#darbyshire

It’s wonderful being home. I stand behind Georgiana as she plays the most recent piece she has learned on the piano. She was working on the piece before I left, and now it seems that she has nearly mastered it. She truly has a talent. I am lost in the movement of her hands over the ivory keys when suddenly the music stops and the piano bench screeches back against the wooden floor. I am nearly knocked backward as Georgiana throws her arms around my neck.

           “Brother! You’re home!” she laughs.

           I laugh and lift her up, spinning her around. As my eyes pass by the cracked doorway, I think I see someone standing there. In fact, it’s more than just someone. It’s Miss Elizabeth Bennett. Here, in my home. I sit Georgiana back down on her feet.

           “Yes, I decided to come home for a bit. I apologize, but if you could excuse me for a moment…I’ll be right back to you, sister,” I say, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

           Elizabeth knew that I saw her, so I follow the sound of her soft footsteps as she flees from the house. I follow her onto the landing of the gardens just as she is about to descend the stairs.

           “Miss Bennett,” I call.

           She freezes where she stands and slowly turns to face me. Her breathing is heavy, her cheeks flushed. Our eyes meet, and certainly not for the first time, her mere presence strikes a chord deep within me.

           “Mr. Darcy, I do apologize for intruding. My aunt and uncle…they wanted to tour and I was obligated to join. The mistress said that you weren’t home. Otherwise I wouldn’t have…”

           “I just arrived.”

           I try to gauge the emotions on her face. Her hands wring together, and she worries her bottom lip with her teeth. I can tell she is uncomfortable and that seeing me was the last thing on earth she wanted to occur. After all, she made it very clear that my feelings for her were not, in any way, reciprocated.

           “As I said, I do apologize. It was not my intention to stumble into your private affairs.”

           “It is quite alright Miss Bennett. Will you and your party be staying?” I ask.

           “Oh, I don’t believe so. I’m sure we’ll be on our way soon enough. There is much my aunt and uncle would like to see on our journey. In fact, I should be finding them. I would prefer not being left,” she explains.

           Before I can respond, her skirts swish around her and she is descending the stairs. I watch her as she crosses the grounds and I am left with a small bit of hope that things might be different for us when she throws me a passing glance over her shoulder. I sigh to myself before turning back into my home, a simple, relaxing night reuniting with my sister much needed.