Of course, he realised that her addition of the number of hours was her attempt to handle with humour the possible awkwardness of her being so specific. How often he had seen her smooth over awkward moments and use humour to deal with ill-founded criticism?
He spoke honestly, “It seems like only yesterday, and it also seems like years ago.”
At that point, Elizabeth was courteously asked by Mr Morton, the shop owner, what she wished to purchase. She hesitated, and Darcy suggested, “The Bath buns are excellent. They are my sister’s favourite. And oatcakes are a Derbyshire specialty.”
“Thank you,” Elizabeth murmured. She smiled brightly to Mr Morton and said, “Three oatcakes and three Bath buns, please.”
Darcy gestured, and Mr Morton nodded with understanding that her order was to be added to the Pemberley account. He turned towards Darcy and asked, “And your usual, I imagine?”
Darcy nodded and smiled, happily remembering that he had a usual order—he came regularly to buy treats for his sister. So much for the master never running errands!
Mr Morton looked startled, but pleased, and his own polite smile grew wider. Darcy wondered if the shop owner was responding to the rarity of a pleasant expression on his face. He felt, not only reborn, but made new, and he was determined to have learnt from that time in limbo, when he had watched with disapproval his ridiculously silent and unsmiling manners.
Mr Morton returned with two small bags for Elizabeth and a box for Darcy. He knew that the box contained a dozen Bath buns; Georgiana delighted in having enough buns to eat two and to still have enough to share with her favourites of the household servants.
Thank yous were uttered,good days were exchanged, and Mr Morton’s respectful attitude seemed to develop an almost reverent edge. Darcy nodded to show his own respect as he turned towards the door.
Darcy took a single step but then hesitated, waiting for Elizabeth to move. Even though Mr Morton had turned to the next customer, she was still squarely in the centre of the counter. Darcy noted her confused expression and saw that she was clutching some coins. He lowered his head so he could whisper, “Allow me. A small token of my apologies for all my misspoken words and mistaken attitudes.”
She managed to look even more disconcerted, but she allowed him to gently guide her out the door. He said, “I imagine you are not in Lambton alone…?”
“No, I am travelling with my uncle and aunt.” She gestured towards a handsome, fashionable looking couple standing sixfeet away. The man was holding a lady’s half-boot, turning it in his hands. Elizabeth explained, “My aunt had a footwear emergency.”
“Might I ask to be introduced to your relations?” Darcy asked.
Elizabeth’s eyes widened, but then she straightened her shoulders and whispered, “These are the relatives who are in trade. The ones who live near Cheapside, as Miss Bingley pointed out.”
Darcy smiled and said, “I would be so pleased to meet them. And perhaps I might be of assistance. My carriage—” he hesitated, knowing it would be somewhere, but needing to glance away from Elizabeth to make certain of its location—“is just over there, and I can take your aunt and uncle to the cobbler or the shoemaker, whichever they prefer.”
“I thank you!” Elizabeth gave him one of her brilliant smiles, and Darcy was flooded with emotions. He had seen such a smile on her face before, but he was certain that he had not, himself, ever been the recipient of such an honour.
He offered his arm, even though they were only taking a few steps. She said, “Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward, I am pleased to introduce you to Mr Darcy. Mr Darcy, Mr and Mrs Edward Gardiner.”
Elizabeth’s aunt turned towards them with a look of absolute astonishment, which she swiftly covered with a very proper and pleasant smile and nod. “I am honoured to meet you, sir,” she said.
Her husband’s eyes twinkled in an Elizabeth-like way, and he smiled and nodded, saying, “I have heard about the great Darcy family from my wife, and I am pleased and honoured, as well.”
Darcy was delighted to recognise Elizabeth’s aunt. “Excuse me, madam, but I believe you are the former Miss Madeleine Johnson? The daughter of Lambton’s now-retired vicar?”
“I am indeed. I am astonished that you recognised me. I left Lambton when I was but seventeen.”
Darcy bowed and said, “It is wonderful to become reacquainted with Lambton’s favourite May Queen.” He turned and bowed to Mr Gardiner. “I am also delighted to meet the man who swept our May Queen away to London. I feel quite certain that I know of you, too, sir. Are you not the much-lauded purveyor of silks and linens, of Chinaware and furniture, from Gardiner’s Emporium?”
Mr Gardiner laughed and said, “Upon my word, you seem to know all, sir!”
Elizabeth was wide eyed at this exchange, and her hand on his arm had gone from lightly resting on it to clutching it, likely unknowingly. He turned to her and said, “I cannot believe that I knew your aunt before you did!”
She grinned and lifted her eyebrow once again, saying, “Well, sir, you do have the advantage of being quite a bit older than me.”
There was something about her voice, her posture as she spoke, her every expression and gesture, that made every statement, every question, and especially every tease infinitely charming.
He turned back to the Gardiners and offered the services of his carriage. “As you likely know, madam,” Darcy said, nodding to Mrs Gardiner in acknowledgement of her acquaintance with the town, “the cobbler and the shoemaker are located on opposite sides of the town. We can take you to either or both, perhaps as you nibble on your treats.”
The Gardiners thanked him heartily and accepted a ride to the cobbler. “We may as well see if it can be fixed,” Elizabeth’s aunt said.
Surprised to see Darcy and the others enter his shop, the cobbler swiftly left his work table and greeted them with a bow. “Mr Darcy, good day to you. Might I be of assistance, sir?”
“Good day, Mr Wilkerson,” Darcy responded. He saw Elizabeth shoot him a look of surprised approval. “My friends are the ones who need assistance.”
