The harshness of his words struck her, but he was right. He was right about her impertinence in taunting his feelings and her family’s ridiculous behaviour. Tears welled in her eyes. She could not even blame him for being ungentlemanly, not when she had brought this all upon herself. Every thought of it brought new humiliation for the pain she had caused a man who had been sincerely in love with her.
“I am sorry,” she cried, holding out a hand before he could leave. “It was thoughtless, no, cruel of me to dismiss your feelings, and I am sorry to cause you further pain. I acted wickedly just now. There is no reason for your initial disregard to still offend me.”
She could not be sure whether he was going to bow and leave or stay. After a heartbeat, Mr Darcy pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.
“That you have more depth of character than Mr Bingley, I cannot deny,” she continued. She had laid too much blame for Mr Bingley’s leaving on Mr Darcy. Mr Bingley should have had more trust in his own judgment than in his friend’s. “I do not wish to hurt you, and I assure you that I shall temper my spirits should we ever meet again. Please forgive me before we part.”
“Neither of our conducts these past two days has been above reproach,” he said with surprising gentleness. “Let us both put the past behind us and act with greater kindness should we—when we meet again.”
If Mr Bingley made an offer to Jane, certainly their paths would cross. The thought of seeing Mr Darcy again did not distress her the way it had yesterday. “I know that our future encounters will be cordial. Before you depart, please allow me to thank you for calling on Jane.”
Elizabeth offered her hand in parting. Mr Darcy must have appreciated the courtesy; he took her gloved hand and, instead of bowing over it, brought it to his lips and bestowed the lightest of kisses. He released her hand and turned back to Rosings before she could respond.
ChapterTwo
Darcy had assumed his call to Gracechurch Street would be a tax on his forbearance. However, Mrs Gardiner was elegant and intelligent—and not simply because she was from Derbyshire. She and Miss Bennet looked surprised on first seeing him, but after he delivered the letters, they passed a pleasant call by speaking of Elizabeth, providing Mrs Gardiner with fresh intelligence of the area in which she had grown up, and listening to her impressions of Pemberley.
After such enjoyable conversation, he was reluctant to mention a topic that might pain Miss Bennet, but he owed it to her and to Elizabeth to undo the damage he had caused.
“Your sister informed me that you have been here since January. I am certain Bingley is unaware of your presence in town. Would you permit me to tell him I saw you? I believe he would be very pleased to renew the acquaintance.”
Her cheeks pinked at the mention of Bingley’s name, and then her eyes went wide when he told her Bingley did not know she was in London. She looked unaffectedly hopeful, and he knew in that moment he had been wrong about her interest in his friend.
Mrs Gardiner was not as captivated as her niece. “Did Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst not mention to their brother that Jane called after she arrived in town? His family may not desire the connexion. They did not return her call for over a month. Such behaviour leaves one with the impression one does not wish to continue the acquaintance.”
Miss Bennet’s gaze fell, and her shoulders dropped. Darcy watched her take a deep inhalation before she calmly returned her attention to the conversation. He had played a role in causing her that disappointment.
“Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst may have forgotten to mention Miss Bennet to their brother. I will be sure to tell him when I see him tomorrow that I found you to be in good health,” he told her, treading a fine line between honesty and deceit.
Bingley was overjoyedto learn Miss Bennet was a short carriage ride away and, aside from being angry at his sisters’ neglect, had nothing more to say. Darcy confessed he was wrong about Miss Bennet’s interest and had asked Bingley’s forgiveness, which was immediately granted. Bingley was so dependent on his insight that he begged him to join him when he called on Miss Bennet to assure him that her attachment was unabated. Darcy hesitantly agreed, and the two gentlemen called at the earliest possible hour.
They were admitted to the drawing room but were surprised that, instead of two ladies, they found four.
Miss Bennet and Mrs Gardiner greeted them with two little girls in what appeared to be their best clothes. Darcy thought Miss Bennet looked paler than she had on Monday, though she seemed welcoming of Bingley’s eager attention. Mrs Gardiner, content to leave them to as private a conversation as the room would allow, turned her attention to him.
“Today my neighbour will call with her daughter, who is the same age as my eldest,” she said, gesturing to the girls. “We are giving the young ladies an opportunity to practise what they have learned from their cousin Jane.”
Darcy was of a mind to return his attention to observing his friend interact with Elizabeth’s sister. But that would not earn him Elizabeth’s respect were she present to observe him. So with a wink to the younger girl, who was trying not to stare at him, he asked Mrs Gardiner to introduce him. The lady gave him a grateful smile.
“Frances, Isabella, this is Mr Darcy. He is a friend of your cousin Lizzy. Mr Darcy, may I present my daughters, Miss Gardiner and Miss Isabella Gardiner?”
The little girls rose and the eldest curtseyed, but the younger only did so after her sister nudged her and whispered, “You must curtsey to Lizzy’s friend!”
“Ladies, I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Mamma, what do I do now? You already invited them to sit.” Miss Gardiner was clearly agitated that the proceedings had not gone exactly as practised. Her mother told her a good hostess would now introduce a topic of conversation.
“I can do it!” the younger daughter burst forth. “Mr Darcy, do not you think that cousin Lizzy is lovely?”
Darcy hoped his expression did not betray him, for Mrs Gardiner was watching. Miss Isabella possessed some of her cousin’s spirit. “Miss Elizabeth is delightful company.”
Darcy then saw two smaller children he had not noticed upon entering. The youngest Gardiner was masticating a biscuit with a grin on his chubby face. The older boy, not yet in breeches, was struggling with a cup and ball and, with no preamble, approached Darcy to ask him for assistance.
“My apologies,” said Mrs Gardiner as she manoeuvred her son back to the corner. “Young Edward often plays with his father.” Darcy gestured for the boy to come back and patiently showed him how to hold the cup and toss the ball out in order to catch it.
“Tank you, Midter Dawcy!” the little boy cried and ran off to play.
Darcy laughed, and he saw an amused Mrs Gardiner trying to look busy occupying her children. Miss Bennet watched him out of the corner of her eye with a tender smile, and Bingley stared with his mouth agape with what, Darcy hoped, was more admiration than astonishment.
