“Ma’am,” Elizabeth said in a rush, interrupting her, “do you wish me to fetch your fine shawl? You must wish to show it to Lord Hartley. And I shall ask the kitchen if they have any of those lemon scones—” To Hartley she said, “They are a recipe which has been in the family books for many years, though with a few modifications.”
“Does that not make it anewrecipe?” Lord Hartley asked. “But you must not go and serve on Mrs. Bennet’s will.Youhave no need to fetch anything.”
“Oh, but I want the scones formyself,” Elizabeth replied laughingly. “They are a taste of the familiar, the nostalgic. But do not let Mrs. Bennet convince you that she is so awful as she says. She has tried and succeeded. But I have realized that she really is not so bad.”
With a laugh Elizabeth walked off.
Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, “What has entered that girl. I have never seen her act in such a manner.”
“I as well wonder what has made the change,” Darcy said. He also thought Elizabeth was different than even this morning. More confident, more erect, more fully herself. But then this amused manner had always been the way that she truly was, he had always seen that.
“What is she ordinarily like?” Hartley asked.
Miss Lydia laughed. “I perceive nothing different, except that she is not scared of you, Mama. But I canguesswhy. Papa did Lizzy tell you anything?”
“Me?” Mr. Bennet said. He had a sardonic note to his voice. “I would wager a great deal that the cause of her change is not whatyouimagine.”
Miss Lydia laughed. “I shall ask her directly then.”
And with a flounce she bounced from the room.
“Lord Hartley,” Mr. Bennet asked, “I hope you do not mind the casualness of our manners.”
“No, no.ThatI do not mind.” Hartley’s glance towards Mrs. Bennet showed a decided distaste.
“Yes. I see,” Mr. Bennet replied. “But about your father. Do you think he shall follow you to Hertfordshire?”
“I hardly knowwhathe shall do. He is not often defied. But until his attack of apoplexy, he never evinced any desire for my company. I have lived in London chiefly. I believed that he...are we speaking openly?” Lord Hartley looked at Mrs. Bennet. “I would dearly like certain facts to be known.”
“Oh, no. No.” Elizabeth cheerfully reentered the room, holding a plate of scones. “Not yet. Can you believe it, Cook placed them in the oven as soon as she found that I had come? That was very kind of her. But no. Not yet.”
Miss Lydia followed Elizabeth back into the room, smirking and chewing on her own scone.
There was a thing about Elizabeth that was different.
She cheerfully engaged Hartley and himself in conversation, though it was clear to Darcy that Elizabeth was more curious about Hartley than himself. However, she always stood close to Darcy and would often look towards him and smile.
It was not in fact so different from her behavior over the past few days when they had met for walks. When the two of them walked together, she was confident, laughing, and always ready with a joke. And she had trusted him with what she thought was her greatest secret.
That must have been a mark of particular regard, and one that he should feel touched by, even if her belief about herself had been wholly mistaken.
But she was now utterly without any fear of Mrs. Bennet.
Mrs. Bennet seemed confused, but also deeply affected by the way that Elizabeth was the center of attention, with two great gentlemen chiefly directing their conversation towards her. Bingley made some effort to converse with the rest of his in-laws though, but he and Jane also often joined Hartley and Darcy’s conversation with Elizabeth.
Once Mrs. Bennet did ask Elizabeth to fetch something. Elizabeth turned to her, smiled widely, and said, “Of course I shall—once Lord Hartley has finished his story. And what happened then to the horse?”
Possibly because of Mr. Bennet’s presence, or possibly because of Elizabeth’s manner, Mrs. Bennet did not protest.
When the story was finished, Elizabeth did in fact fetch Mrs. Bennet’s book of appointments from her bedroom. But she did so with such a cheerful manner, and with a sort of grace, that made the whole appear to Darcy as an indulgent kindness given by the daughter of an earl to a valued older friend of lesser consequence, rather than the action of a husband’s ward who must always be grateful for everything given to her.
After an hour and a half, the decision was made for all to go for a walk. Darcy and Elizabeth were particularly eager to escape the confines of the house and stretch their legs.
Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Bingley remained behind to speak, while Miss Catherine and Miss Lydia hurried ahead of the rest.Bingley settled by the drawing room desk to write some notes, declaring that he’d like to see all of his neighbors who were in town presently at Netherfield before he returned to London.
Mr. Bennet walked with Lord Hartley, while Elizabeth and Darcy walked together a little ahead of them.
Darcy felt a strong sort of awkwardness because he knew that his behavior with Elizabeth was being closely watched by two keen observers who both had a strong right to have concern upon her behalf.
