Page 13 of Lord Lonbourn's Daughter
They were at the door of Bennet House. Elizabeth released Mr Darcy’s arm and skipped up the steps before she remembered where she was and slowed to a more sedate pace. A footman opened the door for her, but a quick glance over her shoulder revealed that Mr Darcy had not moved. He was standing where she had left him, rubbing his chin with a contemplative expression.
Chapter 6 Little Sisters
“Not again! What can he mean by coming here all the time?”
“Who, Lizzy?”
Jane joined her sister by the parlour window where Elizabeth discreetly pointed out the gentleman approaching with confident strides. He was spending an inordinate amount of time at Bennet House, yet he never joined her sister’s army of suitors.
“Mr Darcy!”
“Perhaps he is here to see you, Lizzy.”
“Do not be ridiculous, Jane, it does not suit you. You know what he said about me!”
“What are you two whispering about over there?”
“Nothing, Papa!”
“A gentleman is allowed to change his mind as much as a lady is,” Jane added mischievously.
Elizabeth scoffed, righted her posture, smoothed out her skirts, and readied herself for half an hour of torture as thebutler’s soft steps approached, followed by the heavier treads of a boot-clad gentleman.
“Mr Darcy to see his lordship.”
“Mr Darcy, what a pleasure. We have not been graced with your company for what…it must be two or three days now.”
“Yes, well… Business has kept me occupied. I wondered whether I may have a moment of your time, Lord Longbourn.”
“Yes, of course. My study or in here?”
“Your study, if you do not mind.”
Their father gestured for Mr Darcy to precede him while he winked at Elizabeth. Jane waited until they heard the study door close before she giggled at Elizabeth, who was not as pleased as her sister seemed to expect.
“What do you think he has come here to talk about that he cannot say in our presence, Lizzy? Perhaps he has a matter of importance to discuss.”
“What? Has he approached you?”
“Me? No, of course not. He has never shown any preference for me, for which I am grateful. If he had it might be awkward for his friend Mr Bingley. He is everything a gentleman ought to be. So much sense combined with such happy manners. And he is perfectly well-behaved.”
“And handsome, as a young man ought to be if he can help it.”
“Lizzy!”
“What? One wants something pleasant to look upon on those dreary rainy days with nothing to do but be cooped up inside with one’s relations,” Elizabeth replied innocently.
“Yes, I do wish the endless rain would cease. Even I am becoming restless to be out of doors,” Jane admitted.
“Well, I shall go mad if it does not relent soon. I swear you may admit me to Bedlam if it has not stopped raining in the next two days,” Elizabeth announced.
“I have noticed you have become restless. Even more so than usual, which is quite telling.”
Jane looked too clever for her own good. It was vital for Elizabeth to conjecture a plausible excuse.
“It must be homesickness…”
Elizabeth might have begged her father to return to Hertfordshire had it not been for the obvious interest Mr Bingley had taken in her sister. She was convinced their feelings were mutual, but their acquaintance was of short duration. She was, however, quite sure that with time and familiarity, her sister’s future would be secured. After Mr Bingley had proposed, there could be no further need for her presence in town for the foreseeable future.
