Chapter 26
As planned, Darcy called for his carriage for the short ride to the village. While her two sisters donned their pelisses, Elizabeth drew him aside.
“I’ve been thinking, Mr Darcy, that when I stayed at Netherfield, I said some things I ought not,” she said.
He knew exactly to what she referred. “Please don’t trouble yourself over it. Everything you said was well deserved, and taken to heart.”
“You mustn’t suppose that I consider myself a model of good behaviour,” she said. “I’m too often outspoken and judgemental, with a long list of other flaws besides.”
“As am I, but I will always be honest with you.”
Once Mr Mullins had drawn the carriage around to the front door, Darcy assisted the ladies to board and sat beside Elizabeth.
“You need not have troubled your coachman, Mr Darcy. My sisters and I are well accustomed to walking to the village,” she said as they set off.
“But then I wouldn’t have the pleasure of being observed arriving at the village square with three lovely Bennet ladies.”
He was momentarily distracted by her appreciative smile until he recalled the purpose of this outing. “What’s our plan for announcing Lydia’s return to the schoolroom? Should we tell everyone, or is there someone we may rely on to spread the word?”
“Mrs Fletcher,” the three ladies said in unison, to Darcy’s astonishment.
“No one is more reliable in that regard than the butcher’s wife,” Elizabeth said in a bright tone to which her sisters added their hearty agreement.
“The Fletchers were the only people who recognised you in church yesterday,” he said.
“Yes, both are extraordinarily kind, but Mrs Fletcher is the best informant of the latest local news,” Miss Bennet said, to which her sisters nodded their earnest agreement.
When they reached the village square, he assisted all three ladies to alight and offered his arm to Elizabeth. As he’d predicted, all eyes were on them as Miss Bennet and Miss Mary led the way to Ward’s Millinery.
“Good day, Mr Darcy,” Mrs Ward said with eager anticipation as they entered the shop.
“Never mind me, Mrs Ward. I’m useless in a shop like this. The ladies know what they are about,” he said, then gestured to the proprietor. “Might I have a word, Mr Ward?”
Once in a quiet corner, Darcy continued, “I’m duty bound to make a full accounting of Mr Wickham’s debts in the community. Did you perchance extend any credit to him?” he inquired, although he rather doubted Wickham had patronised this particular shop.
“No, indeed, but I believe Mr Honeyfield and Mr Finch did so.”
“Thank you, I’ll call on them. You may have heard that Wickham has transferred into the regulars.”
“Has he? I suppose that’s for the best, considering the circumstances,” Mr Ward said, briefly glancing at the Bennet sisters.
Darcy nodded at this. “I’ve purchased his commission, so he’s now well out of the way and can cause no further harm in the neighbourhood.”
Mr Ward’s eyebrows shot up. “Very noble of you, sir.”
“Not in the least. No one should be made to suffer for his extravagance,” he said, clearly placing all the blame at Wickham’s door. “Ah, it seems the ladies have finished their business.” He took his leave of the Wards and left the premises with Elizabeth and her sisters.
The next stop was at the Meryton Inn. Unfortunately, Wickham had patronised this establishment but had left only a small charge, which Darcy immediately paid. “I apologise on Wickham’s behalf, Mr Finch. I had hoped that he would amend his bad habits, but I fear he has disappointed us all.”
Upon leaving the inn, he encountered Mr Denny who warmly greeted the Bennet sisters. “I’m terribly sorry about…what happened,” he said in a hushed voice.
Elizabeth remained calm. “Thank you, Mr Denny, but that has all been set to rights now. Lydia is attending a ladies’ seminary in town.”
“That’s excellent news.”
Darcy took the opportunity to inquire after the debts of honour Wickham had left behind. “May I trouble you to inquire with your comrades? If I can get a full accounting of his vowels, I’ll swiftly see to them.”
Denny assured him he would make discreet inquiries and report back to him.
Similar inquiries at the chandler and blacksmith revealed no debts, but not so at the dry goods shop, bakery and green grocer.
Although the amounts owed were small, Darcy promptly discharged them, ensuring that every proprietor had observed the Bennet sisters in his company, and understood that Wickham was an unprincipled man.
To Darcy’s great satisfaction, Mr and Mrs Fletcher exchanged warm greetings with him and the Bennet ladies upon their entry to the butcher shop.
