Elizabeth supposed she ought not to be shocked, for it was exactly as her aunt had said. It still saddened her. “Youmust care, or you would not have come here today.”
“Allow me to rephrase. Nobody cares unless it injures somebody they care about. I should have hated to discover that Mr Darcy had turned his back on you so soon. But, as an example, Lord Fulcombe keeps a mistress, and Lady Fulcombe is delighted about it.”
“I see.”
“But this is a terrible beginning—I have upset you already.”
“You have said nothing wrong,” Elizabeth assured her. “It is just a very different world to the one I am used to.”
Her ladyship sighed. “And I have probably become inured to such matters. But in my sphere, so many marriages are arranged for convenience, without consideration to compatibility or affection, that it is often a blessing when a man takes a mistress.”
Elizabeth thought instantly of Charlotte’s marriage, then felt more than a little guilty for it. Tentatively, she enquired, “Are women given the same freedom?”
“Some are,” Lady Rothersea replied. “Not many, and invariably only those with the protection of great fortune or powerful connexions. Women’s reputations are infinitely more fragile than men’s.”
“Indeed,” Elizabeth agreed, her brief hope for her mother quashed.
Lady Rothersea smirked. “You cannot be asking for yourself. Not when you have one of the most illustrious men in the country sneaking about, carrying out furtive investigations for you.”
Elizabeth enjoyed the brief warmth of thinking that Darcy had been doing it for her, but it did not last. She knew very well that he was doing what he must to protect his own reputation. For as Lady Rothersea had just confirmed, Mrs Bennet would certainly not count amongst those women who could carry on an affair with impunity.
“Do not try and tell me again that you are not involved,” Lady Rothersea said. Her eyes had narrowed at whatever she had seen in Elizabeth’s expression. “People will grow tired of the story if you prevaricate for too long.”
“I hope they do!” Elizabeth rubbed both her temples with her fingertips. “Then it might all be forgot.”
For the first time, her ladyship looked doubtful. “My dear, are you in earnest? Do you truly have no understanding with him?” When Elizabeth shook her head, she added, “But you are so obviously in love with him.”
For such a recent revelation, the sharp pain that accompanied these words felt horribly familiar. Almost as though Elizabeth’s heart had known the truth for much longer than her head. “Nevertheless, Mr Darcy and I are not engaged, and there is no prospect that we ever shall be.”
Lady Rothersea looked crestfallen. “Then, this whole business must have been unbearable.”
Elizabeth smiled ruefully. “I was diverted at first, but it has long since ceased to be amusing.” Seeing her new friend lost for words of comfort, she said more brightly, “I hope it will blow over soon, for I am due to leave for Kent at the beginning of March.”
At least, she hoped she still might but had already warned Charlotte that she may have to postpone her trip, for so much depended on finding Mrs Bennet.
Lady Rothersea sighed and shook her head. “I feel wretched for the part I have played in this. It just seemed so certain. The pair of you together are so…but never mind. I hope you and I shall remain friends regardless. Perhaps we might write to each other while you are in Kent.”
Elizabeth gave her hearty agreement but then begged to be allowed to return to Jane. When they did, they discovered that Mrs Gardiner had arrived home and was doing her utmost to maintain a conversation in the face of Miss Bingley’s unpardonable ill breeding and Jane’s mute misery.
“Mrs Gardiner! How delightful to see you!” Lady Rothersea positively effused. To Miss Bingley, she said only, “Oh, you are still here,” before remarking on the hour and declaring that it was time for both of them to leave.
“My goodness,” Mrs Gardiner exclaimed once they were gone. “Gracechurch Street has never seen so many distinguished callers! We have you to thank for it, Lizzy, even if you do not like it.”
Elizabeth thought her aunt might not like it either if she knew the true object of her gratitude was her husband’s scandal-ridden sister. As with so much else that she was concealing, she left it unsaid and turned her attention to rallying her sister’s spirits.
28
ENAMOURED BY THE MASSES
Darcy stayed at home for the whole first week of March, cards mounting on the salver in the hall as he refused to see any visitor. Bad enough that he had fallen in love with a woman who did not want him; that the whole world believed them betrothed and kept bloody asking him about it was unbearable. His reclusive streak was broken when Bellamy knocked on his study door to announce that Hurst had come to see him.
“Shall I tell him you are not at home, sir?”
“No, show him in. I should like to hear what he has to say.”
Hurst entered with the look of a man who was not expecting a warm welcome. “I have spoken to Bingley,” he said, as he edged into the chair Darcy indicated for him to take. “Found him in a Copper Hell in St Giles, if you can believe it.”
“At this point, I could believe anything of Bingley,” Darcy replied.
