Darcy nodded and ploughed ahead before he could change his mind, “I must say that the situation of your mother’s family, though objectionable, was nothing compared to the total want of propriety so frequently, almost uniformly betrayed by herself, your three younger sisters and occasionally even your father.” He looked at her to see how she received this. She seemed stoic, her face devoid of emotion.
“However I must add that you and your sister I must exclude from this harsh assessment. You and Miss Bennet are above reproach.”
“I must thank you Mr Darcy for your candour. As much as it hurts me to admit, I am very well aware of my family’s failures.”
“I truly beg your pardon Miss Bennet. All I can say is, there is no perfect family.” He chuckled, “one need only cast a brief glance at my own aunt to be persuaded that true flawlessness is not to be found in any family.”
“Quite.” Elizabeth said emotionless.
“There is however one part of my conduct in the whole affair upon which I do not reflect with satisfaction.”
“Oh?” Elizabeth for the first time raised her eyebrows with curiosity.
“It is that I stooped so low as to agree with Miss Bingley to conceal from my friend your sister’s being in town.”
Elizabeth gasped, “He does not know?”
Darcy shook his head, “no, he is yet ignorant of it and I am very sorry, for this disguise was beneath me.”
They arrived at a fallen log and sat, both looking quite spent emotionally.
Elizabeth remained quiet for some minutes considering the weight of all she had heard.
Darcy stood abruptly and paced a few minutes. Elizabeth looked at him and frowned.
“What is bothering you, Mr Darcy?”
“I must do more than just apologise. I now understand how officious my interference was. I placed two young people in acute suffering simply because in my own overinflated ego I saw myself as superior in understanding, while understanding nothing.”
“What do you propose to do?”
“Miss Bennet I did all I could to separate my friend from your sister, all by myself. I neither required nor asked for anybody’s support. But to rectify the situation I created I now humbly ask for your assistance. Will you help me?”
Elizabeth could not help but smile, “yes Mr Darcy, what do you need?”
“Is your sister still in town?”
“Yes she is.”
“Miss Bennet, would you care to write to your sister and ask her to come to Rosings to assist you in the care of Mrs Collins?”
Elizabeth regarded him confused, “I do not require assistance to look after Charlotte; what do you mean?”
“Do you not see? The solution to our problem is right before our eyes. If Miss Jane Bennet is still in love with Bingley and he with her, all they need is to encounter each other again.”
“Oh,” Elizabeth exhaled, “I see… do you mean to ask Mr Bingley to come to Rosings as well?”
“Yes that is exactly what I am going to do.”
“But Mr Darcy, Rosings is not your estate; can you fill the house with persons that Lady Catherine would most certainly not approve?”
“I have been coming to Rosings Park every year without fail for the last six years to assist my Aunt run this vast estate. Without my help Rosings would have collapsed already.”
“Are you saying you will simply invite them without first seeking her permission?”
“I will inform her that you need your sister’s assistance and I in turn need Bingley’s.”
Elizabeth at last smiled into his eyes, “thank you Mr Darcy.” She said softly.
