Page 12 of Near Pemberley

When he spoke again, his voice was perfectly composed. “May I ask whether you were prevented from joining them?”

She wished, at that moment, that she had prepared some answer – that she had foreseen this question and fortified herself against it. But she had done neither. “I was… otherwise engaged.”

The inadequacy of the explanation was evident, and she felt it.

He regarded her steadily. “I see.”

The civility of the words was unimpeachable; the tone in which they were spoken was not.

Elizabeth felt that she ought to speak – to recover something of ease, if such a thing were possible – but before she could do so, he added, with a composure that bordered upon severity,

“I had understood from your uncle that there was a niece with them.”

Elizabeth’s eyes dropped.

“She was not named,” he continued. “But I now perceive that the omission was intentional.”

She could not mistake him. “It was not,” she began, though without knowing what she meant to say, “it was not my wish to… You must understand…”

He stopped her, not rudely, but with a decision which admitted of no evasion.

“I do… You did not wish to meet me.”

The words were spoken plainly and struck her with unexpected force.

Elizabeth felt, at that moment, both offended and ashamed.

“It was not,” she said, with more earnestness, “not in the way you imagine. They do not know… I did not think – I had no expectation – that you would…”

“Wish to see you?”

She faltered. “I thought it best.”

His countenance grew grave, though whether with disappointment or self-reproach she could not determine.

“I see,” he said thoughtfully.

After a brief pause, he added with recovered composure, “I beg your pardon. I have no right to question your wishes.”

She was spared the necessity of attempting a reply by the approach of her aunt and uncle. Mrs. Gardiner’s countenance, as they drew nearer, expressed both pleasure and surprise.

“Mr. Darcy!” exclaimed Mrs. Gardiner, with evident pleasure.

He turned at once, and the change in his manner was immediate. The gravity which had marked his last address to Elizabeth softened into a respectful politeness.

“Mrs. Gardiner. Mr. Gardiner. I hope you are well.”

“Perfectly so, I thank you,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “And we are most agreeably surprised to meet you again.”

“I see you met our niece, Mr. Darcy,” said Mr. Gardiner.

“Yes, we have just met. I wish you had mentioned her name… We have a previous acquaintance.” He did not miss Mrs. Gardiner’s glance at her niece.

He paused.

“Had I known it was Miss Bennet,” he said, “I should have been very glad to see her.”

He bowed slightly toward Elizabeth.