B00CO8L910 EBOK (9 page)

“Mr. Darcy, I recognize this request may cause some confusion on your part, but would you please join me in my study? I have a matter I wish to discuss with you.”

“Of course, sir.” Darcy was exceedingly thankful for the few extra moments to collect himself as he gave instructions to his coachman for acquiring accommodations in the village. It allowed him the opportunity to hide his nervousness regarding the nature of the business Mr. Bennet felt he had with him.

Upon entering the home, Darcy took in his surroundings as he divested his outerwear to a servant. The home was provincial, on a scale smaller then Netherfield, but with a comfortable, hospitable appeal. He could hear the ladies already in one of the parlors. He nodded when Mr. Bennet indicated he should follow him.

Closing the library door behind them, the older gentleman offered Mr. Darcy a drink. He could not politely refuse, so he accepted a finger of brandy, though with no intention of partaking.

Mr. Bennet finished his own glass before refilling it and sighing heavily. “One does not think to bury his own children in his lifetime.” He seemed to be speaking more to himself, so Darcy did not respond. Although a distracted Mr. Bennet failed to offer him a seat, Darcy presumed it would not be offensive to the older gentleman if he simply took one anyway.

Finally, after what seemed like an interminable amount of time, Elizabeth’s father began his address.

“Mr. Darcy, I recognize that my request to speak to you was unexpected. Firstly, please allow me to thank you again for bringing Elizabeth home. I cannot find your being in Kent at the time of her receiving the news of Lydia’s . . . well . . . anyway, I found it fortuitous that you should be there to bring her home. I received an express from Mr. Collins at the request of his wife, informing me of her travel arrangements. I will not trouble you with his abundant words of consolation or the unctuous expression of advice regarding the proper outdoor activities for young ladies…”

Mr. Darcy shook his head. “Pardon me, sir. But do you mean to tell me that Mr. Collins had the gall to suggest that Lydia’s accident was a result of improper outdoor comportment?”

Mr. Bennet snorted and raised his glass to the younger gentleman in confirmation. “I believe it was at the request of his patroness.”

Darcy understood that Mr. Bennet was not attempting to shift the blame nor offend him by including his Aunt Catherine in his censure regarding the ill-mannered advice from the parson. Nevertheless, he felt compelled to apologize for the inconsiderate words of both his aunt and his aunt’s parson.

“Forgive me, Mr. Bennet, for their unkind words at this time; I had not thought my aunt so unfeeling.”

“Think nothing of it, sir. If this were not such a sad business, I would find great amusement in their combined solicitousness. However, I did not ask you to join me here to discuss your aunt or Mr. Collins. I wished to speak to you about Mr. Wickham.”

Darcy stiffened at the name of the man who caused him profound pain his whole adult life and immediately changed his mind regarding the drink he held in his hand. He finished it nearly in one gulp before nodding for Mr. Bennet to continue, his face stern.

“I do not wish to delve into your private business, sir. Indeed, the whole story simply exhausts me. The entire neighborhood is aware of your past dealings with the man and his tale of ‘mistreatment.’”

Darcy huffed. “Mistreatment, indeed!”

“I found his account rather fanciful myself, but that is neither here nor there. As I said, I care little for your past with the gentleman.” At this point Mr. Bennet paused as his guest let out an oath regarding the appellation of ‘gentleman’ and smirked in amusement. “I wished to speak to you because, despite your falling out, I believe you may be the person best acquainted with Mr. Wickham.”

“Unfortunately, I am well acquainted with the character of that man. I do not understand, though, what it is you wish to know if you are not asking for my history with him?”

“I will speak plainly with you then. I am not sure with what details regarding my daughter’s death you are familiar, so I will relate to you all we know.”

Mr. Darcy accepted another glass of brandy before Mr. Bennet continued.

