Darcy’s eyes narrowed and he took a moment to compose himself. Elizabeth readily saw the turmoil in his face, the tension in his body. Suddenly his features softened, and he seemed to relax slightly.
“I fear that is impossible,” he said slowly.
“Impossible?” his aunt asked. “Why?”
Darcy turned to Elizabeth. “It is very simple. She made a promise to me and has yet to keep it.”
Both Lady Catherine’s and Elizabeth’s eyes widened, and their brows were raised in surprise at his statement. Lady Catherine boldly asked, “What promise? Whatever do you mean?”
He smiled softly, reassuringly, at Elizabeth. “She promised to watch the sunrise with me from the ridge behind Pemberley.” He cast his eyes down and shook his head. “I fear that I must hold her to it.”
Elizabeth’s heart beat relentlessly as she tried to conceal a smile, much like she believed Mr. Darcy was doing, while Lady Catherine did not make any attempt to conceal her anger. “I have never heard anything more disgraceful! You are to marry my Anne, and this sort of behaviour…”
“I fear that will be impossible,” another strong voice interjected.
Lady Catherine and Elizabeth turned toward the door to see Colonel Fitzwilliam walk in, followed by Miss Darcy and Miss de Bourgh.
As he walked in, he greeted his aunt with a brief kiss and turned to Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, it is a delight to see you again.”
Elizabeth nodded and softly replied, “It is good to see you, as well.”
“Whatever do you mean?” his aunt insisted upon knowing. “Why is his marrying my Anne impossible?” She turned to look at Anne and asked, “Where have you been? You know how much I dislike not knowing where you are!”
Elizabeth watched as Anne slightly shielded herself behind Colonel Fitzwilliam. “She has been with me!” the Colonel announced. He drew in a breath and took a rigid soldier’s stance. “And the reason my good cousin cannot marry Anne is because… I intend to marry her!”
The colour drained from Lady Catherine’s face, and her body was wracked with tremors as she came to understand his words. Her voice cracked as she said, “You? You cannot marry Anne!”
“And why not? We care deeply for one another. We love each other!”
Lady Catherine shook her head violently. “No! This cannot be! You have nothing to offer her!”
“He loves me, Mother,” Anne’s voice, although weak, was firm. “And what is more important is that I love him.”
“I have never heard anything more absurd in my life! You have no idea of what you speak!”
As Lady Catherine continued her tirade, now aimed at Colonel Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy drew Elizabeth quietly out of the room. Miss Darcy followed, tucking her hand through Elizabeth’s arm.
In a hushed, fervent voice, she said as they walked out, “Pray, forgive me for not being here to welcome you when you arrived. This whole affair between my two cousins came about so suddenly.”
“Think nothing of it,” Elizabeth replied reassuringly, patting the back of Miss Darcy’s hand.
“I know how my aunt can be. I cannot imagine what she must have said to you.”
At that moment Mr. Darcy stopped and turned around. “Whatever she said, it will all be forgotten now. She has a greater concern that is going to occupy her thoughts for quite some time.”
“The Colonel marrying her daughter?” Elizabeth asked.
Darcy nodded. “I am convinced she will come to see the good in it.” Darcy stopped at the door to a spacious room. “As your visit today was an invitation from Georgiana, I shall leave you two here and send for some refreshments.” With a slight shrug of his shoulders, he added, “Then I shall be off to ensure my cousin does not have to resort to some military manoeuvre to subdue our aunt.” With a wink at Georgiana, he added as he walked toward the door, “Please refrain from revealing to Miss Bennet too many of our family secrets.”
Once Mr. Darcy stepped from the room, Georgiana eagerly turned to Elizabeth and gave her a charming smile. They began talking at first about very general subjects. To Elizabeth’s discerning eye, it appeared as though Miss Darcy exhibited a bit less shyness than she had witnessed at Pemberley. She hoped that it was an indication the young lady felt at ease in her company.
The time passed quickly as they talked about their families. Elizabeth sensed that Georgiana felt a bond with her in that they had both lost their fathers. They shared with each other what they remembered most and how much they missed them.
At length, Elizabeth noticed that Darcy was standing in the doorway to the room, casually leaning against it. She quietly wondered just how long he had been there watching the two of them.
“All is well,” he said softly, giving no indication that he overheard anything. “They have returned to my aunt’s home to discuss that which both my cousins wish and that which my aunt will fight for several more days. She will eventually concede, and all will be well.”
Georgiana reached over and grasped Elizabeth’s hand. “I am so sorry you had to witness such a mêlée in our family. Would you care for a tour of the house?”
Elizabeth heartily agreed.
When they finished walking through the beautiful home, Miss Darcy made a suggestion. “The day is very pleasant. Would you enjoy taking a turn about the grounds behind the house?”
“I would love to,” Elizabeth softly answered.
They walked to the back of the house and stepped out. The grounds were lush, with a lawn that stretched out before them and trees that formed a barrier to the outside world. They walked toward a bench that was covered with a lattice canopy filled with wisteria blossoms. The scent was heavenly. Mr. Darcy gestured toward the bench, inviting Elizabeth to sit down.
Elizabeth took a seat, and when she looked up, she was startled to see Miss Darcy gone. Only Mr. Darcy stood next to her. His brown eyes were warm and his smile tender.
Elizabeth’s heart pounded and her mind began to spin as he sat down on the bench beside her.
Chapter 27
In the relative seclusion of the bench, Mr. Darcy turned toward Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet, I had hoped your visit here today would have been a pleasant one. I am deeply grieved over the behaviour of my aunt.”
“As I told your sister, it was not her fault; neither is it yours.”
He reached out and took Elizabeth’s hand, cradling it in his own. He lightly stroked the back of it with his fingers. “My sister truly enjoyed your company. You have been very kind to her.”
His gentle touch and close proximity produced such light-headedness in Elizabeth that it made it difficult to even think. Her heart pounded so strongly, she felt it up in her throat, making words difficult to express. “She is a wonderfully sweet young lady whose company I truly enjoy.”
“For that, I am most grateful.” He looked down at their hands. “It is apparent she feels equally toward you.”
“I could not be happier,” Elizabeth reassured him.
Mr. Darcy pressed his other hand upon hers. “As am I, but to own the truth, I do not wish to talk about my sister.” His eyes searched hers and grew warm.
“Miss Bennet…” he began. His voice was noticeably unsteady, but he turned and looked at her with a demeanour of hopefulness. “Elizabeth, there is much I would say to you today, but being a man of few words, any that come to mind seem inadequate.” He took both of her hands in his. “I have acknowledged to you that my feelings and wishes over the duration of the past year and a half have not diminished or changed, despite attempts over the course of the past year to talk myself out of them.” He paused briefly and then added, “Not because I felt they were wrong, but due to how things were left between us when we parted at Rosings.”
Elizabeth broke in, “I am so sorry for my words that day. If I had known what I know now…”