Chapter 13

Elizabeth

Elizabeth woke up the next morning with anticipation and a bit of nervousness. They had been invited for tea by Miss Darcy and she was going to do some investigating about Mr. Harrington. But would Mr. Darcy be there? Would he join them for tea?

She was silent during the carriage ride as Jane and their aunt spoke, she, then felt the horses slow down in front of an extraordinary house. It was much bigger than her aunts and uncles, and while she was aware that Mr. Darcy was very rich, she had not imagined such a grand house. Her aunt and Jane seemed to be having the same reaction.

"What a beautiful grand house." Her aunt stared at the Darcy house.

"Indeed aunt, Caroline had mentioned how extraordinary Mr. Darcy's home was but I did not expect anything on this scale." It surprised her to hear Jane call Miss Bingley by her first name after the incident at the opera.

"Well, now we know why Miss Bingley is so set to catch him at any cost."

"Lizzy!" Jane looked scandalized but she could tell that she was amused as well. Her aunt tried to hide her obvious smile. Either way, Lizzy did not feel guilty at all for the comment, she knew it was true. She had observed Miss Bingley during their stay at Netherfield and she had been blatantly obvious about her desire of catching Mr. Darcy. But if she was being honest with herself, she had enjoyed seeing her fail.

When they entered, they were greeted by Miss Darcy. Mrs. Annesley was also there and greeted them, but she stayed behind. Miss Darcy was still a bit shy but looked very pleased by their arrival and seemed to be enjoying hosting them in her home. She took them to the drawing room, that was beautifully decorated with an extraordinary piano. It was clearly an older piano, but delicate, elegant and very well maintained. What she had realized was, that while everything was very grand it was not excessively adorned. Her first thought was that Miss Bingley would find it a bit boring and in need of more adornments and gold.

On the table, there were an assortment of breads, rolls, cakes, cookies and sweet treats, more than the five of them could eat. A servant brought the tea in exquisite china. It pleased her very much, Miss Darcy was treating them as she would treat friends or important acquaintances, she was not treating them like inferiors as Miss Bingley would have.

"I am so pleased that you are here, I remember you told me you were going to the opera, you must tell me all about it." Miss Darcy seemed genuinely excited.

"It was wonderful Miss Darcy, we enjoyed it a great deal. It has been years since the last time Jane and I went, and it was as wonderful as I remembered, wasn't it Jane?"

"Indeed, I found it very moving. There is something about how the opera is sung that just resonates with me."

"I know exactly what you mean Miss Bennet. The songs have such strength, such feelings. I try to convince my brother to take me all the time, but it's not always possible, but whenever my aunt goes lately, she has invited me to go with her, she knows how much I enjoy it. Do you and Mr. Gardiner go often since you live here Mrs. Gardiner."

"Not as often as we wish we could. We don't have a private box and Mr. Gardiner is very busy, we can't always manage to get tickets. But we are making a special effort while Jane and Elizabeth are here, as we both know that they enjoy both the opera and the theatre."

"Maybe I can persuade my brother to invite you for the next show. He has a box reserved and we could fit six people. It would be wonderful to see the opera with people who would enjoy it. My brother has invited friends from time to time and well... they do not enjoy the music as much as I do." Elizabeth could imagine who she was talking about. But she was not certain that she wanted to be stuck in a theatre box with Mr. Darcy either.

"We really appreciate it Miss Darcy but there is no need. I don't want Mr. Darcy to feel forced to invite us when he could invite other friends of his." Miss Darcy seemed like she didn't want to let go of the subject so Elizabeth thought that a change would distract her and would start the conversation she was really interested in. "Although we truly appreciate it, there is a great difference from sitting in an orchestra seat to a private box as we experienced it yesterday. The view and commodity are much greater."

"You sat in a private box? Did you know someone there?" Jane gave her a disapproving look, but her curiosity could not be stopped.

"No, we met someone at the opera. A kind gentleman came to our rescue from a very tense situation we found ourselves in during the break, and then invited us to see the rest of the opera from his box. He mentioned knowing Mr. Darcy so you might have heard of him, his name was Mr. Harrington."

"Mr. Adam Harrington? Tall, with pitch back hair and dark eyes?"

"Yes"

"I do know him, or more precisely, know of him. He is a few years older than my brother but they know each other through a mutual friend. I have been briefly introduced to him but never talked." Lizzy could see Jane's face starting to change to one of interest, she tried to hide it but she was listening carefully. She glanced at her aunt and their gazes locked. Clearly, her aunt knew what she was doing, she smiled and clearly decided to help her out.

"He was a very kind man, very gentlemanly. My husband was very impressed by him. We invited him over to dinner in thanks for his assistance and his generosity in sharing his private box with us. I would like to know a bit more of him if you could share."

"I know that my brother respects him and he has a good reputation. His estate in Ashbourne is not that far away from Pemberley, only about 15 miles I'd say. It is a grand estate that has been in his family for many generations. He takes very good care of it, my brother tells me, I think that's why he respects him so. Many who inherit estates so young don't take care of them. He has a younger brother in the Navy and an Uncle I believe."

"An uncle?" Jane sounded as surprised as I was, she was sure he had not mentioned an uncle.

"Yes, from his mother side, but they have not spoken in many years. No one is sure why."

Elizabeth was going to question her a bit more when they heard the front door open.

"My brother must be back." Miss Darcy seemed so happy as she called for a footman to ask Mr. Darcy to come to the drawing room, which was exactly what Elizabeth didn't want. When he entered the room, he looked at them with surprise as they stood up to greet him.

"Miss Bennet, Miss Elizabeth what a surprise to see you here." And he did look shocked. By the look he threw at his sister he had not been told they would be there. Miss Darcy seemed to shrink under his gaze.

"We met a few days ago brother, I wanted to mention it but you have been so busy lately I have barely seen you all week, and since you encouraged me to...I didn't think you would disapprove..." Her words seemed to fail her and Mr. Darcy's face softened in a way she never thought it was possible. He went and stood next to his sister.

"It is fine Georgi, I was just surprised, as you've mentioned it has been a long week. So will you introduce me to, all, of your visitors." He said this while looking and her aunt Gardiner.

"Oh certainly, you already know Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth and this is their aunt Mrs. Gardiner."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Gardiner, and I welcome you all to my home."

They exchanged greetings and sat again. The atmosphere was a bit tense but, Miss Darcy, clearly wanting everyone to get along, started the conversation.

"Brother, you know Mr. Harrignton better than I do, we were just talking about him."

"Why him?"

"They met him at the opera and he offered them to sit with him at his private box."

"That was very kind of him."

"Indeed it was, so you see him often Mr. Darcy." She wondered if they would see much of Mr. Darcy if their friendship with Mr. Harrington deepened.

"We move in the same circles and we also have business dealings with him. He is one of the few men I do trust in that area, he is honest and responsible."

Her aunt seemed very pleased by that answer, clearly she liked the information they were getting of Mr. Harrington as much as she was. "He seemed like an honest Gentleman."

"He is. Will you be furthering your acquaintance with him?" He did not seem pleased by the possibility. Did he believe that they were reaching above themselves? Did he fear that they would get them invited to similar parties and that would force more contact between them? Either way, she was not intimidated by his disapproval.

"Yes he will, he has been invited for dinner and has gladly accepted. We are quite looking forward to getting to know him better." After a tense second, he stood up.

"Well ladies it has been a pleasure but I must retire, I had not planned on entertaining and I have things to finish yet." They all stood up and gave their farewells and he left. After that, they changed the subject from Mr. Harrington back to the Opera and enjoyed themselves until they left, not seeing Mr. Darcy again.