Chapter 2 #2
Elizabeth opened her mouth, though she hardly knew whether it would be better to parry or attack her opponent outright, when the crowd shifted behind Miss Bingley. A tall figure approached, cutting through the press of people as the prow of a ship cuts through waves in a troubled sea.
Instantly, Elizabeth recognised him. Only one man combined such physical grace with so sombre an expression, so much presence with so little charm.
Mr Darcy.
If Elizabeth was not pleased to see him, she certainly knew who was.
Caroline Bingley brightened considerably and pivoted toward him.
“Mr Darcy, such a pleasure to see you again! I declare, if I miss anything from my time in Hertfordshire, it is your society. How pleasant it is to have a lively house party composed of those with a great deal of conversation!”
Elizabeth fought the urge to roll her eyes at her simpering tone. Miss Bingley’s opinion of her time in Hertfordshire certainly seemed to have altered remarkably in retrospect.
Mr Darcy gave a curt bow. His eyes found Elizabeth’s for a brief moment, then darted away.
“It has been too long since you visited us,” Miss Bingley went on. “Charles is happy to see you at any time, you know. As am I.”
Elizabeth noted how Mr Darcy’s jaw tightened imperceptibly. He turned to her. “Miss Elizabeth.”
She returned the greeting, and Elizabeth was pleased to hear her own voice did not betray her irritation or curiosity. Why was he here? Darcy’s eyes flicked away to the dance floor, where Charles Bingley was even then escorting Jane down the line. He seemed about to speak, then hesitated.
Elizabeth’s suspicion sharpened.
Caroline, eager to commandeer Darcy’s attention, continued. “You will excuse us, Mr Darcy, but I was just saying to Miss Bennet that a quieter season in the country can be very beneficial, given the circumstances.”
“Circumstances?” Mr Darcy stared at her.
“Oh.” Caroline brought her hand to her chest in mock surprise. “But you have not heard? I should not presume to repeat gossip.”
Elizabeth stifled a snort. Caroline Bingley lived for gossip, as everyone well knew.
Mr Darcy’s gaze flitted to her, then back to Miss Bingley. “If the matter is sensitive in nature, you would do well not to mention it, Miss Bingley.”
Miss Bingley flushed. “I have only my friends’ best interests at heart.”
“Perhaps one might be sure that their counsel is invited before offering it,” Elizabeth quipped, unable to keep silent any longer.
Miss Bingley bristled, but Mr Darcy had shifted his attention wholly to Elizabeth. A flicker of something like understanding hovered in the air between them.
Elizabeth looked away, not wanting to give him the comfort of believing they stood on the same side of anything. A silence fell, the more noticeable for the dance having come to an end, the music falling silent.
“Pray excuse me, I must speak to my brother,” Caroline Bingley said, and briskly moved away.
Fearing what she might say to Jane, Elizabeth turned to follow.
She was stopped by Mr Darcy’s low plea. “Miss Elizabeth. May I speak with you?”
Elizabeth swallowed. “I believe my sister requires my company.”
“That is precisely why I must speak,” he said gravely.
After a moment, Elizabeth agreed. It must be something particular for Mr Darcy to speak to her with such urgency. Then, too, her curiosity about his presence was overcoming her dislike for him.
He drew her to the side of the room, though not far enough to be improper. Elizabeth was still firmly in sight of Mrs Gardiner, who had joined Jane at the refreshment table, and Mr Gardiner, who chatted jovially with a group of gentlemen.
“I hope you have not taken Miss Bingley’s words too much to heart,” Mr Darcy said, lowering his voice. “I believe she has spoken too much in haste.”
Elizabeth looked at him askance. “You need not trouble yourself, Mr Darcy. I assure you, I will give such statements only the credence they deserve. What does trouble me are the rumours she has so carefully pretended not to repeat.”
Mr Darcy’s expression darkened.
“You know something about this,” Elizabeth said, recognising his silence as reluctance to speak.
“I know nothing for certain, only that this situation is not unique to your family alone.”
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to explain further.
“Upon learning of this gossip, I wished to inquire if you had any suspicions regarding the source.”
Elizabeth looked at him in confusion, as this explained nothing at all. “I have none, as you must now know is the case. But I confess you astonish me. Why should such distasteful matters interest you?”
Mr Darcy hesitated a moment, saying nothing. A muscle twitched in his jaw. Elizabeth seized on his hesitation as a terrier might seize a bone.
“You know something! Or you suspect you might. Please, Mr Darcy, I wish you would tell me. You cannot know how much this has weighed on my mind. It is intolerable to see my sister so targeted.”
At that, Mr Darcy winced. “I understand that only too well. I see I must share something of my thoughts with you. You deserve no less; I only ask and trust that you will treat what I shall tell you with the discretion it warrants. My sister has also recently been the subject of unkind rumours,” he admitted.
“Who would dare?” Elizabeth said, more to herself, but Mr Darcy seized the opportunity to make his confession.
“That is why I am here, Miss Elizabeth. To discover who would dare to conspire against Georgiana in this way.”
Elizabeth searched his face for any hint of deception, but found none. All she saw was sincerity and apprehension.
“Miss Bingley believes you came for her family’s sake, but in truth —”
“In truth, I came to protect my sister.”
Elizabeth’s heart squeezed as a charged silence passed between them.
“I fear the same person who is targeting Georgiana is now turning their attention to your sister. Perhaps even to you.”
The rumours directly targeted two households.
Elizabeth had read nothing she could identify as referencing Miss Darcy in the scandal sheets, but she had only just arrived in London.
One thing was certain. There was a shadow lurking beneath London’s glittering facade, and Mr Darcy, of all people, was the one to warn her.
“We must find who is responsible,” Elizabeth said.
“Do take care, Miss Elizabeth,” Mr Darcy said. “Your concern is not unwarranted, but the culprit appears to have no scruples.”
His concern was unwarranted, for nothing could harm her as much as seeing her sister’s face crumple when she had been stung by cruel lies. Elizabeth thanked Mr Darcy, assured him she would keep his confidence, and removed herself as quickly as possible.
It did not signify that he, too, had come to London to protect a sister, and that their purposes were aligned. Elizabeth would find the rumour-monger and save her sister’s reputation on her own.