Mr. Darcy's Refuge (30 page)

Beside her, Darcy rested his hand lightly on the small of her back. “Does it meet with your approval?”

“How could it not? No one could resist such beauty.” She had never realized a touch on her back could provoke such sensations.

“No one, indeed,” Darcy murmured, but he was looking at her, not at the dale, and his thumb was tracing sensuous circles on her spine. “The usual path lies this way.”

Engrossed in her response to his touch, Elizabeth could hardly attend to the view. Noticing that her aunt was eyeing them suspiciously, Elizabeth decided it was time for a safer subject. “So, is Mr. Bingley to marry your sister?”

His hand stopped its covert caresses and he glanced down at her, a line furrowing his brow. “No. Why would you think that?”

“Oh.” Elizabeth toyed with her bonnet ribbons. “In a letter last winter, Miss Bingley hinted that an announcement was imminent, and so when you told me they were travelling together to Pemberley, I assumed it must be true.”

He frowned slightly. “That was merely a matter of convenience, since I was travelling ahead of them. At one time I had hoped for such an arrangement between them, but nothing came of it. Bingley has no particular interest in Georgiana, nor she in him.”

“I imagine there is no shortage of young ladies eager to attach Mr. Bingley’s affections.” Elizabeth strove to keep any bitterness from her voice.

“Indeed, though they have had little fortune in that regard of late.” He was silent for a minute. “Your aunt and uncle tell me that your sister still holds Bingley in a tender regard.”

“It is true, but she does not believe anything will ever come of it.”

“Is her preference for him widely known?”

“Everyone in Meryton knows of it.”

“No wonder you resented me so much for my part in separating them,” Darcy said flatly. “I intended no harm. I had observed your sister attentively during the ball at Netherfield, and while her manners were open, cheerful and engaging with him, I saw no symptom of peculiar regard in her. She seemed to receive Bingley’s attentions with pleasure, but not to invite them by any participation of sentiment. Her countenance was open and serene, and it did not appear that her heart would be easily touched. I thought she would forget him quickly.”

“Jane’s feelings may be but little displayed, but they are no less fervent for that.”

“Remarkably fervent feelings on both of their parts, for an acquaintance that spanned no more than six weeks’ time! I did not mean to injure your sister, much less you, when I advised Bingley against the match.” He sighed, then said in a calmer voice, “I tried to tell him that I was wrong on my return to London from Rosings.”

“You did?” A wave of relief rushed through her. She had worried so much about how they would resolve their differences on this front. Then she realized what he had
not
said. If he had truly wanted to share the knowledge with Bingley, what could have stopped him? “I take it, then, that you did not actually tell him,” she said carefully.

“I did tell him, but he did not believe me. He came to confront me over our engagement, calling me a hypocrite and more. When I raised the question of your sister, he thought it was for self-serving reasons. He told me I was not worthy to speak her name, then walked out. We have not been on good terms since that day.” His voice was a little too even as he spoke.

Elizabeth hated to see his pain. “Surely he would not be coming to Pemberley if he had taken serious offense.”

Darcy shrugged, his expression bleak. “The arrangement had already been made, and I doubt Bingley’s sisters would allow him to rescind his acceptance. They are always seeking excuses to visit Pemberley. I hoped it would give me the opportunity to speak to him further about the matter. If he does not believe me, perhaps he will listen to
you
.”

“Does he know I am here?”

Darcy shook his head. “I told no one, not even Georgiana. I did not want to risk word getting to your father.”

Elizabeth gazed up at the tall rock formation towering over them. How could such a pillar of rock be natural? It looked as if it had been carved by a giant sculptor.

She did not want to think about her father. She would have to deal with him again all too soon.

***

Darcy found it oddly satisfying to have Elizabeth standing beside him as they waited for his guests’ carriage to pull up to the front steps, but he noticed the tell-tale nervous sign of Elizabeth rubbing the fabric of her skirt between her fingers. He wondered if it was the prospect of meeting Georgiana and seeing Bingley once more that troubled her, or whether it was taking a wife’s place by his side to greet their guests.

If only she were truly his wife! He could not bear to think that in a week she would be returning to Hertfordshire and would be completely out of his reach for five excruciatingly long months. He was more certain of her now than he had been after their separation at Hunsford, but he also knew better what he was would be missing. Her presence brought light and laughter into his life, and the mere act of being able to rest his eyes on her brought him joy.

And her kisses! By heaven, she was a fast learner. Mr. Gardiner had generously allowed them five minutes again the previous night, and this time there had been no hesitation on her part. She had come straight into his arms and kissed him as if she had been waiting for it all day.
He
certainly had been – all the little touches he had stolen during the course of the day had only whetted his appetite for her, especially when he caught glimpses of her response. The little shivers, blushes, and the widening of her eyes all spoke to the sense that he was having an increasing impact on her physically, and by God, it sent thrills straight through him.

But these were not safe thoughts when his guests were about to arise. Fortunately, he had the distraction of worrying about how his sister and friend would respond to Elizabeth’s presence there.

Georgiana’s face peered out the window as the coach drew up, and she gave him a happy wave. She was the first to step out of the carriage when it drew to a halt, and she hurried forward to him, then halted abruptly at the realization that he was not alone.

