Chapter Twenty-Seven

Darcy

Two Weeks Later

"G oodness gracious, Mr Cogsworth!" Mrs Potts shouted as her hand flew back in an attempt to catch the birdie which flew across the line. "How am I supposed to catch this?" she called, stopping to place her hands on her knees.

The birdie plopped down in the grass before she could even attempt to hit it.

"Well," Cogsworth chuckled, "not bad for an old chap, is it?" He laughed heartily.

Darcy laughed and looked at Elizabeth, who sat beside him with a smile. "This is nice. I'm glad you convinced me to attend," he said.

"You told me that you used to attend all of your servants' birthday celebrations and that you used to be pleased to be there," Elizabeth said. Darcy looked across the lawn to where his valet stood, shuttlecock racket in hand, waiting for his turn. As Mrs Potts staggered off the makeshift field, Lightower stepped on, ready to take on Cogsworth. It seemed hardly fair for a young man like Lightower to take on the old butler, but Cogsworth had surprised Darcy with his agility this afternoon.

A woman named Bessie Hastings, whom Darcy had barely met since Mrs Potts hired her a few days ago as head housemaid, stood along with two kitchen maids and the stable boys. Elizabeth had been helping Mrs Potts hire much needed staff for the estate, and this young woman was one of the first newly appointed. Darcy had a sneaking suspicion that his housekeeper was planning to train her up as her replacement, but hadn't spoken to her about this yet.

"There is a gentleman who wishes to take on the stewardship," Darcy said, smiling.

"That is wonderful." Elizabeth gazed back at the house. From where they were sitting, it was impossible to see the ruined side of Pemberley, but he knew what she was looking at.

"I have sent word that I am looking to have the repairs done. I hope that you will sit in with me when I make the arrangements. If for no other reason but to make sure I do not back out of the meeting at the last moment, as has been my habit."

Elizabeth nodded. "I shall ensure the meeting takes place. And perhaps we can find somebody to restore the painting in Georgiana's former drawing room."

Beside her, her aunt cleared her throat. "There used to be a gentleman in town, a Mr Greene, who was quite good at restoring paintings and other antiquities. He might still be there," she said. "Of course, it's been a long time since I've lived in Lambton."

Darcy nodded. "He is. Or rather, his son is. He's quite competent, I am told. He used to attend church in Lambton, but it is my understanding that he has not been in a while."

"If what Mrs Dillinger and Mary said is true, that's the case for many people," Elizabeth said.

"It is a shame. And entirely my fault," Darcy said. Wickham's turn as vicar had indeed been horrid, and it was clear he had neither the passion nor the will to be a good clergyman. Still, he held the living now and there was nothing Darcy could do about it. If he had been in his right mind he would have stopped it from ever happening but alas, it was too late now.

"Have you had word from Mrs Dillinger?" he asked, to distract himself.

Elizabeth shook her head. "I called on her yesterday but heard nothing. I am a little worried about Mary. She wasn't at church this past week, and when I went to call on her, she was not there either."

"I am sure she is fine," Darcy said, although he had to admit, he didn't really know who Mary was. Many of the people Elizabeth and Mrs Potts spoke of he had never met or could not remember. That would all change. He was determined to get to know not only his tenants but also the townsfolk from Lambton and the surrounding villages. It was difficult, but he knew that with Elizabeth at his side, he would manage.

A fortnight had passed since their trip to Kympton church, and he couldn't deny that he was growing more and more fond of her presence. They had gone into town twice, and with her beside him, the stares and whispers did not bother him as much. Indeed, whenever he overheard someone say something unpleasant a little too loudly, she would place her hand on the small of his back, and instantly, the apprehension would lift a little.

He still had his tendencies, but he reminded himself that he was trying to get back to the man he had once been.

He looked down at his scarred hand and stretched it, wincing a little at the pain.

"Is it the weather?" Elizabeth asked. "Mr Smith told me that the weather can make it feel more uncomfortable."

Instantly, he wanted to be upset that she had made it her business to speak to the physician, but he reminded himself immediately that she meant well. Once he realised that her involvement was born out of genuine care for him, the flash of anger dissipated, replaced with gratitude. She wanted what was best for him, and he couldn't forget that.

"Uncomfortable," he repeated. "I have a salve I am to apply, but sometimes I haven't the patience." He sighed a little and looked out at the shuttlecock game. "The truth is, I am glad to be here, I really am. But sometimes I am reminded that I cannot be who I used to be. Not fully."

She looked at him, eyes wide and head tilted to the side. "You mean the shuttlecock game?"

He nodded. "Yes."

