19

Elizabeth was not alone with her sister again, nor in her company much at all after their altercation. Jane sat with Lady Amelia at church, and her new friend invited her to stay the night at the dower house. Elizabeth warned Captain Darcy to lock his door that night, during the brief moments they had to speak after the service. He could do little more than assure her he would be on his guard, and discreetly passed her a folded note she tucked into her pocket, before Lady Amelia ensured they had no further conversation.

This note was soon forgotten, for upon their return to the parsonage, her father began to quiz her and Kitty about the tension between sisters. He had chosen his moment wisely, for Mr. Collins had remained at the church to speak with his curate Mr. Thompson, and the servants were occupied in removing Jane’s things to the dower house, from whence she would depart in the morning and return to Longbourn.

Afforded such rare privacy, Elizabeth signalled to Kitty with a little nod that she meant to speak candidly with her father; between the two sisters, they told him everything. Mr. Bennet listened with bemused curiosity that swiftly gave way to horrified concern as his daughters related what Jane had done at Netherfield, and then what she had attempted to do there in Kent. When they were finished, he dragged his hands down his face in dismay before speaking.

“I must confess, I knew nothing of your attachment to Mr. Darcy, Kitty. You seem happily settled with Mr. Collins, but Jane could not have expected such an outcome when she acted as she did. And Lizzy, I have only recently begun to suspect your partiality for the dashing captain. It has been a great failing, for me to know so little of my daughters. I would never have imagined Jane capable of such duplicity, though I can easily imagine my wife giving her the ultimatum that led to such desperate scheming. As to the rest, you must allow me a moment’s astonishment. I hardly know what to say, or how to act.”

Kitty had wept through the recounting of all that had transpired since November, soaking her own handkerchief as well as her father’s. She wrung it in her hands as she said, “I am content with William, Papa. But as you say, Jane could not have known it would end so well for me after she dashed all my hopes. Even so, I daresay I shall be happier than she could have been with William, and rather more so than she will be with Mr. Bingley, with such a lie between them. In truth, I rather pity her.”

Elizabeth nodded. She clenched her own handkerchief in her hand; it bore tears of rage that had not yet cooled. “I do as well, but I shall never forgive her.”

“Your story may yet end happily,” Mr. Bennet mused. “Captain Darcy is no more enamoured of Lady Amelia than I am of Lady Catherine!”

“You do so enjoy her company,” Elizabeth said with a half-smile at her feeble jest. “I have no fear of Jane’s mischief succeeding on this occasion, but the attempt alone has sunk her so low in my esteem that I should be content never to be in company with her again.”

Mr. Bennet’s countenance twisted with pain as he regarded Elizabeth, contemplating what she had suffered. “You have been her greatest champion for all your life. It is an unfathomable loss for her, and one that I am not entirely confident will be recompensed by any future felicity. God knows what other ghastly things that woman will ask of her; I only hope none of her misdeeds shall ever again harm our family. But I must ask, what would you have me do?”

Kitty gave Elizabeth a look of deference, as if leaving it to her to decide. It was a burden Elizabeth had no wish to bear. The fire crackled as heavy silence hung in the air, and Mr. Bennet’s tender gaze dwelt on his favourite child.

“You desired some explanation for the tension between us, and we have told you all,” Elizabeth said at last. “We might inform Mr. Bingley directly of what she has done, and spare her any further manipulation by Miss Bingley, but if he breaks the engagement I fear my other sisters will suffer from her disgrace. There is no other punishment I would wish upon her beyond the consequences of her own actions.”

“I agree,” Kitty said. “Mr. Bingley is too good to be pained with the truth of what Jane did to secure him, and perhaps so generous that he would forgive her.”

Mr. Bennet furrowed his brow. “And so, having been sufficiently informed, you would have me let the matter rest?”

“Unless she attempts any further mischief on the family, I believe it most befitting that we leave her to her chosen fate,” Elizabeth replied.

“I hope this means you are not without some hope that all shall come out right with Captain Darcy?”

“He will not be in mourning forever,” Elizabeth said. “But I believe he feels the loss of his father keenly. His parents did not like his choice to join the navy, and I do not know if he made peace with his father in the end, determined as he is to do him the honour of abiding his mourning period so fastidiously. I will not press him to act against his principles. I will wait.”

Mr. Bennet rose and moved to stand before Elizabeth, his arms outstretched, and she answered his silent request by standing and leaning into his embrace as his arms wrapped around her, she began to weep into his shoulder.

He stroked her hair softly, murmuring endearments as he held her to him. “There, there, Lizzy. I had wondered why you had grown so thin. You mustn’t despair.”

Elizabeth drew away and nodded solemnly.

“But I must say I think it is rather bad form of the late Mr. Darcy to take leave of this world after the scandal his eldest son fell prey to, and at such an inconvenient time! It is fortunate for you – though rather less so for Mr. Collins – that I am made of sterner stuff, else I should have perished the very day Lydia left the nursery!”

