Page 24 of Sweet on Mr Darcy

“You may as well proceed, Bennet, I have heard everything.” Lady Barry glared at him. Elizabeth hoped that if she lived as long as their hostess, men would be just as terrified of her.

“Of course.” Bennet nodded. “I expected it. Lizzy. Mrs Bennet is beside herself at your misunderstanding. She took to her bed in grief that she expressed herself so poorly. She never intended to insist you must marry this summer. Even if she did, I hope you know that I will never allow you to be forced. She only fears that in your desire to enjoy your independence, you will allow true happiness to escape you. Will you accompany me home and allow her to apologise?”

“Of course, Papa.” Elizabeth stood.

“Bennet, you have married a woman of judgment.” Lady Barry waved them off. “I recommend that you not leave her to exercise it alone. You are fortunate, both in your wife and your daughter. I suggest that you proceed as if you are aware of it.”

Chapter Twelve

Charlotte made a full apology when Elizabeth returned, then instead of her missed sea-bathing outing, accompanied Mr Bennet to the shops and the library. Jane and Mary accompanied Kitty and Lydia to enjoy the spectacle of a military embarkation.

Elizabeth rested in the garden with a book of poetry, considering everything that Lady Barry had said. Was it possible that Mr Darcy was worth considering? Was it possible that such a man was even interested in being considered?

Not long after Mr and Mrs Bennet returned from their shopping excursion, The gentleman himself arrived with his sister, bearing boxes of treats from the confectioners.

“My cousin told me what happened last night, Lizzy, and I could not imagine going out into public after such a scene, so Fitzwilliam and I decided to bring our confectionery adventure to you this afternoon.” Georgiana Darcy looked worriedly at her friend.

“That was kind of you, Georgie.” Elizabeth smiled at the kind young girl. “You are not wrong, I do feel unequal to such an excursion today, but I am grieved that you have altered your plans merely for me.”

“Nonsense. Our plan was to sample the wares of the shop with you as our companion. To alter it now would ruin our enjoyment, I assure you, Miss Elizabeth.” Darcy examined her, as if to assure himself that she was indeed unharmed. “I was disappointed by the impossibility of enjoying your company for the supper set last night, but I am more concerned for your spirits today. We could hardly do anything other than see that you are well for ourselves.”

Elizabeth blushed as he presented her with a stunning bouquet of delicate pink hothouse roses.

“How lovely! What a kind gesture, Mr Darcy,” Charlotte exclaimed. Turning, she instructed a maid to put the roses into a vase in Elizabeth’s room and have the cook arrange the sweets to be served with a pot of tea. She gave Elizabeth an excited but worried look, obviously thrilled to see her receive attention from such a gentleman, but wary of Elizabeth’s contrary nature.

“Was the embarkation a spectacle worth seeing?” Charlotte asked as Jane and Mary entered with Kitty and Lydia, flushed from their excursion.

“It was! We encountered Mr Wickham, and he escorted us on the promenade! He said that he might call upon us for tea!” Lydia gushed. “Oh, good afternoon, Miss Darcy, Mr Darcy.”

“Charlotte, we saw Mr Lovett and Mr Painswick, and they have invited us for a drive and a picnic near the cliffs tomorrow. Do you mind?” Mary asked. “They are eager to show off their phaetons again.”

“Of course not, as long as you are in open carriages and travel as a party,” answered Charlotte agreeably.

“I wish Mr Wickham would invite me on a phaeton ride and a picnic.” Lydia sighed dreamily.

“I have more right to be invited than you, Lydia, for I am two years older,” Kitty argued.

“And yet your age would do you no good at all, Kitty Bennet, for you are not properly out, and you are not to associate with officers,” Mr Bennet drawled as he entered the room with his newspaper.

“I am eighteen! I ought to have been out last year!” Kitty objected. “I was out when Mama was alive!”

“You were and still are out in Meryton, which is not the same, and I am not confident you are ready to be out in wider society.” Mr Bennet bowed to Darcy and Georgiana in greeting, then turned to his daughter. “You will not be properly out until one, preferably two, of your older sisters have married. If you proceed with this line of discussion, you will return to Longbourn tomorrow, and I will ensure you do not catch sight of another man in a red coat until you are old and grey.”

“Are you all right, Lizzy? I was so distressed when Priscilla told me of your experience. What a dreadful man Mr James is! I could tell you did not welcome his attention when we dined with you,” Georgiana whispered as Jane and Mary spoke animatedly of the young gentlemen that they would see again tomorrow.

“I am well, Georgiana, though nervous about the gossip such a scene might create. I walked out to visit Lady Barry this morning, but I have not been anywhere that I might encounter society yet,” Elizabeth answered.

“It is already known that Mr James left Ramsgate in humiliation this morning,” Darcy reassured her. “He was strongly rebuked by the magistrate and his wife last night, in addition to your father. What we heard before we departed the ball after you suggests that the local matrons and fathers regard the man’s behaviour quite severely. It was quite obvious that his attention was unwelcome to you, and that he did not have your father’s permission to address you. Even if he had, no man would consent to his daughter being so publicly cornered.”

“That is a relief,” Elizabeth replied as two maids returned with carts laden with tea and the offerings from the confectioner on trays. “Though I am still mortified by the gossip about Lady Barry’s will. There is no reason to suppose she would favour me in any way, and I am grieved that her name or fortune is being discussed so sordidly.”

“Of course you are,” Georgiana said anxiously. “I would be positively mortified! But anyone who knows you must know that you are not privy to such schemes, and that you would never encourage anyone to think anything so improper.”

“Good heavens, Mr and Miss Darcy, you have brought us a veritable feast of sweets!” Charlotte exclaimed as the party surveyed the trays and platters piled high with cream cakes, iced biscuits, and other delights.

“My brother was unwilling to trust the choice entirely to my judgement, so we both made some selections,” Georgiana said shyly. “We intend to try something new at each visit, so I selected the cream cakes and the iced biscuits.”

“But Miss Elizabeth particularly enjoyed the marzipan and candied peel yesterday,” Darcy said with a twinkle in his eye. “I could not leave them behind.”