Page 44 of To Win Her Affections

“And I have no objection to that, Mr. Gardiner,” replied Darcy. “Yet the current circumstances dictate we accelerate this matter, for there is business afoot that cannot be delayed.”

Mr. Gardiner’s countenance darkened, and he looked at Miss Bennet. Darcy had kept his response vague, as he thought it Miss Bennet’s responsibility to communicate recent events to her relations.

“Uncle, Aunt,” said she, taking up the standard at once. “Jane’s letters.” Miss Bennet turned to retrieve them. “Jane writes to inform me that Lydia has left Brighton to elope with an officer.”

“Eloped?” demanded Mrs. Gardiner. “You had better show us, Lizzy.”

They gathered around the table, Miss Bennet passing the letters to her aunt and uncle, who skimmed them. When they had absorbed as much as the hurried accounts allowed, they turned to practical matters.

“That silly girl,” said Mr. Gardiner, shaking his head with disgust. “Many are the times that I have spoken with my brother and advised him to attend to her behavior, but he always chose the path of least resistance. Now she will be the ruination of us all.”

“Lydia’s situation must be addressed,” said Mrs. Gardiner, looking between them, “but what I am more interested in knowing is what has happened between you two.”

“That is curious, Madeleine,” said Mr. Gardiner, turning to his wife with a raised eyebrow. “In the face of Lydia’s disgrace?”

Then he turned back and eyed Darcy before meeting his niece’s eyes. “In situations such as this, a potential suitor almost always withdraws.”

“I have no intention of doing that,” said Darcy.

“Hmm, yes, I can see that.” Mr. Gardiner nodded. “Before we do anything else, you must inform us of how you are involved, and what this all means.”

“Mr. Darcy arrived just after I had finished reading my letters,” said Miss Elizabeth.

“That much is obvious, Lizzy,” replied Mrs. Gardiner. “But my question still stands.”

“I am more than willing to answer your question,” said Darcy. “Might I assume that Miss Bennet has spoken of my connection to Wickham?”

“Aye, she has,” said Mr. Gardiner. “At one time, I believe that Lizzy’s feelings for Mr. Wickham were rather warm, though she has not spoken of him much in recent months.”

“Not warm, Uncle,” said Miss Bennet, appearing quite embarrassed. “Though I considered Mr. Wickham an amiable man, I had little contact with him after Christmas.”

“Then you took my warning to heart,” said Mrs. Gardiner.

Before Darcy could wonder what she meant, Miss Bennet said: “It was unnecessary. My connection with Mr. Wickham was never warmer than friendship. When I was in Kent, Mr. Darcy explained Mr. Wickham’s offenses to me, and since then I have considered him a man possessing significant character flaws.”

“Which is the reason for your cryptic comments when we saw Mr. Wickham’s miniature at Pemberley,” said Mrs. Gardiner.

“Yes, Aunt,” replied Miss Bennet. Then she turned to Darcy. “If I am not being too presumptuous, I should like to remove that miniature. After all the trouble Mr. Wickham has occasioned, I believe I should rather not encounter his countenance every time I walk through the gallery.”

“Not at all, Miss Bennet,” said Darcy. “As you have pointed out, it will be your home. I have almost disposed of it myself on several occasions—only the knowledge that those miniatures were my father’s prized possessions stayed my hand.”

“But your father was an upright man, Mr. Darcy,” said she, guiding him to her way of thinking. “If he had understood Mr. Wickham’s character, I do not suppose he would have held it so dear, especially with the havoc Mr. Wickham has wrought these past years.”

“Well, this is a surprise to be certain,” said Mrs. Gardiner with a delighted laugh. “You are only newly engaged, and yet Lizzy is already stamping her authority.”

“There may yet be time to flee,” added Mr. Gardiner.

Darcy enjoyed the jest as much as any of them, and he played up the humor by tucking Miss Bennet’s hand into the crook of his arm. “Not for any price, Mr. Gardiner. Now that I have her acceptance, I shall not relinquish it.

“But we should return to the matter at hand. Wickham is no mystery to me—my acquaintance with him stems from my earliest memories. Mr. Bennet may search one end of London to the other, and he will not find Wickham because he does not know where to look. I am the best positioned to find him, and I can call upon resources to which you and Mr. Bennet do not have access.”

Mr. Gardiner sobered at once. “This may not be what you wish to hear at present, but I do not think you should propose for the sake of offering your assistance. Other ways of supporting us do not involve a hasty engagement.”

Darcy chuckled, eyeing Miss Bennet, whose fingers tightened on his arm. “It is not hasty at all, Mr. Gardiner—at least not on my part. It has been many months now that I have wanted your niece for a wife.”

“Lizzy did not make it easy for you, did she?” asked Mrs. Gardiner.

“No, she did not.”