Chapter 46 Two Letters #3
Elizabeth stared at her husband as he stood tall and handsome at the entrance to the room. How she longed to touch his dear face, to hear his voice, and to lay her head against his chest and listen to the steady beating of his heart.
Nothing had prepared her to see her husband enter her mother's drawing room as a distant stranger.
Darcy recovered first. He bowed to Mrs. Bennet.
“I beg your pardon for calling without an introduction, madam. Mr. Bingley is considering the lease of Netherfield Park, and the steward suggested that Mr. Bennet might be willing to answer a few questions about the estate and neighborhood.”
Mrs. Bennet's astonishment immediately became interest.
“Netherfield Park? Oh! Then you must certainly speak with my husband. Hill, go and tell Mr. Bennet that two gentlemen have called upon him.”
Hill had scarcely left before Mrs. Bennet began introducing her daughters.
“My eldest, Jane. Then Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine, and Lydia.”
Darcy bowed as each name was spoken.
When Mrs. Bennet reached Elizabeth, his eyes met hers.
“Miss Elizabeth.”
“Mr. Darcy.”
Bingley was already speaking to Jane. “I hope you will forgive our intrusion. We are only in the neighborhood for the day and hoped to obtain some information before we leave.”
“You are fortunate, sir. Papa is in his study.”
“Then our timing is better than I deserve. Darcy has been warning me that I ought to learn something about Netherfield before deciding to live there.”
Mrs. Bennet laughed. “You will find it a very fine estate, Mr. Bingley. Everyone says so.”
“Then I am encouraged.”
Elizabeth retrieved her sewing from the floor. Her fingers would not cooperate with the needle, and after two attempts she laid it aside.
Darcy had not missed the movement.
Lydia had been studying the gentlemen with open curiosity. “Are you really going to live at Netherfield, Mr. Bingley?”
“I am considering it.”
“Oh, you must take it! Our prospects are improving wonderfully. We have Mr. Wickham to dance with now, and if you reside at Netherfield, sir, you will be a most welcome addition.”
“Lydia,” Jane said.
Bingley laughed. “I had not realized my usefulness depended upon my dancing.”
“Of course it does. And you must give a ball at Netherfield and invite all the officers. I have not danced with Mr. Wickham yet, and I particularly wish to dance with him in a ballroom while he is wearing his red coat.”
“Then I perceive there are considerable responsibilities attached to the lease.”
“There certainly are,” Lydia said. “You cannot take Netherfield and never give a ball.”
“I shall remember that before I sign anything.”
Darcy remained near the mantel. Elizabeth could feel his attention return to her whenever the conversation allowed it, but private speech was not possible.
As Lydia continued to chatter about Wickham, the pleasure faded from Elizabeth's face. Darcy saw the fear that replaced it, and his expression softened with concern. He wished he could cross the room and offer comfort, but for now he could only watch her.
Mr. Bennet entered a few minutes later.
“Mr. Bingley? Mr. Darcy?”
Bingley stepped forward and explained their visit. Mr. Bennet listened with interest and invited the gentlemen into his study.
Mrs. Bennet protested immediately.
“You cannot carry them off before they have even had tea, Mr. Bennet.”
“Our guests came to discuss drains and tenants, my dear. I doubt tea will improve either.”
“They must have tea before they leave.”
Mr. Bennet looked at Bingley. “You see the difficulties attending property in Hertfordshire. You will be subject to the social engagements of your neighbors.”
Bingley smiled. “I believe that may be the most pleasurable risk attached to the property, sir.”
Mr. Bennet smiled at the young man and gestured for him to follow.
Bingley moved toward the door.
Elizabeth saw Mr. Darcy hesitate before he, too, left the room.
Mrs. Bennet waited until the study door had closed before looking at Jane.
“What a charming young man Mr. Bingley is! And considering Netherfield!”
Lydia laughed. “I like him very well, but Mr. Darcy is the more handsome of the two.”
Kitty agreed.
Elizabeth reached for her sewing again.
Jane's eyes met hers.
“Lizzy, your hands are shaking.”
Elizabeth put the sewing back into her basket.
Mrs. Bennet looked over. “Are you ill, Lizzy?”
“No, Mamma.”
“You have been very strange lately. Perhaps you should take some salts.”
