She grinned. “No, I suppose that would be rather inconvenient.”
After a moment’s pause, she added, “Sir, it seemed to me that the parishioners at Lambton church were surprised to see you this morning. They greeted you as though it had been some time since your last attendance, yet you have a family box there.”
Darcy sighed inwardly.And so it begins,he thought.I should have known my clever Elizabeth would root out my secrets.
“You are observant, my dear,” he said at last. “You are correct. It has long been my habit to attend the church at Kimpton. It is larger, and the parishioners there did not see me grow from boyhood, nor do they recall every youthful scrape or folly.”
She laughed lightly. “Ah, you pass yourself with better credit at Kimpton. I understand, sir. My own neighbors will never see me as anything but one of the Bennet girls, the one who falls into ponds, handles fish, and climbs trees. They do not see the woman I have become, and likely never will.”
“I believe my six years’ absence from Lambton church made a marked difference in my neighbors’ memories,” he replied. “I was little more than a boy when I began to prefer Kimpton.”
“Will you consider attending here now that we are married?” she asked gently. “I imagine many of our tenants worship there. I should like our family to be more present in their lives. Perhaps I might prepare Christmas baskets for them?”
The minutes slipped by as Darcy listened to her speak, learning more of his wife through her kind and charitable wishes for his tenants and neighbors. The more she revealed of her heart, thedeeper his love grew, and the stronger his longing to take her into his arms and show her just how dearly she was loved.
Jane and Bingley lagged behind the rest.
“Miss Bennet,” Bingley said, “has Mrs. Darcy told you of our plan to intercept my sister should she travel this far south?”
Jane shook her head. “No, sir.”
“We have stationed two footmen at the Red Lion and two at the Pemberley gatehouse. If my sister passes through Lambton, the men will follow her carriage and stop it at the gatehouse. In this way, we hope to avoid a scene such as only Caroline could create.”
Jane flushed. “Mr. Bingley, I am relieved to hear it. I am sorry to admit that Miss Bingley frightens me, and she has been most unkind to Elizabeth. We both fear her, sir, and I am grateful that you wish to protect my sister from further insult.”
He looked earnestly at her. “Miss Bennet, it has long been my wish to speak to you of a future with me. I have wanted to offer my hand in marriage since our time in Hertfordshire, but I had to see to my sister’s future first. She is now married to my cousin Augustus, but for some reason, she has left his protection. I wrote to him yesterday by express through my uncle Ambrose, hoping to learn why she left her husband and her friends to travel south. My uncle believes she travels to Pemberley, for her maid said she heard her mistress speak of it, but I do not know for certain. I can only pray she is on her way here so that I may return her to her husband. Because Caroline’s conduct may bring scandal to my family, I will not ask you to join your life with mine at present, but I ask that you do not accept another proposal until I have settled my sister’s affairs. If she has notruined my good name, I would like to speak to you again of marriage.”
Jane’s expression grew grave. “Mr. Bingley, it has been my dearest wish to be your wife, but given the circumstances your sister has created, I must not commit myself. Until it is certain that she is married, settled, and has brought neither shame nor ruin upon you, I cannot marry you. I have three unmarried sisters and myself whose reputations must be protected. You understand, sir?”
He sighed. “Of course. I had not considered your unmarried sisters, but I understand. The taint of ruin would fall upon them as well, were you connected to a fallen woman.”
Jane said gently, “I wish she would arrive tonight or tomorrow so you might know for certain where she is and what has happened. If her husband will receive her again, then there could yet be a future for us. But if he refuses her, or if she refuses to live quietly and enacts another Cheltenham tragedy, what then, sir?”
He looked at the woman he loved. Her eyes were filled with sadness, and he was shaken. Could this be the end for them? “I had not thought that far ahead, Miss Bennet, but your concern is valid. I will speak with Darcy and Richard again. “If there is only one road from the north to Pemberley, I will travel it with two of my servants and see if I can find her somewhere along the way, to put an end to this wretched business as soon as possible.”
He offered his arm. “But for now, I will escort you to the castle ruins and not allow Caroline to trouble us until tomorrow.”
Chapter 33: The Heir Marries
Thomas Bennet stood quietly beside Mr. Collins as the man spoke his vows. He glanced toward Mrs. Talbot and saw that she was well pleased, and then at Mary King, whose face was wreathed in smiles. It seemed to him that he alone was not pleased. The heir to Longbourn was a well-looking man, with an air of distinction, and his position paid well. He would have been an eligible match for any one of Bennet’s five daughters, save that he was not entirely respectable in his conduct toward a beautiful woman. None of his daughters, except perhaps Lydia, could have been happy with such a husband, for they were all too ingenuous, too proper in their dealings. And Lydia was too young to marry in any case.
It had been a whirlwind of activity leading up to the wedding. Mr. Collins had travelled to London and back to secure a common license; Mrs. Talbot had enlisted the help of Lady Lucas and Mrs. Goulding in arranging the wedding breakfast; and an express had been dispatched to Steafan Allister, Miss King’s guardian, to obtain his consent for her marriage.
Now, at last, Bennet stood quietly as first his heir and then Miss King recited their vows. He and Mrs. Talbot followed the couple to the registry to sign the marriage lines. When the business was concluded, he turned to the bride.
“Congratulations, my dear. It has been my pleasure to see you grow from a child into a graceful young woman. Welcome to the family. I wish you every happiness.”
He bowed over her hand, then turned to his heir.
“Collins, you are a fortunate man. Mrs. Collins is a fine woman, amiable and good-hearted. You will be very happy with her at your side.”
The two men shook hands.
He turned next to Mrs. Talbot. “Harriet, will you ride in my carriage to your home, or do you prefer to walk?”
She considered and said, “If you would escort me, I should enjoy the walk. I could use the air.” Bennet nodded and turned to Collins.
“Go along to the wedding breakfast, we will be there in a few minutes.” Collins inclined his head and offered his arm to his new wife. Bennet offered his own arm to Mrs. Talbot, and they walked down the nave and out into the sunlight.
