He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.“I am sorry I was rude to your uncle, Elizabeth.I never meant to hurt or offend you by my behavior, and I apologize for doing so.”
Her arms were still crossed over her chest, but he thought he saw her stance relax a little.
“Fitzwilliam,” she said hesitantly, “I would like you to answer something truthfully.”
“Of course.”He felt flooded with relief.She had called him by name!
“Why were you so rude to my uncle?”
He instantly flushed and he knew she saw it by the stiffening of her shoulders.
“The truth, please.Do not spare my sensibilities.”
Darcy sighed.“Very well.There were a few reasons.If you will hear me out?”
She nodded.
“I spoke with Bingley briefly before you came down to dinner.He mentioned your uncle taking him aside and questioning his honor.I understand he was acting as Miss Bennet’s guardian, but it did set me somewhat on edge.”
She glared at him but said nothing.
“And Mr.Gardiner is your mother’s brother, and I have often found her…” he paused as he searched for a word, “somewhat difficult to be in company with.”He could not look at her as he said it, but she had asked for his honesty.
“Is that all?Would you not have realized a few minutes after meeting him that he is nothing like my mother?”
Darcy took a deep breath.At least she was not offended over what he said of Mrs.Bennet.“Truthfully, your uncle is in trade.I have known many such men before and they often wish for an investment of some kind, or an introduction.They often try to convince me to be part of some risky scheme that has little chance of success, and they want someone else’s money to speculate with.I cannot abide it.”
Elizabeth watched him thoughtfully, clearly considering everything he had said very carefully.“And you thought my uncle would be such a man?That he would vulgarly ask you for an investment, at dinner in his own home, with his wife and nieces present?”
When put in such a way, it did sound ridiculous, but he had not given it much thought.He had seen Mr.Gardiner, thought he was a tradesman with whom he wanted little to do, and focused his attention on Elizabeth.
“I can only say I was not thinking as carefully as I should have been.I had been so anxious to see you, and then I spoke with Bingley and,” he paused to take a breath.“No, I am making excuses.I was abominably rude.You are correct.Mr.Gardiner was my host, and your uncle and guardian.He deserved better treatment from me.I apologize.”
She watched him warily for a moment, as if she were still sketching his character.“Very well, Mr.Darcy, I accept your apology.I can understand your reasons, to an extent.Do you intend to continue in this aloof manner?Or will you make a genuine effort to get to know my Uncle Gardiner?”
He stepped closer to her, relieved to see she had uncrossed her arms and relaxed her stance.He took her hands in his and pulled her a tiny bit closer, though she was still too far away for his liking.
“I will be the opposite of aloof.”He raised her hands to his lips one at a time.“I will make an effort to befriend your uncle.I can see it is important to you.”He knew he had said the right thing, for her shoulders lowered and her face lost its serious lines.“I will not allow your delightful presence to distract me from what is due my hosts.”
She finally smiled at him.Something seemed to loosen around his chest and he felt tension leave his body.How had he gone entire days without her smiling at him before?It felt impossible now.
“Would you like to put that to the test?”she asked slyly.
“How do you mean?”
“Come to dinner again tonight.Show my uncle you are a good man.Show me I have not been mistaken in your character.”She added the last more somberly, and Darcy understood he had made a very grave misstep, and nearly collided with disaster.
“Yes, I will come to dinner this evening.”She smiled at him again and he could not resist placing another kiss on her hand before tucking it beneath his and continuing their walk through the park.“That reminds me.I would like for you meet my sister while you are in town.She is currently staying with my aunt, Lady Hopewell.Will you and Miss Bennet come to dinner tomorrow evening?Mrs.Gardiner may attend as your chaperone if she likes.”
Elizabeth noticed he had neatly avoided inviting her uncle, but she understood that his aunt might have more rigid ideas about society than she had, and he had apologized very prettily.It would be petty of her to hold someone else’s guest list against him.
“Yes, I would be delighted to attend.I know Jane has no engagements.I will ask my aunt if she is free.”
Dinner that night was as different from the night before as possible.Darcy spoke with Mrs.Gardiner of Lambton and Derbyshire.He talked with Mr.Gardiner of fishing, a sport they both enjoyed, and he even made an effort to get to know Miss Bennet better.She would be his sister—he ought to have made the effort before now, but he had not been thinking clearly.In truth, he had been thinking of little but Elizabeth.
He was observant enough to notice the surprise, though it was quickly hidden, on the faces of Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle.They clearly had expected more of his insulting behavior from the night before, and he was filled with shame that he had behaved so to his hosts and the beloved relations of the woman he hoped to call his wife.Just before the dessert was brought out, he caught Mrs.Gardiner nodding to Elizabeth with a look of approval in her eye, and Elizabeth smiling back in relief.
He finally realized how close he had come to losing her.The thought took his breath away for a moment.As a wealthy man with a vast estate and in good health and looks as he was, he had never imagined he would be refused by any woman he would make his proposals to.Yet Elizabeth had all but told him she would have done just that.After everything they had been through, after all of the conversations and outings and all his determined wooing, after every awkward attempt to be charming he had made, the idea that he might lose her over his insufferable pride made him a little sick to his stomach.