Beside them, Mrs Gardiner shifted and got up, using a cane to steady herself. Instantly, Darcy leapt to his feet and assisted her, making sure that she was steady on her feet. Lightower, seeing them, stopped his came and hurried over.

"Allow me, Mrs Gardiner. I'll escort you inside," he said but Elizabeth's aunt shook her head.

"I am not going inside. I must get myself another slice of that delicious cake. Elizabeth, you did very well passing on the recipe. I feel as though I am at Longbourn, celebrating one of your sisters' birthdays."

"I could have fetched it for you," Elizabeth replied but her aunt shrugged.

"I am getting better and if I do not practice walking, I will be a permanent houseguest at Pemberley. Nobody wants that," she said but the jest coloured her words.

Elizabeth smiled as her aunt walked away, and Darcy settled back beside her on the step.

"I appreciate your aunt. She's giving us privacy."

"She's a very diplomatic lady," Elizabeth said.

"I do not know that I will ever be able to win total forgiveness for the fact that she is in the condition she is in because of me. I do not know that I shall ever forgive myself for it either."

Elizabeth sighed. "You are trying, and she knows this. Besides, Aunt Gardiner has forgiven you. She told you already. As has everyone else. As for what you said," she said, nodding her chin towards the game, "I did not realise that you were unable to play."

"The burns," he started, shifting uncomfortably. "They stretch along my arm and elbow. It makes it difficult for me to stretch. There are things I no longer do. Hunting, for example. I used to enjoy it, but now it is too painful. I... I will confess much of my ill temper can be traced back to the discomfort and pain. I do not say this because I wish for you to pity me, I am only stating the facts."

"I vividly remember our last argument about that," she said, but there was a small smile on her lips, so he knew that she did not mean it in a malicious way.

"There are still a great many things I am able to do and things that I could discover, but I have been so involved in my own misery that I was unable to see it."

"Indeed, I have never hunted a day in my life, and I am terrible at shuttlecock," she said with a nod. "Perhaps that is why it was difficult for me to understand... We have very different lives. And yet I feel we have much in common."

Darcy smiled at her. It was true. These past few weeks, he had learned much about Elizabeth Bennet, and they did indeed share a great many things, a love for books, a love for nature, long walks, stargazing, and he had discovered that they both had a keen interest in birdwatching.

"And I never thought I would find a gentleman who takes any pleasure in identifying wildflowers and watching birds," she said. "My mother always told me these were peculiar habits of mine and would not attract a husband."

He let out a chuckle. "Well, they have not exactly attracted a husband, but the husband you did attract is very keen for these shared interests to be explored further. Indeed, I thought perhaps one of these days we could take a journey together. Derbyshire is full of natural wonders, and I know you have thus far been deprived of exploring it fully due to our circumstances."

"I would adore it. Perhaps for our honeymoon," she said.

They looked at one another, both smiling. He was genuinely delighted at the thought of taking a journey with her, exploring, having her at his side. What had happened to him these past two weeks? He felt more like the man he had once been, a circumstance that had once felt impossible. And here he was, talking about things he genuinely enjoyed with another person without thinking too much about how he looked or how that other person would see him. Naturally, he was still aware of the stares and whispers all around him, but they no longer bothered him as much.

He bent forward and dropped his voice. "I wanted to tell you, I wanted to thank you. For everything you have done. You have truly shown me that there was still another way for me. And I..." Without thinking, he placed his hand on top of hers and squeezed. Her fingers curled around his, and his heart leaped as it hadn't in many years. "I wanted to tell you..."

The sound of a horse interrupted his thoughts, and he looked up to see a cart rolling up. Darcy frowned and let go of Elizabeth's hand, who had likewise turned.

"Mrs Dillinger?" Elizabeth murmured as the old lady climbed down from the cart. An old chestnut horse had been pulling it and stopped to graze on the nearby grass next to the path. Mrs Dillinger hobbled towards them, and Darcy got up to meet her halfway. He offered his hand to Elizabeth, and she took it, holding onto it just a moment longer than was necessary, but now she was beside him as they made their way to Mrs Dillinger.

"Mr Darcy, I must beg your pardon. I did not realise you had a celebration; otherwise, I would've waited."

Darcy shook his head and waved his hand towards Lightower, who had come their way. "Lightower, enjoy your birthday. I am more than capable of tending to this," he said, and Lightower turned back.

"It is my valet's birthday," Darcy said, and Mrs Dillinger's eye grew wide.

"I can come back..."

"No. Clearly you need our help, or you wouldn't have come here. Besides, I told you to. What has happened?"

