Elizabeth did not have four sisters for nothing.She could recognize the signs of a lady interested in a gentleman.“Yes, I saw him nearly every day.We became quite good friends.”
Lady Clara flushed and looked at her hands.“Oh.He is such good company, he is always attracting attention.”
“He is excellent company, that is true.If I had had an elder brother, I would have wanted him to be just like Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
Lady Clara looked up with a bright smile and Elizabeth knew she had said the right thing.Why the lady would think Elizabeth was interested romantically in the colonel when she was there as Mr.Darcy’s guest she did not know, but sense and infatuation did not always travel together.
“Will you stay in Town for the remainder of the Season?”asked Lady Clara.
“No, I will return to my father’s estate in less than a fortnight.”
“Do you plan to attend many gatherings with the Fitzwilliam family?”
“I do not know.I imagine I will meet them at some point, and I would like to know Miss Darcy better, but I have no fixed plans at this time.The arrangements are up to Mr.Darcy.”
“Of course.”
Elizabeth looked to where Jane and Miss Darcy were speaking quietly across the room.She wondered if she should join them, but they seemed to be getting on well and she did not wish to leave Lady Clara on her own.Mrs.Gardiner was speaking to Lady Hopewell and the conversation did not look pleasant.From the few words Elizabeth heard, it sounded like Lady Hopewell was lecturing her aunt on how to behave with such elevated personages as herself.Heaven help them!Was Mr.Darcy’s entire family comprised of Lady Catherines?
Elizabeth caught her aunt’s eye and smiled gratefully at her.Mrs.Gardiner smiled tightly in return.
“Mother is not all bad,” said Lady Clara.“She has a rather high opinion of herself and her title, but when she is in company with people of her own rank, she can be excellent company.”
Elizabeth raised a brow, thinking it sounded very like the way Mr.Wickham had described Mr.Darcy when she first knew him—rude to the general masses, but perfectly agreeable when in company of those he considered his equals.
“Oh, I am sorry, Miss Elizabeth!”said Lady Clara.“I meant no disrespect towards you or your aunt.”She seemed genuinely distressed as she wrang her hands in her lap and her cheeks flushed in mortification.
“It is all right, Lady Clara.”Thinking she would speak about something the lady clearly wished to discuss, Elizabeth said, “How long have you known Colonel Fitzwilliam?”
Lady Clara’s face flushed a deeper shade of red.“I met him a few times when we were children, of course, though he was much older than me.When I came out three years ago, I was so very nervous, but Colonel Fitzwilliam was very gallant.He danced with me and put me at ease, and he did not tease me when I took a wrong turn and stepped on his shoe.”
Elizabeth was not surprised.She had seen him put Maria at ease in much the same manner, and Mr.Darcy had said he behaved similarly with Georgiana.“I can easily believe it of him.He has a great talent in social situations.”
Lady Clara leaned towards her.“I had thought he would come to visit Georgiana, but he has not, not even once.”
“He has only just returned from Kent, and he must have many demands on his time.”
“Yes, of course.”Lady Clara looked to her feet, clearly embarrassed.“Miss Elizabeth, if your schedule permits, would you like to come for tea later this week?”
“I would be delighted, Lady Clara,” said Elizabeth with a smile.She did not know how much Lord and Lady Hopewell would like it, but she would not refuse the invitation.“And we would like to see you on Gracechurch Street if you would like to call.”
Clara beamed back at her.“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth.I would like that.”
It was clear that Lady Clara carried more than a small torch for Colonel Fitzwilliam.He had told Elizabeth he needed to marry with some consideration for money—surely Lady Clara had a large dowry?As the only daughter of an earl, she could hardly be penniless.She was not the most beautiful lady in Town, but she was not entirely plain, and she seemed to have a sweet disposition.Perhaps Elizabeth could help bring them together.She would never be a matchmaker in her own right, but she could assist Lady Clara with her goal if it was within her power.Of course, after this evening, she was not certain how much power she would wield.
Before Elizabeth was able to speak to Miss Darcy, whom she had been hoping to get to know, the gentlemen rejoined them, minus Lord Winters.Darcy came to stand next to Elizabeth, but before he could speak more than a greeting, Lady Hopewell entreated her daughter to play for them.When she finished, Miss Darcy shakily took to the instrument and played a beautiful concerto.
As soon as the applause died down, Mrs.Gardiner thanked Lady Hopewell for a lovely evening and said they must be returning home for they had an early appointment the following morning.Everything proper was said, and soon they were boarding Mr.Darcy’s carriage and trundling toward Gracechurch Street, relief the strongest emotion by far.
Midnight Confessions
Mr.Darcyinsistedonescorting the ladies back to the Gardiners’, though they had assured him they did not mind if they went alone and he returned home.After all, they were only two streets away from Darcy House.
He insisted and the carriage was silent, for the ladies wished to speak of the evening but could not do so in front of Mr.Darcy, and that gentleman could not think of anything to say that would not sound as if he were defending his relations’ rudeness or make the evening more awkward than it already had been, especially for Miss Jane Bennet.
Elizabeth was a jumble of mixed emotions.She had hoped to make a good impression on Darcy’s family, for she thought they would soon be her own and she had no desire to cause discord.She had also wished to show that she would not be treated as the lowest person in the room simply because she was not from a grand family.If she was to take her place as Mrs.Darcy, they must respect her, as Mr.Darcy’s choice or on her own merits, but the respect must be given.
This had proven a more difficult line to walk than she had anticipated.