“Mr. Wickham has been blessed with such happy manners as may insure his becoming a favorite of my daughters for some time now. He was out walking with my two youngest daughters and Mr. Denny when Lydia fell. What I find odd is that, upon returning her to Longbourn, Mr. Wickham seemed agitated and nervous, especially before the apothecary could come and administer a calming draught. Despite the turmoil of the moment, you see, I took notice of his behavior. At the time, I confess, I believed him to be acting the concerned suitor. It has been his later actions that have made me wonder whether perhaps his behavior was more suspicious.”

“Suspicious, sir?” Mr. Darcy was beginning to feel unwell.

“He has not returned to our home once since the day of the accident — not when she was ill nor when the news of her death was generally known. Indeed, nobody has seen him in Meryton at all since the day of her fall. From what you know of the man, do you find this behavior odd?”

Darcy pondered this discourse.
Damn you, Wickham!
He was beginning to worry that his old friend was involved beyond what was known. Hoping to shield Mr. Bennet from further grief, Darcy decided that, until he could discover more of Wickham’s motives and disappearance, he would not share his conjectures.

“I cannot say for certain, sir. I understand what you are hinting at, and although I know Wickham capable of the worst kind of deceit, selfishness and mercenary behaviors, I cannot confirm your suspicions. Please do not allow his disappearance to distress you further. It would not surprise me if he simply left to avoid an uncomfortable situation.”

“Do you know where he might have gone? I should like to ask him some questions. The accident occurred around a bend in the path, therefore Mr. Denny and Kitty did not see it happen as they were a few paces behind.” The frustration was evident in his voice.

Darcy stood and returned his glass to the sideboard. “Unfortunately, I do not. I will see whether I might learn more. For now, if you will forgive my presumption, you should forget about Wickham and focus more on the needs of your family at this sad time.”

Mr. Bennet nodded solemnly. “I appreciate your understanding regarding the altogether untoward manner of this conference. Although we were formally introduced last autumn, I do not believe we have had the pleasure of any kind of conversation before this. I recognize my familiarity in addressing you is rather unprecedented.”

Darcy gave a wry, half smile as his own thoughts echoed those sentiments.

“For whatever it is worth, I never believed Wickham’s stories of maltreatment at your hands. Other than being a rather boring, disagreeable fellow, I did not think you so dishonorable that you would go against your father’s wishes.”

Darcy ignored the unflattering description of his person as not intentionally insulting and recognized Mr. Bennet’s words acquitting him of his cruelty towards Mr. Wickham. He did begin, however, to understand the manner of falsehood Wickham had blandished about regarding their past, but he was grateful to hear nothing about his sister.

A moment or two passed in which both gentlemen were occupied with their own thoughts before Mr. Bennet recalled himself and suggested they join the ladies.

* * *

Elizabeth had not realized Mr. Darcy was still at Longbourn until he entered the parlor with her father. She mulled over their delay until Jane stood and said, “Mr. Darcy, thank you for returning our sister to us. It was very kind of you to go to so much trouble.” Her voice faltered only briefly, and Mr. Darcy saw the manifold effort it took for her to hide her feelings. Seeing her struggle for composure brought Elizabeth’s words forcibly to his mind once again.
“Her emotions, though little displayed, are fervent and tender.”
How could I have thought her heart untouched?
He recognized they shared a character trait: neither of them performed to strangers by displaying their feelings openly. This new understanding only caused him greater discomfort.

“You need not thank me. As much as I respect your family, I thought only of Miss Elizabeth and yourself and how you might be of comfort to one another.”

Mr. Darcy’s kind words struck both ladies powerfully — one lady decidedly more than the other. Jane, unable to hide her feelings any longer, thanked him again profusely and turned her head into the shoulder of her sister. A tearful Elizabeth looked at him over her sister’s shoulder as she tried to make sense of his tender, warm consolation.
That he could do this for me . . . ?
It was something she could not understand. She stared deeply into his eyes, and she was greatly moved by the tenderness she saw there.
Who is this man?

