Mrs. Bingley’s Sister (The Austen Novels)

Chapter 37

Darcy was up early, dreading Elizabeth's departure. He was already missing her, and she hadn't even left yet.

"Bingley, you do not have to leave," he had said yesterday evening after they came back from Faringwell, "just because this accident has happened, it does not mean you and your family have to rush off."

Bingley had merely shaken his head. "No, I know that you remaining here to be the host for us is likely in the way of where you would rather be—"

"Bingley," Darcy interrupted, holding up a hand, "I do not wish to be at Faringwell at this time. Miss Llewellyn is well attended to. I am not needed there."

Bingley just looked at him for a moment and then sighed. "No, I am afraid we cannot stay. There is actually—I did not say it in the carriage, because I did not want to alarm the ladies. But Bennet is in poor health. We need to return to Hertfordshire."

Darcy's eyes widened. He knew Elizabeth was fond of her father. "What is wrong? Do you know any details?"

Bingley let out an annoyed sound. "No, I do not. Mrs. Bennet didn't see fit to inform us at all, actually." The man stomped across the study to find a drink. "The express we received this afternoon came from Mary. It turns out Bennet has been in a bad way for some weeks, and we are just now hearing of it. So, as you can understand, we must be off. But I didn't want to alarm Jane nor Elizabeth."

"Especially not Elizabeth..." Darcy muttered under his breath, still thinking of how like her father she always seemed. He didn't see Bingley's strange look at his addressing her by her first name.

If Mr. Bennet passed, this would devastate Elizabeth. Darcy's heart hurt to think about it. For a moment, he had a desire to go with them back to Hertfordshire—but no, that would be strange, and it might alert them to the urgency of their leaving. No, no, he could not do such a thing.

"I am terribly sorry," Darcy uttered, defeated, "Is there anything at all I can do?"

"I'm afraid not, my friend."

But then Bingley scratched his head. "However...well, it may be early yet..."

"What is it?"

"I have been thinking for some time that I would like to move my family away from Hertfordshire. Maybe come here, to Derbyshire. I have not discussed it with Jane, of course, nor Elizabeth, but would you be willing to let me know of any estates to lease nearby?"

Darcy felt his heart skip a beat. The Bingleys move here? Elizabeth become his neighbor?

"I shall be happy to be of service to you and your family," Darcy managed to say in a calm voice, with a slight bow.

Bingley smiled. "I knew I could count on you, sir."

That was last night. Today, this early morning, Darcy prepared to say farewell to the one woman he wished he could keep here. He truly didn't want Elizabeth to leave, but he comforted himself with the likely fact that her departure would not be forever. He felt saddened, though, for what she might yet endure if her father passed, as he could understand what she was going through—he had lost his father, too. How he wished he could be there in Hertfordshire to offer comfort for her, if and when that day came.

He rang for his valet. He arrived and dressed Darcy in that subtle shade of green.

"Ready, sir?"

"Thank you, Smith."

He headed down and could hear movement below. Voices. The children's. Elizabeth's. He hurried his pace ever so slightly.

"Come children, stand still, please, be good for Aunt Bennet," Elizabeth was saying as he appeared in view.

Though she was dressed modestly for traveling, Darcy was struck by her beauty. Her hair, up and out of her face but for some loose strands, which he wanted to gently move out of her eyes with his hands (but knew he could never so such a thing); her cheeks flushed (had she stepped outside?), her lips as red as her cheeks (how he wished to be allowed to kiss them), and her eyes—she always had such fine eyes. She looked over and caught his eye. She stood up and curtsied wordlessly. He dipped his head in a small bow.

"Miss Bennet," he said quietly, moving toward her and the children. Nan was nearby, and soon Bingley and his wife appeared.

"Darcy!" Bingley cried, with a weak smile, "Sorry to make you rise so early, my good friend!"

"It would be insupportable of me if I did not see your party off," Darcy answered. He heard a peep from his goddaughter, so he got down to her level and addressed her.

"It was very nice to see you again, Lizzy," he said to her. She refused to look at him, crossing her arms defiantly.

"Lizzy, won't you say goodbye to Mr. Darcy?" Darcy heard Elizabeth say. His heart melted st hearing his name on her lips, even if it wasn't directly to him.

The little girl frowned. "I don't want to say goodbye."

"Lizzy, we are leaving, be a good girl and say goodbye—" Bingley said sternly before the little girl stamped her foot and said, "No!"

Next thing Darcy knew, Elizabeth was down on the floor next to him, eye level with the little girl too. He watched her as she smiled calmly at Lizzy and said slowly, "If you do not say goodbye to Mr. Darcy now, you may feel very sad later, after we leave. Come, give Aunt Bennet a hug."

The little girl did as she was bid, and Elizabeth whispered something in her ear, which made her pull away with a smiling giggle. Little Lizzy then looked at Mr. Darcy and said, "Aunt Bennet says I should ask you to smile, Mr. Darcy, because she says you look much more handsome when you do."

Some embarrassed admonishments from the Bingleys, but Darcy glanced over at Elizabeth, who looked to be biting back a grin while avoiding his eye, her cheeks slightly flushed. He chuckled—his own cheeks reddening slightly for the knowledge of Elizabeth calling him handsome, even if it was to a child—and he looked back at Lizzy with a smile, who said loudly, "Aunt Bennet was right, you do look handsome when you smile. Goodbye, Mr. Darcy! I shall miss you."

And then before he realized what was happening, his little goddaughter wrapped her arms around his neck. He hugged her back, slowly at first but then with more feeling, and his eyes caught Elizabeth's for a moment before the little girl pulled away and curtsied.

Darcy and Elizabeth stood back up, but the little boys also wanted attention, so Darcy was caught up for a moment, picking up each boy one at a time in a bear hug and returning him to the ground. Bingley nodded to Nan, who gathered the children up and made to lead them outside. The adults followed, with Darcy trailing last, right behind Elizabeth. It was very cold outside, the sun only just coming up, and the Bingley party turned to make their goodbyes. Mrs. Bingley thanked him serenely before being handed into the carriage. Bingley turned and gave his thanks as well before stepping in after his wife, leaving Elizabeth alone with Darcy for just a moment.

He looked at her and said, "I have very much enjoyed seeing you again. I only—I only wish our time had not been cut so short."

She looked at him, expressionless for a moment, before giving a wistful smile and answering, "I, too, have enjoyed seeing you again. I'm sure that you will soon be very busy, and shall not think too often of us—"

"I could never not think of you, Miss Bennet.”

She looked at him, surprised, before shaking her her head slightly in some hurt and confusion before simply saying, "Goodbye, Mr. Darcy."

He dipped his head, and the carriage door was opened. He held his hand out for her, handing her in, relishing the feel of her touch, however brief, before she was in, and the door was shut. He stepped away, and the carriage began to move.

"Goodbye, Elizabeth," he said softly as he watched the carriage roll all the way down the path, until it was out of sight.