Page 6 of Before She Knew Him

Her effort was rewarded with a light laugh. “I believe I have always taken the library at Pemberley for granted, but I do love to sit and read there whenever I have a free moment.”

Their conversation continued in much the same manner, passing easily from books to music. Although Miss Darcy had shown some hesitation at first, her reserve gradually eased, and Elizabeth was surprised when dinner was announced; she had scarcely noticed how quickly the time had passed.

Mr Darcy offered his arm to Mrs Gardiner, but Elizabeth was surprised when Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy approached her rather than his sister. Miss Darcy appeared entirely unsurprised by the arrangement, however, and readily accepted Mr Gardiner’s arm. Elizabeth returned her escort’s smile and allowed him to lead her towards the dining room.

As they walked, Mr Darcy explained that they would dine in the family dining room. It contained a much smaller table than Elizabeth would have expected to find in so grand a house, but the round table comfortably accommodated their party of seven and lent the gathering a degree of intimacy that would have been impossible in Pemberley’s formal dining room.

The elder Mr Darcy escorted Mrs Gardiner to the place on his right, while his son guided Elizabeth to a chair between himself and Miss Darcy. Mr Gardiner sat beside his wife, and Mrs Livesay took the remaining place between him and the younger Mr Darcy. Whether the arrangement had occurred by chance, Elizabeth could not say, but she found she had no inclination to object to it.

Elizabeth remained conscious of the wider conversation, yet much of her attention was claimed by Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy and his sister on either side of her. Conversation among the three flowed with surprising ease, as though their acquaintance were measured in weeks rather than hours.

Miss Darcy spoke of the pieces she had recently begun to practise, though she admitted that she disliked performing before anyone other than her family.

“That is because she expects perfection of herself whenever she plays,” her brother said.

Miss Darcy looked across Elizabeth at him. “You are hardly in a position to criticise me for that.”

Elizabeth caught the faint lift of Mr Darcy’s brows and struggled to contain her amusement. There was surprise in his expression as well, and she wondered whether his sister was not ordinarily given to teasing him before others.

“I begin to suspect, Miss Darcy, that you know your brother exceedingly well,” Elizabeth said, while Mr Darcy appeared to consider his response.

“I have known him all my life,” the girl replied, with growing confidence.

“It is an unfair advantage,” he observed drily.

“Perhaps,” Elizabeth said with a broad smile, “but one you are unlikely to overcome.”

Miss Darcy laughed, and the warm look her brother bestowed upon her revealed an affection he made little attempt to conceal. Elizabeth had already understood that he was fond of his sister; seeing such tenderness in his expression made the knowledge feel altogether different.

At length, the elder Mr Darcy turned the conversation towards the excursion proposed for the following day.

“Since our guests have already seen something of Pemberley’s gardens, I thought we might take our picnic towards the western ridge. The prospect from there is among the finest on the estate.”

“Provided Miss Bennet can be persuaded to leave the library again,” his son said.

Elizabeth turned towards him. “I was persuaded to leave it yesterday.”

“Only after nearly an hour.”

“Then you must acknowledge that I possess remarkable strength of character.”

His smile appeared slowly. “I believe I have already begun to suspect it.”

The words were lightly spoken, but his gaze remained upon hers a moment longer than the remark required. Elizabeth prayed her countenance did not betray the warmth creeping up her neck and endeavoured to meet his eyes steadily.

Despite that brief moment of discomposure, the remainder of the meal passed with equal pleasure. Elizabeth spoke with the elder Mr Darcy about Lambton as she knew it from her aunt’s recollections, while Mr Gardiner expressed interest in several improvements recently undertaken upon the estate. Yet even when the conversation became general, Elizabeth remained conscious of the gentleman beside her—of the quiet amusement in his replies and the frequency with which she discovered his gaze already resting upon her.

After dinner, Miss Darcy invited Elizabeth to sit beside her at the pianoforte. She played beautifully, though with less confidence than skill, and Elizabeth soon understood what her brother had meant about the girl expecting perfection of herself. When a slight error caused Miss Darcy to falter and lower her hands from the keys, Elizabeth leaned closer.

“Pray, do not stop. If I possessed half your ability, I should inflict my playing upon everyone whether they wished to hear it or not,” Elizabeth said gently.

Miss Darcy smiled uncertainly. “You do not play?”

“A little—and very ill, according to my own judgement, though not quite so ill according to my mother’s. My sister Mary practises for hours each day, and I have never managed the same degree of diligence.”

“I should like to play before others without being so frightened of making a mistake,” Miss Darcy admitted.

“I believe one may be eager for a thing and frightened of it at the same time,” Elizabeth said. “Indeed, I suspect the things most worth doing are very often both.”