Page 77 of New World Tea Company
“The paths in Kent are very similar to the ones you find in Hertfordshire, I believe,” said Mr Darcy to begin the conversation.
“Yes, the same trees, hedges, and the same tasks for people living on the farms. Does your home county look the same?”
“Derbyshire is further north, and the flora is slightly different, but the folk in the countryside do the same type of tasks with their livestock and fields of grain.”
To speak of more personal matters, Elizabeth directed the conversation toward the man’s family. “As we walked from Hunsford the other day, we spoke about your sister, and I believe you said her name is Georgiana.”
“Yes, my sister is only fifteen years. This spring, she is in London and spends her time with her music and studies with her lady’s companion. Our aunt, the Countess of Matlock, provides additional guidance for Georgiana.”
“She is very young. Will she be presented to the queen?”
“Not as of yet,” Darcy replied. “Georgie will delay her presentation to the queen as long as possible because she is shy and does not wish to enter society.”
They walked briefly before the gentleman asked, “Were you and your sister Jane presented to the court?”
“No, sir. We were not presented, and I have never been to a formal ball in London, though Uncle and Aunt Gardiner did take Jane and me to a review last summer. We had new gowns and enjoyed the event a great deal.”
“Were you disappointed not to be presented?” he inquired.
Elizabeth grinned, shook her head slightly, and explained, “Mr Darcy, my father has five daughters. The cost of the gowns and lace to prepare for presentation to the queen would have left us without candles or some other item we must purchase each year.”
“But you would not have been presented at one time. Mrs Bingley would have been first, then you and Miss Mary in subsequent years,” he reminded her. “And your youngest sisters would still be in the nursery.”
Sighing, Elizabeth replied, “Our mother decided that Kitty and Lydia should already be out in Meryton society, and Mamma convinced our father to agree to it. Now, I think my parents regret the decision.”
Elizabeth glanced at Mr Darcy and continued, “I tremble to imagine the scene if Kitty and Lydia had been presented to Queen Charlotte.”
“Indeed?” asked Darcy, remembering the boisterous younger sisters.
“Lydia is obsessed with officers in their red coats,” Elizabeth confessed. “The militia being based in Meryton this past autumn spurred this obsession for my youngest sisters and even Mamma.”
“How did you avoid the attraction to the red coats last autumn?”
Again, Elizabeth glanced at her companion. “I spent time observing my sisters’ behaviour and conversing with you.”
“I enjoyed our discussions and conversations,” Darcy agreed. “I enjoyed them very much indeed.”
Looking away, Elizabeth broached another topic. “After you left, my father and I discussed a mystery.”
“A mystery?” Darcy asked, uncertain how to continue the conversation for a moment.
“Yes, after your departure, my father asked me several questions regarding The Natural History of Seldon. He prompted me to use reason and consider the sudden appearance of the book. After serious thought, I reached the same conclusion as my father.”
“And what was this mutual conclusion?” the gentleman asked.
“It was most unlikely that Mr Bingley was the true originator of the book loaned to my father.”
Darcy stopped walking and asked, “Whom did you and Mr Bennet decided had loaned the book?”
“We believe you sent the book, Mr Darcy,” she explained. Her tone was neither censorious nor judgmental of the man’s actions, and her eyes remained bright and engaging.
The gentleman sighed and once again stepped along the road as he admitted, “It was a convoluted gesture on my part. You mentioned the article in the newspaper and seemed to enjoy our discussion; I wanted to provide it so that we could discuss the letters the author wrote.”
Elizabeth remained silent momentarily and then said, “And if it were known that you gifted the book to my father, it wouldhave generated gossip about your interest in a daughter in his house.”
“I chose to accept the risk, Miss Elizabeth.”
Smiling to hear the man’s admission, Elizabeth added, “Mr Darcy, every time you called at Longbourn with Mr Bingley, my mother watched you carefully when she was not watching Mr Bingley. If she thought you were a potential suitor for my hand, she would have instructed Mrs Hill to prepare your favourite biscuits for tea and not served anyone until you had your fill of our shortbread.”
