Chapter 20

As Mr. Darcy rode back to Longbourn with the earl, he thought how thrilled his aunt would be when he brought the very man she wished for Anne to meet home to his own parlor.

Pushing these thoughts away, he listened as the earl questioned him about his land. “How long has it been in your family, Mr. Darcy?”

“Three generations, sir. My grandfather had a terrible time after his wife died and he was left with four children to raise. My father was his only son. After caring for his three sisters, and this estate upon my grandfather’s death, he swore to never have more than two children himself,” Mr. Darcy shook his head as he recalled his father’s advice about raising children when Georgiana had been born.

He had told Mr. Darcy to never have many daughters for they were a challenge when they came to a marriageable age.

The earl agreed. “I had only a daughter and a son and Franny has by far been the most difficult of the two. My Elizabeth’s father is a gentleman farmer much like yourself. When I gave him Pemberley after he wed my Franny, he only increased its value. I think you might do the same here, son.”

Mr. Darcy sat taller in his saddle when the earl called him son. He had to admit his ease with the man might have come from missing his own father as they spoke of Mr. Darcy’s past.

Presently, they arrived at Longbourn and Mr. Darcy invited the earl in for tea. “My aunt will be greatly pleased to make your acquaintance for she has heard much gossip of your arrival.”

“Oh, the gossip does travel easily in the country. I hope to be as entertaining a guest as the whispered word has said I may be.” The earl dismounted and gave his good-humored laugh again.

Mr. Darcy opened the front door and led Elizabeth’s grandfather inside. Hill came to take their coats and hats and gloves. When she heard she was in the presence of an earl, the housekeeper bobbed the deepest curtsey Mr. Darcy had seen and rushed away to tell Cook of their guest.

The earl looked about the entryway and nodded. “Tis a fine, old country estate you have Mr. Darcy. I see why my Lizzy wished to know you better. We must speak about her later. I should like to meet your aunt and cousin if it pleases you.”

“Indeed sir, for I know it would please them to make your acquaintance,” Mr. Darcy said and fought the laughter he knew might escape when he saw his aunt’s face upon being introduced to the Earl of Matlock.

When they were seated in the parlor, Mr. Darcy heard the cries of surprise from his aunt and the pounding rush of feet overhead. He hoped the earl was not uncomfortable because of the noise.

Eager for distraction, he addressed the earl. “It is a great pleasure to have you as a guest in my home, your lordship. I had never thought to entertain a man of your consequence.”

“My boy, do not stand on ceremony where I am concerned. I think you will find I am not as fastidious nor as fond of myself as some of my friends. I prefer riding, shooting, and a good meal to the intrigues of court in London. I suspect you favor the same things. I saw how well you rode and heard how much your estate means to you,” the earl said and smiled at Hill when she rolled the teacart into the parlor.

Catherine de Bourgh and her daughter came in then and stood expectantly as Mr. Darcy introduced them to his guest. His aunt’s countenance was as a cat that has the cream. He had never seen her so pleased.

Anne stood shyly beside her mother and barely spoke above a whisper. Her mother had either pinched Anne’s cheeks mercilessly or had applied some type of rouge for the poor girl looked feverish from the bold color.

Mr. Darcy bit his tongue as the earl went to stand before the ladies and bow to them. George Gardiner was certainly a charmer.

He took Catherine de Bourgh’s hand and lingered over it. “How wonderful to make your acquaintance Mrs. de Bourgh, and that of your lovely daughter. You must come to dinner at Netherfield for Lizzy and I are most lonely there without the Bingleys. I believe Miss Bingley may come soon.”

Mr. Darcy’s aunt blushed and nearly giggled at the invitation. “Oh, why yes of course we would be honored to accept, your lordship. I was quite pleased to know your lovely granddaughter had returned. She saved my dear Anne’s life, I am sure of it.”

The earl seemed surprised by this news. “Lizzy spoke to me of your daughter, but she did not say she had saved the girl’s life. How very interesting.”

He turned to Anne and took her hand too. “My dear, I am pleased to make your acquaintance and look forward to seeing you at our dinner table.”

Anne smiled at the man and meant to speak, but her mother interrupted to draw the earl’s attention to herself. So it went throughout the visit as Mr. Darcy and his cousin exchanged meaningful glances. It seemed that the earl was only interested in Mrs. de Bourgh.

Hill came in after half an hour and announced Miss Bennet.

Mr. Darcy stood swiftly and moved to greet her. “Miss Bennet, how wonderful you have come.”

She stared into his eyes for a long moment before speaking. “I thought my grandfather might have wandered this way. I did tell him of the mere three miles it was from Netherfield to your home.”

