Page 17 of The Best Of Relations

“Do you like Mr Hutton?” Elizabeth hissed at Mary.

“Lizzy – what? Yes, I liked him very much – what are you doing?” Mary’s voice was a squeak as Elizabeth spun her about and started quickly undoing the buttons of her plain brown dress.

“He’s riding up the drive with Mr Darcy right now, come to call on you unless I am very much mistaken, and, frankly, you look dowdy. Jane, quickly, fetch my pale green muslin. It will set off Mary’s green eyes.” She snatched off Mary’s eye-glasses. “No, you can’t have them back. I know very well you hardly need them and only wear them all the time because you think it makes you look more respectable and studious.”

Jane, laughing, brought the required dress and helped Mary to button it while Elizabeth loosened the tight bun Mary had put in her hair that morning. A little plaiting and a few pins later, Mary was quite transformed and her sisters sent her hurrying down the stairs to greet their guests.

“Now it’s your turn,” Jane said.

“What?” Elizabeth blinked.

“Oh, don’t you give me that innocent face. If Mr Darcy is here, I am quite sure that it is to call upon you.”

“No, Jane, surely on his cousin, our Aunt Gardiner…” Elizabeth faltered before her sister’s steady stare. Unable to lie to her face, she allowed Jane to coax her into a fresh, pretty gown, and drape Jane’s own favourite shawl around her shoulders. Jane tidied her curls and kissed her cheek.

“Go on down, now. No, I shan’t come. If they ask after me, tell them I am pining for Mr Bingley. In truth, I shall be busy keeping Kitty and Lydia out of the way.” She winked and pushed Elizabeth towards the stairs. “Go on, now!”

When did all of my family turn into matchmakers? Elizabeth wondered, a little resentfully, and then blushed as she realised that she was equally guilty, considering what she had just done to Mary. It was thus, charmingly pink-cheeked, that she entered the parlour and came face-to-face with Mr Darcy.

Chapter Eight

“Miss Elizabeth!”

“Mr Darcy.”

He bowed, and she curtsied. Considering the intimacy of the confidences they had shared the night before, Elizabeth found it odd that she could not look him in the eye. Or perhaps it was the presence of her mother and aunt, both watching her and sporting identical smirks, that inhibited her so.

“Mr Hutton,” she said, “how pleasant to see you again.”

“And yourself, Miss Elizabeth.”

They exchanged pleasantries, and then, surprisingly, Mary suggested they take a turn about the garden, since the morning was dry, if not warm. Perhaps she too was feeling the impact of those smug grins, Elizabeth thought. She agreed with alacrity, as did the gentlemen, and soon the four young people were walking Longbourn’s paths.

“I find this scene curiously familiar,” Mr Darcy remarked after a few minutes, as they followed Mr Hutton and Mary, who were deep in conversation.

“How so, sir? This is your first visit to Longbourn.”

“Yes, but once again, I seem to be acting as chaperone for one of your sisters and one of my friends,” he said dryly.

Elizabeth could not help but giggle behind her hand at that. And then she stopped, and looked at him seriously. “Mary is very shy, and even more ignorant of the ways of the world than most girls her age,” she said hesitantly. “Is Mr Hutton – is he genuine in his interest?”

“John has been looking this age for a girl who would not mind his stammer,” Darcy said honestly. “He is very wealthy, actually, though he prefers it not to be known. He has been deceived rather too many times into thinking friendships and regard were given to himself, rather than his money.”

“Mary does not care about money, and she certainly would not mind his stammer,” Elizabeth said with certainty. “If he likes her, then no doubt they should do well together. How lovely, if I should see two of my sisters happily wed!”

“Do you not wish for such a situation for yourself?” His voice was deep and soft, and somehow Elizabeth could not quite look at him.

“I am determined to marry only a man whom I can esteem and with whom I share a true affection,” she said, forcing out a light little laugh, “and since I am such an impertinent, barely tolerable creature, I am convinced there is no sensible, respectable man who might love me. So, I am resigned to being a spinster aunt and teaching all of my sisters’ many children to draw and play the piano very ill!”

“That would be a tragic waste.” Mr Darcy drew her to a halt, and she chanced a glance up at him. He was gazing at her from unfathomably dark eyes, and she pulled her eyes away and looked at her feet. “Eliz – Miss Elizabeth, you are no doubt the most impertinent lady I have ever met, but I have already made it very clear to you that you are far more than merely tolerable. I do not know if you could ever feel such affection and esteem as you describe towards me, but you must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”

Elizabeth did not know what to say, and after a moment she began to walk again. It was several long minutes before she could speak. “Mr Darcy – this time yesterday, I despised you more than almost any other person I had ever met. In the space of one day, my feelings have undergone so material a change, I regret to inform you that I have not the slightest idea of what they currently are.”

He laughed at that, and assured her that she should take all the time she needed to begin sketching his character anew.

“But are you not leaving shortly, Mr Darcy? My mother understood that you intended to stay in the country no later than the first of December.”

“That was my original intention.” He glanced down at her, and pressed her fingers lightly where they rested on his arm. “I have changed my plans. My sister Georgiana, and my cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam, are to join us at Netherfield before Christmas. I have charged Bingley to deliver the invitations to them while he is in London. Bingley confided that he hopes to marry Miss Bennet before the turn of the year, so we shall all be here for the wedding. It is now my hope that, in that time, and with an opportunity to meet the best of my family, you shall come to think better of me.”