(14)
Contrary to Mrs. Bennet's worries, they arrived at Darcy House precisely when they were meant to. Darcy had arranged it so that Elizabeth and her family would be first. She was to be the hostess of their home in a few days, and he wished to give her a chance to act as such for the evening. He hoped doing so would establish his respect for her with Bingley's sisters, which in turn would help keep them from making disparaging comments. He knew their type. Bingley had told him that Caroline was furious when she found out, and that she had insisted it could not be true. He also hoped the presence of his noble relatives would restrain her spite.
They only needed to wait a quarter of an hour for the remaining guests to arrive, and Elizabeth quickly maneuvered Darcy to the side to speak with him privately.
"Did you know that Mr. Bingley was coming for a visit yesterday?" she asked quietly.
Darcy's eyebrows lifted in surprise, "He did not speak to me of it."
"I am not surprised, he was very nervous. I do not think he thought of how it would go; it might have been an impulse on his part. I do have to say that I am glad that Jane will not need to see him for the first time in front of a crowd this evening. While she is strong, she took that very hard."
"I take it she is not anxious to become reacquainted with my friend?"
"She was telling herself that she misread his interest last autumn because she did not wish to think poorly of him. His visit yesterday made it impossible for her to continue believing that. I must tell you that I finally shared what had happened last winter to keep Mr. Bingley from her. I felt I had to."
Darcy grimaced, "I am sorry."
"We cannot dwell on what might have been, but I hope that you agree that we should help them along if they wish it?"
"Of course, it is the least I can do."
"Thank you. I do not think it will be easy for her to open her heart again, but if they are meant to be and no one stops them, I think they will work this out in time. After the wedding, will you allow my sister to stay with us if she wishes?"
While he was not thrilled at the idea of a houseful of sisters to keep Elizabeth from him, he knew that having Miss Bennet along would likely ease her transition. She would also make a good friend for Georgiana.
"We could easily invite Miss Bennet to stay with us, here and at Pemberley. I do not think it would be difficult to convince Bingley to follow. We had been talking of them visiting in the summer before I left for Kent already."
Elizabeth smiled at him, "I am glad you are so willing to invite Jane. Maybe we can find an excuse for Miss Bingley to stay in town; then it would be perfect. Come, we should return to my family before they wonder what we are speaking of."
Elizabeth wrapped her hand around his arm and they returned to the group. As Darcy stood with his betrothed beside him, he relished the feel of her on his arm. Since their engagement, she had definitely become more comfortable in his presence. She did not pull away from his touch, and had even reached for him several times. He could no longer count the number of amiable conversations they had had. This time they had discussed a topic that could have been contentious, but was not. She had forgiven him his interference. She spoke of them being married with ease.
He knew he had to be patient with her and could not expect her to be in love with him by Thursday, but the hope that she would come to love him was growing. That she no longer despised him was a wonderment in itself.
The Fitzwilliams all arrived together. Introductions were said around, and soon awkward conversations began to warm. Darcy could see that his aunt had meant it when she said they would support him whether they were pleased with his new family or not. He knew they considered it important to show a united front to the ton. If they did not scorn Elizabeth and her relations, the rest of society would hopefully follow. That was where his Aunt Catherine had been wrong; they would not allow his marriage to cause a breach in the family no matter how they felt.
Thankfully it was not difficult to find comfortable conversation. The Gardiners were excellent company all of the time, and Mrs. Bennet was so in awe of meeting an Earl and Countess that she was barely speaking. She appeared to be simply taking in the elegance around her. Kitty and Lydia were giggly as usual, but it was not out of hand. Mary and Jane kept company with Georgiana and were easily joined by Lady Milton.
Elizabeth looked around, quite pleased. She knew they had to survive the entire evening yet, but the beginning was boding well for the remainder. She knew that her family were not always at the extreme they had shown at the Netherfield Ball. Emotions and excitement had been running high that night. Tonight was more subdued, and she hoped the party would stay that way.
Colonel Fitzwilliam approached her and Darcy and offered his congratulations, "Miss Bennet, lovely as always. Glad you decided to put my cousin out of his misery." He bowed over her hand and kissed it lightly, to Darcy's annoyance, and added, "I am happy to have you in the family; you will be good for him. He is too serious most of the time." He winked at Darcy as he released her hand.
