Darcy and Elizabeth Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Also by Ginny Stevens

  Darcy and Elizabeth:

  A Pemberley Meeting

  A Pride and Prejudice Compromise

  Ginny Stevens

  Darcy and Elizabeth: A Pemberley Meeting

  A Pride and Prejudice Compromise

  Ginny Stevens

  Published by Ginny Stevens

  © Ginny Stevens

  All Rights Reserved.

  Chapter One

  Elizabeth Bennet needed fresh air to order her thoughts. Finished with the tour of Mr. Darcy’s house, her aunt and uncle desired to see the grounds. Could it be that she misunderstood him so badly? She once had been proud of her powers of discernment, but Mr. Darcy’s letter, given after she refused his marriage proposal, changed all that. She had blindly trusted a scoundrel and rake over Mr. Darcy. Even after his letter in April she had clung to her assessment of Darcy as a proud, disagreeable man. The words of his housekeeper just now proved otherwise.

  Another family toured with them, a baronet and his wife and daughter. They seemed to expect a more glowing report from Mrs. Reynolds. They asked impertinent questions about the cost of the furniture and the chimneys. Elizabeth easily saw Mrs. Reynolds was displeased with their vulgarness and disliked speaking of such things.

  The house itself had a grandeur worthy of its size and prestige, but it did not flaunt the wealth of its master. The difference between Pemberley and Rosings, the estate of Mr. Darcy’s aunt and where she had last seen him at, was stark. The Eltons believed Pemberley needed the touch of a wife, who could decorate it in the latest fashion, but Elizabeth would not change a thing. As they toured the gallery, Elizabeth found herself returning again and again to gaze upon the painting of Mr. Darcy. The smile on his lips was similar to the look he often bestowed her. As his portrait hung amidst his lofty relatives, she wondered how she had ever thought the look was one of criticism.

  She felt something like regret at not being its mistress, but how could Mr. Darcy ever desire to spend time with her aunt and uncle in trade? No, it could not be. They would be lost to her. She now felt the power of the compliment of his proposal more than ever, but the gratitude of it could not compel her to give up her dearest relations. Searching her heart, she realized she no longer blamed him for his friend Bingley not returning to court her sister. Darcy was certainly more obstinate than most, but Mr. Bingley made his own choice. She even admitted if she had believed Bingley the one who did not feel affection for Jane, she would have interfered, even with his five thousand a year.

  Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner spoke with the gardener as Elizabeth wandered on her own. The Eltons fawned over the rose bushes, especially upon hearing they were a favorite of Darcy’s mother, Lady Anne’s. Walking near the majestic lake, Elizabeth was momentarily blinded by the sun’s reflection. She collided with a solid form and immediately arms wrapped around her as she cried out.

  “Elizabeth!” Darcy cried in surprise, and Elizabeth thought she would die of mortification.

  “Miss Bennet!” Elizabeth heard the astonished voice of Miss Elton.

  Their cries had garnered the notice of everyone else and Elizabeth heard them hurry to their position. Darcy’s hands still held her.

  “Mr. Darcy, please,” Elizabeth said.

  “Forgive me,” he said and Elizabeth was not certain if he meant only colliding with her. He released her.

  “Mr. Darcy! We had heard you were not home,” Miss Elton said with a venom in her voice that reminded Elizabeth of Miss Bingley.

  “Miss Elton?” Darcy asked in confusion.

  “I am here visiting with my parents and sister.”

  “I see,” he said tightly as he saw the others approach. The Eltons had hoped he would marry their daughter last Season, and he knew they were bitter. Why they were touring Pemberley, he did not know. The surprise of seeing Elizabeth took all his attention. He stared at her with longing.

  “Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth’s voice was the only thing that registered in his mind.

  “Yes?” He scanned her blushing face and realized he must have been spoken to several times. “Pardon, my distraction.”

  “Certainly, sir,” said Mr. Gardiner. “We only said we were surprised to see you.”

  “Indeed. I arrived a day early.”

