Mr. Darcy entered the parlor several mornings later, pleased to find his mother and Elizabeth seated together. Their heads were bent close as Elizabeth read to Lady Anne.
He watched for as long as he might without interrupting and smiled as his mother turned to welcome him. “William, do not stand about like a footman. Come sit with us.”
Elizabeth replaced the ribbon in her book and closed it gently. She was pleased to see Mr. Darcy so early in the day. She imagined he would keep to his library as his mother had indicated was his habit whilst at Pemberley.
“I wished to know if you and Miss Elizabeth might fancy a walk about the gardens, mother.”
Lady Anne considered his request and turned to Elizabeth. “Forgive me, dear. I should have known you might wish to walk the grounds. My rose garden is simply divine.”
Mr. Darcy held out his arm for his mother. The lady smoothed her skirts with a trembling hand. Looking about the room, she breathed deeply and nodded to her son. “I must admit it is a lovely day for a walk in the gardens. I would have my maid come along. If I must return to the house, the two of you may continue on.”
Elizabeth turned her head and hid her smile at the woman’s matchmaking effort. Mr. Darcy sent for his mother’s maid and led them from the parlor.
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Elizabeth, quite content as Mr. Darcy led them down the garden paths, paid her attention to Lady Anne as the woman regaled her with tales of each section as they walked along. They stopped and stood in the midst of a garden riotous with yellow flowers of every kind.
Lady Anne clasped her hands behind her back and her voice trembled with a trace of the emotion as she spoke. “My dear George had the gardener plant these beds with such beautiful golden flowers when Georgiana was born. I would like to sit for a time alone.”
Elizabeth glanced to Mr. Darcy and they quietly left Lady Anne with her maid. Elizabeth walked along, her heart heavy with sorrow for his mother.
Mr. Darcy spied the sadness that stole the light from her eyes. “You must not worry, Miss Elizabeth. Mother has not been to the gardens since Georgie died. Her grief has bound her for such a long time and now perhaps she may find a way to soothe her pain.”
Elizabeth turned her head away and wiped at a tear. “My heart is heavy to think of your mother in pain, Mr. Darcy. I know your own is as well, though I would do all I might to share the burden.”
He stopped and offered her a seat on a bench near the rose garden. Elizabeth lowered her lashes, afraid to meet his eyes.
He knelt before her and took her hands. “I would never wish such a burden upon you. That your heart wishes to ease our pain is a kindness beyond pity, I assure you. None other of our acquaintance has said as much.”
Elizabeth met his gaze and her heart raced at the tenderness she found there. “Death rends the bond we treasure even between those left in its wake. I am certain your friends would say the same did they know the comfort it would bring.”
Mr. Darcy managed a half-hearted smile for her, his eyes bright with unshed tears. “They would not dear one, and your words are all the more precious because of it.”
He dipped his head and Elizabeth held tighter to his hands. She wished she might caress his cheek or embrace him in his grief but she simply sat with him, fighting her desire to reach out to the great man.
Mr. Darcy regained his composure and stood, taking her arm and leading her to his mother’s rose garden. There was no doubt in his mind as to his admiration of this gentle woman.
The scent of the roses beckoned Elizabeth before her eyes spied the varied petals. Their color and number made a glorious display and she paused to fix the moment in her mind. “I have never seen such lovely roses as these. Jane would be delighted to know of them. I shall bring her here another time.”
Mr. Darcy longed to tuck an errant curl behind her ear and imagined the softness of her skin against the strength of his hand. He must not torture himself so! He launched into a most informative speech on the variety of roses and his mother’s long history of tending them herself.
“Mother is a great lover of the gardens, her roses in particular. You might not believe me when I say she would come out here many times when we were children and work the soil with her own hands. My father indulged her efforts always, though some of the servants were frightfully afraid their lady did too much.”
Elizabeth found his story easier to believe than she might have before meeting his mother. “Lady Anne amazes me daily with her interests and talents. I am certain I have never met another gentlewoman as engaging.”
Mr. Darcy led her away from the roses and back onto the path to rejoin his mother. He hoped her time alone in Georgie’s garden had proven a balm against her grief.
Lady Anne stood and smiled as they approached. Elizabeth noted the wetness of the woman’s lashes and caught her breath at the knot which rose in her throat. Lady Anne shook her head slightly and took Elizabeth’s hand. “Shall we go in for luncheon? I find myself quite ready for a light meal. It must be the air that has done it.”
Mr. Darcy took his mother’s arm and the trio left the gardens of Pemberley amid happy birdsong and the rustle of a welcome breeze. Elizabeth turned her gaze to the grandeur of the great house and imagined again spending her days thus with Mr. Darcy and Lady Anne. For the moment, she sighed with great contentment at her situation.
Recalling her misadventure in the lake caused her to wonder if Lady Anne’s words at dinner those few nights ago were true. A matter of chance had brought her to the water’s edge and released a grieving woman from the shadow of her rooms. The arrival of Mr. Darcy would have gone unnoticed by Elizabeth had she simply navigated the lake with care. Stunning was the difference her actions and adventures had wrought.
