Page 120 of Near Pemberley

Bingley frowned. “What do you mean?”

Darcy looked away briefly. “I mean that Miss Bennet cared far more deeply than I understood.”

For several seconds, Bingley simply stared at him. “How-how do you know that?”

“I was told.”

“By whom?”

Darcy hesitated. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”

That answer produced exactly the reaction he expected.

Bingley’s eyebrows rose. “Miss Elizabeth?”

“Yes.”

“Oh. When you met her in Lambton?”

“No. When I met her again in Kent, in the spring.”

Bingley sat motionless.

“This is the first time I’ve heard about this.”

“She was there visiting her friend, Miss Lucas, now Mrs. Collins.”

“Collins? The vicar?”

“Yes, if you remember, he is the parson in my aunt’s employ.”

“And she just told you in a conversation?”

Darcy gave him a look. “I assure you there was nothing entertaining in the experience.”

Bingley shifted slightly.

“We had an argument, if you must know. She was furious.”

“Well, good,” Bingley said though he was more confused than anything. He rose abruptly and crossed to the window.

Outside, London continued its business entirely unaware that his understanding of the past had just altered.

“Good God.” The words escaped him quietly. “Jane…”

“Unfortunately, there is more. She was in London before that, and she visited your sisters.”

“Pardon?”

“Rudely, they waited weeks before returning the visit.”

“Why was I not informed? I would have visited her.”

“They told me. Together, we thought it better not to inform you.”

“Better? How could it be better? And why were you the judge?”

“At the time, I did not know what I learnt later at Rosings. By that time, you stopped mentioning Netherfield… We thought it best not to open things again. I am sorry.”