Page 33 of The Sole Love

“—friend.” He finally succeeded in finding an adequate word.

Yet Elizabeth seemed altered from the teasing enchantress who had been there moments before.

“I need a favour.” She spoke in haste, continuing to avoid his eyes. “We must ensure that Mr Bingley and Jane meet again. That is what I need to be…completely happy.”

He gazed at her intently and tried to comfort her. “Yes, you are right. We can go no further without attempting to mend my error.”

“I am sorry to ask you such a thing.”

“Do not be. I intended to speak to Bingley and apologise for interfering in his life.”

It was true. Since he had regained hope that Elizabeth might love him, he understood the hypocritical situation he had created: separating Bingley from one Bennet sister while he attempted to marry another.

“But do you think Miss Bennet is still interested in my friend? At the ball, she seemed to have regained her spirits.”

In the past, his voice might have held disdain or reproach, but now there was only concern, and Elizabeth heard the change.

“Yes, I am sure,” she said, though she still did not let him see her eyes. She hated to lie to him, even in a small matter like this. And she decided that, eventually, he would know the truth. “David Haskett is an old friend. Jane only wanted you to believe she no longer cared about your friend, who deserted her in such an uncivil way.”

“I see; however, they made no promises to each other.”

“No, but sometimes promises unspoken are yet loud enough for someone to believe them…do you not agree?”

As in their situation, words were—sometimes—unnecessary as proof of true love.

“Yes, you are right. I am sorry for everything—”

She gently stopped his apology with a hand to his lips, a maddening gesture that only fuelled his desire as they gazed at each other.

“I am sorry, too,” she whispered. “Come, we must join the others.”

But not before he imprisoned her hand and kissed her fingers in utter bliss.

Chapter 14

He kissed her hand one last time before opening the music room door.

Miss Darcy was playing and, while Mrs Gardiner and the colonel seemed to enjoy it, they noticed that Elizabeth and Mr Darcy scarcely looked at them as they entered the room.

Miss Darcy stopped in the middle of her piece and ran to welcome them, but as they did not say a word, she tried to calm her enthusiasm. It seemed nothing serious had been discussed in the library.

That might have been her opinion, but both Mrs Gardiner and the colonel noted a subtle change. The two people who joined them were not the ones who had left. Further discussions and preparations might be needed, but the essentials were there: their feelings were understood.

Mr Darcy invited them to take tea in the parlour, and while they drank, he addressed Elizabeth’s aunt.

“Mrs Gardiner, your niece and I had a discussion about some of our friends and family.”

Mrs Gardiner looked at Elizabeth with admiration and gratitude. Once again, she had put her family’s interests before her own. Then she nodded in agreement with Mr Darcy’s words. It was good to discuss friends and family with such affection.

“I think our families need to become better acquainted,” he continued. “Georgiana and I leave for Pemberley in less than a week, and the colonel will follow us. I am quite sure that Mr Bingley will also stop for a few days at Pemberley when he returns from the North. So I invite you and Mr Gardiner, as well as Miss Elizabeth’s family, to make the trip with us and stay as long as you wish…all summer, if that is convenient for you.”

Genuinely surprised, Mrs Gardiner fell silent for a few moments. All her doubts about him vanished before his generous invitation.

She finally smiled and answered. “Thank you. That is a delightful…and surprising…invitation. I must speak to my husband and the Bennets, but I shall be pleased to make the journey. However…we are a numerous family…”

“Do not worry, Mrs Gardiner. When Mama was alive, we had almost eighty guests at a time!” Miss Darcy spoke with such enthusiasm that they all smiled. For her, it was already decided.

“That is true.” Mr Darcy looked at Elizabeth, who appeared shocked by his offer.