Jane and Charles Bingley came to Elizabeth’s room the next morning after she was dressed and ready for her day. Jane announced they were to go to Mayfair with Miss Dumont after visiting with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst at Hurst House.
Elizabeth wrinkled her nose, she did not care for either of Mr. Bingley’s sisters but she could not beg off on such short notice. Instead, she went to the closet and searched among her reticules for one that would match her dress.
Mr. Bingley pulled Jane into his arms before she might be distracted by her sister’s search. “Do you not wish to know why we have come to your room so early, Lizzy?”
Choosing a favorite reticule, Elizabeth turned and looked at the two of them. They were so very happy and Jane seemed almost shy as she glanced at Elizabeth. Her face bore witness to her happiness. Indulging her suspicions, Elizabeth smiled and asked, “Is this news of a babe coming to Bingley House?”
Jane and Mr. Bingley shared a look of astonishment. Jane peered at her sister. “How did you know, Lizzy? We have not told a soul before today.”
Jane was earnest in her surprise and Elizabeth placed her reticule upon the dressing table meaning to come back for it after breakfast. “I do recall the signs of impending motherhood, Jane. You have been most ill whenever there is a meal served and so I imagined it must be that you are with child. I am thrilled to know I was correct. I am afraid I wrote Papa with my suspicions.”
“I should have known you would find me out and tell Papa. Hopefully Mama will be pleased. It is so soon after our wedding.”
Elizabeth took Jane’s hands. “Mama will be deliriously happy, you know. She may even come to London to be certain you are not overdoing it with all the work of opening a home.”
Jane’s face fell and Elizabeth laughed. Mr. Bingley tried to bring the smile back to his wife’s lips. “If she does come, she is most welcome here. She may bring your sisters as well and they could share the two rooms not yet finished.”
“Or they may stay at Gardiner House in Gracechurch Street, Jane,” Elizabeth said with a sly smile. “With the Dumonts visiting, you simply must tell Mama that there is no room at present.”
Mr. Bingley quickly agreed with Elizabeth’s plan. “We have yet to prepare the nursery and the other two rooms. Your mother could be kept quite busy if we place her in charge of it all, as a favor to her if you wish.”
Jane leaned her head against Mr. Bingley’s shoulder and Elizabeth groaned. “The two of you! How sweet it is to see you so in love. I have only had Cousin Collins seek my hand.”
She laughed and brushed past the happy couple. Mr. Bingley gathered his wife and led her to the door of Elizabeth’s room. “I saw two men vying for your attention last evening, Lizzy. Had you not noticed yourself?”
Elizabeth decided she liked Mr. Bingley more when he was not so observant. “I am afraid I do not know your meaning, sir. I simply danced with one and conversed with the other. Is that not how ladies behave in polite society?”
Mr. Bingley chuckled. “Oh, it was not your behavior that gave me concern, dear little sister. It was the two men who will surely come to blows over you before we see the spring flowers bloom.”
Jane laughed and glanced at Elizabeth over her shoulder. “Perhaps this babe will have a cousin before long.”
Mortified by their teasing, Elizabeth stuck her tongue out at her sister. “Just so long as you both allow me to decide which gentleman I prefer if there is some plan afoot to see me wed. I shall only marry for true love, you know.”
Mr. Dumont appeared at the moment from the other end of the hallway and Elizabeth grew hot with the flush that crept up her neck to her cheeks. She had not meant for him to hear her rejoinder to Charles and Jane’s teasing.
“How very romantic to speak of love this early in the day, Miss Bennet. Has my arrival sparked stirrings in your heart?” He offered her his arm as her sister continued down the stairs with Mr. Bingley.
Elizabeth was mortified but held her own. “I am not so easily won, Mr. Dumont. To even think I might be enamored so quickly is folly. A gentleman must do more than be handsome and possess a silver tongue in his head to capture my attention.”
Mr. Dumont placed a hand dramatically to the place above his heart and sighed with regret. “You find me handsome by your own admission and challenge me to show my affection with greater devotion. I shall do as you wish, chérie!”
Not a little exasperated by his willful misunderstanding of her statement, Elizabeth refused to accept the arm he offered and left the insufferable man laughing atop the stairs as she hurried to join Jane and Mr. Bingley as they waited for the staff of Bingley House to gather.
Mr. Dumont came slowly down, his eyes on Elizabeth the entire time. He meant to stand beside her but she moved to Mr. Bingley’s other side and left the devil with the silver tongue beside Jane.
