Two days after the disastrous meeting with the Matlock family, Mr. Darcy arrived at Bingley House with his sister Georgiana in the early afternoon.
As the Darcys entered the salon, Mr. Bingley and Jane welcomed them while Elizabeth took her measure of the pair. Her eye was drawn to Mr. Darcy and the heat rose in her cheeks as she recalled Mr. Bingley’s mention of the man’s adoration at Lucas Lodge.
She looked to his sister to avoid further discomfort. Georgiana Darcy was close to Lydia and Kitty in age, but much more reserved than Elizabeth’s younger sisters. She stepped forward and Elizabeth was compelled to meet her halfway. Mr. Darcy made the introduction and his gaze unsettled Elizabeth.
“Elizabeth, this is my sister Georgiana. She and Richard were quite close and I could not come alone once she knew I was visiting Bingley House.”
Before Elizabeth might speak, Miss Darcy embraced her. The young lady held onto her and Elizabeth knew it was her connection to Colonel Fitzwilliam that gave her comfort.
“It is a great pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Darcy. I am so very sorry for your loss.”
Miss Darcy released her and pulled an expensive cream-colored handkerchief from her skirt pocket. After a moment of dabbing her tears and leaning against the comfort of her brother’s arm as he moved closer, she smiled at Elizabeth. “How very kind you are to think of my grief when your own must have been unbearable.”
Elizabeth swallowed the sadness that had gathered in her throat. “It is a terrible thing to lose a husband and one so wonderful as Richard was to me. I was most fortunate to have been his wife.”
Mr. Bingley cleared his throat and Mr. Darcy turned away from the ladies. “Charles, I am sorry to visit unannounced but I came with good news for Elizabeth. The Matlocks have agreed to transfer Richard’s accounts and I have the key to his townhome.”
Charles hurried to his side and clapped Darcy on the back. “I wager your influence has brought this about, old friend. Shall we discuss the particulars in my study?”
Mr. Darcy agreed but turned again to Elizabeth as she sat upon a sofa with his sister. He pulled something from his pocket and handed it to her. The metal keys clanked against one another in her palm as his fingers brushed hers.
The thrill that ran through her body could not be attributed to receiving the keys to her new home and she looked away as her cheeks burned. Mr. Darcy’s touch had awakened the widow transforming her into a woman with needs once again.
He straightened and watched as she held the keys in her lap. Elizabeth glanced up, hoping he might meet her gaze but shy at the same time. His eyes sparkled with bemusement and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Georgiana and I would love to accompany you to Fitzwilliam House today and give a tour.”
Miss Darcy brightened and touched Elizabeth’s arm. “Oh please say you will let us show you the townhome! There are so many memories to share, I promise not to cry again.”
Elizabeth could not refuse the young lady and agreed to the outing. “I would love that, Miss Darcy. I am grateful for your kindness.”
It was all she could say without allowing Mr. Darcy to see the excitement that threatened to reveal itself if she spoke to him.
In Bingley’s study, Mr. Darcy humbled himself before his friend. “I have come to speak with you as well, Bingley. I was a terrible friend at a most important moment of your life. Might you find it in your heart to forgive my folly? Mrs. Bingley is the picture of beauty, round as she is with child. I have never seen you so happy. You seem different now, more serious.”
Bingley was moved by his old friend’s speech. “Time heals all wounds Darcy. And awakening to the sight of the love of your life every day tends to change a man. Your apology is accepted and I must offer one of my own. I ought to have told you Richard married Lizzy but he asked me to keep his confidence. I am sorry to hear of his brother’s tragic death. I was moved by the grave losses your aunt and uncle have endured, though they were most harsh with Lizzy. I cannot bear to think of losing our little ones.”
Bingley could not hide the bright crimson that stained his neck as he remembered himself.
Darcy sat by the fire and warmed his hands. “How many children have you now, Bingley?”
Careful to avert his eyes, Charles lied to his friend. “There is Rose, our eldest and errr...Thomas.” He chose one of young Richard’s middle names in the nick of time. He had been prepared to speak the child’s first name.
“I am happy for you Bingley, truly. And pleased you ignored my advice. I would be honored to meet the young Bingleys when they are able to be present.”
Charles gave a nervous laugh and reached for his cigar box. He was determined to divert the conversation from the children. “They are the loveliest children you shall ever meet, save your own one day. I saw how you looked at Lizzy in the salon earlier. Do you still fancy her eyes?”
Darcy was caught off guard by this question but he relaxed deeper into his chair as he accepted the cigar from his friend. “I would only say she is even more tempting than I remember. As she is now family, would it not be scandalous to pursue her?”
“She has been a widow for over three years, Darcy. As for family, well, Richard found her most appealing and the two of you were always in agreement on almost every topic, were you not? I can’t think of any man your cousin would wish to protect her more than you.”
