Chapter 12 #2
The answer was truthful, as he always was. He was not attempting to draw a similar confession from her. Elizabeth, however, found herself in a playful mood. She was not yet ready to answer the question he longed to ask, nor did she wish to drive him away.
“A rather hasty decision,” she said with a smile.
“Intrepid rather than hasty,” he replied, searching her eyes. Then, anxious to escape the force of feelings threatening to sweep away the last remnants of his composure, he added, “Do you intend to come to London?”
“Yes, perhaps even next week. Our uncle has some business to attend to, and he has invited us to spend a few days with him.”
It was the answer he wished to hear. More than anything, he wanted to transform their tentative truce into a lasting peace.
“And where do you intend to stay?” he asked, already prepared to invite her entire family to Pemberley House if necessary.
Elizabeth hesitated. She was on the point of answering that they would stay with her uncle Gardiner, but decided against it. Mr Darcy would discover the truth soon enough.
“We are staying with the Duchess of Beauford—”
“No!” His astonishment was so genuine that Elizabeth stopped in the middle of the path and turned to face him.
“You know the Duchess of Beauford?” she asked eagerly.
“Yes, a little. I have met her before, but—”
He broke off abruptly.
“What do you know? Please, please tell me!” she exclaimed. She was intensely interested in a story of which she knew only fragments. “How do you know her?”
“First of all, I know the family. There are not so many dukedoms in Britain. I am not a close acquaintance. We have met at the theatre and at balls and have been introduced.”
“You are not telling me what I want to know. Please.”
He smiled at her eagerness, delighted to discover yet another side of Elizabeth. “So Miss Elizabeth does enjoy gossip.”
“Of course I do. I am not some dark warrior.”
“I am very glad to hear it.”
Elizabeth withdrew her hand from his arm, but with a gesture so gentle that it almost startled her, he took it again and restored it to its place.
“Yes, I know the story of the Duke and Duchess of Beauford.”
“Splendid,” she said, involuntarily glancing towards the parlour where her uncle, standing beside an open window, was waving in their direction.
“Oh, my God,” Darcy murmured, following her gaze. A sudden realisation dawned upon him.
“Now you are making me angry,” Elizabeth declared. “Please speak before they summon us back for dinner.”
“It was your uncle who saved the duchess.”
At once, the entire story assumed a new shape. The mysterious benefactor whose actions had fascinated London society stood revealed as Elizabeth’s uncle.
“What do you know?” he asked, now interested in her version.
“That his lordship was a gambler and lost his fortune and much more besides. Upon his death, his widow inherited enormous debts, and my uncle, who had known her since childhood, paid the creditors.”
Darcy nodded. “All London wishes to discover the identity of that secret saviour. For more than a year, the subject has been discussed everywhere. Her ladyship’s desperation attracted widespread sympathy.
Many wished to help, but the sum was immense, and all she possessed was her London house and a few small estates. ”
“Not enough to satisfy the debts?”
“Apparently not.”
Elizabeth considered this for a moment before speaking again. “But I do not understand how such debts could remain hidden until his death.”
“It often happens. A man of such rank is rarely called to account whilst he lives. More often, the consequences fall upon his family.”
“That is terribly unjust.”
“Indeed. In this case, it was even more tragic. Their only daughter, disgusted by her father’s conduct, left London thirty years ago. Society says she never spoke to either of her parents again.”
“But how do you know such details?” Elizabeth asked.
“Miss Elizabeth, London is nothing more than a larger Meryton.”
“Much larger, and I imagine you do not know all its inhabitants.”
“Certainly not. Yet London is divided into circles and communities. Even when one does not know a person directly, one hears of their actions. My aunt Lady Matlock, Lady Catherine, and many of our acquaintances are always exchanging stories. Lately, Georgiana hears them first, and then I hear them from her.”
“So you admit that you expected a higher standard of behaviour from my family than from most of the families in London, including your own?”
Darcy turned towards her, almost in alarm, only to discover her smiling teasingly. In response, he bowed and silently acknowledged the justice of the accusation.
“I am pleased to know that wherever people come from, they are fundamentally the same. Titles and fortunes create superficial distinctions, but beyond that, people remain people.”
“I agree.”
“But if my uncle truly is the duchess’s saviour, then according to your own standards our place should be amongst those titles and fortunes.”
Darcy nodded, amused by her playfulness.
“Because of the people involved, that story belongs to the summit of the ton.”
“Interesting. So generosity is a pathway into the ton after all.”
“I would not express it quite so boldly, but your uncle is certainly expected in London.”
“And me?” she asked with a playful smile.
“You, Miss Elizabeth? I hope only one gentleman is waiting for you in London, and that gentleman is myself.”
The words made her tremble. Immediately, she reproached herself for becoming so impressionable. A few simple words were enough to colour her cheeks and set her heart racing. Jane’s happiness was partly responsible. Watching her sister’s joy made everyone around her long for happiness of their own.
Neither wished their walk to end, but dinner was drawing near.
“Do you already have a room here?” Darcy asked, wondering whether she would need to return to Longbourn to prepare for the evening.
“Yes, all of us do.”
Each sister had already chosen a room at Netherfield, and their belongings had begun to arrive days earlier.
“Then we shall go in together,” he said, pleased by the prospect of remaining near her. “I shall tell your uncle that you admired the horses.”
“You would lie for me, Mr Darcy?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
“Yes, Miss Elizabeth,” he answered, holding her gaze. “I am prepared to do anything for you.”