Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Mr Wickham means to threaten Mr Darcy? I cannot believe it!” Jane’s mouth fell open. “It must be a misunderstanding.”
“There is no mistake.” Elizabeth paced their bedroom. “Mr Darcy accidentally dropped a letter when he came to take his leave yesterday. Mr Wickham demands one thousand pounds in exchange for his silence regarding Miss Darcy’s good name.”
“But his address has always been so affable and pleasing.” Creases formed in Jane’s forehead. “He has such a kind face.”
“A tiger is a handsome creature, but that does not mean its attack is not vicious. I have known for some time that he is of poor character.” In lowered tones, she confessed to Jane the argument she had overheard in the woods.
Her sister’s face grew paler at every word.
“Allow me to say that you have been very reckless, Lizzy. You could have fallen badly, and no one would have known you were there. Or you could have encountered someone less scrupulous than Mr Darcy. I understand better why you might take his side in all this, but to become so involved in his personal affairs! You have been too impulsive and now you wish to put yourself in danger for his sake! Mama is convinced of an attachment between you and Mr Darcy, and I have told everyone who will listen that you would tell me of it if that were true—but now I learn that you have been keeping secrets from me!”
“There is nothing between us.” Elizabeth’s cheeks grew warm. “Only friendship.”
“Then why do you put yourself in harm’s way for him? By your own admission, Mr Wickham is capable of reprehensible behaviour, and you wish to bargain with him? You cannot meet him again alone.”
“I have no intention of doing so.”
Jane’s shoulders sagged. “I am pleased to hear it.”
“I would like Mr Bingley to accompany me.”
“Mr Bingley!”
“I did not want to involve him at first, but I see now it is unavoidable.”
“Why can you not ask Papa?”
“Because he will prevent me from going and we have but one opportunity to stop Mr Wickham! Mr Bingley would do anything you ask of him. You must tell Mr Bingley of the designated meeting point. He can conceal himself there until Mr Wickham arrives. I shall meet with Mr Wickham and establish whether he has the other letters. Once it is clear that they are in Mr Wickham’s possession, Mr Bingley may reveal himself and apprehend Mr Wickham. ”
“I will ask no such thing of Mr Bingley! Unhappy as I am for Miss Darcy’s situation, I cannot request that he place himself in peril for this foolhardy plan, which you must allow that it is.
Mr Wickham is a soldier, Lizzy, who knows what harm he might be capable of?
Forgive me, but I will not involve Mr Bingley.
One day you will know what it is to love someone and wish to protect them from injury. ”
“And so, Mr Wickham is permitted to ruin the life of a young woman for money?”
“We know none of the particulars, nothing of what has truly happened. We should tell Papa and leave it for him to—”
“Wash his hands of the whole affair!” Elizabeth pulled out her watch. “It is nearly twenty past one. I had hoped we might persuade Mr Bingley to come to our assistance during his visit today.”
She glanced at Jane, whose beautiful blue eyes were full of tears.
Overcome with guilt, she went over to her sister and drew her into her arms. “Do not be unhappy, dearest. Your gentle heart is not accustomed to saying no and I have shocked you with my impetuousness when I thought you were long used to it. I shall not demand any assistance from your dear Mr Bingley, and it was quite wrong of me to ask. I understand your reluctance and I should probably exercise better judgment over my decisions, but I remain resolved to do all I can to help.”
“What will you do now?” Jane pulled away from Elizabeth and reached for a handkerchief. “Will you leave the matter with our father?”
“No.” Elizabeth took a step back. “I shall go alone.”
“But consider the danger! And what will people think if they see you?”
“I am permitted to take a short walk and stop to speak with a member of our acquaintance.” She reached for her cloak which was hanging over the back of a chair.
“Perhaps I might gain his trust long enough for him to reveal where he keeps the letters, and then this information can be passed on to Mr Darcy.” She pulled the cloak around her shoulders.
“I shall not be long. When you see Mr Bingley, I would be very grateful if you could say that I need to speak to him about a private matter.”
Jane called out her name, but Elizabeth did not turn back.
A poor night’s sleep and a day’s wasted journey created a tempest in Darcy’s head.
All night he had tossed and turned, a great clawing sense of foreboding robbing him of sleep.
Miss Elizabeth’s tear-stained face returned to him, and he berated himself for not doing more to help her.
Several times he had woken, only to hear the howls of wind from the storm outside.
Several pieces of stale bread and questionable milk was the offered fare for breakfast, and it had been against his better judgment that he reserved a room for another night.
His carriage and servants would remain here, and he would return to Meryton alone.
The rational part of him hoped that he would not be detained in Hertfordshire for long.
Yet his heart and body tormented him with the lure of Miss Elizabeth’s company, and he was impatient to be in her presence once more.
A groom bought a fresh horse round, and he was away as quickly as the wet grounds would allow.
