Page 66 of The Crown’s Gift

She laughed. The sound startled both of them.

"How is Miss Darcy?" Elizabeth asked.

"Better. She and Mrs Annesley arrive tomorrow. She insisted upon returning to Pemberley rather than allowing Wickham to make any place unsafe."

"That is brave."

"It is. I nearly argued."

"Nearly?"

"I asked what she wanted and then attempted to listen to the answer."

The admission came without any invitation to praise him.

"Papa says listening is harder than running toward danger. Danger ends more quickly."

"Sir Thomas is correct about an alarming number of things."

"Do not tell him."

At the carriage, Darcy invited the Gardiners to dine two days later, after Georgiana's arrival.

"My sister would be disappointed to learn Miss Elizabeth had been near Pemberley and not remained."

Elizabeth knew he meant her as well as Mary. He did not say it.

Mr Gardiner accepted with pleasure. Mrs Gardiner accepted after one glance at Elizabeth.

As the carriage descended the drive, Elizabeth looked back. Darcy remained upon the steps.

"He is very different from the man described in Hertfordshire," Mrs Gardiner said.

"He is at home."

"A man's home often shows the portion of him society conceals."

Mr Gardiner smiled. "Your aunt means that his servants like him and he looked at you as if the house were less surprising than your presence in it."

"Uncle."

"I prefer clarity."

They spent the next day in Lambton. Elizabeth visited shops with her aunt, wrote to Jane, and attempted not to measure time until the Pemberley dinner.

Near noon, Darcy entered the bookshop.

He appeared equally surprised and pleased. Mr Gardiner had gone to meet an old business acquaintance; Mrs Gardiner was speaking with the proprietor's wife in the adjoining room.

"Do you require another agricultural report?" Elizabeth asked.

"I was sent for music Georgiana requested."

"Then we are both acting for sisters. Mary asked me to find a collection of Scottish airs."

They searched the shelves together. The bookshop was narrow, forcing occasional nearness. When Elizabeth reached for a folio above her head, Darcy took it at the same moment. His arm passed beside hers. Neither moved for one suspended second.

He withdrew and handed her the book.