The Gentleman & The Rake

A Man of Few Words: Chapter 7

Darcy and Elizabeth Meet at Pemberley, and Darcy Gets All Excited about Showing Off His Property 

Darcy didn't try to forget Elizabeth during the remainder of the spring. He accepted, with wry self-pity, that thoughts of her would linger for months. 

Occasionally in London, Darcy glimpsed the straight back and dark curls of a young lady. He would imagine it was Elizabeth: she was there, in the city, on the pavement before him. She would turn and say-- 

He had no idea. Sometimes, unconscionably, he imagined she turned and smiled, even hurried to greet him. 

That was unlikely. Fantastical hopes and aching regrets were both pointless. Life was what it was. 

At least, he had commitments to distract him. He collected Georgiana from school to take her to Pemberley. The Bingleys, sans Mr. Hurst, joined them in Oxford. They would be guests at Pemberley for several weeks. 

Darcy and Georgiana took breakfast in their private sitting room in an Oxford inn. The Bingleys occupied rooms on the floor above. Miss Bingley had suggested breakfasting together, but Darcy preferred to breakfast with just Georgiana. 

Georgiana smeared marmalade on toast and hummed softly to herself. Darcy held a letter tilted towards the hazy light from the window. He said, "Max has a question about the Merrydews' tenancy. I'll have to ride ahead. You'll travel on with the Bingleys." Max was Pemberley's land steward. 

Georgiana put down her toast. Darcy folded up the letter and tucked it into his breast pocket. The Merrydews were good farmers, but Mr. Merrydew had no money sense. Darcy wondered if he should dispatch his house steward, Mr. Jetter, to reorganize the Merrydews' books. 

Georgiana said, "Can't I go with you?" 

Darcy looked at her in surprise. "I'm not taking the carriage," he said. "You'll be able to see Oxford with the Bingleys and continue on with them." 

Georgiana picked at the tablecloth. Darcy nabbed another piece of toast and pushed back from the table. 

"I could follow you in the carriage," Georgiana said. 

Darcy looked at her bent head. He was missing something, something Georgiana wanted and wasn't saying. He took a deep breath. 

"The Bingleys are good company." 

"Oh, yes." 

"You enjoy your time with them." 

"Yes." 

"And Mrs. Annesley is here." 

"She's very nice," Georgiana said. 

Then what is the problem? 

Relationships, Darcy had realized in the last four months, were quagmires filled with implications, suggestions, and underlying messages. Darcy didn't pick up any of it. 

"I thought you thought I was getting better," Georgiana had said just three days before after Darcy commented on her singing. He had stared at her, realizing that his comment had been unintentionally critical. He had stammered an explanation, and Georgiana had nodded gravely. But until she pointed it out, Darcy hadn't heard how he sounded at all. 

Sometimes he wondered that Elizabeth hadn't laughed him out of the parsonage when he started to propose. What kind of man didn't bother to prove his devotion to the woman he loved? Especially the woman he loved? 

Georgiana said to the tablecloth, "They compliment me a lot." 

"Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst?"