Then Hewitt inclined his head and continued down the path, leaving Darcy alone with his thoughts.
Darcy watched him go, then turned his gaze toward the Royal Crescent, its elegant curve golden in the morning sun.
He would see Elizabeth again. Perhaps today, perhaps tomorrow. Bingley had already declared his intention to call on the Gardiners every day until Jane agreed to marry him, and Darcy could hardly refuse to accompany him.
And when he saw her, he would be civil. Kind. Respectful. He would show her through his actions what his words had failed to convey in Kent.
That he valued her. That he respected her. That he would never again presume to dictate what she should feel or whom she should regard.
And if, in time, she came to see him not as the proud, disagreeable man she had once despised, but as someone worthy of her esteem—well.
That would be more than he had any right to hope for.
But hope, it seemed, was not something he could relinquish. No matter how much wisdom dictated he should.
Darcy stood, straightened his coat, and turned back toward his lodgings.
Another day awaited. Another chance to be near her, to speak to her, to perhaps—if he was very fortunate—make her smile.
It was not enough.
But it would have to do.
NINE
Bath, August 1812
Elizabeth
The gentlemen called the next day and the day after, but the ladies did not follow them on any walks because no one suggested it in particular. Elizabeth found herself eager—almost desperate—to be in Mr. Darcy's company again, if only in the hope of hearing him speak about Mr. Wickham. Which he never did.
It was the one thing she still held onto by a thread. The one certainty that remained in her mind about his character. But now, she questioned her own judgment more than either Jane or Mrs. Gardiner had done when she first told them all she had heard about Mr. Wickham from the man himself.
With the version of Mr. Darcy she saw now—thoughtful, humble, kind even—Jane's earlier comment about the ease with which Mr. Wickham had divulged his business with Mr. Darcy suddenly made more sense. A gentleman of true discretion would not speak so freely of private matters to a stranger. Yet Mr. Wickham had done precisely that.
For those two days of visits, Jane and Mr. Bingley spoke within the parlor while Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Darcy conversed about business or played chess. Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardinerwere both bystanders and chaperones most of the time, contributing little unless directly addressed.
Those two days made Elizabeth feel all the more eager to speak with Mr. Darcy privately, in the hope that he might mention Wickham and offer some explanation at least.
Jane did little to ease Elizabeth's restlessness, spending most of her time recounting the many wonderful things Mr. Bingley had told her and how he intended to return to Netherfield as soon as the Gardiners and the Bennet sisters left Bath.
Elizabeth's heart felt only quiet longing and questioning, most of which were filled with her convincing herself that she perhaps admired Mr. Darcy's kindness and his changed demeanor, but was not beginning to actually like him.
She could not be. That would be absurd.
It was not until the fifth day after Mr. Darcy's first call to Camden Place that Elizabeth had the opportunity to walk with him again.
The gentlemen were calling for the fourth time when Mr. Bingley, with characteristic enthusiasm, announced a walk. With the consent of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, the four soon went on their way—this time with Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in front and Jane and Mr. Bingley following behind.
They walked in companionable silence for several minutes before Elizabeth ventured to speak.
"Aside from business, Mr. Darcy, what occupies your time in Bath?"
He glanced at her, seeming surprised by the question. "Various pursuits,” he began. “I belong to a gentlemen's club where we discuss literature and philosophy. I play billiards occasionally, though I confess I am not particularly skilled at it. And there is a club for pall-mall that meets twice weekly."
"That sounds quite pleasant."
"It passes the time." He paused, then added almost reluctantly, "I also teach."
