“Yes, of course, but why would Caroline say such a thing? And to involve my sister in her scheme…”
“It is my opinion that she recognized Jane’s affection was genuine. Jane is truly the most selfless person alive, Mr. Darcy—most of all, she wished Mr. Bingley should be happy. If he genuinely cared for Georgiana, Jane would have earnestly wished them joy, no matter how her heart was breaking.”
“Do his sisters care about Bingley’s—about anyone’s—welfare at all?” he mumbled.
Elizabeth almost asked why he was surprised but decided she had said enough about Caroline Bingley. “What matters most is, once you recognized Jane truly did care for your friend, you rectified the situation.”
He blushed deeper this time. “How did you know?”
“That bringing them together again was your doing?”
He nodded.
“It was written all over your face the moment Mr. Bingley walked into this room the first time.” She nodded at the doorway.
He took a deep breath. “After watching their reaction to seeing one another, I was inundated with guilt for playing a part in separating them. They both might have been miserable for the rest of their lives if we had not met again to work towards this cause.” He gestured around them.
Was that the reason he had displayed pain? Oh, this meant he had never thought of Jane for himself at all!
She was almost overwhelmed by the relief washing over her. “At least it will have a happy conclusion. Look at them…” she gestured in Jane and Mr. Bingley’s direction.
Mr. Darcy tied off the end of the branch they had been working on and glanced further down their shared table. “They seem quite distracted.” A smile spread across his face as he met her gaze.
“Perhaps we should work twice as fast to compensate,” Elizabeth suggested, “for even on a normal day, they forget what they were about and become inattentive to everyone and everything except one another… and this is no ordinary day for them.”
He chuckled, and his dimple appeared again, stunning Elizabeth.
Nodding, he answered, “I expect that, after she has accepted him, they might get nothing done at all.”
He was so handsome, his eyes twinkled with warmth, good sense, and humour.
She forced herself to look away from him or else she would not be able to function, either.
Why had she allowed herself to get to know this version of Mr. Darcy? And how was she supposed to protect her heart if he continued to behave in such a charming manner?
Chapter 17
~ 1811 6 December - Saint Nicholas Day
As Darcy waited for his carriage to be brought around to the front of the house, his mind kept wandering to review the happenings of the previous day.
With an heroic effort, the group had managed to finish constructing all the decorative items they had set out to accomplish, even those for the Gardiners’ home. After an early supper, the group bundled into carriages and carts and headed to the orphanage.
The group arrived after the children had already been abed, just as Saint Nicholas would have done. The two maids and the man-of-all-work employed at the orphanage helped the servants from Darcy House and Matlock House unload the decorative pieces that would brighten the children’s days into the new year. Under Aunt Adelaide’s, Georgiana’s, and Mrs. Cooper’s watchful eyes, the servants got to work immediately, attaching the garlands to the stairways and hearths, and the wreath to the front door. Meanwhile, Darcy and Bingley had followed Elizabeth’s and Miss Bennet’s directions on where to place the centerpieces on the tables in the dining hall, covering them with cloths, which the maids would remove before the feast today.
On a more personal note, the entirety of the previous day had been permeated with difficulties regarding his quest to win Elizabeth’s heart. Disappointment reigned whenever he thought she was avoiding his gaze, but then she would grace him with a glance, and oh! The warmth glowing from her eyes in those moments was encouraging, to say the least, and a new wave of confidence would blossom in his chest. However, the constant fluctuation between hope and despair had been almost maddening.
Finally, the carriage arrived, returning Darcy to the present. Georgiana, Bingley, and Darcy climbed aboard without delay. After a brief stop at Matlock House to collect his aunt, the others in the carriage conversed as Darcy once again became distracted by his thoughts of Elizabeth.
The children’s celebration today, along with the ball on Tuesday, would be his last chances to secure her approval—at least in the near future, since he and his sister were scheduled to return to Pemberley for Christmastide.
The offer Bingley had made last evening to join him at Netherfield for the holidays had been tempting, for he was certain Georgiana would like to spend more time with Elizabeth and Miss Bennet. But Wickham was at Meryton! It was too risky to expose Georgiana to the knave ever again.
His course of action was clear. Over the next few days, he would need to step up his game… become more direct.
He had to make certain Elizabeth understood his intentions towards her, without leaving any room for doubt.
Chapter 18
The noise coming from the corridor outside the dining room increased along with Elizabeth’s anticipation. At last, the doors flew open, and she could not help but smile as she watched the children’s faces light up with delight.
All of the children were dressed in their Sunday best, and their excitement was contagious. Everyone—maids, footmen, and the orphanage staff, along with the ladies and gentlemen present—were aglow, their joy shining brighter than the candles illuminating every corner of the room.
The children took their seats, gaping with wide-eyed wonder at the beautiful place cards Georgiana had painted for them, and then at the fine China arrangements they would use for this meal, which were carefully transported from both Darcy and Matlock Houses.
Once the children were all seated, the headmistress rang a bell. Silence fell across the crowd, so complete, one could hear a pin drop. The minister stood and led them in a prayer of thanks, then he told tales of how Saint Nicholas had helped children and the poor.
When he was done, the minister smiled and nodded to Lady Adelaide. In turn, the countess, who was sitting at the head of the table, across from the headmistress, said softly to those surrounding her, “It is time to distribute the gifts.”
Elizabeth remained seated whilst watching Mr. Darcy from her peripheral vision, leaving to him the choice of who she would be paired up with again today. Whilst the past few days, working together so closely had been a memory she would cherish forever, she was afraid she had read too much into his looks and words. Yesterday, they worked together so efficiently, it was as if they had been collaborating their entire lives. He had even finished her sentences on several occasions when she had been too distracted to complete her thought aloud after glancing up at his handsome face.
There was no longer any doubt in her mind: she was in love with Mr. Darcy. The problem? While he seemed to appreciate her company, she had no idea he could ever feel the same emotion towards her.
Mr. Darcy helped his aunt and sister rise whilst Mr. Bingley held Jane’s and Mrs. Annesley’s chairs.
Once all others had drifted off, Elizabeth began to rise herself and turned to find Mr. Darcy standing behind her, displaying a broad grin.
Her heart soared. He had waited for her after all.
“This is my favourite part of the event,” he said.