Mr. Darcy entered his dining room to find his sister and cousin giggling over a missive that had come from Netherfield.
His aunt’s face had lit up with joy at the news that the Bingleys had returned to spend the winter there. “Darcy, we must have them for dinner to repay their kindness to my Anne. With the help of that physician Miss Bennet sent to us, why our sweet girl has greatly improved. Just look at her! Surely Mr. Bingley will take notice.”
Anne de Bourgh brushed away her mother’s hopes. “Mr. Bingley has returned to propose to Georgie, Mother. You must know it is the truth.”
Catherine de Bourgh threw down her napkin and rose from her seat. “I have tried as hard as I might to see you settled before I leave this world, Anne. You have not attempted once to capture Mr. Bingley’s attention! Darcy, will you not reason with her?”
Mr. Darcy did not hear his aunt at first for his mind was busy with thoughts of Miss Bennet. He wondered if she had returned with her friends.
He hoped to see her again but there was little reason for her to come to Hertfordshire once more. Miss Bingley had teased her at that dinner in London about a man her mother had chosen for her to marry. He wondered if she had already become someone else’s wife.
His aunt’s raised voice rattled the windows in their panes and he startled from his reverie. “Aunt Catherine, please! It is too early for such discord. Can you not be happy that Anne is well?”
“Why do you vex me so, Darcy? Georgie may catch any man she pleases with her beauty and good health! I would think you might consider that Anne is the one who needs to marry the likes of Mr. Bingley. He could afford the physician from London.”
Anne stood and threw her own napkin upon the table before Mr. Darcy might reply. “Mother, that is enough! You willfully ignore that Georgie is in love with Mr. Bingley, that she has longed to see him again as she did in London. She will marry him.”
Mr. Darcy opened his paper as the women of his household continued to argue and shout over Mr. Bingley.
He had known his sister was in love with the man. It was the reason he had taken her to London to see the Fitzwilliams. He had written to his Uncle Fitzwilliam of the Bingleys letting Netherfield when first they came to Hertfordshire and learned of their business connection.
“You are only well until the next cold you catch, Anne!” Catherine de Bourgh complained and placed a hand over her heart. She called for Hill to help her to her room and declared that she had raised an ungrateful child.
As Anne left the table in tears and Georgiana went after her, Mr. Darcy sighed. He hoped the two young ladies under his care would soon be wed, though his aunt was right about Anne. She would need a doctor all her life.
Before he might finish his coffee, Hill reappeared and announced that Mr. Bingley had come with his sister and Miss Bennet.
Mr. Darcy’s cup clattered against its saucer as the news of Miss Bennet’s presence in his home left him speechless. Hill waited expectantly, her eyes going to the stain that spread on the tablecloth from his spilled coffee.
He gathered himself and stood. “Please, see that tea is made ready and allow me a moment. I will join them directly.”
Hill gave a shrug and left to do her master’s bidding. Mr. Darcy thought the three women under his roof had affected his own good humor and took a moment to collect himself. He held up one hand to see whether it trembled at the thought of Elizabeth Bennet in his parlor. It did.
Clasping his hands together, he recited some lines from Shakespeare to slow his breathing. His heart settled slowly from its frantic pace and he smoothed his waistcoat before running a hand through his unruly brown curls. He spied his likeness in the glass of the hutch as he turned. His cravat was still tied flawlessly. Mr. Darcy smiled at himself and laughed. “Steady, old boy,” he said in self-deprecation.
Elizabeth stood when Mr. Darcy entered and waited as he greeted the Bingleys in turn before giving her his attention. “Mr. Darcy,” she said, her heart racing at how close he stood to her, “how lovely to see you once more.”
Mr. Darcy gave a small bow and when he caught her gaze again, she was pleased to see he smiled at her. “Likewise Miss Bennet, I wondered if you had come with your friends again. What a pleasant surprise it was when my housekeeper said you were here as well.”
Elizabeth breathed deeply as they all sat. So he had thought of her. A glimmer of hope lodged in her breast.
