Chapter 48
A spirit of cheerful anticipation had settled over Willowmere after Mrs. Hardwicke’s frank conversation with Darcy.
Elizabeth had decided to leave for Longbourn once Margaret was fully recovered and Darcy was to accompany her.
She had finally sent an express to her father and to Jane, informing them of her willing and happy acceptance of Mr. Darcy’s proposal, unconnected to any scandal.
She was still contemplating the reaction of her relatives on receiving the news when Mr. Darcy arrived to call on her.
“You seem to be in serious contemplation for such an early hour,” Darcy joined her for breakfast.
“I have sent a letter to my father and Jane, but I am worried it will raise more questions than it answers. Ours has been an unconventional courtship and I am not sure how I will answer all their questions.”
“You may just say that I finally convinced you that I am not a complete imbecile and you decided to take pity on me,” Darcy answered with an amused smile.
“Oh! I had not planned to tell anyone about Kent but now it seems inevitable, for your family is already aware and so is my father.”
“While I would have preferred it to remain private, that can hardly be helped,” Darcy replied with a resigned air.
“I wish Lord Greystone had not made such a production of your greeting at the inn.”
“While he is a notorious gossip, I can hardly blame him for this incident. My behaviour must have been shocking,” Darcy replied, slowly wiping his face as he finished his breakfast, then deliberately folded his hands, and continued, “I paid a visit to Briarwood manor last evening, your aunt’s mention of Harrison had reminded me of a stray comment from one of the tenants who had seen Harrison running behind Margaret before she was found in the ditch. ”
Elizabeth frowned at this revelation, “Do you mean that Mr. Harrison knew Margaret had fallen and did not help her? I know that he was the one who got the area dug up but I thought it was just to undermine you.”
“His motive was much more diabolical. After some intimidation yesterday he revealed that he wished to isolate Mrs. Hardwicke so that she may easily agree to marry him. He knew the lady was devoted to her husband and would not have considered remarrying anytime soon, and least of all to a man such as Harrison, who is far beneath her in rank. Thus he relied on inducing fear and loneliness to play on her insecurities in accepting him.”
“This is shocking, for Mr. Harrison has a good image in society here,” Elizabeth replied.
“His relationship with Lady Greystone has given him aspirations above his station. He was dreaming of becoming master of Willowmere,” Darcy answered.
“But what was his purpose in abandoning Margaret in such a state? It would have helped his cause had he been the heroic rescuer.”
“You are correct and he did plan to rescue her once he understood what had happened. He planned to get help once the storm cleared, but I arrived before he could return. He saw me and then changed course and came to Willowmere to poison Mrs. Hardwicke against me. I do not think he realised there was any further danger to Margaret for she was sheltered in the ditch.”
“How can that be? She is a child and if nothing else she would have been scared.”
“Elizabeth, men of Harrison’s ilk do not appreciate the emotions of others. He could have tried to charm Mrs. Hardwicke but instead he chose to isolate her, which shows his lack of feeling.”
“Do you plan to tell my aunt about the details?” Elizabeth asked.
“Lord Greystone plans to visit and speak to Mrs. Hardwicke himself and beg for her forgiveness. He requested me to grant him the privilege for he thinks it his responsibility as her neighbour.”
A servant interrupted their conversation and announced that Viscount Bainbridge and Colonel Fitzwilliam were in the parlour requesting to see Mr. Darcy.
Darcy took a deep breath and told the servant that he would soon be there, “Also please inform Mrs. Hardwicke and Mrs. Ashcombe of the visitors.” Turning to Elizabeth, he said, “It seems my family considered my behaviour too outrageous to be discussed in a letter. If James and Richard are here, it is because the family wants my immediate presence in town and swift resolution to the scandal.”
“Do not worry, Mr. Darcy, I plan to stand by your side and protect you from all those who would accuse you,” Elizabeth replied, clearly amused by Darcy’s resigned discomfort.
She preceded Darcy to the parlour and was introduced to Viscount Bainbridge by the Colonel as she called for refreshments.
“We are sorry for the early hour, but the housekeeper at the dower house directed us here,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said as he took his seat.
“I stand before you, Miss Elizabeth, to beg that you save our family from utter ruin by accepting Darcy. I understand that he can be rather taciturn and haughty to a woman of your discernment but I assure you the family will stand by you,” the Viscount finished with a rather exaggerated bow.
Before Elizabeth could answer, Darcy entered the parlour and with a look that would have made a lesser being shiver with dread, spoke in a low voice.
