Page 27 of An Accidental Meeting
Mr. Darcy looked over his shoulder into the hall, but he must not have seen Mr. Bingley, for he did not leave the doorway.
“Now, Miss Darcy,” Mrs. Gardiner said, sitting in a chair directly across from her once Aunt Nora had left the room, “I lived in Lambton some years ago, and am anxious to hear all the news.”
Mrs. Annesley smiled and moved to a corner of the room where she took up some sewing.
“Well, I have not been here since early last summer myself,” the girl said, taking a seat on the settee. “I am afraid my report will be sadly out of date.”
“Yet it will still be more recent than my own.”
“I believe, aunt,” Elizabeth said playfully, “that Miss Darcy has somespecificnews for me.”
Mr. Darcy cleared his throat again, a touch louder this time, gave them all a complete bow, and excused himself.
Elizabeth chuckled. “Now that I have sufficiently teased your brother, Miss Darcy,” she said, “please be at ease. I would never ask you to reveal his confidences.”
Miss Darcy gazed up at her from her seat on the settee, her eyes wide. “Oh, but it was all quite flattering,” she said earnestly, glancing at Mrs. Annesley. The two of them communicated something silently. “I am sure he would not mind.”
Aunt Gardiner scolded Elizabeth in a single, silent look. “If it was written in a private letter, you might wish to ask his permission before revealing his thoughts, even if they were complimentary.”
“Of course,” Miss Darcy said agreeably. “Though I should like to know whether Miss Bennet is a great walker, as my brother has said. Surely there is no impropriety in that?”
“None at all,” Aunt Gardiner assured her, for the girl truly did seem to require it.
“I prefer to ride, myself,” Miss Darcy said softly.
“My father’s estate is not so large as your brother’s,” Elizabeth said. “I usually traverse the park by foot, though visiting the tenant farms sometimes requires that we take my mother’s little gig.”
“I did not know the gig was your mother’s,” Aunt Gardiner said.
“Papa bought it for her some years ago, but she does not like to drive it.” Elizabeth turned to Miss Darcy. “It is not as refined as the carriage, but it is more practical for visiting tenants, so my eldest sister Jane learned to drive.”
“Do you drive too, then? My cousin Anne de Bourgh drives a gig and enjoys it.” Miss Darcy’s complexion reddened. “Ofcourse, you already know that, having met her and Lady Catherine. Brother wrote to me that he was happily surprised to find you in Kent.”
Elizabeth was struck, both by how differently she and Mr. Darcy had experienced their unexpected meeting in Kent and by how artlessly Miss Darcy had revealed it. As for the gigs, Miss de Bourgh’s gig was a pretty, two-horse affair. The one the Bennets owned was at least a decade older and required only one horse to pull it.
“Yes,” she said. “I do drive our little gig when it is required. I suppose Jane is teaching my sister Mary to drive this summer while I am travelling.”
“And you have four sisters?”
“I do,” Elizabeth confirmed, exchanging a glance with her aunt. “The youngest two are of an age with you. Kitty is the elder, and Lydia is the youngest of all.”
She waited for the censure, for surely Mr. Darcy had written something of their behaviour, but Miss Darcy simply nodded. “It must be pleasant to have sisters. My brother also has said you play the pianoforte, Miss Bennet.”
“Aye, but not as well as Miss Bingley or Mrs. Hurst. Or you, for that matter. Your brother praised your playing one night at Rosings.”
“Did he?” Miss Darcy dropped her head, but Elizabeth could still detect the small, pleased smile.
“He did. Your aunt was determined that you should practise constantly, but your brother informed her that you already did.”
“It is the always the way with him, to praise any small effort of mine. Fitzwilliam is the best brother I could have asked for. Better than I deserve, I am sure.”
Mrs. Annesley placed her sewing back in the basket and began to rise.
“I am sure thatisnottrue,” Aunt Gardiner said, but Miss Darcy only shook her head, and Elizabeth suspected she knew why. This would not do.
“Miss Darcy,” she said politely, “do you think your brother clever?”
The girl’s eyes widened. “Of course. He is very clever.”
