Page 46 of Suddenly Married

Mr. Bingley was ashamed of Caroline's behaviour and disappointed in his friend Darcy. To see Elizabeth so distressed, unable to restrain her tears, was more than he could endure. Even Louisa and Mr. Hurst felt remorse for how Mr. Darcy and Caroline had treated Mrs. Darcy.

Once Mr. Darcy had taken his leave of them and withdrawn to his study, Mr. Bingley ordered his family to depart from Pemberley without delay.

Turning to Caroline in utter exasperation, he said, "This is the last time you and I shall visit Pemberley—or any other place—together.

You speak of Mrs. Darcy's family as vulgar, yet nothing but poison issues from your mouth.

You have the audacity to flirt openly with a married man in his own home, and in the presence of his wife—a man who, moreover, has not the slightest regard for you.

This is the end, Caroline. You will be five-and-twenty in a few months, and I shall give you your dowry.

I want you out of my life, for I am ashamed to be your brother.

" Then, turning to Louisa and her husband, he added, "You must choose on which side you stand. "

"I do not need you, Charles. You are foolish and weak, and you ought to thank me for all I have done for you, for otherwise you would be in the same—or worse—circumstances than Mr. Darcy. Louisa, I cannot believe you agree with Charles."

"Caroline, I know my limits, and I have no desire to meddle in marital disputes. I am sorry, but Charles is right this time."

Caroline attempted to continue the quarrel, but when she perceived that neither her sister nor her brother-in-law would support her, she resolved to do as Charles commanded. Within minutes, she was in the carriage, departing from Pemberley, and never to return.

Before leaving, Mr. Bingley left an apology for Elizabeth and a note of disapproval for his friend.

He pitied Darcy; he knew his friend had never been in love, and that, unless he altered his conduct, he would lose his wife's affection entirely.

Yet Mr. Bingley understood from his own experience that some lessons could only be learned the hard way.

◆◆◆

When Georgiana saw the Bingley carriage drive away, she felt an immense relief.

To tell Miss Bingley that they were not friends, and that she wished to have nothing more to do with her, had been one of the most courageous acts of her life.

She still trembled at the recollection of what she had been able to do; yet she could not have tolerated that dreadful woman insulting Elizabeth in her presence.

If her brother would not defend his wife, Georgiana would show Elizabeth that she could find a sister in her.

She had always admired her brother, believing him to be the best of men.

Yet she had begun to question the idealised image she had held of him.

She could not comprehend how he could behave in such a manner and appear without remorse.

Something, she thought, must have been troubling his mind, preventing him from thinking clearly.

But at that moment, her anger towards him left no room for pity.

That day, she resolved to remain in her room and avoid becoming embroiled in any further disputes.

The next morning, however, she would seek out Elizabeth and assure her of her support.

She would even request to accompany her the next time she visited her family.

Georgiana no longer cared for her brother's objections; she wished to meet Elizabeth's sisters and form her own opinion of them.

◆◆◆

Elizabeth remained on the bench by the pond until dusk. She did not wish to return home until she was calm, for she wished to avoid another heated argument with Mr. Darcy.

When she entered her bedchamber, Claire appeared with a tray of dinner that Mrs. Reynolds had sent. Although she was not hungry, she ate a little. Her maid had prepared a bath, which soothed her, and she was drying her hair by the fire when she heard her husband enter.

She was still very hurt and angry with him, yet she remained calm and waited to hear what he had come to say.

"Elizabeth, tomorrow I shall travel to Scotland to resolve certain matters pending in my estate. I shall remain there for at least a month. I am here because I wish you would explain why you married me." Mr. Darcy spoke with his back to his wife, gazing out into the darkness of the night.

"I never understood why you proposed to me. Until you came to the parsonage, I never knew you admired me. When we met—and without knowing me—you declared that I was not handsome enough to tempt you to dance. From that moment, I considered you disrespectful and insensitive."

Elizabeth paused before continuing, and for the first time that day, Mr. Darcy began to feel ashamed of his conduct. He remembered that moment clearly, as well as many others when he had been unjust to her.