There was a bit of an awkward silence before Miss Bingley inquired after his sister and cousin. Mr. Darcy sent Hill to find the girls after the housekeeper arranged their tea.
He offered his thoughts on their activity. “They must be reading or knitting for they are hardly ever so quiet.”
Elizabeth was eager to join the conversation. “I wish my own sisters would be so industriously employed. They are forever yelling, running about, and arguing over young men.”
Mr. Darcy smiled. “I did not wish to tattle on them, but Anne and Georgie are certainly known to display dramatics when the occasion calls for it, and even when it does not. They are otherwise wonderful young ladies as I have seen that both read extensively. I do not think screens and reticules are enough to engage inquisitive young minds for very long.”
Miss Bingley turned to Elizabeth as her brother and Mr. Darcy discussed the headlines of the newspapers. “Will you speak to him alone today Eliza?”
Elizabeth reached over and pinched Miss Bingley on her arm. “Shush, Caro. I will speak with him in my own time. We have only just returned to Netherfield!”
Mr. Darcy looked over in time to see Elizabeth’s hand return to her teacup. Miss Bingley rubbed her arm and scowled at Elizabeth but kept quiet since the man had turned to see what they were about.
Elizabeth smiled as Miss Darcy and Miss de Bourgh entered the room. Miss Darcy’s face plainly showed her happiness at the visit from Mr. Bingley. She gave a small, charming curtsey. “It is so nice to have your company sir, and that of your sister and particular friend.”
Miss de Bourgh, who was in better health than Elizabeth could remember from their previous time in Hertfordshire, came to her and took her hand. “Miss Bennet, I am most grateful for your care and concern. Your physician has worked miracles, as you see. I am in your debt.”
Elizabeth patted the seat beside her. “Please do sit with me. You have no need to repay a kindness for it is quite enough to see you so well.”
Miss Darcy greeted Miss Bingley and moved to stand before Elizabeth and Anne. “I hoped to thank you as well, Miss Bennet. Anne is so very dear to me, like a sister truly. I know you understand the bond as you have four sisters yourself.”
“I do, Miss Darcy, and again, I was most pleased to be of assistance to Miss de Bourgh. My father and mother taught us to always help those we could and pray for those we could not. I saw how your cousin’s illness at Netherfield worried you so and then to hear she was ill again while you were in Town, I knew our physician might be just the one to help,” Elizabeth said.
Miss Darcy smiled and left Elizabeth to sit with Miss de Bourgh. The party enjoyed tea and conversation and before long, Mr. Bingley stood and asked whether Miss Darcy would care for a walk in the gardens of Longbourn.
Mr. Darcy also stood and looked expectantly at Elizabeth. “Surely Miss Bennet might also enjoy such diversion.”
She stood and excused herself from Miss Bingley and Miss de Bourgh and joined the others who wished to walk.
Mr. Bingley inquired of his sister and Miss de Bourgh whether they might care for a turn or two in the gardens. Miss Bingley declined as Mrs. de Bourgh entered the parlor.
“Why did no one say we had visitors? I would have come down much sooner. Certainly Anne would love to walk in the garden with you Mr. Bingley,” Mrs. de Bourgh said, her voice strained.
Anne de Bourgh kept her seat and thanked Mr. Bingley for the offer. “I prefer to remain inside and get to know Miss Bingley better. Please Mama, come sit with us.”
There was an awkward silence as Mrs. de Bourgh joined her daughter. Elizabeth could see the woman was angry.
She placed her hand on Mr. Darcy’s arm and followed Mr. Bingley and Miss Darcy as they quit the parlor for their walk.
Miss Bingley’s face fell to be left alone with the strange mother and daughter and Elizabeth truly felt sorry for her friend.
Once outside, Elizabeth breathed deeply of the cold air and gave a tiny shiver. She enjoyed walking in the winter, though not as much as she enjoyed it in the spring and summer. Fall was her favorite time as leaves changed and the landscape burned brightly in autumnal hues.
