A sound alerted them to the fact that they were exposed to anyone passing by, and Darcy reluctantly stepped away from her.
“I suppose we had better return to the carriage,” she said. “We have already been delayed enough.”
“Not until you have assured me that you no longer find me arrogant.”
She was happy to oblige.
After a brief interval, they walked slowly back, side by side, their shoulders rubbing, their fingertips touching as they moved. Elizabeth soon returned to the subject of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. She was curious to learn what Darcy’s relationship with his aunt was like. He had never once mentioned her, or said he wanted to go to see her.
“So does your aunt live close by?”
“Not at all. Rosings Park is about three hours away, near Westerham, but the inn at Bromley was a regular stop every time we traveled.”
“Are you close to your aunt?”
Darcy snorted. “My aunt is not the kind of person you can be close to. Mostly, she barks out orders and expects everyone to obey them.”
“She sounds terrifying.”
“As long as you don’t let her intimidate you, you’ll be fine. She likes to manage everyone around her. She interferes in every detail of their lives. I have even heard her give one of the tenants instructions about how to arrange her shelves.”
“Goodness! I would not like that. How did you put up with it?”
"She was kind to me when I was orphaned. She could have sent me to an Academy straight after my parents died. Instead, she trained me herself. Perhaps she had reasons of her own for doing it, but at the time, I was grieving the loss of my parents, and I was grateful that my mother's sister took me in. If I had gone straight to an Academy, I might have likely been bullied by my fellow apprentices who did not understand what I was facing."
"Very probably." No matter how hard it was to imagine Darcy as a tearful young boy at the mercy of the other children, she could see why his aunt's intervention had been important.
“When did you last see her?”
He looked uncomfortable. “Just before our wedding. We— had a falling-out.”
Elizabeth vaguely remembered Lord Matlock saying something about Darcy and his cousin. At the time, she had not paid much attention to it, but now she remembered something about marriage expectations.
"Was it because she hoped you would marry your cousin?"
Darcy winced. “It was more than that. When you and I met, Anne and I were engaged.” Darcy’s tone was clipped.
Elizabeth felt as though a large stone had lodged in her stomach. Why had he not mentioned it before? She had never considered that he might have been attached to someone else. No wonder he was so hostile when they were first introduced.
Her mind spun with the implications. Breaking an engagement was a very serious matter, particularly for a well-bred young lady. What impact did it all have on Miss de Bourgh? Young ladies who were jilted were often ostracized by society.
“So they made you break the engagement?” She could not keep the outrage out of her voice.
“There was no need to. It was never made official. There was no announcement.” He looked down at his hands and sighed. "I am sorry I never told you. I have not thought about Anne for a very long time. It did not seem important."
A heavy silence hung between them.
She hesitated, then decided to ask the question that was on her mind. “Did you care for her?”
“I cared for her, of course. We spent two years together as children. It was a good match. It was planned by our mothers in the cradle. We grew up with the expectation that it would happen one day. My aunt was bitterly disappointed when the Council decreed otherwise.” He paused. “We are none of us the masters of our fate. But if you are asking whether it broke my heart to be separated from Anne, it did not.”
His answer mollified her, but not completely. “Do you wish it could have been otherwise?”
She held her breath. She knew Darcy well enough that he would answer honestly. Did she really want to hear his answer?
He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. “And miss the opportunity to fall in love with such a Talented and beautiful young lady?” He pulled her against him and kissed her deeply, the passion in his kiss leaving no doubt in her mind. Then, as he drew back, he added. “If only we had our freedom, you would quickly learn how fortunate I consider myself to have found such a wonderful bride.”
Several hours later, they finally arrived at Sevenoaks, where they were to meet the young ladies. Mr. Bingley was the first to alight. He immediately asked the ostler if a carriage with three young ladies had arrived.
