She smiled and agreed to do so. “I will have to call you each of these names, I believe, depending on my mood or our location.”
“I look forward to it.”
She stood, signalling that their private conversation was over; he escorted her back to the group and briefly went over the travellers’ itinerary. Because they planned to set off earlyin the morning, the Gardiners whisked Elizabeth to their guest chambers at that point, and before long Georgiana said good night as well.
Darcy was trembling from his excitement about his nearly-official betrothal, and he feared it was unlikely that he would be able to sleep anytime soon. But, he ruefully acknowledged to himself, perhaps that was a good thing. After all, there was a stack of correspondence he had neglected for the past several days.
Going to his study, he sorted through the letters stacked on his desk. He organised his writing materials, but instead of responding to the most important letter, he began to write letters to each of the inns at which the Gardiners planned to lodge, requesting that the travellers be treated as members of his family. Darcy knew the owners of all but one of the establishments, and he felt assured that the use of his name would elevate the service and, he hoped, their enjoyment.
Next, he wrote an express to his local and London investigators, implementing the measures he had outlined earlier that day.
Only after all those tasks were done did Darcy begin to answer his various letters and invitations. It was almost midnight by the time he was done, and considering the amount of time he had to spend almost daily on correspondence, he tentatively decided to hire a secretary. Once he was wed, he would wish to spend that time…more agreeably engaged.
The next day, Darcy rose early to see the Gardiners and Elizabeth off. He had ordered a hamper of food and beveragesto be gathered for their travels, and he kissed Elizabeth’s hand lingeringly—despite the presence of her aunt and uncle.
Once the carriage disappeared from sight, Darcy attempted to jump back into his ordinary duties, but he found it a bit more difficult than usual to maintain focus in his meetings with Pemberley’s steward and housekeeper and with Georgiana’s companion. Instead of paying attention to the report on the yield of the winter wheat crop, he pictured Elizabeth’s face turned back towards him and Georgiana, her hand lifted in farewell, as she began the day’s journey…away from him. Instead of reading the week’s menus, so that he could make changes or grant approval, he remembered how soft Elizabeth’s hand had been in his, and how she had trembled when he kissed her wrist just above her glove. Instead of promptly responding to Mrs Annesley’s request for new sheet music for Georgiana, he flashed on Elizabeth’s voice as she had said, “I will see you quite soon,” and then she had whispered an addition: “Will.”
Every time he lost focus, he held up his hand, apologised for not attending properly, and asked that the last point be repeated. He not only exerted a tremendous amount of effort on not getting distracted by daydreams of Elizabeth, he also remembered to thank his servants and employees, to smile, and to make every demonstration of respect that they deserved.
It was slightly depressing that, in each meeting, each of his employees asked if he was well—butnotwhen he demonstrated a failure to maintain his attention on the business at hand, but rather when he smiled and apologised. Still, Darcy comforted himself that each of these individuals, who were so crucial to his life, demonstrated true respect at the beginning of each meeting and even more respect, along with appreciation, by its end. However monstrous he now found his former arrogance and propensity to frown, he could see that his pre-resurrectionself had been hardworking and capable enough to have earned respect.
At the end of the meeting with his steward, Mr Morris said, “It is wonderful to see things going well for you again, sir.”
As she left his study, Mrs Reynolds said, “It is so wonderful to see you happy, sir.”
Tears had actually formed in Mrs Annesley’s eyes when she said, “Your recent guests have brought you and Miss Darcy a measure of peace and contentment that I hope will continue.”
Only a few minutes after that third meeting ended, Darcy received the announcement that he had dreaded. His butler knocked on his door and said, “The Duke of Lymebourne is here to see you, sir. I have put him into the blue drawing room.”
He had never thought to ensure that Georgiana was far away if and when the duke visited, but of course Connors lived in Derbyshire and knew the duke’s reputation. Still, he had to say, “Please be certain that Georgiana is kept away.”
“Yes, sir. She is currently in her private sitting room, and I have alerted Mrs Annesley to the duke’s presence.”
“Thank you, Mr Connors,” Darcy said. He did not smile—indeed, hecouldnot—but he tried to express his respect and gratitude with his voice and eyes.
Darcy slowly made his way to the blue drawing room, considering what strategies he could use if the duke were as unpleasant as he anticipated. Darcy well remembered that his father knew a man who was sentenced to death for hitting a duke in self-defense; that duke was a friend of King George III. The Duke of Lymebourne claimed to be a special friend of the Prince Regent. He had no idea how the prince actually viewed the duke, but Darcy knew better than to let himself respond with any show of violence.
“Your Grace.” Darcy greeted the man with deliberate astonishment, saying, “I cannot imagine how it is that I havethe honour of being sought out only a day after we met at Lymeston.”
“I came to better know your charming intended since you had to hasten away so quickly yesterday.”
“Apologies for our hurried removal yesterday, sir, but we had many miles to accomplish. Can I offer you some refreshment? Tea, perhaps? Lemonade?”
“I would prefer something stronger, Darcy, as you well know. Good God, man, offering tea in the afternoon?”
It was just a few minutes past noon, which Darcy supposed did indeed qualify as afternoon. He rang and asked for a single glass of sherry. The duke lifted his eyes skyward, likely in disapprobation over being served wine rather than a stronger drink. But Darcy’s experience had taught him that alcohol tended to make this particular man…even more unpleasant.
While waiting for the sherry, Darcy said, “Miss Bennet is not in residence and has likely left Derbyshire at this point.”
“Oh, dear, I regret not being able to converse with the young lady. After all, if you really do marry her, she will become an important personage in our little corner of the world.”
In response, Darcy merely nodded.
The duke said, “I had my man do a quick search ofDebrett’sand theBaronetage, and there is no listing for a Bennet family. Of course, you are a commoner, and despite the…fire…your lady demonstrates, I assume her to be commoner as well. Where did she come from? What is her father’s estate? I have never seen her at Almack’s or, indeed, at any ball here or in Town.”
A footman arrived and courteously offered a goblet of sherry to the duke and then executed a deep bow before retreating.
Darcy waited until the footman had left the room before answering: “Mr Bennet does not care for London, sir, and indeed their family is not well known there. Again, apologies for our hasty removal yesterday, but I am afraid that I must beg off anyfurther conversation today, as well. I am even now late for a meeting with some tenants.”