Mr. Darcy noticed her inhalations and the tremor through her body and smiled. He felt much the same when he was able to be out of doors. Nature allowed for an expansiveness of the body and soul that four walls, no matter how grand, did not.
“Miss Bennet, I wish I had known you were all returning to Hertfordshire. We might have traveled together as a sort of caravan,” he smiled as she turned to look up at him.
“It was a decision made rather quickly and not planned, you see. Mr. and Miss Bingley would likely have remained in London had I not begged them to return to Netherfield.” Elizabeth had not meant to discuss her reasons for returning to the estate just three miles from Mr. Darcy’s home, but his presence comforted her.
The man did not press her but he was surprised to know she was the one who wished to return. “When I saw you in London, it was plain to me the differences in our situations. You exude a confidence born of wealth and station. You are a lady. I could not think Hertfordshire would hold such allure for you.”
Elizabeth’s smile faded as she listened. “There are many things wealth and station do not afford Mr. Darcy. You are a gentleman, and as such, my equal. Do you ever long for London, for the clubs and connections?”
Mr. Darcy laughed out loud and Elizabeth thought he did not take her query seriously. “That is certainly not the reaction I expected.”
He stopped and turned to look at her more closely. “Miss Bennet, your curiosity does amuse me. I have never longed for such a life. I have no title nor any reason to move in those circles. I am content here among my friends and relations. Georgie and Anne would enjoy a wonderful season there. Other than that, I have no desire for Town. My sister does care for your friend Bingley. What do you think of their match?”
Elizabeth felt her cheeks grow hot. Bingley and Miss Darcy had moved further down the path from them, but with the frost of winter on the ground, there were no leaves nor lush foliage to hide the pair.
“It matters not what I think. Only what Bingley and your sister desire makes any difference. I myself was matched against my will to my cousin, a duke. My mother wants all her daughters married to titled men and my eldest sister will marry such a man. I could not accept my cousin’s proposal for he is unprincipled and a scoundrel in spite of his title.”
Elizabeth hoped Mr. Darcy would not press her on her feelings about his sister and Bingley. She had been wrong about the girl.
Mr. Darcy’s lips formed a thin line and Elizabeth was afraid he did not care for her explanation. When he spoke, she knew he was angered by her tale of William Collins, Duke of Salford.
“You have refused the offer of a titled man knowing your mother would be most unhappy? What did the man do, Miss Bennet, for you to say he was unprincipled and a scoundrel? Did he compromise you?” Mr. Darcy’s questions were urgent and his face was turning a deep shade of red.
“It is enough to say that I escaped his attentions and refused to marry him. My mother was very angry and has likely disowned me and taken my dowry for my sisters.” Elizabeth turned and began walking again in the hope that Mr. Darcy might follow and leave the conversation about the duke behind them.
Instead, he caught Elizabeth’s hand and pulled her close, his breathing rapid. Elizabeth was startled and looked around for Bingley and Miss Darcy. She meant to speak, but Mr. Darcy placed one finger against her lips. They tingled at his touch.
Her eyes went wide as he bent his head close to hers, their foreheads almost touching. Her lungs felt as though they were starving for air.
“Listen to me. I will do great bodily harm to any man who lays so much as a finger on you. Do you understand? I will have no man misusing a woman who is dear to me,” Mr. Darcy’s voice lowered to a whisper on his last words and Elizabeth thought he might kiss her as he stared into her eyes.
Before either of them might make a move, Bingley’s laughter carried across the open garden. Elizabeth stepped away from Mr. Darcy, her heart racing. She turned away from him.
I will have no man misusing a woman who is dear to me. His words echoed in her ears as Bingley approached with Miss Darcy.
Elizabeth turned after a moment to regain her composure and placed her hand again upon Mr. Darcy’s arm as though her world had not just turned upside down.
She avoided looking at Mr. Darcy as Bingley and Miss Darcy came to stand before them. Her mind raced with the meaning of his words delivered with great passion.
She walked back inside Longbourn sure in the fact that Mr. Darcy had meant what he said. She was dear to him.