Chapter 24
The discussion with the admiral left Darcy in a state of profound perturbation.
The unveiled secret of his parents’ marriage — a lifetime of repressed feelings disguised as happiness — was devastating and brought him to the edge of tears, which had not happened since the day his father died unexpectedly.
The admiral’s turmoil at the end of his narration was heartbreaking, and seeing a friend in suffering, Darcy’s first impulse was to go after him.
After a few steps, though, he returned to the solitude of the library.
The admiral had left his company because he did not desire it, and following him would mean disregarding his wish.
He sat in a chair, mourning over the painful revelation, but he had not much time for sadness, as the colonel and Bingley returned in an excellent disposition that opposed Darcy’s dark mood.
Since he did not wish to share his distress, he was forced to change his countenance and listen to their narration with apparent interest.
“The visit to Colonel Forster was quite pleasant. He seems a good man and a responsible officer, but I fear he married a woman too young and too pretty for his own good.” Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed.
“And it was amusing that I saw those two fools. I mentioned that you were still thinking of a way to get satisfaction from them, and I mentioned that nothing builds a man better than some time spent at war. You should have seen their faces! I would not take either of them to war, not even as bait.”
“I agree,” Darcy replied.
“And the Gardiners — they are a true delight. Rather young, fashionable people, handsome and witty. A pleasure to be around.”
“I am glad to hear that. I shall be happy to meet them at dinner tonight.”
“Darcy, I spoke to the colonel… After your wedding, I shall propose to Miss Bennet. Jane Bennet,” Bingley said with an enthusiasm that at any other time would have amused Darcy.
“Congratulations. I am sure you will be very happy,” he offered.
“Jane Bennet is a beautiful woman, and she seems sweet-natured and kind. And I am amused by how she looks at this young man.” The colonel laughed. “You are fortunate that you can choose to marry the woman you love, Bingley.”
“Very fortunate indeed,” Darcy agreed.
“And you, Darcy, how have you been? How do you feel on the last day of being a single man? Miss Elizabeth and Mr Bennet returned quite quickly. Is everything settled, then?” the colonel teased him.
“I had little time to think of that. I assume I would have felt quite well if not for Lady Catherine’s visit.”
His two companions looked at him, puzzled, and the colonel burst out, “Lady Catherine was here? Why the… Why on earth did she come all the way here? She has lost her reason entirely.”
“You know why,” Darcy responded. “And indeed, she cannot see reason at all.”
“I am sorry I was not here to welcome her,” Bingley said. “I have not had the pleasure of being introduced to her yet.”
“I doubt you will have such an opportunity any time soon. At least not from me. Today I stopped calling Lady Catherine my aunt.”
“That has certainly ruined your day,” the colonel uttered. “I can only imagine the fight you had.”
“No, Richard, you cannot imagine. And the worst part is that Mr Bennet and Elizabeth happened to hear her. The things she said…the offences…I am amazed that Elizabeth still wishes to marry me.”
“Dear Lord!” Bingley exclaimed.
“Fortunately, Elizabeth is even more astonishing than I believed. She replied to Lady Catherine as she deserved. Quite harshly, I would say, since she called her uncivil and irritating. But, to her credit, she did it graciously and even curtseyed.”
Bingley and the colonel listened with their eyes and mouths open, and at the end, the colonel started to laugh.
“Now that was a moment that you will cherish your entire life. I would have done anything to witness it!”
“I am glad you were not here, Richard,” Darcy answered in earnest.
“Shall we go and prepare for dinner? We must return to Longbourn in two hours. Where is the admiral?”
“Yes, we should. The admiral is in his chamber, I assume,” Darcy answered.
“I have decided to stay a few more days with this young fellow, at least until he becomes engaged. I hope the admiral will remain too. He said he would.”
“Very well,” Darcy said, still absently.
His mind was too filled with worry to even listen to what was being said.
Even his joy at seeing Elizabeth was slightly shadowed.
Thinking of her, before he went to his room, he took a stroll downstairs to check on the puppies, so at least he could bring her some good news.
∞∞∞
Elizabeth sat on a chair, gazing into the mirror while her aunt Gardiner arranged her hair and they spoke of the latest events. To her amusement, Mrs Gardiner’s enthusiasm almost matched her mother’s.