Lydia interrupted and asked, “Do you suppose Mr. Bingley gives balls? If he takes Netherfield, he ought to give a ball.”
Mrs. Bennet readily agreed and began speculating upon everything a wealthy young gentleman might be expected to do once established in the neighborhood.
Jane moved to the chair beside Elizabeth.
“Are you certain you are well?”
“Dear Jane, I am perfectly well.”
* * *
After tea, Bingley looked through the open window toward the garden.
“You have a beautiful rose garden, Mrs. Bennet.”
“Oh, you must see it, Mr. Bingley. We have some very fine roses, though it is early for most of them. Jane, you must show Mr. Bingley the garden. And the hermitage. He ought to see that as well.”
“I should be delighted,” Bingley said. He looked to Jane. “If Miss Bennet is willing to walk out with me.”
Jane colored. “Certainly, sir.”
Bingley glanced at Darcy. “But you must come with us, Darcy. I cannot ask Miss Bennet to walk out with me alone.”
Darcy smiled and looked down at Elizabeth.
“Miss Elizabeth, will you walk with me and help keep my friend within the bounds of propriety?”
Elizabeth met his eyes. “It would be my pleasure, sir.”
The afternoon was mild, and the grass beyond the garden was scattered with the small wildflowers of May. Bingley and Jane went ahead, their conversation coming easily as they followed the path toward the rose garden.
Darcy and Elizabeth walked several paces behind them.
“Sir, I understand that it was very improper for me to write to you, but though we are no longer married, I still consider myself your wife.”
She drew the little gold chain from beneath her gown. An amber cross hung from it alongside his ring.
“You are always in my thoughts, Fitzwilliam.”
Darcy laid his free hand over hers where it rested upon his arm.
“I think only of you, Elizabeth. Everything I have done since my return has been to preserve our two families. Having that purpose made it easier to endure the waiting, not knowing whether you had crossed or whether you would remember me.”
“Yes, sir. That has also been my constant fear. But now you are here beside me, and I know that you remember everything. It is a great relief to me, sir.”
“I remember everything, Elizabeth.” His hand tightened gently over hers. “And I wish we could marry tomorrow and be together again.”
Elizabeth looked ahead to where Jane and Bingley were approaching the rose garden.
“What comes next, sir? You return to London tonight, and then?”
“The estate is good. I shall insist that Charles sign the lease before we leave.”
She smiled. “You intend to insist?”
“I do. And in two weeks I shall return with Georgiana, with or without Charles.”
Elizabeth laughed softly. “Very well, sir. I shall count upon it. And Georgiana? How does she go on?”
“She grieves for her child. I fear that is a sorrow she will carry for a very long time. Otherwise, she is doing well, and she wants very much to see you again.”
Elizabeth was quiet for several steps.
“Two weeks stretch before me like an eternity. Partly because I long to be with you, but also because I live in daily fear that Lydia will run away with Mr. Wickham again. If only I could send her to London, I would feel she was safe, but she refused to go.”
Darcy looked across the green fields beyond the garden.
“You will not face the next two weeks alone. Kendall will continue the investigation into Wickham, and when I return to London tonight, I shall send Peter and Robert Miller to Meryton. They are two of my most trusted servants. Wickham will be watched.”
Elizabeth looked up at him. “And if Lydia goes with him?”
“They will be armed. If Wickham attempts to leave Meryton with Lydia, they will take him directly to his colonel and insist that he be held until I can have him taken for debt.”
“Have you enough of his debts to imprison him?”
“Yes. I have purchased nearly one thousand pounds of debt. He cannot keep two coins long enough to rub them together, Elizabeth. He spends whatever comes into his hands and then spends what he does not have.”
“Then you can have him sent to debtors' prison?”
“I shall instruct my solicitor to take the matter to court and obtain the necessary order. While Wickham is serving with the militia, I cannot simply seize him and carry him away. But if he attempts to elope with your sister, I shall insist that his colonel act. If necessary, I will ask the colonel to surrender him into the custody of the men authorized to convey him to the Marshalsea.”
For the first time since Wickham had appeared in Meryton, some of the fear left Elizabeth's face.
Darcy covered her hand more firmly with his.
“I cannot take you home with me today, Elizabeth. But I can help you protect your sister until I return.”