“I was pleased to see you dance at the assembly, Mrs Fletcher, and shall hope to lead you through a set at the next,” he said.
“Oh, Mr Darcy, you must be the kindest man in the world,” Mrs Fletcher said, tears springing to her eyes. “To court Miss Lizzy, even though her sister—” Her voice failed, and she pressed an embroidered handkerchief to her trembling lips.
“Yes, her youngest sister is young and impulsive, and a bit too na?ve for her own good.”
When Mrs Fletcher sobbed inconsolably, he suspected that something wasn’t quite right and asked Elizabeth to wait outside with her sisters. “May we speak privately?”
When Mr Fletcher nodded his approval, she led him to the back of the shop.
“What troubles you, Mrs Fletcher?”
“I know exactly how Miss Lizzy and her sisters are feeling,” she said in hushed tones. “My father is a successful barrister in town. When I came out to society, I danced at every assembly with my admirers and was hopeful of marrying one of them.”
Recalling the lady’s accomplished dance steps at the assembly, Darcy knew he had guessed correctly.
“Ten years ago, my eldest sister ran off with a soldier. When the fellow abandoned her without a farthing, my father cut her off and left her to her fate. He arranged for my other sister to marry one of his law clerks and settled them in Birmingham. On Sir William’s recommendation, he arranged for me to marry Silas,” she said, dabbing her face with her handkerchief.
Darcy decided that once he had finished here, his next stop would be Lucas Lodge. “You’ve heard of my courtship with Miss Elizabeth?” he inquired, and she nodded her tearful agreement. “I intend to marry her, and you may soon hear news about her elder sister.”
“Oh, Mr Darcy,” she said, overcome with sobs.
Darcy could well imagine the lady’s heartache at being separated from her sisters and forced to marry a stranger.
Knowing she wouldn’t wish the same fate for the younger Bennet girls, he continued, “I hope we may depend on your good offices, Mrs Fletcher. Miss Lydia is currently enrolled at a ladies’ seminary in town, and we have great hopes for her transformation.
Her sisters will remain at home until they find suitable husbands. ”
She dabbed at her tears. “Yes, yes, that is what my sister and I should have been allowed to do, not that Silas hasn’t been the most excellent husband I could ever hope for.
We married soon after his father passed, so we helped each other heal from our losses.
I don’t regret my fate, Mr Darcy. I only wish I might have had some say in the matter. ”
Darcy supposed that in her youth, Mrs Fletcher had been no different from any other hopeful young lady who came out to London society. “Did you have many dresses when you were a girl?”
A smile illuminated her face. “The loveliest gowns and pelisses of the finest fabrics, with ribbons and lace and matching slippers, too numerous to mention,” she said with a dreamy air.
“Yes, many a young girl has lost her head over her desire for the perfect gown. She might even sneak off to town to beg her wealthy uncle to buy one for her,” he said with a meaningful tilt of his head, hoping she understood his suggestion.
“Yes, yes,” she said, her eyes now firmly fixed on his. “Lydia never had any more sense than a newborn lamb, and that’s precisely what she would do.”
“May I rely on you to advance that theory?” he inquired, knowing of the lady’s particular skill in that regard.
“I shan’t fail you, Mr Darcy.”
“And you may rely on me to keep your secret safe.” They shook hands, and he returned to the front of the shop where the butcher awaited him. “You’re a good man, Mr Fletcher,” he said, shaking the man’s meaty hand.
“’Twas my wife that made a man of me, Mr Darcy. None better than my Charity, and that’s the honest truth.”
Darcy truly believed that Mr Fletcher was a better man than the wealthy barrister who had abandoned one daughter and failed two others.
***
Charles Bingley’s pulse quickened as his carriage turned onto Meryton Road.
At long last, his business affairs had been set into order, and once he had arrived at Longbourn, his personal affairs would also be settled.
He planned to throw himself at Miss Bennet’s feet and beg her for the honour of her hand.
Bursting with anticipation, he gazed out of the window at the familiar shops and was arrested by the presence of his dearest angel. He knocked on the roof to signal his driver, sprang from the chaise before it came to a stop, and called out to her.
“Mr Bingley,” she said with a radiant smile.
Miss Mary and Miss Elizabeth were also with her.
“How fortunate to encounter you all here. I was just about to call on Longbourn.”
