A Happy Accident Page 6

  There she was, doing it again. She looked up and saw Darcy watching her curiously.

  “Are you sure you are well?” he asked. He really did look very handsome when he was concerned. Softer and more approachable. Just the sort of man she could like.

  “I am quite well,” she said, hoping he did not notice the slight strain in her voice. “You are sure you can wait for me? I thought you planned to go fishing with Uncle this morning?”

  “Not until Bingley arrives. We will all go together. And even if we had planned to fish, I would have asked his indulgence in changing it when I knew you wished to leave the bedchamber. Something I am still not convinced is the best idea…” He saw the expression in Elizabeth’s eyes and held up his hands in surrender. “But it shall be as you wish. If you think you are well enough to leave the room I will defer to your superior judgment.”

  “Thank you.” Elizabeth smiled. “I suspect you are not used to giving way to other people’s judgment, are you?”

  “Not at all, though I have learned that it is not always the best way to conduct myself. I do not always know best.” He looked at her and his tone softened. “And I am happy to be led by yours.”

  Elizabeth stared at him. She opened her mouth to speak but did not know what she might say.

  There was no need to say anything. Darcy bowed and left the room.

  Darcy waited for her when she emerged from the chamber. She had dressed in a gown she had made in Oxford on their way to Derby and she had never worn it before. It was a soft yellow, Elizabeth’s favourite colour and it flattered her newly tanned skin. It took some effort for Darcy to keep his eyes from her.

  “Where are my aunt and uncle?” Elizabeth asked as she took Darcy’s arm.

  “I suggested that they take the morning off to explore the house with Mrs. Reynolds,” said Darcy. He gave Elizabeth a sideways glance. “I hope you do not mind.”

  Elizabeth felt her face grow rather warm at the thought of spending the morning alone with Mr. Darcy. And she found her heart fluttering at the idea.

  “No, I do not mind,” she murmured. She stole a glance up at Darcy. He was looking down at her with a grave expression.

  The fire was already lighting in the parlour though the day was warm. Darcy led Elizabeth to the most comfortable chair beside the hearth. He settled her in it as though she were an invalid, and though Elizabeth felt quite capable of arranging her own cushions, there was something nice about the way Darcy hovered over her, ensuring her comfort. He asked if he could bring her anything. Tea, some sandwiches, or any books that she desired. Elizabeth smiled and shook her head and assured him again and again that she was quite comfortable.

  Darcy nodded and took the chair across from her. He did not look entirely at ease. Indeed, Elizabeth had never seen him so nervous and agitated and eager to please. There was something rather endearing about it, and once again, she found herself wondering if he still cared for her. But she shied away from that thought at once. She could not bring herself to believe that a man as proud as Darcy could still cherish feelings for a woman who had rejected him as brutally as she had done. No, it was simply that he felt a responsibility for her as his guest. And she also suspected, given his gracious behaviour towards her aunt and uncle, that he also wanted to prove her wrong when she had accused him of being completely unfeeling towards others. Now that she could feel her own heart softening towards him, she found it she was afraid to allow herself to hope that his actions might mean more than they did.

  14

  As the silence stretched between then, Elizabeth wracked her brains for something to say. Awkward silences between them were not unusual. But in the past, Elizabeth had always refused to do the work of carrying the conversation. If he wished to speak, he could be the one to think of something to talk about. But she did not feel that way any longer. Instead, she felt flustered and was keen to think of something to say to cover up the silence.

  “You must have been…” she began, just as Darcy said, “It was rather a surprise to see…”

  They both laughed self-consciously. Darcy gestured for Elizabeth to speak first.

  “I was just thinking I am surprised you must have been to see me that day,” she said. Her cheeks flushed. “I am sure when we parted ways before, you had no notion of ever seeing me again. I never expected to see you here. I imagined that you were still in London.”

  “I hope you are not troubled about that,” said Darcy. “I intended to come here in a few days but I arrived early instead. But you are correct. I never expected to see you again. I was probably more shocked than you were.”

