“I felt that I had done my duty with so difficult a companion, so when we went into the music room, I sat where I would not bear the responsibility of carrying the conversation. But I could still hear her. She was unhappy with her sister’s selection of a ballad, the lowest form of song to her mind, and one that anyone with a modicum of talent could play or sing. Oh, sorry, Lizzy. I thought you performed beautifully.”

“Please do not apologize, Uncle. It is no secret that Miss Bingley does not like me. She believes I promoted a union between her brother and Jane, which I did, and considering the social chasm separating the Bingley and Bennet families, she was offended because I had presumed too much.”

“Well, that is good for a laugh,” Mr. Gardiner said. “Mr. Bingley’s father began life as a blacksmith, but grew wealthy as a result of a smelting process he and his father had invented. Mr. Bingley was telling me, with great amusement I might add, that he remembered his father’s fingers being permanently blackened because he was always at the forge doing experiments. He also said venturers would come from London to see demonstrations of the process, and Old Grandpa would deliberately chew and spit tobacco so that they would keep their distance. Bingley’s father sired a brood of nine, and after he had made his fortune, he packed the whole lot of them off to be educated, girls and boys alike, which is why Miss Bingley is so knowledgeable, although it does not explain Mrs. Hurst.

“The eldest son, George, went to Oxford, and apparently is a financial genius. He took a modest fortune and turned it into an empire, which is what pays for the house in town and the clothes and the horses. Well, it obviously pays for everything for the three youngest Bingleys and possibly the other five as well. Mr. Bingley added that his father never traveled farther south than York, was unchurched, and unlike his daughter, had no social pretensions whatsoever.”

By that time, they had arrived at the inn, and both Gardiners immediately retired and left Lizzy alone with her thoughts. As soon as she was under the covers, her mind returned to Mr. Darcy, and she went over every minute, every word, every gesture they had shared. The previous day, her aunt had asked if she loved Mr. Darcy, and she had answered that she did not know. That was no longer the case. When he had said that the beauty of Pemberley needed to be shared, he had looked right into her eyes, and it was then that she knew the answer. Yes, she was in love, and now that she had surrendered to her true feelings, she realized that she was truly and deeply in love with Mr. Darcy. And with that realization came wisdom. She better understood why he had fought against his own feelings. It was a humbling experience to trust one’s heart to another, but by shedding his reserve, he had revealed the caring and loving man beneath.

And with all she had seen and heard and tasted, it was how she felt when Mr. Darcy took her by the hand and had escorted her to the music room that she wanted to commit to memory. In those few short minutes, she felt the physical side of being in love, and she had wanted him to take her in his arms and to kiss her. And that was what was on her mind while singing the ballad. Had he noticed that the verses were out of order? If he had, did he realize it was the effect he had on her that was the cause of her error? Elizabeth fell asleep wondering if tomorrow during their ride to the Peak there would be some time, even a few seconds would suffice, when she would feel his touch once again.

* * *

While Elizabeth was thinking of embraces and kisses, Darcy was trying very hard to put them out of his mind. During the time Lizzy was confusing verses, he was picturing the two of them making love in different rooms in the house. To avoid complete embarrassment, he had wisely decided to wear trousers instead of breeches, but this could not go on much longer or he would explode. There was a time in the distant past when he would have been able to exercise the droit de seigneur. As lord of the manor, he would have demanded that the Bingleys leave Pemberley immediately and that the Gardiners return to London without their niece, but with Anne and Georgie. And then they would make love until hunger finally drove them to seek nourishment.

This was reminiscent of his time with Christina Caxton when they had made love across the breadth of France. At the time, he was a young man of twenty-one, and it was a delight he had never before experienced. But since assuming guardianship of his sister, he had exercised an abundance of caution in everything he did, but he was a man and not a monk. So he had discreetly sought companionship and relief with the widowed Mrs. Conway, until his idiot cousin, Lord Fitzwilliam, had revealed to The Insider that he had remained with the lady until dawn. The irony was he had stayed so late so that he might share with her that he had fallen in love, and as a result, their time together had come to an end. He thought so highly of his friend that he did not want her to learn of it from anyone else. As always, she was gracious and asked about Elizabeth. As the daughter of a coal exporter from Bristol, she was surprised but pleased when she learned that the lady he hoped to make his wife was the daughter of a gentleman farmer.

