Chapter 11 #2
“No intrusion, not at all. My father mentioned you might visit us.”
“Mr Bennet is at home?”
“Yes, he is. He is resting, but I will inform him you have arrived.”
“He is well, I hope?”
“Yes, very well…just a little tired…”
“Then perhaps you should allow him to rest a little longer?”
She stopped in the middle of the room, puzzled, her cheeks burning again.
“And you? Are you well, Miss Bennet?”
“I…yes, thank you.”
He was still standing, looking around uncomfortably. She suddenly remembered her duty.
“Please do sit down, sir. I mean…that is, if you are not in a hurry.”
“No… Yes, thank you. I am in no hurry… Are you certain I am not disturbing you?”
“Very certain.”
A moment of silence followed. They looked around, and their gazes met for a moment, then both averted their eyes.
“They are very important, I imagine…” she said.
“I beg your pardon?”
“The documents you brought for my father… They must be very important, or else you could have sent them.”
“Would you have preferred I sent them rather than coming myself? Would that have been more comfortable for you?” Her face was warm, but she held his gaze a moment longer.
“No…not at all.”
He paused a moment, and their eyes met again.
“The papers are not so important… I could have sent a courier, but I wished to come myself.”
Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt the blood drain from her face. What did he mean?
“Thank you…” she whispered. “Thank you for helping my father; he told me that—”
“Miss Bennet!” he interrupted her abruptly. “I have been dishonest. I used these papers as an excuse to come here today without appearing ridiculous. But my real reason was the hope of finding a few moments to apologise, though no excuses would—”
“Mr Darcy, it is I who should apologise… Everything I said… You must allow me to thank you for your trust…and for explaining to me… Your letter…”
“I cannot allow you to apologise because I cannot allow you to carry the blame. If not for my outrageous behaviour and my offensive attempt at…proposing, nothing would have happened… I should not have—”
“Sir, you cannot take all the blame upon yourself… I cannot deny that—”
They were only steps apart, and each seemed more preoccupied with speaking than listening. So caught were they in their argument, that they did not observe Mrs Gardiner’s entrance.
“Mr Darcy! I thought I heard voices! Welcome! I am pleased to see you back in London. Are you well, I hope?”
He stared at his hostess, surprised by her appearance, and struggled to find words for the proper answer. Mrs Gardiner smiled warmly, awaiting his reply.
“I am well, thank you. Please forgive my intrusion—”
“Oh, say nothing of that! We have been inquiring after you lately; your presence was deeply missed. We were hoping to see you soon—were we not, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth was caught by surprise, and she could not answer immediately.
“Yes, we were. I was just telling Mr Darcy the same thing, and I was thanking him for his help and support regarding my father’s business.”
“Please sit down, sir,” Mrs Gardiner invited him. “I sent a servant to fetch my brother Bennet. Lizzy, has Jane not yet returned? It is already dark, and it is snowing again…”
“I just met Miss Bennet earlier. I happened upon them, she was shopping with my sister and Selina. Bingley was keeping them company, so I am sure they are safe.”
“I have no doubt they are safe. Mr Bingley is very trustworthy.” Mrs Gardiner smiled.
“Yes he is. If I am not disturbing you, I shall wait for my sister and take her home when they arrive.”
“That sounds like a lovely arrangement except that I cannot allow Miss Darcy to leave immediately; she must join us for a cup of tea, at least.”
“And you, sir, must join me for a glass of wine,” Mr Bennet interrupted from the doorway. “Mr Darcy, how kind of you to come! I am quite delighted to see you again! Are the papers ready so soon? I am afraid I have ruined your day entirely, sir…”
“Not at all… A glass of wine would be fine, Mr Bennet. And in the meantime we can continue our earlier discussion.” He glanced at Elizabeth then followed Mr Bennet to the library. Elizabeth looked after them in disbelief.
∞∞∞
Earlier, Elizabeth was torn between wishing and fearing that Mr Darcy would visit, wondering how she could better apologise and afraid of how he might behave and what he might say to her. Now that he had come, everything she expected proved to be wrong.
She was certain he would be polite but cold, avoiding her as much as possible and speaking only as propriety required.
Instead, he admitted he had come of his own will; he apologised, and appeared to be on amiable terms with her father.
What was the meaning of it? Any man would be appalled to be in the company of the woman who had hurt him so deeply.
He was embarrassed, that was true, but he did not seem appalled in the slightest.
