Page 5 of Missing

Elizabeth sat upon a log at the top of Oakmont, weeping.

She felt anger and helplessness at her dreadful situation.

Yet that morning had begun with the most excellent news, for Mr. Bingley had proposed to Jane, and her sister was radiant with happiness.

After speaking with Jane, Mr. Bingley had sought out Mr. Bennet, and their engagement was made official.

Elizabeth was sincerely joyful for her beloved sister and had not been able to restrain her tears of emotion upon seeing Jane so elated.

But scarcely half an hour later, all her joy had vanished, for her foolish cousin had proposed to her, and Mrs. Bennet had attempted to force her to accept.

Fortunately, her father had defended her and upheld her refusal, well aware that Elizabeth could never be happy with a man as ridiculous as Mr. Collins.

'Dear Jane, you cannot know how happy I am that you will fulfil the dream of marrying the man you love, and who so dearly loves you,' said Elizabeth, wiping away her tears.

Then she rose and gazed over the valley.' I believe I shall never marry, for I shall never fall in love. Good, agreeable men such as Mr. Wickham are too poor to wed a woman without dowry like me; and those who possess the means, like Mr. Collins, are conceited fools,' she thought.

She remained at the summit for more than an hour, needing time before she could return home and confront her mother.

◆◆◆

Caroline and Louisa wished themselves anywhere but at Longbourn. The only truly content members of the household were Mr. Bingley, who delighted in the company of his angel, and Mr. Hurst, who was well satisfied with Mrs. Bennet's excellent table.

Elizabeth, too, was uneasy, for she could plainly see the contempt with which Caroline and Louisa regarded her family. To add to her discomfort, her mother had made her life miserable in the past days, still resentful that she had refused Mr. Collins's offer of marriage.

"My dear Mr. Bingley, I always knew my beautiful Jane would marry a handsome, wealthy gentleman like yourself.

When you have your house in London, I hope you will invite Lydia to spend the season with you and introduce her to all your rich friends.

I am certain everyone will fall in love with her, for she is so pretty and lively. "

"Yes, Mama, I want to go to London for the season and dance with all Mr. Bingley's rich friends. And you, Kitty, will have to stay here and dance with the butcher and the baker," Lydia said, teasing her sister.

"I want to go to London too, Mama. It is not fair that only Lydia should dance with Mr. Bingley's friends," Kitty added, nearly in tears.

"Oh, Kitty, do stop complaining! We are celebrating your sister's engagement to Mr. Bingley," Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, silencing her younger daughters' quarrel.

Caroline and Louisa exchanged looks of disgust at their brother, but he remained oblivious, engrossed in conversation with his beautiful betrothed.

Elizabeth despaired of her mother and younger sisters ever ceasing to mortify her, and she admired Jane's ability to disregard their horrible behaviour.

Caroline, needing to vent her frustration, decided to assail her future sister-in-law's intolerable youngest sister with all the sarcasm she could muster.

"Lydia, what are your talents, besides dancing and being so… lively?"

"What do you mean?" Lydia asked, puzzled.

"Do you sing or play the piano?" Caroline pressed.

"No," Lydia replied.

"Do you speak French or German?" Louisa added, supporting her sister.

Mrs. Bennet made as if to defend her daughter, but Caroline prevented her.

"Perhaps here, in this place where people are rather… simple, a girl such as you may attract the attention of certain men, like the butcher or the baker," Caroline sneered.

"But in London, only a truly accomplished young lady can draw the notice of a wealthy and influential gentleman," Louisa concluded.

"No, I do not need that, do I, Mama?"

Mrs. Bennet was struck silent and only stared at Jane's future sisters-in-law.

Elizabeth admitted to herself that Caroline and Louisa were not entirely wrong, yet the disdain with which they spoke filled her with pity for Lydia.

Her sister was far from perfect, but she did not deserve such contempt, least of all in front of her family.

But Lydia was not one to remain silent. "Miss Bingley, can you sing, play the piano, and speak French?"

"Of course. I studied at one of the best seminaries in the country," Caroline replied proudly.

"And why are you still single, if you are so accomplished?"

Caroline was enraged and refused to answer, choosing instead to ignore the impertinent chit for the remainder of the evening. She would not stoop to explain that she had not yet encountered a man who fulfilled all her exacting requirements for a husband.

When the miserable dinner was at last concluded, Caroline and Louisa felt only relief and immediately began plotting how to avoid further association with such a vulgar family.

◆◆◆

It was exactly five months after the death of Aaron Dalton.

His son William was shut in the study of his London home, writing letters to Mr. Owen, who managed the business in Manchester.

William trusted Nicholas Owen implicitly, for he had worked with his father for more than twenty years and had known William since childhood.

Yet there were many decisions the manager could not make, requiring the signature and approval of the new owner.

