Chapter 2 #2
“Again, Aunt, I have offered marriage to no one, and quite frankly, who I marry is not your concern,” Darcy responded, his voice still calm but his anger rising.
“Miss Bennet has nothing to do with my refusal to marry your daughter. This has become an annual conversation; I refuse to marry Anne each year when I visit, and you refuse to accept my answer.”
She sputtered in rage. “If you will not do your duty to my daughter, leave my home immediately. You are no longer welcome here, nor will you be allowed to spend another night in residence,” she yelled. “Take your disappointing cousin with you.”
“I will leave as soon as it can be arranged. Lord Matlock can review your accounts in the future,” Darcy informed her before turning on his heel and striding out.
Heading quickly up the stairs, he directed his valet to let the stables know of their intention to leave and to pack for an immediate departure and sat down to write several notes, including one to Elizabeth explaining their departure and outlining some of his concerns for her should Lady Catherine attempt to take retribution against her.
Richard appeared at the door as he was finishing these preparations and leaned against the frame. “My bags are being packed. I assume we will leave within the hour?”
“Yes, Richard, we will. Did she have anything to say after I left?” Darcy asked.
“She ranted a bit about you not doing your duty and blaming Miss Bennet—I do not believe she realised I was sitting there still. She intends to write to my father, believing he will convince you to ‘do your duty to the family’. She seems afraid of something, but I know not what she fears,” Richard said. “What will you do about …”
He trailed off when Darcy slashed his hand through the air. “Say nothing of that here,” he hissed quietly. Louder, he said. “My valet and your man have things under control here. Let us walk to the stables—I intend to ride to London, and the carriage with our luggage can follow. What do you say?”
Richard nodded, and after a quick goodbye to their mutual cousin, who was sad to see them go sooner than planned, they headed towards the stables.
As they approached the stable, Darcy noticed a footman hovering nearby and called him over.
Darcy eyed the child for a moment. “Tell me, please, how long have you worked at Rosings?” he asked.
“A few months, sir,” the servant replied.
“How do you like your job here?” Darcy asked him.
“I need the job, sir,” he replied respectfully, if a little nervously. “I send what I can from my wages back to me mum and the family, and it helps them some.”
Richard nodded at Darcy, recognising the footman as one he identified as willing to help their cause.
“How would you feel about earning some extra coin? I need help with a particular situation, but I must ensure you can keep it between us. Whatever happens, Lady Catherine is not to know anything we discuss.”
The young man eyed the lady’s nephew warily, “Is this some sort of test, sir?” he asked. “I need me job and do not want to run afoul of the great lady.” Darcy and Richard thought they heard him mumble something about “no matter how ridiculous she is.”
“You should not, but if you run into trouble, send a note to me in London, and I will help. Speak to Miss Anne or Mrs Collins, as both ladies are kind and will aid you. There is enough coin in this pouch to help you with that,” Darcy said as he held up a coin purse.
The footman nodded his agreement, and Darcy outlined his plan to protect Elizabeth should Lady Catherine attempt to injure her person or her reputation.
Once outside, Darcy spoke. “We need to call at the parsonage to inform them we are leaving. I will need a moment to speak to Miss Bennet if you can distract the others. She was to write letters for me to post on her behalf, and I have a note I hope to give her.”
Their horses were nearly ready when they arrived at the stables.
Quickly mounting, they took an indirect route to the parsonage, hoping not to be observed.
They arrived to find only the ladies within, as Lady Catherine insisted the parson commiserate with her immediately upon the departure of her nephews.
“We are off to London, ladies, and have come to take our leave of you,” the colonel announced after exchanging greetings. Elizabeth darted a surprised look towards Darcy, and he looked apologetic in return.
While Richard conversed with Mrs Collins and her sister, Darcy spoke quietly to Elizabeth.
“My aunt has thrown us out after I refused, yet again, to announce the engagement to my cousin, and she has told me I am no longer welcome at Rosings. We must leave immediately for town, and I am greatly disappointed not to have your company for a few more days. However, I am concerned for you as my aunt specifically mentioned you in our conversation. I gave her no reaction or information about our courtship, but I worry she may take action against you. Be on your guard, please, Elizabeth, and let me know if there is anything I can do to aid you.”
