Chapter 9
Elizabeth spent a very comfortable night's rest on the softest bed she had ever slept in. When she woke, she noted that it was just after six, and realized she would just have time to get ready to meet Mr. Darcy to tour the gardens.
She did not bother calling her maid, but dressed herself and determined that she would break her fast after her walk.
The house was not awake yet. Elizabeth could only see a few servants, going about their early-morning business. She found her way down the stairs to the entry way. At first she did not see Mr. Darcy, and was disappointed that she would not have his company. Then she saw him, standing and looking out a window, the morning sunlight pouring in onto his face. She noticed for the first time, the dark, almost black curly strands of his hair, and how attractive they were. She was astonished at the thought, but did not ponder it long, for he was turning at the sound of her footsteps. His face lit up at the sight of her.
"Miss Elizabeth! Good morning! I was not sure if you would come."
"Did you think I would sleep through such a beautiful morning?" She raised an eyebrow teasingly.
He smiled. "I think you will find much of the house is doing just that."
"True, sir. I see you are not one of them."
"I always keep early hours, even when I am in town. I find that I miss the best part of the day if I sleep through the morning."
"So do I. My favourite part of the day is watching the dawn."
"It looks like we have missed that this morning. But for now, we can go see the gardens."
"Of course! Thank you for agreeing to show them to me."
She took his arm, which he held out to her. She had never taken his arm before, and noticed how surprisingly firm it was under her hand. Did he practice sports? Or perhaps he helped his labourers on Pemberley land? She would not be surprised if he did such a thing. She decided to ask him.
"I have been known to help with the harvest, or repairs," he said, ducking his head modestly. "I should be willing to do what I ask my tenants to do, after all. If it is too dangerous or hard for me, then they should not be doing it either."
"I think that is truly admirable," said Elizabeth.
He did not answer, and she perceived that she had embarrassed him. She decided to change the subject.
"We do not have large gardens at Longbourn," she said. "Are the gardens extensive at Pemberley?"
"Oh yes," he said. "There is in fact a rose garden that my great-grandfather had planted for my great-grandmother. It is especially beautiful during the spring." He went on to describe Pemberley's gardens, and she listened with interest even as she looked around at the flowers blooming about her.
"Now these are my favourites," said Darcy, and they came to a stop next to a bed of white and yellow flowers.
"Narcissus?" asked Elizabeth. "They have a lovely fragility to them. But I do not care for their scent."
"No, their scent is not pleasant. But I like most the story behind them."
"Narcissus the vain? From Greek mythology?" asked Elizabeth.
"Exactly. Narcissus was so self-absorbed that all he wanted to do was look at himself in the mirror of the pool. Poor Echo faded away for love of him, and all he could do was think of himself. Eventually the gods turned him into a flower so that he could stay by the waterside, looking at himself forever."
It sounds like Mr. Althorpe, thought Elizabeth, but she perceived that Mr. Darcy was feeling very serious.
"It seems this story resonates with you in some way, Mr. Darcy," she said.
"It does," he said. They turned and began to walk again. "When I was younger, I was puffed up with my own pride and consequence. I thought I was better than everyone else because of my wealth and connections. I looked down on those I saw as being beneath me. I really was contemptible, Miss Elizabeth. You would not have liked me had you known me then."
"Then I am glad I know you now," she said, marvelling at his statement. She could not imagine this man being proud or disagreeable.
His eyes softened as he looked at her. "Thank you," he said gently.
They continued to stroll for about an hour, discussing Greek mythology and literature, when they came across Lady Dunmore, walking through the gardens herself.
"Good morning, Miss Elizabeth, Fitzwilliam! I am glad to see you enjoying the gardens!" The lady did really look delighted. "Would you like to come in to join us for breakfast?"
It was at that moment that Elizabeth's stomach rumbled. She laughed. "Yes, it appears my body is telling me I am hungry!"
The three turned and began to walk back toward the manor house. "Have you enjoyed your tour of the gardens, Miss Elizabeth?" Lady Dunmore asked.
"Yes, they are beautiful," Elizabeth admitted. "Yet your brother tells me you have not been here for six years?"
"No, we have not. My husband prefers his main estate in Scotland. And I must admit I have grown used to the highlands myself. It is lovely there."
When they reached the breakfast room, Elizabeth saw that there was an array of breakfast foods laid out already on the sideboard. Only she, Mr. Darcy, and Lord and Lady Dunmore were there to partake of it.
"Is Melody awake?" Mr. Darcy asked his sister.
"I believe she is. She is eating with the other children. I know you like to dine with her, Fitzwilliam, but she so rarely gets to be around other children."
Darcy nodded.
Elizabeth was further touched by this evidence of fatherly feeling. Darcy ate all his meals with his daughter? It was unusual that he did not keep her in the nursery, but she was not surprised by it.
"Mr. Darcy, what day is Miss Darcy's birthday?" she asked between bites of egg.
He looked surprised. "I did not know you knew about her birthday."
"I told her when we were in London," Lady Dunmore said.
"I have a gift for her," said Elizabeth. "But I do not know exactly when her birthday is."
Darcy smiled. "That is very kind of you, Miss Elizabeth. It is next Wednesday. Georgiana was hoping to have some sort of celebration for the children."
"I would be happy to help you with it, if you like," offered Elizabeth. It sounded like a great diversion to her.
"I would love to have your help," said Lady Dunmore enthusiastically. "There is so much to do as hostess. I have never held a house party before."
"You are doing a wonderful job, my love," said Lord Dunmore.
