Fortunately, the cheerful welcome awaiting them in Mrs Gardiner’s drawing room prompted Kitty at last to dry her tears and look towards the future with greater confidence. The thought that she might walk the streets without meeting hostile looks reassured her considerably. When Mrs Gardiner embracedher and began describing the many visits planned for Bond Street, she was willing to admit that, far from Meryton, the calamity Lydia had brought upon them seemed easier to bear.
Elizabeth’s short letter had informed the ladies of their arrival and, above all, of the reason for it. Though there was still no news of Lydia, and the postponement of Kitty’s wedding had distressed them deeply, matters appeared rather different when viewed from the heart of London.
“It is not the end of the world,” said Agnes firmly, looking at Kitty. “You have become a remarkably beautiful young woman since I last saw you. There is something of both Jane and Elizabeth in you, yet you possess qualities entirely your own. I understand that you suffer and torment yourself. Still, all this panic about the family being dishonoured makes very little sense. Lydia’s actions may be discussed with all possible malice and used against the rest of you by those who neither admire nor care for you, but the effect of such news lasts only a short while. Afterwards, everything fades and disappears.”
“If I do not marry, the damage will already have been done.”
“That is true, but life contains disappointments of that sort as well. Broken engagements, disappointments in love, heartache…even those things do not last forever.”
“Agnes is quite right,” added Mrs Gardiner. “I should be very sorry if the wedding did not take place, but you may be certain that here in London—”
“Or in Derby in my house—”
“No one will care in the least about Lydia’s story. What will matter is your beauty, both inward and outward.”
Elizabeth nodded with apparent calm, though her heart was full of anxiety to learn how the search had progressed. As soon as Kitty left to refresh herself, she fixed her anxious gaze on the two ladies.
“Nothing,” said Mrs Gardiner, and now that they were alone, she allowed her own concern to show. Only Agnes appeared somewhat calmer. She laid a hand gently upon her sister’s and attempted to reassure her.
“What I told Kitty is perfectly true. There may be some unpleasant moments in Meryton, but even if Lydia’s situation is not resolved satisfactorily, the other girls will not suffer lasting consequences.”
“I do not completely agree; people will judge us as well. Then, I am also worried about Lydia,” said Elizabeth in a whisper. “She is our sister, and even if she does not destroy our lives, she has certainly destroyed her own.”
“On that point, I agree,” replied Agnes. “It is almost certain that the relationship between them has been consummated, and that is not good.”
“Is it certain?” asked Elizabeth.
The two ladies exchanged astonished glances at Elizabeth’s innocence.
“It is,” said Agnes. “Mr Darcy traced them to the last inn where they stayed before reaching London, assisted by what Colonel Forster had learned. They lodged there as husband and wife.”
“Besides,” added Mrs Gardiner, “what occurred in the room matters very little. The fact that they occupied the same room is enough…you understand, do you not?”
Elizabeth nodded slightly.
“Appearances matter, unfortunately. Mr Darcy knows Wickham well and is convinced that such a man would never have run away with Lydia unless there was some advantage to be gained.”
“But if he knows where they stayed before arriving in London, how is it possible that he has not found them?”
“It is simple enough. London contains dozens upon dozens of inns in every district. There is no certainty that they even remained in the southern part of the city through which they entered. They searched there for a time, but now they are looking everywhere. Your uncle has left the house every morning for the past fortnight at eleven o’clock and sometimes returns only at dinner. One thing is certain: he is very angry. After all, he feels the disgrace most keenly. He is deeply ashamed before Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam of what his niece has done.”
“I understand him,” said Elizabeth, for she felt exactly the same. She cared little for Meryton and its gossip. What troubled her was the shame Lydia had brought upon them before Mr Darcy and the colonel.
“Good heavens,” she murmured, “what must I have said to Mr Darcy in Kent when I reproached him so fiercely for speaking ill of my family…and now this.”
“Do not become quite so tragic yourself,” replied Agnes. “Lydia is not your whole family. The family is you, Jane, Kitty, Mary, Mrs Bennet, who has done such remarkable things. The family is all of us who stand beside you. Every family has its black sheep. Do you imagine theirs do not?”
Only then did Elizabeth realise that the two ladies had seen Mr Darcy.
“Has Mr Darcy been here?” she asked at last.
Agnes laughed softly. “That ought to have been your first question. Yes, he has been here. He dined with us. Let that reassure you that his opinion of our family is a good one, because I should say he enjoyed himself very much. Do you not agree, sister?”
Mrs Gardiner smiled as well, looking somewhat more at ease. “Without question. And the fact that he is directing the search makes it perfectly clear that he wishes to help us resolve this scandal out of regard for all of us.”
“Rather for Elizabeth,” replied Agnes in a playful tone. “But who notices such subtleties?”
At that moment, the Cooper and Gardiner children burst into the room, and merriment immediately took possession of the drawing room, for all of them were delighted to see Elizabeth again.
