Though Darcy nodded to his friend, his thoughts had taken another turn, such that he blurted his next comment without thinking of what it meant.
“If you wish, I should appreciate your support at Pemberley.”
Sobered at once, Bingley regarded him. “That is kind of you, Darcy, and you know I would be happy to offer my support. Yet I cannot think it is at all advisable, since you will go into a house of mourning and a situation unfamiliar to you. I would not wish to give your relations the wrong impression.”
With a sigh, Darcy offered his friend a rueful smile. “You are correct, of course, Bingley. It is not that I did not understand this, but the notion of having a friend’s support is not at all unwelcome.”
“Trust me, Darcy, I understand very well. I hope you will remember this sentiment when I settle on an estate to lease or purchase, for when that day arrives, I hope I can count on your patronage.”
“Of course, Bingley. You need only ask, and I shall be happy to assist.”
“Thank you, Darcy. I shall hold you to that promise.”
“What will you do in the interim while I am away in the north?”
Bingley shrugged. “For the moment, my destination will be London, for that is where Louisa and Caroline are at present. As Caroline rarely wishes to travel to York to visit family and will not countenance missing even a second of the season, I cannot imagine we will leave London.”
A pause ensued in which Bingley regarded him, uncertainty written on his brow. Darcy refrained from asking after his thoughts, knowing that Bingley would come to the point in his own time, which proved to be only a moment later.
“What should I say when my sisters ask after my untimely return? I am aware you prefer to avoid having your business discussed in every sitting-room in London, but it would be better if I had something to tell them, rather than not saying anything.”
This had the potential, Darcy knew, to set Miss Bingley on an even more determined path to capture his attention despite his acknowledged engagement. It was a facet of her character to covet whatever she could obtain, and to that point she had cast her net hoping to snare a larger fish—yet she had not ignored him, as he was the highest positioned gentleman of her acquaintance. Now that Darcy was to inherit Pemberley with all its attendant advantages, he knew this would focus her attention on him, making her behavior all that much worse.
Yet Bingley was also correct. If he said nothing, that would allow them to speculate about the reason for their brother’sreturn, which could be dangerous to his reputation, to say nothing of Bingley’s.
“I suppose the news will soon be known throughout London,” mused Darcy as he considered Bingley’s question. “It cannot be hidden for long, and the fact of my inheritance will not be far behind.”
“Then, I may speak of the reason you are traveling to the north?”
“That is acceptable. Perhaps it would be best to leave out the information regarding my inheritance—say only that I was called to the north because of my cousin’s sudden passing, and leave it at that. The truth will become known before long, but there is no need to spread gossip before it becomes necessary.”
Bingley did not even bat an eyelash at the notion that his sisters would be prominent voices spreading such talk. “Very well, I shall inform them of that much myself and declaim any further knowledge. When the truth comes out, I will say only that you requested my silence on the subject, and I obliged.”
“Thank you, Bingley,” said Darcy, grasping his friend’s hand. “You are an excellent friend.”
A short time later, two carriages departed from Netherfield, one to the south, through Meryton to the road to Watford, and from thence to London, while the second turned to the north. While the most direct route from Netherfield lay to the north and Stevenage, to rejoin the Great North Road beyond Luton, Darcy directed his driver to a small path leading more northwest, knowing there was a stretch of road that led near to Longbourn’s borders. If Darcy knew his betrothed at all, she would be waiting there when he passed by, even though the hour was early. When the carriage rounded a bend in the narrow track, it gratified him to see that he was correct in his supposition.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” said Darcy as he descended from the carriage; the driver not even needing his request to stop the coach. “It appreciate this evidence of the similarity of our thoughts.”
The woman who had been a regular visitor in his dreams for as long as he could remember favored him with an impish smile. “To divine your turn of thought was the work of a moment, for you are predictable, Fitzwilliam Darcy.”
Darcy leaned his forehead against hers. “If you mean I am entirely in your power, you are correct. I must go to the north to deal with the situation that has arisen, but I am dreading our time apart.”
Elizabeth sighed and raised her hands to his lapels. “Please, William, promise that you will return as soon as may be. I do not know that I can withstand a separation of several months, not when I had thought to be your wife in less than two weeks.”
“If I can accomplish it,” replied Darcy, “I shall return before spring. It is still my intention that we will join forever before the season begins. You have met my friends in London, but now I believe we will have a much wider circle with whom we must become acquainted. As you are five times as sociable and comfortable in company as I am, I shall count on your support to ease our way.”
“That is a significant request, William!” laughed she, though Darcy caught a hint of uncertainty in her manner. “If I fail, then the fault for the Darcy family’s fall in consequence will be mine.”
“Never,” averred Darcy, looking into her eyes and showing her all the confidence he had in her abilities. “Even if we excite the contempt of the masses, it will not concern me a jot, for then we could retreat to our home and ignore society for the rest of our lives.”
“That sounds heavenly.”
“More for me than you, I am certain.” Darcy grinned. “I cannot imagine that this business will change us much, my dear. There will be a higher level of society, though I will not shun the friends I have now. We will be more prominent, it is true. Nothing will change between us—that is the salient point, and one I shall hold to my heart.
“As for your abilities, as I have already told you, I have supreme confidence in you, and I pledge to do my part. If you think about it,Iwill be of more curiosity to those of high society, for I will be the new master of Pemberley.”
“Many young ladies will no doubt hate me!” said she.