She resumed, and though he listened, it was with impatience.

"Whenever we met, you looked at me so intently that I could not help but believe you were censuring me.

I confirmed this impression during my stay at Netherfield, when I overheard you and Mr. Bingley's sisters making derogatory remarks about my family and myself. "

Mr. Darcy wished to insist that he had not spoken against her during that time, but he could not deny his complicit silence.

Elizabeth continued, recounting how she had believed Mr. Wickham's lies, and how uncomfortable it had been to walk beside him at Rosings without his even attempting conversation.

"How could I be in love with you if you never attempted to court me?

If you openly disapproved of my family, why should I believe you had any feelings for me?

And the rest I explained to you a few hours ago.

The only thing I can add is that I have never lied to you.

I have never said what I did not feel. It is true I did not love you when we married.

But when I came to know you better, and to feel your love, your admiration, and your protection, I fell in love with you. That is all I have to say."

Elizabeth waited impatiently for her husband's reply, knowing the future of their relationship depended upon it.

"If you fear that I shall withdraw my financial support from your family, rest assured, madam, I shall do no such thing. You need not say—or pretend—what you do not feel. I thank you for your honesty, but for now, I wish to be as far from you as possible. Good night, Elizabeth."

"Fitzwilliam—"

"Good night, Elizabeth."

Upon hearing her husband's words, Elizabeth immediately knew what she would do and responded in kind. "Good night, Fitzwilliam."

◆◆◆

Mr. Darcy sent a message to Georgiana with her maid, informing her that he would depart for Scotland the following morning after breakfast. She therefore rose early, intending to speak with him before he left.

For her part, Mrs. Reynolds was equally concerned by the entire situation.

She had been observing Elizabeth closely and had formed some idea of what might be troubling her.

Although she did not know the reason for her estrangement from Mr. Darcy, she was certain that it was not the right time for him to leave for Scotland and abandon his wife.

She suspected that much of the fault lay with her master.

Mr. Darcy was still deeply wounded and could not see beyond his own pain.

He felt a fool for having married a woman who did not love him.

All his life, he had despised empty-headed young ladies who sought his attention solely for the purpose of becoming the future mistress of Pemberley.

He had believed Elizabeth to be different, yet he now doubted it, convinced she had married him for his wealth.

He had once considered making that journey with Elizabeth, but now he was travelling alone—resenting her and himself.

Mr. Darcy was in his study, placing some documents into his travelling case, when Georgiana entered.

"Brother, I do not think it is wise for you to leave at this moment."

"Georgiana, I am very sorry, but there are many things you do not know and ought not to know." It was the only reply she received.

Before Georgiana could continue, Mrs. Reynolds entered the room.

"Mr. Darcy, I must inform you of certain matters concerning Mrs. Darcy which occurred a few days ago."

Mr. Darcy, intrigued, asked Georgiana to leave them alone. "When we are finished, I shall call you, Georgiana. Please leave us."

"No. If it concerns Lizzy, I wish to know as well." After a brief dispute, Mr. Darcy relented and allowed her to remain.

"Please, Mrs. Reynolds, tell me what troubles you. I must leave in twenty minutes."

"Very well, sir. As you know, my cousin Mrs. Burton and her husband own the Inn at Lambton.

She told me that Maddie Hall, the daughter of Mr. Hall, the clergyman who baptised you, came to spend a few days in the area to attend her niece's wedding.

Mrs. Darcy visited her and her husband on the day the Bingleys arrived, and also two days before.

She used none of the carriages on either day, so I assumed she walked there and back, accompanied by her dog.

That may explain why she departed early and returned late on those occasions. "

"And why did Elizabeth visit those people? And if they are her friends, why did she not invite them to Pemberley, Fitzwilliam?" Georgiana asked, clearly intrigued.

"I do not know, Georgiana. My wife did not trouble herself to inform me," Mr. Darcy replied curtly.

Mrs. Reynolds continued. "Madeline is now married to a distinguished gentleman from London, Mr. Gardiner. Perhaps Mrs. Darcy knows them from there."