“Perhaps when Mrs Darcy and I visit her family for Christmas, your sister will be in better spirits, lest she lose the right to visit Pemberley.”
Bingley understood his hint. “Mrs Darcy must give any invitations to Pemberley. And you must stay with us when you come into Hertfordshire. Netherfield is but three miles from Longbourn, and I promise my sister will be well-behaved.”
As soon as the game was finished, he gathered his wife and thanked Mrs Hurst for her hospitality. It was just late enough to not be rude in parting, but early enough that Mrs Ballston and the married ladies gave Elizabeth many significant smiles and hints that she must enjoy the rest of her evening.
Their evening would actually end separately, but no one needed to know that.
“I told you I could manage Miss Bingley,” Elizabeth said as they climbed into the carriage. “I noticed a marked improvement in her behaviour toward me after whatever you told her when she stood by the card table.”
“I know you can manage her, and anyone like her,” he said, meaning it. “I, however, could not bear it a moment longer. So thank you for allowing me to set her down. I suspect she will pay off every arrear of civility she owes you.”
“The other people at Mrs Hurst’s dinner were civil and even amiable. You have good friends amongst them, and I would suffer Miss Bingley for your sake.”
“I do not want you to suffer anything.”
Elizabeth placed a gloved hand on his, making his heart thrum. “Thank you, my dear Darcy.”
He looked into her eyes and felt a rush of awareness again. It was even stronger than what he had felt when Elizabeth turned down her father’s offer, when she insisted she would stay with him. She even now held his hand the same way she had that day. That moment afterdismissing her father had sent pure feelings of unadulterated happiness through his chest, and even though he was uncertain what the future held for them, he was confident they would face it together.
He felt a little nervous as he clasped her hand, with the same racing heart and churning stomach as before, but incredibly aware of her. He wanted to kiss her, but he was uncertain that she wanted him to. Kissing her had only ever been a fleeting thought, but since her gentle embrace last week, Darcy now imagined kissing his wife every day.
While he could not say her hug had made him fall in love with her, holding her in his arms made him conscious of every affectionate feeling he had for Elizabeth. Her talents, her person, her kindness all made him suddenly yearn for a deeper union between them.
He could imagine pulling her close and claiming her lips in an ardent, hungry kiss. It was possible she might even wind her arms around him like she had hugged him in the library and kiss him back. But Elizabeth had lost any power over her life by marrying a man not of her own choosing, and was fearful that she must submit to him unwillingly.
Elizabeth must be the one to shift their relationship to include more physical acts. If she showed him through words or actions that she felt anything deeper for him than friendship, he would eagerly oblige them both. But touching his hand or calling him handsome did not mean she felt enough for him to encourage any deeper embraces.
“Well, as much as I wish I could say it was all gallantry of me to slay the dragon in the sea for my wife’s sake,” he said carefully, “I do not want to suffer Miss Bingley’s jealousy and incivility either.”
She grinned at him before turning in her seat to face forward, but she still held his hand in hers.
Darcy did not seeElizabeth again until they were in the breakfast parlour the next morning. They read their letters and discussed their relative goings-on. He was used to eating quietly by himself, but starting his day with Elizabeth’s company as they settled their plans and shared their thoughts now set a welcome tone for the day ahead.
Elizabeth said, “Lady Summerlin has written a note regarding herinvitation to her ball on Friday. I cannot discern her tone. It seems a civil wish to become better acquainted, but it would be best to know why.”
“It is sincerely meant,” he said while looking through his own letters. “Lady Summerlin was a friend of my mother’s who sees me as another one of her children. I suspect she would have called sooner, but she thought to give the happy couple time alone. A leading and likeable woman. She might want to dress you up like a doll and put you on display in her drawing room, but she will genuinely want to befriend you.”
Elizabeth smiled as she set the letter aside. “I will take extra care of my appearance so she has nothing to set her mind to other than knowing me better.”
Darcy looked over at his wife as she perused another letter. He found nothing wanting in her appearance, but Miss Bingley’s taunts about her plain ornaments stayed in his mind. If Elizabeth was to appear at a ball before a variety of people, she must want to look her best the same as any other woman.
She did not need adornment, and she was not the type of woman who felt entitled to gifts. Elizabeth was happiest with him when he did what he felt was the least he should do, like settling her financial future or disapproving of someone who was unkind to her. But he would go to Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell in Ludgate Hill and find her some jewel to make her smile.
“My aunt and uncle return to town soon,” she said a moment later. “They are at Bath, but will collect their children from Longbourn and go home. We must invite them to dinner. I think you will like them.”
He smiled and bowed his agreement. Elizabeth would not speak fondly of them if they were as vulgar as Mrs Bennet or as indolent as Mr Bennet. But the aunt and uncle in trade might not display the behaviour welcome in wider parties with his friends. It was a critical time for appearing proper and genteel until his family name recovered. A private family dinner would be better until he knew more of them.
After reading a letter from his steward, he realised she had grown quiet. She read another note and still held it in her hand, lost in thought.
“Is something the matter?”
She started and folded it, putting it into her pocket rather than on the pile of other letters. “Not at all. How are matters at Pemberley?”
He was curious who her letter was from, but he did not have the right to ask. He actually had the right to a great deal as far as the law and even society went, but he would be a fool to exert it. There could be no companionship, no genuine respect, and no hope of devotion between them if he ruled over her like a tyrant. If it was anything of consequence, she would have mentioned it.
“Nothing of note, but I must return to Pemberley soon, if only for a fortnight.”
He saw the question in her face as to why when the housekeeper came in to speak to Elizabeth. “Ma’am, there is a visitor.”
