In that hour, Elizabeth felt happier than she had in the past two weeks. She was beyond understanding how they had met; it was fate at her most generous. But she was not at all interested in questioning it. Instead, she delighted in each touch and in the glorious knowledge that he had not rejected her.
The luncheon was, in fact, simple for her. She had been to functions like this with her father all through her childhood. The familiarity of the setting helped her feel more at ease with Darcy. They were not yet at liberty to speak freely with each other, but perhaps that was for the best. Instead they allowed their eyes and hands to speak for them while they were in this safe environment. They knew that neither could speak harshly or hurtfully here, and that encouraged them to be closer than they would have otherwise.
They played their discreet game throughout the whole meal, believing themselves to be completely unnoticed, although Georgiana followed it easily. As soon as she saw her brother’s reaction to Elizabeth, even before he had introduced them, she realized who Elizabeth was. Georgiana was as surprised by the chance meeting as anyone else, but she quickly took advantage of it to study the woman Darcy had chosen in her “natural state.”
Georgiana liked what she found in Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth had clearly been just as nervous as her brother, and considering what she knew of their relationship, Georgiana could completely understand that. But it was also clear that they had a great interest in each other, and more than anything, she wanted her brother to be happy. So she was willing to play along and act completely oblivious to their little touching game, all the while smiling politely to the strangers she didn’t dare speak to.
All too quickly the luncheon was over. Darcy frowned slightly as he walked with Elizabeth out of the Manor House and into the bright sunshine. She smiled for an instant as he put his sunglasses on.
“Lizzy,” he said slowly. “I have to meet with someone from the foundation for an hour.” He frowned again, clearly not wishing to leave.
Elizabeth understood his frown and found it matched her feelings perfectly. “I see,” she said politely.
“Will?” Georgiana said softly. “I don’t really feel like going to the class. Perhaps I could stay with Elizabeth and Mary?” She looked pointedly at the Bennet girls.
Darcy looked from his sister to Elizabeth. “That would be great. You don’t mind?”
“Not at all,” Elizabeth nodded agreeably. Georgiana had symbolically offered herself up as a hostage to ensure they would meet again. “I’ll see you later?”
“Yes,” he grinned. He planted a quick kiss on his sister’s cheek and was off. Elizabeth watched him move away, smiling to herself as she admired the strength of his frame.
Elizabeth let Mary direct them to a cool spot to enjoy the beautiful afternoon, and then she turned to Georgiana. “So, I heard you just graduated from high school,” Elizabeth said, trying to open up a conversation with the girl.
Georgiana nodded and mumbled, “Yes.”
“Where are you going to college?”
Georgiana squeaked something that Elizabeth thought was “Stanford,” but she couldn’t be sure.
This was turning out to be more difficult than Elizabeth expected. With a final effort, she said, “Did I hear you were in Europe with Will recently?”
Georgiana finally made eye contact with Elizabeth and with a tiny smile she nodded.
“Could you tell me about it?”
Slowly Georgiana told her about being in Paris with her brother. Elizabeth soon found that she got the best response when her questions involved Darcy, so she kept to that. Soon the girl was speaking more freely and even told her a funny story about her brother and his passport.
Elizabeth smiled warmly. “He seems very fond of you,” she observed.
Georgiana blushed. “He is very good to me. He was so young when our father died, and he has never complained about taking care of me.”
“He sounds like the perfect big brother.” She wrinkled her nose. “But he can’t be all perfect. Tell me, what does he do when he’s bad?”
“Plays U2,” she said simply, with great solemnity.
Elizabeth laughed until she fell back on the grass. When her chuckles subsided, she asked, “Anything else? Does he tease you or something?”
“No, he would never do that.”
“Wow,” said Elizabeth. “He is perfect.”
Elizabeth was impressed at how much she enjoyed talking to the younger woman. She was startled when Darcy rejoined them to find how quickly the time had passed.
“How did it go?” she asked.
“It was fine,” he assured her. Then he added, with a playful glint, “When you’re giving them money, they’re generally very accommodating.”
Elizabeth matched his smile. “I honestly wouldn’t know, but I can see your point.”
“Can we walk a bit?” Darcy asked.
The ladies stood, and Mary and Georgiana took the lead, giving their siblings some needed privacy.
“Elizabeth,” he waited until her attractive eyes meet his. “I need to apologize. I’m very sorry about what happened before. I’m appalled at my own behavior, and I hope you can forgive me.”
Elizabeth looked at him with undisguised surprise. Her mouth worked for a few seconds before she was able to speak. “I’m sorry,” she whispered earnestly. “I’m so sorry, Will. I shouldn’t have walked out like that.”
Darcy focused on walking and remaining calm in this public setting, when all he wanted to do was snatch her up in his arms and cover her face with kisses.
“You were right, Elizabeth, I was pushing too hard and I wasn’t thinking about your feelings.”
“I don’t think,” she interrupted, “either of us can say we were thinking about the other’s feelings that morning.” Her hand slipped into his.
“You may be right, but you have to admit I really screwed things up at the VMAs.” He looked away and his mouth puckered in disgust, “When I think about what I did, Elizabeth, I’m so ashamed.”
“Don’t think about that,” she admonished gently. “I’d much rather you remembered the good things about me,” she smiled very slightly, “and us.”
He squeezed her hand tightly in a show of what he wanted to do in a less public setting. Elizabeth squeezed back and smiled. “You can call me Lizzy, you know,” she said playfully.
Darcy’s lips curled. “I think I like calling you Elizabeth. It’s something no one else does.”
Elizabeth nodded. “Except my mother, when she’s mad.”
Darcy lost the battle against his self-control and leaned over and kissed her smiling lips. “Perhaps you could call me Fitzwilliam, since no one else does,” he said conversationally, the tone of his voice was greatly relaxed.
She replied in the same easy tone, “Not even your sister, when she’s mad?”
Darcy shook his head. “No, she hits me when she’s mad.”
“That’s because you’re a moron,” Georgiana grumbled from ahead of them.
Elizabeth laughed, her buoyant joy warming Darcy as he watched her, completely bewitched. He was delightfully surprised by Elizabeth’s reaction to him and was forced to conclude that his sister had been correct. Elizabeth had only needed time, and he had been a fool to not talk to her again. He was grateful that he had been given another chance, especially in a setting such as this, which was so different from the tense, tight, rushed experience of touring.