B00CO8L910 EBOK (17 page)

Jane sat back and raised an eyebrow. “That is very kind of them. I did not know they knew the Gardiners that well.”

“Mr. Darcy met them at Lydia’s funeral I believe,” she said dismissively.

Jane pursed her lips in thought for a minute. “Do you think you will accept their invitation?”

Elizabeth allowed a small smile to escape. “It is not up to me, you know. I am merely a guest of our aunt and uncle.”

“That is true. Would you like to stay there if our aunt and uncle agree to the plan?”

Elizabeth blushed before she could school her reaction. She peeked through her lashes at her sister and dissembled. “I admit that I would like to see Pemberley. Mr. Darcy spoke of it often while we were in Kent, and Miss Darcy praises it quite thoroughly in her letter.” Elizabeth raised the folded sheet of paper.

“And is it simply the grounds and home you wish to see, Lizzy?”

Elizabeth smiled shyly at her sister. “I suppose I would like to see Miss Darcy again.”

Jane laughed out then and hugged her sister. “I am so happy for you Lizzy! I am glad to see you have found your equal. You and Mr. Darcy will be very happy together; I am sure of it.”

“Jane! I have said nothing of Mr. Darcy!”

Shaking her head, she teased, “Do not think for a moment, Sister, that I have not noticed your changed opinion of that man since you returned from Kent. You jump to read any letters from his sister, and you keep that book he gave you with you all the time.”

“It is my keepsake of Lydia,” Elizabeth defended.

“Yes I know that, Lizzy, and I am grateful for mine too. I have gained much solace writing my thoughts about our sister. But I do not carry my book around, nor does anyone else.”

Elizabeth blushed. “I will confess that I like him and respect him, but as to love and matrimony, I have no further thoughts there.”

“Perhaps seeing his beautiful home will secure your love . . . hmm?”

Elizabeth shook her head with amusement and tossed a pillow at her sister.

“So are you going to write to our aunt and uncle about the Darcys’ invitation?”

“Oh, I suppose I must,” Elizabeth said with a dramatic sigh.

Jane rolled her eyes and hugged her sister again with a little squeal. She knew her sister was very close to being in love with Mr. Darcy, though maybe she did not know it yet herself.

Elizabeth sat down at her desk to compose the letter to her aunt. What would it hurt if she led her aunt and uncle to believe that the invitation included a mention of a day or two of fishing for her uncle or a ride about the park for her aunt? Embellishing the invitation a little, none would be the wiser. She was sure that the Darcys would be most obliging regardless. She was gratified when, a few days later, she received a letter from her aunt accepting with pleasure the invitation to stay at Pemberley.

If the Gardiners suspected Darcy’s interest in their niece to go beyond friendship and her own interest towards him to be the same, Elizabeth was none the wiser. They were sure they would know the truth as soon as they arrived at Pemberley.

Elizabeth eagerly penned an answer in the affirmative to Georgiana for their stay at Pemberley and thanked her for the kind invitation. Part of her hoped that the invitation was not just extended for Georgiana’s pleasure but for her brother’s as well.

* * *

Two weeks later, en route to Pemberley with her brother, Georgiana tried to remind herself that she had extended the invitation to Elizabeth and her family for her brother’s pleasure and not just for her own. She had received their confirmation to stay at Pemberley several days prior and had not yet found the courage to approach him about her scheme.

Although she was sure he would not be angry, she did not know whether he would be displeased with her for not having asked. She was hoping his obvious regard for Elizabeth would help him beyond the initial shock of her secrecy.

Clearing her throat, she decided that was as good a time as ever, even though she disliked the idea of being trapped in a confined carriage with him if he were to prove angry.

“William, may I speak to you about something?”

Darcy lowered the book he had been pretending to read, carefully hiding the fact that Elizabeth’s letter was secreted there.

“Yes, sweetling?”

Georgiana just managed not to cringe in her own anxiety when he spoke to her with such endearment. “I was wondering . . . that is to say that . . . I know that after last summer you may have reason to believe otherwise but . . . ”

Darcy frowned. “What is it Georgiana?”

“I was wondering whether you thought I was mature enough to act as hostess while we are at Pemberley.”

She breathed a sigh of relief when he smiled. “Firstly, you must forget about last summer. Secondly, I think you are perfectly capable of being hostess and have only to let Mrs. Reynolds know you wish to do so. I think it would be good practice for you besides. I am glad you asked, Georgie.”

He was proud of his sister as she was growing in to such an accomplished, lovely young lady. Whatever he might do to give her any pleasure was sure to be done in a moment.

“I am glad you think so because I might have already invited some friends to visit us while we are at Pemberley.” She gave him a tentative smile as she nervously studied his face.

It was true that Darcy was not in the mood to have houseguests even if it was a few of his sister’s friends. However, he could not voice his displeasure at the idea of guests after just complimenting her in earnest.

He gave her a tentative smile. “That is fine, dear. I hope you and your friends will have an enjoyable time. When do they arrive?”
I hope I have at least a week to enjoy Pemberley before having guests underfoot.

Georgiana brightened considerably at his words. “In just over a week’s time I believe. They are touring Derbyshire. When I heard their tour would bring them to Lambton, I invited them to stay a few days with us at Pemberley. It will only be for about four days.”

Darcy picked up his book and made to resume his reading as he nodded to her.
At least it is only a few days.
“And who are these friends of yours, Georgie?” he asked with little interest.

Georgiana smiled to herself as she looked coolly out the carriage window. They were nearly home now, just inside Pemberley Woods.

“Just an acquaintance of mine, and her aunt and uncle.”

Darcy nodded his head. They were quiet until the carriage rolled to a stop. Darcy exited the carriage and turned to hand his sister down. He breathed in a deep breath of the clean, country air and exhaled with a satisfied smile.
It is good to be home.

