15. Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

The news of Mr. Collins' behaviour spread quickly through Netherfield, through the staff and then to the guests, in whispers and gasps of shock and disbelief.

"Mr. Collins came out of the house with a gun ," Mrs. Hill said, her voice trembling, "and he was shouting – I could not understand what he said, but he was waving the gun around, and Mr. Darcy had no choice but to leave. I have never seen such a thing, Mr. Collins looked quite mad."

"He must be mad," Mrs. Aberdeen said, and Mrs. Hill could only nod in agreement.

Elizabeth was stunned, staring at Martha as the maid told her what she had witnessed, and then she made a decision. "Thank you, Martha. I am going to speak to Mr. Darcy now."

"Yes, Miss Lizzy." Martha bobbed a curtsy and Elizabeth hurried out of the room, heading for the stairs. She had no idea where Mr. Darcy might be, but she would find him. She would – she would –

She had to thank him. That much was clear. He had gone out of his way to try to retrieve their belongings, and he had been chased off by an armed madman for his troubles. Elizabeth did not want to be any more beholden to Mr. Darcy than she already was, but she had no choice. She had to thank him for what he had tried to do.

The butler was able to tell her that Mr. Darcy was in the library, and Elizabeth hesitated only briefly before knocking on the door and entering at his call.

Darcy was seated at a writing desk, papers scattered around him, a quill in his hand. He was frowning over the letter he was writing, and Elizabeth paused in the doorway for a moment, gathering her courage.

"Mr. Darcy," she said finally, stepping into the room. "I... I beg your pardon for interrupting you. I came to thank you."

Darcy looked up, his expression softening as he saw her. "Miss Elizabeth," he said, setting down his quill. "I am at your service. But I do not understand. Thank me for what?"

"For... for what you tried to do for us today," Elizabeth said, her voice trembling a little. "Martha told me what happened. I am sorry that you were treated so badly. But I am grateful that you tried. I... I thank you, sir."

She was not comfortable with the idea of being in Mr. Darcy's debt, but she was starting to feel that there was no way she was ever going to be able to repay him .

Darcy shook his head. "I am sorry I was not able to do more. I am writing now to my man of business in London, requesting that he come to Meryton and see to it that all the servants at Longbourn are provided with a year's wages and good references to assist them to find new employment." He saw Elizabeth's eyes widen in surprise.

"Mr. Darcy, that is extraordinarily generous of you," she said finally. "I... I know not how to thank you."

"You need not thank me, Miss Elizabeth," he said softly. "I am only sorry I could not do more."

Elizabeth bit her lip, looking down at her clasped hands. How much more was she going to be beholden to Mr. Darcy? She was already going to owe him for her family's very survival.

Darcy watched her, his expression unreadable. "I shall write also to my aunt, Lady Matlock," he said after a few moments, and Elizabeth looked up in surprise. "I plan to request that she lend you her patronage when you come to London. I am sure she will be happy to assist you and your sisters in any way she can. I will also write to the dressmaker both my aunt and my sister favour, to have an account established for the Bennet ladies."

Elizabeth's mouth dropped open. "Mr. Darcy! You cannot mean – you must not – "

"I must, Miss Elizabeth," he said firmly. "I have failed you already. I should have done more to face down your cousin today. I will not be gainsaid in this. I will allow Bingley to purchase Miss Bennet's trousseau" – and here he allowed himself a faint smile – "but anything the rest of the Bennet ladies require will be charged to my accounts."

Elizabeth opened her mouth to protest further, but at that moment there was a commotion in the hallway, and the door opened to admit the housekeeper, Mrs. Aberdeen. "Mr. Darcy, Miss Elizabeth, I beg your pardon, but Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner have just arrived. "

Elizabeth turned to see her aunt and uncle hurrying into the room, and a great sob caught in her throat. "Aunt!" she cried, and she was in her aunt's arms, weeping helplessly.

Darcy watched helplessly as Elizabeth wept, her aunt holding her and murmuring soothingly. He felt utterly frustrated by his inability to do anything to comfort her. He glanced at Mr. Gardiner, who was looking equally distressed. "Sir," Darcy said quietly, "perhaps we might speak for a moment?"

Mr. Gardiner glanced at his wife, who nodded. "Go, dear, I have Lizzy."

Darcy led Mr. Gardiner out of the room and down the hall to the empty parlour. "I am sorry for the circumstances in when we meet again, sir," he said quietly as he closed the door behind them. "And I am sorry to have to tell you that your nieces have suffered greatly since last we spoke."

Mr. Gardiner's face tightened. "I had feared as much," he said. "We came as soon as we received Mr. Bingley's express. What has happened?"

