Chapter 1.4
Mrs Bennet was turning the house upside down, giving orders and asking for a supplementary course on the table in order to satisfy as pretentious a man as Mr Darcy.
The gentleman tried valiantly—though in vain—to assure her that the meal was undoubtedly admirable as it was.
Mr Bennet subtly shook his head that he not insist on the subject and showed him to a guest room.
After leaving Darcy in John’s care, Mr Bennet retreated to the serenity of his library. The day had been exhausting for him, and considering the things he would need to find out from both Lizzy and Darcy, the next day was not likely to be any more restful.
Mr Bennet’s most vivid recollection was the look his daughter and Darcy had exchanged when she related their meeting.
Darcy’s surprise was obvious while she had looked at him as though pleading for his help.
Even more, the fact that he had decided to remain and join them after Lizzy requested it, though he seemed not at all inclined to prolong his visit at Longbourn, roused his curiosity further.
It was clearly a concession against his will, and he had done it for her.
Apparently, the last few hours had brought about a significant alteration in their relationship.
A gentle knock on the door took him from his thoughts.
“Yes, John, come in.”
“Sir, Mr Darcy has been taken care of. He wrote a note for Mr Bingley and is currently enjoying a cup of coffee. Is there anything else I should do before departing for Netherfield?”
“No, John. Just be careful, and do not hurry yourself in this bad weather.”
“Thank you for your concern, sir. I shall leave immediately.”
When John left, Mr Bennet rose from his chair, seized a bottle of his finest brandy, and went to Darcy’s room. He knocked and waited until he heard Darcy’s solemn voice in answer. Entering, he found his guest clad in a robe, standing near the window, and looking preoccupied.
“Mr Darcy, do you mind if I disturb you? I thought you would like something stronger to drink.”
“Of course, Mr Bennet. Thank you again for your consideration.”
The older gentleman poured a glass of brandy for each of them and handed one to Darcy.
“I would have invited you to my library, but as you might have noticed, we have another guest in the house, and I wanted to be sure we would have the opportunity to speak about an important matter without interruption.”
Darcy looked at him expectantly, suspecting he knew what the ‘important matter’ was.
“Mr Bennet, I am at your disposal. Again, I should like to thank you and to apologise for the trouble I have caused.”
“Well, sir, neither gratitude nor apologies are required. But speaking of gratitude, I understand that you were a great help to my Lizzy, so it is I who should thank you.”
Darcy took a deep breath and looked at Mr Bennet decidedly. His countenance grew sterner, and he began to pace the room, finally stopping in front of Mr Bennet, who watched him with great interest.
“Mr Bennet, I can no longer continue speaking of this subject, however important it might be, without revealing to you a significant fact.”
“You sound quite ominous. Did something improper happen?”
Darcy began to pace again as he spoke. ”If something improper did indeed occur, it is not for me to say.
Perhaps you could make such an assertion after my confession, sir.
I simply wanted to say that I have the highest opinion of Miss Elizabeth and would never do anything disrespectful towards her or against her wishes.
Nevertheless, I cannot ignore the fact that you are the head of this family and deserve to be informed about everything that passed this morning between your daughter and me.
I know only too well how important it can be to know the truth in order to be able to protect your family. ”
He paused again, making Mr Bennet—who was unprepared for such a beginning—equally impatient and curious.
“Please do not delay your confession, sir. My interest is suitably roused.”
“Mr Bennet, the circumstances of my meeting with Miss Elizabeth today were different than you were given to understand. I can only guess that, in misrepresenting the situation, she was trying to save your family from any unpleasantness.”
Mr Bennet stared at him for some time, pleased and relieved by what he had just heard.
Apparently, the gentleman intended to offer answers before he asked the questions.
The fact that Darcy had decided to disclose such information and put himself in an awkward position was proof of his honesty and deference towards the master of the house.
It spoke well of his character, and Mr Bennet added it to his developing opinion of the gentleman.
“So, Mr Darcy, am I to understand that you intend to relate to me the true circumstances of your meeting?”
“Of course, sir. As I said previously, I met Miss Elizabeth while I was trying to find my way out of the wood. The rain was dreadful, and my horse ran away after unseating me. Fortunately, your daughter was kind-hearted and allowed me to accompany her to the cottage for shelter.”
