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“Yes, we did hear about Elizabeth’s illness. How are you feeling dear?” Mrs. Gardiner gazed on Elizabeth with concern.
“I am well.” Elizabeth did her best to appear healthy.
Mrs. Gardiner scrutinized her more closely. “You have lost weight! And you look so tired. Are you quite recovered?” Elizabeth nodded vigorously, but Darcy shook his head.
“She may pretend otherwise, but Miss Bennet is still recovering and will need to rest here before she can travel to Hertfordshire.” He glared at Elizabeth sternly, but she merely returned an angelic smile, trying to convey that she would cooperate with his orders to rest. “But she held up well during our travels. I am no longer fearful of a relapse.” Darcy assured Mrs. Gardiner.
“The newspaper has been full of terrible stories about English men being imprisoned in France,” Mr. Gardiner interjected. He was sitting on the settee next to Mrs. Gardiner, holding her hand. “I must say it caused us some concern. Did you have any difficulties?”
Elizabeth exchanged a look with Darcy and then gave the Gardiners an expurgated account of their escape from Dunkirk. Darcy broke in at one point to explain that Elizabeth had used her illness as a reason she could not return to England alone. “That was quick thinking, Lizzy,” Mr. Gardiner said
“Now, tell us of the rest of the trip. How did you leave Paris and how did you arrive at your friend’s house, Mr. Darcy? Elizabeth wrote us that you were helping her return to England, but she did not mention such a stop.” Mr. Gardiner’s words were polite, but Elizabeth could hear a hint of steel underneath. She was cognizant of how inappropriate it had been for the two of them to travel alone, but Darcy did not appear angry at her uncle’s suggestion that he had behaved improperly toward his niece.
Elizabeth had warned Darcy that her uncle had a very strict sense of propriety. They had agreed they wanted to avoid lying to their families, but as Darcy told the story she noticed he skimmed over certain aspects of their journey, emphasizing their stay at a respectable clergyman’s house and not mentioning their lack of chaperonage. When he was finished, she discerned that Mr. Gardiner had more questions about Darcy’s behavior.
Elizabeth regretted that her relatives were subjecting Darcy to such suspicion. Her uncle opened his mouth to voice another question, but his wife put her hand on his arm and he stopped. A look passed between them and Elizabeth’s uncle seemed to subside. Darcy’s face reflected the relief Elizabeth felt at the thought that the Gardiners would give them time to reveal the
ir relationship.
Elizabeth sensed the need for a change the subject. “Now, tell us of the happenings in Longbourn. It seems like so long since I have been home, although it has not even been four weeks!” Her aunt and uncle exchanged a concerned look and Elizabeth felt her heart contract in fear. Whatever news they had to convey, it was not good. “Oh no!” she cried. “What has happened?”
“Everyone at Longbourn is in good health, Lizzy. It is Lydia….” Mrs. Gardiner’s voice trailed off.
Mr. Gardiner took over the story with the air of someone who wishes to put an unpleasant task behind him. “She left her friends in Brighton and ran off with an officer almost three weeks ago. We have been unable to locate her.”
Elizabeth gasped and covered her hand with her mouth, trying to comprehend this dreadful news. “They eloped?”
Her uncle shook his head. “As ill-advised as that would be, we do not believe they are married. Nor, at this point does it appear that he is in a hurry to marry her.” Elizabeth felt tears come to her eyes with each revelation, unable to bear all the implications of this news.
Darcy, too, was shocked by this news. “Do you know the officer’s name? Where his family lives?”
“His commanding officer said he had no family living. I believe he had some acquaintance with the Bennets when the regiment was in Meryton. His name is George Wickham.”
Elizabeth heard Darcy’s hiss of indrawn breath and felt that all the wind had been knocked out of her as she peered up at her uncle through the tears swimming in her eyes. “Wickham! Oh, these are the very worst sort of tidings! How is such a man to be worked on?”
“There are ways,” Darcy said evenly. Elizabeth buried her face in her handkerchief, thinking how he must regret having allied himself with a family that was experiencing such disgrace. Would he come to wish he had not married her? She had vowed that she would never give him reason to regret the decision. Unfortunately, she could do nothing about her family’s behavior. “What has been done to recover her?” Darcy asked Mr. Gardiner in calm tones, but Elizabeth knew him well enough to be aware of how distressed he truly was. This is the very worst sort of news! Why, oh why, could Wickham not have chosen someone else’s sister?
“My brother came up from Longbourn for a week since we had some information they were in London and we searched for them.” Her uncle’s face was more troubled than she had ever seen him. “But we failed to discover them. We think they were in London, but recently one of his friends received word from a mutual acquaintance that they have left London to find cheaper lodgings. However we have no information about where they have gone. I have hired an investigator, but so far he has found no trace.” His face was a study in disappointment as Mrs. Gardiner gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
“I may be of some assistance in that regard. I have had some dealings with Wickham in the past.” Darcy said, softly as if fearing to intrude. However, Elizabeth recognized the firm resolve underlying his words and knew her family would not be permitted to decline his assistance.
“I did not know that!” Mr. Gardiner’s face registered his surprise. “Any help would be most welcome.”
Elizabeth glanced over to find Darcy’s eyes intent on her, but she could not discern his expression. Was he indeed regretting their marriage? Why would he not? Lydia’s disgrace will be shared by the whole family. No one will wish to associate with us! He will want to leave the scandal behind him, but he cannot. At least, she consoled herself, no one knew of their marriage – giving the option of concealing it for the present so as to preserve his reputation. And he would have his sister’s reputation to consider as well; they were planning her come out for the following year. Elizabeth felt a sharp pang of regret over the loss of the bright future they had planned as fresh tears fell from her eyes.
“How is everyone at Longbourn? How are they coping with this state of affairs?” Darcy asked the Gardiners.
“My sister had a fit of nerves and has taken to her room, as is to be expected,” answered Mrs. Gardiner. “Jane writes that Mr. Bennet has shut himself up in his library and says little since his return from London.”
The maid entered carrying a tea service. “How is Jane herself?” Elizabeth struggled to keep her voice as normal as possible while her aunt poured tea.
“Of course, she does not complain on her own behalf, but I believe these circumstances weigh upon her,” her aunt replied. “Mr. Bingley was a great help to her in the first few days after the scandal broke, but then he had to return to London on business. She has not said so, but I think she fears he will not return to Netherfield.” Mrs. Gardiner handed a tea cup to Darcy, studiously avoiding his eyes. Of course, she knew Darcy was Mr. Bingley’s friend.
Darcy was frowning in concern. Would this scandal be enough to frighten Mr. Bingley away from Jane just when it appeared that they were doing so well? Elizabeth had been hoping to return from France to learn that they had become engaged.
Thinking some tea would calm her, Elizabeth picked up the teacup her aunt had placed in front of her, but her hands shook so violently she spilled tea in the saucer. She abandoned the endeavor altogether.
“Perhaps I will see Bingley while I am here.” Darcy said. In this simple statement she heard an unstated promise to straighten Bingley out if he had fallen victim to his sisters’ fear of scandal. Perhaps he does not regret our marriage so much after all! Elizabeth gave him a warm smile. He seemed a little stunned by her approbation. Elizabeth sensed Mr. Gardiner’s attention on them and she turned her gaze to the handkerchief in her hands in an attempt to avoid betraying her affection.
