Chapter XVII #3
Mr. Bennet regarded him for a few moments, shifting in his chair as he considered it. At length, he nodded.
“How much his lack of knowledge will assist us is impossible to say, but it cannot hurt.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam bared his teeth. “If Wickham knew I was involved, he would flee.”
“Wickham has always had a healthy respect for my cousin,” observed Mr. Darcy, a classic understatement.
“It has grown to terror,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam, keeping his tone offhand. “After another offense against our family, I tracked him down last summer, and left him in no doubt about what would happen if he crossed us again.”
“Then I suggest we depart at once,” said Mr. Bennet.
Mr. Darcy appeared a little uncomfortable, his eyes finding his cousin. Elizabeth noted the colonel shrugging his response, allowing Mr. Darcy to speak.
“Edward Street is not the best part of town.”
“I know what you will say, Darcy,” said Mr. Bennet, “but I shall not allow you to handle this yourself. I mean to be a part of it.”
“You will need us both to handle Lydia,” added Mr. Gardiner.
Mr. Darcy nodded, a slight smile gracing his face. “I should have known you would insist.”
“Yes, you should have,” agreed Mr. Bennet, not without irony. “Is there any reason to delay, or should we be about the business at once?”
“No reason that I can imagine,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam.
With that agreement, the gentlemen rose, Elizabeth standing along with them. Seeing her, Mr. Bennet fixed her with a raised eyebrow—Elizabeth understood what he was saying and would not press the point.
“There is no reason for that, Papa,” said Elizabeth. “I know that I am not invited, and I have no objection to waiting for your return.”
“Good,” said Mr. Bennet. Then he turned to Mr. Darcy and winked. “Unless I am mistaken, I believe our young lovers would appreciate a moment to say their goodbyes in privacy. Shall we?”
The three chuckling men turned to leave the room, but not before Colonel Fitzwilliam gestured to Mr. Darcy as if telling him to get on with it. Elizabeth could not tell what Mr. Darcy thought of their teasing, for his expression revealed nothing when he turned to her.
“Now that our engagement is sanctioned, I can turn my attention to certain necessities.” The gentleman paused and smiled. “After we retrieve and settle your sister, of course.”
“Necessities such as informing Lady Catherine?” asked Elizabeth lightly.
Mr. Darcy grimaced, but he did not hesitate to respond. “That is one of the most critical, yes.”
After a brief pause in which he considered what to say, Mr. Darcy spoke. “Last night, I was tempted to write her a letter.”
“Unless I have misunderstood your aunt,” teased Elizabeth, “that would be an invitation to make her sentiments known.”
With a grin, he said: “No, Miss Bennet, you have not misunderstood her. Had I done it that way, she would be in London the day she received it, unless she went straight to Hertfordshire.”
“That would not be welcome,” said Elizabeth, wincing at the thought.
“Just so,” agreed Mr. Darcy. “When we have retrieved your sister and settled her situation, one of my first tasks will be to speak to her ladyship. Telling her in person will not prevent her fury, but it should blunt any displays she might make.”
“I will be the Jezebel who has tempted you away from your duty,” said Elizabeth, not entirely in jest.
“If I can prevent her from saying as much to you, I will count it a success.”
Elizabeth nodded, hesitating for a moment before addressing him. “Mr. Darcy, I wish to say that I am also pleased the matter is now resolved. If you are agreeable, I should like at least a few months of engagement—it would do us both good to come to know each other better.”
Instead of an immediate response, Mr. Darcy caught her hand and raised it to his lips. “With that, I could not agree more. There will be plenty of time to see to the wedding later. We do not need to rush.”
“Then you had better go.” Elizabeth smiled at him, one calculated to show her confidence in him. “Please take care, Mr. Darcy. Now that you have promised yourself to me, I expect you to return in good order.”
“I always take care, Miss Bennet. Wickham is far too much of a coward to do anything that will land him in further trouble.”
“And yet he has done this,” said Elizabeth. “There is no need to quibble about this, Mr. Darcy. Please just exercise caution.”
“I shall,” promised the gentleman.
Then he kissed her hand again and excused himself, leaving Elizabeth to sink into the sofa, her hand tingling from the impression of his lips on her bare skin.
Though Elizabeth had agreed to stay behind, she had done so because she knew they would never allow her to accompany them.
It would be a long wait for them to return, no matter how quickly they managed it, and Elizabeth had nothing to do but wait.
With a sigh, she rose to speak to the housekeeper.
If she must wait, she might at least accomplish something, preparing the household to make her aunt’s return easier when it came.