Darcy reached for the hand and added it to his arm by her other one as he said dryly, "Really, Fitzwilliam, find your own wife. This one is taken."
A wicked grin crossed Fitzwilliam's face as he replied, "Technically I have a whole day and a half to try and get her for myself."
Elizabeth barely controlled the volume on the burst of laughter that came out of her at the jab and Darcy's resulting glare.
She pressed Darcy's arm gently as she responded sweetly, "A red coat has not been known to make me swoon, Colonel. I am afraid you are simply too late."
Fitzwilliam sighed, "The red coat usually does it, too. Perhaps one of your younger sisters is not so immune? I know Miss Bennet is probably not interested, but if they are anything like you..."
It was Darcy's turn to barely control his laughter, "I dare you to find out, Cousin."
"Not so similar, eh?"
"They are...energetic," replied Elizabeth.
Colonel Fitzwilliam looked at her shrewdly, then appeared to catch her meaning before saying, "I think I will take your word for it."
The Colonel soon moved to speak with his brother, and the Bingleys and Hursts were announced. Darcy performed the introductions between his family and the newcomers. Miss Bingley was almost sweet to him and showed impeccable manners when her turn came to speak to his titled family, but when she came to Elizabeth's family, her manner stiffened.
She reached Elizabeth and coldly said, "Miss Eliza." She tipped her head but added no greeting.
Still, Elizabeth felt snubbing was preferable to negative commentary. She replied with a small curtsy and a kind, "Miss Bingley, good evening."
She felt a little sorry for Miss Bingley. She had so obviously pinned her hopes on Mr. Darcy. It must be difficult for her to see Elizabeth, whom she had already considered inferior, on his arm.
When Mr. Bingley followed his sister, Elizabeth's face brightened. He was subdued, but she did not let that worry her. "Mr. Bingley, it is delightful to see you again. I hope, with my impending marriage, we see much of each other in the future," she added with a smile for his benefit.
He let out a small smile in return, "Always a pleasure to see you Miss Elizabeth." He paused, and then added quietly, "I hope so, too." Jane was not near enough to hear him speak, but his eyes glanced toward her. He excused himself and moved in her direction.
He had not given up, but the look of longing on his face saddened Elizabeth. She glanced at Darcy, who was watching his friend with a thoughtful expression. He glanced at Elizabeth and gave her a sad smile. She gently pressed his arm with her hand. She had concluded that he had genuinely believed he was doing the best for his friend. She did not want him to think she still held his actions against him.
They were soon distracted by Mrs. Bennet's greeting of Mr. Bingley.
"Oh, Mr. Bingley!" she said a little too loudly. "It is so good to see you, sir. It has been too long. I hope we will see you in Hertfordshire again, now that the season is ending?"
"Ah, I have not made plans for anywhere yet, but I would not mind returning to Netherfield. I had such a pleasant time there, among the neighborhood."
Miss Bingley interrupted sharply, "Really Charles, there is nothing to do at Netherfield. I wish you would give it up. I am sure there are houses in much nicer counties, with better society."
"I have a friend with an estate in Hertfordshire. I find it a very pleasant county," interrupted Lord Milton. "It is certainly convenient to escape town in the winter when desired, without having to travel for days in bad weather."
Miss Bingley's only response was a tight smile.
"I agree, Lord Milton, that it is a convenient distance from town, and I find nothing wanting in the society there," replied Mr. Bingley, as he gave his sister a sharp look.
Mrs. Bennet could contain herself no longer, "Oh yes, we have a wonderful society in our little part of the country. But Mr. Bingley, have you seen Jane yet tonight? Is she no just radiant?"
Mr. Bingley murmured a quiet agreement, trying to catch Jane's eye.
Elizabeth, still far enough away to not be heard, let out a quiet, embarrassed laugh, "She is persistent."
"Bingley was quick to move toward Miss Bennet. Even if I did not already know of his interest, it is clear that he is seeking her out. Your mother may be a little much in her encouragement, but we know her heart is in the right place," Darcy replied.
He looked over at Elizabeth and saw her surprise.
He cleared his throat awkwardly and looked away as he said, "I have recently learned that perhaps people are deeper than I give them credit for in my original impression. That just because someone views and interacts with the world differently than I do, it does not make them wrong. Even if we must follow it to stay in good graces, society's judgement is not always a good rule to go by, either."
"You mean that," she replied incredulously.
