Page 40 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

He paused in the act of filling his plate with cold, thin slices of ham. “I had a trifling matter of business to attend to that I preferred to do in person. I meant to see you, too, before you set out, and was surprised to discover you had already left for Hertfordshire. My business concluded, I returned directly, preferring not to doddle in London since I knew the Bingley’s party is this afternoon. Do I look smart?”

“You do, indeed,” his sister said, seemingly taking his explanation as the truth. “You must have gone to Aunt Orillia’s house?”

“I did, but I did not see her. She was entertaining. Jack told me you had left, so I did not disturb her.”

Miss Bingley chuckled. “If I know Lady Orillia, she will discover you were there, Mr. Darcy, and she will take you to task for not stopping long enough to say hello.”

“I am not afraid of her,” Darcy said, reaching for a slice of pork pie.

“Not afraid of my mother?” a voice said from the doorway. “You are the only one. Everyone else is petrified of her.”

Darcy stood and waited for his cousin and Bingley to enter.

“Pooh, Cousin Douglas,” Georgiana exclaimed. “Aunt Orillia is much nicer than Aunt Catherine.”

“That is not difficult,” Douglas said, grimacing. He shook Darcy’s hand. “Safely back, I see.”

Bingley also shook his hand. “Good to see you back, old fellow.” He glanced at the food on the table. “Having a snack? I could do with one, too. Come, Colonel. Let us partake. What is in the pot, Caroline?”

“Coffee milk,” she revealed, picking up an empty cup. “It is a good thing I warned Brewster that you two might return soon.”

Bingley did not quite wince when he heard what had been sent up for them to drink, but he said, “Only a half cup, if you please.”

“Hot milk with coffee boiled in it,” Douglas said, taking his seat. “I wonder who thought up that concoction. It seems like something for children to drink.”

“It is sweetened with Lisbon sugar, Colonel,” Miss Bingley explained. “Fear not, there will be tea at the party.”

He accepted a cup and took a sip. “Nice,” he murmured.

“Pray, eat if you are hungry,” Miss Bingley ordered them.

Darcy continued his meal, discovering after a little while that Georgiana had scooted her chair ever closer to his own, even though the size of the table did not require her to do so.

What is wrong with her? Is she frightened? Her shivering cannot be caused by me or Douglas, or Bingley. Is it Miss Bingley? Has she said something to upset Georgiana? Or is it something altogether different? Our conversation has been unexceptional, too, so it cannot be the cause of her anxiousness.

“What is it?” he whispered to his sister.

“Hmm?” she asked, frowning in puzzlement.

“Is anything the matter?” he whispered back.

“Nothing at all,” she said, shaking her head a little. Georgiana put her hand on his sleeve. “May we take a walk, after? I would like some fresh air before the party.”

“Of course,” he promised.

“Thank you,” she murmured. “These biscuits are lovely and delicate. You must try one.”

Darcy obediently took a biscuit and placed it on his plate.

*

Lizzy crossed the front hall, heading toward the orangery, carrying a small, lidded basket.

“Where are you going with that basket, Lizzy?” her mother demanded from the open door to the breakfast room.

Lizzy jumped and might have dropped the basket if her arm had not been through the wicker handle.

“Goodness,” Lizzy said, pressing her free hand to her chest. “Mama, you gave me such a start.”