Page 141 of Bitterness of Spirit & The Painting

Chapter 7

“Miss Bennet?” Mrs Norwood interjected.

“Forgive me…I have come…George called for me…My aunt is here too,” she mumbled, glancing back at Mrs Gardiner who was approaching in haste.

She felt unsteady on her feet, perplexed, like she had been caught up in a poor excuse for a farce. Surely this could not truly be happening. Mr Darcy here? How? When?

He was staring at her, apparently as astonished as she was, while Mrs Norwood was staring at him as she began to explain the situation in a light tone.

“We had a crisis caused by the kitten, but apparently Mr Darcy was the saviour. That is what the children called him.”

“It was just a kitten,” he replied, as though he could not find the right words. Just as he could not take his eyes off her. “Miss Bennet, what a surprise…”

“Indeed…”

“Are you acquainted with each other?” Mrs Norwood enquired.

“Yes…” Elizabeth replied. Mrs Gardiner arrived then, adding to the embarrassing situation.

Darcy asked to be introduced to the lady and Elizabeth obliged, still overwhelmed by her astonishment.

Fate took pity on them and several claps of thunder shook the sky, darkened by heavy clouds.

“Please forgive us, we should leave before the rain starts,” Elizabeth said hastily, with a meaningful look at her aunt. She said a brief goodbye, holding two of her cousins by the hand, while Mrs Gardiner took the other two, offering a more proper farewell.

As they departed, Darcy remained still, gazing after them, and some long moments passed before he returned his attention to his companion, who was watching with a delighted expression on her face.

“I beg your forgiveness, you must believe me a lunatic,” she said.

Darcy shook his head.

“Not at all. It is I who should apologise. I was just surprised to meet you…and then to see Miss Bennet.”

“Yes, I can imagine. The feeling was obviously mutual. For both me and her.” She smiled.

“I believe so,” he admitted. Then he gathered enough composure to speak further. “Forgive me, I do not…”

“You do not remember me. And how could you? The last time we met, you were not even ten years old. I was thirteen.”

“But do you remember me? Or did you just recognise the name?” he insisted.

“My recollections are mostly from my mother’s stories rather than from my own memories but yes I do remember you. At least, I remember the young boy that you were. Forgive me, I should at least introduce myself. I am Julia Norwood. My mother had the privilege of being Lady Anne’s friend.”

“Yes, I know. Mrs Clarke…I am staying at her cottage. She told me about you… About your mother…But only this morning…I have had no time to properly introduce myself.”

“What a blessed happenstance that you met my children first. Let me introduce to you my pride and joy: Anne and James Norwood.”

Darcy was not oblivious to the girl’s name. Both children greeted him most properly, and he responded with a formal and respectful bow.

“Would you like to come in?” Julia invited him.

He was still trying to catch a glimpse of where Elizabeth was going, so he refused more hastily than propriety would allow.

“No, I cannot…Forgive me…”

The woman’s countenance shadowed for an instant.

“Mr Darcy, please forgive me if my familiarity appeared rude to you, which it probably was. I am not ignorant to the rules of decorum regarding our social differences. I was simply overjoyed to see you and I might have forgotten myself. I surely do not want to impose…”