  “It is a pleasure to see your home and meet the gentleman we had heard so much about,” Mrs. Gardiner said. Elizabeth closed her eyes in mortification.

  “Oh, you know Miss Bennet and the Gardiners?” Lady Elton asked with suspicion.

  “We have been acquainted since meeting in Hertfordshire last autumn.”

  “A long acquaintance then! It must have been some time since you last saw each other!” Sir Stephen Elton exclaimed.

  “Yes, we parted in April,” Mr. Darcy said.

  “Come, we will give you lovers some privacy,” Miss Elton said with a smirk on her face.

  “Lovers!” Mrs. Gardiner cried in alarm and Elizabeth felt dread fill her.

  “What else would you call them? They embraced each other at first sight. Come, we know the way of wealthy men. We quite understand,” Miss Elton said and turned. Her parents did as well.

  “I fear you misunderstand!” Elizabeth called after them, and they paused.

  “Miss Bennet and I are betrothed,” Darcy said calmly and quickly. Elizabeth would hate him forever, but he could not let the Eltons damage Elizabeth’s reputation out of spite.

  “Betrothed!” The Eltons and Gardiners screeched.

  “How did this come to be?” Sir Stephen Elton insisted on knowing.

  Darcy stiffened. “I am not in the habit of sharing my affairs.”

  Elizabeth came to Darcy’s side and placed her hand on his arm. “We met again in Kent, at the estate of Mr. Darcy’s aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.” She paused as the Eltons seemed to understand who she referenced. “Mr. Darcy proposed, but there were private matters to settle before we could announce our betrothal. My aunt and uncle are chaperoning our reunion.”

  Sir Stephen seemed unconvinced. “You seemed as surprised to see him as us. Indeed, I heard Mr. Gardiner ask the housekeeper if Mr. Darcy was home.”

  Mrs. Gardiner stepped forward to explain, “Mr. Darcy had been uncertain if he would be arriving this day or tomorrow in his last letter. As the betrothal has not previously been announced, we wished to stay in Lambton until he arrived.”

  The Eltons looked at each other, and finally Miss Elton spoke. “My congratulations, then! Some have called you proud, Mr. Darcy, but I am pleased to see how liberal you really are.” She raised her eyebrow and looked at Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth understood the insult.

  “Thank you,” Elizabeth said with all the grace she could muster.

  Darcy cleared his throat. “Perhaps you might all enjoy refreshments inside while I change my attire? I have only just arrived from my travels.”

  “Oh, no. We have to see to our lodgings,” Sir Stephen explained. Elizabeth found it odd that they had not done that before arriving at Pemberley.

  “I understand completely. Will you be in the area long, then?”

  “No, we only had today before continuing on to our destination.”

  “I am sorry to hear it. I am certain Miss Bennet would have enjoyed the acquaintance,” Darcy said. He certainly did not but Elizabeth seemed to find people such as the Eltons amusing. Although, she likely did not at this moment.

  “Pleased to meet y
ou, Miss Bennet, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner,” Lady Elton said. “We must not tarry.” They resumed leaving and quickly boarded their carriage leaving the others to return to the house at a slower pace.

  “I don’t suppose there’s a chance they won’t gossip?” Mr. Gardiner asked.

  Darcy replied, “I am afraid not. The family feels scorned when I did not bestow my attentions on their daughter. You saw how quickly they desired to discredit your niece and although some men would not care if such things were said of them, I do not allow the Darcy name to be bandied about.”

  Elizabeth felt like crying inside. Strangely, it was not because she had just had to affect an engagement before strangers, which now seemed she would have to uphold, but because from Darcy’s words it seemed he no longer cared for her.

  “Is there a way to say you gave up this false engagement, Lizzy?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.

  Darcy met her eyes, and she gave his arm a squeeze. He hoped that was her acceptance of the matter. He thought he knew her well enough that if she were entirely set against the marriage she would be contriving some way to end the pretend engagement.

