“How was fishing?” Rosalyn asked.
Darcy chuckled. “It is likely the other men will be at it all morning. I made certain they were all set up, and then I had to leave them to meet with my steward, Mr. Barstow.” He stepped into the room. “Are you enjoying this sitting room?”
“Oh, yes!” gushed Rosalyn. “It is very nice.”
“It is Georgiana’s favourite room. For the past year it has been my intention of surprising her and having it redecorated for her.”
“I think that would be such a wonderful surprise!”
“My only dilemma is how to decorate it and what colours and fabrics to use that would please her. That is not something about which I normally make decisions, and I have continually postponed it.”
He looked at both of them as he said this, but then looked at Rosalyn as she said, “Mr. Darcy, I would be more than happy to give you some advice.” She then began suggesting colours and fabrics he ought to use to decorate the room. Elizabeth was almost embarrassed as her friend went into great detail, even the amount of lace he should have in the curtains.
When she finished, Mr. Darcy looked at her oddly. “Thank you, Miss Matthews. I appreciate your recommendation.” With an awkward bow, he turned and walked out of the room.
Elizabeth was certain his earlier comment had not been one to which he expected an answer.
When they heard him enter through a door down the hall, Rosalyn grasped Elizabeth’s hands. “Do you realize what just happened?”
Elizabeth’s eyebrows pinched together as she said, “No, I am afraid I do not.”
“He wished to know how I wanted the room decorated, so that when Pemberley becomes mine, this room will be exactly as I want it to be.”
Elizabeth’s jaw dropped as she heard her words. “Rosalyn, you cannot be serious!”
“Yes! This is just the assurance I have been waiting for. I must go tell my sister!” Rosalyn left the room quickly, leaving Elizabeth stunned.
Elizabeth kept her eyes toward the empty doorway and shook her head. They had not even been at Pemberley one full day, and Rosalyn was already imagining herself as its Mistress.
At precisely one o’clock, the guests made their way out to the front grounds of Pemberley, walking to a canopy that had been erected on the north side of the lake. Mr. Darcy and his sister welcomed everyone as they arrived, and they were invited to sit down on the chairs that were placed under the canopy or on blankets that were spread out on the lawn.
Elizabeth followed Emily over to a blanket and sat beside her and the Goldsmith girls.
Once everyone was seated, Miss Darcy gave a few instructions. “The picnic lunch is ready to be served, and once you have been served, you may return to the chairs here, sit on the blanket, or walk around and eat. We urge you to enjoy the day any way you choose.”
Servants were lined up on one side of a large table filled with food, ready to fill the guests’ plates. Emily took hers and skipped back to the blanket, holding her plate out from her as she tried to keep it from tipping. Elizabeth watched, holding her breath, hoping she would not take a spill.
Elizabeth took a plate and glanced around her. Mr. Darcy was conversing with the Goldsmiths and his sister. Rosalyn, shaded from the sun with a parasol, kept a vigilant eye on the group, waiting, Elizabeth mused disparagingly, for the first opportunity to claim her place next to Mr. Darcy.
She did not yet see Mr. Hamilton. Emily was enjoying her two friends’ company, and everyone else was engaged in conversation with another. As she wished for a few moments alone to ponder her sister’s good news, she decided to walk down to the water’s edge and eat there.
She was equally enjoying her repast and the view when she heard her name called. She looked up, surprised to see Miss Darcy walking toward her.
“Hello, Miss Darcy.”
“Hello, Miss Bennet. I hope you find everything to your satisfaction.”
“Very much so,” Elizabeth replied.
“I understand congratulations are in order. My brother has informed me that your sister and Mr. Bingley are engaged.”
Elizabeth’s jaw dropped slowly as she studied the young girl. She noted nothing in Miss Darcy’s demeanour that indicated regret or lingering affection toward Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth slowly smiled. “Thank you. But how is it your brother came to hear of it?”
“He received a letter today from Mr. Bingley.”
Elizabeth could not hide her surprise. “His letter was from Mr. Bingley?”
“Yes.”
Elizabeth wished very much to know how Miss Darcy truly felt about this news.
After a brief silence, Miss Darcy obliged her. “I would not wish you to be under any misapprehension concerning Mr. Bingley and me, Miss Bennet. He is a friend, and that is all. I have no ill feelings toward him or your sister.”
Elizabeth tilted her head at the young girl. “I am truly glad to hear that your heart is safe from being broken. I was unsure how you felt about me even being here.”
Georgiana slowly shook her head. “I know there was much speculation about Mr. Bingley and me. Truth be told, I did seek him out.” She looked down at her hands, as her fingers nervously intertwined. “My brother, you see, had often hinted how much it would please him if we were to form an attachment. Last year my brother became extremely downcast, and I was under the mistaken belief that he was disappointed in me. I felt I must abide by his wishes.”
“That was why you sought Mr. Bingley out?”
Georgiana nodded. “It was when we first saw you at the Willstones’ that I realized neither Mr. Bingley nor I had strong feelings of affection for each other.”
“When you saw me?”
“Yes. I had heard about Mr. Bingley and Miss Bennet over a year ago. I knew he had been very fond of her and that his heart had been broken because she did not love him.”
“But she did…”
“Yes, I know that now, but I had been given the impression she did not. When we saw you at the Willstones’, I wrongly assumed you were that Miss Bennet. I could see by Mr. Bingley’s behaviour that he still had strong feelings for her. It was the way his face lit up that caught my attention. And his smile was unlike any I had ever seen. When I found out that you were but her sister, I realized how much he still must love her. I could not help but wonder how much more his countenance would have brightened if he had seen her.”
Elizabeth smiled. “You are a wise and discerning young lady.”
“It would have been wrong for me to insist Mr. Bingley do the honourable thing and ignore the regard he had for Miss Bennet because people expected an engagement between us. Besides, my brother’s deportment had not improved in the slightest.”
Elizabeth’s hand went to her neck and she nervously fingered the cross on her necklace. “Did you ever discover the reason why he became despondent?”
“No. It was after his return from Kent last year at Easter that it evidenced itself.” Georgiana turned and gazed at the lake. “The only hint I received was when he told me he thought he knew himself and he had been clearly mistaken.” Georgiana let out a soft sigh and looked over to where her brother stood. “While I still know nothing of what prompted him to grow so gravely despondent, he now seems much recovered.” Georgiana’s eyebrows pinched together and her lips quivered slightly as she said, “I may never know what caused his sudden despair, but I can make a guess what has brought him out of it.” She gestured toward him and Rosalyn.
Elizabeth’s heart unexpectedly lurched as she glanced at Mr. Darcy, who was flanked on one side by Rosalyn and the other by Mrs. Willstone. He looked her way and their eyes briefly met. He then turned his head abruptly