Elizabeth laughed in spite of herself, and a moment later Kitty joined in. It was at this moment that Mr. Collins returned and asked to know what had inspired such strange hilarity.

With a wild guffaw, Mr. Bennet replied, “The probability of my demise.”

***

It was not until the next morning that Elizabeth read the note Captain Darcy had passed her after church; a maid had found it in her pocket when taking her gown for laundering, and gave it back to her with a knowing smile. She carried it with her as she left the parsonage for her morning walk and unfolded it as soon as she was out of sight.

Dearest E,

I apologise for any dismay I caused you during our walk yesterday morning. I hope that you will meet me at the same hour and location on the morrow, that I may say what I was not able to yesterday. But I believe I ought to inform you of the substance of it directly, before your sister leaves Kent.

Last evening, in the presence of Lady Amelia, your sister spoke to me of your supposed engagement to Captain Lucas. However, once Lady Amelia was satisfied with what she had heard and went to speak with our aunt, Miss Bennet told me a great deal more.

She acknowledged that I had likely surmised her involvement in the scheme to compromise my brother, and she apologised for it with every appearance of sincerity. She confessed to being under the perpetual influence of that harridan whom I shall not name, and owned that she feared her alliance with my friend would be materially damaged should she fail to comply with the plan to ensure I remained available for Lady Amelia’s matrimonial wishes – which I must once again assure you shall never affect me.

Miss Bennet indicated that she had deliberately selected a method she knew would not achieve the desired effect; she set out to fail. She then asked me to give the appearance of being convinced, and in doing so placate the woman who is to be her sister.

And now I must admit that I had some reason to agree to her request; I feel some degree of culpability in the affair. Not only did I fail to warn my brother of my suspicions at Netherfield, I recently considered telling Bingley what I suspected of his betrothed, and chose not to inflict such a wound. I might have spared your sister any further need to act as that woman’s instrument. The least I can do is spare her any retribution for choosing what is right in the end.

I must make ready for church, where I shall deliver this into your hands and savour the moment I am to be so close to you. Until the morning,

Yours faithfully,

FD

Tears welled in Elizabeth’s eyes. At first, she could think only of Captain Darcy’s tender sentiments. He had tried to tell her there was more he wished to say, and in her vanity she had believed he was hinting at his affection for her; in a way it was some proof of his regard that he had wished to spare her the anger she had felt toward her sister.

She was stunned at the realisation that her falling out with Jane might have been prevented, that the man she loved had tried to prevent it. But Elizabeth had been too hasty in hurling all those months of anguish at her sister and breaking with her entirely. Ever a man of principles, he would defend Jane’s belated attempt to do what was right, he would even empathise with her plight, and he would once again attempt to heal the breach between sisters.

Elizabeth was less impressed by Jane’s efforts. She had little time to reflect on that part of his letter before she saw the man himself before her, waiting in the grove, looking as handsome as ever. The sight of him never ceased to send a thrill through her body.

Captain Darcy approached her, bowed, and kissed her hands, just as she had known he would. Today, she had not worn any gloves, and neither had he. He entwined their bare hands rather than offering her his arm, and began to lead her through the grove. “I hope you are well, Elizabeth.”

“I have only just read your letter,” she said, knowing her agitation must be apparent.

His eyes widened. “Had you no opportunity after church yesterday?”

“As soon as we returned, my father asked about the tension between us. Kitty and I told him everything, and I was weeping by the end of it. I am sorry to say your letter was forgotten until this morning. A maid found it in the pocket of the gown I wore yesterday, and promised her discretion when she returned it to me.”

Captain Darcy nodded. “I am glad I thought to warn Mr. Collins that his servants were all likely spies of my aunt’s. We agreed that they would relocate to the dower house with her, and Mr. Taylor made some recommendations for the new staff at the parsonage.”

She breathed a sigh of relief, imagining the scene that might ensue if Lady Catherine discovered that her nephew had written to Elizabeth. “That is one less complication to worry about. But what of your conversation with Jane? I am still in some disbelief over it, and I confess I do not understand your agreement with her request.”

“You and I have already agreed to be discreet about our relationship until my mother turns to Kent and we go down to half-mourning, a month from now. I do not expect you to remain in Kent, but….”

“I believe I shall,” Elizabeth mused aloud. “I have no intention of attending my sister’s wedding.”

“Ah,” he said with a sad nod of his head. He squeezed her hand. “You did not read my letter before you confronted your sister.”

“No,” she said, the single syllable feeling heavy on her tongue. “But I do not know that I regret it. We never spoke about her actions at Netherfield, and I have carried my anger for so long. I find I cannot regret severing my ties with her, as much as it pains me.”

