CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Darcy Leaves Longbourn
Darcy’s departure should have been simple.
He moved less than three miles to Netherfield. His valet packed his clothes. Bingley sent a carriage. Richard threatened to carry him over his shoulder if he attempted to delay. Dr. Morrison gave instructions for exercise and rest.
Yet the morning felt like a true leaving.
Mrs. Bennet fussed over a basket of food he did not need.
“You cannot trust bachelors to feed an invalid properly.”
“Bingley employs a cook.”
“That is not the same.”
Darcy accepted the basket. “Thank you, Mrs. Bennet.”
She patted his sleeve. “You are too thin.”
He was not. Darcy remained taller and broader than every man in the house except Richard. “Yes, madam.”
Kitty presented him with a bookmark she had embroidered.
Mary lent him a volume of sermons. Darcy accepted both with equal gravity.
Lydia hovered. At last she thrust a small parcel at him.
“What is this?”
“Open it later.”
He looked suspicious. “Do not be horrid. It is not a frog.”
“That reassurance concerns me.”
Lydia grinned. Jane kissed his cheek like a brother. Darcy went still in surprise, then smiled.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
“For what?”
“For bringing Charles back to himself.”
Darcy’s expression sobered. “I nearly kept him from you.”
“And you admitted it.”
“That does not undo it.”
“No. But people cannot undo mistakes. They can only choose what comes next.”
Darcy looked at her with new understanding. “You and Elizabeth are very alike.”
Jane laughed softly. “Do not tell her. She prefers to think herself unique.”
Mr. Bennet shook Darcy’s hand in the hall. “Netherfield is a long distance. Write when you arrive.”
Darcy smiled. “I shall.”
“Do not encourage him, Papa,” Elizabeth said.
Then everyone tactfully became busy elsewhere. Elizabeth walked Darcy to the carriage. The March-like brightness of late February lay over the lawn. A few birds argued in the hedge.
Darcy stopped before the carriage step. “I shall see you this afternoon.”
“At Netherfield.”
“Yes.”
“And tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“Entirely.”
Neither moved. Elizabeth looked toward the house. No one appeared at the windows, which meant at least four people were watching from behind curtains.
She smiled.
“What?” Darcy asked.
“We have an audience.”
He glanced back. A curtain in the upstairs window twitched violently.
“Lydia.”
“Almost certainly.”
Darcy lowered his voice. “May I kiss you?”
“Here?”
“Only if you wish.”
Elizabeth considered the windows. Then she stepped closer and kissed his cheek.
Darcy looked disappointed.
She whispered, “You may earn the rest after the wedding.”
His eyes darkened with startled warmth.
Elizabeth blushed and stepped back. “Get in the carriage, Mr. Darcy.”
“Yes, Miss Elizabeth.”
He obeyed. When the carriage disappeared down the drive, Longbourn felt wrong.
Elizabeth entered the house.
Lydia ran down the stairs. “La! You only kissed his cheek.”
Elizabeth stared at her.
Lydia stopped.
“You were watching.”
“No.”
“Lydia.”
“Kitty was watching. I happened to be standing beside her.”
Kitty shouted from upstairs, “Liar!”
Elizabeth laughed until tears came. At Netherfield, Darcy opened Lydia’s parcel. Inside was a small painted wooden fox. A note was tied around its neck. For your desk, so you remember foxes are not always unlucky.
Darcy sat very still.
Then he laughed. He placed the fox on the mantel in his room. It would later travel with him to Pemberley.