Georgiana and Anne had been intent upon their target, though they had fallen some distance behind Elizabeth, for she struck a fair pace, and though Georgiana would have been able to keep in step with her, Anne did not have the same reserves, and thus it was that quite a gap had opened up between them.
As neither of them had been able to confess any particular reason for their current scheme, other than a natural curiosity, they had lapsed into silence as they walked, and thus it was that the Colonel’s sudden appearance caused them both to start in surprise and simultaneously lose sight of Elizabeth.
With a resigned sigh, Georgiana turned back from searching the remaining people who were meandering through this part of the gardens and smiled at her cousin.
“Where is Fitz?”
“By the canal.” The Colonel waved a hand in the direction whence he had come before casting a quick look at the heavy sky. “The air is becoming quite oppressive, and we think it would be best to return home. Darcy said he will join us at the gatehouse.”
He offered an arm to each of them, and they turned to retrace the path that the ladies had just followed. They had gone but a short distance, however, when the Colonel noted the approach of two people along the path in the direction from which he had lately come and, recognising the gentleman, he frowned as his gaze flickered over the lady upon Harington’s arm. His surprise over it not being Miss Elizabeth Bennet, however, he quickly concealed under a friendly smile, for they seemed bent upon greeting him, and he led his companions along the path to join them.
~o0o~
Elizabeth was not entirely certain of her purpose in scouring the farther reaches of Sydney Gardens, but as the time she had spent in the central areas around the bandstand had done little to aid her in her desire to meet with at least one member of the Brock Street party, she felt she had little to lose.
Her purpose had been to reach one of the small bridges that crossed the new canal and use it as a vantage point, being on raised ground, to see if she could detect any sign of Mr Darcy, his sister or his cousin. Despite this intention, however, she was rather taken aback upon reaching her destination to discern precisely what she sought: Mr Darcy, alone, down on the towpath. He stood very still, and though she still floundered for a way to open the necessary dialogue, she set off purposefully to join him.
~o0o~
“Nicholas!” Serena’s voice was urgent, and she tugged at his arm as he led her towards the three people coming towards them, causing him to halt. “We have just left Mr Darcy in an apparent state of shock. Is this not sufficient?”
Nicholas shook his head. “I think not.” Then, he laughed. “I am on a ride; there is no reining me in!” Seeing his companion biting her lip, he patted her arm. “Do not concern yourself so; I know what I am about.”
She cast a quick glance along the path at the approaching party. “But I do not know these people, and whilst I understand that we wished to tell someone the truth, ’tis yet a secret in principle.”
Nicholas spoke quietly as he attempted to reassure her. “This family, Serena, would have it that I am engaged, so what secret am I revealing? All I am doing is ensuring they have me promised to the right lady.”
Serena nodded reluctantly, then could not help but smile as Nicholas turned her about to greet the Colonel and his companions, saying under his breath, “Besides, I cannot tolerate another evening of those mournful tunes Elizabeth will persist in playing of late!”
“Colonel! Well met!” The gentlemen acknowledged each other, and Nicholas greeted Miss Darcy before accepting the introduction to the other lady, who, it transpired, was her cousin.
He then exchanged a quick look with Serena, who looked rather apprehensive, before turning back to the others and effecting her introduction to them.
Barely had the necessary formalities been completed, however, when he added, “Miss Seavington and I are to be wed shortly.”
A profound silence greeted this statement, and Nicholas was conscious of Serena retaining her breath, only to let it out in a rush as the three people before them all exchanged a confused look, and the Colonel, shaking his head as if to rid it of some notion, said, “I beg your pardon? Did you say you are to marry this young lady?”
He inclined his head respectfully in Serena’s direction as he made this observation, but it was obvious from his expression that he did not quite believe the words.
Nicholas nodded. “Indeed, Sir, though it is not for public consumption as yet; we still await parental consent from Derbyshire, but my immediate family knows of our situation. It is not a private engagement.”
The Colonel put a hand to his forehead and turned and walked away a few paces, and Serena and Nicholas could not help but exchange a quick smile with each other, so reminiscent was his behaviour of Darcy’s but moments earlier. Miss Darcy and her cousin, however, simply stared at them both, but as the intelligence and its implications seemed to dawn upon her, the former broke into a wide smile, and stepping forward, she reached out and took Serena’s hand. “I congratulate you,” she turned to look at Nicholas, “both of you. You have my heartfelt felicitations for your future happiness.”
“Thank you, Miss Darcy,” Serena said with a smile. “Your sentiments are much appreciated. You do understand, though, that it is not general knowledge. We do not wish for it to get abroad until my father sends word.”
“Of course not. Oh – but I cannot wait to tell my brother!” Colour flew into her cheeks at this, and she put a hand to her mouth. “Forgive me. You said it was not to be talked of, but-”
“Your brother knows, Miss Darcy.” Nicholas smiled at her. “We have just this moment come from speaking to him.”
The Colonel, who seemed to have come to terms with what he had heard re-joined them, shook Nicholas by the hand and slapped him on the back for good measure.