An awkward silence descended and each man entertained thoughts that would shock the other. Bingley thought how desperately his sister needed a man like Darcy to help raise young Richard.
Darcy thought he wished to know the pleasures his cousin had known before him and not from a place of jealousy. No, he wished to have Elizabeth Bennet Fitzwilliam for his own and give her the life Richard had been denied because of the war.
In the salon, Elizabeth and Jane were busy with Miss Darcy. She quizzed Elizabeth relentlessly on her life with Richard. When she had got every answer she desired, she turned and spoke with Jane about her marriage to Bingley.
“He is such a handsome and amiable gentleman! His sister Caroline hoped he might marry me one day. Did you know?”
Jane glanced at Elizabeth, that fleeting look sisters exchange at such moments passing between them. “I did not know,” Jane said though in truth the Bingley sisters had expressed such wishes during their time in Meryton.
Elizabeth knew such subterfuge did not come easily to her beloved sister but Miss Darcy left her little choice.
“We only met Miss Bingley briefly the first time, before she returned to London with your brother and the Hursts. She has mentioned you only once after Jane and Mr. Bingley married, and that was to say how she wished to see you again when she returned to London.” Elizabeth hoped her reply was believable.
Jane stood as the children had come into the salon, Nanny trailing behind them.
Elizabeth bolted from her seat and went to her niece and son, her heart racing so she thought she might faint. Miss Darcy’s exclamation of delight froze her in place as the young lady moved toward the children.
“Mrs. Bingley, what precious angels you have! What are their names?”
Elizabeth gave a pleading look to Nanny and Jane. She knew Miss Darcy might connect her son’s name and features if she looked at him long enough. Her eyes darted about the room and landed on a plate of biscuits left from tea. “Come children, take your treat and return upstairs with Nanny. You may come down again later.”
Nanny shepherded the children away as Jane spoke haltingly. “That is Rose and Thomas, Miss Darcy. They come down of an afternoon to sit and read with us. Nanny was not aware we had company.”
Just as Nanny neared the door with the children, Mr. Darcy entered with Mr. Bingley. His reaction was much the same as his sister and he tousled Richard’s hair and remarked upon the beauty of Rose’s sweet face.
Elizabeth clutched Jane’s arm for support as he spoke their names, calling Elizabeth’s son Thomas. Neither Young Richard nor Rose corrected him for they both squealed in delight as Mr. Bingley knelt and gathered them in his arms. “Come children, you must return to the nursery now.”
“But Papa, let us play a game of tag!” Young Richard begged. Elizabeth was for once grateful her son had forgotten to say Uncle Charles yet again.
“No, bubby, Papa must pretend to creep upstairs on all fours as the turtle does and he will carry us on his back.”
Mr. Bingley laughed at the children in spite of the terror in Elizabeth’s eyes. “We shall play in the halls later but you must go with Nanny now. I will come when our friends have gone.”
The children waved their farewells and dutifully followed Nanny up the stairs. Elizabeth managed to hide her sigh of relief as Mr. Darcy turned her way. “Such delightful children, Mrs. Bingley! My congratulations are in order, I am sorry to have missed your wedding.”
Elizabeth forced her nerves aside and smiled as Jane took Mr. Darcy’s hand. “I thank you for your kind words, sir. Mr Bingley has given us the perfect life.”
Mr. Darcy turned to Elizabeth and watched her glance to her feet. “Elizabeth, I am saddened there were no children for you and my cousin. What a blessing it might have been for us all had you been so fortunate.”
The tears came before she might stop them. The strain of hiding her son’s identity coupled with the near miss just moments earlier and the lie she must tell Mr Darcy overwhelmed Elizabeth. She hurried from the salon without a backward glance.
Mr. Darcy went after her, deeply sorrowful for his thoughtless words. He found her on the stairs leaning against the railing for support. “I should not have spoken about such a delicate matter. Please forgive my mistake, it is only that your niece and nephew are such a delightful pair.”
Elizabeth turned to face him. “I am fine, sir. I do not think I ought to have come to London after all. There is much I had not expected.”
Mr. Darcy took her hands and gazed at her with such tenderness, Elizabeth became concerned. “Mr. Darcy, we must not linger on the stairs.”
His head bent near hers and his voice was but a whisper. “I shall never be the cause of your tears again, my dear Elizabeth.”
She was shocked into silence by his tender promise. Mr. Darcy felt something for her, it was plain in the way he dropped her hand gently and pushed aside a loose curl from her forehead. The tenderness in his touch and the vow he declared proved Miss Bingley had told her brother the truth about Mr. Darcy’s words at Lucas Lodge all those years ago.
“Shall we go to Fitzwilliam House?” He asked as he stepped back and offered his arm.