Page 18 of Sweet on Mr Darcy

Elizabeth handed him a cup of tea, and steered conversation into polite territory with the assistance of Georgiana, at least as much as Lady Barry allowed with her frequent outrageous declarations, which made the visit highly amusing. Elizabeth, however, was not surprised when Lady Barry dismissed Darcy as soon as his cup was empty.

“Now,” Lady Barry announced briskly. “You must not expect to be entertained, Darcy-boy. I was never a grandmother, and have not the talent for it. You may go. Leave your sister, if she wishes to remain, and you may send your carriage back for her in an hour or two.”

Georgiana eagerly agreed to remain, not having been invited to join Elizabeth and Lady Barry’s reading hours before. Lady Barry addressed her when her brother had gone.

“You may listen to the reading with me, Miss Darcy,” she allowed. “The experience will either improve your nerves, or destroy them.” The next two hours were spent in delicious suspense, well-expressed hilarity, and a great deal of fun before Lady Barry waved them out when the butler announced that Darcy’s carriage had returned.

The sun was warm on her face as Elizabeth pushed back her bonnet a bit and enjoyed the brisk salt-tinged freshness of the air. The front door closed behind them as a footman stepped down from the back of the Darcy carriage and lowered the step. Darcy stepped down, prepared to hand his sister in.

“Mr Darcy, Georgiana, it was very pleasant to see you.” Elizabeth curtsied. “I will meet you tomorrow morning at the sea bathing machines, Georgie. Have a lovely afternoon.”

“Pray do not leave us yet!” Georgiana objected. “My brother has promised me an outing today, and I cannot enjoy it half so well without your company.”

“You are very kind, my friend, but your brother is planning an outing for you.” Elizabeth smiled at her friend. “I would not intrude upon your day. I know you have missed his company terribly.”

“You could never intrude,” Georgiana insisted. “You can only improve.”

“If I can say anything that would persuade you, Miss Elizabeth, please, consider it said.” Darcy inclined his head. “For it would bring such sincere pleasure to my sister, and to myself, that I wish I had thought of it before.”

Elizabeth suspected by the glance exchanged by the siblings that it had indeed been thought of before, and that this was a premeditated and well-executed intention.

“If my absence would mar my friend’s day, then I can do nothing but accompany you, for I could suspend no pleasure of dear Georgiana’s.” She accepted Darcy’s hand and stepped up into the carriage.

First, there was some discussion of the seating, for Elizabeth had not presumed and taken the forward-facing seat. Darcy, a most insistent gentleman, would not hear of her facing the rear, and so she found herself next to Georgiana for the duration of the ride.

It was quite an easy distance, and in under a half-hour, they arrived at a very elegant confectioner’s shop. Elizabeth had visited another with her sisters the week before, but she thought that she must encourage them to return here with her, for they would like this shop very much.

The shop was bright and attractively stocked with arrangements of sugared fruits, marzipan, prawlongs, chocolate drops, and iced cakes. It was a well-attended shop, filled with elegant ladies and gentlemen, and delicately set tables designed to encourage visitors to linger rather than purchase quickly and leave.

Darcy’s servant obtained them a table, and Elizabeth was amused at Georgiana’s eagerness.

“I have only been here once before, when I was a much younger girl,” Georgiana confided as the servant pulled out her chair and she seated herself. “And I enjoyed it so much that my brother promised me that the next time we were in Ramsgate together, we would go every day.”

“Every day! That is quite a promise!” Elizabeth exclaimed.

“It seemed easily made at the time, and I hope it will be nearly as easily kept.” Darcy seated himself opposite them.

“How else will I ever try everything if I only visit once or twice?” Georgiana pointed out to the amusement of her brother and her friend. “You must advise me, Lizzy. For now that I am here, I am unequal to deciding what to sample.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Then we shall be undecided together, my friend. I fear this delightful shop has spoiled us for choice.”

“Allow me to oblige you ladies, by requesting a small selection, and the next time we visit, we may try something different.” Darcy turned to the shopkeeper and ordered a pot of tea, a tasting sampler of ices, an arrangement of marzipan sculptures, some iced biscuits, and a dish of candied peel for them all to share.

“Mr Darcy is all generosity.” Elizabeth was pink-cheeked as she surveyed the result of his beneficence as it was all served. “I must thank you again for inviting me.”

“Not at all.” Darcy shook his head. “Your company has improved us, I assure you. Without you, we would have been very dull.”

“It is true! Promise that you will accompany us every day, Lizzy!” Georgiana begged.

“I could not possibly impose upon your outing every day.” Elizabeth laughed.

“Oh, but you must! Do say that you will agree! It will be an adventure, and we shall try everything, twice!” Georgiana insisted.

“I quite agree with my sister that it will be no adventure at all if you do not embark upon it with us.” Darcy nodded approvingly of the plan as he placed two marzipan sculptures and a small parmesan ice on his plate.

“I cannot promise that I will be able to come every day.” Elizabeth hedged. “My stepmother needs me, and I am at her disposal when she makes commitments. And my younger sisters must be chaperoned when they go out. They have made other friends here, and I must take my proper turns accompanying them. But I will come when I can.”

“We can ask no more than that, Miss Elizabeth. That is very fair.” Darcy discouraged his sister from pestering Elizabeth to promise more.