Elizabeth shook her head, grumbling to herself. She was looking forward to talking to Miss Darcy, but her uncle seemed determined to bring her and Mr. Millett together, come what may.
Some of the joy went out of the afternoon. She liked Mr. Millett, but she felt Mr. Gardiner was pushing too hard for her to think of him as a suitor.
Then a message came from Mr. Darcy, and everything changed.
Darcy pondered Mrs. Gardiner’s invitation for some time. It was unexpected, but it was an indication that they did not harbor any ill feelings towards him.
More importantly, Mrs. Gardiner had included him in the invitation. Though it was addressed to Georgiana, she had made it clear that both of them were welcome. It was a family dinner,so it would be acceptable for Georgiana to go on her own. The question was, should he go with her?
After long consideration, he decided it was his duty to go with his sister. She was really too young to dine with people she was not directly related to. After all, their connection with the Gardiners was very new, and Darcy did not know them very well.
Still, he would not wish to deprive Georgiana of something she evidently enjoyed. She had been very eager to go. But she did not have much experience being around strangers. What if something unprecedented happened?
In the end, he concluded there was nothing to be done but to accept the invitation as well and make sure his sister did not feel overwhelmed.
Darcy took several precautions as he and Georgiana went for dinner, in case his house was being watched by the vultures from his club who would stoop to anything to win their bets. This involved switching to a hack cab, then driving around to make certain no one was behind them. He did not want to reveal the location of Miss Bennet. It had been another consideration when he decided to go with Georgiana to the dinner. It took forever for them to arrive, and by then, Darcy was in fever of anticipation.
Then finally he was there. His heart thundered in his ears. He would be seeing Miss Bennet, and he would finally be able to talk to her.
The butler announced them, and, as he entered the parlor, Darcy’s gaze darted immediately to Miss Bennet.
He recoiled in shock. She was sitting on the sofa, and a young gentleman was seated next to her. Darcy could only assume he was the same one who had been there at the theatre.
Darcy considered his rival. Colonel Fitzwilliam had been right. The man was too handsome by far. Darcy eyed the gap between him and Miss Bennet and thought Mr. Millett was sitting rather too close to her.
Then Mrs. Gardiner stood up to welcome him, blocking his view.
“I am pleased you decided to join us for dinner, Mr. Darcy,” she said, curtseying with a warm smile. “And Miss Darcy, of course, you are very welcome.”
Darcy bowed, then turned to greet Miss Bennet. Mr. Gardiner came into the room just then, and the opportunity was gone.
“Ah! Mr. Darcy!” said Mr. Gardiner, more pleasantly than Darcy might have expected, considering how his last visit had ended. “Maggie will be pleased you have come. She has been asking about you. I will ring for the children to be brought down from the nursery, that is, if you do not mind having them eat with us.”
“Not at all,” replied Darcy. “I understood that to be the case. It is, after all, a family dinner.”
“Exactly,” said Mr. Gardiner, smiling at Georgiana. “Meanwhile, allow me to introduce you both to Mr. Millett. I do not believe you have met.”
Darcy bowed briefly, then turned to greet Miss Bennet, trying to gauge her reaction to his presence. He could not help remembering his ill-advised proposal, and he felt very awkward. What must Miss Bennet think of him showing up so soon after he had been thoroughly and unequivocally rejected?
“Mr. Darcy,” she said, with a formal curtsey.
Had it only been two days ago since he proposed to her?
“I hope you are well, Miss Bennet.”
“Very well, thank you, Mr. Darcy,” she said, with a little smile. “And you?”
“Very well indeed.”
It was excruciating. Why could he not think of something to say that was not stodgy and meaningless? His unfortunate proposal stood between them like a silent ghost. Neither of them knew what to say. Too much had been said already. If only he could think of a way to bring back their earlier cordiality. He stood there awkwardly, struggling to think of something funny that would make her laugh.
He was saved by Maggie, who come into the room, beaming, holding her arms out, ran straight in his direction and launched herself into his arms.
“Mr. Darcy! I thought you were never going to come again!”
“—Maggie, where are your manners?” interrupted Mrs. Gardiner. “You must curtsey to Mr. and Miss Darcy and enquire about their health.”
“Mr. Darcy, I hope you are well,” she said, curtseying primly, “and you, too, Miss Darcy.”
