Page 116 of The Mistress of All & Torn

She looked more beautiful than he remembered. To her natural beauty, more elegance had been added. Her gown suited her perfectly, and the set of jewels she was wearing—obviously expensive—glimmered against her silky skin. Small flowers were entwined in her flawlessly arranged hair. The fashionable gown embraced her enchanting figure, and a pair of beautiful slippers peeked from under the hem. At once, he was reminded of a muddy pair of boots after a three mile walk from Longbourn to Netherfield.

Overwhelmed by recollections and emotions, the desire to run engulfed Darcy again, but he stilled when a handsome man, sitting on a large, elegant armchair next to Lady Kendal, took Elizabeth’s hand in a familiar gesture, gazing at her adoringly.

Elizabeth, however, did not take her eyes from Darcy, and after a whole year of torment, he gazed back at her. To his astonishment, the sparkling eyes he remembered were now shadowed by a mixture of feelings that he did not recognise.

And at that precise moment, a loud voice announced the Matlocks, then…

“Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Miss Anne de Bourgh, Mr Darcy, and Miss Darcy.”

Lady Kendal smiled at each of them, greeting Lady Matlock and Lady Catherine with warmth.

“How lovely to see you. We are grateful for your company upon such a joyous occasion. Do you remember my grandson, Philip Russell, the Earl of Alveston? And this is his betrothed, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

∞∞∞

The moment she noticed Darcy and his family, Elizabeth’s heart started to race, then beat more and more wildly. Her reaction astonished her, and she sensed her face colouring and her hands trembling.

She was surprised by their entrance, as she did not even know they were in town. Bingley had called on Darcy several times, but he had been told the family was still at Pemberley. They must have only just arrived. She had not even been aware they were invited. She had had little involvement in Lady Kendal’s guest list, except for adding her own family: Jane, Bingley, and the Gardiners, as well as Bingley’s sisters. Her own parents had declined the invitation, Mrs Bennet too excited and overwhelmed by the news of the engagement and Mr Bennet too heavy-hearted, still trying to accept his favourite daughter’s decision.

When the party entered, she was pleased to see the colonel, Anne, and Georgiana, and genuinely thrilled to finally encounter Darcy. She could not avert her eyes from his gaze, mesmerised by his dark, heavy expression. He was obviously surprised and probably displeased. She wondered if he would turn and leave, only to avoid her, but realised that that was a foolish thought. He approached, their eyes locked, and the proximity made his torment even more apparent. Then she felt Philip take her hand, and at that moment Darcy frowned.

He continued moving towards her. She tried to smile at Georgiana and Anne, then Lady Kendal made the introduction, and the astonishment on their guests’ faces embarrassed her. Those who knew her stared incredulously, their eyes and mouths wide open; only the Matlocks showed any decorum. Lady Catherine seemed to be struggling not to cry out in disbelief.

As for Darcy, he seemed to have forgotten to breathe. He looked at her again, for only as long as a blink, then bowed and said, “Congratulations. I wish you much happiness.” Then he excused himself and moved away into the ballroom.

Elizabeth’s heart started beating again, so fast, so powerfully, that she feared the others could hear it. And she wondered why—since it had never happened to her before. Not in the same way. Not with the same feelings and warmth inside her. Not with the same chills running across her skin. Not with the same sense of regret and sorrow.

The moment of their meeting had finally arrived, but it was nothing like she had hoped. And her own feelings had caught her completely off guard.

Chapter 3

Elizabeth glanced towards Darcy, who was now talking to a very joyful Bingley, his back to her. Moments later, her attention was alerted when she heard others expressing their wonder.

“Miss Bennet! Not in a hundred years did I expect to meet you here!” the colonel said. “Allow me to tell you that you look ravishing! Lord Alveston. I am glad to see you again. Congratulations! You are a fortunate man! Miss Bennet is truly a remarkable lady.”

Elizabeth smiled at him, as she used to in Kent, and curtseyed. “Colonel, you are always the perfect gentleman and always too generous with your compliments. I am glad to see you too.”

“Miss Bennet is engaged to your grandson? But I did not know he was even in town. Is he well enough? Engaged? How can that be?” Lady Catherine repeated, glancing from Lady Kendal to Lord Alveston in complete astonishment.

“I am well, thank you,” Lord Alveston answered from his chair in a light and amused voice, looking at Elizabeth and squeezing her hand.

“I was not aware you were so well acquainted with Miss Bennet,” Lady Kendal said, her eyebrow slightly raised in obvious displeasure.

“Miss Bennet is the cousin of my parson. He will inherit the Bennets’ home once the father dies. I was not aware you knew Miss Bennet at all,” Lady Catherine replied, throwing Elizabeth a sharp look.

“Well, I understand Mr Bennet is in perfect health. He might well survive us all,” Lady Kendal responded with mockery. “And Miss Bennet will have no reason to worry about her family’s future after she becomes Lady Alveston.”

“But… This is truly unbelievable. I feel it must be a joke,” Lady Catherine mumbled.

“Joke? What could you possibly mean?” Lady Kendal enquired with increasing displeasure.

“My sister is only surprised by the news, as we all are. I believe we have stayed in the way for too long,” Lord Matlock said, ending the argument. “Let us move on. Other guests are waiting to be greeted. Congratulations on your engagement, Lord Alveston, Miss Bennet.”

“Elizabeth, congratulations and I hope we shall speak more tonight,” Anne said, much to her mother’s disdain at such familiarity. Georgiana seconded her best wishes, and Elizabeth replied with a nod and a smile. Lady Catherine’s presence was a surprise to her too, but her ladyship’s rude disapproval, not as much. For a moment, she wondered what Lady Catherine might have said if she had accepted Darcy’s proposal, but she quickly banished that disturbing thought.

As soon as the group stepped forward, Jane greeted them and began a pleasant conversation with Anne, Georgiana, the colonel, and the viscount. Bingley’s sisters joined them, embracing Georgiana with affection.

Lord and Lady Matlock, along with Lady Catherine, retired into a corner, sharing their astonishment.