Mr. Darcy,
To say I was surprised by your letter would be an understatement, especially considering we have never spoken directly.
It was very considerate of you to worry about your aunt’s visit. I confess I remained in my library throughout.
I understand the purpose of Lady Catherine’s call was to speak to my daughter Elizabeth, a conversation which I was told was hardly a pleasure for either party.
Since my daughter provided me with no details of that conversation, I simply conveyed to her your apologies, and she asked me to reply that they were absolutely not necessary.
My daughter has asked me to inform you that she never assumed Lady Catherine de Bourgh had your approval for that particular conversation, and she will be delighted to discuss the matter with you at length when you next meet.
I also look forward to finally meeting you in a proper manner, and perhaps you will do me the honour of joining me for a drink.
Although I too believe your apologies are unnecessary, I am sure I must — and I shall — express my thanks and gratitude for your assistance in finding my daughter Lydia and her unworthy husband. My brother refused to give me any details about the nature of yourinvolvement, but he indicated that the fugitives would not have been found so quickly without your help. I thank you and remain in your debt for that.
Thomas Bennet
The letter gave Darcy equal joy and distress. The few words passed on from Elizabeth showed that she did not hold any grudge and that she was eager to meet him again. As prudent as he was in making assumptions, there could not be any other interpretation.
Mr. Bennet’s tone was quick and pleasant, revealing a man with a love for reading, writing, and probably making sport of others. But the reference to his involvement in Wickham’s story was worrisome, and he hoped the Gardiners had not revealed the secret. The last thing he wanted was for Elizabeth’s true feelings for him to be altered by an unwanted sense of gratitude.
He took up a pen and wrote back.
Mr. Bennet,
Not speaking to you directly is one of the things I regret not having done during my stay in Hertfordshire last autumn. From what Mr. Gardiner related to me, I am sure we would have had enough pleasant subjects for conversation. I hope for such an opportunity when I visit Bingley in less than a fortnight.
With your approval, I shall call on Longbourn upon my arrival, and I would be delighted to have a drink with you.
Please convey to Miss Elizabeth and your entire family my best regards.
F Darcy.
The particular mention of Elizabeth was a little daring and slightly improper, but he chose to accept the risk, praying that she would understand.
There were ten days until he would see her again, and he wondered how he could bear it. If not for the situation with Anne, he would have travelled to Netherfield earlier. But the worry for his cousin and the sense that he had to be around his family in those difficult moments were enough to diminish his eagerness.
