“Yes, and I am interested in racehorses too, if you will keep the secret,” she said with a laugh. “Your cousin said you bought a pair of chestnuts last year at Tattersalls.”
“Yes, but they are at Pemberley,” he said, his gaze searching the distance for a woman who would never appear.
“Ah, for your curricle? Colonel Fitzwilliam says you drive rather fast.” The lady’s voice lifted hopefully.
Darcy turned from the path and gave her a smile. “From what I hear, not fast enough for your liking, madam.”
She laughed, and their conversation shifted to thoroughbred bloodlines and The General Stud Book.
They seemed to not know one another well, but were having a friendly conversation. Elizabeth felt a pang of regret at seeing Darcy be civil and amiable with another woman. When L did not meet him, perhaps Darcy would take an interest in this lady. She was acquainted with his cousin, was well-dressed, affable, and they seemed to have some things in common.
The lady noticed her staring, and Elizabeth dropped her gaze. There was no reason to be jealous of Darcy talking to another woman. Besides, this lady was not the one he was looking for. He wanted L, but when L did not show, he would naturally look elsewhere for a wife. Her emotions were in total confusion.
“Would you introduce me to your friends?” the woman said to Darcy. He nodded, but when he hesitated and only stared at Elizabeth, Colonel Fitzwilliam introduced the lady to the group.
“May I present my friend Mrs Sullivan? Her father has recently passed, and she has taken a house in Harley Street.”
At the mention of this location, Miss Bingley narrowed her eyes. “Charles, we ought to take another turn with Jane before we return her home.”
Miss Bingley’s slight against Mrs Sullivan made Elizabeth insist on staying, despite the awkwardness with Darcy. “I am still tired,” she said sharply. “I would like another moment or two.”
Now the group had to remain, and Miss Bingley was determined to monopolise Darcy’s attention and ignore Mrs Sullivan. Bingley and Jane hardly knew what to say after her rudeness, but thankfully Colonel Fitzwilliam recovered with another pleasant conversation.
“Are you a friend of Mr Darcy’s as well?” Mrs Sullivan asked her. When Elizabeth struggled for an answer, she added, “Only I noticed your attention to our conversation. Unless you are a horsewoman?” she asked, her eyes bright with interest.
“Oh no. I never learnt, I am sorry to say. Do you ride often now that you are fixed in town?”
“I had hoped to ride to Highgate today, but my friend wanted to walk in the park instead.”
Was her friend Darcy or Colonel Fitzwilliam? Perhaps both, since it seemed the cousins were good friends. “I am sorry you had to forgo something you enjoy. I miss taking a solitary walk in the country, but I will take what I can get whilst in town.”
“I do not mind a walk with good company.” She turned to look at the men, but Elizabeth could not see if her gaze lingered on either man in particular. “But I prefer riding. I drive a phaeton as well, so if you ever want to drive to Hampstead or Highgate or anywhere, you must let me know. I would be pleased to take you and your sister. If she is not always occupied with—” She tilted her head toward Bingley and smiled.
Mrs Sullivan was forward, but it was done with such sincerity and friendliness that Elizabeth could not help but like her. “I will only be in town for another three weeks, but I would enjoy talking with you again before I leave.”
“Would you? Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr Darcy,” she called. “It would be lovely to continue my acquaintance with Miss Elizabeth. I wonder if we might all meet again with the Bingleys and Bennets on Thursday evening?”
She said this in a pointed manner. Colonel Fitzwilliam grinned and said to Mrs Sullivan, “Yes, I can get them an invitation to Lady Courtney’s ball. My mother is her dear friend.” He turned to the rest of the group and added, “But only if Miss Bingley, Miss Bennet, and Miss Elizabeth promise me a dance. I am not encouraging more ladies to come if they are just going to sit and gossip all evening.”
This was, of course, refuted, and they all thanked the colonel and Mrs Sullivan for their consideration. Darcy’s expression was pleasant, but Elizabeth watched how every so often he looked around this section of the park. She hated causing his disappointment, but he would be more saddened if he knew she was L.
She was just as disappointed. Her friendship was now over, and the prospect of a future romantic relationship with F was gone. And the embarrassment she was already going to feel around Darcy because of her misjudgment would now be multiplied a tenfold.
“Miss Elizabeth, I look forward to speaking with you on Thursday,” Mrs Sullivan said, intruding into her unhappy thoughts. “I have been in mourning, you see”—she gestured to her grey sleeves—“and am ready to mix more with the world.”
Elizabeth smiled and agreed, keeping her attention on Darcy. He must have felt her gaze because he stopped staring into the park and said, “Mrs Sullivan is newly arrived in town and eagerto make friends. You could not find a more amiable lady than Miss Elizabeth.”
Elizabeth felt her cheeks warm to hear his praise. He said it absently, she was sure, but she admired him for it. He was forcing himself to be amiable when he was undoubtedly feeling frustrated and confused as to why L had forsaken him. And he was being polite to a woman who had abused him dreadfully.
“I hear from your cousin that you are not much of a dancer,” Mrs Sullivan said to Darcy. “Will you find Thursday evening tiresome?”
“Hopefully, I will find some conversation through the course of the evening.”
“Do you not dance because too many ladies equate a dance to a marriage proposal?”
He looked a little surprised at her insight, but he bowed. “That is one reason, but if you are hinting that I ought to do better”—he glanced at Elizabeth—“then I promise to ask you to dance if you are sitting down.”
Mrs Sullivan curtseyed, and Elizabeth dropped her head. He did not ask her to reserve a dance, but he knew he had wronged her at the Meryton assembly. He was being more gentlemanly, but he could not forgive her for her acrimonious accusations.