  “Miss Bennet spoke truthfully earlier. I proposed to her while in Kent. She also spoke truthfully that we have had little contact with each other since then. It remains her choice.” He would not force her hand, not entirely.

  Elizabeth blushed. “Of course, I wish it.”

  For the first time in months, Darcy smiled. Then he raised Elizabeth’s hands and kissed them.

  “Elizabeth, you were so sly! You never mentioned a thing!” Mrs. Gardiner embraced her niece.

  “Indeed! You acted as though you did not wish to come to Pemberley at all!” Mr. Gardiner exclaimed.

  “Of course, if she did not know Mr. Darcy would be home or if things were settled then she would feel uncomfortable being here.”

  “Yes, that was it,” she said with a shaky smile.

  They were finally inside the great hall again. “Would you introduce me to your friends?” Darcy asked.

  “Oh! Pardon, my manners!” Elizabeth frowned. She watched Darcy’s reaction during the introduction but saw no disdain.

  “If you will accompany me to the Blue Saloon, I will have Mrs. Reynolds begin to make arrangements for your stay,” he said after the introductions were complete.

  Elizabeth watched in amazement as he spoke gently to his housekeeper and sat with them for half an hour until their rooms were ready. Elizabeth knew he must feel uncomfortable in his traveling clothes and appreciated the care he took of them, at the same time she wondered at his treatment of the staff if they had three rooms prepared so quickly.

  Darcy observed the look in Elizabeth’s eye when Mrs. Reynolds appeared and sought to squash any criticism she may have. “Mr. Bingley and his sisters, along with mine, are expected tomorrow and so the staff already had rooms readied.”

  “I hope we are not taking anyone’s favorite accommodation,” Mrs. Gardiner said.

  “The guest wing has many lovely suites. My guests have not visited so often as to have a favorite,” Darcy said.

  Elizabeth met his eyes with a question in her look. Surely, Miss Bingley would see this as a slight. Elizabeth had much to ponder over the arrival of the Bingleys and Hursts but thought it better to wait until she had the privacy of her room.

  Darcy offered his arm up the stairs. He whispered in her ear. “You must forgive Mrs. Reynolds. She does not like that she has put you in anything less than Pemberley’s finest guest room. The attention my betrothed deserves is far above what she would give Miss Bingley.”

  Elizabeth blushed at his mention of the engagement. Her heart began to pound as she went up the stairs. She had agreed with so little thought, simply due to the crisis of the moment. Going through his house on his arm, she began to realize the gravity of her choice. This was no mere lie to explain her hand in a cookie jar. She made a commitment for life. “Mrs. Reynolds already knows?”

  “The Eltons made comments about our betrothal when they returned to the house. By the time I met with Mrs. Reynolds she said many of the staff had already questioned her and she was ready to put me over the coals for not informing her that the previous family who toured Pemberley was that of the future mistress.” He laughed a little and Elizabeth smiled. “I explained only what we have said to your aunt and uncle.”

  Elizabeth nodded her head. “I daresay such an explanation will not last for long. I know my relations well, they have questions for me. Your sister will certainly also question matters. Miss Bingley certainly will. My father...” she trailed off thinking that her father would not be happy at all.

  “Perhaps we could meet this evening to discuss our story?”

  Elizabeth gasped. “You mean after the others are abed? A private assignation?”

  Darcy gave her a smile she had not seen before. “The worst they could do if they found us is force us to marry.” They stopped outside her door. “Come to me in the library after everyone else is abed,” he whispered in her ear, sending pleasant chills down her body. To the rest of the party he said, “Mrs. Reynolds has dinner planned in an hour. I believe your trunks have yet to arrive. Do not worry about your formal attire. We do not stand on much ceremony here. If you require anything do not hesitate to ask a servant, they are all at your disposal.” Giving the others a bow and kissing Elizabeth’s hands, he left them to their devices.

  Elizabeth quickly went into her room. It was elegant and fine, and she laughed to herself that Mr. Darcy and his housekeeper thought she would find this room insufficient. She hoped her aunt would need to rest the entire time before dinner. She was not ready for any inquisitions.

