“Not at all, I speak as I find.” They had stopped walking and carried on the conversation looking intently at each other.
Finally she looked around and said trying to disperse the gloomy she felt, “Breakfast!”
“Yes!” He said in agreement, “Shall we?” He turned to sir Ebony and whistled. The horse trotted towards him like a puppy and stopped near him. He then placed her back on the horse, getting behind her as he did on their way there.
Elizabeth rested her back on his chest and sighed.
He sensed she was a lot more comfortable than when they had set out to the castle. He smiled to himself confident that she actually enjoyed the spontaneous outing, and felt morecomposed in his presence that he had ever noticed before. His heart sang and rejoiced with this small victory. He felt nothing would interfere with the development of their young love...
Darcy had no idea how wrong he would prove to be only a couple of days later.
Chapter 23
Later that afternoon Miss Georgiana Darcy, accompanied by her uncle and aunt, Lord and Lady Matlock arrived at Pemberley.
Elizabeth, as happy as she was to spend a few days getting to know the man who had fascinated her so lately, felt anxious as she was introduced to his sister and aunt.
“Miss Darcy,” she said with a smile, “what a pleasure it is to finally meet you.”
“And I you,” The young lady said timidly.
“I have heard so much about you. Your brother thinks highly of you and Miss Bingley sang your praises more than anybody else.”
Georgiana blushed, while all present looked at her and waited, “You are too kind Miss Bennet. But it is of you whom my brother spoke highly.”
She looked at Darcy and smiled, “Poor man, I can only imagine how much he suffered in Hertfordshire, with no accomplished women to entertain him. Did you know he only knows half a dozen really accomplished ladies?” She pretended to whisper to Georgiana while making sure all heard her.
Lord Matlock laughed loudly, “Is that so? I would hate to ask him what his understanding of an accomplished woman is.”
Darcy looked at Elizabeth in mock challenge, “I know Miss Bennet finds great enjoyment in occasionally professingopinions which in fact are not her own. And of course if she finds a chance to tease me, she will never let it pass.”
“Mr Darcy you will teach your relatives not to believe a word I say. It is most ungenerous of you sir.” She laughed softly and Darcy forgot that he was surrounded by people on all sides, as he seemed to have eyes only for Elizabeth. So while he was contemplating how much he wanted to make her laugh, laugh every day of her life, the others did not fail to notice his heated gaze.
Mrs Gardiner and Lady Matlock exchanged an amused look. The two ladies separated themselves and immediately started a confabulation.
“He is besotted.” Lady Matlock whispered to Mrs Gardiner.
“Just as much as she is with him.”
“I wonder if they know. Shall we give them a hand?” Her ladyship hid a mischievous grin behind a handkerchief.
“Absolutely not,” Mrs Gardiner said laughing. “First Elizabeth would never forgive me and second it will be more entertaining watching them find it out for themselves.”
“Mrs Gardiner I like your way of thinking.” Her ladyship said amused.
Mrs Gardiner laughed, “Thank you your ladyship. I must confess that this holiday is turning out to be more interesting than I had foreseen.” The two ladies laughed together well entertained.
The following days were spent with Elizabeth, Darcy and Georgiana out riding from dawn to dusk, which meant Elizabeth was able to see more of the beautiful estate and its surrounding areas than she had expected.
Pemberley was truly magnificent inside and out and the company was enchanting. Georgiana, she discovered was asweet, shy young lady... And that made Elizabeth boil in anger once more for having given any credit to Mr Wickham’s lies.
Mr Darcy on the other hand was the epitome of charm and attentiveness. She often caught him looking at her in a way that made her blush and she realised, after some consternation that he used to look at her the same way when he was in Hertfordshire. Hertfordshire, that terrible time of confusion when she, foolishly, thought he was staring at her to find fault. She shook her head in wonder.
On the third day of the Pemberley visit they planned an outing to Duffield Castle, another ruin to the Northwest but a lot further afield than Macworth Castle. The whole company was keen to take part and a picnic was organised.
Before they set off on the trip Darcy passed one of his footmen in the great hall; he asked if Miss Bennet was still in the breakfast room. The servant bowed and informed him that he had left Miss Bennet in the library reading the letters that had been delivered to her that morning.
He turned on his heel and redirected himself to the library, hoping to see her delightful smile first thing in the morning.
