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That made sense, so I read through the first few papers, which were a combination of his own notes and extensive notes from his solicitor, wondering just what was driving the man. To have done this in four days required a lot of work on his part, and some considerable expense for solicitors and express riders, not to mention completely neglecting whatever he came to Rosings to do for his aunt. Those papers probably represented at least a year’s income for the parsonage, and he apparently did it just because he felt guilty about eavesdropping. He was a most perplexing man.

I asked the next question, which probably made me sound even more violent. “Should Wickham meet an untimely demise before Bennet, is my former father correct? The estate would have to be split up?”

“Yes. It could be put back together given time, money, and both agreement and representation among the heirs, but it rarely works well. You would have to deal with all your sisters and any husbands they might have, as well as your mother, which I imagine would be a real difficulty. Each would have to give up definitive ownership of a portion of Longbourn in exchange for an unenforceable promise of an allowance from the reassembled estate, and it is usually difficult or impossible to find agreement since it is trading certainty for uncertainty. Any heir can disrupt the process, since it is generally not in the interests of the ladies or their heirs to put themselves at risk. The best they can hope for is that, if the final owner is generous and kind, they might get the portion they already had, and it is easy enough to end up with nothing. At least some parts usually end up being sold off to neighbouring estates or speculators at a fraction of their value so the daughter can have something to live on or generate a modest dowry. There are also frequently squabbles about how to fairly split things. How do you split a horse or carriage? Is one field worth more than another of equal size? Is one tenant more diligent and productive than the next? It is easy to descend into argument, even if you have two or three reasonable people. I hate to say it, but of the women left in Longbourn, there are a large number, and not all are reasonable.”

I sadly nodded in reluctant agreement. “So, the problem is still as I thought it was this morning. Absent me producing a son, Longbourn will cease to exist as a viable estate, unless Wickham manages to sell it whole or chooses to lease it for a steady income. Neither seems like something that can be relied upon.”

I sighed in resignation and thought through it for another few minutes while Mr Darcy waited patiently.

“I thank you for what must have been considerable effort and expense on my behalf. I doubt I can repay you, but I appreciate knowing my fate is not just a figment of Bennet’s imagination.”

The man looked affronted for some reason. Perhaps he had no idea how to deal with simple gratitude, not that anything between us was ever simple.

He gave half a lopsided grin. “Elizabeth, I am, as you know, an arrogant and presumptuous man, so will you simply accept it as part of my character that you once tried to sketch, when I say that those are the last words about repayment I ever wish to hear from you? I do what I wish, and I wish to help you. I will not allow you to think yourself beholden. I have my own reasons for what I do.”

I gave up all pretence of ever understanding the man and simply nodded in acceptance. I imagined he was feeling some remorse over his failure to check Wickham, and perhaps he thought this was his due. Perhaps he liked to think himself a knight come to my rescue, or maybe he was just bored and liked the challenge. Maybe it was as simple as his desire to have an excuse to escape Rosings, which must be tedious beyond belief for a man like him. If it would make the man happy, I thought I should just accept it with good grace.

Thinking the particulars of the entail were sufficiently canvassed, he asked somewhat sheepishly, “Do you still intend to go along with Mr Bennet’s plan?”

“Of course.”

He looked like he thought there was no ‘of course’ about it, but perhaps he thought he should try to understand before expressing his own opinions.

“May I ask why? While I am at it, could I ask if you would still comply should all your sisters abruptly attract suitors?”

I looked at him with my mask a little less firmly in place than it was for most of the night, wondering if he was bored enough to just go back to town and bring back four suitors. I had to chuckle a bit at the idea, and he watched it curiously but had enough sense not to ask what I found amusing.

I finally got my thoughts back to his question.

“A few reasons, really. Firstly, I will not punish the residents of Meryton for Bennet’s indolence. Longbourn collapsing would have material consequences for people I have known all my life, though to be honest, that would not be sufficient motivation to make me undertake the endeavour.”

He seemed impressed that I would even think of tradesmen and villagers but simply nodded.

“I am, of course, also doing it for my sisters.”

He nodded a bit, though I was not at all certain he agreed.

“You probably think my youngest two are not worthy of any sacrifice after nearly destroying us with an ill-planned attachment to a rake. Yes, they are young and stupid and selfish, but they are my sisters, and as I told you two days ago, I was nearly as fooled as they were; and I did not have the excuse of youth and ignorance. Also, I am not at all certain Bennet will not do to them as he did to me, and I cannot imagine four more marriages like mine. Bennet appears to have been touched in the head. He is not the man I thought he was.”

With an opening like that, apparently the man felt like he had something to say. He started talking, and I just sat listening in fear of what he might have to say about my sisters, but he surprised me yet again.

“Your sisters are not the first of my acquaintance to try to elope with George Wickham.”

I looked at him carefully to see if any further details might be forthcoming. With Wickham’s propensity to prey on young and ignorant women, it was not all that surprising Mr Darcy would know another. Whether he would say any more or not was in question, though, as he was looking pensive, staring at something only he could see.

He finally, with a shudder, decided to continue. “When I met you at that assembly where I acted so abominably, I was in a most foul mood. It does not excuse what I said, but it might help explain it. Just a month before, Wickham tried to elope with my fifteen-year-old sister, and like yours, she agreed. Like your sister Mary, I only stumbled on them by accident; but unlike your sister, I was supposed to be her protector. I knew all about him but never suspected he would try that particular gambit. He had no affection for Georgiana, just for her thirty thousand pounds. We are a lot more similar than you may have thought.”

I gasped in shock and could only think of one question. “Is she well?”

“I believe she is now. Would you allow me to introduce you so you might judge for yourself?”

I was surprised again and did not have the vaguest idea how to react, particularly as I had no idea if I would even be in his company again.

“We shall see.”

The man nodded. “Another time, I will tell you the rest of my history with the man. That is the worst of it, but what came before is truly terrible as well.”

I nodded and felt the topic could be closed, at least for the moment. I began to wonder at what point I began to believe there might be more moments after that night.