“We are not overly so.My aunts each only have two children, and it has been so long since I heard from my uncle Darcy that I cannot be certain he is even still alive, but last I heard he had three children.”
“He does not write to you?”asked Elizabeth.
“He occasionally sends a letter, but I have not received one in at least three years now.His children were much younger than me, so I had not thought to write to them directly, though you make me think now I should.”He smiled at Elizabeth in the darkened carriage, and she returned it, wondering if they would ever make the journey to Canada to see his family.How exciting it would be!
“Will your aunt have any other family in attendance this evening?”asked Mrs.Gardiner.
“I am not certain of the entire guest list, but she assured me it would be only family.My uncle, Lord Hopewell, will likely be there, though he is so active with Parliament that he is often out.”
Elizabeth raised her brows at this.What sort of uncle would not wish to meet the woman his nephew was hoping to marry?
“My cousin Albert, Lord Winters, may make an appearance, though it is likely he will not remain for the evening.He is my aunt’s only son.Her daughter Clara should be there.She is entering her third season.Now that I think of it, you are likely of an age,” he said, looking to Elizabeth.
“Then perhaps we shall be friends,” she replied happily.
“My great uncle may be there as well, Sir Daniel Darcy.He was a judge on the high courts.He has a dry sense of humor, but he is kind.Actually, he reminds me a little of Mr.Bennet.”
Jane and Elizabeth looked at one another in surprise.
“Then we shall feel quite comfortable,” said Jane, ever the peacemaker.
Elizabeth was less nervous than she had been—it helped to know who she might encounter, and she could tell by how Fitzwilliam spoke of them who he considered a friend and who he did not—but she was still walking into uncharted territory.She intended to acquit herself well, though she did not anticipate much enjoyment in the evening.
Finally, they pulled up before a large stone house, tall and stately, with lanterns lit near the door and at the posts along the street.Elizabeth let her eyes drift up, taking it all in.
Courage, Lizzy.It is only a house, she told herself.
The door was opened by a butler, and soon they had shed their outerwear and were being led into a drawing room where the tinkle of voices could be heard.
The room was as large and elegant as would be expected in such a grand house, and the furnishings were a combination of good taste and the desire to display wealth.Not as ornate as Rosings, but much showier than her aunt’s home.There were roughly half a dozen people scattered throughout the room.A tall woman looked to the door as they were announced and made her way to them.She seemed to glide across the floor, she walked so smoothly.Elizabeth idly thought Caroline Bingley might like to study her; she could practice in her room for hours in an attempt to emulate her movements.
“Darcy, it is good to see you,” said the gliding sylph.
She held out her hands and Darcy took them in his own, dropping a kiss on her cheek.
“Aunt, may I present Miss Elizabeth Bennet, her sister Miss Jane Bennet, and their aunt, Mrs.Gardiner.Ladies, my aunt, Lady Hopewell.”
The ladies curtsied and smiled, and no one tripped on her skirts or let out an untimely burp.
First task accomplished.
“Miss Elizabeth, I am so pleased to meet you.My nephew has told me much about you.Come meet the family.”She smiled and took Elizabeth’s arm in hers, dragging her away from her party.
She did it so smoothly it was barely noticeable, but after meeting Lord Hopewell and their daughter Lady Clara, Elizabeth could not help but notice that her sister and aunt had been purposely left out of the introductions.She could not know why yet, but it made her wary.
Darcy’s great uncle, Sir Daniel Darcy, was just as he had been described.He was a tall, thin man with a shock of white hair and rigid posture.His face was set permanently in a frown, as if he knew she had stolen her sister’s bonnet and he would look at her thusly until she confessed to her crime.But just when she thought he hated her without hearing her say more than three words, she noticed a glimmer in his eye, the same telltale sparkle her father got before he teased someone.If Mr.Bennet had been free to pursue his academic interests and less inclined to laugh at everyone around him, she fancied he might have had a similar profession to Sir Daniel Darcy.She smiled at the judge and determined that she would find time to speak with him that evening.
Finally, the introduction Elizabeth had most been looking forward to was upon her.Miss Darcy was a tall girl—like all the other Darcys in the room—and on a larger scale than Elizabeth.She spoke so quietly Elizabeth could barely hear her, and she kept her eyes glued to the floor throughout the introduction and ensuing conversation.She was almost painfully shy, and Elizabeth knew it would be up to her to draw Miss Darcy out and further conversation if they were going to come to know one another at all.
Before Elizabeth could speak more than a few words to anyone, they were called in to dinner.The place settings were more elaborate than Elizabeth was used to, and she suspected they were in for at least four courses and very likely more.Lady Hopewell had placed Elizabeth on her left and Darcy on her right.Elizabeth was glad to have an ally close at hand, but she was not certain how good an ally Mr.Darcy would prove to be when the jousting was entirely verbal.She hated to admit it, but she would have felt more at ease with Colonel Fitzwilliam’s jocular conversation or Charlotte’s steady presence.If Mr.Darcy remained silent as his aunt questioned her about her family and accomplishments (as Elizabeth had no doubt she would), she was not sure what she would do.She knew she would be terribly disappointed in him, though.She could only hope his aunt was kind and the questions were not too invasive.
On Elizabeth’s other side was Sir Daniel Darcy.She was glad to have him next to her.Mrs.Gardiner was on his other side, followed by Miss Darcy.She saw her aunt was already beginning to speak to Miss Darcy and hoped she would make progress with the younger girl.
On Mr.Darcy’s other side was his cousin, Lady Clara, and then Jane.Jane was also on Lord Hopewell’s left, and Elizabeth felt a knot in her stomach when she noticed it.She could foresee too many dangerous outcomes: Jane would answer questions too honestly and the experienced politician would know the whole of their family history before the second course was removed, or worse.He would be the sort of man who flirted with pretty women, and Jane was easily the most beautiful woman a man would ever see.He would not be able to resist.Or he would be an utter bore and Jane would not know how to discourage him without being impolite, and she would have an absolutely wretched evening.
The soup was brought out and Lady Hopewell began.
“So, Miss Elizabeth, you are from Hertfordshire?”
