just then Darcy heard his sister and brother-in-law greeting another guest. "Mr. and Mrs. Bingley! So glad you could come!" Then there was a pause. "Mrs. Parkinson," Georgiana continued in a tight voice. "What a surprise! I had no idea you were coming." He could tell by the tone of her voice that she was annoyed. Darcy could sympathize; he was annoyed too. How dare the woman encroach upon their hospitality so?

"Oh, well, I told Charles that I just knew the invitation was meant to include me. We are all such great friends, are we not?"

There was a pause, and Darcy could just imagine his sister counting to ten in her head. "Well, I will have to talk with the housekeeper to have a room prepared for you, Mrs. Parkinson. If you will all come with me, I can show you to your rooms, Mr. and Mrs. Bingley. Are your children with you? Wonderful. They can be shown to the nursery."

He heard footsteps recede and turned back to Miss Elizabeth to find her holding back mirth. In that moment, all annoyance melted away. It really was a ridiculous situation, a forty-year-old man hiding from a shameless fortune hunter! He decided to laugh about it instead.

"Ah, it is not kind of you to find amusement in my plight, Miss Elizabeth," he said teasingly.

"Forgive me," she said, "but I remember that lady from the ride we took in the park. Has she always been so … determined?"

"Until I married, she was. Then she married herself. But her husband died last year, so I am afraid she sees me as fresh prey again."

Elizabeth let out a peal of laughter. "Poor Mr. Darcy. We shall have to find a way to shield you from her."

His heart leapt again. "You shall be my knight in shining armour, Miss Elizabeth?" he asked.

"I shall have to sharpen my sword, sir. Then you shall find I can be the greatest defender in the world."

What a marvellous thought. Could she be the defender of his heart, too? Instead of instantly dismissing the thought, he thought on it more. It was clear she saw him as a friend. Could she ever think of him as more? Maybe he would have to see during this house party if she could. Did he not deserve some measure of happiness, after all? Was he doomed to spend the rest of his life, lonely and alone?

He could not see that God would have intended it that way.

"Have you seen the gardens yet, Miss Elizabeth?" he asked in a moment of inspiration.

"No, not yet. We only arrived about an hour before you did."

"I would be honoured to show them to you tomorrow morning. Are you an early riser by any chance?"

"I am, in fact. In Hertfordshire, I love to rise at dawn to take long walks. I would love to see the gardens with you."

"Then, shall we meet in the entry hall at, say, seven tomorrow morning?"

"It sounds lovely, Mr. Darcy. I look forward to it." She smiled.

He smiled back. "If you will excuse me, I must go refresh myself. Melody and I just arrived, after all. I should go find her to see if she is settled."

"Of course. I shall see you at dinner then, sir."

He took her hand and bent over it. "Until then, ma'am."

He thought he saw a faint blush stain her cheeks, but then decided he must have imagined it.

Elizabeth was truly glad to see Mr. Darcy. She had been feeling rather alone since they arrived at Dunmore Manor. She was not close to the Sedleys, and Jane and Mr. Cranfield were of course ensconced on their own private conversations. Lady Dunmore was busy greeting guests, and Elizabeth felt as if she was left out somehow. Then she had seen Mr. Darcy approaching her, that always-serious look on his face. All at once her heart swelled to see this friend.

It was strange that she could be friends with a man as old as her father; at least, she assumed he was about forty, although he looked younger. She had been rather afraid that she would be lonely at the house party, with Lady Dunmore fulfilling her hostess duties and Jane spending time with her fiancé. But now she had Mr. Darcy to spend time with, and she found she was truly looking forward to it. She could not wait to examine the gardens in the morning.

In the meantime, she was introduced to the other guests, and met several of the Dunmores' neighbours and friends. A few more guests trickled in, and were shown to their rooms to refresh themselves before dinner.