  Elizabeth smiled. “You did not fall over a cliff, sir.”

  “No, I would never be so foolish.”

  Elizabeth opened her mouth to retort when she saw the smile quirking the edges of Darcy’s lips. He made a joke. He was teasing her. Whoever thought Mr Darcy capable of such a thing? She burst out laughing instead.

  “No, you simply climbed down voluntarily. I don’t know if you can be considered the less foolish party.”

  Darcy laughed, a pleasant, mellow sound Elizabeth thought he made far too rarely. How pleasant it would be to hear it more often and know she was the cause of it. Perhaps Darcy was not as cold as he seemed and only needed the right company to bring to the surface what had always been there. In the hands of a woman who could influence him for the better and soften him, he might make a very engaging companion.

  Elizabeth drew her mind away from such dangerous thoughts. She had her chance with Darcy. She had thrown him away because she had been foolish enough to believe the words of others. Darcy would never offer for the same woman twice. He might wish to show her he was not so mean as to resent the past, but she would be a fool indeed if she allowed that to make her believe he might still wish to marry her.

  “I will say, perhaps I am glad I saw you again,” she said. “I would not have taken a tumble at that moment but who knew what might have happened as I continued on my way? I have not thanked you for all your care. I am extremely grateful.”

  Darcy shook his head before she had even finished speaking.

  “Let there be no talk of thanks or gratitude between us. It was an honour for me to help you and I am still honoured now by being able to open my home to you and your excellent aunt and uncle. They are worthy people. I am pleased to have a chance to know them better.”

  Elizabeth turned to the fire. Though she knew she should not utter the words coming to her mind, they were out before she could stop them.

  “I am sure that took you by surprise, did it not? You did not expect such sense and worthiness to come from people in trade who live within sight of their warehouse.” She glanced at him with a sideways smile. “I am sure you expected them to be vulgar and uncouth.”

  Darcy hesitated. His eyes were cautious. Elizabeth almost regretted her words when he spoke.

  “My initial instinct is an indignant denial. But I am forced to admit, due to recent painful events…” here, he stole a quick glance at Elizabeth which he withdrew at once for fear of giving pain, “…have forced me to examine my own character and see that I have often believed things that I find I cannot hold onto, no matter how much they are expected of me. Yes, there is a time when I would have not thought of your aunt and uncle with the respect they are clearly due. Although even before meeting them, that prejudice would have faded away once I understood how dear they were to you. Your good opinion is not easily offered. For you to value them as they do is enough for me to know they are good people. Meeting them for myself has only confirmed it.”

  He turned to look at her fully and with such a conscious look in his eyes that Elizabeth could not meet them for long. Her cheeks flushed and she murmured a low thank you before glancing away. It was not like her to feel shy. Her mama had often lamented that Elizabeth thought far too highly of herself for her own good. This self-consciousness was a new experience for her and she was not quite sure that she cared for it. But something about bei
ng in Darcy’s presence now made all her usual pertness disappear and instead she felt as shy and nervous as a debutante who had just emerged from the schoolroom.

  Darcy also did not appear unaffected. There was a strange colour over his face that might have been a consequence of the fire or it might have spoken of deeper feelings. He looked as though he wished to say more and was searching for how to begin. Elizabeth’s nerves felt so stretched she was on the verge of demanding he just say whatever he wished to without trying to say it perfectly when there was a knock on the door. A footman entered and announced to Darcy that his visitors had arrived.

  Elizabeth felt a sinking feeling of dismay. Her time with Darcy would surely be limited now. Though it was selfish of her, she had enjoyed feeling as though she had him all to herself for the past few days. Now she must share him with others who had more right to him than she did. How differently that might have gone if she had given him a different answer all those weeks ago.

  Darcy rose. He paused and glanced back at Elizabeth.

  “Will you come with me to greet them? I know Bingley and my sister are eager to see you.”

