“Gardiner introduced us to the rest we had not met, so will you do the honours with this lady, please William,” Lord Matlock requested.
Darcy made the introductions as requested. The glower he directed at his uncle and cousin told them he was about to speak to Miss Bennet before their interruption, so the Earl and Viscount guided their wives away. As if the gods were against him, just then Douglas announced the festive meal. Determined to have her with him during the meal and thanks to the informal seating for a family meal, Darcy offered Miss Bennet his arm to lead her into the dining parlour, and to his delight, she took it without delay.
As she was escorted into the dining parlour by Mr Darcy, it felt like there was electricity where Elizabeth’s hand rested on his arm. She lifted her eyes to the heavens. ‘I hear you Janey, my heart is open, there is no need for you to push me.’
Rather than give in to the disappointment he had not been able to have a discussion with Miss Bennet yet, Darcy indicated the chair to his right. He did not allow the footmen to pull the chair back, instead he did it himself and made sure Miss Bennet was comfortable.
Lord and Lady Matlock were seated at the other end of the table to Giana’s left side. The latter leaned towards the former as soon as they had been seated. “That boy is lost,” Lady Matlock opined. “Mark my words, he will marry her or not at all. You know from your late brother-in-law and sister, once a Darcy man bestows his heart, it is forever.”
“Elaine, you are correct. I am sure we are looking at ourfuture niece.”
“Ifshe accepts him.”
“Of course she will take William, what woman would not?”
“One with a firm backbone, a strong character, and one who would never settle for less than the deepest love. I get the idea if William did not present himself well, this is one of the few young ladies who would refuse him.”
“Is it just me or does our younger son seem enamoured of Miss Mary?” Lord Matlock wondered.
“They have only just met, but I have seen the surreptitious looks she shoots at him when she thinks herself unobserved,” Lady Matlock agreed. “As much as I desire Richard to settle down and leave the army, they have a long way to go first.”
Charlotte was happy to be seated between Mr Parker and his sister. While she enjoyed the conversation, she could not but help notice the closeness between Mr Darcy and Eliza, and she did not mean the fact they were in conversation which had their heads leaning towards one another.
“Do you remember the question I asked before my family asked to be introduced?” Darcy wondered.
“Yes, I do,” Elizabeth responded. “Thank you for asking, Mr Darcy. Some days are more difficult than others, but the number of good days are slowly beginning to outnumber the bad ones. You may have noticed aslightchange in Catherine’s and Lydia’s behaviour from when you met them in Meryton.” Darcy allowed it was so. “As much as I wish my Jane were still with me, and she is and always will be in my heart, but I mean in the mortal world, there have been some positive changes with my family. So much so Mary and I will return to Longbourn after Twelfth Night, if we are welcome, that is. I am waiting for a reply from my father.”
“Is the sale of your father’s books part of the change?”Darcy enquired.
“It is, but there is so much more.” Elizabeth looked up and saw Uncle Edward speaking to Mr Bingley who seemed to be nodding agreement to something. “In fact, I believe my uncle just asked Mr Bingley if he has room for some of us to join him in his coach on his return to Hertfordshire.”
His inclination was to ask Miss Bennet if she would be pleased if he travelled to Netherfield Park as well, but Darcy did not want to pressure her. He remembered her tease regarding the books he had purchased. “As you are only here to see the books which used to belong to your father, would you like to see the library after the meal?” Darcy invited.
Elizabeth was pleased he was teasing her right back. Mayhap she would mourn Janey for six months rather than a year. The norm for a sibling was three months, but that would definitely be too short, even though she knew Janey had not wanted her to mourn too long. “Will you be needed to teach your friend any more, or does he no longer need your assistance?” Elizabeth queried rather boldly.
The question taught Darcy to hope like he had not before allowed himself to hope. “I believe Bingley may still need some assistance from me,” he stated with a smile.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When it was time to depart, Elizabeth had secretly hoped it would have started to snow which would have forced them to remain at Pemberley. The library had been beyond her imaginings, and no matter how much her father was changing, Elizabeth was well aware what his reaction would be if he ever saw that particular room.
The whole of the Darcys’ Fitzwilliam family had been extremely welcoming. It had not taken Elizabeth long to feel comfortable with them. At the same time, the four Bennet sisters had become very close to Miss Darcy. So much so that the Darcys and Colonel Fitzwilliam would call at Lambert Hillsthe day after the morrow, and the whole of that estate’s party were invited to spend the final day of the year at Pemberley, stay the night, and return to the Lamberts’ estate the following day. As there would be no party or other guests invited, other than the vicar and his sister, there was no conflict for those still in deep mourning.
For the first time since her sister’s passing, Elizabeth had been willing to imagine what her life could be like.
Chapter 27
When the Darcy carriage arrived at Lambert Hills two days after Christmas, it was not just the two Darcys within. With them were the Hilldales, their son, and the Colonel.
The Viscountess had sent a note to Mrs Lambert expressing how much Joshua would like to play with Rory again. Hence, an invitation to visit their estate had been issued for any of those at Pemberley. It was everything Lord Hilldale could do to stop his son bolting to see his friend as soon as the conveyance slowed. Once the door was opened by the footman, Hilldale stepped out with his squirming son in his arms. It had begun to snow the day after Christmas, but the snow did not slow down the little mite as he ran inside the house to play with his new friend.
Once divested of their outerwear, the arriving adults were shown into the drawing room. Greetings were exchanged as Lady Hilldale approached the hostess. “Please pardon my son; he has been wild to play with Rory since you all departed Pemberley.”
“As the mother of two sons, I understand and there is nothing to forgive. Please do not make yourself uneasy. Joshua is with the other children in the nursery which has two governesses and a surfeit of nursemaids watching over them,” Gweneth reassured the viscountess.
No sooner had Darcy greeted everyone than he made his way to Miss Bennet’s side. “Did I hear talk that Hertfordshire’sgreat walkerhas learnt to ride horses?” he jested.
“Indeed, Mr Darcy, your sources are impeccable,” Elizabeth replied with an exaggerated curtsy. “My Uncle Tim taught both Mary and me.”
