Chapter 41
After two days of hurried travel, the sight of Gracechurch Street was a comfort to Elizabeth and her weary travel companions. Her father bore it well, but Elizabeth had noticed how much stiffer he walked with every change of the horses—and especially since Newberry.
Alexandra detested being cooped up, but she did not complain. Instead she sat silently stewing like a simmering pot ready to boil over.
Emily, who was kind enough to allow them the use of her well-cushioned, newly springed carriage, did her best to put everyone at ease, but she was tired, too.
Elizabeth did not wait for the footman to hand her out. Stretching her legs, she ran down the path and up the steps to her aunt and uncle’s waiting arms.
“Please, come inside and take some refreshment,” Aunt insisted.
“You must be exhausted and hungry, and we are anxious to hear your news,” Uncle added.
Aunt turned to Alexandra. “Edward said your ship will be uninhabitable for some time. We hope you will consider staying here as our guest. The children are eager to meet you.”
Emily said, “You are welcome to stay with me as well.”
Alexandra smiled for the first time that day. “I’ve never had so many people willin’ to show me hospitality.” Taking Emily’s hands, she said, “I thank ye for yer offer, but I feel I ought to stay with Lizzy.”
Uncle motioned for them to sit, then took his place in the center of the grouping of chairs and sofas.
“Then that is settled.” The tea trays were brought in.
“We are expecting Mr. Bingley for dinner, so I apologize that this repast is perhaps a bit lighter than you might have hoped. You are, of course, invited to dine with us.” Looking at Papa, he added, “We knew to expect you after receiving your message from Bath.”
Papa raised his eyebrows. “Mr. Bingley?”
Uncle chuckled. “He has been hanging around like a lost puppy. The only place he would rather be is at Longbourn near Jane, but knowing you were soon to return, I could not rightly give my consent for him to marry Jane when you could meet with him yourself.” He leaned back, lacing his fingers over his stomach.
“After hearing his story, I felt a little penitence would serve the young man well. Strengthen his determination not to make the same mistake of doubting Jane or allow himself to be so easily influenced again.”
Elizabeth approved fully. She wanted only the best for her dearest sister, and while she was inclined to like Mr. Bingley very much, he lacked the strength of character she wished her sister’s husband to possess.
Papa said, “That suits me well. Perhaps I shall suggest he accompany me to Longbourn on the morrow.”
“So soon? It took me several days to recover from our jaunt through the country. I admire your stamina, Bennet,” Uncle remarked.
Shaking his head, Papa declared, “I fear that if I stop to rest now, I shall not be able to get going again. You know your sister, Edward. Fanny will be beside herself without news, and I cannot permit dear Jane and Mary to bear the burden of her excessive nerves. Kitty is too senseless to be of any comfort.”
He shrugged, but his furrowed brow told Elizabeth he had not completely dismissed the matter from his mind.
She was glad of it. She loved her father dearly, but his ability to ignore the consequences of his indolence had contributed more to their current predicament than he would ever have previously owned.
They described the events of the past few days to Aunt and Uncle between sips of tea and nibbles of sandwiches.
Papa stirred his drink absently until a break in the conversation revealed his turn of thought.
“You did well, Gardiner, and I thank you. Mr. Bingley and I have a great deal to discuss, for I shall not allow Jane to marry a young man any less steady and reliable than Mr. Darcy”—he looked from Elizabeth to Alexandra—“or his brother.”
Alexandra grinned. “Yer unlikely to find any gent their equal. But I hope for yer daughter’s sake that this Bingley fellah comes close.”
Elizabeth was proud her father thought so highly of Fitzwilliam. Theirs had not been an easy courtship. However, for Jane’s sake, she could not allow Mr. Bingley to seem as fickle as he must sound to her companions. “Mr. Bingley is everything affable, much like Jane.”
As she spoke, it occurred to her that the colonel was the perfect combination of affability and dependability.
She looked at Emily, but she said nothing.
The struggle to contain her unbidden opinion helped her appreciate how natural it must have been for Fitzwilliam to offer his own opinion at Mr. Bingley’s request.
Papa reached for a sandwich. “I intend to depart on the morrow, but I know Lizzy shall wish to stay.”
