Chapter Sixty-Eight
A t Pemberley, Mr. Darcy, Lady Anne and Georgiana were breakfasting together, as had now become their habit. This was the time each day that the three of them cudgeled their brains together to think where Elizabeth might have gone, and for Mr. Darcy to report any results from the search teams.
Sadly, there was nothing to report and no new ideas, so they soon fell silent. A footman came in for Mr. Darcy with a letter on a tray, which Mr. Darcy fell to opening, as Lady Anne busied herself by paging through a newspaper.
Mr. Darcy leapt to his feet, spilling his coffee.
Lady Anne gasped, pointing to the newspaper.
Mrs. Reynolds rushed in, cap askew.
All three cried out, simultaneously, “She is in London!”
Mr. Darcy owed his share of this intelligence to Charles Bingley, who had written:
Darcy,
I have only ***** learnt that Miss Mary was invited to **** London to visit Mrs. Darcy.
Bingley
Lady Anne, though she rarely condescended to read society news, had happened to see this snippet in The Morning Post :
Mrs. FD from Derbyshire was seen dancing with none other than Beau Brummell at the Landon House Ball on Friday night.
Mrs. Reynolds had the most direct intelligence of all, having just received a letter from Mrs. Armstrong, the housekeeper at Darcy House, saying how pleased everyone at Darcy House was to have been allowed to meet Mrs. Darcy; she was well-liked by everyone.
Once everyone had compared their sources, Georgiana burst into tears. “Brother, you must bring her home at once!”
“How could I not have known?” Mr. Darcy marveled at his own stupidity. “She would have gone to London to be with the Gardiners!”
Mrs. Reynolds was also weepy. “I have been so, so very worried about her!”
Lady Anne alone had no comment to make. She knew herself to be the villain of the piece, and the well-earned punishment for her behaviour could not be much longer delayed. Still, she thought, bracingly, perhaps Cresston Hall would not be so very bad. She had not been there for years, as she had never imagined leaving Pemberley. She would depart as soon as she received word that Elizabeth had been found.
***
Despite his assurance to Georgiana that he would bring Elizabeth home as soon as may be, Mr. Darcy wondered, privately, if that was the best course of action. Had he any real claim on her, given what she had been put through at Pemberley? Perhaps he owed her the separation that she seemed to desire.
But his need to see her outweighed any other considerations. First he would find her; all else would follow.
He considered riding to London on his stallion, as that would be the fastest mode of travel, but sober reflection had him realise that he was likely to need at least a few changes of clothing while in London. Thus, he had Evans pack a trunk, and the two men climbed into a carriage not two hours after learning of Elizabeth’s whereabouts.
***
After Mr. Darcy’s departure, Lady Anne spoke at length with her daughter. Georgiana had not understood that Elizabeth’s return presaged her mother’s departure to Cumberland, and once she had been made to realise this, she was inconsolable. Surely, she insisted, they could all live in peace together, could they not? Could there be no forgiveness? Was she, Georgiana, truly expected to live at Pemberley without her mother? She became morose, and even the pianoforte ceased to engage her. Mrs. Annesley was quite concerned about Georgiana, but knew not what to do.