Page 34 of Unwillingly Mrs. Darcy
“She has changed everything,” he thought quietly. His lips quirked into a fleeting smile. For her sake, he could endure this indignity. For her sake, and for her family’s future, he would.
Chapter 19
Elizabeth
15th August 1812
“They are so adorable!” Kitty said as Elizabeth and Georgiana sat with her in the drawing room. Elizabeth smiled, noticing that Kitty looked far happier than she had in months. It had been a fortnight since she had started volunteering at the orphanage. Initially her visits were twice a week, but she had since made the habit of going there almost every single day. The children adored her, and Kitty could not be more delighted.
She had bloomed in a way Elizabeth had never expected. Mr Darcy had done a great favour. In fact, he had done both of her sisters a great favour because Mary likewise seemed in much better spirits. She volunteered at the Home for Convalescent Soldiers in Lambton twice a week and, in addition, took pianoforte lessons with the master teacher another two afternoons a week.
Mary had also made friends with some of the women who volunteered at the convalescent home and spent time with them, while Kitty and Georgiana were now as thick as thieves. It made sense, as they were closest in age. Elizabeth would often find them together in the library, reading similar books or discussing the ones they had already read, or working on watercolour paintings together. Other days they went into town together, purchasing ribbons and bonnets.
Mr Darcy had been exceedingly generous with her and her sisters. At the start of each week, they received an allowance from Mrs Reynolds, and whenever they needed more—which was often the case with Kitty but not so much with Mary and Elizabeth—they could simply ask Mrs Reynolds.
Elizabeth appreciated that she did not have to ask Mr Darcy for money every time she needed it. It would have been humiliating to have to ask for an allowance.
Indeed, he had done everything he could to make her comfortable. Elizabeth peered out of the window and saw Mr Darcy there, walking with Mr Somerville, the steward. She rubbed her lips together in thought and then paused as she took in the man.
Their conversation at the lake, as innocent as it might have been, had changed something in her. It was silly, she knew, that a talk about naming swans and squirrels should have made her look at Mr Darcy in a different way. At the same time, it wasn’t just that.
He told her deeply personal things about the loss of his parents and about his feelings towards his aunt. He trusted her—even after she had given him such a stern rebuke.
She couldn’t help but wonder if she had been wrong about him.
No, she reminded herself. While she might’ve been wrong about some aspects of his character, there were others that felt true. He was a prideful man, though now she could see that he was willing to admit when he was wrong. Still she had to remind herself that he had separated her sister from Mr Bingley—while he may have recanted and tried to undo his actions, thefact remained that if it weren’t for him, Jane and Mr Bingley might have been happily wed by now. That deed could never be forgotten or forgiven.
Or could it?
“Lizzy?” Kitty called, her voice a little shriller than usual, and when Elizabeth looked up, she realised why. Her sister had been talking to her, but she had entirely ignored her—not purposely, but her thoughts had wandered as they often did.
“Yes, adorable. I am glad.”
“You were not listening at all,” Kitty said.
“I was. I…” She glanced at the spot next to Kitty where Georgiana had been sitting, and found it empty. Frowning, she turned to her sister. “Where did Georgiana go?”
“Lizzy,” Kitty said and rolled her eyes. “You were wool-gathering. Georgiana left a short while ago. She has a riding lesson. Mr Darcy asked me if I wished to learn to ride.”
“He did?” Elizabeth asked.
“He did, but I told him I have no desire to. The beasts frighten me,” Kitty responded with a look of distaste on her face.
Elizabeth shook her head. “Just because you were kicked by a donkey when you were a child. Not all horses are the same, and they are most certainly not donkeys.”
Kitty waved her hand dismissively. “Whatever the case may be, I shall keep my feet firmly on the ground. Say, what did Jane write?”
Elizabeth blinked. “Oh,” she said, almost having forgot the letter from her sister that had arrived the previous day. “She says that all is well at Longbourn. The physician is looking after Father very well, and she says that he appears to be making improvements. Mother was alarmed by the amount of bloodletting they are doing, but it is supposed to be an effective treatment.”
“And what of Mr Bingley? Has he called upon Jane yet?” Kitty asked but was interrupted when the front door opened and then closed. The sound of flat shoes against the marble floor drifted to her ears, and she knew at once it was Mary.
“What a day! Three new soldiers arrived today. They are in such dreadful shape. I cannot wait for the wretched war to be over. These brave men—They have served King and country well, and yet they receive so little in return,” Mary said breathlessly as she entered the room.
“Well, they have you to keep them company,” Kitty said, chuckling.
“There is nothing to laugh about, Catherine,” Mary said, and Elizabeth’s eyebrows shot up. Mary hardly ever used their full names, and when she did, it was only when she was gravely upset. Kitty, who had inherited some of Lydia’s easy ways, raised her hands placatingly.
“You know I do not mean it in a bad way. They have you, and they can be grateful. Besides, I heard the vicar say in his sermon last Sunday that they will be making a collection for the returning soldiers. Mr Darcy has already pledged a small fortune,” she said.