The ride back to Meryton was not as fast as he had hoped. But with one final click of his whip, he turned up the avenue into Netherfield. Bingley’s servants allowed him entrance and he was greeted at once by his friend.
“Darcy, what’s this! I thought urgent business had called you away?” Bingley ushered Darcy into his book-room.
“It had, but I realised too late that I must have left something of great importance here. You have not by chance found a letter addressed to me? I received it only yesterday and I was not halfway through my journey when I realised I had misplaced it. Its contents are of a sensitive nature, and I cannot be easy until I know its fate.”
“I have not seen it, but I shall ring for my servants.”
“No,” Darcy swiftly interjected. “I would like to try Longbourn before we alert your staff. It may have fallen from my person when I was there.”
“Of course. You may accompany me when I call upon Miss Bennet.”
Bingley’s whole demeanour lightened as he spoke the name of his betrothed. Darcy smiled for what felt like the first time in an age. “Allow me to congratulate you again. You look content.”
“More than I can put into words. I only wish every man was as happy.” Bingley regarded Darcy seriously. “Do you know, I thought Miss Elizabeth seemed very quiet last night, not at all her agreeable self. I understand you spoke to her shortly before you left. How did she seem to you?”
Darcy’s chest tightened when he thought of Miss Elizabeth’s distress. Under no circumstances would he reveal to Bingley how bitterly Miss Elizabeth had cried, so instead he gave his friend a scathing but brief account of Mr Lucas’s actions, at which Bingley looked sufficiently outraged.
“The brazen nerve! You are quite correct, he will not be welcome at Netherfield again.” Bingley stole a curious look at Darcy from under his brows. “Miss Elizabeth must think highly of you, to entrust a personal matter into your confidence.”
“We have become friends,” Darcy replied evasively, knowing full well the inadequacy of this statement. No one else occupied his mind, day and night as she did.
“She is soon to be my sister.” His colour heightened, Bingley attempted a stern expression. “And you have been paying her an inordinate amount of attention. Your actions have not gone unnoticed by others.”
The irony that Bingley should adopt a mantle of fraternal protectiveness over Miss Elizabeth when he allowed his own sister’s conduct to go unchecked was not lost on Darcy.
He answered defensively, “Should I have ignored her then? Or would my rudeness have been chastised? I cannot guess how you wish me to behave, Bingley, for I never seem to have it right. Miss Elizabeth and I have danced together twice, dined together on one occasion, and walked together several times. Yesterday I happened across her in a state of great agitation—she was upset, and I listened. These are not the actions of a grand love affair. Blame for speculation regarding Miss Elizabeth cannot be placed at my door.”
“You look at her a great deal.”
“I can hardly talk to her with my eyes shut.”
Bingley waved an accusing finger. “Do not be obtuse. What I mean is that you look at her constantly, with an expression I have never seen on your face. If I did not know you better, I would say it was admiration.”
Darcy bristled. “Grateful as I am for your observations—wholly unhelpful as they are—my objective to retrieve that letter has not waned. I wish to accompany you to Longbourn and to speak discreetly to Mr Bennet. There is a strong possibility that I might also need to converse with Miss Elizabeth. I hope my actions will be considered sufficiently appropriate.”
Bingley winced at Darcy’s brusque tone. “It appears I have upset you and that was not my intention.”
Guilt pierced Darcy’s breast. Bingley was only speaking as a friend, as a decent, honourable man.
He should not be the object of Darcy’s ill-humour.
With the slightest inclination of his head, he accepted Bingley’s apology.
“I have not had the best morning, but you should not bear the consequences of a hard mattress and a terrible breakfast. If we go to Longbourn without delay, then I might be a better conversationalist.”
“An enticing prospect, and all the more reason for a swift departure.” Bingley clapped Darcy on the back. “And we will have you back in time for a proper meal.”
Darcy and Bingley were shown to the drawing room as the clock chimed two. Mrs Bennet threw her hands in the air at the sight of Darcy. “I had no idea, sir, that you might be returning so soon. I shall ring for Hill.”
“Please do not trouble yourself on my account.” Darcy gave a tight smile, glancing around the room for Miss Elizabeth. There was no sign of her, or of her father. Miss Bennet stood quickly and approached them both. To his surprise, she walked past Bingley and came straight to him.
“Mr Darcy,” she said quietly, so softly her mother could not hear. “I must beg a word with you in private.” She looked regretfully at Bingley and placed a soothing hand on his arm. “I shall not be long, Charles.”
Bingley’s cheeks flushed scarlet. “No. Something has upset you and I wish to know of it.”
Miss Bennet glanced at Darcy. She lowered her voice. “I am worried for Elizabeth. I believe her to be in danger.”
Elizabeth. Darcy’s heart constricted. “Where is she?”
Miss Bennet drew a shaky breath. “With Mr Wickham.”