Mr. Darcy was immediately aware that Elizabeth was uncomfortable and decided to get them both out of the room. “Miss Elizabeth, might we not take a walk?”
Elizabeth looked to her mother; Mrs. Bennet nodded. Elizabeth dashed upstairs for her outerwear, and the two were soon out in the back garden. “Oh, heavens, that was awkward!” she said.
“I am sorry,” Mr. Darcy said. “Had I known that you had visitors, I would have delayed my visit.”
“I am glad that you did not delay,” she said. She stopped walking, turned to him and said, “I confess I was surprised at your request.”
“Were you? I did fear that I had been too opaque in showing my preference.”
“Well, I thought you liked me well enough, but…” she trailed off.
“But not well enough to have led you to expect a courtship,” he concluded.
“Exactly.”
“I apologise if you were taken unaware.”
“No apology necessary. I was happy to accept.”
“I was not certain that you would, but of course am entirely delighted.”
“Mr. Darcy, there is something I must ask you.” Elizabeth stopped walking and turned to the man beside her.
“Wickham, I suppose?”
“Yes. I admit it was a shock to see Colonel Fitzwilliam standing over…” she could not speak the rest.
“A dead man? Yes, I imagine that it was. I am very, very sorry that you witnessed that.”
“Did you know about it?”
“I knew that Richard wanted to kill Wickham, of course. Indeed, he had a veritable army of men in London, searching for him. I was completely astonished when I discovered Wickham right here in Meryton.”
“How did you meet him?”
“I did not meet him, actually; I saw him as Bingley and I were about to go into the card party at Lucas Lodge, and immediately left the grounds.”
Elizabeth nodded her understanding. “If he had seen you, he would have left Meryton at once.”
“Deserted, you mean, but yes. I sent a message to Richard and you know the rest. Do you disapprove, Miss Elizabeth?”
“Of murder in general, I think I must. Of this one in particular, all I can say is that I understand the Colonel’s reasoning.”
“But it still sits ill with you.”
“I admit that it does.”
Mr. Darcy spread his hands wide. “What should we have done? Brought him to court with charges of – of what? Of misleading ayoung girl? Of being a cheat, a gambler, a seducer of innocents? Even if such charges could mean anything in a court of law, my sister’s name would be dragged through the courts and she would be humiliated in the papers. I could not allow that to happen.”
“I do understand, of course, Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth laid a hand on his arm.
“But can you forgive me?”
“For loving your sister? Of course.” But her tone was still uncertain.
Mr. Darcy could not allow her to remain in any doubt of his actions. He took her hands in his and stared into her eyes as he spoke. “Elizabeth, imagine for a moment that it was Jane. Jane, who had been led astray by a scoundrel, whose heart had been broken, whose confidence had been destroyed, whose name had been published in a newspaper! What would you do to the man who had done that to her?”
Elizabeth closed her eyes and imagined it. Jane weeping, Jane’s future destroyed, Jane unable to forgive herself. Jane running up to her room, tears rolling down her cheeks, Jane, not about to become the happy bride of Mr. Bingley, but a defeated Jane, a Jane whose life was over before it had even begun…