When the staff had all congratulated their master and mistress on the news of a child, Miss Dumont appeared on the staircase and joined them as they all went into the breakfast room.
Mr. Dumont pulled out Elizabeth’s seat and to her chagrin, sat beside her while Mr. Bingley pulled out Jane’s seat and then one beside her for Miss Dumont.
“What news have I missed by rising later than the rest of you, chérie?” she asked Jane.
“Mr. Bingley and I will welcome a babe later this year! I do hope you might visit again once our little one joins the family.”
Elizabeth hoped they would not, but saying such aloud would only embarrass the Bingleys.
After the visit to Hurst House and shopping in Mayfair, Elizabeth wished to walk in the small park near Bingley House. Everyone was gathered in the parlor listening to Mr. Dumont’s tales of his recent holiday when she paused before the door.
Elizabeth did not wish to enter and become the object of his desire for a second time that day. At breakfast, he had ignored everyone at the table to center his attentions upon her. He had complimented her hair, her complexion, and her dress until she became bored by the conversation.
She had asked him about his university days and about France but time and again, he fawned over her and would not cease his praises.
Elizabeth found him to be quite insincere but imagined he likely thought she was enthralled by his heavy-handed flattery. When she thought of it now, he reminded her of Mr. Wickham. The lieutenant was a bit more polished and showed some restraint in his flirtations, but the method was the same.
It struck her of a sudden how very different Mr. Darcy was in his manner than either Mr. Dumont or Mr. Wickham. The more Elizabeth came to know the master of Pemberley, the less she was inclined to believe Mr. Wickham and his tales of abuse.
Going downstairs to retrieve her pelisse, Elizabeth called for a footman to walk with her in the park. Before she might gain the front door to see if the weather would hold, a knock came.
The butler answered and admitted Mr. Darcy, to Elizabeth’s surprise and great relief. Perhaps he might walk with her?
He took her hand and gave a slight bow over it. “Where are you off to Miss Bennet? I am sorry to have come as you are going out.”
Elizabeth breathed deeply as she spied the dimple in his left cheek. Each time they met, she was drawn to him more than the time before. “I was only going to walk in the park. Would you care to join me?”
Before Mr. Darcy might answer, Mr. Dumont and Mr. Bingley appeared above them on the landing of the first floor. The butler had gone up to announce Mr. Darcy without delay.
Elizabeth sighed and moved closer to him. She hoped he might wish to walk with her.
“Mr. Darcy, would you care for tea? It won’t take but a few moments for Cook to arrange it,” Mr. Bingley was as welcoming as ever.
Mr. Darcy turned to Elizabeth. “I believe the lady and I might stroll the park first, Charles. We should not be long.”
Elizabeth hoped Charles and Jane could not see the joy that surely showed on her face from their place at the top of the stairs. Mr. Darcy did wish to walk with her!
Mr. Dumont exclaimed that he too would love to take the fresh air of the park and called for his sister to come out into the hallway. Miss Dumont hastened to her brother’s side.
“Look, Emilie,” he said, with much pleasure in his tone, “Mr. Darcy has come and we are all to walk in the park with Miss Bennet.”
Elizabeth’s joy became annoyance at this turn of events, but she hid it well lest anyone notice how her smile had disappeared.
Miss Dumont descended the stairs with her brother and stood before Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. “I did not think to see you again so soon, mon chéri, but it is a most lovely surprise.”
Mr. Darcy flinched at her use of such an intimate appellation, but he kept himself under good regulation. “Likewise, Miss Dumont. I am pleased to see you and your brother this afternoon. And Miss Bennet, of course.”
He turned to gaze at Elizabeth openly before Miss Dumont and the woman seemed subdued for a moment. Once she was wrapped in her pelisse, she elbowed her brother sharply and he moved to stand beside Elizabeth.
Mr. Dumont offered his arm and Elizabeth could not refuse it without declaring her feelings for Mr. Darcy.
“Do hurry back,” Jane said, waving happily to them.
Miss Dumont nearly purred her pleasure at having Mr. Darcy as her companion. “It is like old times,” she whispered to him and Elizabeth again swallowed the jealousy that rose in her breast.
Her irritation with the Dumonts ruined the walk before it had begun. She glanced over her shoulder at Mr. Darcy as he followed with Miss Dumont. His countenance was as grim as she thought hers must surely be in the moment.