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“The end of next week,” Elliot said.
Bingley nodded, as if oddly satisfied by that, and then said quickly, “I am intending to return to Netherfield myself by month end.”
“You come to end your lease?” Elliot asked.
“No. I hope to extend it.”
Elliot’s eyes widened at that, and he looked at Darcy. Darcy gave him the briefest of nods, and Elliot smiled in response. He looked remarkably handsome when he smiled though Darcy also reflected that he looked equally as handsome when scowling.
“I am sure my family would be eager to host you on your return, as they have threatened to do for some time,” Elliot said.
“Indeed they have,” Bingley said. “This time I hope to be in a position to accept any such invitations.”
“I will enjoy seeing you at Longbourn also,” Elliot said as he looked around the room. “Though I am enjoying Derbyshire immensely.”
Darcy considered that as the evening’s entertainments continued, and by the time the close of the night came near he began to realise that he needed more time with Elliot, not for himself. Darcy was well convinced of his own feelings and would declare himself again in a heartbeat, but for Elliot. For him to see what his life here in Pemberley might be like, in the company of Georgie, the Annesleys, the extended Darcy family, and the myriad of household servants and tenants that Elliot would join Darcy in taking responsibility for. It was a great responsibility indeed, as the happiness and wellbeing of all those people rested upon the fortunes of Pemberley and whoever had charge of it.
“I wonder,” he said as the Gardiners prepared to return to the inn. The four of them were in the lower apartments, awaiting their carriage which had been called for. “Whether I could convince you all to join our party for the remainder of your time in Derbyshire. We have a suite of rooms ready for you should you be of a mind to do so and there are a host of entertainments planned.” Darcy paused. “It would please me greatly to have your company and my sister also.”
The Gardiners were clearly well satisfied at the suggestion, as anyone would have been, given Pemberley was so grand and so full of entertainment that even a fortnight would not be enough to explore it all, but they would not accept without Elliot’s approval, and so they turned to him, waiting for his thoughts. When he gave a simple nod, a happiness unlike any that had come before filled Darcy and he took the other man’s hand.
“You are sure, Mr. Bennet?” he asked, and they both knew that Darcy was asking more than one question.
A small pause and then, “Elliot,” he said. “My dear friends call me Elliot.”
Forty-Eight
Darcy insisted on accompanying them back to the inn where they were to collect up their belongings and return to Pemberley to spend the rest of the week. He had offered to send a servant to undertake the job for them, but the Gardiners had declined, as they were keen to say a proper goodbye to the innkeeper and her wife with whom they had established a convivial friendship.
The journey back was an immensely pleasant one and just as he had said, Elliot was quite delighted at the prospect of spending some time at Pemberley. He anticipated renewing his acquaintance with Colonel Fitzwilliam, perhaps getting to know his family, of spending time with Georgiana who was nothing but joy, and her companions too who were as pleasant a people as could be, and of course, with Darcy.
Elliot shivered slightly as he looked across at Mr. Darcy. He too was talking with the innkeepers, both of whom were delighted to have him in their establishment. They expressed delight at his visit, wondered when he would next come for a proper meal with them, and asked after Georgiana and her wellbeing. There was an obvious respect and pleasantry there. Elliot was glad to see it.
He took a seat at the table they had reserved as their own throughout their visit and as he did so one of the inn’s servants, a young man of no more than eighteen, came over.
“You have two letters, sir,” he said.
They were from Jack, Elliot recognised the handwriting on the envelope immediately, and with the Gardiners and Darcy busy in conversation, Elliot saw no reason not to open them there and then.
He smiled in satisfaction as he considered his brother, wishing he had some way of telling him immediately that Bingley was soon to return, that Netherfield would be occupied once more, and that if Elliot was not mistaken, a declaration would soon ensure that it was not occupied by just Mr. Bingley!
Elliot opened the first letter. The beginning contained an account of all the little parties and engagements that the family had attended in the past week, along with any news from the county that Jack had picked up. Elliot read it all through quickly as there was nothing surprising in there. But then, the latter half of the letter, which was dated a day later, and written in evident agitation, gave far more important intelligence.
“Since writing the above, dear brother,” Jack had written. “Something has occurred of a most unexpected and serious nature. What I have to say relates to Louis. An express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to bed, from Colonel Forster, to inform us that he had gone off to Scotland to marry without permission of relatives or friends. That ceremony was planned with one of his officers. That officer is Mr. Wickham! Imagine our surprise. To Christian, however, it was not wholly unexpected, for it seems he has had knowledge of such an affair. I am very, very sorry. So imprudent a match on both sides!”
Elliot paused, not quite able to believe what he was reading. He went back to the beginning again to ensure his own eyes had not deceived him, but the words did not change, and if anything, they worsened as the letter continued describing Louis’ flight from Brighton and that he had likely passed within ten miles of Longbourn! Scotland…it was one of the few places where a wedding could be carried out for those of the upper classes when underage and without the permission of relatives and the signing of contracts. It was, in essence, an elopement.
“This cannot be,” Elliot whispered but even as he did, he could not find himself surprised. Hadn’t he feared that something like this would occur with Louis? Hadn’t he expected it even? His heart raced unpleasantly as he opened the second letter. It had been written a day later than the conclusion of the first.
“By this time, my dearest brother,” Jack wrote. “You will have received my hurried letter. I wish this may be more intelligible, but I fear it may not be, as I hardly know what to say,” he continued. “Dearest Elliot, I have bad news for you, and it cannot be delayed. Imprudent as the marriage between Mr. Wickham and our brother Louis would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has actually taken place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone to Scotland at all. Colonel Forster came yesterday, having left Brighton the day before, not many hours after the express. It is his understanding from his wife that Wickham had no intention of completing a marriage with Louis at all. I know not what our brother is thinking and why he would possibly agree to run off with a man who has the worst of intentions! He will be ruined, Elliot. And the rest of the family with him.”
Elliot gasped. He looked up. Darcy and the Gardiners were still chattering away with the innkeepers, they had no notion of how awful a thing was unfolding just a few steps away.
“Colonel Forster has tracked them to the London road,” Jack continued. “Having left Brighton the day before, not many hours after the express, he took off, intending to trace their route. He did trace them easily to Clapham, but no further, for on entering that place, they removed into a hackney coach and dismissed the chaise that brought them from Epsom. All that is known after this is that they were seen to continue the London road. After making every possible inquiry, the colonel came to Longbourn and broke the news to us. I am sincerely grieved for him and for his wife, but no one can throw any blame on them. They had no notion of this occurring, though the colonel expressed to our father than Wickham is not a man to be trusted and he had no wish to keep him in his regiment!”
And didn’t they already know that, Elliot thought. Wickham was the very worst of men, his behaviour with Georgiana had made that clear, and now to use poor Louis in such a way, because Louis was not of mating age! Sly and secretive he might be and prone to all sorts of mischief, but Louis was not yet considered old enough to consent to a life-long commitment.
Elliot swallowed against the sudden lump in his throat. If Wickham did not complete a mating ceremony with Louis, then there would be no commitments from here forth. Louis would be ruined and no man or woman, no alpha, beta or omega would ever consider him as a husband.
