Chapter 25 #4
“The wedding was wonderful,” Kitty said enthusiastically. “Jane looked beautiful, and Matthew must have been the handsomest bridegroom imaginable.”
“Kitty,” Georgiana replied, “I wanted to ask whether you would accompany Lady Claire, my cousin Richard, and me on a shopping excursion. They are preparing for their wedding and still have many things to purchase. Unfortunately, Lady Emma has been very busy and cannot accompany Claire, so Richard asked whether I would act as her chaperone.”
“I should be delighted to come.”
Kitty turned to Eleanor.
“Aunt Eleanor, may I go?”
“Of course, my dear,” Eleanor replied with a smile. “Provided you do not neglect your lessons.”
“I promise I shall not.”
Mr Darcy had listened as patiently as he could, but at last he could no longer refrain from asking the question that had occupied his thoughts since his arrival.
“Mrs Sinclair, I had hoped to pay my respects to Miss Bennet. Is she at home?”
Eleanor hesitated almost imperceptibly before replying.
“No. Elizabeth remained at Longbourn.”
Mr Darcy's heart sank.
“Do you know when she intends to return to London? She told me she expected to spend the rest of the Season here.”
“I really could not say,” Eleanor answered politely. “Elizabeth is always welcome in our home, but I do not know when she intends to return.”
The questioning plainly made Eleanor uncomfortable, and fortunately for her, Marcus entered the drawing room just then.
He had spent the morning with his brother and immediately noticed the anxious expression on his wife's face. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and without a word, she silently conveyed that something was wrong.
Marcus greeted their visitors courteously, took his seat beside Eleanor, and spoke very little for the remainder of the visit.
Mr Darcy observed the strained silence between husband and wife and became convinced that something serious had happened.
Somehow, he felt certain it concerned Elizabeth.
When at last he and Georgiana returned home, Mr Darcy was more troubled than ever.
What had happened at Longbourn? Why had everyone seemed so uneasy whenever Elizabeth was mentioned?
That evening, over dinner, he informed Georgiana that urgent business required him to leave London for a few days.
Georgiana thought nothing of it. Her brother was a man with extensive responsibilities, and unexpected journeys were by no means unusual.
The following morning, before sunrise, Mr Darcy set out for Hertfordshire.
Whatever had happened, he intended to discover the truth.
And if Elizabeth needed him, he was determined to stand by her without hesitation.
◆◆◆
Once the Darcys had departed, Eleanor and Marcus withdrew to the study to speak in private.
“Marcus, my love, tell me everything Reginald said. How can we resolve this dreadful situation and free our daughter from my brother's cruelty?”
“My love, you must try to remain calm,” Marcus replied, taking her hands in his. “Reginald has learned, from a most reliable source, that at the end of this week His Majesty intends to invite me to tea. During that meeting, he is expected to offer me a title of nobility.”
“My love, please do not think that I am indifferent to the wonderful things happening to you. But my worry for Elizabeth will not allow me to rejoice in anything,” Eleanor said apologetically.
“I know, my dear,” Marcus replied gently, caressing her cheek. “I ask only that you hear me out. I promise you, this is good news.”
Marcus then shared the details of the forthcoming audience with the King before continuing, “I also discussed the matter with Reginald's solicitor and with Mr Andrews. They both believe there is a straightforward legal solution, provided everyone involved is in agreement.”
“And what is that solution?” Eleanor asked anxiously.
“That we officially adopt Elizabeth.”
Eleanor stared at him in astonishment.
“Reginald suggested that I explain to His Majesty that, as we have no children of our own, we wish to adopt our niece and make her our legal heiress. I shall ask for His Majesty's support so that the necessary formalities may be completed as quickly as possible.”
“What do you think?”
Unable to contain herself any longer, Eleanor burst into tears.
“It is perfect,” she whispered. “We shall finally be our daughter's parents without exposing her to the cruel consequences of being born out of wedlock.”
After a brief silence, she added, “We shall have to tell Jane, Mary, and Kitty the truth so that they may understand everything that has happened.”
“Yes, they have a right to know the truth,” Marcus replied.
“And Thomas?” Eleanor asked anxiously. “What shall we do to prevent him from objecting?”
“Mr Burton still needs at least another fortnight to complete his investigation,” Marcus replied.
“Once he has finished, Reginald and I shall travel to Hertfordshire.