  Elizabeth was so astonished she could not frame a response. Greet Darcy’s guests at his side as though she were mistress of Pemberley? And while she stayed in the mistress’s suites? Surely he could see how inappropriate that might be.

  As though sensing her fears, Darcy smiled. “There is no need to stand on ceremony. We are a small gathering of old friends and sisters. We do not need to worry so much about the rules right now. But if you are uncomfortable and would prefer…”

  Elizabeth smiled and stood up. He was right. It was only people she knew well, after all. Not a grand country house party. She was being foolish.

  “I will go with you. I am looking forward to seeing Mr Bingley again. And I am eager to be introduced to your sister.”

  Darcy’s smiling eyes grew solemn.

  “Thank you for that,” he said simply. As they walked to the door together, he added, “I will assume your delight in seeing Bingley’s sisters again is so great that it must remain unsaid.”

  Elizabeth started to reply but she once again saw that twinkle in his eye that became him so well.

  “To think you are teasing me, Mr Darcy. How our roles have reversed.”

  “I think it high time they did,” he said. He gave Elizabeth a grin and opened the door for them to greet their guests.

  15

  Bingley hopped out of the carriage as Darcy and Elizabeth arrived on the steps. He swept his hat from his head and bounded up the steps to greet Elizabeth. His smile was so infectious Elizabeth forgot about the pain he had caused her family over the previous months. A man like this would never willingly hurt anyone.

  “Miss Bennet! I cannot tell you how delighted I was when Darcy said you were here. Not delighted about the circumstances, but I was so pleased I would see you again. How are you? You are well, I hope? You look well. No one would ever think you had such a dreadful accident,” he said gallantly. Elizabeth appreciated his kindness even if it were not true. She still had a gash on her forehead that itched her desperately as it began to heal. Darcy had mentioned it looked like she had been in a brawl and she had been rather taken with the idea.

  “I am so glad to see you again, sir. My family missed your company when you left Hertfordshire.”

  “Ah.” Bingley’s face clouded slightly. “Yes. I am so sorry I did not get a chance to see any of you before I left. It was my biggest regret. The time I spent in Netherfield was the happiest of my life and I have not felt quite settled since coming away.” He cleared his throat. “I hope your family is in good health?”

  “They are, sir.”

  “Good, good.” He paused and squinted as though trying to see something in the hall past her shoulder. “And… er… are all your sisters still at Longbourn?”

  Elizabeth tried not to smile. “All except one, sir. My youngest is in Brighton.”

  “Ah.” He met her eyes again. Elizabeth could not mistake the relief in them. Her heart soared. He still loved her sister. Whatever else he might have done, he had been sincere in his affections towards Jane. Perhaps there was still hope for them after all.

  Darcy gestured towards the rest of the ladies. Elizabeth saw Bingley’s two sisters standing beside a young girl. She was about Lydia’s age but with none of Lydia’s high animal spirits. She kept her eyes to the ground.

  At first Elizabeth felt a sinking feeling. Wickham had said Georgiana Darcy was very proud. He had been wrong about most things but what if he was right about this? But then the young girl raised her eyes and smiled shyly at Elizabeth. Her face was bright red but she stepped forward. Darcy hurried down the steps to meet her. He pulled her into a hug in front of everyone. Elizabeth looked on in surprise. She had never thought of Darcy as the sort of man who might show affection in public before. He turned to Elizabeth still with his arm around his sister’s shoulder.

  “Miss Bennet, may I present my sister, Miss Georgiana Darcy.”

  As the higher ranking lady, the introduction should have been the other way around. Darcy clearly wished to honour Elizabeth by asking for her permission to present his sister to her. Elizabeth could not be insensible to it even as she approached Miss Darcy with her hand outstretched. Miss Darcy did not seem to feel any slight for her part. She took Elizabeth’s hand.

  “I have so looked forward to meeting you. My brother’s letters from Hertfordshire were filled with accounts of you so I feel almost as if I know you already.”