Darcy cast a worried glance at Mr Bennet and then continued with alacrity.
“I give you my word, sir, that my decision to join Miss Elizabeth was made not only for my own safety but for her protection as well. I could not allow her to remain alone in that fearful storm so far from home and unchaperoned. I now understand that, in doing so, I did not take into consideration all the elements and consequences of my actions, and I put Miss Elizabeth in a most improper position. I should have found another, more acceptable way to ensure her safety and mine.”
“Mr Darcy…”
Darcy paused and turned inquiringly to his companion.
“I think you have taken far too much responsibility upon yourself. I do not believe there was any possible alternative for you and my daughter.”
“Yes there was, sir. I should have left her safely alone in the cottage and come directly here to inform you.”
The elder gentleman could not hide a smile and shook his head. “Indeed, that would have been a partial solution but not easy to accomplish and perhaps a little foolish. You would have put your own safety and health in danger.”
“I know, sir,” Darcy answered simply and without hesitation.
They gazed searchingly at each other for some moments. Mr Bennet was disconcerted facing a man who had just admitted he would be ready to risk his own well-being in order to offer the best protection for his daughter. Finally, he took his glass and smiled openly at his guest.
“I am glad you did not do that. It would have been an unnecessary risk. Now pray tell me, how did you find the cottage? Did you approve of it?”
Darcy stared at him, not comprehending the question. “The cottage? Um…quite pleasing and useful, sir.”
“I am glad to hear it. Could you start the fire?”
“Yes I could. Everything necessary was at hand.”
“May I inquire how exactly you put my daughter in an improper situation as you said? Did anything in particular occur between the two of you?”
The quick changes in topic were disturbing. Darcy had the feeling that Elizabeth’s father was trying to take him by surprise in order to catch him in a wrong answer. Darcy was not accustomed to—and even less pleased at—such treatment. But what could he do? He was at Mr Bennet’s mercy.
“Nothing particularly, sir, except that Miss Elizabeth was alone with me for many hours, and her reputation—”
“Mr Darcy, you told me previously that you understand my position as the head of this family and the importance of my knowing the truth. I hope I am right in believing you to be a trustworthy man. So I am going to ask you a direct question: Did anything happen between you and my daughter that compromised her virtue or her reputation?”
“No, sir.”
“Thank you. Now let us enjoy this brandy, shall we?”
They breathed deeply, both relieved by the understanding they had reached. Darcy was surprised that Mr Bennet trusted him. He knew he would not have been so easily satisfied with simple answers if something similar had happened to his sister.
After enjoying another glass of brandy, Mr Bennet continued.
“I am not comfortable about being forced to tell you this, but I imagine you are already aware of its possibility. If the circumstances of your meeting were to become public knowledge, my daughter’s reputation would be damaged and certain measures would be required. ”
“I perfectly understand that, sir, and I am honour-bound to do what is required.”
“Well, let us hope it will not come to that. I should not want you to be forced to make such a sacrifice after your honest confession.”
“Mr Bennet, I am sure that any man, in marrying your daughter, would find it not a sacrifice but an honour.”
“Is that so? I must confess I am quite surprised to hear that from you, sir. From my previous information, I was more inclined to believe the opposite. Well, well…and do you happen to know my daughter’s opinion on this subject by any chance?”
“I do, sir,” answered Darcy with apparent bitterness. “In the course of our conversation, I learned that my manners and behaviour had fairly induced Miss Elizabeth to have a poor opinion of me.”
“Indeed?” Mr Bennet looked at him sympathetically. “Well, whether that was previously the case, after today I am sure my daughter has found many reasons to improve her opinion. I know I have!”
“Thank you, Mr Bennet.”
“Well, I shall go now and tell a servant to bring you some clothes. I shall meet you in the dining room.”
∞∞∞
John had not travelled halfway to Netherfield before he met Mr Bingley, the Bennets’ servant, and several other men, all of whom had formed a search party. Bingley’s sanguine disposition was much affected by his friend’s disappearance, especially after Darcy’s horse reached the stable alone.