If Fortune shined on him, at some time during the ride into the Peak, he would have a few minutes to talk to Elizabeth. He was not going to propose marriage until they could be alone, but he did intend to seek assurances that she would be receptive to an offer. With only Georgie and Belling, the groom, accompanying them, surely he would be able to have a private word with her. It must happen tomorrow, as she had informed him that the following day she would be leaving Derbyshire to return to Longbourn. It was his last chance to touch her heart.

* * *

If Darcy had been the soul of discretion, Bingley had decided to throw caution to the wind. Since he might not have an opportunity to visit with Elizabeth on the morrow, he had to act tonight.

“Miss Elizabeth, you mentioned your sister, Miss Bennet, is in good health,” Bingley said as soon as she had finished her song.

“I know of no complaint, sir.”

“The last time I saw her was at the ball at Netherfield, and she was in good health at that time.”

“Mr. Bingley, please forgive me for being forward, but if you have something you wish for me to communicate to my sister, please speak freely.”

“Do I have something to communicate? I have volumes to communicate. And I would begin with an apology for leaving Hertfordshire so abruptly without a note or letter. Oh God, here’s Caroline! Quickly, if I return to Netherfield Park, would I be welcomed at Longbourn?”

Caroline was too close to make any comment, so Lizzy did what she could to assure Mr. Bingley that his attentions would be warmly received.

“Although I make no claim to be a musical historian, I believe that ballad originated in the West Country. But thank you for your compliments. Such kind words are always welcome, especially from old friends.”

Those words were encouragement enough. In a matter of days, Charles would be in a position to begin to repair the damage he had done, and he could only hope that Miss Bennet would be willing to forgive him. It was his intention to leave Pemberley in advance of his sisters. One of Darcy’s men would see them to Leicester, where he would arrange to have one of George’s men meet them at the coaching inn.

Seeing that Charles was talking to Miss Elizabeth, Caroline had intended to inject herself into the conversation when Miss de Bourgh asked if she had heard anything new about the scandal involving Mrs. Clarke. The mistress of the Duke of York had been accused of soliciting bribes from the military in exchange for commissions from the Duke. If Caroline had a weakness, it was her love of gossip. Before leaving London, she had purchased a pamphlet detailing Lord Wardle’s complaint against the couple, and in Caroline’s eagerness to share the latest “dirt,” Anne had successfully diverted her attention. But even if Caroline had known of the purpose behind her question, she would not have cared. Since tomorrow was to be Miss Elizabeth’s last day in Lambton, Caroline only had one more day to keep her rival at bay, and then Mr. Darcy was all hers.

Chapter 35

Mrs. Gardiner and Lizzy were waiting outside the inn when the Darcy carriage, with Mercer at the reins, arrived promptly at 9:00 to take the two ladies to Pemberley. After stopping at the manor house, so that Mrs. Gardiner might join the other guests, Mercer went right to the stables where Mr. Darcy, his sister, and Belling were waiting for Lizzy.

Dressed in a riding outfit that Miss Darcy had given to her the previous evening, Lizzy was as ready as she was ever going to be. Apparently, the Darcys intended to leave as soon as possible, as Sugar, a dappled gray, was already saddled and waiting for her. Belling, a strapping lad of sixteen, gave her some advice as how best to handle the mare.

“Now, miss, Sugar needs only the lightest touch with the whip to get her moving in the right direction. I’ve never known her to go off the trail, and she’s used to following Miss Darcy’s horse, so no worries.”

With Mr. Darcy assisting, Lizzy stepped up on a wooden box to get on Sugar. She hated riding sidesaddle. The weight distribution was all wrong, and she always felt as if she was going to fall off the horse. This time was no different.

“Miss Elizabeth, you need to flex your ankles and keep your heels below the toe,” Darcy instructed her. “You are holding the reins too loosely; they have to be held evenly. Correct posture is essential, so you need to square your shoulders and hips and keep your spine in line with Sugar’s.” After checking her alignment, he handed her a whip.