For that reason, during the past months, William had worked without ceasing. By day, he devoted himself to the new business he was establishing in London, and by night, he read reports and wrote letters concerning the company in Manchester.

He had been in London for only three months, and if not for the promise he had made to his father, he would gladly have returned north.

Society in the capital was far more stratified and pretentious, and most of those who looked down upon tradesmen such as he were pompous fools who lived upon the labour of others.

The one comfort was that he had found a pleasant house in the same street where the Gardiners lived. Thus, his mother could be near her niece Madeline and not feel so alone, since William spent most of his time at work.

Violet was somewhat concerned for her beloved son.

Since his father's death, he had become even more reserved than before.

From childhood, William had been a shy boy; the Daltons had once believed it was the consequence of the trauma he had endured so many years ago by the river.

Over time, Violet realised it was his natural disposition.

He was diligent and studious, striving to excel in all that he undertook.

The only difficulty was that he often pushed himself too hard, forgetting that he was still young and ought to enjoy life a little more.

Since William turned twenty and the traces of boyhood had vanished, Violet noticed how women regarded him with admiration and respect.

Her son was tall and strikingly handsome, yet he felt uncomfortable speaking with those he did not know well.

He had little patience to feign interest in the trivialities young ladies so often discussed.

For that reason, though many admired him at first sight, they soon lost interest, intimidated by his reserve.

Violet dreamed that one day her beloved son would meet a woman who would love him for all that he was, and who would recognise the honourable, industrious, and affectionate man behind his handsome face.

She knew that, though William was not Aaron's biological son, he resembled him in every way: a man destined to love only once, and to remain faithful to that love until the end of his life.

"William, dinner will be served in fifteen minutes. My son, I shall not allow you to absent yourself from the table this evening. You work far too much, and you must rest," Violet said, entering the study.

"I am sorry, Mother. I know I ought not to leave you alone so often, but I promise it will be only for a few months. Once I have consolidated the business in this city, I shall have much more free time, and if you wish, we may even return to Manchester."

"My son, wherever you are, I shall be content.

And when I tell you that you work too much, it is not because I feel lonely, but because of you.

You must give time to other pursuits besides business.

You are still a young man, and you ought to enjoy life, attend balls, meet people your own age, and perhaps even some young lady who may interest you. "

"If I knew there was a girl as pretty and good as you, Mother, I would propose to her at once," William replied with a laugh.

He knew his mother desired the best for him.

Yet he was not ready to fall in love, to bare his heart, and reveal the tragic story of his life.

He was unprepared to feel vulnerable once more.

"I understand, William. You dislike it when I mention this subject. I know you well!"

William smiled and said only, "In fifteen minutes more, I shall be in the dining room."

"I shall be waiting for you, my dear boy," Violet replied, closing the study door.

◆◆◆

Mr. Gardiner was surprised to see George Darcy observing the day's activity in his warehouse. Men of his rank and influence seldom placed themselves in direct contact with merchants.

"Gardiner, I hope you do not mind my coming here to your office. I enjoy seeing everyone so industrious, for in a way it reminds me of the labour performed on my estate during the harvest season."

"You do not trouble me in the least, Mr. Darcy. I was merely surprised to see you here."

"I am well aware that gentlemen like myself are expected to despise trade, even though so much of our fortune is invested in it," Mr. Darcy said with a laugh.

"Indeed, Mr. Darcy. Many condemn us openly, yet privately entrust us with their money," Mr. Gardiner added with a smile.

He held George Darcy in high esteem, finding him both amiable and intelligent, though he sensed that Mr. Darcy concealed a great sorrow, for he dressed always in black, as if in perpetual mourning.

"But allow me to introduce this young man who accompanies me today. Mr. Gardiner, this is my dear nephew, Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam."

"Delighted, Colonel," Mr. Gardiner said, extending his hand.

"The pleasure is mine, sir," Richard replied.

Mr. Darcy explained that Richard had been saving money for years and was eager to invest it in new ventures. Mr. Gardiner listened attentively and believed he had an excellent proposal to make to the young officer.

"At present, Colonel, I cannot offer you an investment within my own business. But there is someone I trust entirely, with whom you might invest with assured returns. If you can wait a short while, he will be here in ten minutes."

"I am in no hurry, and I do not believe my uncle is either," Richard replied.

Mr. Darcy seized the opportunity to ask Mr. Gardiner several questions.

He was a man of intellectual curiosity, eager to learn new things.

He perceived that commerce was steadily advancing, surpassing the traditional system of land ownership and agriculture.

He sensed that the future lay not in the countryside but in the cities.

Precisely ten minutes later, William entered his uncle's office.

"Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, this is my nephew, William Dalton—the very man I have been praising for the last ten minutes."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Darcy, Colonel," William said, while the two gentlemen regarded him with a curious expression.