Page 153 of Bitterness of Spirit & The Painting

There was Darcy, with Mrs Norwood, next to her carriage. They stood close to each other as they spoke, then he kissed her hand and untied his horse. It was clear they had arrived together and appeared to be quite intimate. Elizabeth turned pale and tried to regain her composure.

She noticed that Wickham had observed the scene too, as well as Bingley, who showed no restraint in actually calling to Darcy and waving to him.

Elizabeth glanced at Wickham, who was now wearing a large grin, although he looked somehow distressed. She expected Darcy would apologise and depart but he approached them, surveying the entire group.

Elizabeth was next to Wickham and Darcy’s eyes met hers. Then he bowed politely to her and stepped forward, answering the colonel’s enthusiastic greeting and starting a conversation with him, ignoring Wickham completely as if he did not even exist.

The strange party continued their walk for more than half an hour. Elizabeth was arm in arm with Mary at the back of the group. Fortunately, Wickham returned to his fellow officers, allowing her distress to slowly diminish.

Eventually the party separated, with farewells and repeated pleas to attend the ball. Elizabeth stole a few glances at Darcy but did not speak to him at all. When they were ready to return home, Bingley posed the question that Elizabeth longed to address but did not dare to ask.

“Darcy, have you concluded your business in the town for today?”

“Yes. I intended to return to the cottage even before I met you.”

“Then will you not come with us?”

He hesitated briefly, looking at Elizabeth. “I would like to if I am not bothering you.”

“Not at all,” Bingley insisted. “Tie your horse to the carriage and climb in.”

Darcy hesitated again and Elizabeth finally said, “You might find the carriage a little crowded, Mr Darcy, but your company would be most welcome.”

“Thank you, Miss Bennet. If the company is enjoyable, it can never be too crowded.”

He smiled and her heart flushed as she wondered if he was attempting to flirt with her. She kept wondering all the way back home, as he sat opposite her and, although he spoke little, she felt his gaze upon her all the time.

Even if it was still cool outside, she felt warm and nervous—even more than usual when he was near.

Chapter 11

“I did not expect to find you in Brighton, Darcy. I assume you have completed your business satisfactorily?” Bingley asked as the carriage moved off and Elizabeth felt instantly embarrassed by his lack of discretion. However, Darcy answered without hesitation.

“It was a sudden decision. I visited Julia—Mrs Norwood—and she was about to go shopping, so I took the opportunity to travel with her to enable us to speak at length. Since I discovered her closeness and genuine affection for my mother, I simply cannot have enough of sharing memories with her. She even confessed to me that she learned to play the pianoforte from my mother.”

“That is wonderful,” Elizabeth said emotionally, ignoring the glimmer of jealousy that still troubled her. Despite her voice of reason, she could not rid herself of the sensation, which felt even more troublesome since she had never experienced it before.

“It is wonderful, and I feel blessed to have this opportunity,” Darcy admitted.

“Ah, I see. Well, we all seem blessed with lucky coincidences, since we keep meeting. Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth have just been to call on the colonel’s wife and I escorted them.”

“The colonel and his wife appeared to have a large party with them,” Darcy said.

“We met most of them in the park. I imagine you were displeased to see that Wickham man again.”

Darcy glanced at Elizabeth then he turned back to his friend.

“I was rather annoyed. I have to learn to ignore him, in order to avoid my temper overpowering my civility.”

“Mr Wickham is an insistent man, determined to disregard the signs that he is not welcome,” Elizabeth interjected, hoping he would understand she had not encouraged the meeting.

Darcy’s gaze rested upon her face. “He is. And much more, but I would not dare to disturb you or Miss Bennet by speaking about him any further. The weather seems to be improving. Perhaps the rain will spare us, eventually.”

“I pray that tomorrow we can spend the day on the beach,” Bingley said enthusiastically.

“Yes, so do I,” Jane concurred.

“I find the sea to be enchanting in any weather!” Elizabeth declared.