Lady Dunmore blushed.
"What activities do you have planned for today, Georgiana?" Darcy asked.
"There is hunting for the gentlemen, and I thought we ladies could enjoy some croquet or shuttlecock."
Elizabeth thought it sounded deadly dull. She was glad she had had her morning with Mr. Darcy to cheer her for the rest of the day.
Fortunately, that night at dinner the seating arrangements had altered, and Elizabeth was no longer seated next to Mr. Althorpe. Instead, she found herself next to Mr. Bingley. She remembered him as Mrs. Parkinson's brother, and a friend of Mr. Darcy. He was very amiable, and regaled her over supper with tales of himself and Darcy when they were at school together.
"For you see, Miss Elizabeth, I am the son of a tradesman, although my father left me enough funds to purchase my own estate and set up as a gentleman on my own. Darcy took my side in school against the bullies who saw me as less than they, and we soon became friends. He is the best fellow I have ever known, and I was very glad to see him in London over the season, and to be invited here. We had not seen each other for quite some time before then."
She wondered how this telling contrasted with Mr. Darcy's account of himself as being excessively proud when he was younger. Certainly a self-important man would not befriend the son of a tradesman?
"Where is your estate, Mr. Bingley?" she asked.
Mr. Bingley chatted happily about his estate in Gloucestershire, which he had purchased fifteen years ago, his wife, and his three children. Elizabeth could easily see how Mr. Darcy had become friends with such a man. He had the most happy manners of anyone she had ever met. He was not as intelligent as Darcy, certainly; but then, few men were.
Darcy enjoyed watching his friend charm Miss Elizabeth over dinner. Bingley had that gift; he could make friends with practically anyone. Darcy only wished he had the same talent. Still, he had thoroughly enjoyed his walk in the gardens this morning with Miss Elizabeth. He was feeling his way toward perhaps a better understanding between them. He had come to realize yesterday that perhaps he was worthy of happiness after all. Could he find that happiness with Miss Elizabeth? He really thought he could. But would he make her equally happy with him? That was the question. He had decided to use the house party to determine whether she could return the feelings he was beginning to admit that he was feeling. That morning's walk was a good start.
When the separation of the sexes was over after dinner, the party gathered in the music room to listen to the young ladies display. Darcy was eager to hear Elizabeth play. She had said that she was not very good, but perhaps she sang?
To his annoyance, when they entered the music room, Mr. Althorpe made a great show of deferring to Miss Elizabeth and begging her to play first for them. Darcy thought he saw a twinge of annoyance in her eyes before she smiled and agreed.
"Allow me to turn the pages for you, Miss Elizabeth," Althorpe said eagerly.
"That is very kind of you, sir, but my sister Jane and I are accustomed to performing together. She plays while I sing, so I turn the pages for her, you see."
Darcy was glad to hear this. He did not want Althorpe sitting so close to Elizabeth. He was beginning to feel jealous when it came to her.
Both Bennet sisters went over to the pianoforte, and Miss Bennet sat while Miss Elizabeth stood beside the bench. They conferred in soft voices while looking through the music, then apparently settled on one they knew by memory.
Miss Jane Bennet did indeed play well, Elizabeth had been right. But Elizabeth's soprano voice was something transcendent. She sang a song that was very well known, and yet she made it sound as if it were some angelic hymn.
Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously.
For I have lovéd you so long,
Delighting in your company.
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.
He clapped with everyone else when they were finished, and Mr. Althorpe begged them for another song. Darcy's eyes were fixed on Elizabeth, so he did not notice the saprophyte creeping up next to him.
"I can guess the subject of your reverie."
Darcy started in surprise, and turned to find Mrs. Caroline Parkinson next to him, speaking in a low, intimate tone. She had come to sit down next to him while he was watching Elizabeth. Georgiana had apologized to him that she was there, but he knew it was not his sister's fault. Mrs. Parkinson had insinuated herself into the invitation, and there was no way Georgiana could turn her away when she arrived at the door with her brother and sister-in-law.
"I should imagine not," he said.
"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings with such meagre entertainment. Certainly young ladies today are not nearly so accomplished as they were when I was their age."
"Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pure angelic voice can bestow."
Mrs. Parkinson looked stymied for a moment, then recovered herself and smiled, what he was sure she thought was an enticing smile, but merely gave him a stomach ache. "Still, you must admit, sir, that ladies of our age have gathered an accumulation of accomplishments which the young girls of this time do not have."
"True talent can come at any age, Mrs. Parkinson," he said. He was tempted to make a sarcastic comment about her age, but while his younger self would have done it, he restrained himself now.
"You truly believe that that girl has talent?" she said, obviously put out.
"The lady is very talented, yes," he returned.
"Well, I suppose these young girls must have something to occupy them, without houses to run or children to manage. It is indeed a grief that Mr. Parkinson's estate devolved to his cousin. I was mistress of his home for more than ten years, and…"
Darcy ignored her as she prattled on about her accomplishments. Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth had started to play another song, at general request, and Darcy enjoyed it just as much as he had enjoyed the first one.
When they were finished, Darcy rose, paying no heed to Mrs. Parkinson, and reached Elizabeth before Mr. Althorpe was able to. That gentleman looked put out when Darcy held out his arm for Elizabeth to take. "That was beautiful, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Bennet. Would you like to come have a seat by me?"
Mr. Cranfield was already taking Jane's arm, so all four of them retired to a corner away from Mrs. Parkinson and Mr. Althorpe, both of whom glared at them. There they sat together and enjoyed the music for the rest of the night.