  She stared at herself in the mirror for a long time. She had such a strange acquaintance with Mr. Darcy, and now she would be his wife! He could not still love her. She treated him abominably. On her side, she could at least say that she respected and esteemed him. Seeing his home and how it was run, the admiration he received from his servants, made her acknowledge what she had resisted in thinking after reading his letter as she never expected to see him again. She only hoped that if she showed her improved opinion of him he could at least respect her.

  With trembling hands, she opened her door when a knock came just before the dinner hour. She was surprised to see Darcy. No lady would wish to be forced into matrimony, but they had such a tumultuous history she sincerely wondered for their happiness.

  Darcy’s mind could not be more different. In the months since Elizabeth’s refusal, he had spent much time in reflection and considering her criticisms of his character. She had made the accusations on faulty information, but her findings were just. He endeavored now to show her and her companions civility by every means in his power. Of course, the arrival of Bingley and his family on the morrow could seriously destroy his efforts. He hoped she could be persuaded to at least esteem him before they took their vows. He knew enough of her disposition to know that she would attempt to be happy. In all the months he had known her, it had taken his insulting proposal for her to blatantly disapprove of him. All the months before she had cleverly acted a part, and he hated the idea of making her do so for life. He had to assure her of his devotion, that he would do everything in his power to make her happy.

  Dinner was pleasant. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were cultured and educated. Darcy easily found them pleasant company. Elizabeth was nearly as lively as ever, but Darcy hazarded a guess that she was anxious to appear normal before her family.

  Elizabeth sighed in relief when the meal ended. As Darcy had no hostess, they did not separate afterwards. It was odd to consider that soon the role would be hers.

  “Miss Bennet,” he said, “I know you play quite well. Would you entertain us? Mrs. Gardiner, do you play?”

  Mrs. Gardiner laughed. “I never did well on the pianoforte and it has been far too many years since I played harp or guitar. Please do not ask me to sing, either!”

  Darcy laughed. “My sister also despises singing. Miss Elizabeth, I believe
you are the means of entertainment tonight. Or should I call for the tables to be set up?”

  Elizabeth smiled. “Nay, sir. I have it on good authority you do not prefer cards.” She sat at the pianoforte. Mrs. Gardiner sat beside her to turn the pages.

  Darcy smiled triumphantly. Perhaps she was not so indifferent to him if she could recall some of their interactions at Netherfield. He settled back in his chair and allowed the image of Elizabeth singing each night to soothe his anxious heart. While at Rosings he had allowed himself the pleasure of imagining it nightly. After her refusal, he didn’t dare hope it would be possible. After the second song Mrs. Gardiner stood.

  “Mr. Darcy, could I employ you in turning pages for Lizzy? I fear I did not get to discuss a few matters with my husband earlier.”

  Elizabeth attempted to feel composed as Darcy came to her side. At Rosings he had not turned pages for her, he was content to stare at her, and she had thought it was in criticism. Now it was plain to see it had been admiration all along. Their current position drew his body nearer to hers than even the walks they shared at Rosings did.

  His size unnerved her. She could not deny that he was a fine specimen of a man. It had only been his character that repulsed her. Perhaps it was knowing he was honorable, or that they would soon marry or simply the extra glass of wine she had at dinner, but her side tingled where he sat next to her. She had never paid attention to scent before but now she found Darcy’s quite pleasant. The irrational urge to nestle close to him burnt a fire in her.

  Darcy was watching Elizabeth’s reaction to him. He dared not hope that she could be so affected by him. He accidentally brushed her side, he could almost swear it was by accident, and her breath quickened. She nearly stumbled over her notes. He wagered it was good she did not sing this song as her voice would be unsteady. He should not have agreed to Mrs. Gardiner’s request. Being so near Elizabeth was dangerous to his peace of mind.

  At last the song ended, and Elizabeth whispered, “I fear I need a rest.”