“I had no idea.”
Charlotte said, “By my count, that means that you have had at least three suitors. Were you, perchance, going to complain of having all these opportunities?”
“Please, Charlotte,” Elizabeth said softly, “do not hate me. I…I really, truly like Mr Darcy, and I am certain he likes me as well. We can talk for hours about travel and books and all manner of things, but we can also be comfortably together and silent—you know how rare that is.”
Charlotte’s face had lost its frown but seemed expressionless, which was somehow worse. But Elizabeth said, “The thing with your brother—I had no idea of his interest, having beenapproached in the middle of a dance, when I was already laughing—and the fact that my father never mentioned it to me makes me feel as if he did not take it seriously, either. Your brother does not seem to suffer from the misunderstanding—and I certainly hope he has not—and I suppose we can put down the lack of understanding to both his and my age and lack of experience.
“I suppose.”
“As to Mr Goulding—we do not have anything in common, and I resent that he only spoke to my father, not me.”
“So youarecomplaining?”
Elizabeth stood up and said, “Honestly, Charlotte, you have been a good friend to me for these past five years, but I believe that you do not wish to talk to me about this particular topic. I am sorry to have brought it up and wish you a very pleasant day.”
“Goodbye, Eliza.”
Charlotte’s voice sounded quite final. Elizabeth felt sad for her friend and discouraged for herself. She did not have many friends!
“Goodbye, Charlotte. Give my fond greetings to all your family.”
CHAPTER 15
16 November 1811
DARCY
Darcy survived another restive night filled with dreams—this time, dreams of a charming Mr Goulding sweeping Elizabeth off her feet, a cruel Mr Goulding importuning her, Mr Goulding and Mr Bennet contriving to accuse Darcy of awful deeds….
The next morning, Darcy eagerly abandoned his bed before dawn. He hastily made ready for a ride and, starting a quarter hour before the sun was up, Darcy rode over the dimly lit trails in hopes of “accidentally” coming across Elizabeth. Eventually, almost half an hour after the sun came up, he did.
Her face lit up, and it was as if there was a second dawn. He vaulted out of the saddle and bowed. “Miss Elizabeth!” he said—and his voice gave the greeting a fervency it ought not to have, given the fact that they had parted only the day before.
She held in the laugh that sparkled in her eyes, and she said, “Mr Darcy. How fortunate that we meet.”
He wondered if she knew that fortune had nothing to do with it, but he would not say so, because his intent made the meeting at least slightly improper.
“May I walk with you?” he asked.
“Please do,” she said. “Today I am walking to a little pool in the creek.” She led him to a forest path he had not explored, and he wondered if they were on Netherfield or Longbourn land, or perhaps land owned by another or by no one at all.
“How did your conversation with your father go? Are we soon to make our separate ways to London?”
She grinned. “No…at least not now. I tend to be able to bend my father to my will, but in this case I met him halfway in a compromise. He promised to be open-minded to you, and I promised to be polite for Mr Goulding’s calls as well as yours.”
Darcy despised the slight jolt of jealousy he felt.Enjoy the now, he pleaded with himself, and as he focused on the warbles of robins and the flute-like song of blackbirds, the tiny crunch of frost beneath their feet, the still, cold air—he was able to reach his earlier state of happiness.
“Since we will remain here in Hertfordshire, may I claim the first set at this ball that Bingley is dedicated to hosting?”
Elizabeth laughed, and for the thousandth time since he met her, Darcy decided that no lady had ever had such a pleasing laugh.
“You are asking me for the first two dances at a ball which does not yet even have a date on which it is to be held?”
“I am. I wish to be able to claim them before…you know….”
She rolled her eyes but said, “Certainly.”
“And the supper dance, as well?”