“Now that is a meeting I wish I had been privy to! Well, I wish you both all the best.” He shook his head and then let out a short laugh. “You would not believe how gratified we are to meet you, Miss Seavington, and to hear of your situation.” He turned to the lady in question and smiled and with a quiet ‘thank you’, Serena returned the gesture.
Nicholas nodded. “Then it was indeed well met, Colonel, was it not?”
“Fortuitous does not begin to describe it, Harington!” The Colonel looked to the ladies of his party and offered them an arm apiece once more. “We will leave you to enjoy the remainder of the day.”
~o0o~
Heart pounding in her chest, Elizabeth’s pace slowed as she passed through the open gate onto the towpath and neared Mr Darcy. He continued with his back to her, staring down into the water and, hesitantly, she came to a halt but one step away from him. She was reluctant to speak his name, it being so reminiscent of how she had accosted him in Berkeley Square Gardens not so long ago, but before she could determine the best way of announcing her presence, he straightened, ran a hand through his hair and turned about suddenly on his heel – so precipitously, in fact, that he almost knocked her from her feet.
On impulse, his hands shot out to steady her, and she found herself firmly grasped by both upper arms as he stared at her.
“You are not engaged.” The words seemed drawn from him, as though he had no choice but to speak them, and she was consumed by relief that, somehow, he understood the truth without her having to find the words.
“No, Sir, I am not.”
They lapsed into a deep silence. They were, by necessity of his having caught hold of her as she took a stumbling step aside, in close proximity, and whether he was conscious of it or not, he maintained his hold upon her arms. As she became aware of his touch through the sheer fabric of her sleeves, she could feel the warmth rise in her cheeks. Their closeness overwhelmed her, and she held her breath, her eyes fixed upon his face.
He seemed equally transfixed, and then his glance dipped towards her mouth and all rational thought deserted her as she was assailed by the memory of his holding her safe when she fell from the curricle, and the perfect conviction she had held at the time that he wished to embrace her, but before anything so untoward could happen, he seemed to realise what he was about and stepped back a pace, releasing his hold upon her.
“Forgive me.” his voice was strained. “I did not expect you… anyone.”
She shook her head quickly. “Indeed, Sir, there is nothing to excuse. I should have spoken; I did not mean to surprise you in such a manner.”
“I was not concentrating…” he paused and searched her face as if he could not quite believe he saw her. “I fail to comprehend… I saw…”
Realising that, however he had discovered the truth, he remained confused by the misunderstanding that had arisen, she shook her head in remonstrance towards herself.
“I believe I comprehend what you observed – and what its inference was. Mr Darcy, I am most embarrassed that my freedom of manner with an old friend has led you to consider something erroneous as the truth.” Elizabeth let out a huff of rueful laughter. “I was often cautioned over my exuberance as a child, and it seems I have failed to control it as an adult.”
He swallowed visibly and turned his head to the side for a moment before returning his gaze to hers with an audible sigh. “I am guilty of having made an assumption; though at the time, it seemed perfectly logical. I hope you will forgive the misunderstanding.”
“May I ask how it is that you now understand the truth?”
“Harington.” Darcy gestured with his hand. “He was here but a moment before you arrived, with his intended.” He frowned suddenly. “When we met yesterday…”
Elizabeth nodded. “Yet another misconception on both our parts, I believe. I had but hours earlier received intelligence from Longbourn of my sister’s engagement to your friend. Your congratulations seemed perfectly in order to me…” her voice tailed away as she took in the expression on his face. “You did not know.”
He shook his head, but a faint smile touched his mouth. “No. But then, I only wrote Bingley of my new direction but two days ago, and he is an indifferent correspondent at the best of times.”
Elizabeth was gratified to see that Mr Darcy seemed genuinely pleased with the news and she could not help but smile at this proof of how mistaken she had been in her suppositions of the previous day. A silence fell upon them both once more, disturbed by nothing more than the birdsong from the nearby trees and the occasional muted voice from the garden beyond.
Then, the gentleman seemed to rouse himself, gesturing with his hand towards the gate.
“Will you allow me to escort you?”
Elizabeth nodded without hesitation. She had no desire to quit his company unless she had to. “You may, Sir, but you know not my destination. I could be bound for Timbuktu!”
He smiled at this, and they both turned towards the gate.
“Then I would take you there.”
Elizabeth could not help but laugh at this piece of perceived chivalry. “To ensure that I was sufficiently distant, Sir?”
Darcy shook his head, standing back to allow her to precede him back into the gardens. “No – not at all. I should have said ‘accompany’ you.”
They stood for a moment with their backs to the hedging and looked about. The change in the weather had clearly taken effect, and a noticeable stream of people poured back through the gardens towards the Sydney Hotel and the gatehouse. Conscious that the day now drew to a close and that these few moments in Mr Darcy’s company may be her last for some conceivable time, Elizabeth sighed, before turning to address him.
“Well, as it is, Timbuktu will have to wait. I have sorely neglected my duty as chaperone to my friends.”
“Then shall we take this way together for a while and attempt to seek them out?”