Darcy was delighted that Elizabeth looked displeased at the sudden change to his plans.
“I am sorry you are leaving, sir. I have not finished writing my letters, although I did finish the letter to Jane. In it, I was able to explain our plans, and if I add a line asking her to inform my father and uncle, perhaps we can still follow those plans.” She looked hopeful and smiled shyly at him.
“I will be careful on my walks, although perhaps I should stay closer to the parsonage than I have been.”
He smiled. “I can deliver the letter in person and arrange to meet your relatives. Then, if you allow it, I could make the request on your behalf.”
She grimaced. “When my aunt and uncle were at Longbourn for Christmas, I still believed the worst of you. I had not seen through Mr Wickham’s lies then, and I am afraid I did not hold back in expressing my negative opinions of you, for which I am very sorry now.
I am unsure how your request would be received, so I wanted to write to my uncle and father first.”
His smile faltered a bit. “I hope you do not still think so poorly of me,” he whispered.
“I do not,” she insisted. “Since you have been in Kent, my understanding of you has changed. Our conversation this morning has made me view you quite differently, and I am sorry we will not be able to get to know each other better here.” She paused for a moment before continuing.
“Let me write my uncle a short note of introduction before you go. Charlotte should not object to extending your stay a bit longer.”
Elizabeth turned to her friend. “Charlotte, Mr Darcy has agreed to deliver a letter to Jane when he reaches town. I need to write a brief note of introduction for my uncle as well. Please excuse me to pen it quickly.”
“Of course, Eliza,” Charlotte agreed, giving her a knowing look. “There is paper and ink in my little study.”
Standing quickly, Elizabeth hurried from the room and returned with several folded notes in her hand in a few moments.
“I wrote to my aunt as well. The address is on the top sheet, and I greatly appreciate you taking these to town for me. I hope I am not taking advantage of your kindness by giving you so many letters to deliver at once.”
He nodded and took the notes, noting that one piece of folded paper bore his name.
He slid all the letters into his pocket and stood.
“Not at all. I am pleased to be of service to you, Miss Bennet. Fitzwilliam, we have a long ride ahead of us, so let us make haste. Ladies, I am sorry our visit to Rosings has ended so abruptly, but it was a pleasure to see you all again.”
They all stood, and farewells were offered.
As the gentlemen exited, Charlotte sent Maria upstairs and made her way to the kitchen while Elizabeth escorted the gentlemen to the door.
The colonel stepped away when Darcy took Elizabeth’s hand for a brief farewell.
Kissing it quickly, he surreptitiously slid his note into her palm before striding to his horse.
Mounting, he waved in farewell before he and the colonel nudged their horses into motion.
Elizabeth stood at the door and watched the gentlemen until she could no longer see them.
She excused herself to her room to rest and reflected on the rather abrupt changes of the last several hours.
Only this morning, she was still annoyed with Mr Darcy’s presence on her walks, and now she felt somewhat bereft of the idea of not seeing him for a week.
In the space of a conversation, her understanding of the gentleman and his motivations had been completely reversed.
No longer did she hold his words and actions against him but had, in fact, begun to admire him.
She could scarcely believe she agreed to his request to court her and be introduced to his sister.
That same conversation definitively quashed any hopes of a future between Jane and Mr. Bingley.
If he were already engaged, Jane needed to be aware of it in order to move on from any lingering feelings she might still have for him.
Elizabeth felt irritated with Mr. Bingley for his attentiveness to Jane and for engaging her sister’s emotions without taking into account the potential consequences.
Not only had Jane been nursing a broken heart, but her friends and neighbours also pitied her for failing to secure Mr Bingley’s affections.
After Christmas, Jane accompanied the Gardiners to London in an attempt to mend her wounded heart and avoid the scrutiny of their neighbours, especially Mrs Bennet.
However, even after all these months had passed, she still hadn’t completely healed, and that fact made Elizabeth angry at Mr Bingley.