Chapter 4 #2
Elizabeth looked around the table. Since her arrival, she had exchanged only a few polite words with Mrs Annesley, Georgiana’s company, and she felt guilty for having neglected her.
The lady clearly shared in all their anxiety, and deep concern could be seen in her face whenever she looked at Georgiana.
“Mrs Annesley, please do not hesitate to speak if you have any ideas,” Elizabeth said. “We need all the help we can find.”
“Yes, yes, Mrs Annesley, Miss Elizabeth is right,” Georgiana added. They talked all the time, but since arriving in London, her companion had remained unusually quiet.
“I am so sorry for what is happening,” Mrs Annesley said, and the sincerity of her feelings was evident. “I have no idea yet, but I am ready to help in any way I can.”
At the end of supper, Elizabeth read the list aloud so they could decide where to begin their search the following morning.
“His club…”
“Brooks’s in St James’s Street,” Georgiana supplied, knowing many of her brother’s habits and the places he frequented.
“Yes,” Mr Bennet agreed. “His club is essential. We should go there first thing in the morning.”
Elizabeth was grateful to have her father beside her, as there were places neither she nor Georgiana could enter. The club was one of them. There were also several bachelor friends whose names Parker had included on the list.
“I wrote to my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, before I left Hertfordshire. He would be an immense help…but unfortunately, he is away. I have also sent a note to my aunt, Lady Catherine, and to Lord Matlock, asking whether they have heard from my brother,” Georgiana offered.
“I received a reply from my uncle’s secretary saying that they had gone north to their estate in Derbyshire, but I have had no answer from Aunt Catherine. ”
“You have acted as wisely as anyone could,” Mr Bennet said in that affectionate tone he reserved for his daughters. “But if we are to receive accurate information from your family, they must know that we believe Mr Darcy has disappeared.”
Georgiana nodded, feeling calmer for the first time in days.
“I will. I wonder whether Fitzwilliam might have left with Lord Matlock. But then why would he not have sent a message or informed Parker? No, he certainly would not have travelled without Parker. Still, my uncle or my aunt may know something important. I shall write to them both immediately after dinner.”
“We must expect to wait at least a day for Lady Catherine’s answer from Rosings, and much longer for one from the North…
much longer,” Elizabeth said in a voice she hoped sounded composed.
In truth, she was anything but calm; Mr Bennet, who knew her too well to be deceived, realised that she was struggling to remain composed for Georgiana’s sake whilst standing on the very edge of despair.
How strange that panic has so completely taken hold of us, Mr Bennet thought.
When they had left Longbourn, he had wanted only to comfort Elizabeth and accompany her to London in search of her betrothed.
He had been almost certain they would find Darcy at home, waiting for them with a guilty smile.
Now everything had changed. For the first time, Mr Bennet admitted to himself that something dreadful might indeed have happened.
Unable to voice his fears, he turned instead to making plans, though he disliked being the only man responsible for dealing with the situation.
As matters stood, Parker was his only ally, and he intended to rely upon his help.
“We desperately need Colonel Fitzwilliam. Miss Darcy has written to him, but a letter from you would carry much greater weight,” Parker whispered, leading Mr Bennet to his rooms. “He is the only one likely to know more about my master’s affairs, and he has experience in dealing with crises.”
Mr Bennet nodded.
“Do you have an address where I may send a letter?”
“I shall bring it to you, sir, and I will post your letter as soon as it is written.”
Mr Bennet remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
“Perhaps I should also ask Mr Bingley to come. He could be of great assistance until the colonel arrives.”
“Yes, sir. We must seek help from my master’s closest friends, but he would not thank us for spreading rumours about his disappearance.”
“No, certainly not. We shall inform only Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy’s family. Let us hope he returns before we are forced to do anything more.”
Mr Bennet cleared his throat before continuing.
“Mr Parker, I must ask for your assistance. I know very little of London, and I am far from comfortable here.”
“I understand, sir. You may rely upon me for whatever you need. I am every bit as anxious to find my master as you are.”
Long after he had finished writing to the colonel, Mr Bennet remained seated at the writing table, reflecting upon his future son-in-law and the elegant house around him.
After spending half an hour in the library, admiring the remarkable collection of books, he found himself thinking that Elizabeth had made a splendid choice.
It was unmistakably the library of a man who truly loved reading.
His eyes fell upon the novel Darcy had been reading on the evening before his disappearance.
It still lay open, waiting for him to return, and that alone convinced Mr Bennet that Darcy had never intended to disappear.
If it was indeed the book he had been reading the night before he went missing, the sight made the mystery even more disturbing.
He had clearly expected to return and continue where he had left off, yet something had intervened against his will.
Mr Bennet rang for Parker.
“Mr Parker, besides your master, has anyone else been reading in the library?”
The valet looked at him in surprise, so Mr Bennet explained. “There is an open book, as though someone intended to come back and continue reading it.”
“No, sir. No one reads in the library except the master and his guests. Years ago, my master kindly allowed me to borrow books, but I have always read them in my own room. The book you saw was the one he was reading the night before…”
His voice faded away, and Mr Bennet realised they had reached the same conclusion. Darcy’s disappearance might well have been against his will.
“One more question, Mr Parker. It concerns Mrs Annesley…”
He spoke hesitantly, but the valet immediately understood.
“You need have no concerns, sir. Mrs Annesley is a distant relation and she became Miss Darcy’s companion only a few months ago. She is greatly respected by the family, and her loyalty is beyond question. You may trust her completely.”
“That is reassuring to know, Mr Parker.”
The valet withdrew, though the anxiety he could not conceal remained behind.
Parker was no ordinary servant, just as Darcy was no ordinary master.
A gentleman who inspired such loyalty in his valet must be both wise and benevolent.
His relationship with Mr Parker offered Mr Bennet yet another glimpse of Darcy’s true character.
It was comforting to think that Elizabeth was to marry such a man.
If she still had a bridegroom.
In vain, Mr Bennet tried to imagine what might have happened. Every explanation he could devise proved useless in the face of one undeniable fact: they still knew nothing about Darcy’s disappearance.