Chapter 47
Margaret had finally recovered enough to sit up and eat some broth, easing her mother’s concern.
Mrs. Hardwicke had finally been convinced to step away from her daughter’s bed for a few hours and care for herself.
She had apologised to both Elizabeth and Darcy but did not have the courage to share her story.
Mrs. Ashcombe had become her confidante and support.
Elizabeth understood from Darcy that her aunt had gone through a harrowing experience but did not question, hoping that she would confide whenever she felt comfortable.
It was Mr. Darcy’s relationship with Mrs. Hardwicke that had changed dramatically to everyone’s surprise. The day after Margaret had recovered, Mrs. Hardwicke had requested Mr. Darcy’s presence in the study on the pretext of some estate business and had finally spoken to him.
“Mr. Darcy, I deeply apologise for my mistrust in your honour and character,” Mrs. Hardwicke immediately said as she and Darcy were in the privacy of the study.
“I assure you, madam, that I am not offended. It is not easy to trust an unknown heir and his motivations but I hope you will take my word for it—that my intentions regarding Miss Elizabeth are completely honourable,” Darcy answered, pulling out a chair for the lady before taking a seat.
“I understand that now, Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth has informed me about all that occurred at the inn, I assure you, sir, that I understand completely that some blame does rest with me,” Mrs. Hardwicke continued without meeting Darcy’s eyes.
“Mrs. Hardwicke, you had Miss Elizabeth’s best interest at heart and I can hardly blame you for that.
As to the scandal, it was the result of my impulsive behaviour and nothing else.
I am a person who has always prized my privacy throughout my life, but at that moment I could think of nothing else but the relief of seeing Elizabeth unharmed. ”
“I can hardly blame you for that, sir.” Mrs. Hardwicke responded with her first genuine smile directed towards Darcy.
Darcy responded in kind and then got up and walked to the window, gathering his thoughts.
He then turned and asked in a deliberate voice, “Mrs. Hardwicke, I hope I do not overstep in asking—why were you so set against me? I am after all family to your late husband and I do not think Hardwicke had such a poor opinion of me.”
Sarah was touched by the hurt in the gentleman’s voice.
She had misjudged this man entirely and needed to make amends immediately, “Some experiences in life render one suspicious by nature. Then I had always hated entails for it was the reason Mrs. Bennet gave for her hatred towards me. Longbourn is entailed and when I stayed there it was as if I were eating away at what she believed rightfully belonged to her daughters. When you came here as the heir to Willowmere, I was already prejudiced against you, though I was well aware that the entail on Willowmere is generous towards me and my daughter.”
“I hope you understand that I have no intention of throwing you away from the house. If you wish to remain in the manor house, you are more than welcome. Elizabeth had advised me against offering you the main house for she had thought you would be uncomfortable by such a gesture.”
“She was not wrong and neither were your intentions; it was the situation that was against all of us,” Mrs. Hardwicke replied quietly as she went on to explain her initial uneasiness when after her illness she learnt of the immediate drainage construction that had started and a new steward had been appointed and then there were rumours about Darcy planning to sell Willowmere.
“I have no intention of selling something that is a family legacy. Mr. Harrison wished for Lord Greystone to acquire Willowmere but I assure you that the estate is not for sale.”
“Mr. Harrison,” Mrs. Hardwicke mumbled with a frown, remembering all the small suspicions that the man had planted in her own mind regarding Darcy.
She slowly conveyed everything to Darcy who was hardly surprised at the man’s duplicitousness.
“Elizabeth had passingly mentioned her surprise about seeing the labourers digging the drainage area recently but I had not given it any consideration. It was only when he came blaming you after Margaret’s accident that I realised that he must be behind it. ”
“It must have been done to discredit my judgement among the tenants but with Margaret’s accident he realised that there was another benefit to his scheme.
Mr. Harrison is an ambitious man and must have seen a widow of independent means as a way to advance in society.
I was a thorn to his plans, for I did not give quarter to his honeyed words.
He must have sought to damage my image in your eyes to gain your sympathy. ”
“I would hardly have much independence were I to remarry. The estate will only give me a stipend till I am a widow,” Mrs. Hardwicke answered perplexed.
“That is not true; you will have a settlement—a dowry of sorts—should you remarry,” Darcy finally said in a low voice.
“Dowry! I am sure the entail has no mention of that,” Mrs. Hardwicke exclaimed. Then understanding finally dawned on her, “Mr. Darcy, you did not—! That is hardly required.”
“Madam, I assure you that I am only doing what is correct and I had no intention of speaking on the matter but it seems that it is much more harmful if you are unaware. Please, discuss any further details with the solicitor,” Darcy finished.
Mrs. Hardwicke gaped at the tall, austere man standing in front of her.
Mr. Darcy was distinctly uncomfortable, clasping and unclasping his hands and his ears were red.
She suddenly understood that the gentleman was embarrassed by any kind of gratitude.
Realising that her niece had gained herself a true gem amongst gentlemen—and that all the praise Mrs. Ashcombe lavished on her nephew was well deserved—Mrs. Hardwicke gave Mr. Darcy a genuine smile as she politely thanked him and did not say anything further on the matter.
As they got up to join the others the lady stopped him.
“Sir, I will do all in my power to restore your image—from a rake to a devoted fiancé. Elizabeth deserves the distinction of being courted by the most honourable of men and not the notoriety of being compromised,” Mrs. Hardwicke said before they entered the front parlour.
Darcy was surprised to see Elizabeth reading a letter with a rather startled expression. He immediately went to her and took her hands, “Miss Elizabeth, I hope all is well?”
“Mr. Darcy, are you by any chance acquainted with a Lord Grimsley?”
“Yes, an amiable fellow and well-respected in town,” Darcy answered with evident confusion.
“Grimsley has heard all of the scandal and has made an offer for Elizabeth’s hand,” Mrs. Ashcombe chimed in, startling Darcy.
“What? Did he? Is the letter from him?” Darcy asked in a desperate voice.
“Bet you do not consider him amiable and honourable any more?” Mrs. Ashcombe muttered as she saw her nephew’s composure slip.
Elizabeth suppressed her smile as she responded, “The letter is from my father, sir, who has had a surfeit of gentleman callers of high standing. Your uncles Lord Matlock and Judge Darcy called to persuade him to send a notice of our engagement to the newspapers but before they were successful Lord Grimsley appeared with an offer for marriage. My father mentions that his Lordship, while slightly less wealthy than you, is a couple of years younger and much more amiable. He even stayed and played chess with my father and was quite capable at it, which, of course, is another point in his favour. He then mentions that you have the advantage over him in height and bearing. Of the two my father suggests that if I am to refuse you, it would be better accomplished by me than by him for you are the kind of gentleman to whom he could refuse nothing you deigned to ask,” Elizabeth finished with a teasing glint in her eyes.
“Miss Bennet, I must protest, I am a much better chess player than Lord Grimsley. Mr. Bennet may also be interested in the fact that the library at Pemberley is much more extensive than anything Grimsley possesses.”
Elizabeth shrugged with an exaggerated air of defeat as she answered, “It seems that I had better send an express to my father with my agreement to the notice of our engagement being published. He would never forgive me if I allowed the famed library at Pemberley to slip through my fingers.”