Chapter 64

64

E lizabeth took her time descending the stairs, holding onto the bannister, her legs still shockingly weak. William was beside her, his hand hoveringly protectively under her elbow, and she smiled to herself.

This experience had been … different, she had to admit to herself; but after yesterday, when he was with her almost constantly, Jane had finally said that he ought not to come to her chamber any more.

She had laughed at Elizabeth's sudden determination to go downstairs. "I ought to have said so from the beginning, Lizzy. You would have walked downstairs yesterday!"

Today, she would take tea in the little front parlour of Birkdale Cottage, and finally, she would find out what the plans were for her future. She hoped very much that she would find out exactly what they knew of Papa's perfidy, and also that she would be offered a choice over her own life.

As she turned into the parlour, she saw the other men rising to their feet. "Miss Bennet! It is very good to see you so improved." Mr. Bingley's open, amiable features were underlain with an anxious look, and he glanced at Jane, who was arranging the blankets in the armchair beside the leaping fire.

"Thank you, sir," Elizabeth smiled at him, before addressing her sister.

"Jane dearest, I will not need so many blankets, the room is very warm."

"Then you must begin to eat well, Lizzy, you are still too thin."

Elizabeth shook her head at her sister. They ought not to be discussing her health in this manner, not in the same room as the gentlemen.

She had enjoyed her tea, and listening to the conversation — and being outside the confines of a bedchamber. It seemed to have been a long time.

But now, all had drawn their chairs closer, and she looked around at them.

Jane smiled at her. "I think you are curious as to what has happened in the last day or two, Lizzy. The gentlemen will tell you, and then we can all discuss what ought to happen next for your safety and well-being — without getting the gentlemen into too much trouble."

Elizabeth turned, dismayed, to William. "Have you done anything that will get you into trouble? Oh, I would not wish for that!"

He looked as if he was going to answer, but the colonel's voice cut in. "It will be easier to explain if we may apprise you of what has happened so far, Miss Bennet."

Elizabeth looked at him expectantly. "Very well." But William cleared his throat.

"Richard, I believe I need to clarify a matter of some importance first."

He turned to Elizabeth with tenderness in his eyes. "Miss Bennet, I know you have had a very difficult time of it, these last weeks — due entirely to my atrocious behaviour — but I know you as a strong, independent lady, and I would wish to speak to you about a pertinent matter first." He waited for her nod before continuing.

"The whole of Meryton knew of your loosely kept secrets, that is, your talents at playing and singing. However, you had another very closely guarded secret, one which only your father and your uncle — and possibly your friend, Miss Lucas, knew of. Is that correct?"

Elizabeth nodded. She hoped Charlotte would not be troubled by anyone.

"I think you also have come to understand that your sister had discovered it in the past." He grimaced. "And, of course, I also discovered it." He looked at her calmly. "And we will keep your secret, although now you know it is not such a mystery as you had thought. But in the discussions this morning, it might be easier if you were to consent to Bingley and Richard being informed, so they do not waste time thinking of solutions we know will not work. As for me, I would trust them with my life. However, if you do not wish to inform them, then we will respect it."

Jane leaned forward. "I too, would wish you could expand your little circle of trust, Lizzy. Your fear of trusting anyone has not served you well. I believe you will not regret agreeing to this."

There were a few moments of silence, and Elizabeth looked deep inside her: a memory of Jane's voice speaking over her to Papa.

… you forced her to keep the secret, used her fear of trusting others and built it up from her earliest years so that it is now at a crippling level …

No, she ought not to distrust everyone if it had led her to this place. She looked up. "Very well, I agree that Mr. Bingley and Colonel Fitzwilliam should know."

"I thank you." His voice was soft and gentle. Would she be able to build a new confidence, a new understanding with him? She swallowed, and blinked.

His voice turned firmer. "Very well. Richard, Bingley. From an early age, Miss Bennet has been a gifted composer, as well as exceptionally accomplished on the pianoforte and in singing. She has produced an enormous quantity of acclaimed works, which have been published by her uncle. However, because she has been importuned for her more obvious talents, her father and uncle have convinced her to keep her other gift a secret." He gave her a tiny smile.

