Darcy rose from the table.
Caroline forced a smile. But the moment he left the room, the smile vanished. Though silenced, she was by no means persuaded.
***
Darcy’s ride to Longbourn was shorter than he remembered.
In truth, he had travelled the road only a handful of times, yet that morning every turn appeared strangely familiar to him. He found himself observing the hedgerows, the fields, even the distant roofs of the village with a degree of attention which he could not have justified had anyone asked him the reason.
By the time the house came into view, his composure had fully returned.
Darcy was shown into the hall at Longbourn.
The house seemed unusually animated, or maybe it just appeared that way to him. Voices carried from the drawingroom, and there was an air of bustle which suggested that some event had recently disturbed the quiet order of the household.
He had scarcely taken a few steps inside when Mrs. Bennet hurried out to receive him.
“Mr. Darcy!” Her surprise was very great, though it did not prevent her from instantly assuming the most eager civility. “What an unexpected pleasure! Pray, come in, sir.”
Darcy bowed. “I hope I do not intrude, madam.”
“Oh, we expected a visit,” she said quickly. “I knew you would not leave without saying your farewell. Have the others not come with you? Oh, well, I am sure they are occupied with their arrangements.”
“Farewell?” Darcy said, slightly puzzled. “I am not going anywhere, at least not at present. I shall leave before Christmas to join my sister, though. Why do you…”
“You are not leaving?” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed.
“No, madam.”
“And Mr. Bingley is coming back?”
“Yes.”
Mrs. Bennet clasped her hands with immediate delight. “Well, then, all is well. All is very well indeed. Then you must hearournews. I have the most excellent news to tell you. Oh! I am so happy.” She lowered her voice only slightly, though her triumph remained entirely unconcealed. “A daughter of mine is to be married. Can you imagine? A daughter engaged to Mr. Collins.”
At that instant, a light step sounded upon the staircase.
Darcy turned involuntarily. He looked up and was arrested by a most beguiling sight. He heard no more. The world seemed to narrow suddenly to that single figure upon the staircase.
Elizabeth. The name formed silently in his mind.
Then Mrs. Bennet’s words returned to him with terrible clarity.
A daughter of mine is to be married.
A daughter engaged to Mr. Collins.
The thought struck him like a physical blow.
Engaged.
His mind seized upon the conclusion with ruthless certainty.
Elizabeth.
The colour drained from his face before he could prevent it.
For one dreadful instant, a sensation passed through him so sharp that it was almost pain – a tightening in his chest, as though the breath had been suddenly forced from him.
