‘No, my cousin is Colonel Fitzwilliam, but he delivered his lesson at Gentlemen Jackson’s club, and since he was most vexed with me his message was quite detailed and severe.’
‘At least one member of your family has an understanding of what it takes to be a gentleman.’
‘Indeed. Mr Bennet, I am heartily sorry for having insulted your daughter. It was most ungentlemanlike of me to do so, and my comment was also patently untrue. Would you allow me to apologise to her in person?’
Bennet observed the penitent look on his visitor’s countenance and softened slightly. ‘I accept your apology on my own behalf, but you cannot see my Lizzy.’
‘Mr Bennet, I assure you, I will be polite.’
‘I believe you, Mr Darcy. But Lizzy is not here.’
The idea that the lady would not be immediately available had never occurred to Darcy. ‘Could I perhaps wait for Miss Elizabeth if she has just gone visiting…’
‘She has gone visiting, but you would not want to wait for her.’
‘Will you not reconsider and let me wait for Miss Elizabeth’s return? Now that I am here, I do wish to express my sincere regret to her.’
‘You would have a long wait. I expect her to return for Christmas.’
Darcy wondered if Bennet was making sport of him until the gentleman added, ‘She and her sisters have gone to visit my brother in London for the little season like they planned to do months ago. You may have heard of him since I believe that Miss Bingley was quite vocal about the tradesman who lives in Cheapside.’
‘Oh.’ Darcy was caught off guard. ‘Would you be kind enough to give me his direction and perhaps a note of introduction so that I might deliver my apology to Miss Elizabeth without further delay?’
Bennet’s brows rose as he asked, ‘You would lower yourself to visit the house of a tradesman in Cheapside?’
‘I would visit the king of hell if necessary to make amends,’ Darcy replied vehemently.
‘You do not have to go that far. Gracechurch Street will do nicely.’ Bennet grinned, pleased by Darcy’s determination. He pulled out a sheet of paper and his pen and quickly wrote a brief note. He folded and sealed it, then added the Gardiner’s address on the outside.
‘This should do the trick,’ Bennet said, handing over the letter.
Darcy took it with a bow. ‘Thank you, sir. I hope that you will excuse me. I would like to get back to town with all speed.’
Bennet waved him away and returned to his book, hoping for some peace to finish the chapter. He was disappointed in his endeavour as Collins returned to Longbourn, hoping to engage Darcy in conversation. As he was disappointed in that respect, he pestered his cousin for details about the visit of his patroness’s nephew.
Since Collins was spoiling his fun, Bennet retaliated by telling him that it was none of his business. This resulted in putting Collins into ahuff which caused him to withhold the news of his engagement to Miss Charlotte Lucas.
~T~
While Darcy was in Hertfordshire, Miss Bingley’s spies informed her that Darcy had left the house, although they did not know where he had gone. As he was riding, she felt that he could not have gone too far.
In the afternoon Miss Bingley was strolling along Grosvenor Square in the hope ofaccidentallyencountering Mr Darcy on his return.
As she rounded the corner to walk along Audley Street before returning to Grosvenor Square so as not to be caught loitering, she saw a familiar face which she had hoped never to encounter again… and most certainly not in London.
She saw Miss Bennet being handed out of a grand carriage by an exceedingly handsome man, before he reached into the vehicle and extracted a package which he handed to her, bowing extravagantly. He then moved the hand which he was holding so that it would wrap around his arm in an intimate gesture. They were both laughing as they ascended the stairs to the front door, which was being opened by a liveried footman and they entered with a nod at the servant, who closed the door behind them.
Caroline Bingley had been arrested by this view, completely forgetting her plan to encounter Mr Darcy. She strolled a block to where she had left her carriage and boarded, still deep in thought, busy analysing what she had seen.
It was obvious to her that Jane had come to London to continue her pursuit of her brother. But since coming to town, she must have found a more lucrative and susceptible prey.
It had been perfectly evident that the house which they had entered was the home of Jane’s companion. Therefore, it followed that he was wealthy.
The couple had seemed on intimidate terms and Jane had been unchaperoned. Miss Bingley could only draw one conclusion from this evidence… Miss Bennet was now the mistress of her wealthy paramour.
Once she returned to the Hurst townhouse, Miss Bingley contemplated how to gain the greatest advantage from this information.
Would it be better to hide the presence of Miss Bennet in London, or should she inform her brother of the woman’s mercenary ways to cure him of his infatuation which caused him to still sulk in his chambers.