Mrs Dillinger looked pale. "Mr Wickham came to my house with another man, A Mr Hancock. He said that he had received word from the vicar over at Glendale, where my son and grandchildren live. Apparently, there was some trouble there, and my grandson has got himself involved with the constables. He—" She clutched at the plain cross she wore around her neck. "He was caught stealing. Stealing books. Can you imagine? He was always an avid reader but a thief..."

Darcy placed a hand on the woman's shoulder while Elizabeth took her hand and led her to a nearby chair.

"You said Mr Wickham came to you with this gentleman?"

She nodded. "Yes, he did. Apparently, the vicar called on Mr Wickham to tell him what had happened. They are holding my grandson at the constabulary there. Apparently, the book merchant is willing to let my grandson go if someone pays the value of the books he has taken and the damage."

Darcy frowned and tilted his head to the side. "And pray, how much are they asking for?"

Mrs Dillinger scoffed. "They are asking for fifty pounds. Mr Darcy, I haven't fifty pounds."

"What books would cost fifty pounds?" Elizabeth gasped.

"Apparently, he broke the window while trying to run away from the merchant, and I am to pay for that also."

Darcy clicked his tongue. "That does not make any sense. Why would they come to you and not to your son?"

"My son and daughter-in-law are still out of town. They will not be back until this weekend. My daughter-in-law's parents took ill, and they went to help them on their farm. My grandchildren are alone, but usually, my grandson, who is already seventeen, takes care of everyone. They come to me if they need anything else. And it seems like now they need fifty pounds that I do not have."

Darcy's head tilted suspiciously. "Pray, who knows that your son and daughter-in-law are out of town?"

Mrs Dillinger shrugged. "A great many people. I've spoken of it often. Remember, the first day you came to services, I had asked Mr Wickham to include them in the prayer to ensure their safe journey." Elizabeth nodded, evidently remembering this, though Darcy had been too occupied with his desire to get back home to recall much of what Wickham said in his sermon.

Darcy was eager to get the full story. "And this gentleman Mr Wickham brought with him, who is he? This Mr Hancock?"

"He is a gentleman Mr Wickham is familiar with who has helped others in the area as well as elsewhere. Mr Wickham knows him from his time in the south. He is willing to give loans to people who cannot afford to pay what they owe. You see, I am to give him what I can, and he will make up the difference, and I will repay him over time."

Elizabeth asked, "With quite hefty interest, I assume?" Mrs Dillinger nodded. "Yes, quite hefty interest. Mr Darcy, the truth is if you and Miss Bennet hadn't come to speak to me, I would've already agreed to it. Especially since Mr Wickham encouraged me to. I might not think him the best vicar, but he is an honest man. If he tells me this Mr Hancock is honest and just wants to help, then I must believe him. And I would have, if not for you. Mr Wickham is a man of God," Mrs Dillinger said, genuinely fearful.

"Mrs Dillinger," Darcy said, his hands curling into fists, "I daresay that our dear vicar might have taken to preaching the Lord's words, but I doubt if he has any genuine belief."

"I am afraid that is correct," Elizabeth added.

Mrs Dillinger sighed. "Mr Wickham told me that Mr Hancock just helped our Mary. You know, I had wondered where she'd gone. Turned out one of her brothers was in trouble, so Mr Hancock helped him. I had a mind to ask her to verify this but Mr Wickham told me I ought not trouble her, that she was still vexed from when he saw her this morning."

Elizabeth shifted and shook her head. "Mrs Dillinger, Mary does not have brothers. She is from a family of sisters, same as I."

Darcy looked from one woman to the other. Was it possible that Mrs Dillinger had simply forgotten?

"That is what I thought also, but Mr Wickham assured me that she had a stepbrother. That she told him about that stepbrother, and that this young man is often in trouble, which is why Mary has never spoken of him." Then she looked back at them. "But that seems curious because I have known Mary all her life, and I never knew of any brother. Oh, Mr Darcy. Do you really think Mr Wickham is up to no good? I would hate to think badly of a man of the cloth."

"Mrs Dillinger," Darcy said, "I think the good Lord will forgive you if you think badly of this particular servant of his. Please promise me you will not hand over any money to anybody. I will speak to Wickham myself right now. Also, I will have Lightower go down to your grandson's home, and I will have Cogsworth go to the Glendale constabulary to see what we can find out. In the meantime, please do nothing."

"Mr Darcy?" Elizabeth said then and he turned to her. "Should we not speak to Mary first? I'd like to see if Mr Wickham really called on her this morning. I have a feeling he did not."

"That is good thinking, Elizabeth, I mean, Miss Bennet," Darcy said, hastily correcting himself as they were in public and Elizabeth smiled, for she had grown so accustomed to him saying her name in private, as he had grown accustomed to speaking it. Mrs Dillinger smiled. "Let us go. It is not far from my house."