~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The Darcy courier arrived back at Pemberley late Saturday afternoon. He handed the letter to the butler and made his way to the stables to leave the gelding in the care of the stable hands.
When Douglas entered the music room, he found Mr Darcy seated in a wingback chair watching his sister as she played the pianoforte. The little miss’s companion, Mrs Annesley, was sitting on a sofa with her knitting. As soon as the little miss saw his salver and the missive on it, she ceased playing.
“Did Freddy bring that back from Lake Windermere for me?” Gigi asked excitedly.
“He did,” the butler intoned and bowed while he extended the salver.
Gigi took the letter. “Thank you,” she gushed. “William, you will not object if I read it now, will you?”
“I would not suspend any pleasure of yours, Gigi,” Darcy stated as he grinned.
Sitting down in the chair closest to her brother, Gigi broke the seal and began to read. Her face reflected the pleasure she felt. “Lizzy was very happy I want to keep a correspondence, and she, Jane, and Mr and Mrs Gardiner all returned the warm regards you sent them.”
Darcy could not stop himself from grinning. He knew enough of Miss Elizabeth’s candid way of speaking that if she felt he was responsible for her youngest sister’s fall, she would not have said what she did to Gigi.
“William, there are a few paragraphs you need to read because I am not sure to what Lizzy refers,” Gigi stated slyly as she handed the pages to her brother and pointed to the place heshould begin reading. She sat back in her chair with a satisfied smile on her face; more convinced than ever Lizzy would be her sister one day.
The fact that Miss Elizabeth had written this epistle, and he was holding it, caused Darcy to feel a frisson of pleasure. His thumb rested at the point Gigi said he needed to start to read. He did so.
Gigi, mayhap you could request that your brother give his opinion of the following.
Recently a friend of mine had just begun to come to know a man, and she was developing tender feelings for him. The problem was a close family member of hers was induced into doing something rather dishonourable.
My friend saw a look on the man’s face which she assumed was disgust for her and her family. He left the area very quickly before she could speak to him about it.
She discussed her assumption with one very close to her. That person opined that she was jumping to conclusions and that she believed the man felt misplaced guilt, believing he was somehow responsible for what occurred. My friend says she does not hold him responsible in the smallest measure.
Do you think either you, or, as you have told me he is, your wise brother could offer an opinion on the matter?
When you reply, I will let my friend know what you think.
His heart was beating like a herd of galloping horses. Mrs Reynolds and Richard had beencorrect. Both he and Miss Elizabeth had made assumptions about what the other was thinking.
He froze as he remembered what she had written about herfrienddeveloping tender feelings for the man who left without any explanation. What had Mrs Reynolds called him? Ah yes, a dunderhead. He was that and more. All of this would have been cleared up if he had simply spoken to Miss Elizabeth before leaving.
Once the misunderstanding between them had been dispelled, Darcy would have explained that his sense of duty demanded that no matter how far Wickham had sunk, he still felt he had to return the body to be interred next to the late Mr and Mrs Wickham in the Kympton church’s cemetery. Had he done that, the chances were great he would have seen Miss Elizabeth before she and Miss Bennet departed on their travels with Mr and Mrs Gardiner. At the very least, Darcy was sure he would have been notified of their presence in Lambton on their way to the lakes.
There was nothing he could do to correct the should-haves and could-haves of the past. All he could do now was to help Gigi craft a reply which would leave Miss Elizabeth with no doubt that he did not disdain her or her family and wait until she and her travelling companions arrived in Lambton. Then he would show her the truth about his character.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Thanks to Sister Agnes agreeing that news of this sort deserved to be sent by express, on the final Saturday of June, an express rider arrived at Longbourn.
Fanny and Bennet were seated in the drawing room, spending time together, something which was occurring with more frequency as the latter had ceased hiding himself away in his sanctuary.
Bennet looked up at the butler’s entrance. “Yes, Hill?” he queried.
“Master and Mistress, an express just arrived,” Hill reported as he handed the sealed missive to his master.
“Thank you, Hill,” Bennet said in dismissal. He held up the letter.
“That is my Lydia’s writing. What is wrong? None of her previous epistles have been delivered by express. Is my baby well?” Fanny felt her old worries creep back as she imagined the worst, not thinking of the fact the direction had been written by her youngest daughter.
“Fanny, calm yourself. I suggest we read this before you think something terrible has befallen our youngest.” Bennet was firm but not harsh.
Hearing her husband’s words had a calming effect on Fanny.
