“Thank you,” Goulding said, fervently.
The men soon left Lucas Lodge, but before they went their separate ways, Richard said that they should do some “seed planting.”
“I truly believe that Lady Lucas will spread the word that it was all a mistake,” he said, “but we are going to prepare the ground and sow some seeds for that near-future event.”
“Well,” Goulding said, “since I owe you gents everything as to investigating the rumours, I will do whatever you ask.”
Richard asked, “Before we start, let me ask you, where have you been the past few early mornings? And can anyone vouch for your location and activities?”
“Yesterday morning, I rode out for tenant visits with my father and steward at first light. We stayed out until around ten. The day before that I stayed in and ate earlier than usual with my mother, who gets up strangely early these days. She says it is her advancing age. The day before that…. Oh! I remember, I rode by myself, just for exercise, but I did see the Baxters.”
“Very good. When we get to the haberdashery, you and I will have a conversation just like this one, while Darcy dips into the bookstore. I will stay at the haberdashery while you go to the greengrocers, and Darcy and you can have a conversation covering many of these same points.”
Darcy handed some coins to the other men, saying, “I suppose people will look more kindly on lurkers and their conversations if they purchase something.”
“Good thinking.”
They put Richard’s plan into motion, and Darcy felt convinced that both he and Goulding had done a good job of acting natural. He had no worries about Richard, of course—the man was a born actor.
But now—he so badly wished to go to High Cross, but he knew that he should go straight to Netherfield Park, visit with his aunt and uncle, get Crocker’s reports as they came in, and be the helpful guest he had promised to be to Bingley.
Richard and Darcy said cordial farewells to Goulding and rode to Netherfield—their horses ready for a good rubbing down, bran mash, and plenty of water; and the men eager for baths and fresh clothes before dinner.
“I believe we will have a perfectly delightful time spinning all of this for my mother and father!” Richard said before they parted.
“Yes,” Darcy sighed. “A jolly good time.”
CHAPTER 22
22 November, 1811
ELIZABETH
Charlotte Lucas had started the rumours!
Elizabeth sat with her heartbreak for less than half a minute before she responded to Mr Darcy. “Thank you, again and again, for all that you have done to restore my good name. I believe I am ready for the private talk and ‘important question’ I have been avoiding almost since I met you.”
Mr Darcy put up a hand. “We cannot do it right now.”
She was surprised and almost immediately indignant. “What?? You do not want me anymore? Am I tainted by the gossip even though you know it is not true?”
He reached for both of her hands and held them firmly, giving them a little squeeze.
“I still want you. I willalwayswant you. But….you said you werealmost positiveyou wished to marry me when the rumour had just gotten started. Almost positive is not, as you know, fully positive. Now that the gossip is disproven and your name is on its way to being restored, you are undoubtedly feeling grateful. Indeed, you just thanked me.”
“It is only natural that I am grateful!”
“Let us take at least two days before you take the step that you were not certain of before the surge of gratitude welledup in you. Naturally, I wish you to choose to marry me, but I wish you to make the choice because you like and respect me and genuinely wish to marry me, not because of gratitude or expectations or fear of what your father will say or do.”
“That is very sensible…. I have a grand idea: let us make a list of twelve labours that I must perform for you, so that you can feel gratitude to me, too. Obviously, not the famous Herculean stunts of strangling a lion, killing a serpent with many heads, and so forth. Perhaps I might simply…umm…draw a lion? Kill a spider with many eyes? Clean out the stables of Longbourn?”
“Allow me to counter your grand idea by assuring you that I amalreadyincredibly grateful to you for every kind word, for every smile, for every moment you have gifted me your presence.”
“You, Mr Darcy, are too, too lovely. I look forward to hearing a very important question in two days.”
“Unfortunately, Elizabeth, there are other important questions that are not marriage proposals. As a matter of fact, I have made a list….” He dropped her hands and took from one of his coat pockets a piece of paper.
“Of course you have.” She laughed and reached for his list. “With your use of the wordunfortunately, I imagine it will address every wretched subject that haunts my mind.”