Their gaze held until the sounds of a carriage on the gravel caused Mr. Darcy to look out the window, expecting to see his own coach returning. He was momentarily relieved to see that it did not belong to him as he found himself suddenly wishing to stay longer. His relief was fleeting when, with alarm, he recognized the conveyance.

* * *

“Mr. Bingley?” Mrs. Bennet was all astonishment. Darcy’s head turned abruptly towards the woman, having only just noticed her in the room. It surprised him that he had not seen or, more amazingly,
heard
the woman before then. Looking at her now, he could see that she was noticeably restrained from her customary behavior, and the transformation was vast. Even her abrupt notice of Mr. Bingley was comported in a genteel fashion, conveying surprise more than impropriety. She was sitting next to a fashionably dressed, younger lady. He wondered briefly at the lady’s identity before he again remembered the situation and turned towards his friend with a face of obvious confusion.

Mr. Bingley studiously ignored the eyes of his friend as he walked directly to Mrs. Bennet and offered his sincere condolences before explaining to the assembled group at large that, as soon as he had heard about their tragic loss, he set out to offer his services and sympathy in person.

Mr. Darcy considered briefly whether he was imagining the scene before him as he watched Mrs. Bennet thank him politely and offer none of her usual matchmaking vocalizations that Mr. Bingley attend her eldest daughter. It was Bingley, himself, who ventured over to Miss Bennet to speak discretely to her.

Darcy turned towards his friend and said with veiled significance, “Bingley, I did not know you were planning on coming to Hertfordshire.”

Bingley barely acknowledged his friend’s words but responded with a terse, “Yes.” Evidently wishing to say no more to Darcy, he again turned towards Miss Bennet to reaffirm his sympathies, effectively cutting him from further enquiry and soundly warning the gentleman that he was less than pleased.

A moment later, the fashionably dressed lady who had been seated by Mrs. Bennet, crossed the room on the arm of an equally well-appointed gentleman towards where Darcy sat next to Elizabeth.

He listened as the gentleman addressed her. “Elizabeth, would you do me the honor of introducing your friend?”

Elizabeth hid a small smile that Darcy did not comprehend as she turned and said, “Mr. Darcy, it is my pleasure to introduce to you my aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gardiner from Town. Aunt, Uncle, may I present Mr. Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire.”

Darcy stood to bow properly over Mrs. Gardiner’s hand and to shake Mr. Gardiner’s. He was able to conceal his surprise that these were relations of hers and realized once again another aspect of his ill-judged perception.

“It is a pleasure, though I would wish it were under more happy circumstances, Mr. Darcy.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Gardiner. I would wish that as well.”

“Thank you for bringing Lizzy home to us. When we left town with Jane a few days ago we did not anticipate such a sad conclusion to Lydia’s injuries nor anticipate the need for Lizzy to come so quickly.”

Darcy was about to respond when he heard Bingley distinctly clear his throat. He speculated that Bingley must have just learned that Jane was in town not many days before. He groaned to himself as he returned his attention back to Mrs. Gardiner to address her once again.

“I would hope that your niece would know she could ask such a trifling thing of a friend.” Darcy glanced at Elizabeth and detected her polite smile.

* * *

When the time came for the gentlemen to take their leave, Mr. Darcy was apprehensive about Bingley’s mood, even musing that, if he were not such a great, tall fellow in comparison to Bingley, he might worry for his person. He was even a little perturbed by Bingley’s abrupt presence in Hertfordshire. When they exited the house, Darcy saw that Bingley had sent his carriage on to Netherfield, leaving his mount. Although irritated, Darcy invited Bingley to ride with him in his carriage as he wished to speak to him.

“That suits me just fine, Darcy, as I have a few matters to discuss with you as well.” Bingley threw the reins back to the groom, instructing him to attach his mount to the back of Darcy’s carriage. Then he climbed in after Darcy and sat opposite him. He sat glaring at his friend for a few minutes, neither man wishing to speak within view of Longbourn.