Page 36

U pon arriving at Longbourn, Mr. Darcy was greeted by the housekeeper; she wore a solemn expression and a black cap.

He was led immediately into the drawing room, where his eyes went immediately to Elizabeth.

He forced himself to first address Miss Bennet, as was polite, and then enquired after everyone’s health.

“Have you news for us, Mr. Darcy?” Jane asked.

“I have news, but it is not good,” Mr. Darcy said, soberly. “Might Mr. Bennet join us?”

“Of course.” Jane rose gracefully from her chair, steeling herself for what Mr. Darcy had come to tell them.

***

Mr. Bennet saw the Darcy carriage pull up in front of Longbourn.

He still could scarce believe that Mr. Darcy was courting his Lizzy!

Yes, she would be very good for the overly somber Mr. Darcy, but would he be good for her?

Or would his overly formal, staid manner eventually quench Lizzy’s high spirits and joie de vivre ?

But he could scarce forbid the match, as she seemed as determined to have him as he was to have her.

How he wished Mrs. Bennet was alive to see Lizzy’s triumph!

But perhaps that was not a good wish, given that she would have to also witness her disappointed hopes for her favourite, Lydia.

How he had failed poor, silly little Lydia!

Mr. Bennet passed a hand over his face. What he would give to have the past year – even the past two months! – to live over again!

But things were going to be different from now on.

Mr. Bennet had met with his tenants, discussed the fall planting that was underway, made a list of necessary repairs, and settled a boundary dispute.

He had spent a good deal of time looking through the household accounts (since none of the girls were eager to take on that particular chore) and had found many areas in which expenditures could be reduced, particularly now that there were two fewer ladies to clothe, and the four that remained would be confined to mourning colours for the next year.

There would be a wedding to pay for in February – he did not think either couple willing to wait out the full year – but doubtless the sisters would want a double wedding, and their mourning status would preclude any sort of elaborate celebration. It need not be a costly affair.

Indeed, a good deal of money could be saved toward Mary’s and Kitty’s dowries, assuming that the family reputation could be salvaged enough to let them marry.

If they did not marry, could not marry, then that money would allow them to have decent lives when that idiot Collins forced them from Longbourn.

And, of course, Bingley and Darcy would help the two remaining sisters.

The knock on his door saved him from his painful thoughts, so it was with real gratitude that he called, “Come in!”

***

Once Mr. Bennet was in the parlour, Mr. Darcy recounted what had been learnt from the innkeeper; poor Miss Lydia had been pointed in the wrong direction and sent deep into one of London’s worst slums.

“I think you are telling us that my youngest daughter is likely dead.” Mr. Bennet’s tone was flat.

“I do not intend to say that, only that…” Mr. Darcy trailed off, unable to find a polite way to proceed with his thought.

“That it is unlikely that she will be recovered,” Elizabeth finished for him.

“Precisely; it is looking more and more unlikely,” Mr. Darcy managed.

“That said, the men we hired continue to show Miss Kitty’s drawings around Whitechapel, so I do not wish us to lose hope just yet.

It occurs to me that the story of Miss Lydia being ill in Brighton is likely wearing a bit thin; Mrs. Gardiner suggested that it now be said that Lydia is staying with them in London. ”

“Why would Lydia go to the Gardiners?” Kitty asked.

“Because she is too upset at Mama’s passing to want to be at Longbourn, perhaps?” Elizabeth conjectured.

“Why even bother?” Mr. Bennet asked, despair in his voice. “The child is dead and that is all there is to it.” He covered his face with his hands.

“Papa, the neighbours will ask why there is no body, no funeral,” Jane said, softly.

“We hope to put off the discovery of Lydia’s true fate for a later date.

And remember that if word gets out that Lydia is dead, we will be required to go into mourning for her, thereby delaying our weddings yet again. ”

“There is one piece of good news, however,” Mr. Darcy went on. “Mr. Wickham’s days of harming young ladies are over.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Elizabeth asked.

Mr. Darcy pulled the clipping from his pocket and read it aloud.

“You think this unknown man is Mr. Wickham?” Mary demanded.

“I do not think it; I know it,” Mr. Darcy declared.

“How can you be so sure?” Mary persisted.

“Because when my cousin and I brought him to Whitechapel to confirm his story about where he had brought Miss Lydia, we left him there with his hands and feet tied.”

The girls gasped, but Mary quickly said, “Good. He deserved it. And what could be better justice than having him die near where our sister likely met her own fate!”

“You are rather bloodthirsty today, Mary,” Jane reprimanded her.

“I am, indeed; I only wish I could have brought him to Whitechapel myself!” Mary said, furious tears in her eyes.

“I did it on your behalf, Miss Mary,” Mr. Darcy said, in an unexpectedly gentle voice.

“I thank you for that, Mr. Darcy. But I know not how to act now; my youngest sister is likely dead, but I cannot publicly mourn her.”

“We all feel that, Mary,” Jane said. “It has been very hard, mourning Mama, wondering where Lydia is, and now fearing the worst. But we must continue on, allowing our neighbours to comfort us for the loss that is known to the world, and privately comforting one another for the loss that is known only to ourselves.”

“I had almost forgotten – I have something for you from the Gardiners.” Mr. Darcy left the room, went to his carriage, and soon returned, carrying the large package he had brought from Gracechurch Street. He placed it on the table before the large sofa and stepped back.

“Have you your scissors, Jane?” Kitty asked.

“I have a folding knife,” Mr. Darcy said, and he proceeded to cut the strings that held the package together.

The Bennet girls stepped forward to open the package and exclaimed over the fabric and the ribbons. “Look, lace!” Kitty said.

“So very kind of the Gardiners,” Jane said, caressing a length of grey ribbon. “I will write to them at once.”

“It was very good of you to bring this to us,” Elizabeth murmured to Mr. Darcy, stepping close to him.

Her proximity was intoxicating; it was all he could do not to pull her into his arms. He felt Mr. Bennet’s eyes boring into him, and he straightened up, clearing his throat.

***

Kitty excused herself from the company as soon as it was polite to do so and ran up to her room.

She could hardly believe that everyone was discussing Lydia’s death so very calmly!

Kitty was certain that Lydia was not dead; she and Lydia were close, very close, and Kitty would have felt it if Lydia had died.

Wouldn’t she?