Before the words had finished spilling from her lips, Mr. Darcy had grabbed the letter and opened it.
“Good heavens!” he cried. “I must leave here at once and fly directly to Netherfield.”
“At once! We must only pray you are not too late.”
His breathing increased and he looked around in agitation. “Miss Bennet, I am grateful to you but I need not ask you to keep this in confidence.”
“Of course.”
“Please excuse me. I will instruct the driver to return you directly to Longbourn. I will call on you with Bingley when I find Georgiana.”
With that he bowed deeply, walked to the driver without delay, and galloped away toward Meryton.
I only hope we are not too late,she thought as she watched him fade in the distance.
Chapter 10
“It was quite shockingto have Mr. Darcy come riding into our yard as if Napoleon himself was invading Meryton,” Mrs. Bennet told her sister Phillips as Elizabeth made her way through the door an hour later.
“Where is Mr. Darcy?” Lizzy asked, removing her gloves and looking around the room expectantly.
“Oh, Lizzy. You are home. I was so concerned you would not be able to see Mr. Hamilton while you were at Ashby. Did the weather help your cause at all?” She picked up another biscuit and dipped it in her tea.
With much self-possession, Elizabeth refrained from rolling her eyes but instead took a deep breath and exhaled. “Mama, I had no cause in traveling to Ashby Park, other than to meet with Mrs. Wallings as you instructed me to do. And Mr. Hamilton did not arrive at his home.”
“La, it is well enough that Mr. Hamilton wants to marry you anyway.”
“Yes, Lizzy,” agreed her aunt Phillips. “I was just talking to my maid about it. You shall be married before Michaelmas!”
“Aunt!I thank you both to refrain from discussing what you suppose to know about my private life.” Stifling her anger, she turned back to Mrs. Bennet. “Now, Mama. What is this about Mr. Darcy?”
Mrs. Bennet yawned, rather bored. “He is gone. He and Miss Darcy returned to Netherfield only a quarter of an hour ago.”
“Miss Darcy? Miss Darcy was here?”
Lizzy sat down on the closest chair, attempting to keep her jaw from going slack in astonishment while her mother relayed the events of the last forty-eight hours. “Well, that is a rather curious tale. Two days ago,” she said to her sister, “Kitty came in to the parlor hurriedly and asked if she might invite Miss Darcy to stay with us as her particular friend. As Lydia was staying with you, Sister, and Jane has been engaged with Miss Bingley, and Lizzy was at Ashby…”
“And Mary?”
“Oh, she was doing whatever Mary does. Anyway, I determined it would be a good thing for Kitty to be occupied and make a good connection with such a distinguished family. She sent the invitation off to Netherfield and Miss Darcy arrived shortly thereafter.
“The girls were having such an agreeable time that they even sent their regrets down from Kitty’s room when the handsome Mr. Wickham and Mr. Denney came to visit yesterday! I was quite disappointed that Kitty did not present herself to the officers, but Mr. Wickham has set his cap on Lydia, and who can blame him?”
Lizzy cringed at the thought. “And what of Mr. Darcy?”
“He came with much haste to collect his sister, and Miss Georgiana asked if Kitty could accompany them to Netherfield and stay for dinner. Of course, I could never tell Mr. Darcy no.” She leaned in to Mrs. Phillips as she loudly exulted, “Especially since I believe he might have taken an interest in Kitty while he was here. He kept thanking her for escorting his sister and for joining them this evening. Mark my words, Sister. We shall have three weddings by Michaelmas!”
“Mama, he is betrothed to Miss…”Oh never mind. There is no point when she has intrigues in her head!Lizzy exhaled slowly, as all the fear which had possessed her since she had found the letter began to dissolve.I am so grateful Kitty has befriended Miss Georgiana and her sense of propriety has grown so in her company. If not, I am uncertain what would have happened.She ignored her mother’s prattling and slid lower into the chair from both emotional fatigue and the long journey. When Mrs. Bennet mentioned Charlotte Lucas, Lizzy looked up.
“…and that odious man” —her mother wrinkled her nose in disgust while fanning herself— “who will throw us to the hedgerows when Mr. Bennet dies, chose her over one of my darling girls.”
“Mama,” Lizzy interjected, “what is this? Charlotte Lucas?”
Mrs. Phillips interrupted. “I know, Sister. How ill-bred! He should understand his obligation to the family!”
“Mama.”
“Truth be told, I was frustrated with Kitty staying above stairs with Miss Darcy, and almost blamed her, but now that Mr. Darcy seems interested…”
