“Your mother will make the most of the time by visiting about with us and having frequent parties at home.”
“I hate to see you exposed to all the parading and officious civility of my mother.”
“Do not apologise, dearest. It does not differ from the last month we spent in London.”
“That was to preserve the dignity of our family name. This is for my mother to show off.”
Elizabeth was too busy shaking her head in frustration to see his grin at her use of “our.”
They walked a little more before he said, “I had a letter from Melrose today. He wrote to me after I failed to appear at Angelo’s on Monday—I was far more agreeably situated on Monday, if I remember correctly,” he added in an enticing tone. They had not moved from Elizabeth’s room for days, or rather, from Elizabeth’s bed.
Rather than meet his mood, she turned to him with panicked eyes. “What, what did he say? He witnessed me in discussion with Wickham. He must have seen a good deal to alarm him.”
“It is not as you fear.” He rushed to reassure her. “He recommended I use my influence to put an end to Wickham’s presumption of intimacy with you. He thought you looked distressed to be with him, and he was afraid your being seen with such a disgraceful man could expose you to unpleasant remarks.”
Her shoulders settled back down. “Mr Melrose assumed nothing untoward about me?”
“I will write back and be certain he has not, if it eases your mind, however I am not uneasy about it. I think Melrose knows there was not any flagrant indiscretion. He only thought it gave a bad appearance, and he noticed you were unhappy in Wickham’s presence.”
“Thank goodness,” she said in a faint voice, and looking down withfresh shame. Her despair was gone, and all the wretchedness too, but he realised her guilt lingered. He did not account her to be a liar, or a thief, or one who would hold herself back from him, but it would be longer before she believed it.
He forgave her sooner than she forgave herself.
Darcy noticed they were now in a somewhat pretty wilderness out of view of the house. He stopped walking and put his arms around her waist. “Did you bring me out here to shield me from your family, or did you have another reason?”
She did not take his hint. “Of course—well, all except for Jane. She will not do anything to mortify us.” She rested her hands on his chest. “You seem fond of me, and I would like to keep it that way.”
“I can resign myself to more visits, and supper parties at Mrs Philips’s, and not one family dinner after tonight, and taking the carriage with your mother to sit in every drawing room in the county…” He leant closer. “So long as you look at me like that.”
She gave him a soft smile and asked, “Like what?”
“Like you are in love with me and all you can think about is kissing me.”
Elizabeth lifted her mouth to his and Darcy’s lips brushed hers once, twice, and then the third for much longer. He took the kiss deeper, and with a soft moan, she stepped closer, clutching him tighter. The warmth of her body seeped into his, and all worries about Wickham or neighbours and in-laws or undue notice fell away when her lips were pressed against his.
“Indeed,you are carrying away the brightest jewel of the county!”
Elizabeth sat nearby and observed Sir William Lucas continue to talk at Darcy in the middle of his set. “I hope we can all meet frequently at St James’s.”
She watched Darcy listen with decent composure. When Sir William left and Darcy returned to dancing with Lydia, he shrugged his shoulders. She could not blame him, however. The parading at the assembly tonight was particularly embarrassing. At least Mr Bingleywas also here, so the excessive attention was spread across the rich man who had already married one Meryton girl and the other wealthy man who might yet marry another.
“Miss Bingley looks rather surly,” her father said, coming up to her. He had been persuaded to come to the assembly because, in his words, “he had a son-in-law to show off.” Elizabeth suspected he wanted to watch Darcy face even more absurdity, but perhaps he would take pains to know her husband better.
“I think Mr Bingley’s sisters do not care for a public ball. Perhaps they prefer town living.”
Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst had greeted her civilly, likely knowing that any spitefulness would prevent them from being noticed by the Darcys. They were even kind to Jane and expressed an interest in knowing her better. Jane was now dancing a second time with Mr Bingley, but she supposed Jane being the sister to Mrs Darcy was what made her endurable rather than that their brother had shown a slight preference for her.
“If Miss Bingley is displeased with being here, then I must ask her to dance,” said her father, who winked and then crossed the room. He was always provoking people for his own amusement. Elizabeth watched him apply for her hand, and, to her surprise, Miss Bingley accepted calmly. Perhaps her brother had impressed on her how much he wanted to make a good impression.
Darcy left the dance and brought Lydia back to her mother, and then he came to her side. “I am surprised to see the new bride sitting down. That would never happen in London.”
“There is a scarcity of gentlemen. Perhaps none of them find me tolerable and are certain I will marry no one of consequence with connexions like mine.”
He gave her a knowing look, remembering what he once said of her. “I think you are beautiful, and you have the best connexions of anyone I know.”
“That is because my connexions are now yours. That was not true when we met. Thankfully, I was not greatly offended and can overlook your blunders. At least you know that I never wanted to marry you for your money or connexions.”
Darcy lifted his eyes as he sat next to her, but he smiled. “I never thought you did. If I was to be loved, I wished it to be because of who I am, not for the favours I have done or the fortune I have.”
