Chapter 17
Elizabeth awoke just in time to receive her family. She dressed with care and made her way downstairs where Georgiana was waiting for her. Together they went out to the front of the estate to await the carriage and Elizabeth struggled to calm her anxieties. How would her mother greet her? What if she was still hostile? How would Georgiana react?
They were both surprised when the first carriage to arrive was the Darcy carriage. When Mr. Darcy stepped down, Elizabeth was confused by the expression on his face when she met his eyes. He looked almost pained but yet with such longing that she could not help but blush and look away.
As he came to stand by her, ready to welcome his guests he whispered, "All is well. No need for concerns tonight."
Elizabeth was puzzled by his words but also comforted that he seemed to be so aware of the fears she was experiencing. Had he always been able to read her so well? Why had she never noticed previously?
Turning her attention to the carriage, her confusion deepened as she saw her father step down from the Darcy carriage.
Elizabeth approached her father and was enveloped by the warmest hug and she felt tears welling up in her eyes.
"Oh Lizzie! I have missed you dearly," her father said. "How are you fairing? You look well," he continued as she pulled back, ending the hug.
"I am well, papa," Elizabeth said warmly. "It is so good to see you. Where is Mama?"
Her father hesitated. "She wasn't feeling well enough to make the journey, I'm afraid."
Elizabeth's heart dropped. Her mother was still angry with her. She knew her mother would not have missed the drama of a trial for any other reason.
Elizabeth tried to hide her disappointment as she turned and introduced her father to Georgiana. As they made the acquaintance she could not help but to look to Mr. Darcy who was, to her surprise, watching her carefully. She avoided his gaze this time, afraid to show him how upset she was. Instead she turned as the Gardiner's carriage pulled up.
She waited until both her aunt and uncle descended from the carriage to approach and gave each one a warm embrace.
"It is so good to see you, Lizzie," Mrs Gardiner said, holding her at arm's length. "You look well, my dear."
Elizabeth smiled weakly. "Thank you, Aunt. It is good to see you too."
Mr. Gardiner looked at Elizabeth with concern. "How are you holding up, Lizzie? We heard about the attack and have been so worried for you."
Elizabeth took a deep breath. "I am well now, Uncle. Mr. Darcy, his sister and their staff at Pemberley took prestigious care of me. I could not have been in better hands," she finished as she turned and caught Mr. Darcy's eye.
He smiled warmly as he stepped forward. "I am so pleased that you all could join us tonight. I believe that dinner is ready if we want to head inside."
Mr. Darcy took his sister's arm, Mr. Gardiner his wife and Elizabeth her father. As they walked she could sense that there was something troubling her father.
"What is it, Papa?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
Her father sighed. "You know me well, Lizzie," he replied with a smile. "I worry about you. I want you to be happy."
"I am not unhappy," Elizabeth stated. "My time away has not been all bad. I enjoy Pemberley greatly. You would surely as well if you could but see the library. I've never seen anything like it, Papa. I could spend forever in there and still not read half of what is there. Although I feel we could get through more if Mr. Darcy would only read faster. Or if Georgiana would admit that she if interested and pay attention instead of feigning disinterest and then asking so many questions after," she finished with a small laugh.
Mr. Bennet gave her a peculiar look. "Mr. Darcy reads aloud to you?"
"I know it is odd, but he started while I was recovering and it has just been great fun so we've continued," Elizabeth said with a blush. "He's even getting better at the voices, although not near as well as you used to."
"Huh," came the only response as they arrived at the house and made their way inside.
As they entered the dining room, Elizabeth could not help but be in awe. The room sparkled with crystal, silver and candlelight and the smell of roasted meat and savory dishes filled the air. It was very clear that Mr. Darcy had instructed the staff to take extra care to make the meal special which warmed her heart.
Taking his place at the head of the table, with Georgiana sitting next to him, Elizabeth was somewhat pleased to be shown to the chair on the other side of him and directly opposite his sister.
The meal began and Mr. Darcy kept the conversation flowing smoothly. Elizabeth was grateful for his presence and the way that he made everyone feel at ease. She could not help but notice that he made special efforts to include her father in the conversation, knowing that he has had a difficult few months. Elizabeth did not participate much in the discussions, but instead was content to listen. She found herself hoping for her relations to find Mr. Darcy was as agreeable and amiable as she did.
At one point between courses, Mr. Darcy leaned over to her and asked quietly the concern evident in his eyes, "Is everything alright? You are particularly quiet."
Elizabeth gave a small smile and nodded, unable to convey to him her thoughts.
Not looking convinced, he patted her hand in a that lay upon the table in a comforting gesture before the servants came out with their trays.
When the meal was complete everyone but Georgiana retreated to the drawing room for some wine and coffee. Elizabeth was pleased to see Mr. Darcy engaged with her father on some literary topic while Mr. Gardiner looked on. Elizabeth took the opportunity to sit with her aunt.
