Bingley stepped closer, visibly shaking and with his arms crossed. “Caro, as I live and breathe, if you do not answer Darcy this instant, I will call on my newspaper friend and have him print your lie in The London Times so all your friends can read about it!”
This led to her cooperation. She listed a dozen of the worst gossips of theton. Formidable foes, but Darcy knew how to deal with them. Miss Bingley would be in for a rude awakening if she thought those same ladies would not turn against her the moment they realized who Mario Rossi was and how popular “his” paintings were about to become.
“I am taking the two landscapes with me. Send a bill to Darcy House for payment,” he tossed over his shoulder on his way out.
CHAPTER 36
Darcy would have departed for London that same night, but travel after dark was perilous, and he had Georgiana’s safety to consider. Still, he had no time to waste getting to London. Neither did he expect Georgiana to reside under the same roof as Miss Bingley for a moment longer than necessary. Therefore, they left at dawn.
Bingley’s stay at Netherfield Park was coming to an abrupt end. Darcy knew his friend would deal with his sisters but did not wish to be present for it. No punishment could atone for what they had done to Elizabeth. The damage to her reputation, to her family, to the very skill she cherished… As sick as it made Darcy to contemplate, he could think of nothing else.
Had he not been so focused on that blasted Rembrandt, he would have known something was amiss. He would have suspected that Bingley’s sisters were not merely socializing with their neighbors butwere tearing down a lady whose cleverness and accomplishments made them look inferior.
The evidence had been there, neatly laid out before him, but he had been like a horse wearing blinders. Elizabeth’s sketches, her long walks alone in the cold and rain… He had even seen the place where she worked, had watched her enter that rundown hut, and he had made no further inquiry.
So many clues, so many hints! Even her vivacity was reflected in her paintings! How had he not noticed? Every mile they traveled away from Longbourn added to his regret. Had he been more observant, he might have spared her.
“Who would have imagined that my painting would end up in the Hertfordshire countryside, in Mr. Bennet’s study?”
Georgiana’s voice was a welcome interruption, and Darcy would rather tell her about the painting than about how he had convinced Mr. Bennet to allow him to dance with Elizabeth the night before. He replied honestly. “All manner of treasures can be found at themarché ouvert.”
She huffed. “I suppose I ought to be grateful that George was too desperate for money to sell it to a private collector. Otherwise, it never would have ended up in that awful place.” Her eyes narrowed. “Why did you lead me to believe Richard was responsible for your bruise when there is clearly much more to the story? I thought you despised deception.”
Feeling lower than he had felt a minute ago, Darcydetermined to salvage what he could of his sister’s trust by revealing the details he had left her to fill in on her own until now. “Richardwasresponsible. I had the situation in hand?—”
“You were surrounded by a pack of ruffians at Seven Dials!” Richard exclaimed. “I saved your sorry hide!”
“Had you not interrupted when you did, I would not have taken a blow to my eye.”
“Had I not scared them off with my scimitar, you would not have walked out of St. Giles in one piece.”
“I wish I could be more like Elizabeth,” Georgiana said, bringing an abrupt end to their altercation.
Richard recovered first. “What? How so?”
“Her loyalty is selfless and fierce. She risked her reputation and prospects for the benefit of her family, and they did not even know what she was doing for them.”
“Sounds imprudent to me,” Richard said, one eyebrow arched. Darcy could see he was goading her.
Georgiana snapped back, “It is selfless and honorable! She put her family’s needs before her own, and I admire her for it. There is only one other person I know who does not hesitate to do the same.”
“Who is that?” Richard asked, chest puffing out in preparation of praise.
“My brother!”
Darcy did not deserve her praise?he believed quite the opposite. He clenched his jaw shut and looked at the fog through the window as guilt for his failurewashed over him all over again. It was still dark enough that his reflection stared back at him disappointedly. He had promised Mr. Bennet to leave for London immediately after the ball if he was permitted to dance just once with Elizabeth. There was nothing honorable about promising the gentleman something he had already promised his sister he would do.
“Do you love her?”
Georgiana’s question hit him like a blow to the stomach. He did. He loved Elizabeth with a force he had not believed possible. His heart had broken when her hopes were crushed and there had been nothing he could do to make immediate reparation. More than anything, he wished he could reverse time. He would have helped her. He would have sensed the malevolence of Miss Bingley’s danger, and he would have protected Elizabeth.
“Do you?” Richard asked.
“Leave me alone, Rich.”
“Well, do you?” Georgiana repeated.
Even had he wished to, Darcy could not speak. His chest tightened around his answer.