"Now, with what Mrs. Bingley has explained that she divined, we have discovered that this secrecy did not serve Miss Bennet well. She has had no one else to confide in and ask for advice, and Mrs. Bingley believes their father has been taking a degree of advantage of her, financially. He obviously wishes to keep that pecuniary advantage, which is not necessarily in Miss Bennet's best interests."

Elizabeth's voice was rather a squeak. She stopped and cleared her throat. Mr. Darcy had stopped speaking and they were all looking at her. She tried again. "How long have we been gone from Longbourn?"

"This is the morning of the second full day, Lizzy." Jane smiled, rather anxiously, and Elizabeth dipped her head in acknowledgement.

"I must thank you all for taking the risk of assisting me. Has … has Papa made any attempts to find me?"

The colonel nodded. "I understand he went first to Netherfield, and refused to believe you were not there. It was some time before the staff could persuade him otherwise. He also hastened to Darcy House, and called on your uncle in Gracechurch Street." He grinned mischievously.

"As well, he has called at the Hurst townhouse, thinking you and your sister may be there with Bingley. And he was also angry enough to call at Matlock House and make an accusation to my mother that Darcy and I were fortune hunters who had stolen his under-age daughter." His laugh was unrestrained.

"My mother, of course, divined the true reason he was concerned, and was not of much assistance to him — as he was not, to her, when she enquired a few months ago."

Elizabeth frowned slightly. "Have you seen her, and does she know where we are?"

The colonel smiled. "Yes, I went to town yesterday to investigate what has happened. But no, I did not say that I knew where you were, only that your sister has taken you somewhere safe. I did not mention Darcy at all."

Mr. Bingley leaned forward. "Jane has told us that your birthday is in May, when you will attain your majority."

Elizabeth nodded. "The end of May. So Papa has control over me for another three months." Suddenly, she realised the enormity of what he had done to her, and to her horror, knew she would soon be weeping. She hastily tried to unwrap the blankets around her so she could escape the room. "I ask that you excuse me, gentlemen."

"Do not distress yourself, Miss Bennet." Mr. Darcy stood and, with a look, the other men rose too and vacated the room, leaving her alone with Jane.

When the storm of weeping had subsided, Jane poured her another cup of tea, though it was cold. "Come, Lizzy. I know it was a shock to you, and I'm happy you were able to contain it until the gentlemen were out of the room." She sipped her own cold tea. "I am surprised, though. Did you really not think Papa was taking funds that should have been yours?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "I made him take the school fees for Kitty and Lydia. He seemed very reluctant. But I believed Uncle Gardiner was investing all the money I made for my future."

"Hmm." Jane sounded doubtful. "There will have to be conversations, Lizzy. But I do not believe it will be safe for you to meet Uncle or Papa, until you are of age."

"But what will I do until then? I cannot risk you losing your felicity with the family by staying with you at Netherfield — and anyway, Papa would order me home!" She felt cold. "And as soon as you are gone from here, I will be considered ruined."

Jane shrugged. "I expect the gentlemen are talking at this moment of the various possibilities to put before you, Lizzy, but Charles has suggested you come with us to visit his family in the north. We can fill several months that way."

"Oh, I didn't think of that." Elizabeth pondered. "But you had not been thinking of spending the first months of your married life in such a way, I am sure."

"Well, Lizzy, I would not want to see Papa continuing to use you so, now I have discovered it. And to sit at Netherfield watching it …" she shivered. "No. In any event, I think it probable that we might make our future life away from Hertfordshire."

Elizabeth looked over at her sister. "I cannot like that you have to make such an important decision as this in such haste, certainly not for me."

Jane embraced her. "I love you, Lizzy. Why can you not really believe that you are worth every good thing?" She looked thoughtful. "Regardless, I believe we can clean the tear tracks on your face and invite the gentlemen back into the room now."

Elizabeth nodded. She owed them all her civility; they had done so much for her. And Mr. Darcy. She owed him more than that. Much more.