Page 8 of An Accidental Meeting
Uncle Gardiner cleared his throat. “I hope you will not mind if we remain here a time before calling for our coach. It is such a fine day.”
“In fact, sir,” Mr. Darcy replied, starting as though he had been awakened from a dream, “I have come to ask you all to join me for dinner this evening.”
Uncle Gardiner narrowed his eyes at Mr. Darcy. “We were informed that you are at home without a hostess, and that your housekeeper was injured earlier.”
“Mrs. Reynolds will be keeping to her rooms for the next few days, not that she believes it necessary,” Mr. Darcy said wryly. “But as for a hostess, my great-aunt and great-uncle Darcy arrived last night, which was the reason I rode ahead of my party. I spoke briefly with my great-aunt, and she assured me she would be happy to act as my hostess.” He caught Elizabeth’s eye. “Mrs. Reynolds insisted I not wait to invite you. Truly, I fear for my safety should you refuse. Do come to my aid, Miss Bennet.”
“Mrs. Reynoldsinsisted?” Had she not heard the praise Mrs. Reynolds had heaped upon Mr. Darcy and witnessed for herself the affection he possessed for her, Elizabeth would have been more surprised at his statement. As it was, she could only wonder at the housekeeper’s determination to keep her near, for was her situation not in every way below his? Would Mrs. Reynolds’s own significance not rise or fall with the rank of the new Mrs. Darcy?
“Mrs. Reynolds has a way of insisting without speaking overtly,” he said sheepishly. “She knew I would wish to invite you all.” He turned to Elizabeth’s aunt. “By the time I had changed and was able to speak with her, Cook had already been informed that I will have company tonight beyond my relations, and the kitchen has begun their preparations with zeal. Please accept. You would be saving me from the disappointment of two women who are quite important to my comfort here at Pemberley.”
“And a good deal of extra food,” Uncle Gardiner added, who appeared mollified at Mr. Darcy’s assurances of propriety.
Mr. Darcy nodded sagely. “Just so.”
“HowisMrs. Reynolds, if I may be so bold?” Elizabeth inquired.
“She arranged for dinner and sent me away when the physician arrived, so well enough,” Mr. Darcy replied. “I did tell Mr. Hammond that I wished to speak with him after.”
“It was fortunate he was so near,” Uncle Gardiner said.
“I keep a house for him on the estate, near Kympton,” Mr. Darcy said. “There is another physician in Lambton, but Mr. Hammond has his hands busy between Pemberley’s inhabitants and the village.”
Aunt Gardiner’s assessing gaze met Elizabeth’s as if to ask whether dinner was amenable to her, and Elizabeth offered a tiny nod.
“We should be honoured to be your guests this evening, Mr. Darcy,” she said. “However, that does mean we must leave soon so we may prepare.”
Mr. Darcy smiled, and Elizabeth had to stifle a gasp. It was a smile she had not yet seen him wear, a broad, happy one, and while it did not last for long, it changed everything forbidding about his countenance. She had always thought Mr. Wickham the more attractive of the two men, but when Mr. Darcy smiled so unreservedly, he was easily the most handsome man of her acquaintance.
She reminded herself that Mr. Darcy had proposed to her without once showing her this smile, so it could not be something he did often. Why was he so open now when nothing could come of it?
Elizabeth did not wish to think about what she might have lost by not looking beyond the appearance of things, and so she was determined that she would not.
It was against all reason, yet as they walked together up towards the house where he had lemonade waiting for them in the drawing room, a little tendril of hope began to grow in theregion of her heart. Perhaps they might at least be friends. It would ease her conscience a great deal to be forgiven.
A few hours after their return to Lambton, Elizabeth looked in the glass with trepidation. She reached up to wind a strand of hair around her finger.
“It is already curled, dear,” Aunt Gardiner said, meeting her eyes in the reflection.
“I simply cannot understand why he invited us to dinner,” Elizabeth replied. “And on the night before his friends arrive. Does he not wish them to share a table with us?”
“That is a most ungenerous explanation,” her aunt said, a bit of reproval in her tone. “He has indicated that he wishes to host us in thanks for your deeds today. Might he have some other purpose?”
Elizabeth was silent. It was not Mr. Darcy’s invitation she questioned, to be honest, but her own judgement of what it might mean.
“Do you not think that perhaps he might like to have certain company tonight, when he need not share his attentions with quite so many other guests?”
The glass was most inconvenient, for there was no hiding the knowing look her aunt gave her, or the deep blush that overspread her features.
“Elizabeth,” her aunt said, more seriously now, “if you do not like him, we need never see Mr. Darcy again after tonight. But I must say, he does not at all seem the man you told us of when we came to Longbourn for Christmas. If you do favour him, even a little, take the opportunity tonight affords you to determine whether you might suit.”
“He is quite altered from when I knew him before.” She struggled with judging Mr. Darcy’s behaviour, for it had failed her often in the past year.
“And can you not guess why?”
“I . . .”
“Dearest, it is no surprise to me that a man like Mr. Darcy would admire you. You are quick and clever and beautiful, but you are also genuinely kind and loving. I admit that Iamsurprised he would act upon that interest, given the disparity between your situations.”
