Page 94 of Near Pemberley

Only afterwards did memory return – Mr. Bennet, Lydia, the purpose of the visit.

A faint colour rose in her cheeks.

She is really here.

A curious sensation passed through him. Relief, perhaps – relief at the sudden end of an absence he had grown accustomed to enduring.

“Mr. Darcy.”

Her voice restored the world to motion.

He bowed. “Miss Bennet.”

The greeting was perfectly proper. Nothing in it would have attracted the slightest notice from a stranger unless they realised that they were totally forgotten and that their greeting had lost precedence.

But Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were no strangers, and they were attending.

Mrs. Gardiner noticed Elizabeth lower her gaze rather more quickly than usual. At the same moment, Mr. Gardiner observed that Darcy’s composure had not entirely recovered from the surprise of finding her there.

Their eyes met briefly. No words passed between them – none were necessary.

“Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. Mr. Bennet.” Darcy bowed to each in turn, forcing his attention away from the blessed figure beside the window.

“We are grateful that you have come,” said Gardiner. “I hope you do not mind my sending for you on such short notice. I thought it best that we should speak before any decisions are made.”

“Of course.” Despite himself, Darcy glanced once more towards Elizabeth.

“I sent an express to Longbourn immediately after your visit. My brother-in-law arrived this morning.”

Darcy inclined his head towards Mr. Bennet. “I am glad to hear it.”

“As you see,” Gardiner continued, glancing briefly towards Elizabeth, “Miss Bennet accompanied him.”

Darcy glanced towards Elizabeth, again. He was grateful for the diversion. Since entering the room, he had been trying to determine how deeply the recent events had affected her, and with very little success.

“I do not see how Lizzy’s presence could alter matters,” Mr. Bennet remarked dryly. “But my brother Gardiner insisted.”

Darcy’s gaze went to Mr. Gardiner. His gratitude could not be properly expressed, but the older gentleman appeared to understand it. The faintest warmth entered Mr. Gardiner’s expression: the invitation had been made for Darcy’s sake. They exchanged a slight inclination of the head, and nothing more was required.

Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly. “Papa.”

“What? I can fetch my daughter by myself.”

Fortunately, Gardiner intervened before the conversation could proceed further. “I thought Lydia might wish to see one of her sisters.”

At that, Mr. Bennet merely grunted.

Elizabeth stepped away from the window. “Mr. Darcy.”

He turned towards her fully.

“You can have no notion how affected we were by my uncle’s letter.” Her voice remained steady at first. “That you had found Lydia… that she is safe…” The words faltered.

For a moment, she looked down. When she raised her eyes again, they settled upon his face. She had not intended to study him. Yet she found herself doing so all the same. Searching. For what, she hardly knew.

Some sign that he had received her letter. Some acknowledgement. Some indication that the understanding they had reached in Lambton had not been entirely swept away by the events that followed.

But his expression revealed nothing beyond kindness and concern. Nothing more.