Page 112 of Near Pemberley

Georgiana froze. Lydia’s eyes widened. Mrs. Gardiner looked suddenly interested in her teacup.

Elizabeth turned.

Darcy’s expression remained perfectly composed, though a faint tightening around his mouth suggested otherwise. “Georgiana.”

His tone carried just enough warning to make his sister blush.

“I merely thought they should know.”

“So I perceive.”

The blush deepened.

Elizabeth looked from one sibling to the other. Then her gaze drifted to the flowers decorating the table, the fresh arrangements throughout the conservatory, and finally back to Darcy himself.

A suspicion began to form. Not certainty, only suspicion. Yet it warmed her unexpectedly.

“Then I think we are very much obliged to Mr. Darcy,” she said. When she smiled, it was not merely polite gratitude.

Mrs. Gardiner lowered her eyes to conceal a smile.

Darcy felt something shift dangerously within his chest. The smile transformed her entire face. If some small attentiveness on her behalf resulted in such a beautiful smile, he was sure to give her more cause for that in the future.

Fortunately, Lydia possessed even less difficulty in expressing how she felt. “I am obliged to him as well,” she announced. “Especially if I am permitted a second slice.”

The resulting laughter rescued everyone – even Darcy.

A short time later, while Lydia and Georgiana were engaged in a spirited disagreement about which scene to use as a dramatic reading after dinner, Darcy crossed quietly to Mrs. Gardiner. “Mrs. Gardiner.”

She looked up. “Mr. Darcy?”

“Would you object if I spoke with Miss Bennet for a few minutes?”

Mrs. Gardiner’s eyes moved briefly towards Elizabeth. Aunt-like comprehension appeared almost instantly. “Not in the slightest.”

Darcy inclined his head.

When Elizabeth looked up, he said quietly, “Miss Bennet, would you walk with me? There is a small garden adjoining the conservatory.”

Elizabeth’s heart gave an alarming leap. “Certainly.”

And together they stepped through the open glass doors into the garden.

Chapter XXIV

Darcy led Elizabeth into the garden. It was quiet, save for the distant sounds of the city beyond the walls.

At last, Darcy looked at the woman next to him and said, “I owe you an explanation.”

Elizabeth’s heart immediately began to beat faster as she looked at him.

“Your letter.”

A faint colour rose in her cheeks.

“I read it only last evening.”

She gasped.