“Wait!”He grabbed her arm.“Do not go.We can discuss this.”
She looked at him sadly.“What is there to discuss?How could I even consider courting the man who has had a hand in ruining, perhaps forever, the happiness of a most beloved sister?”
She looked at him with tear-filled eyes and it was his undoing.“Elizabeth, my love, please, stay and talk with me.Surely we can do something!”
His voice cracked in desperation and she felt her resolve slipping.This was Mr.Darcy.The most staid and stoic man of her acquaintance, begging her to speak with him, to allow him a chance to win her.She felt her reservations crumbling, and something inside her becoming soft and open to him.
“Very well.We may talk.But I make no promises,” she added with a stern glare.
“I understand.”
She took a deep breath and perched on the edge of the stone bench, her eyes on the brook.
“Do you believe your sister is still in love with Mr.Bingley?”
“I should not bandy about her personal matters, but yes, I believe she is.She has tried to overcome her feelings, and she has tried to convince me she has been successful, but I know her too well to miss the melancholy notes in her letters.She is pining, but she will not admit it.She feels a fool for loving a man who only ever viewed her as a friendly acquaintance—not even enough of a friend to say goodbye to when he left the neighborhood.”
Darcy winced, feeling all the reproach in her tone.“You are right—it was very badly done.At the very least, Bingley should have farewelled the neighborhood.And he would have, if we had not followed him to London.”
Elizabeth nodded.He could admit when he was wrong.That was something at least.
“I believe Bingley still thinks of Miss Bennet.”
Her head whipped towards him.“Truly?”
“Yes.He has been melancholy these last months.He tries to hide it, but I know him well.”
She looked at him suspiciously.“Are you certain Jane is the cause of his ennui?”
“I believe she is.He speaks of her occasionally and is always wistful afterward.”
“What are you getting at, Mr.Darcy?”
“I propose I speak to Bingley.If he is in fact still enamored of your sister, we bring them together.I will confess my mistake and let him know Miss Bennet would welcome a visit.The rest will be up to him.”
“That seems deceptively simple.”
He shrugged.“It could be quickly done.I can send him an express today.”
She looked at him speculatively.“Are you doing this to please me or because it is the right thing to do?”
“Might I not wish to do both?”
“You certainly may, but I would be much prouder of you if you wished to do right even if there were no gain to yourself.”
His eyes took on a new glow as he looked at her.“You have my word as a gentleman that I will make things right with Bingley, even if you never wish to see me again.”
She was tempted to tease him, but something in his gaze held her back.
“Very well.Send the letter to Bingley.I shall meet you here tomorrow.”
With that, she was up and walking away from him at a quick pace.
Saturday Confessions
“HaveyouheardfromMr.Bingley?”
“Good morning, Miss Bennet.Did you have a pleasant evening?”