“I assure you, James, that Miss Elizabeth had already accepted my proposal. I would never have behaved in such a manner with a respectable woman without her consent.”
“Accepted your proposal!” Richard exclaimed, “Miss Bennet, is this true?.”
“Your cousin can be rather persuasive, Colonel,” Elizabeth replied, her affection for Darcy evident in her eyes as she smiled for him.
“Ah! I travelled across the country in hopes of a scandal and a wronged lady not for this revolting sweetness,” the Viscount commented with a grimace.
“I thought you were worried for the family’s respectability, you should be relieved at the lack of scandal,” Darcy commented with a raised eyebrow.
“But then why were you at the inn, Miss Bennet? The gossip is that you were running away from Darcy,” the Colonel asked.
“I quarrelled with my aunt for she did not consider Mr. Darcy sufficiently charming,” Elizabeth replied good-naturedly.
The Colonel and the Viscount laughed uproariously at this statement.
“Well, you both should travel to town immediately before the family does anything more drastic like disowning you,” the Viscount replied.
Darcy rolled his eyes in response. The servant entered again and announced the arrival of Mr. Gardiner.
“Uncle Gardiner, whatever are you doing here?” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“My dear Lizzy, did you think that we would abandon you in the face of your difficulties?” Mr. Gardiner responded as he looked about the room and pressed his lips disapprovingly at the Colonel and the Viscount.
Elizabeth quickly introduced her uncle to Darcy, “Uncle, I know Mr. Darcy behaved with imprudent haste but that was only because he was worried for my safety. We were already engaged, and I gave my consent freely.”
“Elizabeth, you must forgive me if I question this—your former opinion of Mr. Darcy was not encouraging, and after his recent conduct I cannot be blamed for doubting him. I am staying at the inn for today, tomorrow I will be taking you with me to London.”
“Mr. Gardiner, I hope you will agree with me that our niece is not one to be easily swayed,” Mrs. Hardwicke commented from the doorway as she made her way towards the gentleman in the parlour.
“Mrs. Hardwicke, I am sorry for your loss madam, and wish that we had met under better circumstances.”
“The fault is mine for I had no wish to meet any of Mrs. Bennet’s family after my marriage to Frederick. If not for my stubbornness, my brother would have requested your assistance in resolving the matters of Willowmere when he himself could not attend.”
“You had just cause, my sister’s behaviour towards you has been deplorable,”
“While I will not disagree with you, it was unfair of me to judge you by your sister’s actions but that is the Bennet mulishness and Elizabeth has an abundance of it. I assure you she would never be standing next to Mr. Darcy if she herself had not been convinced of his worth.”
“You present a rather compelling argument, madam,” Mr. Gardiner replied with a reluctant smile.
“Mr. Gardiner, I assure you that my cousin is deeply attached to your niece. Darcy here has always been the most upright of men and for him to behave as he did itself proves his deep regard for your niece,” Colonel Fitzwilliam said, trying to reason with the aggrieved gentleman.
Mr. Gardiner’s shoulders slumped in a resigned manner. “Lizzy, dearest, are you truly happy? I assure you that we will weather any scandal on your behalf.”
Elizabeth walked up to her uncle and took his hand. “I promise you, uncle, that I truly love Mr. Darcy. He is the best of men and has been a true gentleman.”
Mr. Gardiner let out a long breath and finally nodded his acceptance. Mrs. Hardwicke ordered some refreshments and the gentleman took their seats. They discussed everything that had transpired in town since the gossip began to spread.
“Grimsley actually went to Hertfordshire!” the Viscount exclaimed. “I knew he was desperate to marry but to offer for a lady he has not even seen is a stretch even for him.”
“Was it not his family that perished at sea last year?” Mrs. Ashcombe frowned.
“Yes, they were returning from the continent when the unfortunate event occurred. Till he marries and begets an heir, he will be succeeded by a distant cousin; a dissipated man who would drown the Earldom in debt within the year,” Darcy answered.
“Well, that does answer his desperation. He must be recently out of mourning,” the Colonel replied.
“His desperation aside, I do not care for his method to gain a wife. A man should never poach on another’s betrothed,” Darcy replied with a grim expression.
Mr. Gardiner could hardly suppress the smile at Darcy’s apparent preference for his niece. He finally accepted the wisdom in Mrs. Hardwicke’s words that any man who had persisted in the face of her strong disapproval and managed to gain her good opinion must be deserving of Elizabeth’s regard.