If all goes well, we shall be able to confront Bennet with enough social influence to force him to allow our Elizabeth to come home to London.
It will be Bennet's good name which is spared from ruin. Although it would serve him right."
Marcus drew his wife into his arms.
“Do not worry any longer, my love,” he whispered. “Very soon, all of this will be behind us.”
◆◆◆
Mr Bennet was reading one of his favourite books when Mr Hill entered the study and handed him the card of a gentleman who wished to speak with him. Upon seeing the visitor's name, he could not help feeling curious and told Mr Hill to show him in.
Mr Darcy greeted Mr Bennet, and, noticing the curious look he received, decided to explain the purpose of his visit at once.
“Mr Bennet, I have some business in the neighbourhood and wished to call and pay my respects,” he said without preamble. “I also hoped I might have the pleasure of greeting Miss Bennet.”
“I am sorry, but Lizzy is not at home at present. She has gone out for a walk, and I cannot say when she will return. If you will excuse me, I have an appointment with a friend in half an hour,” he added with thinly veiled sarcasm.
“Should you wish for company, my wife would no doubt be pleased to receive you. She has felt rather lonely since Jane and my other daughters left home.”
Mr Bennet had no desire to see Mr Darcy paying court to Elizabeth beneath his own roof. That man had the power to undo everything he had worked so hard to preserve.
“Please, do not trouble yourself. Kindly give Miss Bennet my regards.”
Realising that he was not welcome, Mr Darcy took his leave.
As he walked away from the house, he became even more concerned.
There was an unmistakable tension about Longbourn, and Mrs Bennet was nowhere to be seen.
He instructed his coachman to return to the inn and remained where the lane curved behind a line of old oaks, hoping to meet Elizabeth before she returned to the house.
Elizabeth was walking back to Longbourn. She had been to Netherfield to send letters to her parents and collect the ones they faithfully wrote to her each day. The news Marcus had shared in his latest letter had filled her with hope.
She wished with all her heart that the whole world could know Marcus and Eleanor were her true parents and that she was not merely the niece they had adopted. Yet she understood that it was the wisest course if she was finally to bear the Sinclair name.
So absorbed was Elizabeth in rereading the letter that she started when someone suddenly addressed her.
“Miss Bennet, it is a pleasure to see you again.”
“Mr Darcy!” Elizabeth exclaimed in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“Well... you said you intended to return to London, yet you did not. I feared that something might have happened. Besides...” He smiled shyly. “I wished to see you. I hope I am not intruding. If my presence is unwelcome, only say the word, and I shall leave immediately.”
Mr Darcy's voice betrayed both nervousness and hope, and he found himself unable to take his eyes off her.
Elizabeth had had a great deal of time to think about Mr Darcy. Now he stood before her, as handsome as ever. He looked at her with such tenderness that she found herself unable to look away. There was none of the hauteur she had once associated with him—only affection... and hope.
At last, blushing, she said, “A great deal has happened in my life that has prevented me from returning to London.” Then she smiled and added, “I am very happy to see you, Mr Darcy, and you are not bothering me in the least.” Elizabeth believed she noticed that Darcy emitted a small but unmistakable sigh of relief along with a wide smile that he was entirely unable to repress.
“I intend to remain at the Meryton Inn for several days. If you would permit it, I should very much like to call on you.”
“I should like that very much,” Elizabeth replied with a smile. Then, glancing about with exaggerated perplexity, she added, “Did you walk all the way from London?”
Mr Darcy laughed softly. Offering her his arm, he explained that he had sent his coachman back to the inn because he had decided to wait for her.
“I must admit that I have been loitering beside that tree for quite some time, hoping to speak to you. Your father did not know when you would return, and I hoped he might allow me to call tomorrow.”
“Well, Mr Darcy, I am flattered that you find me … worth waiting for,” Elizabeth added with a coy smile.
Time slipped away unnoticed as they walked together. They spoke of Hertfordshire and London, of books, music, Georgiana, and everything except the feelings that had brought Mr Darcy there. Elizabeth also told him what Wickham had attempted to do with Lydia.
"I thought that scoundrel had learned his lesson! I swear, if I had any idea that he was courting anyone in the Bennet family, I would have intervened on your behalf. I promise you that man will answer for all the wickedness he has committed,” finished Darcy gravely.
“Thank you, Mr Darcy, that is most noble of you,” replied Elizabeth, her voice filled with admiration for his newfound protectiveness of her family.