"I will not lie to you, I still find your mother overwhelming. At the same time, I am not blind to the fact that I am not perfect socially, either."
They were interrupted by the call to dinner, but Darcy's comments surprised Elizabeth. She was aware that his views were changing some, but not that much. That he acknowledged that society's rules were not always correct pleased her though.
They entered the dining room and found their seats. While Darcy normally would not have assigned seating at what he considered a family gathering, he had felt it was best to help this rather odd mix of individuals by doing so. He had put Caroline Bingley near his aunt and Lady Milton, and separated the two youngest Bennet girls. He had found that Catherine Bennet was better off away from Lydia, and he had placed the youngest Bennet between her aunt and oldest sister. They seemed to do the best at keeping her quiet. He had hoped to help Bingley along by seating him near Miss Bennet, and had put Mrs. Bennet next to her brother. For the remainder he had taken precedence in to consideration, but otherwise not worried too much about it.
As she sat next to him, Elizabeth commented on it. "Did you ask the Colonel for strategy ideas? I see you have carefully placed key members of the group."
"A good host always considers his guests' comfort, my dear," he murmured in reply.
To his happiness, she blushed at his term of endearment. She found herself off-balance from his comments about her mother and now his familiarity.
Darcy looked over and noticed her perplexed expression. "Are you well, Elizabeth?"
"Yes," she replied distractedly. She was struggling to reconcile his current manner with what she knew of him. She had not thought him so capable of considering others. He had been more polite recently, but this, tonight, was a fundamental change in how he viewed the world. Was it only two months ago that she had accused him of being selfishly inconsiderate of others? He was being very considerate tonight. Could one truly change that much in such a short time?
She wished for time alone to consider these new thoughts. She could not ignore everyone at the table while she tried to work out what she knew of the man beside her.
Darcy was watching her with increasing concern. Elizabeth appeared almost upset, and he could not figure out what he had said to cause it. If she did not like his forward speech, she would have told him.
"Elizabeth, did I say something to offend you?" he finally whispered.
Her head snapped up as she said almost sharply, "No!" She blushed when she remembered where they were and attempted to compose herself.
Their nearest neighbors turned to look at them. Darcy nodded to the footmen to begin serving the first course, hoping that it would distract the table from them. He was relieved when it appeared to work, but he needed to find out what was wrong with Elizabeth.
He waited until the soup had been served before glancing her way again. She appeared to be less distracted now, but still not herself.
"Elizabeth?" he simply asked.
"You did not do anything wrong. To the contrary, I am finding myself frantically trying to sketch your character again, and this is not the place to do it. I am desperately wishing for a country lane at the moment."
He relaxed at her last comment. If she could laugh at herself then he believed that she was not angry with him.
"To what do I owe this frantic sketching?"
She looked him directly in the eyes as she replied, "Jane once accused me of trying to keep you in the box where I had initially put you, and being frustrated because you would not stay there. I find that you have now crushed the box and I do not know what to do with myself because of it."
"I have crushed the box?" he asked, slightly confused. He assumed they were still discussing his character, but was not sure where she was going with this.
"I thought I knew exactly who you were, and I find that I did not know you at all. It is very disconcerting for someone who considers herself a quick study of character to find out she was completely wrong," she explained.
He was interrupted by his aunt, just down the table from them, asking him a question that he did not hear. He realised that they had been having their whispered discussion rather rudely while ignoring everyone around them. Elizabeth was right, this was not the place for it. Oh how he wished to keep this conversation going though! She had piqued his curiosity about her changing view of him, but he needed to return to being host.
He glanced around the table and saw that everyone else had nearly finished their soup, and he and Elizabeth had barely touched theirs. As his eyes scanned past Miss Bingley, he noticed she had not tasted much of hers either, and was looking at Elizabeth with a disgusted expression. He sighed to himself; he was not helping Elizabeth by monopolizing her attention this way. When his eyes met his aunt's again she gave him a slight smirk and repeated her question.
"Darcy dear, do you know how much longer you will be staying in London after the wedding?"
"Elizabeth and I have not discussed it, but I do not imagine much more than a few weeks. We have some affairs to settle, but with the season all but over and the warm weather coming, I am for Pemberley as soon as may be."
He glanced at Elizabeth, and saw that she did not seem displeased by the plan. He decided to add, "Miss Bennet, we thought you might like to join us in traveling north?"
