Chapter 6
The next day, late in the afternoon, Darcy’s carriage stopped in Gracechurch Street.
The sun was still shining, and it was quite warm, especially inside the carriage.
Darcy stared at the large, handsome house, situated across the street from a small park.
The neighbourhood appeared to be animated and pleasant; he remembered how Bingley’s sisters mocked the Bennets’ relatives living near Cheapside.
Back then, he never imagined he might visit them one day.
In truth, until that moment he did not remember having visited the area before.
He was reluctant to step down. He had hesitated for hours before coming although he did have important news to share with Mr. Bennet and Mr. Gardiner. He had sent a note the previous evening, attempting to put them at ease, and now he was ready to explain all the details.
But he knew that was not reason enough to be there.
He could have asked the two gentlemen to visit him.
Yes, like the fool he was, against his own will and judgment, he exposed himself to ridicule once more in an attempt to catch a glimpse of her.
As preposterous as such a gesture was, he could not fight it.
And now, being there, he realised even more the absurdity of his behaviour.
He was prepared to leave when the door opened, and the master of the house appeared, hurried towards him, and bowed in greetings.
“Mr. Darcy! Sir, what an honour to see you here. Are you looking for us? Please do come in, sir. What an honour indeed.”
Darcy replied politely to the gentleman’s enthusiastic invitation. There was nothing else to do but follow him inside. The grip in his chest tightened as the door closed behind them.
“Sir, please come in. My brother Bennet will be happy to see you.”
“How is Mr. Bennet? Please do not trouble yourself; I will not stay long. I only came to bring some news that I hope will please you both and to decide how you prefer to proceed with the final details.”
“Mr. Darcy, you are too kind. You should not have troubled yourself to come so far. I mean —I am very glad you did. My brother has been unwell the last two days to be honest. The fatigue of the journey, the lack of sleep, and all this distress…we feared for his health. Lizzy is taking care of him every moment. Please come in.”
Even before they entered the drawing room, Darcy heard Lydia’s shrill voice and other voices trying to temper her.
The first thing he noticed once the door opened was Elizabeth’s back and the heavy curls of hair dancing on her nape as she spoke angrily with her younger sister.
On a settee were Mr. Bennet and another woman —probably Mrs. Gardiner.
He readily noticed Elizabeth’s astonished expression but struggled to keep his gaze away from her. Just being in the same room aroused an unsettling feeling, and it proved how wrong he had been to come.
“Mr. Darcy, what a surprise.” Mr. Bennet stepped towards him. “We surely did not expect to see you in Gracechurch Street. I hope it was not too much trouble for you to come. I cannot say how sorry we are that we are wasting so much of your time on this sad affair.”
“Mr. Bennet, I am pleased to see you again. You are well, I hope?”
“Reasonably, thank you.”
“Sir, please allow me to introduce my wife to you,” Mr. Gardiner said.
“It is an honour to meet you, Mr. Darcy. You are most welcome in our home.” Mrs. Gardiner curtseyed elegantly, and Darcy could not but admire her manners.
“I am delighted to meet you, madam. Please accept my apologies for coming unannounced and at such an improper hour. I shall stay only a few minutes, but there is something urgent I must speak about with Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Bennet.”
“I hope you speak of my wedding, Mr. Darcy,” Lydia yelled. “Have you done something to my betrothed?”
“Lydia!” Elizabeth tried to censure the outburst. “Mind your words!”
“Leave me alone, Lizzy!”
“Mr. Darcy, shall we go to my library? May I offer you something to drink? We surely will need a strong brandy if I surmise the subject of our conversation correctly.” Mr. Gardiner turned his back to his impertinent niece.
Darcy felt Elizabeth’s intense glare, but he still did not turn to meet her eyes, even for an instant.
“A drink would be fine,” he replied. “I intended to inquire whether Miss Lydia is still determined to marry or had changed her mind —but the answer is obvious.”
“Of course, I want to marry as soon as possible,” Lydia intervened again. “But Papa is so cruel, and he will not allow me to buy a trousseau! He has always been mean and unfair to me. If Mama were here, she would be on my side.”
“Of course, she would! That is why we have come to this point.” Mr. Bennet attempted to end the clamour. “I have nothing more to say —let us not look more ridiculous in front of Mr. Darcy.”