Elizabeth had been given a lovely room which connected to Jane's. They were placed right next to the Sedleys, of course, under whose protection they had come here. Elizabeth took some time to look over the artwork she had brought with her. It was not truly a portfolio, as she had told Mr. Darcy. She felt most of it would look rather pathetic to adults, but at least her young cousins enjoyed them. She had spent the last month making a present for Miss Darcy's birthday, and she hoped the girl liked it.

When it was time for dinner, she and Jane found their way down to the dining room. It featured a huge table that could fit forty easily. Elizabeth found that she was seated between a portly, elderly gentleman, and a young man of about five and twenty. This young man introduced himself as Mr. Althorpe. The food was sumptuous and luxurious. It was so good that she wanted time to focus solely on eating, but decided she needed to be friendly to her neighbours. The elderly gentleman was chewing away, and so she turned to the young man beside her.

"Do you live in the area, Mr. Althorpe?"

"I do. My uncle, Baron Chesterfield, has his estate about thirty miles from here. I am his heir," he said, as if she should be impressed by this.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Are you indeed?"

"Yes. It is a shame he is in such good health. He is only about fifty, so I suspect I shall have to wait quite some time to claim my inheritance."

Elizabeth would have been amused if she had not felt so appalled. "A shame indeed," she murmured, taking another spoonful of soup.

"How do you know the Dunmores?" he asked.

"I met Lady Dunmore and her brother, Mr. Darcy, while my sister and I were in London for the season."

"Ah! Dull Darcy?"

"I beg your pardon?" She raised an eyebrow again.

"That is what we call him hereabouts: Dull Darcy," Mr. Althorpe chuckled. "He is about the most boring, dull old dog you will ever meet."

Elizabeth felt offended on Mr. Darcy's behalf. At no time in their acquaintance had she ever found him dull. He was intelligent, kind, thoughtful, and a true gentleman, unlike Mr. Heir-to-a-Baron Althorpe.

"'We?'" she asked instead.

"Oh, all the young men hereabouts. Darcy may have the most prosperous estate in Derbyshire, but it does not make up for his lack of personality."

Elizabeth bit her tongue to avoid saying something very rude. Instead, she decided to employ a missile that would go right over this young fop's head. "Personality which you seem to have in spades," she said sweetly.

"Indeed," he laughed, not getting her meaning. "When I become Baron Chesterfield, of course, I shall outrank him. That will be gratifying, when he has looked his nose down on all of us for so long."

Elizabeth was repulsed. The Mr. Darcy she had met was humble and had no undue sense of pride.

"All the aged widows around here pant after him for his wealth. He owns Rosings Park, too, you know, in Kent. It was his late wife's inheritance. But no young woman who is not absolutely desperate would set her cap for him." He brayed another laugh. "I, however, am the heir of a baron and most young ladies consider me quite the catch." He gave her a look.

Elizabeth was so disgusted that she wanted to get up and leave the table. Instead, she looked down to where Mr. Darcy was seated next to Lady Sedley. He seemed to be having an amiable conversation with her, but glanced up as if sensing her gaze. His eyes lit up when he saw her, and he smiled.

She smiled back, instantly feeling better. It did not matter what idiots such as Mr. Althorpe thought. She knew the true Mr. Darcy, and he was quite admirable.

Mr. Althorpe continued with a paeon of his own virtues, mentioning another three times that he was heir to a barony, but Elizabeth managed to tune him out, only responding briefly when he seemed to require an answer. She resolved to avoid this fool for the rest of the house party.

She discussed the matter with Jane when they retired to their rooms that evening.

"How dare he defame Mr. Darcy in such a manner?" she cried. "He is like a puny little boy in comparison to Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy has more character in his little finger than Mr. Althorpe has in his whole body. Mentioning over and over that he is the heir of a Baron, as if that somehow makes him more worthy!"

"I asked Nicholas about him and he said that Mr. Althorpe is in debt," said Jane. "He borrows from his creditors only on the fact that he is to inherit from his uncle. Nicholas thinks he is on the lookout for an heiress to wed."

"I pity the poor woman, whoever she is," said Elizabeth fervently.