He saw Elizabeth smile out of the corner of his eye, and Georgiana clasped her hands together in excitement. She was more than happy to have another new sister live with them, especially since she expected her brother would want to keep his new wife to himself in the beginning.
"But Jane, do you not wish to be home, since Mr. Bingley wants to reopen Netherfield?" interrupted Mrs. Bennet, looking worried.
Without so much as a glance in Bingley's direction, she replied, "I should very much like to see Lizzy's new home."
"I should like that very much, too," added Elizabeth.
Darcy looked at Bingley's very dejected face and knew he would have to bring his friend to Pemberley sooner than the originally planned August. He knew what it was like to feel as though he was uselessly pining for the woman he loved, and he truly wished to help the man along.
Mrs. Bennet looked as though she wished to say more, but her brother quickly distracted her.
Unfortunately Mrs. Gardiner was not so lucky, and Lydia managed to complain aloud, "Meryton is going to be boring this summer anyway. Colonel Forster's regiment has already moved on to Brighton. Without the officers there is not going to be anything to do."
Darcy saw his aunt and Lady Milton's eyebrows raise, but thankfully Fitzwilliam stepped in and saved the moment.
"Colonel Forster? I heard he got himself married lately, is that true Miss Lydia?"
"Oh yes!" she babbled excitedly. "Harriet and I are just such friends, too! She said I could have gone with them to Brighton, but for our situation. What fun that would have been! Sea bathing would be just the thing, and I can hardly imagine the fun we would have had with a whole camp full of soldiers! Just think of all the balls and dinner parties they are having!"
Colonel Fitzwilliam did not look as though he knew what to do with her response, and it was Lord Milton who helped.
"That is all you boys in red do, is it not Henry? Dance and party the nights away?"
The Colonel snorted in response, "Of course. Wellington is just waltzing with the French, too."
"Oh Colonel, do you know, what is he now, the Earl of Wellington? Have you actually been to war?" interjected Kitty.
Much to Darcy's relief, this turned the conversation to Fitzwilliam's rather overly heroic, but thankfully dinner-table-appropriate, war stories. Talk continued without anymore awkwardness at least until the ladies rose to move to the drawing room. He and Elizabeth had not carried their conversation further, but he expected he would not find a chance to learn her thoughts tonight. Even when the gentlemen joined the ladies in the drawing room, it would be inappropriate as the host for him to continue ignoring everyone else. With no plans to see her on the morrow, he was afraid he would not get to ask until after the wedding.
After the ladies left, Darcy enjoyed some good-natured ribbing about tying himself down from his relatives. Even Fitzwilliam kept it moderately decent, though, with Elizabeth's uncle in the room.
Elizabeth found herself more able to set the thoughts of Mr. Darcy aside when he was not immediately before her. She still wished to canvass them further, but was happy to enjoy the company of the evening while it was available.
The ladies started out conversing all together, but they soon drifted into smaller groups. Elizabeth was pleased with how the evening was going. While her mother and younger sisters had had a few moments that made her cringe, it was nothing like the ball at Netherfield in November.
Miss Bingley too seemed as though she had decided to be on her best behavior for the evening, until she began speaking to Georgiana on one side of the room. It did not take long for Elizabeth to overhear Caroline's ever louder voice apparently relating to Georgiana anything Darcy had said against Elizabeth when they were staying at Netherfield together. Elizabeth was not sure what she was hoping to accomplish, but Georgiana was looking paler and paler by the moment. Elizabeth was just moving to intervene when Miss Bingley began speaking loud enough that the entire room stopped to listen.
"There was one evening, when we returned from some dull party or another, and I remember your brother saying about Eliza's reputed beauty 'She a beauty, I should as soon call her mother a wit!' Much to my surprise, he professed later to her being pretty, though I do not see it."
Elizabeth was furious. No matter what Miss Bingley thought of her, she should not be treating poor Georgiana to this! Her jealousy clearly knew no bounds! She did not have enough time to reach her future sister though, as the gentlemen entered as she was moving in that direction.
Darcy rushed into the room, red-faced, and snapped, "And for some time now I have considered her among the handsomest women of my acquaintance. I find her sweet, fresh beauty much more appealing than the simpering, affected look of a woman who will use the paltry art of undervaluing another to recommend herself."