  “I mentioned you once or twice when you stayed at Netherfield Park,” said Darcy hastily.

  “No, Fitzwilliam, it was much more than that. I think you mentioned Miss Bennet in every letter and you wrote me every two days. I recall you said you received no greater pleasure than to…”

  “And of course you remember Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst,” said Darcy in an abrupt voice. He dropped his glance to his sister. He shook his head slightly at her and though Georgiana blushed, there was a slightly impish appearance in her answering smile.

  “Miss Eliza Bennet,” said Miss Bingley. She came forward to kiss Elizabeth’s cheek with such determination that Elizabeth was surprised. She was less surprised when Miss Bingley placed herself firmly between Elizabeth and the Darcy siblings. “Imagine our surprise when we learned you were staying here at Pemberley. I am sure Mr Darcy had no idea of ever seeing you again and here you are. Were we not enormously surprised, Louisa?”

  “Enormously, Caroline.”

  “And how curious that Darcy should find you on his lands. Of course you knew these were Darcy’s lands, did you not? You could not have failed to know where you were. Perhaps you were curious to see the place you have heard so much about? Nothing could be more natural.”

  “Nothing,” echoed Mrs Hurst.

  “And then to fall just as you see Mr Darcy so he is obliged to rescue you and bring you here. It is so fantastical I almost find it hard to believe it was not an accident,” said Miss Bingley with a high laugh. “Oh, Miss Darcy, you look alarmed. Do not be. Miss Eliza and I like to tease one another, do we not? But I must admit, it is extraordinary.”

  “Yes, it was,” said Elizabeth calmly. “Especially when I was told Mr Darcy was not home at Pemberley. I had no notion I would see him at all. My aunt grew up here you know, so it is no marvellous thing that we should come here.”

  “Ah yes, your aunt. Charles said they are staying here too.” She glanced at Darcy. “And where are they?”

  “Being shown about the house. I insisted they take some rest from caring for their niece. They have been by her side night and day,” said Darcy in a terse voice. “Miss Bennet is fortunate to have such devoted relatives. If they were mine, I should consider myself a lucky man. Shall we go in?”

  Miss Bingley gave Elizabeth a tight little smile and was forced to stand back as Darcy took Elizabeth’s arm and Bingley took Miss Darcy’s. Elizabeth kept her face carefully turned away. She had a feeling th
at if Miss Bingley looked at her right then, she might see a more amused smile than she could tolerate.

  They were seated in the drawing room.

  “Are you sure you are well enough to sit up?” Darcy asked Elizabeth in a quiet voice as he led her to her chair. “Remember this is only your first day.”

  “Oh, do not overexert yourself, Miss Bennet,” Miss Bingley cried. “If you are tired, I am sure we will all excuse you if you wish to retire. We would not dream of being selfish enough to keep you with us, would we Louisa?”

  “I am sure I would not,” said Louisa.

  “Thank you for your concern, Miss Bingley but I am not at all tired. I am happy to remain here,” said Elizabeth. “I am finding the walking about and the company is helping me more than anything.”

  “I am glad to hear it,” said Darcy. “We would not wish to be deprived of your company if we can help it.”

  Miss Bingley’s eyes flickered between them and her smile grew strained.

  “How long do you intend to stay, Miss Bennet?” she asked. “I am sure your family must be desperate to have you home where they might care for you. And I am sure you would be more comfortable among your own people, would you not? Come, you must admit I am right.”

  “Not at all, Miss Bingley. I am content here.”

  “And we would not hear of Miss Bennet moving before she is ready,” said Darcy in a firm voice.

  Elizabeth gave Darcy a look that made Miss Bingley seethe. She curled her hands into fists and cast about for another tactic. Soon, she was sure she had found one.

  “Yes, I suppose home must be rather dreary these days ever since the militia has departed,” she said in a tone of great sympathy. “And I am sure that was a great loss to your family in particular, was it not, Miss Bennet? I know your mother had high hopes for what their presence might bring.”