Chapter 15
Dressing for her dinner invitation, Elizabeth was grateful to Miss Darcy for insisting on having an evening gown made for her. While her maid Betty styled her hair, she stared into the mirror, admiring the blue bodice and the intricate rows of embellishment. When Betty was done, she felt a rush of confidence. They might judge her in other ways, but they could not find fault with her appearance. Far from looking like an impoverished thief, she looked like a peer of the realm. Everything— from the pretty flowers entwined in her hair, to the elegant kid gloves, to the satin slippers tied around her ankle with blue ribbons— told a tale of wealth and distinction.
She would not let them intimidate her. She would raise her head proudly and take her place amongst them as the gentleman’s daughter she was.
Even so, the butterflies in her stomach were swirling, and her pulse was galloping by the time they passed Gunter’s Tea shop and the carriage drew up to the elegant townhouse at Berkley Square.
They arrived at Darcy House in good time. Elizabeth stepped in, curious to see how Mr. Darcy’s taste differed from his sister’s. She imagined a brooding, poorly lit house full of historic relics, with a suit of armor guarding the entrance, and family portraits going back centuries to remind visitors of his illustrious ancestors.
Instead, she stepped into an open space with marble floors covered in floral carpets and walls painted in a delicate apple green, featuring symmetrical marble colonnades and a series of alcoves with Greek statues. There was no time to stop and look around, as the butler took them straight to the drawing room, where they found Mr. Darcy with another gentleman.
“Richard!” cried Miss Darcy, when she spotted her cousin.
Elizabeth stood waiting to be introduced, while Miss Darcy chattered with her cousin. With his guard lowered around his ward, the colonel seemed more like a benign uncle than like an earl’s son. He was not as handsome as Mr. Darcy, but there was something about his gruff military manner and good humored expression that made her like him.
Meanwhile, she did not know if it was her imagination, since she did not want to turn and confirm it, but she had the feeling Mr. Darcy was examining her more closely than usual.
Miss Darcy eventually turned around with a little cry. “Oh, I am so sorry, I forgot that Miss Bennet is not acquainted with you.”
“No harm done,” said the colonel.
Darcy immediately performed the introductions.
“Miss Bennet. It is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard a great deal about you from Georgiana.”
“Good things, I hope,” said Elizabeth, archly.
“Naturally. She argued the case for inviting you to London very strongly, did you not, Georgie?”
Georgiana beamed. “Yes, I did. And I am so happy that Miss Bennet agreed to come and stay with me.”
Elizabeth smiled indulgently at Miss Darcy’s sweetness, but as her gaze drifted towards Darcy, she could not let the opportunity go. “Well, you must thank your brother. He is the one who twisted my arm to make me come.”
“Is that so?” said the colonel, glancing towards Darcy.
“Or rather, let us say, he presented a persuasive argument that was impossible to refuse,” Elizabeth added. “Tell me, does Mr. Darcy always have his way?”
“More often than not,” replied the colonel, chuckling. “Particularly when he sets his mind to it. You might be better off asking Darcy himself if you want an answer to your question. What do you think, Darcy? Do you always have your way?”
“I certainly endeavor to do so, if it is something that is important to me – or my family.” He smiled at Georgiana, who smiled back.
Elizabeth would have liked to pursue the point, but she did not want Georgiana to suspect Elizabeth had been unwilling to be her guest.
“Well, I cannot find fault with that,” she replied lightly, “I would do anything for my family.”
At that moment, the front door knocker sounded. Elizabeth tensed, preparing herself to deal with the hostility of Mr. Bingley.
The butler soon announced Darcy’s younger friend, who entered with a cheerful look on his face. He checked whenhe spotted her, surprise flitting across his face, but he simply bowed.
“Miss Bennet, I did not expect to see you here!” he said affably. He looked quizzically at Darcy. “You did not tell me Miss Bennet is in London.”
“Miss Bennet is Georgiana’s guest at her new home,” said Darcy. “I thought I wrote about it in my last letter.”
“I probably missed the letter just as I left Scarborough,” remarked Bingley, cheerfully, “I decided to leave in the spur of a moment.” He turned to Georgiana. “How do you find your new lodgings?”
Elizabeth let out a deep breath, relieved that Mr. Bingley had spared her any reference to their last encounter. Still, it was too soon to let her guard down. She only half-listened as Georgiana expressed her enthusiasm for Cavendish Square.
Almost immediately afterwards, they made their way to the dining room. As Elizabeth sat down, dread weighed heavily inside her. Sooner or later, Mr. Bingley was bound to mention their last encounter.