He gathered Georgiana on his arm and gently removed her from her position with such a glare to Miss Bingley that she physically shrank back. Mr. Bingley had followed immediately behind his friend, and he had a look of such mortification that Elizabeth felt sorry for him. She was by far not the only person with an embarrassing sister. At least hers were merely silly. He had to deal with one who could be vicious. He gave Mrs. Hurst a pleading look, and they both went to deal Caroline.
Darcy gently maneuvered his sister across the silent room to her aunt, made sure she was settled, and then turned to face Elizabeth. He saw the furious look on Elizabeth's face as she watched the Bingleys, and his heart fell. Was it just two hours ago she had said that she was truly beginning to see him in a new light? He was certain that this would bring her opinion of him crashing back down. With leaden feet he made his way over to her. As she turned to look at him, he braced himself for the fire that would be in her eyes. To his infinite surprise, when she saw him her face immediately softened.
"Is Georgiana well?" were her first words when he reached her.
Her face had softened because of his sister, not for him.
He found it difficult to draw a breath and reply, "She will be. She has not often needed to deal with such spite in her limited sphere, but this is not the first time she has heard Miss Bingley speak as such about another. I think she is more upset that the comments originally came from her brother."
"So you did say them."
He closed his eyes; he did not wish to see her face at his acknowledgement, "Yes."
There was a moment of silence, and he had just worked up the courage to see her condemnation when he felt her hand on his arm. His eyes flew open, he looked at the comforting hand and then back to her face in confusion.
She had a soft smile as she said, "I was not asking to condemn you, but merely out of curiosity."
"You are not angry with me?"
Elizabeth let out a light laugh, "How can I be angry with you? My sisters could share just as many awful things that I said about you when we were still in Hertfordshire. You can ask them sometime if it makes you feel better. I am angry at Miss Bingley because she was hurting Georgiana in her spite. I had not thought her jealousy would be so strong, or I would not have left Georgiana's side. I would be upset if I heard you saying those things about me now, but I cannot hold what you said then against you. It would be hypocritical of me."
The relief that coursed through him at her reassurance nearly made him weep. The feeling of knowing, definitively, that she no longer assumed the worst of him was overwhelming. The longing in him to show her how he felt about her was so strong that the desire once again manifested itself in his eyes.
Elizabeth blushed a pretty pink at that powerful look. She wrapped the hand that had reached out to touch him around his arm and gently pulled him in the direction of her older sister. Even though this was not the first look she had received of the kind, she still did not know what to do with them. Keeping the both of them in the company of one of their sisters seemed to be the safest path at the moment.
The remainder of the evening was much more subdued, with Miss Bingley being kept mostly away from the rest of them. Darcy found it fitting that a half-sleeping Hurst was assigned as her guard. Mrs. Hurst appeared to have given Caroline the order not to leave the sofa she was sharing with her brother-in-law, because she sat in that exact spot for the rest of the evening with a pinched look on her face.
He did notice a short conversation between Bingley and Jane at one point, but it was quickly interrupted by Mrs. Bennet, whom he assumed thought she was helping. His friend did not appear to make much progress, but still, Jane Bennet was not ignoring him. Then again, he did not think she was capable of snubbing anyone.
There was no time for more private conversation with Elizabeth, but he did spend most of the time with her by his side.
When the guests were all leaving, he took a quick look around to ensure that no one was watching and then placed a firm kiss on each of her gloved hands.
"Till Thursday, my love," was all he said, but it was quite sufficient to cause her blush, which in turn made him smile. He was coming to realise he quite enjoyed causing her to blush.
"Good night, Mr. Darcy," she replied with a soft smile.
Elizabeth left with her family for what Darcy knew was the final time. The next time he saw her, she would become his wife and he had no intention of leaving her side for a very long time after that.
Elizabeth's mind managed to stay with the conversation until she and her family arrived home, but she hurriedly readied for bed and then let it wander over what she had learned tonight. She might not love him, but she was beginning to become quite comfortable with the idea of marrying him. If he was the man he showed himself to be this evening, she was in for a much better future than she had thought. She did not expect to sleep tonight, trying to re-sketch his character yet again, but thankfully tomorrow was to be a quiet day for her to spend with her family. She would relish her time with them, but tonight she had important thinking to do. They would simply need to deal with her being a little tired on the morrow.
A/N: Wow! I'm not sure what happened, but there was an explosion of new follows, favorites, and reviews this week. Thank you!
See you at the wedding. ;)