“Are you well, Mr Bingley, and your sisters?” Jane inquired.
“Yes, we are all well, and I hope to find you all in good health.” The troubled glances exchanged between the three ladies gave him pause. “May I offer you a ride home?”
“No, indeed, Mr Bingley,” Miss Elizabeth said. “We have come with Mr Darcy and are waiting for him to rejoin us.”
Lockhart’s voice calling out to the fretting horses recalled Charles to his senses; in his zeal to speak with Jane, he’d forgotten that his valet had accompanied him and still awaited in the chaise.
However, after being separated from his angel this past sennight, he refused to part from her again and instructed his driver to proceed to Netherfield without him.
Sensing that something had gone amiss in his absence, he engaged the ladies in polite conversation until Darcy emerged from the butcher shop and shook his hand.
“Welcome back, Charles. I suppose I must now relinquish my brief role as master of Netherfield to you,” Darcy said with a smirk.
Everyone laughed at his joke, putting them all at ease, and Charles offered his arm to Jane. “If my friend will convey your sisters to Longbourn, Miss Bennet, I hope you’ll allow me to walk you home.”
She offered a tremulous smile.
“You may rely on me, Charles,” Darcy said, then whistled for his driver.
After seeing them off, he escorted Jane through the village towards the lane. “You can’t imagine how glad I am to see you again.”
“You must allow me to thank you for your role in saving my sister, Mr Bingley. In truth, all of my sisters.”
“How could I have done any less, Miss Bennet? You must know that I would do anything to prevent any harm from befalling them.”
“Would that Mr Collins shared your loyalty,” she said.
Her troubled air gave him pause. “Why? What has he done?”
Charles listened in silence as she revealed the turmoil that had erupted at Longbourn on the night of Lydia’s disappearance.
His heart clenched at her pallor, tremulous voice, and flowing tears.
Never having witnessed her in such a state, he stopped walking and held her hands as she recounted the parson’s sanctimonious tirade and her father’s bitter retaliation.
If that betrayal were not enough, Collins had also repeated the story at Lucas Lodge, which was then circulated throughout the community, leaving the Bennets in disgrace.
“One might suppose that a clergyman might have better things to do than to deliberately spread malicious slander about his nearest relations,” he said in disgust.
This response proved particularly unhelpful when Jane dissolved into sobs.
He held her in his arms and seethed with contempt for the man who had harmed his angel.
Charles had never intentionally insulted another man in his life, but if he ever encountered the parson again, he wouldn’t hesitate to give him the cut direct.
Though not prone to violence, but he might even land a facer on such a villain.
“Come now, all is not lost,” he said, dabbing her tears with his handkerchief. “Darcy and I will never abandon you and your family.”
She nodded, offering a tearful smile. “Mr Darcy and Lizzy are courting.”
This news came as a surprise to Charles. “Courting? I thought they would be engaged by now.”
“No, my father wouldn’t consent to a betrothal so soon after Lydia’s scandal.”
Charles bristled at this injustice. Under no circumstances would he agree to this constraint. “Well, he’ll not deny me,” he said in a commanding tone. “You’re of age, so we needn’t delay our happiness on Lydia’s account.”
She stared agape as he dropped to one knee. “Miss Bennet, I have loved you since the first moment of our acquaintance. Being separated from you this past sennight has been unbearable. Please do me the honour of accepting my hand.”
Tears lingered on her lashes. “Are you certain, Mr Bingley? My family is quite ruined.”
He stood and gazed into her eyes. “You can’t suppose me so fickle that I would abandon you because your sister made herself the subject of gossip. My own sisters are a continuous source of embarrassment to me, but we need not allow them to come between us.”
“Your sisters are quite convinced that you intend to marry Miss Darcy.”
“What’s this?” he inquired, to which she entered into a tearful rendition of a despicable letter she had received from Caroline, claiming that he had long intended to marry Darcy’s sister.
Groaning at his sister’s blatant interference, he pulled Jane closer. “I readily confess that I have considered myself in love many times before, but certainly never with Miss Darcy. I now realise that those were merely infatuations and not the true abiding affection I have for you.”
She released a soft sigh. “I love you, too, Mr Bingley. You have made me the happiest creature in the world.”
Finally free of all restraint and obstacles, he wrapped his arms around his angel and kissed her with abandon. Nothing and no one would ever separate them again.