Uncle did not hesitate. “Of course, she must stay until this business is resolved. We already have the guest room ready, and she and Miss Alexandra shall be as comfortable as we can make them. I daresay His Lordship will continue tirelessly in his endeavors on behalf of his nephews and shall soon have news to impart.”
“Have you received word from Matlock House in our absence?” Elizabeth asked. Miss Darcy must have been beside herself with worry over her brothers.
Aunt replied, “No, but I did not expect any while Edward was gone, as I have not yet met His Lordship or the countess, nor did I feel it appropriate for me to call before we have been introduced. One simply does not show up on the doorstep of an earl’s residence and expect to be admitted.”
Elizabeth could have described how wrong her aunt was, but she would find out for herself soon enough. Lord Matlock used his position to his advantage, but he was not haughty or above humbler company.
Emily set her teacup and saucer on the table. “If I am to call with the gentlemen on Mrs. Finchley on the morrow, I had better get some rest.”
“Do you think they will allow you to join them?” Elizabeth asked, knowing the answer as well as Emily must.
“No, but they cannot prevent it. They know very well that if they do not allow me to accompany them, I am determined enough to go alone … and they will never allow that.”
“What if she does not receive you?”
“The colonel has already called on her, and surely she cannot refuse His Lordship. I will take those odds.”
“Then I wish you success in the use of your persuasive arts.” Elizabeth was only half teasing.
They said their farewells and made plans to meet again on the morrow after their call on Mrs. Finchley.
While Elizabeth had no reason to be present for the meeting, she could not deny how much she wished she could be there.
The colonel’s descriptions of the sweet elderly lady conflicted so much with the evidence they had heard against her, Elizabeth was curious to meet her …
from a distance, surrounded by several gentlemen capable of protecting her.
Elizabeth turned to the stairs, eager to wash, change out of her travel-worn gown, and rest before dinner.
The knocker on the door stopped her before she reached the second step. Rap-rap-rap! The rapid staccato communicated an urgency which set all her nerves on point and made her think, What now?
It was a message from Matlock House addressed to Uncle. He read it, saying aloud as his gaze reread the page, “Mrs. Annesley is missing. She has been gone for a full week.”
Aunt asked, “She is Miss Darcy’s companion, is she not?”
Elizabeth sank to sit on the step. “Why would she disappear?”
Papa handed the message back to Uncle. “Evidently, she left a note begging them not to attempt to find her. Lady Helen wisely entrusted the matter to her husband’s man of business, but she feared doing anything more until Lord Matlock’s return lest Mrs. Annesley come to some harm.
” He looked at Elizabeth. “Miss Darcy is greatly distressed, as you can imagine. Matlock requests that you call on the morrow. He prays they shall have some news to impart by then.”
“Of course, I shall go to her.” The poor dear! First her brothers, and now her trusted companion.
Papa crossed the room, stopping short in front of Alexandra.
“I cannot delay my return to Longbourn any longer than I already have, especially when my presence is not necessary in this matter. However, I shall secure your promise that you will not endanger my daughter or allow Elizabeth to put herself in the way of further peril.”
Alexandra puffed up to her full height, lips pinching into a thin line, but something happened at the height of her offense to calm her expression. “That’s fair enough—after all the trouble I’ve caused ye. I swear I’ll be as meek as a lamb, Mr. Bennet. I swear on the North Star.”
Papa leveled his gaze at her. “I trust you to honor your word.” Then he turned that same severe gaze at Elizabeth.
“I shall also require your promise not to become involved in this business with Mrs. Finchley and Mrs. Annesley. Leave Lord Matlock, Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Blackburne to handle their own affairs as efficiently and thoroughly as we know them capable of doing.”
Elizabeth could not see what she could possibly do to find Mrs. Annesley, and she had already begrudgingly accepted that she would not get to meet Mrs. Finchley.
She would comfort Miss Darcy from the safety of Matlock House as best as she could and allow the gentlemen to bring Mrs. Finchley’s sins to light without her interference.
“I swear on every book in your library, I shall not interfere or knowingly put myself in any danger.” It was an easy promise to make, even easier to keep.