Page 43 of An Accidental Meeting
“I am surprised you would ask such a question,” Elizabeth said pertly, and then smiled. “The grounds here are splendid.”
“Elizabeth is very kind,” Aunt Gardiner said fondly. “I am not a great walker and sadly curtailed her enjoyment, though she would never confess as much.”
“Brother,” Miss Darcy said quietly, “perhaps you could take the phaeton around the park?”
“There is only room for two in the phaeton, dearest.” Mr. Darcy looked down the table at all the guests. “But the two barouches might be arranged.”
“My goodness,” Elizabeth said with a little laugh. “Two barouches? You do have a rather large number of carriages, Mr. Darcy.”
Mr. Bingley laughed, and Miss Darcy surprised them all by laughing along with him. “It is my brother’s one vice,” she explained. “He adores carriages of all kinds.”
“If there is anything new or different about a coach, Darcy wants to drive it and, more often than not, purchase it.” Mr. Bingley shook his head. “He is even rather accomplished at the high phaeton, which I admit I do not like. Too much height and too much swaying for me.”
Mr. Darcy’s lips were twisted up into a rueful smile. “One of the barouches was my father’s and is still an excellent vehicle. But it is true that I am a favoured client of certain carriage makers.”
“And he will travel nearly anywhere to view something different,” Judge Darcy offered, before returning his attentions to Mrs. Hurst.
“Is that why you believe fifty miles of good road to be ‘nothing at all’?” Elizabeth teased the man beside her, recalling his proclamation from their time together in Kent.
“Fifty miles of good road is a very easy distance,” he said, lifting his angular brows as he repeated his words to her from the spring. If one corner of his mouth had not lifted just a touch, she might have believed him serious.
Elizabeth must have appeared sceptical, for Mr. Darcy shook his head sadly. “I see I shall have to prove my assertion. Miss Bennet, would you and your aunt and uncle like to join me on a ride about the park? It is only ten miles around, but it is a start.” He turned to his friend. “Bingley, you and your family are welcome to join us.”
Proffering the invitation to Mr. Bingley’s party in such a way bordered on impolite, but Elizabeth could not fault Mr. Darcy for it. She had spent enough time with Mr. Bingley’s sisters to know that they did not understand more subtle remarks. More like they pretended not to understand, for Miss Bingley’s eyes had narrowed angrily a moment ago, though the next she mastered the emotion. Elizabeth had seen the woman be petty and biting, but she did not think she had ever seen her show genuine anger before.
Strangely, it made her think a little better of Miss Bingley. At least anger was honest.
And if she were honest with herself, this felt very much like courting. But Mr. Darcy could not be thinking of her in that way. Could he?
Mr. Bingley’s expression faltered, and she could see that he wished to decline the outing. Elizabeth could not wonder at it, for had he not just alighted from a long journey in the company of his sisters and Mr. Hurst? And now Mr. Darcy had disappointed them and made them angry.
He must wish to return to fishing.
“I hope you will not mind if I decline,” Judge Darcy said. “Nora and I have taken this particular tour of the park many times, and there are a few new books in the library I have not read.”
“I shall remain as well,” Aunt Nora said. “I wish to ensure that Mrs. Reynolds does not exert herself overmuch.”
“Of course,” Mr. Darcy said. “Georgiana, would you like to join us?”
“I thank you for thinking of me, brother,” Miss Darcy said, “but I would much prefer to help Aunt Nora, and I have been longing to practise the pianoforte. I have been unable to do so since we left London.”
Mr. Darcy smiled at his sister. “I know it is difficult for you when you cannot play every day.”
Miss Darcy relaxed.
Elizabeth addressed the girl. “Will you play for us this evening?”
“Oh, but I have not had time to practise,” Miss Darcy began to protest.
Elizabeth shook her head. “There is no hurry. Perhaps after you have had time to reacquaint yourself with your music?”
Miss Darcy took a breath to steady herself. How easily she startled! Elizabeth wondered whether she had always been thus or if the incident at Ramsgate had caused it.
“Of course,” the girl said. “I should like that. Would . . . would you like to practise with me while you are here?”
“You have caught me out, Miss Darcy,” Elizabeth responded with good humour. “For after my confession to you this morning, I can hardly insist I am not in need of it.”
There was a sound of something like a huff from Miss Bingley’s direction.
