Darcy paced in the lobby of the theatre, hardly noticing the stares he was getting from the various people milling about, waiting to take their seats.
“Calm yourself, brother,” Georgiana said softly, hiding behind her fan. “You are starting to gather the attention of everyone in here.”
Glancing about, Darcy saw that Georgiana was correct. Several people were looking his way, and he ceased his wanderings at once. Instead, he took a single position, standing with his arms clasped behind his back.
“Better,” Georgiana said, glancing at him. “Although you still look much like the statues we saw today.”
“How should I stand?” He snapped at her, immediately regretting his harsh tone. “I am sorry,” he said quickly. “I am nervous and I have taken it out on you. Forgive me.”
“It is not a problem,” Georgiana said kindly. “Although, I do not understand why you are suddenly so nervous. You just saw Miss Elizabeth this afternoon.”
Yes, he had seen her this afternoon. And this afternoon, she had assured him—once again—that she held no regard for him. He had known the truth before she had given it words, but the vocalisation had cut him deeper than he’d realised it would.
He had only determined the night before to win Elizabeth’s heart, and he could hardly expect his months of arrogant behaviour to be undone in a single afternoon. However, he had hoped that he would have made some positive headway. To learn he had not was disappointing.
His anxiety was not all for himself though. Darcy had invited Charles Bingley to join them in the theatre. He had sent his friend a last-moment invitation—which had been eagerly accepted upon learning that Jane would be present as well. But after discussing the matter with Elizabeth, her warning echoed in his mind. What if he instead ended up causing Jane—and Charles—more pain by his meddling?
Darcy felt a headache start to build behind his eyes, and he rubbed his forehead briefly. While seeing Elizabeth again after what occurred between them this afternoon certainly accounted for a part of his unease, so did his worry for Jane and Bingley.
“Oh, look,” Georgiana said then, pointing with her fan. “I do believe that is Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner.”
Darcy swung around and, sure enough, he saw Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle weaving through the crowd towards them. His eyes eagerly searched for Elizabeth, but he could not find her anywhere near her relatives.
“Do you see Jane and Elizabeth?” Georgiana asked, also searching the crowd. She was taller than most women, and her height enabled her to see people nearly as well as Darcy.
“No,” Darcy said, suddenly worried. Had Elizabeth refused to come? Had he driven her away with his continued advances—despite how subtle he had attempted to make them?
“Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Gardiner said with a bow, arriving slightly out of breath. “I hate to arrive with bad news, but I am afraid that I must tell you that my nieces and Miss Lucas were recalled to Hertfordshire this afternoon.”
“This afternoon?” Mr. Darcy asked, surprised by their sudden departure considering he had just seen them hours earlier. “Is everything alright?”
“I’m afraid not, sir,” Mr. Gardiner said regretfully, with Mrs. Gardiner nodding sadly in agreement. “My youngest niece is quite ill with pneumonia and my brother-in-law requested that Jane and Lizzy re-join the family at once.”
“How awful,” Georgiana said. “It must be quite serious.”
“Yes, well… The doctor says that she will be alright,” Mrs. Gardiner said reassuringly. “I believe that Jane and Elizabeth have rather been called away to offer comfort to their mother and relieve to their father, not because of any imminent danger upon their sister.”
“That is a relief,” Darcy said, glad to hear that the youngest of the Bennet family would likely make a full recovery.
Still, he could not believe that Elizabeth was gone. He had become well enough acquainted with both Mr. and Mrs. Bennet to hear the truth in Mrs. Gardiner’s words. He knew that Elizabeth loved her father dearly, and would do whatever he asked of her without question. But the disappointment of her departure hit Darcy heavily.
“I do hope it is quite alright that we have come without our nieces,” Mr. Gardiner said nervously. “Perhaps it would have been better to send a letter of explanation.”
“Nonsense,” Darcy said, smiling at the other man. “The invitation was just as much to you as to your nieces.”
“Somehow, I think the company of two such as us is not quite as exciting as the company of two beautiful young ladies,” Mr. Gardiner chuckled. “But I am grateful for the sentiment.”
Darcy felt a redness creep up to his cheeks at Mr. Gardiner’s implication, and he suddenly wondered how much Elizabeth had revealed to her aunt and uncle.
The embarrassment was made worse as Darcy saw Charles Bingley arrive and make his way toward them. He was walking quickly, hardly taking notice of the people around him. Several times, it looked as though he would walk right over someone until they jumped out of the way. He had an excited look upon his face, and Darcy’s heart sank at the thought of the disappointment his friend would face upon learning that Jane would not be attending.
“Charles,” Darcy said, before his friend could open his mouth. “Allow me to introduce Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner.”
Bingley bowed hastily to the couple, but his eyes were still searching the crowd.
“Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth, unfortunately, have been forced to return to Hertfordshire and won’t be here this evening,” Darcy continued, hating the crestfallen look that took over his friend’s features.
“Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner,” Bingley said, somewhat belatedly, bowing again in a more polite manner. “It is wonderful to meet you. I trust that nothing is terribly wrong for Miss Bennet to be called away so suddenly?”
“One of their sisters is quite ill,” Darcy said in explanation. “Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, may I present Mr. Charles Bingley?”
The Gardiners exchanged a surprised look with one another—one that clearly told Darcy that they knew everything of what had transpired between his friend and Jane. Darcy desperately hoped that Elizabeth had not told them of his role: He genuinely enjoyed the company of both and didn’t want them to think poorly of him.
“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bingley,” Mrs. Gardiner said, curtsying.
“Likewise,” Bingley said with a smile. Now that it was certain that Jane would not be attending, Darcy could see his friend’s natural charm begin to take over. It was rare that he not shine in social situations and tonight was no exception.
“Which sister is ill, if I may ask? For I had the opportunity to meet them all while in Hertfordshire, and am quite fond of every one of them.”
“Miss Lydia,” Mr. Gardiner answered. “But we are assured that she will recover.”
“I am glad,” Bingley said with a smile. “I do not know if I have ever met another soul more naturally inclined towards amusement—such people are vastly important in the world.”
“Any doubt that I might have had of your acquaintance with my niece is chased away,” Mrs. Gardiner laughed. “I do not know that I have ever before heard such an accurate and kind assessment of Lydia’s character.”
Bingley smiled at Mrs. Gardiner, and the party soon made their way to the Darcy family’s private box and settled in to watch the opera. Don Figaro was one of Darcy’s favourites, but he found he could not concentrate upon the performance today. Instead of listening to the soprano, he found himself thinking of Elizabeth. Perhaps, if he left directly after the opera on horseback, he could catch up with them.
And then what?
Elizabeth had made it clear that her feelings remained unchanged—him charging after her on horseback would hardly engender affection for himself in her. And such actions would cause others to look down upon her: such actions were hardly appropriate between unattached people.
Still, Darcy’s resolve to win Elizabeth’s heart remained. Today had been disappointing, but it did not mean that he had lost her forever. He simply had to come up with a plan to reunite with her.
And he would come up with such a plan—he had to, for it was becoming more and more evident that his future happiness depended upon his future with Miss Elizabeth Bennet.