An Unexpected Ally

Part 4

Elizabeth nodded but again her eyes strayed to Mr Darcy. He ought to have seemed out of place at Longbourn, indeed he had never been there before without Mr Bingley to soften the ordeal. He was the same Mr Darcy, Lizzy knew, but there was something about him that seemed altogether different. Gone were the scowl and the sneer he so often wore to elevate himself above his neighbours. Indeed, he smiled, offering a word or two of agreement to Mary's tale, and at one point even laughed. Lizzy had never heard him laugh before, but the sound was so warm and uplifting that she found herself smiling in return.

"I see Miss Elizabeth agrees with me."

Her smile fell but too late. He had seen her smiling and now, when he looked at her, it was as if he had caught her unawares. She had no idea what it was she supposedly agreed with but could not dream of admitting as much.

"Yes," she said, hurriedly taking a sip of the tea that had grown lukewarm in her cup. "Yes, of course."

The conversation moved on and Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief at escaping further scrutiny until she felt Jane's suspicious gaze on her.

"You did not hear a word you just agreed to, did you?" Jane whispered, her lips quirking in amusement.

"I could hardly say I do not think Mary is a talented musician, could I?" Elizabeth shot back, praying that her guess was right. It was right enough, it seemed, for Jane rolled her eyes but let the matter drop and at last the occupants of the parlour lapsed into silence.

"Well!" Mr Darcy placed his cup down and got to his feet. "I must continue to Netherfield, or there is a chance I shall never make it."

"And you must come back here this evening!" Mrs Bennet reminded him. "Lizzy, you must persuade him! You are capable of persuading anyone into doing anything!"

Lizzy flushed and Lydia let out a cackle of laughter, accompanied by a whispered comment Lizzy did not care to hear.

"I don't know about that -"

"Do not fret, Miss Elizabeth," Mr Darcy said, looking past her, although he spoke to her. "I shall take no further persuading. I confess the thought of eating alone in the cavernous Netherfield dining room does not sound entirely appealing after my day's journey." He turned to Mrs Bennet. "I very much appreciate the invitation and look forward to joining you this evening."

"Wonderful!" Mrs Bennet beamed, glowing pink under the light of Mr Darcy's gaze. "Wonderful."

"And for now, I shall take my leave." Mr Darcy bowed himself out of the room, and Lizzy noticed he had forgotten one glove. She considered herself for only a moment before leaping to her feet and snatching up the offending article and hurrying after their guest.

"Mr Darcy!"

He paused in the doorway, looking back at her with surprise and the hint of a smile that she was almost disappointed to offer him nothing more than his own mislaid glove.

"You forgot this."

"So I did." He was gruff once more, taking the glove with the smallest nods of thanks. "Actually, Miss Elizabeth..." He paused, peering past her as if to be sure he was not overheard. Lizzy's heart began to beat in her chest and for one wild moment she imagined it was not Mr Darcy whom she had spent the past several months despising standing before her, with the merest hint of a smile on his handsome face, but some gentlemanly other, some hero from a novel, poised to confess his love and alter the course of her life forever.

"Yes?" She shook herself out of her dream, swallowing past the lump in her throat. "Is there something the matter?"

Mr Darcy frowned, himself once again and Lizzy regretted her flight of fancy, wondering what had come over her that day that even Mr Darcy was rendered so agreeable.

"I do not know," he confessed, with an honesty that surprised them both. "I wonder -"

He peered past her again and all at once Elizabeth realised he was not wary of being overheard, but wary of being overheard by Jane. She felt a prickle of annoyance that even now he sought to cast aspersions on her sister's heart.

"It will surely be pleasant to be reunited with your cousin this evening, Mr Darcy. He has spoken of you a great deal."

This was not strictly true but it served to accomplish Lizzy's purpose. Mr Darcy straightened, growing serious.

"He has?"

"He has." Elizabeth smiled sweetly, her cheeks hurting with the effort it took to hold the expression in place. "He has called here often. I am sure you are aware of the friendship that has blossomed between him and my sister. Indeed!" She shrugged her shoulders, smiling still wider and ignoring the pain. "You will be able to witness it for yourself this evening. You will find, I am sure, that they make a delightful couple. Good day, Mr Darcy!"

Bidding him farewell with a brightness she did not feel, Lizzy turned and made her way back into the parlour to rejoin her family.