He shook his head. “There should have been no expectation for the invitation. I may have misjudged our recent conversations. She owes me nothing.” His voice was just above a whisper and was interrupted by Fitzwilliam’s thunderous applause at the final notes at the piano.
“Well done, you two. Now, come sit here. Georgiana, you will have a glass of sherry to celebrate your brother’s improved health.”
The ladies stood from the piano and laughed their way to the settee and chairs.
“Georgie, come sit by me. I want to hear all about your new Italian tutor,” Richard said, patting the seat next to him. “I think we are wasting your time on such a weasely, little man, but Darcy says he is the best.
“And Miss Bennet, do not sit inthatchair,” the colonel said. “It needs to be recovered. Come, sit next to Darcy. I know he seems surly, but he is just out of practice in conversing.” Richard waited until everyone was seated before he exclaimed, “Now, are we not a merry party?”
Anne smiled, trying to ease Elizabeth out of her odd temper. “How do you find your rooms?”
“They are lovely,” she said with spirit. “The flowered paper is beautiful and remind me of the forest in springtime when the bluebells have sprung up in the woods.”
“They were my mother’s favorite,” Darcy said softly, obviously hesitant to startle her.
She glanced at him when Georgiana said, “And the desk was Mama’s. Lady Catherine bought it for her when she and father came to visit after they were newly married.”
“It was kept in the dowager house after Lady Anne died because it pained my mother too much to see it,” Annesaid. “But she recently brought it back into the house and restored the room as it was before.”
“The whole room is lovely.” Elizabeth looked up again and quickly lowered her eyes at Darcy’s intense stare. Her cheeks pinked before there was a knock at the door.
“Come,” Richard said. His frustration at the lack of conversation was evident in his tone, and the footman was taken aback by the ferocity of the usually genial man.
“Pray, forgive the interruption, but a man from the parsonage just brought this for Miss Bennet,” he said, extending a package toward Elizabeth. “The maid found it behind a chest while dusting in one of the first floor rooms.”
“I do not recognize it,” Elizabeth said, reaching for the package.
“Maybe Mrs. Collins bought you a gift?” Georgiana asked.
“Should I open it?”
“By all means,” Richard said, before taking a drink of his wine and leaning over to Anne. “We must have some form of entertainment,” he whispered.
A nervous tittering came from Georgiana as Elizabeth began to undo the string of the package. “I cannot imagine what it is,” she said as her fingers moved to untie the knots. “Charlotte and I have not exchanged gifts since we were children.”
The paper fell away, and Elizabeth gasped while lifting the two white silk handkerchiefs from the package, both with ribbons embroidered throughout to form flowers, one pink and the other buttercream yellow. “But I…do not…”
“How lovely. They are from Madame Claudette’s,” Georgiana said reaching over to finger the fabric. I have a similar one with lavender ribbons with an embroideredD. Fitzwilliam bought it for my birthday.”
“But…there must be some mistake.”
“It had your name on the package, Miss Bennet,” Anne said. “There cannot be a mistake.”
“If I was a woman,” Colonel Fitzwilliam interrupted with a twinkle in his eye, “I would make excuses to cry just to bring it out and dab my eyes.”
“Itisbeautiful,” Elizabeth said, caressing the fine lace. “It is only that...it is so unexpected.”
As Elizabeth admired the elegant handkerchief, Anne noticed Darcy, who looked as if he had seen a ghost.
April 21, 1812
“Imust get out of this banyan. I must get out of this house, Briggs.”
Darcy had another restless night and could not reconcile himself with the events of the previous evening. Elizabeth’s ignoring him was the least of his concerns. It was the appearance of the handkerchief…the one he had purchased for her from Bingley’s store, in thedreamlife.How had it been at the parsonage if that life was only a dream?
And no, he did not want to go for a walk in the garden. He wanted to send word to the stables to saddle Ulysses.I need to ride, to escape this life which I have not chosen, and remind myself of the blessings which remain. My sister. My estate. My heritage.But he had been forbidden to ride. Richard had instructed the groomsmen to put Ulysses in the back pasture to graze and not saddle any horses for Darcy.My cousin is worse than a governess.
“Also, send up a tray. Just coffee and toast.” Briggs bowed and left, leaving Darcy to begin his daily ablutions.Itis still early enough that no one will be down to break their fast, and even if they were, I do not wish for company.
