Page 40 of A Most Favourable Match

“The sun was hot,” Darcy excused himself.

Again, he spoke the truth but not the whole truth, avoiding any mention of the laughing figure with chestnut curls and vibrant hazel eyes whom he had spotted soon after entering Harpenden House’s grounds. Elizabeth must have been circulating around the gardens with her sister, Lord Grantchester, and Lord Keeble.

“It was not so hot that your hat and my parasol would not have been adequate defence,” pointed out Georgiana, her face curious rather than accusatory. “Never mind you coming home so early from Sir Arthur and Lady Ewert’s ball last night.”

“Now, on that account, surely I need not explain myself,” Darcy pleaded, not meeting his sister’s eyes. “I am never at my best at such large social occasions. No more than you are, Georgiana.”

“Yes, but Lord Grantchester and Mr Bingley were both there. You normally stay a little later to speak with your good friends, and last night, you did not.”

“No, I did not,” Darcy agreed with a frown.

His mind went back to how Lord Grantchester had avoided any attempt by Darcy to speak with him alone at the Ewert ball, spending his time either dancing with Jane Bennet or introducing his bride-to-be to a far wider acquaintance than was strictly necessary. Despite her polite smiles, the poor girl had looked quitepale and exhausted by the time Darcy gave up and left.

It was hard for Darcy to watch the couple together in such a situation, Grantchester so deliberately merry and superficially solicitous, and Miss Bennet so innocent and good-hearted. She was of the same tribe as Charles Bingley, Darcy realised with a grimace. Neither of them really understood how complicated and harsh the wider world and society could be, because neither of them was capable of great deceit or evil action.

“Are you unwell?” his sister pressed, and Darcy banished the grimace from his face, forcing himself to smile calmly back at her, rifling his mind for as much of the truth as he could give.

“No, I am well, although I am perhaps a little distracted. There is something private I must discuss with Lord Grantchester, and I have not yet found the opportunity.”

“Is it something very important?” Georgiana asked tentatively.

“Not to you or me,” he clarified quickly. “It might be important to others, though. It has been on my mind.”

“Why do you not simply invite him round to Darcy House?” she pursued.

Darcy suppressed a grimace. Georgiana was not a fool, and she was obviously curious about why her brother should create such a complicated situation around a man with whom he was normally on such easy terms. Unfortunately, he could not tell her.

“I like Lord Grantchester,” Georgiana went on. “It is always a pleasure to have him visit.”

“John is very busy this summer,” Darcy excused his old friend and searched his mind for some explanation that was both reasonable and true. “He plans to marry next year and, well, the young lady to whom he is betrothed is in town again. It is hard to see him alone.”

“I see,” Georgiana replied gravely, although no doubt she did not see at all. “Do you know this young lady? What is she like?”

“His wife is to be a Miss Jane Bennet of Hertfordshire,” Darcy replied with a limited smile and a sigh he could not entirely repress. “She is a young lady of fine character, good nature, and great beauty.”

“Are you in love with her?” asked his sister, and Darcy burst out laughing at the very idea.

“No, on that account, I can entirely set your mind at rest,” he assured her. “I am certainly not in love with Miss Bennet…Or anyone else.”

The last phrase was added with greater emphasis in reaction to the image of Elizabeth Bennet, who appeared in his head as she often did, her hands on her hips and her sparkling eyes full of defiance. Darcy could apparently escape from her no more in spirit than he could in physical life. It seemed that whichever way he turned, Elizabeth Bennet would be there. Yet another thing that made the young woman utterly maddening.

No, it was not her fault, his inner voice corrected him quickly. Miss Elizabeth was not actively seeking him out. If anything, she seemed as keen to avoid hiscompany as he was to avoid hers. Darcy was sure she had spotted him at the concert Georgina had mentioned, for example, and had raised the programme to hide her face.

At the Ewert ball last night, Elizabeth Bennet had nodded civilly in Darcy’s direction and then turned away. His eyes had found hers several times in the ballroom, supper room, or sitting rooms, each time prompting a retreat on one side or the other until Darcy surrendered the field and left early.

“I did not offend you, I hope,” Georgiana asked with a touch of anxiety. “I know you do not always like such personal questions.”

Darcy shook himself out of his brooding over Elizabeth Bennet and smiled properly at his sister. “You did not offend me at all, Georgiana. If my only sister does not have the right to ask me such questions, then no one does.”

“Thank you. I do not wish to upset you, Fitzwilliam. I am glad to hear that all is well, and that Miss Bennet is such a fine match for Lord Grantchester —”

“I did not say that,” Darcy blurted before he could stop himself and was then forced into further explanation. “There are things I am not at liberty to discuss, Georgiana. I would be grateful not to talk of them at present.”

While her expression showed that she was struggling to understand, Georgiana did not object and soon composed her features once again. “I must respect your judgement, as my brother and my guardian,” she toldhim. “I will not ask any more about what is on your mind. You have been right in the past, and I must assume you are right again now. May I meet Miss Bennet?”

Despite his dismay, how could Darcy refuse, having just praised Jane Bennet’s good character and conduct?

“If we see Miss Bennet with Lord Grantchester, I shall introduce you,” he promised after some hesitation.