“Denny was merely useful,” Darcy said. “Vain enough to be flattered and foolish enough to believe Wickham’s assurances of easy profit. He was desperate enough for money to risktaking leave from the militia under false pretences. Wickham persuaded him that I would pay handsomely to preserve my image.”
Elizabeth’s hands curled into her skirts. “Every rumour was meant to provoke you.”
“Yes,” Darcy said. “And when I refused to meet extortion with silence, Wickham escalated, hoping to force my hand by widening the damage.”
His expression grew desperate, as if he sought to pour all his feeling into his words. “He was wrong,” Darcy continued. “Utterly, completely wrong. There is nothing about my connection to you that I find degrading. On the contrary, the notion that my regard for you could be used as a weapon was an insult not to me, but to you.”
The room grew very still.
Mr Darcy was not yet finished. “I regret that my past mistakes gave him reason to believe otherwise. And I regret even more that you were made to suffer for his malice.”
Elizabeth swallowed hard. “You defended us at every turn. Your conduct was above reproach.”
“Because it was the right thing to do,” Darcy replied. He placed his fists on his knees, steeling himself. “And because I wished to.”
Elizabeth’s hearing grew muffled by the strength of her own heartbeat. Before her sat someone who was not the proud, harsh man she had first supposed him to be. Over these past weeks, Elizabeth had come to understand Mr Darcy’s character fully. He was fiercely loyal, honourable, and cared deeply for the health and happiness of those he cherished.
The thought that she could be someone whom he held in such high regard was nearly too much to bear, and yet she found that she desperately wanted it.
Jane looked between them, understanding dawning in her expression. Mrs Gardiner was quick to dispel the tension — a most welcome intervention, for Elizabeth found that she, curiously, could not speak.
“Mr Darcy, we thank you most sincerely for the efforts you have made on Jane and Elizabeth’s behalf. It was most kind of you.”
He bowed his head, acknowledging her gratitude.
“Indeed, Mr Darcy, I cannot thank you enough. It was most gracious of you,” Jane added.
There was a moment of silence as Elizabeth searched for the words to adequately describe how much his actions had meant to her, and to her family. He had aided her in her schemes and promised to do all he could to restore the honour of her family name. In the end, his actions had gone even beyond his words. What thanks could truly express such a debt?
Jane placed a gentle hand on Elizabeth’s back, offering her silent encouragement.
“Thank you, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth managed to say at last. She held his gaze, praying he could see the depth of her appreciation.
Darcy, who was not known to wax poetic when few words would do, offered her a small smile.
Another beat of heavy silence passed between those gathered in the parlour.
Mr Darcy stood abruptly, gripping the brim of his hat in his hands. “Well,” he bowed quickly to the ladies. “That is it, then. Good afternoon, Mrs Gardiner. Miss Bennet. Miss Elizabeth.”
He departed quickly, leaving Elizabeth, Jane, and Mrs Gardiner to wonder at the haste of his retreat. Jane gave Elizabeth a knowing smile and threaded her arm through hers.
“My, what a speedy retreat. Why do you think he was so quick to be off?” wondered Mrs Gardiner.
Jane, ever wise and familiar with shyness, laughed merrily. “Oh, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Mr Darcy at all.”
Elizabeth merely shook her head, but she could not stop the corners of her mouth from lifting into a small smile of her own. While his behaviour was peculiar indeed, she had to agree with Jane. At least, she did rather hope to see Mr Darcy again.
Chapter 14
The scandal sheet that appeared the following morning was received with an urgency unlike any before it.
“Lizzie!” Jane called from the breakfast room. “You must come!”
Elizabeth descended at once, her heart already braced. The distinct rustle of broadsheet paper greeted Elizabeth as she joined Jane and the Gardiners. Unlike so many mornings prior, there was no pallor in Jane’s face, nor quiet endurance of another blow. Instead, she looked astonished and relieved.
“Mr Darcy was as good as his word,” Jane said, beaming. She pointed to the front page of the sheet.
Elizabeth stepped beside her and read the paper over her sister’s shoulder. The column was much longer than usual, and detailed in its retraction of the last several weeks of gossip. But it was the last paragraphs that left Elizabeth little short of astonished.
