Mr. Bennet offered his hand and Darcy took it with a strong and respectful grip.
Bingley readily sat next to Jane, as Mrs. Bennet suggested. Darcy remained standing, looking uncomfortable, glancing at Elizabeth for a moment, then he addressed the ladies in a manner most unexpected.
“In fact, I am ashamed to admit that I missed the opportunity to become acquainted with Mrs. Bennet, Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth last night at the assembly. In fact, I only noticed Miss Bennet, as she danced with Bingley. I do not recollect seeing either Mrs. Bennet or Miss Elizabeth,” he declared and the three in the room who caught the meaning behind his words quickly approved of it. Elizabeth’s face flushed at his readiness to dissipate her doubts.
“Yes, I heard you left early and quite unexpectedly,” Mr. Bennet replied. “It is a small town, Mr. Darcy, rumours travel fast.”
“I am aware of that, Mr. Bennet. Bingley spoke very highly of your family and I have come to properly introduce myself to the ladies and to apologise for my outrageous behaviour. I can only hope for your forgiveness, although it is undeserved,” he said, bowing to Mrs. Bennet, who sat stunned and breathless.
“In my friend’s defence, I must say that he had no plans to visit Hertfordshire and even less to attend an assembly. I insisted more than I should have, although I knew he was not at all fond of ball and parties,” Bingley supported him.
“Bingley is very generous, but the fault for my ill manners is entirely mine. Unlike Bingley, I do not possess that talent to feel comfortable in unknown company, nor to introduce myself to strangers.”
“Perhaps you should practise more, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth heard herself saying. He turned to her and their eyes locked.
“Most certainly, Miss Elizabeth!” he said.
Mrs. Bennet had hardly recovered from her astonishment, but she quickly realised that she had Mr. Darcy in her drawing-room, apologising to her—news that would surely be the talk of Meryton! It was an honour granted to her, one that surely Mrs. Long, Mrs. Phillips and even Lady Lucas would not believe.
“Well, let us forget that, Mr. Darcy,” Mrs. Bennet said with sudden amiability. “Of course we forgive you; after all, you are a stranger and not accustomed to our ways. But it is such a pity that you left without dancing. I assure you we have many pretty young ladies who are excellent dancers. Mr. Bingley may tell you.”
“I do not doubt that, ma’am,” he said.
“Darcy does not even dance when he goes to St. James’s, or Almack’s. I have not seen it for myself, as I have never been invited there, but I know from trustworthy sources,” Bingley added lightly, still trying to support his friend.
The two famous names almost made Mrs. Bennet faint with excitement. “You have been to St. James’s Palace? And to a ball at Almack’s? This is wonderful! So wonderful!”
The lady’s enthusiasm was becoming dangerously loud, and Elizabeth’s uneasiness grew when Mr. Bennet stepped in.
“Mr. Darcy, since you dislike balls as much as I do, may I dare assume that you enjoy books instead? Perhaps I could interest you in a drink, in the library?”
Darcy’s face brightened instantly. It was not only the relief of escaping Mrs. Bennet’s overwhelming interest, but also the pleasure of a private encounter with Elizabeth’s father, which was long overdue.
“Your assumption is very accurate, sir. I am very fond of books, and a drink in the library would be much appreciated.”
Mr. Bingley was also invited to join the gentlemen but, slightly embarrassed, he chose to continue his conversation with the ladies, an arrangement that pleased everyone.
For the next half an hour, Elizabeth was in the company of her mother, sister and their visitor, but her thoughts were all in the library, wondering about the conversation between her father and Mr. Darcy. Her concern and pain at feeling ignored and disregarded by Darcy, as well as her doubts about his character had proven to be ill-grounded. He had been uncivil, even rude, but he might have had a reason for his poor disposition. And he was considerate enough to put his pride aside, to apologise to people with a situation in life considerably below his own and to try to make amends to the family of his former employee.
At that moment, she did recognise the man that had stirred the feeling of deep love and admiration inside her—the Master of Pemberley.
“Miss Lizzy, the master has asked for you in the library,” Hill whispered to her. Surprised and nervous, she exited, completely ignored by the other three who were deeply engaged in conversation.
She found her father and Darcy sitting face to face, each holding a drink. At her entrance, Darcy stood up. She chose a chair next to her father.
“My dear, I called for you just to tell you that Mr. Darcy and I have discussed the time you spent at Pemberley. I thanked him for his generous payment and I confessed how helpful it has been to our family. I am only telling you this, so you know that everything is clarified between us.”
“I am glad to hear that,” she said, looking from one to the other.
“And I have told Mr. Bennet that the payment was unworthy of repaying your help to our family,” Darcy added. She only nodded, uneasy at the praise and with his gaze, that lookeddifferent from that short distance, and even more disturbing than before, especially in the presence of her father.
“We have also been discussing books,” Mr. Bennet said.
“I understand you have inherited this passion from your father, Miss Bennet,” Darcy said with the warm friendliness that she remembered from the past.
“Indeed. I inherited it from my father and he helped me to cultivate it,” she admitted.
“And we have been discussing business affairs, too. Mr. Darcy was kind enough to offer to look through my books to see if he had any advice to remedy the disaster I have caused in the last five and twenty years. I hope he is as skilful in business as you told me.”
