Chapter III #3
Mr. Darcy then tipped his hat and strode away, leaving three women looking after him. The moment he was out of earshot, Elizabeth turned to her aunt.
“You have been most secretive, Aunt.”
“Not at all, Lizzy,” said Mrs. Gardiner, directing them back toward the carriage. “As I said, Mr. Darcy must demonstrate to what extent he wishes to maintain the acquaintance. Your uncle’s connection with the elder Mr. Bingley was slight, so it was not worth mentioning.”
“Except that Mr. Bingley was in Hertfordshire for two months paying attention to Jane, and his sister invited us to London.”
Mrs. Gardiner smiled as she stepped up into the carriage, the springs creaking with the extra weight. “Sometimes, Lizzy, there is value in watching and learning rather than speaking.”
“Then what have you learned?” persisted Elizabeth.
“The more pertinent question is what have you learned?”
As Mrs. Gardiner addressed them both, and as the matter concerned Jane more than herself, Elizabeth allowed her sister to answer first.
“Mr. Bingley is in London and is much engaged,” said Jane at length. “I do not yet know what that means, but Mr. Darcy did not avoid speaking of him. That must mean something.”
“His restraint feels more like concealment than discretion,” muttered Elizabeth. “Mr. Darcy knows Mr. Bingley—he must also know why Mr. Bingley has not yet beaten down Uncle’s door in his pursuit of you.”
“Mr. Darcy was not acting from pride or indifference, Lizzy,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “More than that, he appeared to be a man who was choosing his words with care. Those are not the same things.”
They fell silent then, each caught up in her own thoughts. Though Elizabeth pondered Mrs. Gardiner’s interpretation, she resisted it. Mr. Darcy’s care looked like control. Let Mr. Darcy contradict it if he could. For the moment, Elizabeth determined to watch and wait.
Though unaware of her conclusions, Darcy knew more than he had said, though not so much as Miss Elizabeth suspected. Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth’s presence in London complicated matters, though he could not determine if he approved of the complication.
Contrary to Miss Elizabeth’s suspicions, Darcy had no interest in forcing Bingley to his will—Bingley’s affairs were his own.
Darcy had argued against Bingley’s return to Hertfordshire for two reasons.
The first was the behavior of Miss Bennet’s family, though he would agree that Miss Bennet herself and Miss Elizabeth had always shown impeccable manners.
The other was the state of Miss Bennet’s heart and her welcome for Bingley.
That was the most important consideration.
While Miss Bennet’s presence in London might be predicated on her mother’s resolve not to lose such a promising prospect as Bingley, Darcy could not be certain.
In his eyes, she showed not a jot more or less interest in Bingley than propriety demanded, even as she maintained a respectful, reserved interest. Darcy respected her for that.
That Miss Bennet might be mercenary had never crossed his mind—Darcy did not think she had the temperament for the sort of disguise that would entail.
As Darcy walked into the house, his shoes clattering on the tiles, sunlight streaming through the hall, he looked toward the sitting-room, then decided instead to go to his study so he could think better.
When he reached the room, he closed the door behind him and sat at his desk, turning a quill between his fingers and looking out the window, though seeing nothing.
What Darcy had told them was the truth—he often went long periods during the season without speaking much to Bingley, though seeing him at events would often break up those absences.
Yet he had not discussed certain . . . other complications where Bingley was concerned.
That was not Darcy’s story to tell, and he had little information regardless, so he would not speak of it to Miss Bennet or anyone else, though he understood the potential problems.
A noise beyond the door caught Darcy’s attention, and a moment later he realized Georgiana had returned.
As the silence of his study and the company of his thoughts were no longer palatable, he rose to quit the room and join his sister.
Darcy knew Georgiana would wish to hear about his encounter with Mrs. Gardiner, and though she would look at the possibility with apprehension, she would also wish to make Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth’s acquaintance.
The more he thought on it, the more he realized that the Bennet ladies were the sort who might become excellent friends with his sister.
Miss Bennet would put her at ease, while Miss Elizabeth’s confidence, he suspected, would be contagious.
It would not do to force an acquaintance too soon, but the proposed dinner with the Gardiners would provide the pretext for an introduction.
And suddenly Darcy looked at this surprising visit with more anticipation than alarm. Whatever happened between Bingley and Miss Bennet would happen—Darcy could neither prevent nor manage it. Best to observe and offer his support when or if it became necessary.