“Whatever Miss Lydia may have done, it cannot have been so very bad, for Mr Darcy would not attach himself where there was true scandal?—”
There was even some quiet speculation that it had not been Mr Bennet, but Mrs Bennet, who had insisted upon Lydia’s return to the schoolroom; and, of course, a general certainty prevailed that there could be no real scandal if Mr Darcy was to marry Miss Elizabeth. Darcy and Elizabeth were both relieved by what they heard, and before long, they were free to begin their walk back towards Longbourn.
Mr and Mrs Bennet followed behind, Mr Bennet having at last collected his wife with a dry, pointed remark: “Well, Mrs Bennet, if you have heard quite enough of our neighbours discussing our affairs, it is time we returned home.”
It did not take long for the younger couple to outpace the elder, and they soon fell into conversation between themselves.
“That went far better than I expected,” Elizabeth said, her tone light with relief. “The certainty that you would not marry me had Lydia done anything truly scandalous was of great assistance. I believe that, had you not been there, I should have been subjected to far more questions—but your mention that we had met in April, before meeting again at Pemberley, seemed to satisfy most of their curiosity.”
“Your rector scolded me,” Darcy said, with studied indifference.
“What?” Elizabeth asked, turning quickly to him, having missed that exchange.
“He recalled my behaviour last autumn, and expressed the hope that I had since made myself worthy of you,” Darcy replied. “Your acceptance, and your apparent satisfaction in the match, seem to have reassured him as to our future felicity; though I suspect he has not yet said all that he intends, and may reserve the remainder for our meeting tomorrow.”
Elizabeth looked up at him, her brows quirked up in amusement, and Darcy, glancing behind to ensure they were unobserved, bent to press a light kiss to her lips. She gave a soft gasp, feigning outrage, even as she leant more fully into his side.
“You should know that Caroline Bingley wrote to Jane after leaving Pemberley,” she said after several moments had passed and Longbourn was nearly in view.
Darcy stopped short in the middle of the lane. “And what did she have to say?” he demanded.
“Oh, that I had caused some scandal which required you to close Pemberley,” Elizabeth replied airily, waving her hand in dismissal. “That you were furious with me, and that the Bingleys had intended to return to Netherfield immediately after leaving, or some such nonsense. She went so far as to suggest that, although she had formerly been inclined to view a match between her brother and Jane with favour, she could no longer do so, given your supposed disapprobation of our family.”
They remained where they stood for several minutes. “I must write to Bingley. Miss Bingley has made far too free with my name, and appears to have assumed a degree of knowledge of my affairs which I have never granted her. As you now know, there is no agreement between my friend and my sister, and of course, the events she described never took place. I do not know what Bingley told her about why I left Pemberley; I only told him that urgent affairs required my immediate attention and that I was obliged to depart without delay.”
“I supposed as much,” Elizabeth said. “It was obvious she was displeased with my presence at Pemberley during her visit, for she made it plain that we were unwelcome and that she felt she was entitled to your full attention. She did not like that I attempted to befriend Georgiana and had a greater degree of success than she did, since your sister always appeared unsettled in her company.”
This made Darcy scowl, but he heard the Bennets behind them, and started their walk towards the house. “We will discuss this further at another time, and perhaps Miss Bennet will let me see either or both letters. I would like to ensure that when I write Bingley, I am fully aware of exactly what his sister has written.”
Seventeen
It was not until later in the afternoon that Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam found any opportunity for private conversation at all. Soon after their return to the house, they had been ushered into breakfast, which her father preferred to take after Sunday services. The meal proved a lengthy one; Mrs Bennet had apparently ordered two additional courses for their guests, including more dishes than were customary, served with a degree of ceremony that struck Elizabeth as wholly unnecessary.
Mrs Bennet had placed Fitzwilliam beside her at the table and seized the opportunity to flatter him, attempting to prevail upon him to delay the wedding by at least a fortnight, so that she might have time to make it as elaborate as possible. In truth, Elizabeth suspected her mother would have preferred a month or more, but she confined herself to repeated suggestions, watching keenly to see whether he might be induced to comply.
Elizabeth was pleased to observe that her intended was not so easily influenced as her father, despite the many appeals her mother made. She felt a quiet satisfaction at this and was careful to keep her manner composed.
Jane, who had spoken little, sat with her hands folded before her, her attention fixed upon her plate; while Mary listened with evident interest, her gaze moving between Darcy and Mrs Bennet as though she would willingly have heard more of the subject discussed at greater length.
When Mrs Bennet seemed to realise that further entreaties would be of no avail, she turned her attention to the delights of London, declaring how her daughters—Lydia in particular—would surely be considered a diamond of the first water.
Elizabeth kept her gaze upon her plate, keenly aware of her mother’s countenance. She had hoped her father might offer some support; yet when she turned to him, she saw that he had been watching the exchange with evident amusement.
“Perhaps in time, madam,” Elizabeth heard Darcy reply, his tone courteous but firm. “But for now, I agree with your husband that the best place for Miss Lydia is at school.”
After a brief pause, he added, “As for Miss Mary, my sister has formed a strong attachment to her already. Georgiana hopes you will permit Miss Mary to join her at Pemberley while Elizabeth and I are on our wedding journey.”
Mrs Bennet opened her mouth as though to protest further, but, meeting his steady manner, thought better of it, and instead turned her attention elsewhere.
At this, Mary straightened a little, her face brightening with quiet pleasure; while Jane glanced up briefly, her usual calm restored. Elizabeth thought she detected a trace of thoughtfulness—perhaps even unease—before Jane’s attention returned once more to her plate.
When Mr Bennet finally perceived Elizabeth’s aggrieved glance, and perhaps the Gardiners’ quieter disapproval, he merely lifted his cup and remarked lightly, fixing his wife with a sharp look, “I believe the gentleman has already given his answer, my dear.” The words were not unkindly spoken, yet there was a firmness in his tone that Elizabeth could not remember hearing ever before when he addressed her mother.
She did not look at her intended immediately, yet she was conscious of Fitzwilliam beside her growing very still. When at last she allowed herself a brief glance in his direction, she saw in his expression a quiet approbation which, though directed towards her father, seemed to settle her own spirits.
Aunt Gardiner, who sat across from Fitzwilliam and had been listening attentively, joined in to support the decisions that had been made.
“With Elizabeth and Mr Darcy travelling after the wedding, taking any of their sisters to London is quite impossible. But we had considered that Kitty might wish to come with us to London for a time. She can help with the children and have the chance for some instruction with us.”
