Chances Come, Ney Mitch [snow like ashes series TXT] 📗

“Thank you,” I whispered to Jane.

“You are welcome,” Jane replied, looking out of the window.

While she did not say that, I could tell what she was thinking. She was offering me my best chance with Mr. Darcy. When we were alone, I would thank her more warmly.

We arrived at Mr. Darcy’s home five minutes early. When we stepped out of the carriage, the front door opened, and a doorman appeared.

Uncle Gardiner greeted him, and we were allowed entry. When entering the vestibule and the front hall, Mr. Darcy was already there to greet us.

I smiled and curtsied. “Mr. Darcy. We come a little early, we confess.”

“I have been waiting this half hour,” Darcy responded, “so this earliness is most welcome. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, welcome to my home.”

“It is a lovely home and displays the proper sort of taste,” my Uncle complimented, “from what I have seen of it, so far. Forgive me for being too early in my praise, but I gather that you are the sort of man whose front hall is a strong indication of how he furnishes the rest of the house.”

“I thank you for the compliment,” Mr. Darcy responded. He then turned to Jane, Aunt Gardiner, and me. “Mrs. Gardiner, you look remarkably well this evening.”

“Thank you, Mr. Darcy.” Aunt Gardiner’s cheeks burned pink.

“Now, may I be granted permission to compliment your nieces? I have a great desire to say pleasant things about them.”

“We grant you all the permission in the world,” she said with a chuckle.

Jane and I stood before him.

“If we are hideous,” I voiced, “please, lie to us.”

He appeared to hide a smile at that comment. “There is no need for deception. Never till this day has my home seen two finer young women step in it—excluding my sister. Yet, what brother can find his sister beautiful? Pray, it seems impossible. Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth, you are most welcome. For, I can firmly declare that you are two of the handsomest sisters in London.”

Jane blushed. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy.”

“You see,” I began, “we are strong enough for your compliments. And we shall endeavor to live up to them.”

“You do already, I can assure you.”

He and I looked at each other for a brief second, but I felt significance to it. I dared to hope, to believe, that perhaps… he could learn to love me a little. At the very least, a little.

Next, we remembered ourselves and then we looked away from each other quickly.

“Now,” Mr. Darcy said, turning to us all, “let us go into the parlor, for I have been wise enough to have company for our dinner party.”

“Oh, we are always interested to meet someone new,” Aunt Gardiner said.

“Mrs. And Mrs. Gardiner, the acquaintance shall be new for you and Miss Bennet, yet for Miss Elizabeth, he is known already.”

“Wait,” I deduced, “might I try and guess who it is?”

“Yes.”

“Would Colonel Fitzwilliam be behind that door?”

Mr. Darcy gave me a teasing look that became him quite nicely.

“I was hoping to surprise you.”

“You invited us to Grosvenor Street. That was enough of a surprise as it is. Everything else is just an added delight.”

We entered and Colonel Fitzwilliam stood up to greet us.

“At ease, soldier,” I announced, laughing as I saw him.

“Always at ease,” he responded, “that is why my soldiers love me, and my superiors despise me. Miss Elizabeth, you look quite sublime this evening.”

“And you and your cousin are the handsomest men in England, so the pleasure belongs to my company, more than anything else.”

Colonel Fitzwilliam turned to Jane and the Gardiners.

“And this must be family of yours.”

“It is indeed,” I confirmed, then turned to Mr. Darcy, so that he could make the introductions.

“Richard,” Darcy began, “allow me to introduce Miss Jane Bennet, and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. They are Miss Bennet’s and Miss Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle.”

“Ah,” Colonel Fitzwilliam began, “forgive me for imposing myself on your dinner with my charming cousin, but I was keen for the company of being here, and also because I was curious to see what any family of Miss Elizabeth’s would look like.”

“And now that you see them, what do you think?” I asked him.

Colonel Fitzwilliam turned to Jane.

“With you, Miss Bennet, I would know you as Miss Elizabeth’s sister anywhere. You both have the same exquisite charm about you.”

“I thank you, sir,” Jane responded, “but my sister possesses the wit. I only learned how to smile at the right moments.”

“You are too modest.” Next, he turned to our aunt and uncle. “I have an immense desire to like you both, for you appear as the sort of people who are very worthy of being acquainted with.”

Aunt Gardiner gave him a sly look. “You are a very pretty speaker. And I am not so old as to not appreciate goodhearted charm.”

“We are delighted to meet you, sir,” Uncle Gardiner responded. “I hope that we do not disappoint you.”

“Yes,” Aunt Gardiner replied, “for we have started so high in your estimation, that how can we live up to it?”

“By not trying,” Colonel Fitzwilliam responded. “Just be yourselves, and I shall be glad.”

Mr. Darcy looked puzzled. “And I stand here, not knowing what to say.”

“You have spoken well thus far,” I helped him.

“Not as well as my cousin. I feel as if I am the one who is certain to disappoint.”

“Never, Fitz,” Colonel Fitzwilliam remarked, patting Darcy on the shoulder. “You have the looks and the talents. Allow me to have the words.”

“I missed seeing you both together,” I admitted, and then I realized that I was speaking in too vulgar a fashion. Blushing, I looked down at the floor. “Forgive me. That’s a strange thing to say.”

“Not at all,” Colonel Fitzwilliam responded. “We have always made an odd couple of cousins. And because of such, no one could resist looking at us. For we were unafraid of being erroneous.”

After speaking more in this manner, we all went into dinner.

As we sat down to eat, Mr. Darcy had