“Not in London?” he echoed, as if he could not quite comprehend her meaning.
“London is not my home, after all.” Mr. Darcy almost seemed to wince. How odd! “I have been living here awaiting my wedding to Richard.” She hastily swallowed the lump in her throat. “By all rights, I should have returned to Longbourn immediately after his p-passing, but I had matters of business.” She blinked rapidly to keep tears from falling. “And truthfully, I needed time to grieve apart from the uproar my family sometimes creates.”
“But surely you will not return to Longbourn permanently!” He seemed appalled at the suggestion.
She gave him a small smile, which helped to fend off the threatened tears. “I miss my family, and Jane’s time draws near. I will certainly return to Hertfordshire soon. Jane has invited me to live permanently at Netherfield with her and Charles.” A deep furrow appeared between Mr. Darcy’s eyebrows. “I confess the idea has its appeal. I can be the maiden aunt—giving her children their lessons and teaching them to play the pianoforte very ill.”
She smiled at her jest, but Mr. Darcy did not. He actually appeared stunned by this vision of her future. “You do not plan to return to London?” His voice was rather strangled.
She shrugged. “I do not particularly care for London. I always enjoy its diversions for a time, but soon I long for the fresh air and fields of the country.” Then she recognized the origin of his distress. “This does not lessen the value of your efforts on my behalf! The house will be of great use. Should my father pass away soon ,… my mother will need assistance. The townhouse will fetch a good price…”
Her words petered out as she noticed the thunderous look on Mr. Darcy’s face. Did he disapprove of a plan to sell the house? “You take excellent care of your family.” His words were complimentary, but his tone was severe.
“I do what a daughter must,” she said lightly.
“No, there are many who do not fulfill their family obligations nearly so well. Your parents are most fortunate.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, thinking she must add this conversation to her list of things she did not understand about Mr. Darcy.
“I hope you will not entirely deny yourself the pleasures of London.” Mr. Darcy’s voice was strained, almost pleading. “If you find yourself in Town in the coming months, I hope you will consider assisting Georgiana in her preparations.”
“Indeed, there are few things which would give me more pleasure, but I cannot make a promise under the circumstances.” Elizabeth almost felt guilty for disappointing the man, a most odd sensation.
“If you are here at the start of the Season, you must at least attend Georgiana’s come out ball.” He said this most insistently; this was a man who was accustomed to being obeyed.
“I cannot imagine the earl and countess would welcome me to that event,” Elizabeth demurred. This was another good reason not to participate in Georgiana’s coming out preparations, but Elizabeth had been reluctant to share it.
“Georgiana and I would, and that is enough.” Darcy’s mouth was set in a firm line.
“I thank you for the honor of the invitation. I will attend if it is possible.”
“That is all I can ask.” With this cryptic remark, Mr. Darcy stood, made a small bow, wished her well, and quit her company.
Elizabeth sat alone for a moment, reviewing all that had passed between them. “Whenever I believe I understand the man, he confounds me once again!” Elizabeth said to the empty room. “It is most vexing!”
***
By the time Darcy had arrived at his townhouse, his thoughts were in a frenzy. “Leave London! Live at Netherfield?” he muttered to himself as he strode into the Darcy House entrance hall. He ignored a sidelong glance from his footman and stalked toward his study.
When Darcy had conceived the scheme to ask Elizabeth’s help with Georgiana’s debut, he had recognized how it would benefit his sister. However, he was not unaware of the advantages of having Elizabeth as a regular guest at Darcy House. Despite vowing to avoid her company, he could not resist the comfort of seeing her frequently and knowing she was well. And if he should sometimes encounter her at tea or dinner … well, that was simply an accident of fate.
It had never occurred to him that Elizabeth would return to Hertfordshire at all, let alone that she would leave so soon. “You are a fool.” he muttered to himself as he threw his body into a chair by the fireplace. He ran both hands through his hair, disordering it completely. “A fool!”
Darcy had known her father was ill and her sister was expecting, yet somehow the inevitable conclusion had escaped him. He could never expect more than friendship from Elizabeth, but he had allowed himself to envision a future in which she was a frequent presence in their lives. Such a future would not come about if she resided with the Bingleys—living like a poor relation when she had the means to maintain her own household. Darcy pounded his fist on the arm of the chair. “Netherfield!” It emerged like an oath.
If she lived at Netherfield, he would only see her once a year, if that. The thought made his chest tight.
Yes, Elizabeth would need to be with Mrs. Bingley for the birth of her child. But surely she could return to London after a month or so? Darcy’s teeth ground together as he envisioned Elizabeth’s future devoted to sacrifice and caring for others’ needs.
Standing, Darcy paced the length of the room. He must entice her back to London for her own sake. At least here she was free from her family’s demands. If he could have her return for at least part of Georgiana’s preparations … perhaps she would change her mind about London.
But how to entice her? He had pressed the point as much as propriety permitted. Any further words on the subject would risk revealing too much.
However … a corner of Darcy’s mouth curved upward. Elizabeth might listen to pleas from another quarter. In fact, she might find another’s arguments more difficult to refuse. He had not yet mentioned the possibility of Elizabeth’s assistance to his sister,
but he knew she would welcome the idea.
He rang for a footman. When Jenkins opened the door, Darcy commanded, “Please ask Georgiana to join me.”