“I can assure you, I did not cast her out. She left of her own accord.”
“She does not strike me as the kind of person who would suddenly pick up and leave at the drop of a hat.”
“Well, she did. I am as astonished as you are.”
“Perhaps she missed her family. She has lived all her life in the country. Perhaps the city is not for her.”
“It is possible.” Though if it was as simple as that, she would have said something to him, instead of slinking away in the night.
Colonel Fitzwilliam left soon afterwards, after complaining that Darcy was poor company, and threatening that if Darcy did not come to the club within a few days, he would come and drag him there.
After his cousin left, the colonel’s question stuck with him, and Darcy asked himself whether he had in fact indirectly cast Miss Bennet out. He sat in the armchair until it was dark, brooding over the answer.
Chapter 24
Elizabeth did not expect a warm welcome at home. In fact, she expected the opposite. She spent the last part of her journey wishing she had not come back. She shuddered as she imagined what her mother’s reaction would be.
As the carriage drew up to the house, she crossed her fingers behind her back and braced herself for the onslaught. As she entered the house, she was greeted by the housekeeper, Mrs. Hill, who looked both surprised and pleased.
“Dear me, Miss Elizabeth! You are looking so pale and thin! Are you ailing?”
“No, I am well. I am just fatigued,” replied Elizabeth. “Is Mama at home?”
“She is with your sisters in the parlor.”
“Who are you talking to, Mrs. Hill?” called Mrs. Bennet. “Is that Lizzy?”
“It is, Mama. I have come back home!”
“Well, Lizzy. I am very pleased to see you. I was telling Lydia just yesterday that it is time that we heard some good news from you. Come, sit next to me, Lizzy. Lydia, make way for your sister!”
Lydia did not move, and Elizabeth hovered in the doorway.
“Have you met any interesting young gentlemen? Would they be suitable for your sisters? When can we come to London to meet them?”
Elizabeth shook her head at the unrealistic view of the situation Mrs. Bennet had conjured up.
“Unfortunately, I have not met anyone suitable for my sisters, Mama. Miss Darcy is not yet out, and we did not attend any parties or outings with any gentlemen other than her immediate family and very close friends of Mr. Darcy.”
“But Jane said—.” Mrs. Bennet looked shrewdly at Elizabeth. “I hope you have not done something foolish! You have, have you not? They sent you down. That is why you are here.”
“Darcy House is not Eton or Oxford, Mrs. Bennet,” said Mr. Bennet, coming into the room. “I doubt Mr. Darcy has the authority to send Elizabeth down for bad behavior.”
He smiled at his daughter. “Welcome home, child. At long last I can hope for sensible conversation!”
“Do not change the subject, Mr. Bennet. I want to know if Lizzy has done something that ruined our chance of having our daughters married.”
“I did not ruin anyone’s chances, Mama,” said Elizabeth, warily. She really was too tired for this. “Nothing happened. Things did not go well, I met only two gentlemen other than Mr. Darcy and barely spoke to them. Now I am back.”
Mrs. Bennet took out her handkerchief and put it to her eye. “You are back? You mean this is not just a visit? Oh, Mr. Bennet! We are ruined. There is no chance at all now that your daughters will marry respectable gentlemen. And it is all because of this headstrong, foolish girl. You should have sent Jane instead. Or better still, Lydia! Oh! Someone fetch the smelling salts! I think I am about to faint.”
Mr. Bennet gazed at his wife with amusement, then as she continued for some time in the same manner, he turned to Elizabeth.
“Welcome home, Lizzy!” he said, casting an ironic look at Mrs. Bennet. “I would love to discover why you have returned, but we are in the middle of the harvest, and I cannot stay.”
He made his escape, leaving Elizabeth to face her mother alone.
“Foolish girl!” said Mrs. Bennet. “How could you be so selfish?” She groaned. “How could you have lived with Miss Darcy for two months and have nothing to show for it? I knew nothing would come of it all! I knew it!”