“My dear Lizzy, I am not sure if you realise your extraordinarily good fortune. I grew up in Lambton, only five miles from Pemberley, and I can tell you two things: Pemberley is the most wonderful estate I know — and I have seen plenty — and the Darcys were the most excellent people, everybody admired them. Lady Anne was beautiful and kind and gentle. Everybody who knew her grieved her loss. Mr Darcy was such a handsome man. I still remember him riding on his impressive stallion. He was the best master and the best landlord — people said so. At times, his son rode with him, but I can hardly remember the young master. I cannot believe I shall meet him tonight, and he will marry my niece!”
“My dear aunt, you sound like Mama!” Elizabeth laughed. “You only have to mention Mr Darcy’s income of ten thousand pounds.”
“My dear Lizzy, it is not about his income but about you becoming part of such a wonderful family! The fact Mr Darcy proposed to you — considering all the heiresses he must know in town — is amazing. And that you refused him, and he insisted, is beyond words, truly.”
While her aunt praised the Darcy family, Elizabeth recollected Lady Catherine’s horrible accusations and Mr Darcy’s turmoil when he asked whether she still wanted to be part of his family.
Any offence Lady Catherine threw at her, Elizabeth easily dismissed.
The spiteful woman had no decency and no respect for her own family.
She felt satisfied for returning the offence and equally pleased and proud of how easily Mr Darcy had entered into her game and they had united their forces to defend their union.
Elizabeth also felt sorry for Charlotte, who would have to suffer not only a life with a man whose wit was wanting but also accept Lady Catherine’s rudeness and Mr Collins’s worship of such a woman.
“If I could visit Pemberley in a small phaeton, with my niece as the mistress of it, I would call it a dream come true. But please, do not mention it to Mr Darcy! I do not wish him to believe we are abusing his generosity,” Mrs Gardiner said.
“Dear aunt, have no worries. I promise you will visit Pemberley as much as you like. Now, let us go downstairs. I think I heard a carriage.”
Elizabeth was rather unsettled while she waited for the guests.
When they finally arrived, the first thing she noticed was the admiral’s and Darcy’s frowned countenances and their forced smiles while they were introduced to the Gardiners.
They avoided looking at each other, and while both made apparent efforts to be amiable, Elizabeth had come to know them too well not to recognise the truth.
The effects of Lady Catherine’s accusations had not passed yet, and the traces would probably last a long time.
The colonel and Bingley’s genuine gladness accentuated the other two gentlemen’s low spirits even more.
Elizabeth caught Mr Darcy’s gaze a few times; he was engaged in conversation with Mrs Gardiner, while Mr Gardiner was talking to the admiral and her father. When they moved to the dinner table, she went to him directly.
“Mr Darcy, how are you feeling?”
“Reasonably well. Especially now I have seen you. I must tell you that I visited the puppies earlier. They look healthy and grow every day. I believe we could take them in two months.”
“How wonderful, thank you! How sweet of you to be so thoughtful when you have so much on your mind.”
“I enjoy your compliments even if I do not deserve them, Miss Elizabeth,” he replied teasingly. “And how are you? I hope you feel at least half as well as you look. I know my aunt—”
“Please, do not mention it again. I feel quite well. Almost as well as my aunt, who is overjoyed to have met you,” she teased him.
“I am happy to have met her, too. It is a pity we have only such a short time to get to know each other, but perhaps we can meet again when they return to London.”
“I would love that, and I am sure they would too. But the admiral? I can see he is troubled. And so are you.”
“We are…but this is not the proper time or place to discuss this. Perhaps tomorrow, during the journey to London. We shall have time and privacy to speak of anything you like.”
With that, their little interlude ended. At the table, the admiral was seated between her father and Mr Gardiner, and she chose a seat close to them.
The evening passed remarkably well, much to Mrs Bennet’s utter delight. She received so many compliments that she blushed all the time, like a young girl.
Elizabeth did not even attempt to approach Mr Darcy again; she was only content and grateful to watch him speaking to her uncle and aunt, as well as her mother.
He appeared warm, friendly, smiling, and engaged in conversation, although she knew too well that his soul was weighed down by a heavy burden.