Or was she misjudging his thoughts and his behaviour again as she had done so often in the past? But how could she misjudge the ‘coincidence’ of his appearing at his uncle’s house precisely as her father was there? And what about all the help he willingly offered?
Half an hour later, her sister returned together with Miss Darcy and Mr Bingley. All seemed in excellent spirits, and Elizabeth noticed that she had never seen the shy Jane and Georgiana so animated. Poor Mr Bingley was completely lost to Jane.
After admiring the gifts Jane purchased for their sisters and their mother, Elizabeth offered to inform Mr Darcy about their presence. Unable to conceal her impatience, she hurried to the library and timidly knocked on the door.
“Come in, Lizzy dear,” Mr Bennet invited her.
“Mr Darcy, now I think that perhaps we should have invited Lizzy to our discussion. You will not believe it, but my Lizzy is very proficient in business matters. If she were a son, all my problems would cease to exist, no doubt. Such a pity—though I confess I would not trade my Lizzy for five men.”
There was no answer for a moment, so Elizabeth turned towards Darcy; their eyes met, and—to her utter shock—a smile lit his countenance.
“I… Mr Bingley and Miss Darcy are here. I just wanted to inform you, sir.”
“Thank you, Miss Bennet. I think it is time for us to depart.”
“So soon? I confess I do not remember when I last had such a pleasant day, Mr Darcy. Your company has been a rare luxury,” said Mr Bennet with genuine regret. “And your help is invaluable. I will not—”
“Mr Bennet, the pleasure was mine, I assure you,” Darcy interrupted the words of gratitude. “I hope we shall meet again tomorrow as we planned.”
“Tomorrow we are invited to dinner…by Lord Matlock,” Elizabeth said.
“So we are,” Darcy replied. “But Mr Bennet and I shall meet again tomorrow at noon.”
“I would gladly take you, Lizzy, but Mr Darcy invited me to his club, and I doubt you would be welcome there.” Mr Bennet laughed.
“Besides, I am sure you have better things to do than discuss estate business—buying some lace, perhaps? Well, well, let us go then. I am sure my sister Gardiner has prepared dinner.”
Sooner than later, the guests prepared to leave. Darcy thanked Mrs Gardiner for her hospitality and apologised for staying so late. Mrs Gardiner assured him his presence was most pleasant, and she thanked him for his help with Mr Bennet’s problems.
“Mr Darcy, surely it is we who must thank you for spending your day with us,” Mr Bennet concluded. “Your help was as valuable as it was unexpected.”
“I say, Darcy, yesterday Mr Bennet was reluctant to approach you. Surely, he believed you to be some sort of ogre who would rather eat people alive than help them, which is not completely untrue.” Mr Bingley laughed.
Elizabeth was silent with mortification, while Mr Bingley seemed highly amused. Miss Darcy blushed slightly, casting an embarrassed glance at Elizabeth.
“Mr Bingley, you seem to be in a joyful disposition, sir. Not that this is a surprise,” Mr Bennet replied.
“However, Mr Darcy, I shall not deny that Mr Bingley is correct: considering our previous, brief acquaintance, I never would have dared bother you with my problems. I confess my previous opinion of you was…different.”
“Do not trouble yourself, Mr Bennet. Any opinion you might have had of me was surely correct, based on my behaviour in Hertfordshire. I am deeply sorry that I missed many opportunities to have a pleasant time—in Hertfordshire, I mean…”
“Do not be too upset, sir; perhaps it was for the best. Everybody was impressed with your ten thousand a year and your handsome appearance. If your behaviour had been half as pleasant as it was today, there would have been no escape for you. Every lady in the neighbourhood would have fallen for your charms—my wife included.”
The most extraordinary thing happened: Mr Darcy’s face turned crimson as he dared to look at Elizabeth with a lost expression. Elizabeth laughed—an open, amused laugh, directed at him—which she tried unsuccessfully to stifle with her hand on her lips.
∞∞∞
Preparation for the return to Longbourn grew intense the next day. Mr Bingley declared he would open Netherfield and the staff was informed to prepare for his arrival. He was not yet certain whether his sisters would join him, but even Jane gave little consequence to that possibility.
After countless sleepless nights, Elizabeth woke with a feeling of intense relief and high spirits. She found herself smiling as she remembered Mr Darcy’s expression in the face of her father’s teasing. He surely was unaccustomed to anyone making sport of him.
She knew that Mr Darcy’s attentions to her father were a compliment to her, and she felt equally flattered and ashamed; he was more generous than she deserved. The purpose of his politeness or his intention to continue their acquaintance she did not dare consider.