Page 58 of To Go Against Her Heart
“I would love to meet your sister, aunt, and uncle, Miss Elizabeth. Would they be available to join us for dinner this week?” Lady Matlock asked.
Elizabeth was incredibly surprised by the sudden invitation and found it exceedingly odd that Lady Matlock desired to see her relations.
She wondered if Darcy had a hand in it, and looked at him before replying, and saw the same surprise on his face.
“I am certain they would be honored to dine with you,” she replied, which pleased Darcy’s aunt.
Elizabeth realized it was time to leave and stressed that she had overstayed.
“Please do not say that. I had a wonderful time in your company, and I hope Miss Bennet feels well soon,” Georgiana said.
“I shall see you at our house soon, Miss Elizabeth,” Richard said as she took her leave.
Darcy walked her to the carriage and stood with her for a few moments before handing her in.
“You can expect me to call on you soon,” he said with a smile.
“And may I dare to ask, with or without your sister, sir?” she asked teasingly, and Darcy’s heart raced at the twitch on her lips.
“Until we meet again, I am certain you can endure the suspense,” he replied and handed her in, and as the carriage left, he stood rooted to the spot.
After many weeks of longing and heartache, he felt something brim in his heart, and it was nothing buthope.
Chapter 22
“You seem pale since you returned from your visit today. Are you well, Lizzy?” her aunt asked that night during supper.
“Why, I am well indeed,” Elizabeth replied with a smile. Jane observed her keenly, and as her aunt mentioned, it was evident that her sister was unsettled after her call on Georgiana.
Jane addressed the matter as they retired for the night.
“Am I to understand that Mr. Darcy joined you just before your departure?”
“Yes, he did and introduced his aunt and mentioned that she favored our introduction.”
“Did she say something to unsettle you?”
“What? Not at all. Where did you get such an idea?”
“Since your return, you have seemed under some agitation, and I cannot help but be concerned.”
Elizabeth was silent as she could not explain her internal struggles to her sister. Ever since the carriage left the Darcy house, she felt a wave of excitement and distress strike her in equal measure. She finally realized that she had openly acknowledged her true feelings to Darcy and had granted him leave to call on her. But Elizabeth could not come to terms with how easily her heart and mind betrayed her in Darcy’s presence.
She did not regret having apologized, though she was aware that all she said to him thereafter could have been easily avoided had she possessed greater self-control. Everything felt so right at that moment, and in Darcy’s presence, she could no longer deceive him or her own feelings. But once she left the house, shebegan to doubt whether she truly dared to break free from the cage in which she had been trapped.
How did I lose myself so easily to reveal my true feelings? I gave him hope when I was honestly incapable of trusting myself. I love him, and I do not doubt it. But I’ve never been honest with him.
She understood that if Darcy were to call on her now with hopes of winning her affection, it would be only because she had encouraged him to do so. Elizabeth struggled to accept that, as much as she feared returning his affections, she could no longer conceal her own.
But he does not deserve me, someone so scarred by the past. He is not even aware that I have been engaged before.
“Lizzy? I asked you something,” Jane said, granting her relief from her thoughts.
“Nothing happened to cause you concern, I enjoyed Miss Darcy’s company today. Though reserved, she is very warm and amiable.”
“Would she call on us again?”
“Yes, she would. I am certain.”