"It seems that Mr. Darcy is quite attentive to you, Lizzie, Aunt Gardiner remarked.
Elizabeth smiled as she stole a glance at him from across the room as he was doing the same at her. "He has been most kind and thoughtful. I could not ask for dearer friends than he and his sister."
"Friend Lizzie?" Aunt Gardiner said slyly. "He does not look on you as a friend would. Why, he is always so aware of where you are and what you are doing. And don't think I did not see him at dinner."
"Truly, aunt," Elizabeth said, beginning to feel uncomfortable. "With all that has happened and the trial still ahead, I do not believe that anything more than friendship is appropriate to discuss at present regardless how either feels." She took a deep breath and asked, "What do you know of Mama?"
Her aunts face darkened. "Surely we do not need to discuss that at such a pleasant moment."
"Please, Aunt Gardiner," Elizabeth begged. "I need to know. It is because of me that she is not here is it not?"
"I'm sorry, Lizzie," came the reply. "You know how prone to theatrics she is. Her antics have only grown since your father does not allow Mrs. Phillips entry into Longbourn."
Elizabeth grew cold. "Why would he do that?"
Aunt Gardiner shook her head. "Oh Lizzie it is of no consequence."
"Aunt, I need you tell me why my father has refused entry to my mother's own sister," Elizabeth said, growing fearful of the answer.
Aunt Gardiner sighed. "It seems that Mrs. Phillips and your mother were not content with the sympathy of a daughter taken so cruelly that they have given the impression to folks in Meryton that you were in league with Wickham."
"What?" Elizabeth scoffed as her she felt her breathing quickening. "But does she not know that by not disclosing what I knew of Wickham was only done to protect the Darcy's? If roles had been reversed she would not have wanted Lidia's name slandered.
Aunt Gardiner placed a hand on her shoulder. "Mrs. Bennett was never told that particular of what you knew. Only that you had become aware of untoward behavior by Wickham towards another young lady. Jane felt as you do in trying to protect young Miss Darcy."
"So people believe that I fed my sister to a monster?" Elizabeth exclaimed. "How? How could anyone think that of me? I tried to prevent her from going to Brighton."
"Miss Bennet?" Mr. Darcy called from across the room with an alarmed tone to his voice.
Elizabeth stared at him, then to her aunt and father. She could feel her breaths becoming short and her corset feeling tighter. She needed to get out of here.
"If you will excuse me," Elizabeth said tightly before running towards the door ignoring Mr. Darcy's call of concern. She continued to run, almost colliding with a poor house maid, until she was outside in the gardens.
She marched angrily around as the tears fell freely. How could this be happening? Why would her mother and aunt speak so about her? How could anyone in Meryton truly believe such an absurd story?
Elizabeth was so engulfed in her internal turmoil and her vision was so impaired by her tears that she managed to walk straight in Mr. Darcy and nearly fell over.
Mr. Darcy grabbed her by the shoulders to steady her and spoke to her softly. "Miss Bennet, I am so very sorry. I confess I was hoping to keep this distressing news from you as long as possible."
"How could anyone believe such ridiculous lies? Why would my own mother stoop so low? She must truly hate me," Elizabeth sobbed.
Mr. Darcy pulled Elizabeth close, wrapped his arms around her and rested his head against hers, in a most intimate yet comforting hug. Elizabeth was very much aware of the impropriety of such an action but for once she found that she did not care. She leaned into the hug and allowed herself to cry until she had no more tears to cry.
When she reluctantly pulled herself back, she gazed up at Mr. Darcy. "I apologize for-"
"There is nothing to apologize for," he interrupted kindly. "I do need you to know that I intend to fix this. I will clear your name even if I must get my attorneys involved."
"It shall do no good, sir," Elizabeth responded desolately. "I will never be able to show my face in Meryton again."
Mr. Darcy placed his finger under Elizabeth's chin and lifted her head so that she was looking into his eyes that were swimming with emotion. "Then stay with me at Pemberley," he whispered.
Elizabeth's heart stopped. She swallowed hard before whispering, "I want for nothing more than to never be parted from you. You are all I see when I close my eyes and my only thought when awake. But surely it is not appropriate for such talk most assuredly now when my reputation is already tarnished."
Mr. Darcy pulled her into a hug once more and spoke into her hair. "We will wait. For now I am comforted in knowing you feel the same as I. I need you to know that there is nothing I would not do for you. I promise you I will not stop until your name is cleared."
"I appreciate you, sir. So greatly," she said into his shoulder.
Mr. Darcy placed a tender kiss on Elizabeth's forehead as he pulled back and released her. "Let us rejoin your family."
Elizabeth walked back inside with Mr. Darcy, feeling drained, but feeling as though a weight had been lifted. Mr. Darcy still wished to marry her, despite everything that had happened. While she was still devastated by the news from home, she could not help but feel as though there was nothing that Mr. Darcy could not do and therefore felt that not all hope was lost.