Chapter 20
Darcy felt like a coward. He had turned tail and ran. Why? Because he was having feelings for a slip of a woman with no wealth or connections of note, and worse, some connections she did have were in trade.
As his coach gained distance from Meryton, Darcy did not feel a lessening of his infatuation with Miss Elizabeth.
He told himself it was to be expected due to the fact he had just departed.
He was sure that in a few days he would no longer think about her when he was not busy or dream about her when he slept.
After allowing Bingley and his friend’s valet to alight at Hurst House in Curzon Street, Darcy sat quietly opposite his own valet as the coachman guided the conveyance to Grosvenor Square and Darcy House.
When Darcy arrived, if the Killions, his butler and housekeeper, were surprised to see him, they did not show it.
He left Carstens to have the footmen bring his trunk to his suite while he made for his study to see if there was any very urgent correspondence.
There were some letters but nothing which could not wait to be read.
There was, however, one rather intriguing thing on his desk—a note scrawled in Richard’s hand.
He lifted it and was shocked at what he read.
26 November 1811
Darcy:
I have sold all of Wicky’s debt markers you were holding. You would not do anything to check him! Others will!
The funds are in the safe where the vowels were.
Rich
Darcy pushed the hidden button on the bookcase behind his desk, he heard the click and pulled the section open on its well-oiled hinges.
He dialled in the combination of the safe, and there on the second shelf where the debt markers had been, was now a pile of bank notes with a few coins next to it.
He looked at the ledger on the same shelf.
He had held almost three thousand pounds of Wickham’s debts which he had purchased around the country.
The funds left for him added up to what he had held, down to the penny. Darcy was well aware that Richard did not have that much ready funds. He assumed that Uncle Reggie had provided the money for Richard.
Taking the stairs two at a time, Darcy made his way to his chambers. He had a quick wash using the basin of warm water Carstens had made sure was ready for him. He changed, and then descended the stairs as quickly as he had ascended them.
“I am for Matlock House,” Darcy told the butler over his shoulder as he hurried out of his house.
Thankfully, Matlock House was just across the green in the centre of the square, so Darcy was knocking on his aunt and uncle’s door in less than two minutes from the time he left his own abode.
“Your aunt, uncle, and sister are in the blue drawing room,” the old butler drawled.
“William!” Anna exclaimed. “Your last letter did not say you would return to Town.” She got all diffident like she had said something wrong. “Sorry, William, it is not my place to question why you are in London.”
“It is good to see you too, Sweetling, and you said nothing wrong. I am not at all upset with you,” Darcy assured his sister. “Uncle Reggie, Aunt Elaine.” He bowed.
“Were you not to remain in Hertfordshire until shortly before Christmas?” Lady Matlock asked. “What has caused you to return right after the ball in Hertfordshire?”
“Did something happen to Miss Elizabeth?” Anna asked.
Darcy was flummoxed. “Anna, how is it you know that name? Have you met her, and if so when and where?”
“You mentioned her in almost every letter you wrote from Netherfield Park. Anna allowed me to read them because you never abjured her from sharing your words with us,” Lady Matlock responded.
“Before I discuss why I returned, Uncle Reggie, may I speak to you in your study?” Darcy requested.
“Lead on, Nephew.” Matlock followed behind.
“Well, William, what is it?” Matlock enquired once the door was closed, although he had a good idea what had William running across the green to see them as soon as he had arrived home.
“Uncle, why did you give Richard money to purchase Wickham’s debts, and why now?” Darcy queried.
“I did not provide him with a single penny. Before you ask, your Aunt Elaine did not, and neither did Andrew nor Richard purchased the markers from you. It was Gardiner,” Matlock revealed.
There was no way Darcy could fathom why Edward Gardiner would want to purchase those debts. “Do you know his reason?”
“That is his story to tell you if, and when, he so chooses.” Matlock paused.
“William, I should warn you that word of your behaviour in Meryton has reached us. None of us, especially your aunt, are happy with the way you comported yourself. So far we have kept what we know from Anna. I hate to say it, but sometimes your behaviour is no better than those terrible Bingley sisters.”
