“Miss Elizabeth,” said he with the gravest intensity, “I would be pleased if you would consent to visit Pemberley when you are in the north. I do not know how much touring you will do on the way, but while you are in Derbyshire, I would very much like to host you and your family. Will you pass along an invitation to stay at Pemberley to your aunt and uncle?”
“Are you certain, sir?” asked Elizabeth. “You have never made their acquaintance.”
“I have never been more certain of anything in my life,” averred Darcy. “As you esteem your relations, your recommendation is good enough for me. I should be happy to host them for as long as they wish to stay in the neighborhood.”
“Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth. “I should be happy to pass along your invitation.”
That settled, Darcy stayed with Miss Elizabeth for the rest of the evening, and it gratified him to note that she appeared content to remain by his side. They discussed a myriad of subjects, each more engaging than the last had been. Regardless of the subjects they canvassed, Darcy was content, for the prospect of having her at Pemberley filled him with contentment. For the first time, he felt that all was well, that he might obtain all he ever dreamed. The only thing he needed to do was make her as desperately in love with him as he was with her. That end had never seemed so attainable.
Chapter XXX
After the Bennets departed, those at Netherfield remained together for a time, talking quietly, or simply contemplating life, love, and happiness, or possibly less fraught subjects. Darcy was among the latter, and while Anne de Bourgh ostensibly conversed with Georgiana, she was engaged in watching her cousin, trying to understand him.
It was no feat to comprehend Georgiana, for the girl was as lively as any of them had ever seen. Of the Bennets, she could see no defect, for they were amiable and welcoming, the youngest girls great fun, Miss Mary a fount of musical knowledge, the elder everything lovely. Anne agreed with the last, did not know enough of Miss Mary to say, and thought the planned companion, of which Mrs. Bennet spoke and Anne’s mother approved, would do the youngest Bennets a world of good.
Darcy, however, was much more difficult to read, for he was a closed book and always had been. There was no censure in his mien, and he appeared unaffected by Mrs. Bennet’s questions, which had walked the razor’s edge of being improper. If anything, Darcy became more content the longer the evening progressed. The question was why that should be and of what they had spoken, for Anne understood that if she could obtain that information, the rest would become clear. The new Anne de Bourgh, the woman not dominated by her mother and possessing opinions of her own, was determined to gain that knowledge.
“Well, Cousin?” asked Anne, drawing Darcy’s attention to her.
The old Anne would not have spoken, and if she had, would have avoided the direct route, couching her questions in innuendo or generalities. That approach would yield no fruitwith Darcy, and Anne was done being that timid woman afraid of her own shadow.
“How may I help you?” asked Darcy.
Anne regarded him through narrowed eyes, seeing her cousin’s amused grin at once. Amused! He knew the company was alive with curiosity and had been waiting for someone to ask. That he had met Elizabeth in Meryton the previous day was a matter of common knowledge to the entire company, but Anne did not think it signified. Darcy had been as surprised by Mrs. Bennet’s behavior and questions as any of them. No, his understanding had come while speaking with Elizabeth.
“You know what interests us, Darcy,” chided Lady Catherine. “You were no less surprised by Mrs. Bennet’s brazen questions than the rest of us, and now you are positively brimming with satisfaction.”
“Oh, that,” said Darcy, giving the impression of unconcern. “It is nothing, really.”
“What is nothing, Darcy?” asked Fitzwilliam. It was clear Fitzwilliam was becoming frustrated with Darcy, amusing because Darcy had reversed the usual dynamic between them.
Darcy shrugged. “You all heard that the Bennets’ relation lived for some years in Lambton, which is not five miles from Pemberley? Yes? Good. Mrs. Bennet spoke as she did, wishing to know the proximity of Lambton and Pemberley. The reason is that Miss Elizabeth is to travel to the north with her aunt and uncle, and they mean to visit Lambton and the scenes of her youth.”
“Oh, that is wonderful!” exclaimed Georgiana, clapping her hands. “I can show Pemberley to Elizabeth!”
Anne regarded her young cousin with amusement, knowing that such concerns would be of paramount importance to Georgiana. She was not blind, and while she had congregated more with the younger Bennets, that was because Darcy hadso effectively ruled Elizabeth’s time. Georgiana, however, was aware of Elizabeth’s sterling qualities and had gaining a sister—or perhaps five—firmly in mind.
“Let us not be so hasty,” said Lady Catherine as she gazed at Darcy with some intensity. “As I recall, the Bennet relations are reputed to be in trade.”
“If you have forgotten, Lady Catherine,” said Mr. Bingley, his voice edged with glee, “you are presently staying in the home of a man whose fortune comes from trade.”
Fitzwilliam snorted with laughter, while Mr. Bingley’s sisters did not appear to appreciate his jest. The younger lady impaled her brother with her eyes, as if she could silence him on the spot.
“With all due respect, Mr. Bingley,” said Lady Catherine, not giving an inch, “whatever your background, you are now moving to join the gentleman class, a laudatory goal. These relations of the Bennets are active in trade and have no intention of leaving it.”
“Perhaps they are,” said Darcy, finally rejoining the conversation. “Yet I have heard Miss Elizabeth speak of them before, and she has always done so in glowing terms. Can you suppose that a woman of Miss Elizabeth’s quality would approve of unworthy people, even if theyarerelations?”
Again, Miss Bingley showed her disagreement, this time with a sardonic snort, something Anne would dearly like to point out was most unladylike. Her mother appeared to agree, for she fixed Miss Bingley with a quelling look, the efficacy of which was debatable at best.
“They may be the finest people in the world, but they are still intrade.”
“If you will pardon me, Lady Catherine,” said Darcy, “I think Pemberley can survive any stain that comes of hosting such people for a time and do not believe such excellent people can have any detrimental effect.”
“Do not forget the benefits of meeting Miss Elizabeth at Pemberley,” observed Anne.
“Whatever you are thinking, Anne, we agree,” said Darcy. “The benefits of meeting Miss Elizabeth at Pemberley cannot be overstated.”
“Do you truly mean to do this, Mr. Darcy?” asked Miss Bingley, appearing bewildered. “Shall you accept such people at your hallowed estate?’
