Mrs. Gardiner colored slightly. “Mr. Darcy, I beg your pardon. Have you been waiting long?”
“Pray do not concern yourself, Mrs. Gardiner. I prefer to arrive early rather than leave my sister to wonder whether I have forgotten her.” He smiled. “I must confess that I once failed to collect her, though she was in the care of my Aunt Helen and in no danger. If I recollect rightly, she was most displeased.”
Georgiana giggled. “Brother, you will give these ladies an unfavorable impression of me. I was but six years old and did not possess the wisdom to refrain from reproving my brother while we were still in company.”
He chuckled. “I was nineteen and newly returned from university, and I had yet to learn the responsibility as pertains to the care of a child. My father ensured that I did not forget the lesson.”
The ladies’ eyes widened at this admission.
Darcy continued, “He informed me that what I required was practice. I must cultivate the habit of responsibility. Accordingly, he arranged for me to take my little Georgie out each day for an entire week upon a different excursion, that I might accustom myself to the pleasure and duty of caring for a younger sister.”
Mrs. Gardiner laughed. “That is a most charming account, sir.”
Elizabeth reached out and pressed Georgiana’s hand.
“She was a delightful child, ma’am,” Darcy said. “Her curls fell just below her ears and sprang out in every direction. She was an engaging little creature.”
They all laughed, Georgiana included.
“Well, my dear, are you prepared to depart?”
Georgiana’s expression fell. “Yes, brother. Though I confess I wish I might bring Lizzy with me.”
Elizabeth felt a flush rise in her cheeks. A brief glance at Mr. Darcy showed that he, too, was momentarily unsettled by the declaration.
Elizabeth said, “Would you care to join us tomorrow? We must return to the modiste at two o’clock. If your brother will send you to us by eleven, we may read my new book together, and you may play one of your new pieces for me. We will eat a simple luncheon, and afterward, you may accompany us and observe how your selections suit me.”
“Oh, that would be delightful.” She turned eagerly to her brother. “I assisted in choosing Lizzy’s pattern, fabric, and accessories. It was as though I were dressing a beautiful doll. Pray, may I attend her tomorrow?”
Mr. Darcy addressed Mrs. Gardiner. “Ma’am, would the presence of a third young lady inconvenience you?”
Mrs. Gardiner smiled. “Not in the least, sir. Miss Darcy proved a most useful ally in keeping Elizabeth engaged while Jane and I were elbow deep in fabrics and patterns. She was of great assistance.”
Georgiana’s face shone. “Brother, may I?”
“Certainly,” he replied. Turning to his sister, though his gaze rested upon Elizabeth, he added with a playful gravity, “It forms no part of my design to prevent you from completing the adornment of your beautiful doll, my dear.”
To Elizabeth, the usually reserved Mr. Darcy appeared transformed. When he smiled at her, there was something almost rakish in his expression, and she felt the warmth rise swiftly to her cheeks. The careful barriers she had erected to guard her heart seemed to dissolve as she returned his smile.
She then observed a corresponding color rise along his cheekbones.
Could it be that he felt toward her as she did toward him?
Within moments, however, reason reasserted itself. Whatever his sentiments, he would conduct himself as the gentleman he had been reared to be and would choose a wife from among those of his own rank. That conviction she could not dismiss.
Yet even so, she took pleasure in being the object of his attentions, though she knew his regard could be no more than fleeting and would never lead him to offer for her.
With the arrangement settled, the Darcys took their leave.
Mrs. Gardiner regarded Elizabeth’s countenance with interest, yet she discerned no trace of romantic sentiment there and turned her attention to other matters.
That evening, Mr. Bennet presented himself at Gracechurch Street, arriving almost at the same moment as his brother-in-law. The two gentlemen withdrew to Mr. Gardiner’s study.
“Edward,” Bennet began, “I am indebted to you for receiving Elizabeth and Jane into your household. Jane has accepted an offer of marriage from Mr. Bingley, whom she first met while visiting here.”
Gardiner expressed his satisfaction, and they spoke at length of the engagement. Bennet then recounted the visit from Goulding earlier that morning and the letter he had produced.
“May I see the letter?” Gardiner asked.
