Chapter Forty-One

A month and a half had not been long enough for Darcy to properly prepare himself to encounter Elizabeth as Mrs. Collins with any degree of equanimity. But he could not shirk his duty to his Aunt. So, on the Ides of March, he, his sister, her companion, and Richard left Pemberley for a leisurely journey to Kent. They took several days to make London, then stayed at their townhouse for two days before setting out for the final fifty miles. Darcy spent much of the trip in the saddle, riding alongside the carriages. Richard joined him on occasion, but claimed he rode enough in Spain that he needed the respite. Even Georgiana spent some time on horseback, though the crowded road conditions did not make for a pleasant equestrian experience. They arrived at Rosings Park late on the evening of the twenty third.

“Darcy, it is most agreeable to see you again,” Lady Catherine admitted upon their entry into the sitting room. She rose from her throne-like chair and offered her cheek for a kiss. “And you as well, Richard.” He also offered her a nephew’s kiss. “I had not expected to see our niece on this visit. If I had not heard your voice when you passed Hunsford, I would be most displeased with the surprise. You know how I prefer to plan ahead.”

“I’m sorry, Aunt,” Georgiana started, only to be cut off.

“Don’t be silly, child. You are always welcome. I simply assume that the lack of forewarning was some sort of childish prank on your cousin’s part.” She scowled at Richard who smiled in response.

“I’m sure the missive must have simply gone astray,” Darcy interjected. The Colonel had assured Darcy that he would send word of their expanded party.

“I think you know better than that,” his Aunt rejoined. “I know I do. I could hear his muffled snickering from a mile away.”

With a final glare in the Colonel’s direction, she clapped her hand and said “But enough of that. Come here my dear girl.” She drew her niece into an embrace. If not exactly warm, it was loving.

“This is my companion, Mrs. Annesley,” Georgiana introduced with unseemly informality. Darcy was a touch shocked, but realized his sister was making a statement to their overbearing aunt. The young woman had changed since the events at Pemberley the previous month. Her success in combat had given her a new measure of confidence. He wondered at how that would fare against his aunt’s strength of character. He hoped the clash would not be too bloody.

“Very good. We will have a room made up for her near yours. She and Mrs. Jenkinson will have much to talk about, I’m sure.” Darcy winced at her rudeness. Lady Catherine took his arm, and Georgiana’s and drew them to a sofa. “Now tell me why we are to be blessed with my niece’s presence. Not that you are not welcome, my dear. But as I said, we were not expecting you.”

“It was not safe to leave her at Pemberley,” Darcy replied.

“Whatever can you mean?” his aunt interrupted.

“Some weeks ago, we were attacked by a group of radicals,” Darcy stated.

“We think Darcy was their particular target, but they attacked the estate while Georgiana was there alone to draw him from town. They attacked again some days later.” Richard added.

“Outrageous!”

“Indeed,” Darcy agreed perfunctorily. “But you can see how it would be insupportable for me to allow her to continue in such an unguarded circumstance. Thus, her accompanying us on our annual visit.”

“Of course. You did the right thing,” Lady Catherine declared. “I would like to speak with you more about these attacks. I am not sanguine that Old Miller is sufficient protection for Rosings given the changing security conditions.”

The discussion continued into the evening. That night, as he was preparing for bed, Darcy reflected that any conversation with his aunt was likely to highlight the peculiarities that her gift had engendered in her social interactions. She was able to hear speech in a radius of almost five miles. In fact, she could not help but hear all speech within that radius. To preserve her sanity, she had to train herself to be able to ignore much that she did not want to hear, which included the vast majority of what went on around her. Even with that ability, she could not but be aware of peoples’ foibles, secrets, and, most damning, their honest opinions of her. These two factors, her intimate knowledge of those around her, and her requirement of ignoring that which she did not want to hear, shaped how she interacted with the world. Darcy still thought of her as a caring, if overly officious, relation.

At breakfast the next morning Georgiana said, “Anne tells me that you have had some young ladies visiting in the past few weeks.”

“Yes, my rector, Mr. Collins has a new wife, a most genteel sort of lady. She has been hosting a visit from her sister and one of her friends from her former home.”

“I would very much like to meet them,” Georgiana said, looking to Darcy.

He remembered a time when he had thought Miss Elizabeth was exactly the sort of lady whose example he wished his sister to follow. Even if he could not have her for his own, there might still be some way she could be a positive influence on Georgianna’s life. “I think that would be a good idea.”

“We are planning to have them join us for dinner on Thursday,” Anne supplied. Darcy thought her condition might be deteriorating. She had been born sickly, with a borderline gift that might have seen her banished as a grotesque in a family with less wealth and status. Her condition had never improved. At one point, after Sir Lewis’ death, Lady Catherine had suggested quite strongly that Darcy was Anne’s only hope of matrimony and a normal life, as he knew of her condition and could help her continue to hide it. Neither Darcy nor Anne had supported the plot and Lady Catherine had given up the idea. But he did care for her as a close relative and wondered if Elizabeth might not be able to assist her in some way with her healing abilities.

