The Tracker's Secret: Sunderverse (Mate Tracker Book 2) by Ingrid Seymour (rm book recommendations TXT) 📕

to go with us.

Elizabeth’s expression softened on seeing him. She did

not hold his inconstancy against him, then. I was glad. I

had been the cause of it, not he. If not for his natural

modesty, he would have pursued his own course instead

of listening to me.

‘Your family are well, I hope?’ said he.

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‘Yes, quite well, I thank you.’

‘Your mother and father?’

‘They are in good health.’

‘And your sisters?’

‘Yes, they are well.’

‘Good.’ He paused, as embarrassed as I had been the

day before.‘It is a very long time since I had the pleasure

of seeing you.’ She opened her mouth to reply, but he

went on:‘It is above eight months.We have not met since

the twenty-sixth of November, when we were all dancing together at Netherfield.’

How long ago it seemed. And what dramas had

unfolded since then.

‘When will you be returning to Longbourn?’ he asked.

‘Soon. In a little less than a week.’

‘You will be pleased to see your sisters again.’

Elizabeth smiled. She could not be ignorant of the

cause of all this talk about her sisters.

‘Yes.’

‘And they to see you.’

‘I’m sure they will.’

‘I am thinking of returning to Netherfield myself,’ he

said nonchalantly.

‘Oh? I had heard a rumour you meant to quit it.’

‘Not at all. It is quite the pleasantest house I have ever

come across.’

‘And yet you have been a long time away.’

‘I had business to attend to,’ he said.‘But now I am my

own master.’

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Elizabeth’s eyes met mine, and we smiled. I was sure

she knew what Bingley meant when he said, Now I am

my own master.

I noticed her aunt glancing from one to the other of

us, but I did not disguise my admiration for her niece. Let

her know it. I would like to let all the world know. I am

in love with Elizabeth Bennet.

I made it my concern to be agreeable. It was not difficult. I simply pretended that I had known the Gardiners

all my life. It is remarkable how simple it is to be easy with

strangers once one has the knack.And the determination,

I could not help admitting. I would not give myself the

trouble before. Now, I made an effort to be liked.

We stayed above half an hour. It was a little over-long

for a morning visit, perhaps, but I could not tear myself

away. At last I noticed Mrs Gardiner glancing at the

clock, and knew we must be on our way.

‘I hope you will join us for dinner before you leave

the neighbourhood,’ I said, glancing at Georgiana so that

she joined me in the invitation.

‘Yes, we would like it very much if you could join us,’

she said shyly.

I looked to Elizabeth, but she looked away. I was not

concerned.There was a look of awkwardness, not hostility on her face, but in time I hoped we would come to

know each other better, and her awkwardness would

fade away.

‘We would be delighted,’ said Mrs Gardiner.

‘Shall we say the day after tomorrow?’

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‘The day after tomorrow it is.’

‘I will look forward to it,’ said Elizabeth.

She caught my eye as she said it, and I smiled. I saw an

answering smile rise to her own lips, and I was satisfied.

‘I am also looking forward to it,’ said Bingley to Elizabeth.‘We have a great deal to talk about. I would like to

hear about all my Hertfordshire friends.’

We departed, and returned to Pemberley.

Georgiana returned to her room to remove her pelisse

and bonnet. I went into the morning room with Bingley, to find Caroline and Louisa there.

‘You have been out?’ asked Caroline.

‘Yes, visiting Miss Bennet,’ said Bingley.

‘Jane Bennet is here?’ asked Caroline in surprise.

‘I should have said, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.’

Even worse, said Caroline’s expression. She quickly

schooled it, however.

‘Dear me, what a coincidence that she just happens to

be in Derbyshire when you return, Mr Darcy.’

‘Yes. It is fortunate, is it not?’ I asked.

She looked as though she would like to say something

satirical, but thought better of it.

‘I would like to see her again. I think I will pay her a

call.What do you say, Louisa? Will you come with me?’

‘There is no need,’ said her brother. ‘She is coming

here.’

‘Here?’ Caroline sounded horrified.

‘Darcy invited her to dinner.’

‘With her aunt and uncle,’ I added.

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‘Not the attorney from Meryton?’ she asked in a droll

voice.

‘No, the uncle who lives in Cheapside,’ I replied,

removing her sting.

She looked annoyed. ‘And is he very vulgar?’ she

asked.

‘He must be. My dear! Cheapside,’ said Louisa with a

shudder.

‘He is in fact a gentleman-like man, and his wife is a

lady of fashion.’

‘And are we to meet these paragons?’ said Caroline,

with a flash in her eyes. ‘How entertaining.’

I listened with complaisance as she ran on in a similar

fashion. Nothing she could say could pierce my happiness. I thought only of Elizabeth. She had not repulsed

me. She had not spoken to me with disgust and contempt. She had been polite, and agreeable, and there had

been that in her manner which led me to hope she was

not indifferent to me.

When I think how once I had taken it for granted

that she would marry me! That I had not even considered the possibility that she might refuse me. And now,

though I felt hope rising inside me, I cautioned myself

that my feelings might not be returned.

But I will not think so far ahead. I am to see her the

day after tomorrow. It is enough.

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Thursday 7th August

Mr Gardiner arrived here early this morning and I took

him down to the river, together with some other of my

house-guests. He is knowledgeable about fishing, and I

provided him with tackle so that he might try his luck at

catching something. My