Page 108 of His Pride and His Prejudice

“He did it for you, Elliot,” Jack eventually said as they finished the letter.

“You do not know that,” Elliot whispered even as his heart raced at the prospect and the pleasure was just as acute as the pain.

“There could be no other reason,” Jack said. “Not Louis and certainly not Wickham. Just you.”

And as Elliot placed the letter on the riverbank between them, he found himself hoping that Jack was right and that Darcy had done this for the love of him, because if so, perhaps Mr. Bennet did not have the right of it, and perhaps there was a chance after all.

A Campaign to be Won

Fifty-Four

Darcy had forgotten how beautiful the countryside around Netherfield was. Not a shade on Pemberley of course, but Hertfordshire had its own kind of bucolic charm, though perhaps that was something to do with the people within it more than anything else.

He drew in a deep breath of the summer air as he rode through the lane next to the woodland that ran across the northern edge of Bingley’s property. It was late morning and Darcy had ridden out first thing, partially to remove the dust of the journey from London which seemed to linger for a few days, but also to reacquaint himself with the surroundings, and most particularly with Longbourn. He'd never really taken any notice of the estate the first time he had been in Hertfordshire, but he was keen now to learn all he could of it, given it was Elliot’s home and the other man had found a great deal of happiness there.

He'd taken a gallop across several fields and then up as high as he dared on horseback into the woodland which afforded him a good view of the neighbouring area and meant that he could look across at the full estate of Longbourn. From this distance he would be able to see anyone walking around the fields or even down by the river where he remembered that Elliot particularly liked to spend his time.

Had he hoped to see Elliot?

Yes.

Did he see him?

No.

Darcy was annoyed by that, as his expectation on the journey from London was that he would see Elliot as soon as possible but he would now be obliged to wait a little longer until Charles had gathered his courage to approach Jack Bennet.

He’d been gathering that courage since the moment they had seen Louis Bennet married off to George Wickham, unfortunately without the black eye but with the addition of a new commission and a large sum of money! That had been some weeks past now. Darcy was growing impatient. And yet, he knew he had to find some fortitude given he was much to blame for the situation they now found themselves in!

Darcy shook his head as he looked across the Longbourn estate once more. From this distance it looked quite well managed with several fields turned over to cultivation, some fallow, and what was clearly a thriving walled garden. Elliot’s hand? Darcy suspected so.

He turned his horse around and trotted back down towards Netherfield. The weather of the day was perfect, and Darcy could quite happily have spent it roaming around the countryside, perhaps travelling up the hillside and out past Meryton to the villages beyond. He’d pack a luncheon, lose himself entirely in the area, the perfection would then only be complete if Elliot was by his side.

But first, Charles.

Darcy made his way back to Netherfield and went in search of his friend. He was in, of all places, the library! The housekeeper, an excellent woman called Mrs. Parry who had lived in Meryton her whole life, accompanied him and gave him a quick overview of the gossip from Meryton, as she had been there just yesterday afternoon. Darcy was not given to gossip but, on this occasion, he listened carefully for any information on the Bennets.

“The Lucases are away at Hunsford as of this morning,” she said. “I wonder if they might not relocate permanently now to be closer to Mr. Charlie.”

“They are a close family then?” Darcy asked.

“Oh, indeed,” Mrs. Parry said. “And one of the few families where I would encourage such activity. Louis Bennet on the other hand…” She shook her head, her slender body tightening at the name. “I understand that he has gone up north and quite right in my opinion. I suspect most of those boys will end up moving quite some distance away and would not encourage their parents to follow!”

Darcy agreed with her and spent another few minutes, listening to her news, which included the relief of the various tradespeople in Meryton whose debts had been paid on behalf of Wickham. She, like everyone else, believed that the Bennet’s wider family had interceded but was grateful regardless. Her brother owned the milliners.

She went on her way to continue her household duties and Darcy pushed opened the library doors to see Charles, hands on hips, considering the stacks.

“What are you doing in here, Charles?” he asked.

“I was pondering what Jack might do here,” he said. “He is very bookish, is he not.”

In truth Darcy did not know very much about Jack Bennet at all and did not consider it necessary that he should. His interest lay in one Bennet only. “I do not know.”

“He is,” Charles confirmed. “He spends considerable time working on…papers…and things…with Mr. Bennet.”

“Then you will have someone to work on the deficiencies in your collection so that when I visit I can be assured that there is something worth reading! The selection here last summer was poor indeed!”

Charles looked around the library. “I was wondering how Jack would like Netherfield at all.”

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