The letter was newsy, all about the goings-on at Pemberley, the progress of the building at the three tenant farms, and many other mundane subjects, but not one word was mentioned about the advice Elizabeth had sought forher friend. Just below Gigi’s salutation, she wrote:Now read the other page.
As she did not have to be told twice, Elizabeth unfolded and smoothed out the paper. She immediately recognised the strong male script, having previously read a letter from Mr Darcy. She could not stop the frissons of pleasure which were running rampant throughout her body. Elizabeth took a deep breath before allowing her eyes to settle on the words swimming before her.
27 June 1812
Pemberley
Miss Elizabeth,
Please excuse the liberty I take in responding to the questions you asked Gigi to ask me on your behalf.
Had this letter not been carried by one of my couriers, I would never have posted it to you. As I did not need to use the services of the Royal Post, I knew it was safe to do so. That being said, I pray you do not look on my doing so with an unfavourable eye.
I beg your pardon for causing another misunderstanding between us. I never looked upon you with disgust. In fact, my affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you would have silenced me on this subject forever. You know not how it pleased me to read that you are developing tender feelings for me. For that reason, I will notneed to withdraw my suit.
As your sister surmised, I felt guilty and thought that you did not want me in your company because my inaction had led to your youngest sister being meddled with by that late despicable man.
Now that these misconceptions have been cleared away, I cannot wait until you come back to this neighbourhood after your sojourn in the Lake District.
I will be counting the days. Your servant,
William Darcy
He had not said very much, but what he did write spoke volumes to Elizabeth. Mr Darcy still loved her and wanted to pursue a future with her. If things arrived at the conclusion they both desired, Gigi and Mr Darcy would end up as sister and brother to the Fitzwilliam brothers as well; not merely cousins.
Knowing how close Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam were, Elizabeth surmised both would be well pleased by that development.
Even though her heart was crying out to keep his letter in her memory box, the last thing Elizabeth wanted was for someone to discover the letter. Correspondence between an unmarried and unengaged man and woman would call her reputation into question and force Mr Darcy’s hand before he was ready to once again propose to her.
Although her concerns had merit, Elizabeth missed the fact that, based on his desire for her to be his wife, which had lasted many months, Mr Darcy would not repine a speedy wedding.
To be safe, Elizabeth crumpled the page into a ball and placed it into the empty fireplace. Shelit a taper and touched the flame to an exposed corner of the note. The words were committed to her memory, so she was not too regretful as she watched it be consumed by the flames until all that remained was ash.
Not wanting to wait, she wrote a reply to Gigi, and like the letter she had received, she enclosed a missive for Mr Darcy before she sealed the epistle.
She walked to see where the butler was so the reply could be handed to the courier. In her mind, however, she was floating among the clouds.
When Elizabeth returned to the drawing room, even Jane and Hilldale, who had been lost in one another’s company, could see the difference in Elizabeth’s outward mood. Her look was as dreamy as Jane’s was the day she accepted Hilldale’s request for a courtship.
It was hard not to notice the questioning looks Elizabeth was receiving from her aunt, uncle, and Jane. Andrew was looking at her, trying to understand what had changed. “Jane, you had the right of it; it was all a misunderstanding,” Elizabeth stated as if she was still lost in the clouds. “The letter was from Gigi. She sends her regards to all of you, well, except you, Andrew. I have not mentioned your presence, and when I last wrote to her, I knew you as Mr Hillman.”
Jane stood and crossed the room to pull Lizzy into the warm circle of her arms. “You took my advice and asked?” She spoke softly so only Lizzy could hear. She felt Lizzy nod her head.
“I am so happy for you,” Jane replied insotto voce. She hugged Lizzy tightly before returning to sit next to Andrew. She did not miss his inquisitive look. “It is not my story to tell,” she said softly.
Due to the depth of respect Andrew felt for the lady he was courting, he asked no more on the subject.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
With the season over and Parliament’s session ending in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the Earl and Countess of Matlock had departed London on the second to last Monday in June.
After two and one-half days of travel, they arrived at Snowhaven to enjoy a summer in the country away from the odours and vapours prevalent in London in the hottest months. Even if the smell in the air was better in Mayfair, it was still too much. Normally, Andrew would spend part of the summer with them, as would Richard if he was in England and not fighting on the Peninsula.
This year, Andrew had notified them that as part of his withdrawal from society, using the name Mr Colin Hillman, he was renting a house near Lake Windermere. Richard was in the country, but no news about his intentions for the summer had been received yet.
“Reggie, our younger son has written to us,” Lady Matlock reported as she entered the sitting room, which was part of the master suite.
“Elaine, please read it and tell me if there is any interesting news,” Matlock stated as he lounged on a chaise longue. “I pray that Richard has not been ordered back to the Peninsula.”
