Page 66 of The Riches of a Life Well-Lived
“W ell, that was certainly unexpected,” Bingley said with a sigh as they left Longbourn’s borders.
Darcy nodded. “Indeed. I only hope I did not make the situation worse.”
“I thought you did brilliantly. Telling Miss Lydia that you want more for her than to marry someone like Wickham shows you really care for her.”
Darcy nodded, forcing his hands to stay relaxed on the reins. He was already tense enough—he did not need to visit his ill-humour on Sisyphus.
“I had no idea that Wickham had pursued her,” Bingley said. “I am sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”
Bingley shifted, and his horse sidestepped. “It was my job to keep an eye on Wickham, and I failed.”
“Bingley, you were not the only one monitoring him, and he is more slippery than wet soap. Miss Elizabeth mentioned that Miss Lydia has seemed more cantankerous than usual, but even she did not suspect Wickham was to blame. I am only glad that I arrived in time.”
“As am I. If you had been any later―” Bingley shivered.
“Truly. She would have been forced to marry the wretch, and all of Mrs. Engel’s work would have been wasted.”
Bingley screwed up his face in confusion. “Was not the point of the repetitions to prevent Mr. Wickham from marrying one of Elizabeth’s sisters?”
Darcy nodded.
“Then the fact that you are no longer repeating the November 19th implies that Miss Lydia was never at risk.”
Darcy shrugged. “Perhaps. But having her lost to the slums of London, without marrying Wickham, is hardly a good outcome.”
“I had not thought of that.”
“Or perhaps the actions we took today resulted from all those Tuesdays, and Miss Lydia’s safety is still due to Mrs. Engel’s intervention.” Darcy’s lips twitched up briefly. “I have spent rather a lot of time considering what to do with the knowledge I possess. Let us hope that this will be a sufficient fright to keep Miss Lydia from getting into another such situation.”
“I am not sure she was frightened,” Bingley said, his brow furrowed. “Angry enough to spit fire, yes. Frightened, no.”
“Frightened, yes,” Darcy retorted. “She lashed out because she was afraid for Wickham and, later, for herself. It is easier to be angry at me than to fear for her parents’ health, particularly as she can yell at me without any ill effect.”
“Perhaps. Do you really think Mr. and Mrs. Bennet will be well?”
Darcy’s hands tensed again, and he shook them out one at a time. “I do not know. At least Elizabeth has already accepted my suit, so I will have a claim to involve myself.”
“She has?” Bingley cried, a wide smile appearing on his cheerful face.
Darcy gave him an answering smile. “She has.”
“When?”
“This morning. We met on our morning constitutionals, and I asked her if I had fulfilled her conditions sufficiently.”
Bingley’s eyes went wide. “You met her alone?”
“It was outdoors,” Darcy said stiffly. “And we have seldom seen anyone on that path.”
Bingley cleared his throat. “I know you are used to meeting privately from Tuesday, but you do not want to compromise Miss Elizabeth,” he said in a rush.
Darcy nearly swore. Bingley was correct, but, dash it all, if they did not meet for their morning walks, when could they speak privately? He would ask Elizabeth, but the risk seemed worth it to him.
“Perhaps the four of us may go for a walk tomorrow afternoon,” Bingley put in after a moment’s silence. “Then you would not need to seek out Miss Elizabeth tomorrow morning.”
Darcy grimaced. “Perhaps. Mrs. Bennet relies a great deal on Miss Bennet, and I do not wish to cause further upset.”
“Miss Bennet does take prodigious care of her mother and her sisters. Did you see how easily she comforted Miss Lydia?”
“I did,” Darcy said with a small smile. “Does that mean you have confirmed your former opinion of her kindness?”
Bingley hesitated. “I believe so. I simply do not understand how Caroline could have so completely misconstrued whatever it was that Miss Bennet said.”
“Have you asked Miss Bennet if she even spoke to Miss Bingley before your sister’s departure?”
The reins went slack in Bingley’s hands. “You think Caroline is lying?”
“Asking Miss Bennet seems like a simple way to confirm the truth. If she says that she did speak to your sister, then you may investigate what was said. If she is confused by the question, perhaps Miss Bingley twisted the facts in hopes of ensuring a more advantageous match for you.”
Bingley groaned. “I wish I could say that you were wrong about Caroline, but if she really believed it was in my best interest―”
“According to whom?” Darcy asked. “Though Miss Bingley may believe she knows what is in your best interest, her values of what constitutes best may be entirely different from your own. If so, then you will never agree on what is best. Is that not what you were saying the other day? That you may never agree upon a worthy woman for you to wed?”
Bingley nodded thoughtfully. “I suppose so.” He stole a glance at his friend. “I really think that Miss Bennet is the kind of woman I would be fortunate to marry. Few women even consider kindness, let alone to the degree Miss Bennet does.” He hesitated. “Darcy, what Miss Lydia said—do you think I am too kind? You have often seemed to hold the same view as Miss Lydia, but now.... Well, after you have changed your perspective, do you still agree with her?”
“No. You are already working on making your own decisions, which is what I was concerned about. Our conversation today is proof of that. Would you have expressed concerns about me meeting with Miss Elizabeth a month ago?”
Bingley shook his head. “But you would never have risked even a hint of compromise before now.”
Darcy chuckled. “We have both changed.” He ran a thumb along Sisyphus’s rein. If only he had a better answer for Bingley. “Before, when I spoke of you as being too kind, I was wrong. I did not see that kindness and self-determination can co-exist. For example, when Miss Elizabeth and I discussed your penchant for giving way to a friend’s desires, I wanted you to recognise the folly of being blown about by everyone else’s desires. If you spend your life trying to please everyone, you will never be content. It is important to know what you think is right and to be able to hold to that position, regardless of others’ whims. However, I did not make allowances for the closeness of a friend or for their reasons in making such a request. Not everyone has to be a leader, Bingley, but everyone who manages their own estate has to be able to say ‘no’ sometimes.”
Bingley stared at the road meditatively for some time. “I see.”