Page 36 of Arranging Ayra
“Oh, and it is so lovely to see you, my dear. So lovely to see you here together.”
“What have we got here?” Mr. Darcy said, as he joined us.
“Look who popped in to have dinner with his date,” Naya said.
“Good evening, Mr. Darcy,” I said to the older man.
A tall and distinguished gentleman of barely sixty, his dark grey hair was highlighted with streaks of silky white. Wearing summer wool slacks, Burberry and tweeds, he was the epitome of an old-school Brit.
“Miss Ayra,” the older man said. “How lovely it is to run into you so unexpectedly.”
His Scottish accent was thick and charming.
“Tell me, dear,” Naya said to her son. “How are things back in Derbyshire?”
Barnaby suddenly reached for my hand and urged me closer. I stumbled my way around the table to come to his side.
“Splendidly, mum,” he said. “Even better than I could have imagined.”
“Oh, you don’t know how happy it makes me to hear you say that,” she gushed.
Barnaby leaned in to kiss my cheek. “I do believe I’ve never felt this way before. Never has a girl brought out such... emotion.”
I was stunned. Standing there, smiling like a silly schoolgirl, I tried to understand the sudden shift in mood. One minute I’m about to enjoy a scrumptious dinner with myMr. Darcy, and the next, I’m being introduced to his parents like a girlfriend.
Then I remembered. Our mothers’ arrangement for us as suitors. Marriage even. At this rate, how I was beginning to fall hard for Barnaby, I am beginning to think our mothers do know what’s best for us, and that Barnaby felt the same way.
Oh, my heart wanted it so. Yes. Our day together had been enough to show him my fun side, my wild side, my easy to get along with side, and he’d appreciated every moment of it. So much so that he now introduced me to his mother as the girl who brought out such emotion.
I floated on a cloud.
Naya reached out, taking my hand from Barn and clasping both my hands lovingly in hers. “I knew in my heart that you two would hit it off. I just knew it!”
I smiled dumbly, unable to find anything to say.
“I’m so happy for you,” Naya said to Barnaby.
“Anything for you, Mum. Anything for you.”