Lady Anne went inside with her maid and Mr. Darcy stood with Elizabeth before the great front doors of Pemberley. His words caused her heart to leap with joy. “Miss Elizabeth, I hope you do not find my question impertinent, but is there a young man in all of Hertfordshire with any claim to your heart?”
Elizabeth gazed into his eyes for a long while before the whispered words passed her lips. “There is none, Mr. Darcy.”
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Jane exited the carriage in front of Pemberley, the letter from her father secure in her hand. She wished she might have read it but plainly it was meant for Lizzy.
She worried at the news contained within and her mind was uneasy with thoughts of what their father might have to say. She had grown fond of having her favorite sister at Brambling Hall and hoped she might remain there for years to come, even until she was married.
The butler welcomed her inside and led her to the salon where Elizabeth played the pianoforte for Lady Anne. Mr. Darcy was in the library attending his correspondence.
Elizabeth’s hands ceased their effort as Jane approached. “My sister has come as I knew she would, Lady Anne. How lovely Jane! What do you have in your hand?”
Jane smiled at Lady Anne and went to sit beside her. “It is only a letter from home, Lizzy. Please do play. I would not have you distracted for my sake.”
Lady Anne took Jane’s hand and nodded to Elizabeth. “Please do continue, my dear. Jane and I shall wait to speak until you have finished.”
Elizabeth began the piece again, her heart light at the arrival of her sister. The music drew Mr. Darcy from his place in the hall, for he had grown lonesome for her company shut up in the library.
He entered and stood by the window gazing upon the beauty of Pemberley. He imagined teaching Elizabeth to ride and showing her the wilder heart of Pemberley out past the gardens and fields. He would, of course, once he made his intentions known to her father.
It did not occur to him that she would not, or perhaps could not, accept his proposal. In his mind they would be married in time.
He would speak with his mother later but he knew she would be pleased. She had wished for him to marry for some years, and with Georgiana lost to them the time had come for him to open his heart and his home to the beautiful young lady delivered to him by chance.
Elizabeth finished the piece of music and stood with her hands clasped before her as his mother praised her efforts. “Oh my dear, it is wonderful to have such sweet music in the salon once more. Do come sit with us and see what Jane has brought. William, will you send for tea?”
Mr. Darcy obeyed his mother’s wish and Elizabeth sat upon the sofa across from Lady Anne and Jane. She glanced at Mr. Darcy as he strode from the room with the butler. She hoped he might return and sit beside her for tea.
Jane passed the letter to Elizabeth and turned to Lady Anne. “The footman brought it this morning and I wished for Lizzy to have it before I misplaced it. I seem to be more forgetful lately.”
Elizabeth held the letter and felt her heart pinch at the sight of her father’s hand on the paper. She did indeed miss him and his study. She had no plan to return to Longbourn in the near future, but if she did it would be at his request and before the winter months made travel difficult.
When Mr. Darcy left for London again, perhaps she would encourage Jane to make the trip with her. Charles had kept the lease upon Netherfield for the time being and she did think perhaps Jane might persuade him to accompany them for a brief visit.
Mr. Darcy returned and took his seat beside Elizabeth as she hoped. She placed the letter in her skirt pocket. There would be time later, when his mother rested in her rooms, to read it and make her reply. His weight on the sofa, as he sat beside her, caused Elizabeth to wish for his companionship always. He held a letter out for his mother, a frown creasing his brow.
“I know I promised to stay longer, mother, but I shall have to leave Pemberley to attend to a matter in London. Would you care to accompany me or will you stay here? Richard’s mother would be pleased to have you at Matlock House. She is quite concerned and has said she will travel to Pemberley if I do not bring you to London.”
Lady Anne considered her son’s request as tea arrived. She had not left Pemberley for some time but she could see the yearning in his eyes for her company. “I suppose Miss Elizabeth would encourage me to accept your request, William, but I would be loath to do so, I admit. I should not have gotten my hopes up that you might stay longer.”
Elizabeth shook her head, unable to hide her smile at Mr. Darcy’s eagerness for his mother’s acceptance. “I say you must go, Lady Anne. Your family will be most happy to have you in Town and I will be here when you return.”
Mr. Darcy gazed at Elizabeth, grateful for her encouragement, and took her hand. Jane sipped her tea to hide the smile that threatened at his actions. Lady Anne watched the young couple with an air of approval.
Miss Elizabeth Bennet would soon become her daughter, she was sure of it, and the thought pleased her so. Never had she admired the women that had gone before. So many of them cared only for the Darcy money, the horrible Miss Bingley came to her mind at this thought. She would speak with William and find his thoughts on the matter. She turned her gaze upon Elizabeth and proclaimed her conditions of surrender.
“I shall go to London, William, but on the condition we do not tarry for more than a fortnight. Town has never appealed to me greatly.”