Travel No Evil （Exposition Only） #4
Darcy also spent considerable time thinking of the future.
His journey was certainly not set, but he knew he could not go on as he was forever.
Centuries of Darcys demanded he expand the estate, his benevolence, and his efforts to ensure a good future for both his heirs and Derbyshire.
He considered raising sheep versus crops; investing in mining or timber; investing in innovations such as canals or steam engines.
All these took time and effort. Like it or not, much of this was done in the clubs and card rooms of London, and he had a duty to be well informed and spend wisely.
Future generations… future generations… future generations…
Whether through mental obstinacy or simple inattention might never be known, but the crossroads of his life occurred to him in the middle of the night.
He woke with a single remembered phrase echoing in his head.
He knew not if he had dreamed the phrase, or if he had woken and started thinking it while muddled, or whether the thought had waited patiently in his mind for months for him to notice until his mind and soul finally lost patience and decided to force it into his consciousness.
Either way, he woke in the middle of the night, two months after delivering his cousin to Miss Lucas, with one memory echoing clearly in his mind.
It was the last thing Jane Bennet said to him the day his cousin accosted her: Well, sir, I ask because I am curious about exactly how much time you spent in conversation with my sister Lizzy.
The thought would not go away. He had spent a few dozen hours with Miss Elizabeth Bennet; in that time, she had taught him more than most of his masters at Eton and Cambridge.
Caroline Bingley had prematurely ended the association, and he had tried his best to do the gentlemanly thing and no longer importune the Bennet sisters, and yet…
and yet… and yet—he could not quite put her out of his mind.
She was always there, lurking on the periphery.
Darcy sprang from his bed, resolving to consider fully what his mind was trying to tell him.
It struck him that his actions of the past year were fundamentally different from before.
Even regarding his estate, he was a better master.
The deals made in clubs and card rooms were now more possible because of what the lady had taught him.
His life in society, when he could no longer avoid balls, soirees, and the like, was easier now that she had taught him how to be social…
or at least less unsocial. Just the simple suggestion that he dance with ladies without partners enough to make his dancing unremarkable had yielded dividends.
Even his consideration of Pemberley’s operations was changed by seeing what she could do without her sight and without complaint.
He knew not how many times he had asked himself, ‘What would Elizabeth do?’ and then done exactly whatever thought came to mind, but it was substantial.
Darcy spent several hours sitting in his dressing gown in front of the fire, thinking about all he remembered.
He spent his hard morning ride on his hideously expensive stallion thinking about it.
He spent the rest of the morning, all of luncheon, and all of the next few days thinking about it, until he finally came to the most obvious and natural conclusion.
He wanted to smack his head at his own stupidity.
I am a much better man after a few dozen hours in the company of Elizabeth Bennet. How much better might I be after a year—or a lifetime?
He had pondered this for some time when a footman interrupted, bearing a letter from Lady Catherine on a tray.
He reluctantly put thoughts of Elizabeth Bennet aside; though now that he knew how much she had haunted his mind this past year, he admitted it would be some time before she left his waking thoughts entirely (if ever).
~~~
Darcy,
I received this letter from Anne, along with the news that she recently married an American and plans to move to a place called Ohio.
He is a man of business, apparently quite prosperous and influential in the Americas.
I have no idea whether to be inordinately pleased with Elizabeth or extremely vexed.
Anne’s letter bursts with happiness, so I imagine I shall celebrate the former.
It would never have occurred to me that I could accept the heir of Rosings giving it up for a man—much less an American—with equanimity, but I find myself surprisingly celebrating her happiness.
A year ago, I was not at all certain of her survival, and now she thrives. I shall take what I can get.
In a piece of odd impertinence, Anne included a letter she is not only unwilling to enlighten me regarding, but apparently unable, as it was written outside her purview. She knows nothing of the contents. It is from EB. I leave it to you to decide whether to read it.
I would be pleased if you might attend me at Rosings in the next month or two, that we may discuss the inheritance. I have some ideas, but seek your counsel.
Catherine de Bourgh
~~~
Burning with curiosity, Darcy vacillated between savouring the experience of holding a letter from Elizabeth Bennet, and the burning desire to see what it said. The latter impulse won the day handily.
~~~
30 November 1812, Cleveland, Ohio
Mr D,
I hope you will excuse the impropriety and impertinence of this note, as well as its unorthodox delivery.
You need have no fear that I expect anything of you, nor that I am attempting to renew our acquaintance; but my conscience demands that I speak, and I hope your sense of justice will demand that I be heard.
This note is private; neither my companion nor my usual secretary, Mr H, is privy to its contents.
You probably do not know, but we have been establishing schools here in America for the past year.
We have more than 200 students under our tutelage, and I am inordinately proud of every one.
I coerced a dozen of my students into writing a paragraph at a time, and I must hope their efforts are at least an improvement over your friend, Mr B.