Chapter 10
The dining room, lit for a happier occasion, and the excellent food made them feel more confident about the next day. They had received a message from Netherfield, and Mr Bennet read between the lines that Elizabeth and Georgiana would have preferred to be in London with them.
“It seems that the real action is here in London,” Mr Bennet said, holding a glass of wine that contributed to his lighter state of mind.
“The girls are under the impression that we wanted to send them away, and it makes no sense for them to be so far from the place where Darcy disappeared. Perhaps it would be better to bring them back.”
Parker, once again acting as the perfect valet, did not say a word, whilst Bingley seemed distracted, incapable of concentrating on anything. Mr Bennet was not sure he was listening, so he spoke again.
“My dear Mr Bingley, we must keep up our spirits. Our mission is not yet over.”
Bingley nodded in the same absent manner.
“I know. I know,” he said. “But what can we do next? I fear we have exhausted every possibility. Which direction do we take now?”
Mr Bennet accepted that, at least for that evening, Bingley was not likely to be a helpful companion, and turned instead to Parker.
“In a way, Mr Bingley is right. What shall we do tomorrow? Have we overlooked something today? Do you think we should ask the young ladies to join us again?”
Surprisingly, as though he had just awakened from a heavy sleep, Bingley answered in a harsh tone.
“Yes, Miss Georgiana has to speak to Lady Catherine. We would understand the situation much better if she had been the last person to see him. Clearly, we made a mistake by not beginning our search with a visit to her house.”
“We went to her townhouse, but she was not there,” Mr Bennet replied.
“I know. But we need to speak to her in person. In a face-to-face conversation, she may remember something important…something Darcy said…a place he intended to visit…a friend who invited him somewhere…anything. Just one small detail could give us a fresh start. We need Lady Catherine now. What do you think, Parker? Come,” Bingley said in an agitated voice, “sit here at the table. There is no need to stand on ceremony. You are helping us, and we need to talk. What do you think?”
Astonished by Bingley’s words, Parker merely nodded.
In every circumstance, he remained the impeccable, polite, and respectful valet he had been trained to be.
Still, these were exceptional times, and his contribution had become significant.
Silently grateful for the confidence the two gentlemen placed in him, he reluctantly took a seat at the table.
“I think Mr Bingley is right. We must speak to Lady Catherine about my master, but I am far from certain that either of the young ladies would obtain any meaningful information from her ladyship.”
“I do not understand why Lady Catherine has not answered our letters, or why you did not go to her house as soon as you arrived in London,” Bingley said with obvious frustration.
“We did not even know Lady Catherine was in London until Lizzy found that note,” Mr Bennet replied.
“As soon as we discovered it, Lizzy and Georgiana went straight to her townhouse. Lizzy remained outside because Lady Catherine disapproved of her marriage to Darcy. She wished to avoid another unpleasant scene. But Lady Catherine was not there anyway.”
Bingley looked perplexed once more. His naturally kind disposition made it difficult for him to understand the darker side of human nature.
“But Darcy does not need her approval. He is his own master! Surely she cannot refuse, merely because she bears a grudge, to provide information that might help us find her own nephew!”
Mr Bennet and Parker exchanged the same faint smile.
“Of course Darcy did not need her approval,” Mr Bennet said. “But just before Darcy proposed to Lizzy, his aunt came to Longbourn and tried to order Elizabeth not to marry him.”
“No!” It was the only word a gentleman as amiable as Bingley could produce. Then a glimmer of understanding crossed his face. “Yes…her ladyship wanted Darcy to marry poor Anne. My goodness, that girl always seemed so timid. I do not think I have ever heard her say a single word!”
“But then,” Bingley added kindly, wishing to soften the impression his remark might have made, “it was rather difficult for anyone to get a word in whenever my sisters were present.”
“Perhaps a gentleman would deal better with Lady Catherine,” Parker suggested hesitantly.
Bingley looked at him in surprise.
“Yes. You are right, of course. I shall do it as Darcy’s friend and as someone who knows Lady Catherine reasonably well. I do not particularly relish the idea, but I admit it is the best course open to us at present.”
Mr Bennet, however, remained somewhat doubtful. It was not the ideal solution. Lady Catherine would probably receive Mr Bingley, but there was no certainty that she would answer his questions. Suddenly another idea occurred to him.
“Mr Parker, when do you expect Colonel Fitzwilliam to arrive?”
Both men immediately understood his meaning. The colonel was the right person to speak to Lady Catherine. He was family, and not easily intimidated. Mr Bennet did not know him personally, but he trusted Parker’s judgement.
“If my calculations are correct, Colonel Fitzwilliam should arrive the day after tomorrow,” the valet answered.
“Well then, we shall wait for him before deciding what to do next, and see whether he wishes to speak to Lady Catherine. After all, he is accustomed to visiting her,” Mr Bennet said.
All of them could see how relieved Bingley was. He would gladly do whatever was necessary for his friend. Yet Lady Catherine was not an easy woman, and he had little experience of dealing with people like her.
“Then tomorrow we shall continue the search and meet again with Mr Cavendish, the Bow Street Runner,” Bingley said rather firmly, as though determined to erase the impression that he was not doing enough.
“A good plan, sir,” Parker replied. “The men were hired from the beginning for three days. Fortunately, the Bow Street Runner I contacted is experienced in investigating cases of murder and theft, and he intends to continue the search over the coming days. He has also employed several lads who are working with unexpected diligence because of the daily payment and the reward we have promised. Besides the wages they receive from us and the reward we offered, he has instructed them to search for corpses, as there is another reward to be earned. I did not know it myself, but both St Thomas’s and Guy’s hospitals pay a respectable sum for any unclaimed body.
” Seeing their curiosity, Parker continued, “They require bodies for the study of human anatomy. So our searchers will have every reason to conduct a thorough search, even without constant supervision.”
“This is good news,” Mr Bennet said. “Most likely the colonel will take charge of matters here in London, and afterwards he will probably go to Rosings, whilst I shall return home.”