Darcy was caught completely off guard. How on earth could his aunt and uncle have heard about what he did and did not do while at Netherfield Park. He was nervous to ask, but he did. “Did you hear about an insult I made at the local assembly?”
“Among others, yes.”
“I am so sorry…” Darcy ceased speaking when his uncle raised his hand and looked at him sternly.
“It is not me who is owed an apology. You are rather high in the instep at times.” Matlock shook his head. “I will say no more now, that is, other than to say that there are, at times, unforeseen consequences to our actions.”
“Richard knows where Wickham is, does he not?”
“He does. Let us return to your aunt and Anna.” The Earl opened the door and walked back towards the drawing room.
For the rest of the visit, Darcy was in a state of confusion.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Darcy had intended to stay as far away from Hertfordshire as he could, but could it be he needed to return and lower himself to apologise? First, he must solve the puzzle. How did his family know these things? All he could think of was Bingley.
To see if his supposition was correct, Darcy ordered his town coach and made for Hurst House to see Bingley.
He was not prepared for the sight which greeted him when he arrived.
There was Bingley’s coach being unloaded.
There was an army of footmen carrying trunk after trunk.
That could only mean one thing. As much as he wanted to retreat, he was here now and had to enter the lion’s den.
When the butler asked if he needed to be announced, Darcy shook his head. As he approached the drawing room he could hear his friend’s voice.
“Lulu and Caro, what are you doing back in London, and only a few hours after I arrived?” Bingley asked.
“Why would we remain in that unrefined backwater when not only you, but Mr Darcy departed as well?” Mrs Hurst demanded.
“And really, Charles, why would we want to associate with people like the Bennets? After the way Mrs Bennet was in her cups, loudly proclaiming your engagement to her eldest daughter, and not quietly mind you, but at the top of her grating voice, why would we want to remain when that fortune hunter is trying to force your hand.”
Darcy took a step into the room. Miss Bingley was about to latch onto his arm when her older sister shook her head.
“Impeccable timing as always, Mr Darcy,” Miss Bingley purred.
“Louisa and I were just explaining the evils of returning to Netherfield Park to Charles, and allowing that social climbing, fortune hunter, Jane Bennet, to entrap him.”
He had to school his features because the way Miss Bingley was describing Miss Bennet, was exactly as she and her sister were. He did not think that Miss Bennet loved Bingley, but Darcy had never seen any avarice in her.
“I love Miss Bennet, and she loves me. She is not a fortune hunter,” Bingley insisted petulantly.
A look passed between the sisters. “Charles, you are so na?ve, it is good that Caro and I are here to save you from yourself,” Mrs Hurst asserted. “As women we know when another woman is in love, and Miss Bennet does not hold you in tender regard. It is your fortune she desires, not you.”
“Louisa has the right of it; I saw no tender regard in Miss Bennet’s looks.” Miss Bingley could see her brother was about to protest. She played the trump card she and Louisa had agreed on. “Ask Mr Darcy if we are wrong.”
“While I do not know if she is a fortune hunter, like your sisters, I saw no love in Miss Bennet’s looks.
I observed her smiles, and they are no different for you than any other man,” Darcy opined.
“I do agree that because she does not feel for you what you say you feel for her, she would accept you in obedience to her mother.”
The Bingley sisters were aware that Jane Bennet did love their brother, but propriety kept her from displaying her affection. They could not have written out something for Mr Darcy to say which was more perfect than he had.
For his part, Darcy saw the closing of Netherfield Park and the return of the Hursts and Miss Bingley as a sign he was not meant to return. He was relieved because he knew he was too weak to see Miss Elizabeth Bennet again and not offer for her.
“Darce, you really saw that?” Bingley questioned.
“I did. Bingley, as my good friend, I cannot sit idly by while you enter a marriage of unequal affections,” Darcy assured his friend. “You know yourself that you would suffer in such a relationship.”
Even though he had not believed them, but rather Mr Darcy, the Bingley sisters could not care less, they had achieved their aim.
Bingley cogitated for some moments. “Yes, you must be correct. I will forget about Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire, and Miss Jane Bennet. I am sure I will soon meet someone who will return my love.”