He stood and walked over to sit on the sofa beside her. “No, I have not, and I should have…every day for the last fifteen years.” She sat with her mouth agape, her eyes not leaving his. “Your mother interrupted our last conversation, Annie. You never answered my question.”
“Question?” She breathed slowly, while her teacup seemed to rattle as she returned it to its saucer on her lap.
He took her empty hand in his. “Annie girl, do you want to marry Darcy?”
“I…I” Her words were stopped by the shattering of the tea cup as it slipped from her lap and onto the floor. She only hesitated a moment before summoning a maid.
After the maid departed, she faced Richard who was grinning boyishly. She cleared her throat and sat back down, before dropping her eyes. Her voice betrayed her anxiety. “Richard, I…”
“Mister and Miss Darcy,” Thurston announced, opening the door and walking into the room.
“Blast!”
Anne immediately started and walked toward the fireplace before turning to face the door.
“Richard!” Georgiana squealed, rushing to him and throwing her arms around his neck. “Oh, pardon me.” Seeming to remember herself, she stopped and her arms dropped quickly. “It is so lovely to see you. When did you arrive home?”
“Just this morning, poppet.” He embraced his young cousin before clasping Darcy’s hand. “I came as soon as I was able to get leave and will be here for a se’nnight.” As the ladies quietly greeted each other, he said to Darcy in a low voice, “When can you apprise me of the situation you alluded to in your letter?”
“Tonight, after dinner, if you are available? Actually,” he interjected, “I would rather not discuss it in Lady Catherine’s home. It is of a sensitive nature.” At his cousin’s questioning look, Darcy continued. “Why do you not return to Darcy House with us? Your room has been ready since you left and Georgiana would welcome your lively disposition.”
“Lively? Mother said that you have had two unmarried ladies staying with you these last few weeks. Is that not lively enough?”
“Two unmarried ladies at Darcy house indeed. Miss Katherine Bennet is a friend of Georgiana’s and would have dined with us this evening if she had not taken ill earlier today.” Darcy cleared his throat and flushed. “And Miss Elizabeth Bennet is her older sister. She is staying in Cheapside with her uncle and aunt and has visited a number of times. But no, she does not reside with us.”
“Oh, how interesting.” He smirked. “And how often is a number of times? Once? Twice? Maybe daily?”
Darcy cleared his throat again, before looking up at his betrothed. “She has mostly visited when I have been at the club or conducting business. Anne,” Darcy said, interrupting his and Richard’s conversation, “you are flushed. I believe you are standing too near the fire.”
Richard looked at Darcy’s awkward interaction before allowing a seed of hope to take root in his breast.Curious. Who is this Miss Elizabeth Bennet?
* * *
“It wasunfortunate you missed Mr. Hamilton by only a few minutes,” Mrs. Gardiner said to her niece.
“Yes,” said little Ellen. “He waited for you for almost half an hour.” Her large hazel eyes, blonde ringlets, and sweet countenance were so reminiscent of Jane!
“And what are you implying, Miss Gardiner?” Lizzy teased her young cousin.
“You have a beau, Lizzy.” Ellen began to giggle, as did her little sister. They were quickly shooed out of the drawing room by their mother with an admonition to find their governess and continue their studies.
Lizzy excused herself and ran up to her room to change her clothes and grab her reticule.Yes, it would be presumed I have a beau.After the maid finished buttoning her dress and left the room, Lizzy said to her reflection, “I am sure he will make an offer at some point. Unfortunately, it will probably be after little Ellen is out of the schoolroom and Michael has returned from Cambridge.” She laughed at her own cheek and tied the bow on her bonnet before hurrying down the stairs and out to the carriage with her aunt.
* * *
“…or the timewe read the book about Edward Teach…”
“Blackbeard?” Lizzy interjected.
“Yes, Elizabeth, Blackbeard. Cassandra and I were fascinated by him,” Mrs. Gardiner said before taking a sip of tea.
The three ladies were sitting in the parlor of Mrs. Worth’s townhouse in Portman Square, reminiscing their past. The two older women had met by happenstance at a modiste the week before after having not seen each other for several years. The reunion was a happy one, one which they had decided to continue after discovering both of their husbands were in trade and had even partnered in a few ventures together.
“Yes, Miss Bennet, we were. Can you imagine? Two silly, English school girls passionate about a brigand. You see, my second eldest brother was in the Navy and would come home and tell us stories of pirates and treasure which would send our land-locked minds racing with adventure.”
Madeline Gardiner laughed at her friend’s response. “Cassie, remember when we walked all the way to the woods of Pemberley, certain the elder Mr. Darcy had buried a treasure there?”
“We were so determined to find it, we did not notice the light fade, the sun set, nor even when the moon was high in the sky?”
