A few minutes later they vacated the room and Darcy took Mr Gardiner’s place next to the sick man.
“Mr Bennet I am sorry you are not feeling well sir. I pray you will recover quickly.” He said, trying to convey hope he could not feel. For the elderly man looked to have aged twenty years in a few months and was deathly pale as he sat propped up on the pillows.
“Mr Darcy there is no time for foolish wishes now.Ihave no time... but you sir have all the time in the world. Do not waste it.”
Darcy frowned, “Sir I am afraid I do not understand your meaning.”
“Why did you follow my daughter home, Mr Darcy? Be honest please.”
Darcy felt the blood drain from his face but he knew the man deserved the truth. He might as well confess it, as well as ask for his blessing. “Because I love your daughter and I wish to marry her.”
Mr Bennet smiled triumphantly, “I knew it.”
“You did? How?” Darcy asked confused.
“Why else would a busy and important man such as yourself, waste time and money on the troubles of a family so wholly unconnected with him.”
Darcy smiled, “You are right Mr Bennet,” Darcy confirmed, “And although your daughter does not know it yet I will propose to her soon. Do I have your blessing, sir?”
“Only if you promise me you will not banish my foolish wife and my younger daughters from your presence and your patronage, despite my youngest daughter’s reckless behaviour?”
“You have my word, sir.”
Mr Bennet nodded and sighed, looking a lot more relaxed than he had over the last few weeks, “I can die in peace now. I am an indolent man Mr Darcy, even in death. But now I knowmy wife and daughters will not be destitute if Charlotte delivers a son.”
Darcy found it hard to reconcile the sarcastic, witty man he had known in November with this broken and resigned shell of a man before him, who seemed to be making his last confessions of failure.
Mr Bennet’s lack of interest in his own family had been the cause of his downfall. In an instant Darcy made a vow to be a better man, so he himself would not likewise die an old man filled with regrets.
Once the interview was over, Darcy took leave of Elizabeth and the rest of the family and removed himself to Netherfield Park to wait, impatiently, for his man of business’ report.
Mr Gardiner and his family continued on to London to start the arduous task of finding their wayward niece. Darcy had given him the name and address of his man of business in town but he feared it was going to be like finding a needle in a haystack.
Darcy had no leads of his own, as he would have had it been Wickham, but he was confident the Bow Street runners and his own investigators would not disappoint him.
What worried him the most was Mr Bennet’s health. He had offered to send for his doctor from town, but Mr Jones the local apothecary had informed him it was just a matter of time; Mr Bennet would not survive this crises but for a miracle. All they could do now was pray, make him comfortable and wait for the end.
But there was one more thing Darcy could do for the family, more specifically for the oldest daughter. He could make sure his friend climbed down from the fence he had been sitting on since Kent. Accordingly he invited Bingley for a long ride to avoid eavesdroppers and safeguard Jane’s reputation,
“So Bingley, I understand you are still courting Miss Bennet.” He said when they were out of earshot on horseback.
Bingley looked to the distance, slightly uncomfortable, although trying to hide it, “Yes she is an angel.”
“Would you not like to have that angel all to yourself?”
Bingley took his time to answer, making Darcy wonder what was truly going on with his friend, “Yes of course, but my sisters are very unhappy with the prospect. I am waiting for them to get used to the idea.”
Darcy’s mouth dropped in utter astonishment. Then he was filled with loathing, “I cannot believe the reason you have not proposed to Miss Bennet is because of the disapproval of your sisters.”
Bingley looked ashamed, “they are the only family I have Darcy. It is not so easy to dismiss their opinion as it would have been for somebody like you.”
Darcy allowed his disgust to show, “I cannot believe how weak and pathetic you turned out to be Bingley. Back in April you behaved as if I were the reason you had not proposed to Miss Bennet. You said my interference had ruined your prospects. Now you tell me that you are dragging your feet because of fear of your sisters’ disapproval?”
“Not fear... concern.” Bingley said pathetically.
If looks could kill, Bingley would have died on the spot. “Listen here my friend and listen well; I shall propose to Miss Elizabeth at my first opportunity. I have already received her father’s permission and blessing. If God also blesses me and she accepts my hand in marriage, Jane Bennet will be my sister. If you think I will allow you to trifle with her feelings you quite mistake the matter.”
“I... I... well...” Bingley stammered.
