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“My investigator did not find him and Lydia does not know where he is. They reached a coaching inn about a day’s ride from London. But Lydia says Wickham left one morning and did not return – that was several days ago.” Darcy guided her to a low stone bench and they sat.
Elizabeth covered her mouth with her hand and tears came to her eyes. “Oh, poor Lydia! He truly had no intention of marrying her.”
“No, indeed,” Darcy agreed, handing Elizabeth his handkerchief. “Since Lydia had no money to pay for her room at the inn, she agreed to return to London with Mr. Scott. He has taken her to the Gardiners.”
Elizabeth dried her eyes with the handkerchief. “I am pleased she is unhurt. The Gardiners will be kind to her.”
Darcy nodded. “Lydia did give the investigator some ideas about where to seek Wickham, so they may find him soon enough.”
“But what shall induce him to marry Lydia?” Elizabeth was now twisting the handkerchief in her hands.
Darcy gazed over Bingley’s lovely gardens for a moment before answering. “It is not hard to work on Wickham,” he said finally. “All it takes is money.” Elizabeth felt an immediate sense of relief. Although she chafed at the unfairness of Darcy paying off Wickham, she was reassured by the thought that there was a potential resolution of the dilemma. “There is no possible way he could have known of our marriage,” Darcy continued. “But he could not have picked a better way to pursue his vendetta against me – unless, of course, he had eloped with you.” Darcy impulsively took her hands in his and kissed them both, as if hoping that his affection might help lift her spirits.
“There was no chance of that happening,” Elizabeth laughed. “I have more sense than Lydia. And I was never in love with him.”
Darcy’s gaze turned intent. “You cannot know how the thought of you with Wickham plagued me. Especially after I knew the lies he had told you.”
She shook her head. “I was blind to his lies; that is true. However, I would like to believe I would have discerned the true nature of his character eventually.”
“I know you would have.” Darcy’s strong reaction to Wickham seemed to fire his passion – his eyes practically smoldering as he regarded her. He drew her up off the bench and over to the shade of some small trees, near the garden’s wall and kissed her very thoroughly. Although they had been together the night before, Elizabeth felt she needed his kisses like a thirsty man needs water in a desert, wanting to drink deeper and deeper. All too soon it came to an end. Darcy scanned the area to ensure that they were not observed and returned them to the well-trodden path once again.
They resumed walking; the romantic interlude had soothed Elizabeth’s agitation somewhat. Darcy said grimly, “I must talk with your father today. He is likely to discover Lydia’s plight from the Gardiners and I can no longer conceal my part in the investigation.”
Elizabeth glanced at him with some concern. “You need not be so anxious. I am sure Papa will be grateful for the assistance.”
Darcy shook his head. “No man likes to be in another man’s debt. He is also likely to question me about my interest in this matter. He may not believe me if I say I am merely acting as a friend of the family.”
Elizabeth placed her hand on his. “Perhaps the time has come to tell him the truth.”
Darcy ran his free hand through his hair. “I fear that our behavior will r
esemble Lydia’s and Wickham’s too closely for your father’s comfort, and he will undoubtedly be angry that we have deceived him. I was hoping to commence my relationship with my father-in-law on a better footing.”
To his surprise, Elizabeth chuckled. “That may be too much to hope for under the circumstances. He will not be pleased no matter what.”
“I suppose,” Darcy sighed. “Hundreds of fathers in England would be overjoyed to find that I had married their daughter.”
Elizabeth shrugged eloquently. “You did not wish to marry a fortune hunter, sir. My father is not mercenary either. You must live with the attendant disadvantages.”
“Your sympathy is most heartwarming.” He said wryly. She merely laughed.
An hour later, Elizabeth and Darcy took Bingley’s coach to Longbourn for a visit. Bingley insisted that Jane remain at Netherfield to recuperate, so Elizabeth and her sister would stay there again that night.
When they arrived at Longbourn, Elizabeth went to find her mother and give a report of Jane’s condition and to collect clothing for the sisters during their continued stay at Netherfield. Darcy made his way to Mr. Bennet’s library.
Mr. Bennet greeted him with some surprise, but invited him to take a seat. After Darcy had done so, he saw that the older man was now regarding him suspiciously; he knew Mr. Bennet mistrusted his intentions regarding Elizabeth. He is expecting a request for Elizabeth’s hand – or at least courtship. Nothing less will satisfy him, Darcy thought with dismay. It was almost enough to make him wish he was in a position to make either request, but he would not have given up the last weeks for all the world.
Deciding that a straightforward approach was best, Darcy said without preamble, “I have found your daughter, Lydia. Or, rather, my investigators have found her and taken her to the Gardiners’ home in London. She is unharmed, but Wickham has abandoned her.”
Mr. Bennet was staring at him agog – then blinked rapidly several times in succession. It took a moment for him to collect his wits. “Am I to understand that you undertook to hire investigators to search for my daughter?”
“Yes, sir.”
“By what right have you interfered in my family’s affairs?” Darcy winced at the anger in the older man’s tone.
“I thought—”
“I do not recall asking for your assistance, Mr. Darcy!” Darcy could see that the older man’s embarrassment at the situation was turning to anger and tried not to react.
