Page 91 of A Most Beloved Sister
At length, Elizabeth said, “Mrs. Pingree, I believe it’s past time for me to return home. My aunt will be wondering about my whereabouts.”
“Please, allow me to escort you,” Darcy immediately offered.
“Oh, but Dr. Carson…” Elizabeth stammered.
“I actually had planned on finding a hackney,” Carson said. “We would have been going our separate ways.”
“If I walk with you, then my carriage can convey Dr. Carson to his destination, then return for me,” Darcy said.
“You would really be doing me a service,” Carson added with a laugh. “Darcy’s carriage is much more comfortable than a hired coach!”
“In that case, how can I say no?” Elizabeth said.
The three young people left Mrs. Pingree with Angela and made their farewells to one another. Carson climbed into Darcy’s coach while Elizabeth had one of the girls send word to Jamie and her maid that she was ready to return tothe Gardiners. Once everyone was prepared, Darcy extended his arm, and the two of them began the walk back towards Gracechurch Street.
The silence was uncomfortable for several long minutes before Elizabeth said, “I had not expected to see you in London.”
“Yes, I had several pressing matters of business to attend to. Georgiana and I plan on returning to Pemberley sometime in the late spring for the planting.”
They fell back into silence; then Elizabeth tried again, gesturing towards the bustling city street. “It’s quite a change from the peaceful countryside, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. It is one reason I infinitely prefer being at Pemberley.”
“I must admit, Mr. Darcy, I never imagined we would find ourselves walking together through the streets of London.”
“Nor I, Miss Bennet. But fate has a way of bringing unexpected opportunities our way.”
“It is the stars, The stars above us, govern our conditions.”
Darcy smiled. “It has been a while since I have read King Lear.”
“Shakespeare certainly had a way with words.”
The remaining distance to the Gardiner home passed all too quickly for both Darcy and Elizabeth. They were so engrossed in their conversation about books they had read and the performances of those works that Elizabeth nearly continued walking past their destination without realizing it. It was only when Jamie called her name that she became aware of her surroundings.
“Oh! We are here.”
Her tone was so disappointed that Darcy felt the first stirrings of hope leap within him. “I have enjoyed our conversations.”
“As have I,” she smiled warmly.
“I should like to continue them,” he said a bit nervously.
“I would welcome the opportunity, Mr. Darcy.”
The two gazed into one another’s eyes for several long moments before Jamie loudly cleared his throat and pretended to cough into his sleeve to get Elizabeth’s attention.
“Well, I suppose I had best go inside,” she said in a breathy whisper.
“Might I… call on you? Tomorrow?”
“You mean…?”
“Yes,” he said. “That is, I wish to spend more time with you.”
She gave him a shy smile. “I would like that very much.”
∞∞∞