Captain Darcy looked down at her with glistening eyes. “It pains me, as well. I know how close you have ever been with her. It is no small thing to lose a person who has been so close to you. I cannot fathom breaking with Marcus.”

The enormity of what she had done washed over Elizabeth and she trembled. “You think I was wrong to do it?”

“You must be the best judge of that. I shall never tell you how to feel or how to behave toward your own relations. But I had hoped my letter might be the impetus for some degree of reconciliation.”

“Because she means only to pretend to sabotage my happiness? Is she not still desperately trying to maintain her own good standing with Caroline?”

“She made the best of a terrible dilemma. True, it is one of her own making, but that woman will make her suffer far more than anybody could deserve. She was put in an impossible situation, and she found a chance to save you and I from considerable misery.”

“She had the audacity to throw herself on your mercy!”

Captain Darcy frowned. “As I said in the letter, I did feel some sense of responsibility, and in agreeing to her request I have done nothing that will materially alter the course of action I had already intended to take.”

“You mean that since we had already agreed to keep our… friendship… a secret, you have no qualms with pretending to believe a lie?”

“No,” he said hastily. “I have no taste for deceit – indeed I have many reservations about committing to this scheme, but I believe that the good outweighs the evil in this case. Until I can court you properly, it seems safe enough to allow my cousin to believe that I have been persuaded of your attachment to my friend. In doing so, if your sister can escape the wrath of the harridan who owns her, she and Bingley have a better chance of beginning their marriage on better footing. I advised her she ought to come clean; he will forgive her, and she will be spared any further scandal and distress.”

Elizabeth smiled when he finally referred to their courtship as such, and nodded her agreement at the rest of what he said. “I hope she will take your advice.”

“As do I. We might forestall Lady Amelia’s disappointment, but it is an inevitable thing. I could never marry another while Elizabeth Bennet walks this earth.”

Elizabeth nearly stumbled, and he drew her close to steady her. He had finally acknowledged his intentions toward her, and she again wanted to wrap her arms around the man and kiss him desperately. She restrained her ardour and merely smiled. “Shall you have to pretend to be utterly heartbroken that I am promised to another?”

“That is my intention, despite my qualms. Lady Amelia intends to do her best to console me, expecting that I shall fall into her open arms. Instead I shall do what I do best, and simply brood.”

Elizabeth chortled at this picture of him. “Oh yes, that shall require little effort on your part, I am sure.”

“Did you not once doubt my taciturnity?”

“Ah, but that was before I came to Kent and observed your penchant for staring silently out of windows with a terrible scowl.” She had seen him do a great deal of suck sulking on both occasions when they had been in company with Lady Catherine.

“And while I am doing so, likely longing for some escape from my aunt and cousin, Lady Amelia shall make free to presume I am pining over my dearest friend’s engagement to the finest woman in England.”

Elizabeth smiled brightly at the praise. “Your flattery may yet prevail in persuading me of this plan.”

“I am glad to hear it,” he teased her. “I hope we shall continue our morning walks. I shall compliment you as much as you desire, and then repeat every bit of it as I repine your loss to my cousin. If she wishes to believe she has separated us, I will make her feel every bit of your superiority in my lamentations. What a pity that my old friend should steal away a lady of such high moral character, such generosity of spirit, and such incomparable beauty.”

Before she could recover herself from the delight of his warm praise, Captain Darcy lifted her hand to his lips once again. It nearly undid her.

“Just another month,” she breathed.

“I promise, Elizabeth. And you will stay in Kent?”

“I promise,” she repeated back to him, feeling a rush of excitement at the vows they were exchanging.

A wry smile spread across his face. “You must also promise to wait until I am present to tell Olly of this disaster. I can imagine how he will look, how he will howl and roar with laughter.”

“Indeed, he may never recover from the hilarity,” she drawled. Elizabeth could certainly see the humour in it, in how they were to hoodwink his awful relations; it was much easier to laugh at it now that she had some assurance that it would turn out well ere long, and she readily agreed that they just both share in regaining their friend with this sordid tale. But amusing as it was, her thoughts took a serious turn.

“But what of the rumours? Surely I will not be damaged by the talk of Olly and I – surely there will be no scandal for my family. I will not be obligated to go through with such a union?”

“Miss Bennet confessed that no such rumours exist, that your neighbours have long ceased to take your mother’s speculations seriously in that regard. Caroline will not speak of it amongst anybody who matters, and I doubt Lady Amelia would allow any talk of it to make its way back to London. Her pride would not allow herself to be known as my second choice.”

Elizabeth was satisfied, so much so that it again began to weigh on her that she had broken with Jane just when her sister had tried to help her, as feebly as she could. Her heart still ached with all that had happened, and she resolved to put Jane from her mind. She walked on, hand in hand with Captain Darcy, and they spoke of happier things.