At this, Elizabeth stepped away carefully, then she began to run towards the grove. The notion that her friend since childhood could believe so ill of her and despise her so much, that the people of Hunsford were talking so horribly about her and Mr. Darcy, was outrageous.
As she ran, she saw the object of her thoughts, waiting. By that time, she knew tears were falling down her cheeks, and she wiped them away angrily.
“Miss Bennet?”
She looked at him; his expression betrayed concern and torment.
“Mr. Darcy, please leave, sir. Or I shall leave. We cannot meet any longer.”
“What has happened? Has someone hurt you?”
“Yes! Through horribly unfair rumours and gossip. It is damaging to both our names and reputations. We must not see each other again.”
“Miss Bennet, I beg you to calm yourself and tell me what happened.” His voice was level but grave.
She lowered her eyes, mortified to repeat such things. “I heard Charlotte and my cousin talking…saying that the people of Hunsford are gossiping…about a certain relationship — an improper one — between us. About our walking together…and your rides.”
“I am very sorry about your torment, Miss Bennet. Very sorry,” he said, handing her his handkerchief. “But I must ask, did you hear them mention your name?”
She paused and thought carefully. “No. Only yours. But it was obvious.”
“Not entirely. I have been told about the rumours, and I came to inform you, so you know what will happen next. The rumours are in regard to Mrs. Gilroy. The gossip says I procured her food and other necessities because I am in an illicit relationship with her.”
The revelation stunned Elizabeth so deeply that she needed to lean against a tree for support; with disbelief, she looked at him, speechless.
“Are you sure?”
“Sadly, yes. The rumours are vicious and will affect the entire family for the rest of their lives. The shop boy, who delivered the purchases, probably saw me there with the children. So, he assumed the worst.”
“This is ridiculous!” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“I should have anticipated it. It was my fault. I did not consider the situation properly. I was so caught up in my relationship with you that I forgot everything else,” he whispered, causing her even more confusion.
“You were?” she whispered.
“Yes, of course…I have created such turmoil from this entire situation. There is something of great importance that I wish to tell you today. To ask you…I do not expect an immediate answer…but I thought you should know the whole truth before we part ways.”
“What truth? About what?”
“About the nature of my interest in you — what you asked me a while ago. I mean — if you still want to know.”
“I do,” she answered with thrilling anticipation, her eyes locked with his. “Very much so. I hope you will tell me before I leave.”
“But I cannot tell you now. I shall find a moment — just not now when we are discussing such horrible gossip.”
“You are right, of course,” she admitted, hardly concealing her disappointment.
“I cannot abandon Mrs. Gilroy to vicious rumours aroused by my actions and to my aunt’s mercy. Lady Catherine will be furious and will accept no explanation. She will seek revenge.”
“I do not understand…why revenge? For what? Especially since the rumours are untrue.”
Darcy hesitated a moment, then continued. “Miss Bennet, what I shall tell you is not known by more than five people, all close to the family. I trust you to keep the secret.”
“Of course.”
“You see, Herbert Gilroy was Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s son, from a relationship prior to his marriage to Lady Catherine. When he died, he asked my father to provide Herbert with all the necessary means for a peaceful life. When my father died, this responsibility was passed to me.”
“Dear Lord,” Elizabeth whispered, covering her mouth with her palm.