“Thursday…” his sister pouted.

“If that is too far in the future, you could always pay a call on the parsonage. I’m certain Mr. Collins would appreciate the condescension.” Anne said.

“Please do not mock our spiritual advisor in company.” her mother chided.

“But Aunt, we are not company. We are family.” Richard’s quip brought out several smiles, if no one was so lost to propriety as to actually laugh.

“Might we call upon them today, Brother?” Georgiana asked.

He sighed silently and inwardly prepared himself to meet the holder of his heart as a common and indifferent acquaintance. “We may.”

Late morning found Darcy, his sister, and Richard making their way across the verdant grounds of Rosings to the humble parsonage of Hunsford. A maid answered the door and brought the group into the small parlor where Darcy found Elizabeth standing next to her friend, Charlotte Lucas. Standing in front of the window was another lady, younger than Elizabeth. Darcy could not recall her, assuming she was one of her younger sisters, with whom he had very few dealings during his time in Hertfordshire.

After being announced, Darcy took it upon himself to make the introductions. “Mrs. Collins, may I introduce to you my sister, Georgiana and my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”

“I am most happy to make your acquaintance,” replied Miss Lucas. “May I introduce my sister Maria Lucas and my dear friend Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

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Darcy colored, perplexed, looked doubtingly, and after some hesitation, said “Miss Bennet?”

“Mr. Darcy?” she replied, concern evident in her voice.

Darcy gasped loudly, then turned and almost ran out of the room. He moved blindly, and as soon as he had left the cottage, the tears of a strong man breaking unexpectedly rolled down his cheeks. He stopped by a tree and leaned against it, seeing nothing of his surroundings. Eventually, a hand on his shoulder brought him back to himself.

“Mr. Darcy?” It was Elizabeth.

He turned to her. “You are not married?”

“I am not.”

“I was led to believe that you were destined for Mr. Collins.”

“He may have had some inclination in that direction, along with my mother. But I never did. And, in the end, he chose more wisely.” She looked at him with sadness. “But why should it matter? You are to wed Miss de Bourgh, are you not?”

“I am not. And while her mother had, for some time, promoted the idea of such a joining of our estates, neither my cousin nor myself have ever shared in her desire. We care for each other as family, nothing more.”

At that, it was Elizabeth’s turn to stagger and grab onto a paling for support. Darcy wondered how they could have both been so misinformed … then he recalled the evening he had first heard of Elizabeth’s engagement … from Wickham. “That dastard!” he exclaimed.

This seemed to shock Elizabeth back to her senses. “What? Who?”

“From whom did you hear I was to marry my cousin?” he asked, taking her hand.

She reflected silently for a moment, then replied angrily, “Lieutenant Wickham!”

“Exactly. He is the one that originally informed me of your betrothal as well. How! How can I continue to fall for his treachery when I am so familiar with his deceitful ways?”

“I want to know why. Why would he do such a thing? I have no doubt that he did this despicable thing, but I do not understand his motives.”

“It could be as simple as him wanting to hurt me so deeply by depriving me of any hope of future happiness. He hates me that much.” Darcy said, heedless, in his anger, of the implications of his confession.

Elizabeth stared at him silently, then whispered, “Am I your hope for future happiness?”

He stopped and looked into her eyes. He realized that he had never relinquished her hand. It was alive in his. With no regard for propriety or prudence he answered honestly. “You are my only hope. Without you I have been lost. Alone in the bosom of my family. Desperately seeking some justification for my continued existence. Without you I am … nothing.”

Her breath hitched. Her eyes burned into his. And her grip on his hands would bend steel.

“Please save me from that desolation,” he continued. “Please take my hand and be my partner, my wife.”

“You are my future. And I am yours.” She pulled at his hands. This time he would not resist. He leaned forward and their lips, gently, touched. That first contact made the world stop. Some unknown time later they pulled back. The second kiss was more passionate, but no less tender. They were lost to the world.

“Ahem!”

Darcy jerked back and instinctively stepped between Elizabeth and the sound. When he saw it was Richard, followed by Georgiana and the Lucases, he was mortified, not for his sake, but for his lady’s.

“I assume this is the ineffable Miss Elizabeth of whom we have heard so much.” Richard smiled at his cousin. “Congratulations, old man. And well done!”

Elizabeth began to step away from him, her face blushing red. Darcy strengthened his grip and pulled her gently towards him. She had no reason to be ashamed.

“Richard, Georgiana, Mrs. Collins … As you may have heard, Elizabeth has done me the inestimable honor of accepting my hand in marriage.” Darcy’s voice was filled with pride and joy. Elizabeth gazed up at him with great affection.

“Oh Lizzy, I am so happy for you.” Mrs. Collins offered.

