Page 70 of To Win Her Affections

Of more immediate importance to Bennet’s current situation was the recent imprudence of his youngest daughter, and the surprising conquest of the second eldest. Lydia was both easier to understand and more difficult to set to rights. Bennet was not blind to his lack of judgment in the matter of her behavior, nor did he misunderstand his culpability—not only should he have refused her permission to go to Brighton, but he should have taken her and Kitty in hand when they showed high spirits and taught them how to behave.

Now, to Bennet’s great chagrin, his family’s salvation lay in the hands of a man whom they had dismissed as proud and disagreeable. It was not only Darcy’s stated ability to discover where Lydia and the scoundrel Wickham had gone, but that he possessed the means to repair her situation. Bennet did not—the amount it would require to bribe a man to marry Lydia was several times his annual income. Gardiner might manage in a pinch, but Bennet knew it would set his business back for years. Thus, they had no choice but to rely on Darcy’s esteem for Elizabeth.

Of the two, Lizzy’s situation was the more pressing, for the simple fact that Bennet would need to deal with it first. When Darcy came, he would request a moment of Bennet’s time, an interview Bennet dreaded. It was not the approval that concerned him; Bennet would never deny Lizzy her right to choose. No, it was the knowledge of Bennet’s dereliction of duty and that Darcy was a man for whom duty was a serious business.

When the sound of the door knocker echoed through the house, Bennet glanced at the clock Madeleine kept on a side table. Even in this, Darcy was dependable, punctual to his stated intention rather than to a specific hour. It was not yet even nine o’clock, and already he had come to Gracechurch Street. Bennet could not claim a tenth the diligence this man possessed.

When Darcy entered the room, he was not alone, for a tall, burly man followed him inside. His bearing was aristocratic and his posture erect, the stance of a military man, though he wore the garb of a gentleman. Gardiner did not appear to know him, but the way Lizzy’s eyes lit up, he knew she was familiar with him, though she had not mentioned him the previous evening. Belatedly, Bennet remembered the gossip the previous autumn had mentioned connections to the nobility—this man was one such, or Bennet had lost all his observational skills.

“Darcy,” said Gardiner in greeting. “Welcome to my home.”

“Thank you, Mr. Gardiner,” said Darcy, though his eyes fell on Lizzy and never strayed. “If I might request leave to introduce my companion?”

“Of course,” replied Gardiner.

The man with Mr. Darcy was his cousin, Colonel Anthony Fitzwilliam, the Earl of Matlock’s younger son. Now that he stood before them, Bennet recalled some mention of the colonel from Elizabeth’s tales of Kent in the spring.

“Mr. Bennet, Mr. Gardiner,” said the colonel in greeting. Then he turned a winsome smile on Elizabeth. “Miss Bennet. How excellent it is to be in your company again.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Colonel,” replied Elizabeth.

“Though I would not contradict you, I am afraid I must. You must indulge me, however, for I must express astonishment that you have agreed to take on my overly grave cousin. Do you know what you are about?”

Lizzy’s eyes sparkled as she said: “It appears we shall learn the truth in time, Colonel.”

The colonel released a lusty laugh. Mr. Darcy, it appeared, was quite familiar with his cousin’s character, for he directed an exasperated glare at him, though Bennet could see there was little force behind it. Then he turned to Bennet.

“Mr. Bennet.”

“Mr. Darcy,” replied Bennet, trying to take the measure of this serious young man in a way he had not the previous year. “You are most welcome, sir, and not only because of the situation. To own the truth, I wonder what sort of man voluntarily throws himself into another man’s disgrace.”

“I have an interest in this business, Mr. Bennet,” replied Mr. Darcy.

“As do I,” added Colonel Fitzwilliam.

“Yes, Lizzy tells me that you do. Perhaps we should take up that matter before we turn our attention to finding my wayward daughter.”

“I have no objection,” replied Mr. Darcy.

Bennet almost chuckled—the man’s eagerness told him that Lizzy was the most agreeable part of this business. Bennet could not blame him—Lizzy was a jewel of the first order, and he would defy anyone to say otherwise.

“Then, if you will allow us the use of your study?” asked Bennet of his brother.

“By all means,” said Gardiner. “Perhaps it would be best to come to the point—the sooner we discover Lydia’s location, the better.”

“With that, I cannot but agree.”

A moment later, Bennet led Darcy into the study and closed the door behind them. Then he turned to the man he knew would be his son-in-law and addressed him.

“Before anything else, I owe you an apology.”

Darcy returned his gaze, and for a moment he did not respond. Bennet thought he understood the hesitation. Darcy was not interested in apologies—he was interested in finding Lydia as quickly as possible, putting the business behind them, and securing Bennet’s blessing for his marriage to Lizzy. Again, Bennet found himself unable to fault the man.

“If you will pardon me,” replied Darcy, caution in his response, “I have no notion of what you mean.”

Bennet sighed. “It is my inaction that has put you in this situation, Mr. Darcy.”

His frown was not unexpected. “Do you suppose I offered for your daughter for this reason alone?”