“I cannot leave until I am certain Georgiana is completely recovered. But I am sure your return will be welcome.”
“I hope so too. I will write to my housekeeper and my steward, to prepare Netherfield. I plan to leave in two days, but I shall visit you again in the meantime.”
“Come whenever you wish. We would be glad to have your company for dinner any evening—or every evening,” Darcy said.
The conversation with Bingley brought Darcy unexpected relief. His younger friend seemed stronger and wiser than Darcy believed. Despite his sisters’ opposition, Bingley had decided to return to Netherfield. Whatever would happen in the future, Bingley was the master of his own actions.
He was aware that Bingley’s return might affect him too. The connection with the Bennets would certainly be tightened further and his path might cross Elizabeth’s soon. He was uncertain if he dreaded the reunion or prayed for it.
The next morning, Darcy was surprised to receive his uncle, Lord Matlock, and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, immediately after breakfast.
“Nephew, I cannot stay long, as I am expected by Lord Dalton,” the earl said.
“I am in no hurry; my business is usually late in the evening,” the colonel said in his usual mocking tone.
“I hope you do not bring bad news, Uncle.”
“Well, Darcy, it is for you to decide if it is bad or not. Have you checked your post yet? My sister Catherine is quite vexed, she said she sent you two letters this week and you have answered neither.”
“I read only the first of Aunt Catherine’s letters and it upset me; it was insensitive and rude. Aunt Catherine firmly believes that I spoil Georgiana too much and I should not be so preoccupied with a mere faint. Also, she mentioned that Anne faints all the time and that I should be equally preoccupied with my duties to her. My present state is not favourable to writing a decent reply.”
“I fear the second letter may worsen your present state,” the colonel said.
“Richard, this is no time for mockery,” the earl interjected severely.
“I spoke nothing but the truth, father. Forgive me, Darcy, I did not mean to be insensitive.”
“Uncle, will you not tell me what is the matter?”
“You should read your letter, nephew. I do not feel comfortable repeating what was written in mine.”
Annoyed and impatient, Darcy searched through the pile of papers on his desk. Finally, he found Lady Catherine’s sealed letter, dated three days ago, and opened it with vexation.
‘Darcy,
As your closest relative, I must say I am deeply disappointed in you. I now have the explanation for your silence and lack of consideration in replying to my letter. I would have expected such unguarded behaviour from Richard but not from you. Can you imagine the shame I had to suffer when my clergyman, Mr Collins, informed me about the rumours regarding your outrageous relationship with his cousin? A woman of no connections and no consequence, whom even he refused to marry? A woman whose easy charactermade her turn towards that Wickham man, the son of your father’s steward? How dare you allow the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted? I would expect a man in your position to be more discreet with his amusements.
I suppose I should be grateful that you came to your senses and eventually distanced yourself from that woman before you affected our family’s reputation. I pray that Anne will never suffer the torment of discovering the flaws in your character.
In order to remedy your errors, you should promise me to never speak to that woman again, and come to visit Rosings as soon as possible.’
Darcy put down the letter, gazing at his uncle and cousin, who were staring at him with apparent curiosity.
As always, he read his aunt’s letters with little attention; most of them were full of Lady Catherine’s demands regarding someone or something. In those moments, Wickham and Collins were the only names that remained in his head.
“Lady Catherine has lost her mind, I am afraid. She wrote to me of some laughable nonsense about me being involved in a relationship with a woman who is in a relationship with Wickham. For Heaven’s sake, it is all some incoherent jumble. Here it is, read it for yourself,” he said, handing it to his uncle.
“There is no need for me to read it, Catherine repeated the story in her letter to me. She claims that her clergyman—who appears to be a good authority since he visited the village in person—brought her the reports. It is said that you were involved in an intimate affair with a Miss Elizabeth Bennet and once you left her, she attempted to attach herself to that Wickham boy.”
Darcy looked at the two in utter disbelief, waiting for his cousin to burst out laughing and reveal that it was a bad joke.
The gravity of their expressions froze him in the middle of the room, stunned, his head spinning and his fists tightly clenched.
“Darcy…”
“This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard and, if I did not fear that this story may have ruined an innocent, honourable young woman’s life, I would laugh my heart out, saying that you have all lost your minds! Aunt Catherine has certainly lost hers, unlike her clergyman, who likely never possessed one.”
“Darcy, I cannot stay long, but please calm yourself. Neither of us could believe such a claim but I believed you should know that the rumours exist and might affect you.”
