Page 117 of Dear Friend

“You are doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

“Going somewhere while remaining perfectly still.”

Elizabeth opened her mouth to deny the accusation, but the drawing-room door opened before she could manage it, and Hill appeared.

“Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy, ma’am. They have just arrived.”

For one moment Elizabeth thought she had imagined the names, merely because she had spent so much of the morning wishing to hear the first. Then her heart gave a sudden leap, and she was on her feet before she had quite decided to move.

He had come. After days of wondering whether her letter had reached Willowbrook, whether it had been forwarded to London and whether Darcy would understand the invitation hidden rather poorly within it, he was at Longbourn.

“Where are they, Hill?”

“In the drawing room, miss. Mr. Bennet is with them.”

Elizabeth nodded and smoothed both hands over her gown, though there was nothing whatever wrong with it. She had wanted Darcy to come and had ceased pretending otherwise even to herself, yet knowing that only a few rooms separated them sent a nervousness through her which all her eagerness had somehow failed to anticipate.

Julia rose beside her, rescuing the half-wrapped box Elizabeth had nearly displaced in her haste. “Mr. Darcy is here, surely we should go see him”

Elizabeth caught the amusement in her expression. “You may wipe that smile from your face.”

“I have said nothing.”

“You have not needed to.” Elizabeth nevertheless took the arm Julia offered, and they followed Kitty and Lydia, whose excitement at the announcement was loud enough to earn a warning from Mrs. Bennet somewhere down the hall.

As they approached the larger drawing room, Elizabeth heard her father’s voice, followed by the lower tones of Mr. Darcy, and her steps faltered for the smallest moment. One month had passed since she had last heard Darcy speak, yet she recognised his voice at once, and the warmth that swept through her made her grip Julia’s arm a little more tightly.

He was truly here.

Elizabeth drew a breath and continued towards the drawing room, no longer attempting to temper the eagerness which had occupied her all morning. She had wanted to see him, had written to tell him as much, and now there was only a door between them.

Julia squeezed her arm without comment, for which Elizabeth was grateful, and they entered together. Darcy, still dressed for travelling, stood near Mr. Bennet, with Jane seated nearby, while the young lady beside him could only be his sister. He looked towards the door almost immediately, and whatever he had been saying to her father appeared forgotten.

His eyes met Elizabeth's, and she saw the uncertainty there before warmth gradually overcame it. Elizabeth had imagined this moment often enough to suppose she would know precisely how to behave when it came, but seeing him again made every carefully considered greeting seem absurdly inadequate.

“Miss Bennet.”

“Mr. Darcy.” Her smile came without effort. “My letter found you, then.”

The uncertainty in his expression disappeared. “It appears your letters remain remarkably skilled at finding me.”

Elizabeth laughed, and whatever lingering resentment remained over what Darcy had done loosened further at the sound of his answering laugh. “I had hoped they might retain the habit when it was finally useful.”

Darcy's smile deepened before Elizabeth turned towards his companion. Miss Darcy was taller than she had expected, elegant but visibly shy, and there was enough of her brother about her eyes to make the relationship unmistakable.

“You must be Miss Darcy. I am very pleased to meet you at last.”

“And I you, Miss Bennet.” Georgiana curtseyed, but her gaze moved almost immediately from Elizabeth to Julia and then back again. Her brows lifted before reserve could conceal her surprise. “Forgive me, but Fitzwilliam never told me you were twins.”

Elizabeth laughed. “We have been told so before, but we are not.”

“Georgiana, this is Miss Harding,” Darcy said. “You may remember my mentioning her. She is the young lady Richard and I visited so frequently in London, and Miss Bennet’s particular friend.”

Georgiana’s eyes widened with recognition. “Oh! Miss Harding.” She looked from Julia to Elizabeth again, surprise returning to her face. “Forgive me, but my brother told me very little about you beyond saying that you were recovering. I had no notion you were Miss Bennet’s friend. How are you faring now?”

“Thank you, I am considerably better.” Julia smiled. “Better every day, I think.”