Chapter Twelve #4
“Nobody knows. None of the servants will admit to any mishaps, nor anything out of the ordinary taking place that night. The local magistrate believed it to be an accident, that something must have gone wrong in the kitchen and my servants were too afraid to own up to having caused the blaze. Richard suspects foul play and has a few of his men making discrete inquiries in London.”
Elizabeth leaned forward with interest. “But who would do such a horrid thing?”
“That same blackguard who was denied my sister’s dowry,” Darcy said softly. “His pursuit of her was out of avarice, yes, but also to revenge himself on me.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “Impossible! I cannot imagine you capable of doing anything to this fellow that could be ghastly enough to warrant such cruel retaliation!”
“I was born a Darcy, and he was born the son of my late father’s steward.
That was enough to make me a rival for life, in his estimation.
He was my father’s godson, given a gentleman’s education and promised a valuable living.
When my father died, he declined taking orders and was compensated with a sum of three thousand pounds, in addition to the thousand that my father had bequeathed him.
He gambled this fortune away within a year, debauching himself in ways I cannot tell you.
And when his pockets were empty, he returned to ask me for the living. ”
“But you could not allow such a wastrel to lead a congregation,” Elizabeth cried emphatically.
“I would sooner see Sir Sidney made a bishop,” Darcy drawled.
Elizabeth dabbed at her eyes with his handkerchief once again. “And after what he did to poor Georgie, you suspect he destroyed your home. You have both suffered a vast deal, and I am sorry for it. I hope your cousin’s men are able to locate this reprobate, if indeed he is to blame.”
“I find myself hoping that they learn it was not him. I could more easily bear it being some negligence of a servant than to think a man I have known since childhood, even played with as a boy, could willfully do something so hateful.”
As he had done earlier, Elizabeth now laid a hand on his. “Tell me about Pemberley. You looked so happy last time you spoke of it.”
Darcy described the splendor of his home, his favorite rooms, the little details that he most admired, the generations of family history and tradition, and how he would see to it that everything was rebuilt just as it ought to be.
When he finished, he felt as if he had been speaking for above an hour, but Elizabeth did not appear bored of his monologue.
“You speak so fondly of Derbyshire; you must be miserable away from your home.”
“What I miss no longer exists, and it will be many years before Pemberley is rebuilt. I shall always think Derbyshire the most superior part of England, but I am almost equally partial to the seaside. In truth, I could be content anywhere that my sister is happy.”
“She is very lucky to have such a brother—and she knows it,” Elizabeth said with a smile.
“She is also fortunate to have made such a charming new friend, as she has made everybody aware,” Darcy quipped in return. “She will be loath to leave Sanditon when the time comes.”
“Perhaps she might stay a while longer? When you and Miss de Bourgh marry and return to Rosings Park—well, I cannot imagine Georgiana would wish to join you, and certainly as newlyweds you will wish to….”
“Right. Of course.” Now it was Darcy who blushed. “Georgiana would surely accept an invitation from her new friend.”
“In that case, I will have our guest room made ready for her when the time comes.”
That time would come in a mere fortnight, Darcy realized. At least, that was what he hoped. He would reconcile with Anne, and it would be for the best if they put distance between themselves and Sir Sidney Parker.
He turned his gaze from Elizabeth to look wistfully around the ballroom, only to discover the space was nearly empty.
There were fewer than a dozen guests remaining, and they were all on their way out the door.
The Knightleys were amongst this queue; Mrs. Knightley turned around and waved at them, giving an exaggerated shrug at having left the table without taking leave of Darcy and Elizabeth. How had they not noticed?
Richard and Georgiana sat at the table by the door, chatting with Mr. Gardiner and drinking wine, and apparently observing Darcy and Elizabeth.
She laughed nervously. “My goodness, the last hour has passed more quickly than I realized. I was so engrossed in our conversation—our friends must think me terribly rude!”
“Our friends, who did not bid us good evening?”
Darcy chuckled as he stood and helped Elizabeth to her feet.
He offered her his arm and moved slowly as she held onto him to steady her limp.
He sensed the scrutinizing stare of his cousin and sister, and even Elizabeth’s uncle, as they traversed the room together; he felt abashed, almost guilty, though he had done nothing worse than lose all sense of his surroundings, and time itself, while conversing with Elizabeth.