Darcy took a deep breath. "Mr. Collins is a small-minded man, sir, and he has been raised up above the station in life he is accustomed to by the circumstances of his inheritance. He has been, I am afraid, cruel to your nieces, in particular Miss Elizabeth, who he had the effrontery to propose marriage to. He has..." Darcy hesitated, but he had to tell the truth. "He proposed marriage to first Miss Elizabeth, and then Miss Mary, and when both declined him, Mr. Collins ordered them all out of Longbourn. He threw them out, Mr. Gardiner, out into the snow."

The other man went white, though whether with shock or rage Darcy was not quite sure. " What? "

"I am sorry to have to tell you this," Darcy said. "I did not truly believe that he would go to such shocking lengths, and was appalled when I realised the depth of my misapprehension. When Bingley and I received word yesterday that the ladies had been thrown from Longbourn…" He trailed off, shaking his head, unable to think of his panic and terror from that moment without feeling ill again. "I went this morning to Longbourn, intending to retrieve their belongings, but Mr. Collins met me with a gun and ordered me off the property. I am sorry to say that I was unable to do more. I have written to my aunt, Lady Catherine, in the hopes that she may yet have some sway over Mr. Collins, but I fear even if she chooses to intervene that will be too late to be of any assistance to your family."

Mr. Gardiner's hands were clenched into fists. "I see," he said finally. "I thank you for your efforts, Mr. Darcy. I can only be grateful that you and Mr. Bingley discovered what was happening and were able to provide a place of safe haven for my sister and my nieces."

Darcy nodded. "I have also written to my aunt, Lady Matlock, to request that she lend her patronage to the Bennet ladies when they come to London. I am sure she will be happy to do so. And I have written to her dressmaker, to request that an account be opened for the Bennet ladies, the bills to be forwarded to me."

Mr. Gardiner's head came up. "Mr. Darcy, that is most generous of you, but I cannot allow it. My wife and I will be happy to provide for our nieces."

"Sir," Darcy said quietly, "I have seen the state of your nieces' wardrobes. They have been wearing the same few dresses in rotation for the past two months, and have now lost most of those. I have no doubt that you are a good and generous man, but I am afraid that the amount of money required to provide all the Bennet ladies with full wardrobes suitable to their station may be beyond your means. I will not be gainsaid in this, sir. I will allow Bingley to purchase Miss Bennet's trousseau, but the other Bennet ladies will be provided for at my expense."

"Mr. Darcy, I cannot – "

"I have failed them already, sir," Darcy said, "in that I was not able to face down Mr. Collins and retrieve their belongings. I will not fail them again."

Mr. Gardiner took a deep breath. "I can see you are a determined man, Mr. Darcy. But I cannot allow you to bear the entire expense. I own a fabric warehouse in London. I will supply the fabric for the Bennet ladies' new wardrobes, and you may pay the modistes, if you insist upon it."

Darcy considered for a moment. "A fair compromise, sir," he said finally. "I will write to my aunt's dressmaker to expect your call."

"Thank you, sir," Mr. Gardiner said, offering his hand to shake on the agreement.

Elizabeth was still pale and red-eyed, leaning against her aunt's shoulder, when Mr. Gardiner and Darcy returned to the library. Darcy's heart ached to see her so, and he could not help but feel, irrationally, that he had failed her.

"Sir," Mrs. Gardiner said, "I thank you most sincerely for all you have done for my sister and nieces."

"Madam," he said, bowing, "it has been my honour and my privilege to be of service. "

"Oh, I do beg your pardon. My wife, Mr. Darcy; Madeline, this is Mr. Darcy." The pair bowed to each other as Mr. Gardiner made the formal introductions.

"Mr. Gardiner," Darcy said then, "I believe we should discuss our travel arrangements."

"Indeed," Mr. Gardiner said. "Ladies, if you will excuse us for a moment."

They stepped out into the hall again. "I believe we should leave for London as soon as possible," Mr. Gardiner said quietly. "I am not at all sanguine about leaving my nieces in such close proximity to Mr. Collins, though I am sure he would not dare to approach Netherfield."

"I agree," Darcy said, "but tomorrow is Sunday, and I believe the ladies may not wish to travel on the Lord's day."

"No," Mr. Gardiner said, "indeed not. I am sure we can wait one more day. Let us leave early Monday morning."

"Thank you, sir," Mr. Gardiner said. "I believe that would be best. Now, we must arrange the carriages."

"I will of course make my carriage available," Darcy said, "and I am sure Bingley will do the same. I believe that between our three carriages we should be well able to accommodate all the ladies. I have offered my home at Darcy House for the accommodation of the Bennet ladies as the most suitable property; my sister and her companion are the only current residents, besides the servants of course, and I will stay with Bingley at his London house."

