Page 111 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

“Um…well, I confess I do not know for sure. I was told your father was a farmer, perhaps a…um…a tenant farmer?” His sentence trailed off to a whisper.

He was clearly uncomfortable with this false story, and she nearly lost her nerve to tell him it was so much worse. She nodded, working up her courage. She was surprised when he grasped her hand and held it in both of his as he spoke intently, looking at her as though willing her to accept his words as the only conceivable truth.

“It does not matter, Miss Elizabeth. I am sorry I ever let it stand between us. Who your father was, what he did to feed his wife and daughter—none of it is of the least consequence. Your value is not diminished by your background, even if society is not yet ready to see that.”

Oh, that he would believe it when he knew all.

“Do you know why I have been helping at the Foundling Hospital since I was fifteen?”

Mr. Darcy seemed surprised by the abrupt subject change.

“Er…I believe you said you started by sewing clothing for the children, along with your aunt.”

“Yes, and then when I was seventeen, I began coming here, as well. That is when I learned who all these children are.”

“Orphans, like you?” The understanding on his features threatened to overtake her.

“Not orphans, no. But yes, like me.” She took another deep breath and looked into his now-confused eyes.

“My father was not a tenant farmer, Mr. Darcy. When I was fifteen, I overheard my aunt and uncles speaking.” She shook her head at the memory. “Uncle Bennet told them he would not tell me until I am one-and-twenty, but I am the natural daughter of a gentleman.”

She could no longer hold in the overwhelming emotion of telling him what she had never spoken aloud except to her mother’s miniature and in a brief conversation with her uncle, and a sob escaped. Mr. Darcy still held her hand in one of his and reached out the other to stroke her shoulder gently in comfort. She struggled to continue.

“When I was five, my uncle told me my true name was Asbury but that I should never tell anyone. He said I must be Elizabeth Bennet. When I heard that I am illegitimate, I assumed my real father’s name was Asbury. But it was not. I had also considered it could have been the name of the farmer who married my mother. Papa Oliver. That is what I thought when I was five. But Uncle Bennet gave me a false name. Asbury was his mother’s name before her marriage. I do not know my real name.”

She cried in earnest now, and Mr. Darcy embraced her, rubbing circles on her back. He remained silent, however, and must have been processing all she had told him. Why was he being so kind? He must be wishing for an escape. She would not force him to remain with her. She sniffed and stepped away from him. He released her and gave her his handkerchief, of which she made good use.

“Forgive me, Mr. Darcy. I had thought I could impart this information without becoming a watering pot.”

He shook his head, but she continued.

“I did not mean to deceive you all this time. The thought of losing your friendship…but I could no longer keep the truth from you. Forgive me for not being able to tell you sooner. I know you will tell nobody else; I could not keep the truth from my best friend.”

“No, no. I will not tell anyone, Elizabeth. Thank you for trusting me with this. Do not worry. No one will hear of this from me. It was only natural you wished to keep it a secret.”

He looked at his feet, at the wall of the building behind her, to the empty yard to his right. He bit his lip and swallowed hard. But he did not say anything else.

“Thank you for coming today to see the hospital. I wished you to understand how much it means to me.” She swatted away more tears. “Matthew and Dinah will be finished soon.”

They both looked in the direction from which her servants would come, but nobody was in sight at the moment. Their silence became awkward, but what could she say? Why had he not left her already?

He began to pace, and she moved to sit on the bench, her strength gone. They continued in this way for some minutes before she heard footsteps. She stood to look around the side of the building and was grateful to see Matthew and Dinah, their usual grins in place after working at the hospital.

“I will go now. Thank you again for coming, and for listening.”

“Yes, of course. I wish I could do more for you than listen. I apologize…I was deep in thought.”

She smiled as well as she could manage.

“No matter. Goodbye, Mr. Darcy.”

He bowed, and she walked away.

Chapter Forty-Seven

Poor, sweet Elizabeth! To have had to shoulder this burden alone for more than four years!

Darcy’s feet made their way to his horse of their own accord. He did not notice Elizabeth’s carriage departing, but nobody but a groom was about when he pulled himself into his saddle. His mind was only partially on his surroundings as he made his way down Ormond Street. He nearly ran into a crossing coach and pulled up once he reached Russell Square. Dismounting, he led his horse on a walk through the square while his thoughts tumbled about.