Brother and sister divested themselves of their traveling coats in the front entry and greeted Mrs. Reynolds, who always welcomed them with the love of a longtime family retainer. Feeling a bit more gracious now that he was on his own home soil, Darcy inquired, “Does this acquaintance of yours have a name, dear?”

Georgiana ignored her brother’s question and turned towards the housekeeper instead. “Mrs. Reynolds, my brother has given me permission to act as hostess while we are here, and so I would like to meet with you tomorrow regarding the dinner menus and plans, if I may.”

Mrs. Reynolds smiled at the young Miss Darcy. “I would be happy to assist you any way you wish. You are growing up so beautifully, my dear.”

Georgiana thanked her and then with a quick glance to her brother added, “Mrs. Reynolds, I would like to inform you that we will be having guests arrive next week.”

Mrs. Reynolds was pleased hearing her young mistress speak so confidently.

“Do you have any particular rooms in mind for your guests?”

Her brother looked at her with such pride; she was secretly entertained to think how his look would change as soon as she revealed her surprise.

Before taking the stairs to her rooms, she mused, “I think the yellow room for my friend, and the double suite with the sage papering for her aunt and uncle will be fine.”

“It shall be done, my dear.”

Mr. Darcy and Mrs. Reynolds stood watching Georgiana ascend the staircase, both filled with nostalgia, recalling how quickly the years had passed. Georgiana could feel their eyes on her back and waited to turn until she was at the top.

She confirmed that she had their attention before saying, “On second thought, Mrs. Reynolds, place Miss Bennet in the blue room instead.” Georgiana smiled as a delighted surprise registered on her brother’s face. “It has such a lovely view of the gardens that I think Miss Elizabeth would greatly admire.”

At her housekeeper’s nod, Georgiana turned and quickly walked to her rooms, satisfied and relieved to have pulled off her scheme. Now it was just a matter of a few machinations once Elizabeth arrived, and she was sure she could get Elizabeth to fall in love with her brother.

Chapter 11

Elizabeth is coming to Pemberley!
Darcy smiled at the thought. Whereas a week felt like such a short amount of time before he knew the identities of his sister’s guests, now it seemed interminable. Their short stay of only four days troubled him though. He doubted he would welcome her departure once he had her in his home. Of course, he would need to speak to his sister about the whole furtive affair. Although quite pleased with the results, he could not condone her secrecy.

He imagined Elizabeth walking around his home, touching the railings, admiring the furnishings. At least, he hoped she would admire them! Suddenly, he worried that she might not approve of the house.
Don’t be absurd man! It is a beautiful home. How could she not?
He shook his head to bring order to his jostling emotions and thoughts. One thing was clear: Elizabeth was coming to his home, and he could not be happier.

Contrary to his initial expectation, the first week at Pemberley before their guests were to arrive passed relatively swiftly. Darcy had much to do with his steward, considering the lengthy time he had been away. His discourse with his sister had also been relatively painless, though not entirely without discomfiture on his part and, quite honestly, a little vexing.
When did my sister become so clever?
He wondered how she had outmaneuvered and twisted his words.

She timidly had appeared in his study when he summoned her. He knew that she knew she was caught. “Georgiana, please have a seat. You know why I have asked you to come to me, so I will come right to the point. You should have asked me whether you could invite Miss Bennet to Pemberley.”

“But would you have thought to invite her yourself?”

Darcy knew he would have been too craven to suggest such a thing had he known of Elizabeth’s northern tour to Derbyshire, but he was not about to concede that to his sister. “I do not think that is pertinent to the topic at hand, Georgiana.”

“Do I need to ask you for permission to invite all of my friends? You said in the carriage that you thought I was ready to be a hostess.”

“I did and I meant that, dear. But Miss Bennet . . . ”

“ . . . is my friend,” she finished for him.

“She is also an attractive, eligible young lady,” Darcy countered, satisfied to have made a point she could not refute.

“So I am only allowed to invite unattractive, ineligible old ladies to be guests in my home?”

“Dash it, Georgiana! You know that is not what I meant. Miss Bennet and I are friends, and I should have been consulted first.”

“Which is why I did not think you would mind.”

Darcy rubbed his temples. When did his sister learn to talk circles around him like this? “I think you understand my meaning.”

“Is this all because you are in love with Miss Bennet?”

Darcy’s head snapped up to look at his sister who sat innocently in front of him. “Georgiana,” he warned, “you forget yourself. That is not an appropriate question to ask me.”

“But you do love her, do you not?”

“That is a private matter, Georgie!”

Georgiana was satisfied. “Very well, I will say no more on the matter — except that this pleases me very much.”

Darcy groaned and waved his hand to dismiss her from his study. He did not even look up when she added, “Oh, and you should probably play along that the invitation came from you as well, for that is what Elizabeth thinks.”

Her parting words had left Darcy confounded, wondering who took whom to task. And now it was the day of Elizabeth’s arrival, and Darcy was on tenterhooks as the clock ticked away. The only gratifying element of that exchange a week earlier was the knowledge that Elizabeth had accepted the invitation to his home, believing he had wished it. He hoped that meant something.

He looked out the window towards the road, even though she was not expected until later that day. He allowed himself a brief moment to daydream about bringing Elizabeth to Pemberley, only not as the guest of his sister but as his wife. The master of Pemberley found thinking about Elizabeth there as his wife a worthy way to employ his remaining time before her arrival. And so he did.

* * *

Elizabeth ceased endeavoring to hide her high spirits and eagerness from her relations after about two miles of Pemberley Woods, admiring every remarkable spot and view. She consciously avoided their amused faces, though.