Page 4 of Suddenly Married

At Longbourn, all was sombre. At dinner, scarcely anyone had eaten, and now the household was preparing to retire, though all knew they would find little rest. "Dear Jane, we are sorry to leave you when you most need us.

You know your uncle cannot be absent from his business for many days, and I cannot leave the children in the sole care of the servants for so long.

I hope Lizzy arrives tomorrow to support you.

We shall depart in the afternoon, after Dr. Miller has examined your father one last time and instructed the apothecary on what should be done in the coming days," Mrs. Gardiner explained, her voice broken by sadness.

"But we shall return as soon as we can." She took Jane's hand to comfort her.

"Please do not trouble yourself, Aunt. You and my uncle have already done so much for us.

Besides, I have Mary's support; she has been strong and mature enough to face this misfortune.

I hope Lizzy arrives promptly, yet I wish her to travel safely," Jane replied, offering her aunt a faint, joyless smile.

"Now we should try to sleep," Mrs. Gardiner said gently.

"Yes—my mother has at last fallen asleep.

I shall try to rest as well." Mrs. Gardiner kissed her niece upon the forehead, her heart heavy with sympathy.

They each withdrew to their rooms, hoping the morrow might bring better news.

◆◆◆

"Darcy, where have you been? Lady Catherine questioned me for more than an hour about your whereabouts.

I told her you had not felt well since yesterday and had retired to your room to rest. Now you owe me an explanation!

I had to endure our aunt's anger alone," said the colonel with his usual good humour.

Mr. Darcy looked somewhat uneasy, yet he did not evade the question.

"I went to see Miss Bennet; I was concerned when Mrs. Collins told me she was unwell…

Also, I asked her to marry me, and she accepted.

" "WHAT?" Richard was momentarily speechless before adding, "It surprises me—and yet it does not.

It does not surprise me because, whenever you are near her, you behave like a fool: either you say nothing at all, or you engage her in verbal battles—a most curious way of courting a lady," he said with a laugh.

"But it does surprise me because I never imagined you would dare to propose to a charming lady who is poor and without influential connections.

You must forgive me, cousin, but you have always believed in the separation of classes.

" Again, he laughed. "It was not easy for me to decide to make her an offer, Fitzwilliam.

I had many doubts—though not about her, but about her family.

Please do not forget that she is a gentleman's daughter.

I know she will understand her new place in society and her responsibilities as a Darcy.

She is clever and well educated, and she will comprehend that she must keep a respectful distance from the Bennets and her tradesman uncle.

Her family will be Georgiana and myself.

" "And Miss Bennet accepted you knowing your plans for her future relationship with her family?

" "Fitzwilliam, we had no time to discuss that.

But, as I told you, Elizabeth is an intelligent woman who understands the sacrifice I am making in proposing to her.

I have no doubt she will see that she, too, must make some sacrifice for the sake of our future family.

" "You are certainly very romantic, cousin.

I am glad you possess such a large fortune, or it might be difficult for anyone to accept your lack of delicacy and blunt sincerity.

" "As hard as it may be for you to believe, Elizabeth and I are in love.

" "It is not hard for me to believe that a woman might admire you.

According to more than one lady, you are an honourable, wealthy, and handsome gentleman.

It is only that you are sometimes too full of yourself to see the obvious.

" "Excuse me, Fitzwilliam, but I have no time for your games.

Unfortunately, some unexpected events have occurred.

Sit down, and let me tell you." Colonel Fitzwilliam perceived that his cousin's thoughts were elsewhere and chose to keep his opinions to himself.

"Tell me; I am all attention." Mr. Darcy began to relate what had happened to Elizabeth's father, and that he intended to leave with her for Hertfordshire at dawn the following day.

◆◆◆

When the Hunsford party returned home, they found Elizabeth engaged in packing her belongings.

She explained that she had received a message from her family, requesting her immediate return on account of a family emergency.

"Cousin Elizabeth, is there some problem with your father's health?

As the heir to his estate, I must be among the first to know if anything is occurring.

" "As I have already explained, Mr. Collins, I have no further details of what has happened in the past few days.

I only know that I must travel tomorrow," Elizabeth replied curtly.

She was too anxious to indulge her cousin's nonsense.

"My dear, it is rather late, and you still have to finish your sermon for the Sunday service," Charlotte interposed, hoping to prevent her husband from troubling Elizabeth further.

She knew that Lady Catherine liked to review Mr. Collins's sermons several days in advance.

"You are right, my dear," Mr. Collins conceded.

Yet he remained intent upon discovering the nature of the emergency.

Since Elizabeth had given him no direct answer, he withdrew to his office to complete his sermon and to write a letter to his father-in-law.

Sir William Lucas, he was certain, would provide all the information regarding events at Longbourn.

Elizabeth then confided to Charlotte the actual situation at Longbourn, extracting from her a promise not to tell Mr. Collins, so that the family might be spared his interference.

Still, she warned her friend that her cousin would inevitably learn the particulars from her parents sooner or later.

"I thank you, Charlotte. I hope that by the time your husband learns of the accident, my father will be much improved," Elizabeth said hopefully.

"Eliza, how do you plan to travel to Hertfordshire?

" Charlotte asked with concern. "Mr. Darcy has offered to take me," Elizabeth answered, somewhat nervously.

"After I received the news, I went for a walk and encountered him.

He saw I was distressed, inquired what was wrong, and I told him everything.

He was very kind and offered his assistance, which I accepted.

" "I understand." Elizabeth explained that Mr. Darcy had undertaken to see her safely home, though she omitted any mention of his marriage proposal—not from any wish to conceal it from her friend, but simply because she was too weary to speak of it.

"It is certainly a very generous gesture to offer you his help," Charlotte observed.

She accepted Elizabeth's account but remained convinced that there was more behind it.

She had watched Mr. Darcy closely of late and had noted how agitated he appeared when he had left Rosings' drawing room only a few hours earlier.

"I shall go and rest now, Charlotte. I appreciate your understanding," Elizabeth said sincerely.

"Eliza, try to sleep. Tomorrow will be a very long day.

" Elizabeth withdrew to her room, and Charlotte was left to ponder her friend's difficult situation.

◆◆◆

"Claire, may I speak with you for a moment?

" Charlotte asked the maid. "Yes, Mrs. Collins," Claire replied, following her mistress into her private room.

"I need you to tell me everything that occurred with Miss Bennet while we were away.

" When she saw the maid hesitate, Charlotte fixed her with a steady look and demanded the truth.

Claire related all she knew—from the moment the message had arrived until the instant she had seen Mr. Darcy embracing Elizabeth.

"That is all, Mrs. Collins." "I see. Thank you for telling me the truth.

But I warn you: I shall be most disappointed if you speak of this to anyone.

Please do not betray my trust." "I promise, Mrs. Collins.

I shall tell no one," Claire assured her before leaving the room.

A few minutes later, Charlotte went to her husband's study to wish him good night.

Finding him busy at his desk, she could not resist asking, "My dear, what are you doing?

" "I am writing to my excellent father-in-law to inform him how well we are, and to ask him a few questions," explained Mr. Collins.

He went on to speak at length, but Charlotte scarcely attended to his words, her mind absorbed in her own thoughts.

"Oh, good. I shall write to my mother, so that we may send both letters together.

" "Such a splendid idea, my dear," Mr. Collins replied enthusiastically.

He attempted to prolong the conversation, but Charlotte withdrew to her sitting room to compose her letter without delay.

When she had finished, she sealed it and felt satisfied with her decision.

'If you do not know what is best for you, my dear Eliza, I shall help you to discover it. '