Chapter 60 #2
The next morning, Richard agreed to remain at Darcy House with the duke, and Darcy went to St. Helen’s, thinking it the quickest way to see Elizabeth.
When he entered the church and shook the rain off his coat only moments before the sermon began, he saw her in the Gardiners’ usual pew along with her aunt, uncle, cousins…
and Mr. Bennet. Darcy took a seat in the back of the church from which he could see Elizabeth.
She held the youngest child, and although he could not hear her voice from his position, he watched her sing as she played with little Joseph, her curls bouncing against her neck.
He relaxed now that he was finally in her vicinity, and his worship during the service that day was less listening to the vicar’s words and more praying she would soon be his.
As soon as the final prayer was said, Darcy slipped out of the church to await the family.
The rain had slowed to a drizzle, and he found some paving stones to stand on while he watched parishioners walk out while tying bonnets and hoisting umbrellas.
Unfortunately, Mr. Bennet saw him right before Elizabeth did.
“Mr. Darcy, a word if you please.” The man passed his umbrella to his niece. “Go home, child.”
With a quick smile to Elizabeth, Darcy followed her uncle up the street away from the Gardiner home. They stopped just beyond the church, and he turned to see Elizabeth and the Gardiners slowly make their way in the opposite direction.
“Mr. Bennet, I am happy to see you in London.” Rain trickled down his face, but Mr. Bennet had found an awning to stand beneath.
“I was surprised to receive your letter, but I had already made plans to visit my niece. Seeing you at church has prevented my needing to turn you away from the Gardiner home. You are no longer welcome there.”
“Sir! I do not understand.”
“I know about your diamonds, which you say you found at a seaside resort, but I think you know more. I have come to protect my niece from you.”
“Protect her? In what way can you think I would harm her?”
Mr. Bennet glared at him but did not answer.
“Sir, I love Miss Elizabeth. I wish nothing more than to care for her, provide for her, and protect her.” Darcy wiped water from his face with the back of his gloved hand.
“What do you know about the diamonds you found?”
“Er…I had hoped to speak to you about them, sir. Would it be possible to take this discussion indoors? I wish to tell Mr. Gardiner and Miss Elizabeth what I learned in my recent travels, as well.”
Mr. Bennet looked at him as though he could read secrets in his eyes. Darcy shivered. Though the rain had eased, the wind had picked up, and he pulled his greatcoat tighter against the late January storm.
“You may speak to me. Let us return to the house.”
“Thank you, sir.”
As they walked, Darcy thought about Mr. Bennet’s cold reception.
Could he still think Darcy was responsible for Wickham’s deeds?
No, he said he had come because of the diamonds.
Mr. Bennet had to suspect they had something to do with Elizabeth’s parents.
But why? Diamonds were not so rare that the ones he found should make Mr. Bennet suspicious.
Darcy would have said something as they walked, but he did not wish to be turned away when he had already gained an invitation to the Gardiner home.
After handing their outerwear to the butler, Darcy and Mr. Bennet proceeded up to the drawing room. Elizabeth rose and came to him immediately. He longed to embrace her, but he could only bow and gaze at her worried face. He attempted to ease her fears.
“I have much to tell you—”
“Elizabeth, you will remain here with your aunt or in your bedchamber while your uncle and I talk to Mr. Darcy in the study.”
“Uncle, please. I have done all you asked when I returned to London. I should hear what Mr. Darcy has to say.”
“Not quite all, Lizzy. Bingley came and spoke to me at Longbourn on Thursday. It seems you informed Jane of your desire to wed Mr. Darcy, and his friend sought to help his cause.”
“Kitty and Lydia know! How could I not tell Jane? If Mary were to visit me, I would tell her, as well. You taught me to believe family is important, Uncle Bennet. Would you have me lie even to your daughters?”
Mr. Bennet’s face fell, as though the toll of the lies he had told for decades was suddenly catching up with him.
He glanced at Darcy, and at that moment Darcy thought the older man understood what he had discovered in Yorkshire, but he looked back to his niece.
He seemed to be warring with himself about what he should do.
They all stood in the drawing room, waiting on Mr. Bennet’s decision.
“Sir, what I learned in Yorkshire will not remain hidden. We arrived last night, and I came as early as I could, but the truth will follow.” Mr. Darcy looked at him, willing him to see the honesty in his eyes.
Mr. Bennet swallowed. “You did not know what you would find in Yorkshire?”
Darcy shook his head, brows furrowed. Was this his concern? If Mr. Bennet thought he already knew about Elizabeth’s connection to the duke…Darcy was pulled from his thoughts before he could make sense of them.
“Then why would you go?”
“My cousin and I went to offer information to a man grieving his son. We learned more about his family, including that he deeply regretted his mistake that separated him from that son years earlier than it should have. He had planned to heal their relationship as soon as his son returned to England.”
Mr. Bennet wiped a tear from his cheek. “So, this man…did you tell him all you set out to reveal?”
“That and more, sir. After learning of his situation and his great love for his family, my cousin and I decided to tell him all we knew the next afternoon. I have never seen a happier man, sir.”
Mr. Bennet nodded, cleared his throat, and pulled out his handkerchief to brush his face. “Very well. You may tell Elizabeth, as well as the Gardiners. We will then decide how to proceed.”
“Thank you, sir.” Darcy turned to Elizabeth. She looked completely confused, as did the Gardiners. He reached out to squeeze her hand and led her to sit beside him on the settee. The others would be in the room for his revelation, but he was telling Elizabeth. This was her story.