"You are generous indeed, Mr. Darcy," Mr. Gardiner said. "I do not see that we have any option but to accept your kind offer." He paused for a moment, and then said delicately "Since last we spoke, has anything been formalised between yourself and Elizabeth?"

"No, sir." Darcy felt his cheeks flush, but he kept his gaze steady. "There has been no opportune occasion. My feelings are… engaged, but I will not press Miss Elizabeth in her extremity of distress. I would wish her to have the time she needs to consider me without feeling pressure to accept."

Mr. Gardiner let out a thoughtful him. "Certainly, she will feel beholden to you for your assistance."

"I can only make it clear that I expect nothing in return," Darcy said a little stiffly. And though it wrenched at his heart to speak the words, he made himself say "I will give Miss Elizabeth all the time she needs to consider her options, and indeed make sure that other options are presented to her. My aunt Lady Matlock will be only too pleased to have four young ladies to matchmake for, I assure you!"

Mr. Gardiner allowed a small smile at that, and a tip of his head. "Then we are agreed. We will leave early Monday morning."

"Indeed," Darcy said.

"Now, if you will excuse me, I must see my sister." Mr. Gardiner said, and Darcy bowed in acknowledgement.

Elizabeth felt as though she had been wrung out like an old dishrag. She was so tired, so tired, and her mind was whirling with all that had happened in the last few days. She was grateful, so grateful, for all Mr. Darcy had done for them, but she could not help but be a little anxious. How much more would she be beholden to him before this was all over? And what would be expected of her in return?

She had washed her face at her aunt's gentle urging, but it was still pale and tear-stained, and she could not bear to meet anyone's eyes .

The household was already preparing for their departure. Servants were packing trunks and boxes, the whole house was a hive of activity, but Elizabeth felt as though she were moving through a fog.

They would not go to church tomorrow, she knew, for they would not wish to encounter Mr. Collins, and the news of their departure would be all over Meryton by the time they left. She was sure the whole county was already talking about the Bennets being thrown from Longbourn into the snow.

The Lucases arrived in the early afternoon on Sunday. Elizabeth was not surprised to see that Charlotte had come with her parents and sisters to pay their farewells. It could be a long time, she thought sadly, before they would meet again.

Charlotte immediately drew Elizabeth aside and into one of the small parlours, and shut the door. "I have news for you," she said, "and I think you will want to hear it."

"What is it?" Elizabeth asked.

"Mr. Collins was at church this morning," Charlotte said, and Elizabeth gasped. "Oh, yes. He was there. And I am afraid he made a spectacle of himself."

"How so?" Elizabeth asked, wide-eyed.

"Well, he was the first to arrive, and he sat himself down in the Longbourn pew," Charlotte said. "And not a single soul would even look at him."

Elizabeth stared at her friend, and Charlotte gave her a wry smile. "I am afraid he did not get the reception he expected. Mrs. Long, Mrs. Goulding, Mrs. King, all of them, and their husbands and children, and not one of them even looked at him. You know how small the church is, and how tightly packed we all are. It must have been very embarrassing for him, for every person in there to pretend he did not even exist. "

Elizabeth could not help but smile at the thought.

"The only person who acknowledged him wat the vicar, Mr. Andrews; he preached a very fine sermon, all about Christian charity and how we must look after those less fortunate than ourselves, and he stared at Mr. Collins the whole time he was speaking. Mr. Collins was red as a beetroot by the time he was done. And when we all left the church, Mr. Collins came up to speak to us! My mother turned her shoulder to him, but my father is too good-natured to do anything of the sort, and Mr. Collins began hinting that he would be needing a wife to run Longbourn, and staring at me!"

"Oh, Charlotte!" Elizabeth said in dismay.

" Oh , indeed," Charlotte said drily. "I am afraid I was quite put on the spot. My father was hemming and hawing, and I could see Mr. Collins was about to do something terrible like ask to court me, and I could not think what to do. I am afraid I spoke rather rashly. I said that I could not be persuaded to marry a man who had been the instrument of so much cruelty to my friends if he were the last man in the world."

Elizabeth stared at her friend for a moment, and then burst out laughing. "Oh, Charlotte, I am sorry to laugh," she said, "but that was very well done."

"Thank you," Charlotte said, and she looked a little smug. "I must say, I do not think Mr. Collins will be troubling me with any further attentions."

"Indeed not," Elizabeth said, and she was still laughing a little when the two of them returned arm-in-arm to the parlour where the rest of the party was gathered. She met Mr. Darcy's eye as she and Charlotte entered the room, and saw his eyes widen before he suddenly smiled.

He's smiling because he sees me looking happy , Elizabeth realised suddenly, and she did not know at all what to do about the strange mixture of emotions that boiled up inside her at that thought.