Page 44 of The Sole Love

“Nor do I,” Georgiana said with ease. Darcy was pleased that her shyness had vanished among such benevolent company. “The Actons have an old house in London that is far less elegant than this one. For us, Pemberley will always be our principal residence.”

She then glanced at Elizabeth as though asking her to agree as the future mistress of the house.

Elizabeth returned Miss Darcy’s look with great affection, but she could not answer. During three days of travel, the master of Pemberley had not spoken a single word about marriage. He devoured her with his eyes, kissed her hand, and sometimes held it, but the kiss in Mr Morrison’s wood had not been repeated.

“He has not said a word…” she whispered to her aunt. They looked at him in the distance, talking with her father and uncle.

“Elizabeth Bennet,” came her aunt’s teasing answer, “I have told you at least a dozen times to be patient.”

“But…”

“No buts, young lady. What did you expect? That he would propose to you at an inn while the horses were being changed? In the dust of the road? I am sure he has been waiting to arrive at Pemberley, at the home he adores, and there, in that splendid setting, he will propose to you!”

“And if he does not?” Elizabeth was anxious, but she was the only one to doubt Mr Darcy’s feelings.

“Then you will propose to him!”

Elizabeth appeared outraged, and Mrs Bennet noticed and decided to join them to discover what they were discussing. She was somewhat jealous that Elizabeth got on so well with her sister-in-law. In normal times, she would not have cared at all. But lately, all the family avoided her, and even the friendly relationship she had enjoyed with Margaret Gardiner seemed to have altered. She had tried once or twice to explain the past or talk woman to woman. Still, Margaret, gently but firmly, made it clear that it was not a story she wanted to hear.

However, the most difficult situation was with her husband. He did not want to listen to anything she had to say. In twenty-three years, she had never thought of that summer again. It was a stupid thing done by a young lady who wanted to behave like a town girl. They had not been in love. Unfortunately, her husband imagined it had been some great romance, sadly ended when Mr Haskett jilted her; in fact, it had been merely a game agreed upon in a moment of weakness. She did not even remember how it had happened. Fear and shame seemed to have erased all the memories.

Her mother had known that something had happened, and when it became clear that she was with child, she had forbidden her to tell Mr Bennet the truth. As they had already been married for some weeks, she had continued with the lie. It was likely that he would never have married her if he had known, but in truth, she could swear to God that she had not known she was with child when they married. She looked at Jane. She could no longer remember exactly what Mr Haskett had looked like, but it seemed that Jane resembled her half-brother.

Once again, neither Elizabeth nor Margaret told her what they were discussing. They were probably discussing Mr Darcy. She did not particularly like the gentleman; however, she had been angry with Elizabeth for refusing him. Elizabeth was the one who received most of Mr Bennet’s attention. Such a shame she was not a boy; then all their problems would have been easier. But marrying Mr Darcy would be a relief for their family. She did not dare to think about what would happen if Mr Bingley did not marry Jane. She refused to consider it.

“Aunt Gardiner, what shall we do about Mama?” Elizabeth whispered after Mrs Bennet walked away to talk to her other daughters.

Mrs Gardiner sighed in evident pain. “It is such a difficult situation. If that matter is satisfactorily resolved, I think we shall all bury the story forever and go on as though nothing had happened.”

Elizabeth nodded. “I was so angry with her, but then I realised that, when it happened, she was younger than Jane. I tend to look at her as she is now, but at our age, it is so easy to make a mistake.”

“You are right, but unfortunately, your father sees the matter as a continuous lie…existing for twenty-three years.”

“But it is not like that. Knowing Mama and Jane, she forgot everything that was not beneficial to her.”

“Elizabeth,” Mrs Gardiner stopped her in a firm tone, “please forget this matter now. It is not your problem anymore; it never was. All you have to do is solve your own problem. And if you want my advice, resolve matters between you as soon as possible. Everyone wants to see you mistress of Pemberley, and from that position nothing more can happen to you.”

Her aunt’s words struck Elizabeth with unexpected force. If the truth came to light, and that horrible stain upon her family’s honour became known, could it make him hesitate to ask for her hand again?

Chapter 19

They arrived at Pemberley the next day in the early afternoon. It rained for almost the entire twenty miles, but as they approached, the rain suddenly stopped.

From the first moment Darcy got into the carriage, everyone could see how excited he was. Miss Mary was travelling with them, as her friendship with Georgiana had grown deeper every day. The young ladies talked and laughed, but with such discretion that Darcy enjoyed their presence; their voices seemed to ease his tension. Impatient to arrive at Pemberley, he imagined his mother in Mrs Gardiner’s place, scolding him to sit still as she did every time they approached their home. As Georgiana observed, Pemberley was his home, while the London residence was just a house.

The splendid estate gave him a sense of freedom he had nowhere else. And now he hoped with all his heart that the woman he loved would share his profound feelings for the place. Knowing Elizabeth, he was confident; however, as with anything involving her, he could never be sure.

He admired her beauty. The day was slightly cold, and she wore a blue pelisse that covered her shoulders and neck, those places he had kissed in blissful passion springing from his deep love.

He intended to do just one thing after their arrival: take her on a short tour of the park in his chaise and finally kiss her away from curious eyes. By now, both families knew that it was only a matter of time before they announced their betrothal. Yet…again, with Elizabeth, anything was possible. Hence, if there were no other means, he intended to ruin her respectability and oblige her to marry him. He smiled at the prospect.

Elizabeth had begun to know his different expressions, and the one on his face reflected—without a doubt—dangerous thoughts. She attempted a stern look, but seeing him so happy to be home, she simply smiled.

He stopped the carriage less than a mile from the manor, on the hill overlooking Pemberley, which offered a perfect view of the house and its surroundings.

He left the carriage and helped Elizabeth down. His sister wanted to follow, but Mrs Gardiner, with the smile of an ally, silently invited her to remain with a wink that made Georgiana feel like an adult.

“Do you think he will propose?”