Chapter 6
Sitting in the Gardiners’ drawing room and watching his companions, Darcy wondered how anyone could feel so much joy and so much sorrow at the same time.
Elizabeth had just arrived from Kent, and he, together with the colonel and Bingley, had come to call on her. Knowing he would see Elizabeth soon, having time to become accustomed to that notion, Darcy had hoped he would be able to control his emotions. But he was wrong. Chills running down his spine, his heart pounding, and a lump in his throat were only a few of the symptoms that indicated his feelings for her remained equally strong. After all, it had been less than three weeks. He had failed to forget her in three months, after he left Hertfordshire; by comparison, three weeks meant nothing.
Elizabeth was talking to the colonel and Bingley, so he had plenty of time to observe her. She seemed somehow changed; her colour was heightened — probably from her long walks — and her eyes, as she glanced at him repeatedly, carried a different sort of sparkle, just as the little smile that twisted her lips was different from before.
“I am exceedingly pleased to see you again, Miss Elizabeth,” the colonel said.
“And I you, Colonel. What a lovely surprise to see you and Mr Darcy in my uncle’s house. And Mr Bingley, of course,” she added, then laughed while casting another look at Darcy.
“I fear Miss Bennet and Mr and Mrs Gardiner are already tired of seeing me in their house, as I am here every other day,” Bingley replied joyfully.
“Oh, not at all, sir!” Miss Bennet quickly answered, blushing.
“Not at all, sir,” Mrs Gardiner repeated. “Your visits are a delight to all of us — including the children.”
“I am glad to hear that. And relieved! You may bring the children too — to dinner, I mean. It would be lovely to have them.”
“Thank you, sir, but no,” Mrs Gardiner responded. “It would be far too late at night for them. They will stay at home with their nursemaid.”
“I am looking forward to this dinner with immense pleasure,” Bingley said. “Darcy and the colonel will be there too. And Miss Darcy with her companion.”
Elizabeth looked at Darcy again, her expression one of surprise.
“It will be wonderful to finally meet Miss Darcy,” Mrs Gardiner said. “I still cannot believe the master of Pemberley has visited my house twice,” she added.
Darcy smiled. “It is a pleasure to be in your company, ma’am. And my sister greatly anticipates meeting you, Miss Bennet, and Miss Elizabeth. I am glad to have the opportunity to introduce you.”
“Miss Darcy is truly the best sister a man could hope for. Sadly, not all of us are equally fortunate,” Bingley said.
“That, I cannot argue with,” Darcy replied. “May I ask when Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth will return to Longbourn?”
“In about a week,” Bingley responded. “I shall escort them on the journey. I have already agreed it with Mr Gardiner.”
“Actually, they have expressed a desire to stay in town a week longer, so it will be a fortnight,” Mrs Gardiner interjected. “Elizabeth said she would like to spend a little more time in London, and we are happy to have her.”
Darcy looked at Elizabeth and met her gaze for a moment. She averted her eyes quickly, then looked back at him. He understood but did not dare believe it.
“I am glad to hear that,” he said briefly. Could she want to stay because of him? If so, what could she possibly intend?
The colonel sighed. “Unfortunately, I shall leave town at the end of this week and only return at the end of the month. But I hope there will be other opportunities to meet again soon.”
“I am sure there will be,” Bingley quickly said. Miss Bennet blushed, and Elizabeth smiled. “I shall re-open Netherfield, so you are welcome to visit at any time, Colonel,” Bingley added. “I hope Darcy will come and enjoy the society more this time.”
“If only Mr Darcy would smile a bit more, I am sure the society would like him very much,” Elizabeth suddenly interjected. “But, in truth, I prefer a man who smiles rarely to one who smiles all the time with the main purpose of charming people into trusting him, only to deceive them later.”
“Are you speaking of me?” Bingley asked, and Elizabeth turned pale, looking panicked.
“Dear Lord, of course not! Why would you assume that?”
“Do not worry, Bingley. Your constant smile can be annoying at times, but your kind and generous heart and honourable character are beyond a doubt to everyone who knows you. I have absolute confidence that you could never deceive anyone on purpose,” Darcy declared, trying to comfort his friend in a light tone.
“Indeed, Mr Bingley. I have the highest opinion of you — and of your smiles,” Elizabeth added, her own smile wide and warm.
“Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. And, Darcy, if we are to speak about being kind and generous, you should be the main subject.” He turned to the ladies. “Do you know that Darcy has taken a woman with two daughters and an infant grandson into his house because they are starved and ill?”
At that, all eyes turned to him, and Darcy felt a lump in his throat.
