He turned then to Jane. “Miss Bennet, I believe I owe you an apology. I did persuade my friend to leave Hertfordshire, and I did not inform him of your presence here. I can excuse myself only by saying that I believed you were not truly interested in Bingley, but I now believe I was wrong to intervene in a matter that did not concern me. Please forgive me for what I can now only call officious interference.”
Even at such a moment, Jane’s good sense and good manners did not desert her. The smile she offered Mr Darcy was small, but steady. “I am glad to accept your apology, Mr Darcy. We need not speak of it again. I shall only say that indeed you were mistaken…about many things,” she added, her eyes meeting his with particular significance.
Despite her lingering anger, Elizabeth smiled to herself. How like her sister to say only what was proper, yet communicate all that ought to be said! If Mr Darcy had a heart to be her friend, he would now well know that Jane cared for Mr Bingley — and if not, Jane had not said one word in the least over-bold, or that could be mischievously misrepresented.
“I see now that I was,” Mr Darcy said, inclining her head. “Thank you, Miss Bennet. Allow me to assure you that I will inform Bingley of my error. I shall write to him directly.” Elizabeth looked at him curiously. It seemed too much to expect of the man who had been so eager to separate Jane and Mr Bingley, and yet she would have judged him truly sorry for his interference, and eager to mend it — but that, only time and his future actions could show.
A little awkward silence fell then, to be broken when Mr Darcy cleared his throat. “I believe I must speak more plainly of the reason that has brought me here today.”
“Please do,” Elizabeth put in, a little tartly. “I believe we have had enough confusion for one day.”
“I could not disagree with you,” Mr Darcy replied. “Very well then, let us speak plainly. There is a rumour abroad in London, Miss Elizabeth — a rumour suggesting that you and I are courting, and soon to be engaged.”
For a moment, Elizabeth simply stared at him. The words did not seem to make sense, though they would explain much of what had puzzled her last night. If what Mr Darcy said was true, her sense that she was being observed and spoken of was nothing less than the truth.
Yet it was absurd. To be spoken of by half theton— and spoken of as being in love with Mr Darcy?
“You will naturally be disgusted by such rumours,” Mr Darcy said stiffly. “It could hardly be otherwise, after how much you have said of how you disapprove of me. We should therefore work together to see that the rumours cease.”
“Why — yes,” Elizabeth agreed, privately wishing that she had not spoken so much or so harshly. He had acted with surprising honour in acknowledging his error towards Jane and Mr Bingley. Then, too, he had claimed innocence of the worst of her accusations, though without explaining himself. Perhaps Mr Darcy’s character was not so black as she had imagined. “Yes, certainly neither of us would wish to feature in the chatter of half of London. I shall be glad to do what I can.”
“Thank you,” Mr Darcy said simply, but with surprising sincerity. “Allow me to explain what I had in mind.”
The rest of that most surprising visit was comprised in making their plans, and Mr Darcy did not wait a moment after those plans were laid before remarking that he had stayed over-long, and excusing himself. So quickly did he leave that the door of the drawing room was closing behind him before a sudden thought made Elizabeth leap up.
“Excuse me, aunt, I — I forgot to ask Mr Darcy something,” she excused herself, and hurried after him.
She caught up with him at the door. “A moment, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth said, a little breathless.
He turned to her. “Yes, Miss Elizabeth?”
“I am dreadfully curious,” Elizabeth admitted. “This all seems strange to me. How could such a rumour have started? Who would say such a thing, and why would they ever think to link our names? Do you not think we must find the answers?”
Something unreadable flashed across his face. “I know how the rumour was started.”
“How can you?” Elizabeth asked him, too surprised to be guarded.
“Because I was to blame,” Mr Darcy admitted. “In an unguarded moment, I spoke admiringly of you, and was overheard. That is why I must fix what I did.”
Before Elizabeth could reply, the servant came to show him out, and all private conversation was necessarily at an end. He only gave her a bow and a polite word before disappearing outside into the bustle of London.
Elizabeth stayed there for a long moment, half feeling as though she must not have understood him correctly. Mr Darcy had not only spoken well of her, but so admiringly and with such feeling as to start the present rumour? Surely there must be some mistake. It was past all understanding.
But the Mr Darcy she had thought she understood would never have undermined his pride by coming to them in such a way. He would never have apologised to Jane, nor so readily confessed his own failings.
At last, as unwilling to remain with her own thoughts as to confront the questions of her family, Elizabeth returned to the drawing room. As she had imagined, Jane and Mrs Gardiner had not yet stopped remarking about the strange visit.
“You should not have spoken so boldly, Lizzy, but I am glad you did,” Jane admitted. “Just think of Mr Darcy speaking with such frankness! I thought him sincere in his regrets, did not you?”
Elizabeth swallowed. “I did,” she said, her voice sounding strange to herself. “I believe he was sincere in everything he said to us.”
“As do I,” their aunt agreed, “but it is most surprising, Lizzy. Why, if Mr Darcy wished to rid himself of the rumours, there must be easier ways.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said. “Surely time would do the trick. If he would only have patience, London would grow bored with them in good time.”
“Very few men would come to us so humbly as he did,” Mrs Gardiner said thoughtfully. “Why, I should think a young man more likely to attempt to put an end to such rumours by belittling you, Lizzy, than to do anything of the kind.”
“Mr Darcy would never treat a woman so callously!” Elizabeth exclaimed without thinking. A slight blush rose to her cheeks as she went on. “That is to say, you know I have never liked him, but I do not think him capable of it. It would hardly be honourable.”