He kissed Georgiana’s cheek, then said, “May I have the honor of presenting your future sister to your acquaintance?”

His sister’s eyes widened. “You are Miss Bennet? What a wonderful surprise! Oh, I am so happy to meet you at last!”

Darcy could not hear Elizabeth’s response, since Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were already upon him, exclaiming their delight at returning to Pemberley. Mrs. Hurst noticed Elizabeth’s presence first and tugged on her sister’s sleeve. A look of disdain crossed Miss Bingley’s face, but she quickly covered it with a false smile and greeted her “dearest Eliza” with enough civility to be embarrassing. At least she seemed to have recognized that Elizabeth would henceforth be the one issuing invitations to Pemberley and had decided to pay off her debt of incivility.

Bingley stood behind his sisters, making no effort to move forward to shake Darcy’s hand. “Darcy,” he said coolly.

So he had not been forgiven. “Welcome to Pemberley, Bingley. I am sure you remember Miss Elizabeth Bennet, do you not?”

Bingley’s coolness vanished when his sisters finally made room for him to greet Elizabeth. “What a delightful surprise, Miss Elizabeth!” he exclaimed with unaffected cordiality. “I had no idea you would be joining us here. I hope your family is in good health?”

It was a painful contrast to his treatment of his old friend, but Darcy was grateful that at least Elizabeth was to be spared Bingley’s anger. “Please come in,” he said to the party in general. “We have two other guests I would like you to meet.”

In the saloon, Darcy introduced the Gardiners. Mrs. Gardiner, taking the lead, was all warmth when she spoke to Georgiana. When she remarked to Bingley that she was delighted to meet him at last after hearing so much about him from her nieces, he blushed furiously, looking as if he would have liked to ask more.

Miss Bingley acknowledged the introduction with the barest of nods, then turned immediately to speak to Mrs. Hurst. Even that lady wore an embarrassed smile at her sister’s poor manners. Mrs. Hurst curtsied and made a civil greeting, but showed no eagerness for conversation, which might have been attributed to fatigue from her journey were it not for her sister’s behavior.

Mrs. Gardiner, however, seemed not at all troubled by the snub. She was all civility as she spoke to Bingley’s sisters in a clear voice that could be heard by all of the party. “What a pleasure to see you again! I was
so
glad to make your acquaintance when you called on our dearest Jane. It was such a pity you could not stay longer on that occasion.”

Bingley looked confused, then said, “You were at Longbourn then, Mrs. Gardiner?”

Mrs. Gardiner beamed at him. “No, this was at our home on Gracechurch Street, in February, if I am not mistaken. Yes, it must have been February, because Jane had been with us just over a month then. But it was only the briefest of visits; I believe the ladies had another engagement.”

If Darcy had any doubts as to whether Mrs. Gardiner had an ulterior motive in her words, they were confirmed by one look at Mr. Gardiner, who was observing Bingley with great attentiveness.

Bingley turned first to Caroline, who now appeared to be examining a portrait miniature above the mantelpiece, then to Mrs. Hurst, then back to Mrs. Gardiner. “Miss Bennet was in London?”

Sensing an imminent explosion, Elizabeth stepped in quickly. “Yes, Jane was there for several months. Miss Darcy, you must be fatigued after your long journey.”

Georgiana faltered, “Not at all. Well, perhaps a little.” She cast a timid glance at Darcy, who nodded encouragingly. “Perhaps I might retire for a short time.”

Miss Bingley was instantly by her side. “An excellent idea, Georgiana dearest! I think we could all use a little rest.”

Without a word, Darcy rang the bell, then asked for the guests to be shown to their rooms. Bingley followed quickly after the ladies.

Mrs. Gardiner sighed, putting a hand to her brow. “I am sorry, Lizzy! I should not have said anything, but when they pretended never to have met me, I could not keep my peace. Do you suppose they expected me to dissemble for their sakes? Poor Jane! It is clear Mr. Bingley was never told of her presence in town.”

Elizabeth touched her aunt’s arm. “I am glad you did, for otherwise
I
might have said something.” She cast a quick glance at Darcy as if expecting disapproval.

Darcy tried to look reassuring, a challenge given his own annoyance with Miss Bingley’s ill-bred behavior – not least because he suspected he might have behaved much the same a year ago – and the demoralizing sense that his brief idyll with Elizabeth had come to a premature end. If Bingley had been angry before, he would be outraged now. At Elizabeth’s worried look, he said, “He was bound to learn of the deception sooner or later. It is just as well to have the matter out in the open.”

Any hope that the matter could be smoothed over was quelled by the tense atmosphere at dinner. Bingley drank too much and spoke to no one but Elizabeth and the Gardiners. Miss Bingley acted the part of the martyr, while Georgiana looked as if she wished she could disappear. Were it not for Georgiana’s companion Mrs. Annesley and Mrs. Gardiner engaging in well-bred discourse, sometimes assisted by Elizabeth, the party would frequently have been reduced to awkward silence. It was a far cry from the cozy meals Darcy had shared with Elizabeth and the Gardiners.