“I shall not accept this! I am the first of my sisters to marry, and I deserve to have a lovely wedding! You must consider that my other sisters might not ever marry at all! Papa, listen to me!”
“Lydia, I shall not have such behaviour in my house!” Mr. Gardiner shouted severely.
Mr. Bennet stepped to the chair hesitantly while Elizabeth held Lydia’s arm, forbidding her from moving towards their father.
“Then let me leave! I want nothing but to be with George! You are holding me against my will!”
“Miss Lydia,” Darcy addressed her directly, “are you then decided on this marriage? Will you not take some time to consider it? This is a life-changing step for a young lady at such a tender age and without confidence in her future.”
“We tried to convince her otherwise,” Mr. Bennet said, his voice weakened.
“I am aware this would put our family in a more difficult situation, but I would not trade my youngest daughter’s life for the others’ tranquillity.
Yet, she is unmoved. We have to proceed further with this wedding although I have no hopes for her felicity or for the worthiness of her husband.
But I will surely not turn this into a celebration, and I will not spend the little money I have on lace, a trousseau, or other nonsense. ”
“You cannot refuse me what is right! You have always been unfair to me! If Lizzy were in my position, you would have given her anything! You are a bad father to me!”
Elizabeth’s cheeks burned then paled. She glanced towards Darcy, who again refused even to acknowledge her presence. Her voice trembling, she grabbed her sister’s arm.
“Lydia, you forget yourself! We will go upstairs immediately!”
“I am not going anywhere until Papa accepts my request. And you, Lizzy —you are only jealous because George was your favourite once, and you are upset that he chose me instead of you!”
“Lydia!” Elizabeth cried again, her face altered by dismay and embarrassment.
“I am not listening to you, Lizzy! Papa, you shall give me the money, or I shall write to Mama immediately. You should be happy that I am the first one to marry! Everybody will envy me! You should be proud of me, but you care for nothing but your stupid books. You never do anything for us!” The Gardiners both attempted to intervene, but Darcy’s stern voice was the first to break Lydia’s tirade.
“Miss Lydia, you should not address your father in such a way. I dare say he has been put through enough distress and expense. He certainly has done anything he could, perhaps more than the present situation deserves. A good daughter would think more thoroughly on the consequences of her behaviour.”
“You have no right to tell me what I should do, Mr. Darcy! I do not even know why you are here! All this is your fault!” Lydia fought back with anger, louder than before.
“If you had not taken from George what was rightfully his, he would not be in a difficult position now. He was left a living, and you denied it to him! You at least owe him that much.”
Lydia’s words fell like thunder in the room, and a deep silence covered everyone’s shock. Elizabeth dared not breathe, let alone look at Darcy. Her grip on Lydia’s arm tightened so much that her fingers turned blue, but Lydia seemed not to care.
Darcy’s tone, although low and calm, bore a cold sharpness that froze the chamber.
“Miss Lydia, I shall not waste my time making amends to Wickham’s falsehoods.
I will only tell you this: if he were an honourable man, he would have received the living.
But in that case, he would be a clergyman now, he never would have come to Meryton, and most certainly, he would not have eloped with a fifteen-year-old girl.
These nervewrenching conversations and this soon-to-be wedding never would have taken place —much to my comfort and satisfaction.
However, since he is such a dishonourable rascal, here we all are, experiencing these unpleasant moments and witnessing the ruin of your future. ”
Darcy’s response was unbearably harsh, and his scathing voice made it even fiercer.
Lydia’s reply came weak and hesitant. “You have no right to say such terrible things about George.”
“Yes he does, Lydia,” Mr. Bennet intervened.
“He has the right to do and to say anything he pleases. Mr. Darcy wasted quite a lot of time helping us to find you and to convince Wickham to marry you, which the scoundrel had no intention of doing. Please understand, child, that he has no real affection for you. He would have eloped with any girl who agreed, and if she happened to have a little money, even better. He blamed you for the elopement! Can you not see the truth?”
“That is a lie —I shall not listen to it! I will not speak a moment longer with any of you! I will marry George within a week, and we will be very happy! If I do not see any of you ever again, so much the better!”