Mr. Darcy understood by her tone that she and her grandfather had spoken of the last time he and she had been together at Longbourn.

The thought gave him hope where there had been none in many weeks, but also made him anxious. “I met him down by the stream. I was out with Lucifer to see whether my land was ready to plant.”

The earl joined them and embraced his granddaughter. “Lizzy, won’t you have tea with us? Mrs. de Bourgh has said how pleased she is to know you have returned. She is most grateful for the favor you did her daughter.”

Elizabeth looked to Mrs. de Bourgh and smiled. She could see the woman was performing solely for her grandfather but there was no point in being rude to her now.

She left the earl and went to greet the ladies of Longbourn. Elizabeth nodded to the mother and took the hands of the daughter. “I am so delighted to see you are still well! My physician shall come in another week to see for himself that my reports were true.”

Miss de Bourgh hugged Elizabeth tight in a show of emotion. “Oh, Miss Elizabeth, you are indeed the kindest friend I have ever had, save for my cousin Georgie.”

Elizabeth returned the embrace. “Thank you, Miss Anne. You are most kind.”

When the sweet gesture ended, they all sat and continued with tea. Elizabeth noticed how readily her grandfather fell into conversation with Mrs. de Bourgh.

She could see him using his charm on the lady and wondered whether he was merely being polite or whether he found himself attracted to the woman.

Mr. Darcy and Miss de Bourgh seemed as surprised and so she distracted them with conversation, her heart racing in her chest as she watched Mr. Darcy as his cousin spoke of a letter she had received from Georgiana.

Though she was eager to know about the wedding trip, Elizabeth could not look away from Mr. Darcy. His countenance was such that she wondered whether he had read her letter. He seemed eager to speak with her, but reserved all the same.

When her grandfather stood and asked the man whether they might speak alone, Elizabeth’s heart dropped into her stomach. She had not meant to be present at Longbourn when their conversation transpired.

Rising to make her farewells, Elizabeth was surprised when her grandfather announced that Mr. Darcy and his family would dine with them the following evening. He turned and quit the parlor with Mr. Darcy before she might reply.

Miss de Bourgh took her hand before she might give them her apologies and take her leave. “Miss Elizabeth, would you walk with me in the gardens? Some trees have begun to bud.”

Mrs. de Bourgh, eager to maintain the connection since having the earl in her home, encouraged the young ladies to visit the gardens. “I must go and see my particular friend, Mrs. Long, and tell her of our dinner invitation!”

Elizabeth kept a smile upon her face as she thought how a marriage to Mr. Darcy would bind her to Mrs. de Bourgh as well. The woman was not one to allow good gossip to spread without her assistance.

Miss de Bourgh led Elizabeth out to the gardens and remarked on how eventful the afternoon had become. “I had not thought I might see you again so soon, though I had hoped. What was it like to see your sisters married?”

“I only stayed for Jane’s wedding. My sister Lydia will marry soon. Grandfather gave her an extravagant gift and my mother threw a ball in her honor,” Elizabeth said as she walked along with Mr. Darcy’s cousin.

“You do not wish to see her wed as well?” Miss de Bourgh asked without judgment.

“It is difficult as she will marry our cousin who is a terrible man. I chose to come here with grandfather since he wished to meet Mr. Darcy instead.” Elizabeth did not wish to tell the girl everything about the duke or Lydia as the tale would only upset the young lady.

Miss de Bourgh was silent for but a moment. “Mother wishes for me to parade before your grandfather in the same manner she wished for me to capture your friend Mr. Bingley’s eye.”

Elizabeth gasped but thought she ought not to have been surprised by this knowledge. Certainly Mrs. de Bourgh would have wanted her daughter to seek the attentions of yet another wealthy man, no matter his age. “Pardon my thoughts on the matter, but it seemed to me your mother has set her cap for my grandfather instead.”

Miss de Bourgh agreed. “Mama is strange, is she not? Though, she is much closer in age to the earl so it seems more appropriate. Fitzwilliam and I were at a loss for words as the two of them conversed as though they were alone before you came.”

“Your mother has qualities my grandfather must admire or he would not have ignored the rest of us so easily. Do you think she might have given up on pushing you before him?” Elizabeth hoped the woman had for she did not think her grandfather had done much more than flirt with Mrs. de Bourgh.

Miss de Bourgh giggled. “I would say she will seek his attentions herself, Miss Elizabeth. Did it not seem so to you?”

Elizabeth wished she had not allowed her grandfather out of the house alone but could not see how she might have kept him prisoner. She could not think he might prefer Mrs. de Bourgh when he had expressed his fondness for Miss Bingley not so long ago.