“I am so glad to see you both,” she told them. “How much I have been anticipating our summer together.”
“Does this mean you are ready to discuss Hume?” Mr. Darcy asked as Mrs. Gardiner invited them all to sit.
“It was so kind of you to send the second volume,” Elizabeth said. “I did not expect the opportunity to continue the series so promptly.”
“Well, your prompt reading of the first seemed to warrant it,” he told her.
“I did finish it, just before our journey; however, I do believe I sent you something in return. Did you read it?” Elizabeth asked, a hint of mischief in her voice.
“What did you send?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.
“Lizzy sent him a most delightful novel,” Georgiana answered. “Father and I read it together. Fitzwilliam even joined us occasionally.”
“He read it with you?” Elizabeth asked before she could stop herself. Thoughts of him had not faded since the end of last summer, but Elizabeth felt they had at least become less powerful. Just hearing his name disabused her of this notion.
“Yes, though he finished it far more quickly than either of us and could not seem to stop himself from spoiling things. So we forbade him for a few weeks until we had both finished,” Mr. Darcy explained.
“He enjoyed it then?” Lizzy asked.
“Yes, though being Fitzwilliam, he had several critiques to offer,” Georgiana said with a laugh.
“He did indeed. You should ask him about it. I am sure he would welcome another opportunity to share his thoughts,” Mr. Darcy said, likely unaware of the powerful emotions Elizabeth battled to conceal.
She felt not only the usual swirl of excitement, confusion and happiness thinking of her Mr. Darcy evoked but also the frustration that her response to even the mention of him was as it always had been—just this side of overwhelming. The others continued talking around her, and as she worked to focus her attention back, she noted her aunt was using her considerable skills to draw Mary and Georgiana into conversation with one another. The two young girls were soon talking, quietly and haltingly, asking questions and sharing answers about their musical tastes, their favourite activities and their siblings. Georgiana loved hearing about the Bennet sisters and seemed excited to have a new source on that front. Mary, for her part, was intrigued by the idea of a much older brother.
“Do you ride, Miss Mary?” Georgiana asked.
“I do not,” Mary answered, ducking her head.
“It is no matter,” Georgiana assured her. “If you would like to learn, I am certain we could teach you, and if not, there is much we can do on our two feet.”
“Certainly,” Mr. Darcy agreed. “I think Miss Baxter regrets how well she taught your sister, or at least how quickly Miss Lizzy stopped needing her lessons.”
When Mary did not respond straightaway, Elizabeth offered her own opinion.
“If Miss Baxter is put out, she only has herself to blame,” she insisted. “Had she been a less apt teacher, I would have been a terrible pupil.” Turning to her sister, she asked, “Should you like to learn, Mary?”
“I would not want to inconvenience so many when I am all but certain I will not be able to become a capable rider,” she answered meekly.
“Mary, of course you must decide for yourself, and we will not press you, but how can you be so certain? It is my understanding that you have not before attempted it,” Mrs. Gardiner offered.
“That is true; however, Mother always says I am the least graceful of her daughters, so I should not attempt any accomplishment that demands agility or coordination. It is my understanding from the books I have read that riding requires both.”
Mr. Darcy and Mrs. Gardiner shared a look of sympathy, which Elizabeth noted before offering her own perspective.
“Though I am perhaps the least expert rider present, I might venture my opinion that becoming an adequate rider requires mostly the determination to do so alongside the patience and expertise of an instructor. As Aunt Gardiner said, no one will force you, but if you do wish to try, you can do so knowing if you do not enjoy it you can stop at any time.”
This seemed to reassure the young girl, who gratefully accepted the offer. Plans were made for two days hence, as she and Lizzy had their first music lesson of the summer the following day.
“Wonderful,” declared Mr. Darcy. “Before we take our leave, Miss Darcy has a request to make.”
He looked encouragingly at his daughter.
“We would be honoured to have you as our guests for dinner at Pemberley. Would tomorrow evening be convenient?”
The invitation was delivered with a mix of shy formality.
Elizabeth knew that after her year at seminary, Georgiana would be putting into practice those skills and accomplishments she had learned, one being how to become an accomplished hostess.
