the least he could allow under the circumstances.
Bingley eyed his friend. “I suppose you are right. Please convey my sincere condolences to Miss Elizabeth, and I will send a note later today for you to deliver to Longbourn.”
“Certainly, Bingley.”
The gentlemen stood, and Darcy walked his friend to the front door. When the door closed behind Bingley, Darcy sighed heavily. He thought that, if Jane did return Bingley’s regard, he would have much to confess. He hoped he would be forgiven.
* * *
Still a bit mortified from the morning’s events with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth decided to have a tray brought to her sitting room for supper. She was not sure she could encounter him again with any degree of composure. She asked Mrs. Carroll whether Miss Lucas might wish to dine with her. Soon the girl was at her door, and another tray was brought in. Together they spoke in hushed tones as they dined alone.
After supper, Maria returned to her chambers, and Elizabeth found comfort in being alone with her thoughts. She indulged in a few tears as she stared blankly out the window. As the hour grew late, she decided to risk leaving her room. This time she knew where the library was. She prayed that she would not encounter Mr. Darcy there as she walked quietly through the corridors of the house.
The soft sounds of the piano drew her to the door of the music room instead. The music was melodious and pleasing. Elizabeth quietly peeked inside the room to discover Miss Darcy playing the pianoforte to an audience of one. Mr. Darcy was sitting with his back to the door. Elizabeth was fascinated by the scene. It was the most beautiful rendering of that particular sonata she had ever heard. Miss Darcy was in every way as talented as portrayed. For a moment, Elizabeth leaned against the entryway and closed her eyes to listen.
When the final cords of the song no longer resonated in the air, Elizabeth opened her eyes and was surprised to feel her cheeks wet with tears. She wiped at them and looked into the room again. She froze as she watched Mr. Darcy stand, walk towards his sister, and place a kiss on her cheek. He whispered something tenderly into her ear and exited through a door behind the piano. The gesture was so sweet that Elizabeth had to wipe her eyes again. She was grateful that he had exited another way and had not come upon her. Another soothing piece of music began. She saw that Miss Darcy was in an almost trance-like state with the music. Elizabeth tiptoed into the room and took a seat at the back where she might not be noticed.
She had closed her eyes again and was enjoying the soothing melody when she realized the music had stopped; she heard a quiet gasp. Opening her eyes, she saw Miss Darcy covering her mouth and staring at her.
Elizabeth quickly stood and apologized for disturbing her performance. She bowed her head in embarrassment, and when Miss Darcy did not say anything, she chanced a look at the girl. It would appear Miss Darcy was nearly as embarrassed as she was!
Elizabeth walked closer to the instrument and said gently, “I hope you do not mind that I intruded upon you. The music was so beautiful, and I could not very well help myself.” She smiled kindly at the girl.
Miss Darcy returned a weak smile and, without lifting her eyes off the keys, said, “You are perfectly welcome, Miss Bennet. I was merely surprised to see you.”
Elizabeth moved a bit closer. “May I ask the name of that piece?”
Miss Darcy kept her eyes down still but answered, “It was Beethoven’s N. 28, Miss Bennet.”
Touched by Miss Darcy’s obvious shyness and natural modesty, Elizabeth stepped yet closer. “It was very lovely. You play beautifully.”
“Thank you.” Miss Darcy demurred then raised her eyes for the first time towards Elizabeth.
Elizabeth walked around to the side of the piano and said, “May I see?”
When Miss Darcy nodded, Elizabeth surprised her by taking a seat next to her on the bench to look at
Bingley eyed his friend. “I suppose you are right. Please convey my sincere condolences to Miss Elizabeth, and I will send a note later today for you to deliver to Longbourn.”
“Certainly, Bingley.”
The gentlemen stood, and Darcy walked his friend to the front door. When the door closed behind Bingley, Darcy sighed heavily. He thought that, if Jane did return Bingley’s regard, he would have much to confess. He hoped he would be forgiven.
* * *
Still a bit mortified from the morning’s events with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth decided to have a tray brought to her sitting room for supper. She was not sure she could encounter him again with any degree of composure. She asked Mrs. Carroll whether Miss Lucas might wish to dine with her. Soon the girl was at her door, and another tray was brought in. Together they spoke in hushed tones as they dined alone.
After supper, Maria returned to her chambers, and Elizabeth found comfort in being alone with her thoughts. She indulged in a few tears as she stared blankly out the window. As the hour grew late, she decided to risk leaving her room. This time she knew where the library was. She prayed that she would not encounter Mr. Darcy there as she walked quietly through the corridors of the house.
The soft sounds of the piano drew her to the door of the music room instead. The music was melodious and pleasing. Elizabeth quietly peeked inside the room to discover Miss Darcy playing the pianoforte to an audience of one. Mr. Darcy was sitting with his back to the door. Elizabeth was fascinated by the scene. It was the most beautiful rendering of that particular sonata she had ever heard. Miss Darcy was in every way as talented as portrayed. For a moment, Elizabeth leaned against the entryway and closed her eyes to listen.
When the final cords of the song no longer resonated in the air, Elizabeth opened her eyes and was surprised to feel her cheeks wet with tears. She wiped at them and looked into the room again. She froze as she watched Mr. Darcy stand, walk towards his sister, and place a kiss on her cheek. He whispered something tenderly into her ear and exited through a door behind the piano. The gesture was so sweet that Elizabeth had to wipe her eyes again. She was grateful that he had exited another way and had not come upon her. Another soothing piece of music began. She saw that Miss Darcy was in an almost trance-like state with the music. Elizabeth tiptoed into the room and took a seat at the back where she might not be noticed.
She had closed her eyes again and was enjoying the soothing melody when she realized the music had stopped; she heard a quiet gasp. Opening her eyes, she saw Miss Darcy covering her mouth and staring at her.
Elizabeth quickly stood and apologized for disturbing her performance. She bowed her head in embarrassment, and when Miss Darcy did not say anything, she chanced a look at the girl. It would appear Miss Darcy was nearly as embarrassed as she was!
Elizabeth walked closer to the instrument and said gently, “I hope you do not mind that I intruded upon you. The music was so beautiful, and I could not very well help myself.” She smiled kindly at the girl.
Miss Darcy returned a weak smile and, without lifting her eyes off the keys, said, “You are perfectly welcome, Miss Bennet. I was merely surprised to see you.”
Elizabeth moved a bit closer. “May I ask the name of that piece?”
Miss Darcy kept her eyes down still but answered, “It was Beethoven’s N. 28, Miss Bennet.”
Touched by Miss Darcy’s obvious shyness and natural modesty, Elizabeth stepped yet closer. “It was very lovely. You play beautifully.”
“Thank you.” Miss Darcy demurred then raised her eyes for the first time towards Elizabeth.
Elizabeth walked around to the side of the piano and said, “May I see?”
When Miss Darcy nodded, Elizabeth surprised her by taking a seat next to her on the bench to look at
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