Chapter 3
The following day, Darcy left Rosings Park with the colonel. At his cousin’s suggestion, he paid a visit to the parsonage first to take his leave. He spoke little and said nothing at all to Elizabeth, instead watching the colonel carry the entire conversation.
Elizabeth was much quieter than usual, but she did smile at the colonel. At him, she barely threw a few glances.
“Will you stay in Kent for long, Miss Bennet?” his cousin asked.
“No. I plan to leave in less than a fortnight.”
“Will you go directly to Longbourn?”
“Probably not. I intend to stay in London for a few days, then return home with my sister Jane.”
“If you approve of it, I would like to call on you during your stay in London,” the colonel said. “I would be delighted to meet your sister.”
Elizabeth cast a quick look at Darcy before answering, “I am sure my sister would be honoured to make your acquaintance, Colonel. My uncle lives in Gracechurch Street, number eight.”
“I admit I am not familiar with that part of London, but I shall be pleased to explore more of it.”
“Your intention is very kind, Colonel. If you do not visit us, I shall assume you have been too busy.”
“I am never too busy to do things I enjoy. Only Darcy is too busy with his duties, and he overlooks his own wishes.” The colonel laughed.
Darcy was ready to reply, but Elizabeth spoke first.
“I am sure Mr Darcy would find the necessary time if he truly wished to do something. Any man would,” she said, casting another quick glance at him.
“I do find time for things I truly wish to do, but on certain occasions, that has been to my detriment. Lately, I have learnt that I would do better to fulfil my duties than indulge my wishes.”
He observed Elizabeth’s change of expression, proving she understood his meaning.
“I cannot agree with you, Darcy,” the colonel said with a laugh. “I have never regretted following my wishes, even if at times it was wrong to do so.”
“Apparently, you are more fortunate than I am, Cousin,” Darcy uttered. “But as lovely as this conversation is, we must end it, as we should return to Rosings. It is rather late, and we have a long journey to London.”
Elizabeth, Mrs Collins, and Miss Lucas expressed their best wishes, while Mr Collins offered to accompany them back to the manor.
While he had never liked the clergyman, Darcy had always tried to maintain a civil relationship with him. But since he had found out that the tedious man had dared to propose to Elizabeth, Darcy could not stand him and avoided talking to him entirely.
“There is no need for you to take so much trouble, Mr Collins. I am sure you have more important things to employ your time,” he said.
“Not at all, Mr Darcy! Nothing is more important than to express my best wishes to you and to pay my daily visit to her ladyship,” the man replied. Darcy fought the temptation to roll his eyes and glanced at Elizabeth instead. To his amazement, she rolled her own eyes with a little smile towards him. He had seen her smiling numerous times before, but that particular little smile looked different, and Darcy wondered about it long after he left the parsonage and throughout the entire journey back to London.
***
After a lovely dinner with Georgiana and Mrs Annesley, her companion, Darcy spent a little more time in conversation with his sister, then he withdrew to his chamber. Georgiana assumed he was tired, and he did not contradict her. In fact, he was exhausted, not from the travelling but from all his turmoil over Elizabeth and the lack of sleep following his failed proposal.
He decided to call on Bingley the next morning and see whether he had read the letter, then discuss it.
His valet helped him to change for the night and filled him another drink, then said, “Sir, there is a note for you here on your desk.”
“Is there? I did not even notice it. What note? From whom?”
“It is from a Mrs Crawford. Apparently she has called twice this week, looking for you. I do not know who she is, and she did not disclose her business.”
“I am not acquainted with any Mrs Crawford. Do you know what she looked like?”
“I was told she was between thirty and forty years of age. Clean clothes but nothing fashionable.”
