“This may not be the ordinary case of a young woman seeking a husband,” Mr Gardiner completed. “It looks like a scheme—one of deliberate design—to extract information from the colonel for the benefit of that French scoundrel who calls himself emperor.”
“If this is so, then the colonel is in grave danger.” Mr Phillips’s worried voice made them all tremble. “Colonel Fitzwilliam may be made a traitor without even knowing it. I must tell you, when I met the Frenchman in London, I had the impression he was not at ease in my presence. I wondered at the time whether he had taken some offence during our business dealings. I found him a peculiar fellow. And if Miss Henry is truly his daughter, and they have plotted to entrap the colonel in such a scheme, he must be warned.”
“I agree,” Mr Bennet said, “yet we cannot simply go to the colonel and tell him such a tale. At present, it resembles more a collection of curious facts than a confirmed threat.”
“Besides, the colonel is not in London at present,” Elizabeth said, the worry plainly clouding her beautiful countenance.
“And a man nourishing affection would hardly believe so singular a tale about a lady to whom he is attached,” Mr Gardiner spoke with a conviction of a man knowing his fellows.
Elizabeth thought, with some irony, that only Mr Bingley might be so easily swayed.
“Yet we have a moral obligation to share the information with someone who commands his trust,” she said. “Even if all we have is a strange collection of circumstances—Mama, Aunt Phillips, Miss Henry resembling Sophia…the letter…then the Frenchman who signed the documents.”
“Could you speak with his father?” Mary asked Mr Gardiner in a quiet voice.
“With Lord Matlock? No—certainly not. We exchanged a few civilities, but I agree with my brother Bennet. It is not a tale one gentleman tells another. We do not even know with certainty that Miss Henry is Sophia’s daughter. All we possess is a chain of inferences.”
Elizabeth sighed. She comprehended the reasons behind her father’s and uncles’ restraint, yet she could not bring herself to leave the matter alone.
“Then perhaps I might write to Mr Darcy,” she suggested, attempting to disguise her unease.
“That may be done,” Mr Gardiner said. “I have met the gentleman, and I believe he would understand our concern. We may be mistaken, but if we are not, then Colonel Fitzwilliam is at risk.”
Both Mr Bennet and Mr Phillips agreed that such a letter would be suitable.
“We could write it together,” Mr Gardiner proposed, “and state only what is known, leaving Mr Darcy to draw his own conclusions. If he knows the young lady well, he will know how to judge our report.”
“Indeed, you are quite right,” Mr Phillips nodded, satisfied by the solution.
Under Mr Gardiner’s direction, and with the aid of the others, they drafted a letter that presented the facts plainly: thata letter had been found, seemingly addressed to Miss Henry, containing remarks that suggested knowledge of Meryton and of the Bennet family, as well as curious references to her conduct towards Colonel Fitzwilliam. They stated no conclusions, merely entrusted Mr Darcy with the task of determining whether the concerns raised had any foundation.
Elizabeth’s thoughts were in disarray. A part of her longed for a simple explanation—that Miss Henry merely wished to secure a husband—and that all suspicions were unfounded. Yet another part feared a darker truth. And, though she tried to repress it, she could not deny a secret hope: that Mr Darcy, upon receiving their letter, would return to London—and that he might seek her out.
She and Mary felt the need to stroll in fresh air, their minds still full of the morning’s events. They talked until there was no more to say, and upon their return, Elizabeth went in search of her uncle.
“I should like to go to London with you,” she said. “Mr Darcy cannot arrive for several days. I believe it would be wise to speak with Lady Matlock. I am confident she would receive me, and she may possess knowledge of Miss Henry that could clarify this affair.”
Mr Gardiner looked at Mr Bennet, who gave a thoughtful nod.
“Yes, perhaps it is the best course. A mother may influence her son’s judgement more than we.”
“I agree,” Mr Bennet said. “Though I must confess, I remain uneasy. There are too many elements in this tale that align too perfectly for mere chance, yet we do not have certainties.”
“That is my belief also,” said Mr Gardiner. “It is what Brother Phillips said before he hastily left, eager to see the name of the fellow who signed the documents. On the otherhand, it would be a great misfortune for such a gentleman to be deceived.”
∞∞∞
“Would you like to come to London with me?” Elizabeth asked Mary, though the answer was already written upon her sister’s delighted face.
Mr Bennet chose not to disclose the whole of the matter to his wife or younger daughters. Once in London, Mrs Gardiner might be informed, as necessary.
“You did well, Mary, to say nothing of the letter. It is a secret that must remain between us.”
To forestall endless questions, Mr Bennet gave a partial account of the affair to his family, thus explaining Elizabeth’s journey.
“My dears, for once, your tittle-tattle has proved useful. We believe Miss Henry kept some information regarding her family from Colonel Fitzwilliam. Together with your uncles, I have resolved to inform the Matlock family of our doubts concerning her. Owing to the friendship between our families, we would rather give a false alarm than allow Colonel Fitzwilliam to make a grave mistake.”
“Elizabeth and Mary shall accompany us to London,” Mr Gardiner said, and the tone of his voice ended all discussion.
