Chapter Sixteen


That evening, Eden walked down the stairs of the Inn for supper. She stopped outside the door, seeing Mr. Darcy talking to the Gardiners. Whatever could he want? She could faintly hear his voice and made out a single sentence before he disappeared.
"I shall send my carriage at noon."

As soon as he left, Eden approached the table. Mrs. Gardiner grinned at her.
"Eden, I've just meet Mr. Darcy! Why did you not tell us you had seen him? He asked us to dine with him tomorrow. He was very civil."
"Very civil," Mr. Gardiner agreed. "Not at all like your family has painted him," said Mrs. Gardiner.
"Yes," Eden said, sitting down. "He is much kinder than my family ever had the pleasure of seeing."
"There is something pleasant, about his mouth, when he speaks," Mrs. Gardiner told her. Eden merely smiled lightly.
"You don't mind delaying our journey for another day?" Mr. Gardiner asked.

Eden shook her head no as Mrs. Gardiner smiled at her.
"He partially wishes you to meet his sister."
"His sister?"
"Yes, Georgiana." Eden's head dropped to her lap as a tiny smile played on her lips. It did not go unnoticed by Mrs. Gardiner, who's smile brightened.

At noon the next day, Mr. Darcy's carriage arrived, taking them back to Pemberley. A footman escorted them through a beautiful library until the drawing room where Eden had originally heard the pianoforte.

Every step filled Eden with a bit of trepidation. Was she making a grave mistake? Her heart was racing, and she almost turned to run. But before she could, the doors were opened, and she couldn't help but smile at Mr. Darcy and his sister. Georgiana played at piano but jumped up when she saw her guests.

Stepping close to Eden, Mr. Darcy introduced them.
"This is my sister, Miss Georgiana." The two girls smiled at each other, and Georgiana beamed at Eden.
"Miss Eden, my brother has told me so much about you. I feel as if we are friends already." Eden laughed lightly.
"Oh, thank you… You have a beautiful pianoforte, Miss Georgiana."

Georgiana grinned, "My brother gave it to me. He shouldn't have."
"Yes, I should," Mr. Darcy corrected.
"Oh, very well then." He laughed, smiling down at her as he spoke to Eden.
"She's easily persuaded, is she not?"
"Very. I'm afraid to say that your unfortunate brother once had to put up with my playing for a whole evening."
"But he said you play so beautifully."

Georgiana's innocent answer made Eden duck her head with a light blush.
"Then he has perjured himself most profoundly." Mr. Darcy laughed, shaking his head.
"I said played "quite beautifully"." Eden flushed again and he was quick to change the subject.
"Your uncle is fond of fishing, I hear?"
"Yes, very."
"Can you persuade him to borrow a rod this afternoon? For the lake here is very well stocked and its occupants left it in peace for far too long."
"That is a kindness he will never forget, sir."

Not wanting to be left out of the conversation long, Georgiana asked Eden a question.
"Do you play duets, Miss Eden?"
"Only when my sister, Mary, forces me to."
"Brother! You must force her," Georgiana begged.
"There is no need, Miss Georgiana," Eden said, laughing once more. "I'd be happy to play a duet."

Eden spent most of her time that afternoon with Georgiana. They played the pianoforte and spoke of trivial things, becoming fast friends. While they spoke, Mr. Darcy took Mr. Gardiner out on the lakes and Mrs. Gardiner found herself spending more time studying the artwork they had seen the day before.

When dusk fell, Mr. Darcy drove the carriage back to Lambton. Eden sat beside him up top by the Gardiners' sat comfortably in the carriage.
"It is so beautiful up here," Eden murmured to Mr. Darcy. "I will be sorry to leave." He smiled, pulling lightly on the reins to rein in the horses. "You have been a most gracious host," she continued. "I'm sure my aunt and uncle will speak of nothing else for days."
"I have recently thought a great deal about how I appear and act to others," he confided. She smiled over at him.
"I'm sure we both have."

The party arrived back at the inn and Mr. Darcy escorted them back inside. Mr. Gardiner leaned over to Eden as Mrs. Gardiner thanked Mr. Darcy.
"What a capital fellow." She blushed, looking away as her uncle winked knowingly.

Mr. Darcy was about to depart when a maid brought Eden a letter. She took it, reading the postmark.
"Oh! It's from Lizzie," she said delightedly.

Or at least, she was delighted until she started reading. Lizzie had never been one to hold back words or to write with the heart in mind after all and the letter was very blunt, mostly Lizzie speaking her mind.


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