“Brother! I look forward to meeting my future sister.” Georgiana smiled shyly. Elizabeth stepped away from Darcy and held out her hands, one to her longtime friend and one to his sister.

“Thank you for your best wishes,” she said to Mrs. Collins. To Georgiana she replied, “I have heard such good things about you, Miss Darcy. I just know we shall become great friends.”

“I suppose you must now beg permission from this lady’s father, old fellow?” Richard said quietly as he shook Darcy’s hand.

“I do not think that will be an issue,” Elizabeth said. Darcy, well aware of the acuity of his beloved’s hearing, grinned at Richard’s chagrin. “My father has the greatest respect for Mr. Darcy. I cannot see him offering any real impediment, though he may make sport of us for our folly in allowing Lieutenant Wickham to offer such interference to our reaching this happy conclusion sooner.”

“George?” Georgiana asked in a tremulous voice.

Darcy strode to her and took her hand. “Once again he has managed to harm our family.”

“I think it is time we ended his interference, once and for all.” Richard growled. Darcy looked over his sister’s head and nodded his silent agreement. He was morally opposed to dueling, but felt it might be their only recourse against the dastard’s continued depredations.

“I think this might be an appropriate occasion for you to make use of the speediest method of travel to Hertfordshire.” Richard suggested.

“I think there is no great need for such precipitancy. My father will still be there in several days or several weeks,” Elizabeth countered. “But I must admit, having just reunited, I am loath to lose your company for the days travel by horseback might entail. I will not attempt to influence you either way.” She grinned impudently.

“I feel a great deal of urgency to formally secure our betrothal. I think it a worthy cause for flaunting my ability, just this once. I should be able to reach Longbourn in under two hours. If your father is amenable, I should be back for dinner this evening.”

“And if he is not?” Richard jibed.

“Then I will stay as long as it takes to wear down his resistance and achieve my heart’s desire.”

“Oh, that is so romantic!” Miss Lucas sighed.

“What of Lady Catherine? Surely you must inform her of your departure.” Elizabeth asked.

“Believe me, she already knows.” Richard laughed.

With a final kiss of her hand, Darcy bid his beloved adieu and took to the air.

His reception at Longbourn, once he had secured Mr. Bennet’s blessing, was everything he might have feared from his future mother-in-law. But Darcy was able to see she was well meaning, if not well informed or well bred. She was no worse than many matchmaking mothers he had met over the years, and her daughter’s engagement to such a catch seemed to raise Elizabeth in her mother’s estimation. If Mrs. Bennet was the worst aspect of marriage to his beloved, he was well satisfied.

He was encouraged to stay for dinner and could not refuse without offering offence. Bingley and his new bride joined in the celebrations, and Darcy was happy to see his old friend. As the time for the meal approached, Darcy noticed some disturbance in the house.

“Kitty, have you any idea where you sister has gotten off to?” Mrs. Bennet inquired. “I cannot think I have seen her since … was she at breakfast?”

“She was not,” Miss Mary reported. “I believe I heard her stirring early this morning. I’d assumed she was patrolling before breakfast, as Lizzy often does.”

“Kitty?” Mr. Bennet said, looking more closely at his fourth daughter. The girl looked away, her guilt evident. “What do you know of this?”

“Nothing!” she declaimed. Her father’s gaze grew sterner. Finally, she relented. “She left a note. She said not to give it to you until you asked.”

“And where is this note, child?” her father asked quietly. She raced upstairs and momentarily returned with the missive in hand. Her father took it and quickly perused it.

His face drained of all color and his hand shook. Without a word, he handed the note to Darcy.

Father –

I know you will be proud of me when you read this. It has finally happened. The General has called me up to join the special ladys battalion. Mr. Wickham says that I must keep my departure and destination a secret still, but you know how anxious I have been to do my part to protect the Kingdom, just like Lizzy. So I could not leave without letting you know I am safe and on my way to greater things.

Your daughter,

Lydia

(soon to be of the 1st Ladys)

“That scoundrel!” Darcy expostulated. “We must begin the search at once!”

“What! Where is my baby?” Mrs. Bennet began to cry.

“Jane, Take your mother upstairs.” Mr. Bennet ordered. “Mary, Kitty wait for me in my sanctum. I’ll need to know what you know of Lydia’s dealings with Lieutenant Wickham.”

“Mr. Darcy, they have been gone for almost a full day,” Mr. Bennet remonstrated. “They could easily be in London by now. It will be almost impossible to find them without special assistance. I need you to bring Lizzy here. She is our best chance to track the blackguard. Let me send a note with you so she knows what is needed. We have no time to waste. Charles, I need you to take another note to Sir John. We will need his help, but if at all possible, for the sake of our family’s reputation, we need to keep word of this debacle from spreading further.”

Both the younger men nodded. Upon receiving the note for Elizabeth, Darcy began his return flight with all possible speed.