Page 33
Later, they sat down to dinner with heavy hearts and little appetite.
“We have found nothing. We traced them as far as London, but no further. Tomorrow we must begin again. But where does one look for a couple who do not wish to be found?” Mr Bennet asked.
“We shall go together. You are no longer alone,” Mr Gardiner assured him.
“I was never alone. Mr Bingley has been very kind and has spared no effort, but there is little we can do.”
“We may have some further information. Mr Darcy accompanied us, and he knows Wickham very well, his habits, his acquaintances and the places he frequents.”
“Mr Darcy?” Mr Bennet exclaimed. “What on earth is he doing here?”
The Gardiners exchanged glances, then smiled at Elizabeth.
“He invited us to stay at Pemberley while we were in Derbyshire. He is a very kind and generous man. The library is magnificent, and the fishing is excellent. I enjoyed myself immensely,” Mr Gardiner replied, unwilling to say more about a matter that was not his to disclose.
“And, as my uncle said, he accompanied us when we left for London,” Elizabeth added.
“Mr Darcy? The same gentleman who declined to dance with you, Lizzy, and scarcely spoke to anyone during his stay in Hertfordshire?”
“Papa!” Elizabeth replied with a smile, resting her hand upon his. “We have more news…happy news, this time!” she added quickly when his expression darkened again.
“I could do with some happy news,” he answered with a faint, doubtful smile.
“Mr Darcy is not quite the man we thought him to be.”
“Is that so?” Mr Bennet asked, beginning to suspect from her expression that something important had happened in Derbyshire, but waiting for her to explain.
“Yes, Papa! The day before we heard about Lydia, Mr Darcy asked me to marry him!”
She spoke with such pleasure that her father could scarcely believe her.
“Are we speaking of the same Mr Darcy whom we all, yourself included, found insufferable?”
Elizabeth nodded and smiled, and only then did he begin to believe it.
“Yes, and I am the first to regret how harshly and wrongly I judged him.”
“Good God!” Mr Bennet exclaimed, forgetting Lydia for a moment as another fear occurred to him. Elizabeth’s happiness, and Lydia’s future, were now in danger.
Bingley had firmly declared he would marry Jane, no matter what happened. Mr Bennet found some comfort in that, but wondered how Darcy would face a scandal that could not be kept from his relations. His family was more prominent than Bingley’s, and he might lose more by the connection.
“Papa, we visited the vicarage today to give notice for the banns!”
Mr Bennet remained uneasy. Giving notice at a vicarage did not make a marriage certain.
“He is an uncommon gentleman,” Mr Gardiner said. “He offered to help us find Wickham and blames himself for not exposing his character earlier. He believes he might have prevented him from deceiving other young ladies.”
“Mr Darcy?” Mr Bennet repeated, looking at his brother-in-law.
“Indeed, Mr Darcy himself.”
“Well, these are astonishing times. I believe I need a brandy. And if we are speaking of blame, it belongs to Mrs Bennet and me, not to that young man!”
He looked at Elizabeth, troubled by these new concerns. He could scarcely imagine his Lizzy engaged to Darcy. It was her choice, but he wanted to speak with her and understand. That conversation would have to wait.
“Go to bed, my dear Lizzy,” he told her affectionately.
Elizabeth was grateful. She could bear no more bitterness, sadness or despair that evening. It was unfair that her engagement should coincide with such a dreadful event, and she excused herself and went to her chamber, refusing to feel guilty for her happiness while Lydia’s fate remained uncertain. Lydia had brought this upon herself by her reckless elopement.
