Darcy leaned back slightly, considering.
“I shall leave the decision to Elizabeth,” he said. “Though I suspect she will wish to go.”
“Yes, I thought as much.”
Darcy’s gaze drifted briefly toward the door through which she had withdrawn.
After all—
It could scarcely prove more eventful than the last time she was at Longbourn.
Chapter 39
Darcy had not thought to consider it until they turned into the lane.
Longbourn came into view—familiar now in a way it had not been before—and with it came a most inconvenient realization.
He had no idea what explanation had been given to the rest of the Bennet family as to why he had broken down the front door and absconded with Elizabeth in the middle of the night.
I can only blame my wife for this,he thought with small smile.If being married to her were not so wonderful, I would not have overlooked such a detail.
He glanced at Elizabeth, whose expression was composed.
Mr. Bennet surely would not have told his wife the truth.
The idea was absurd.
She did not know Elizabeth’s true parentage—of that he was certain—and without it, Mr. Bennet could scarcely explain his objections. Nor could he imagine Mrs. Bennet receiving such information with anything approaching discretion.
No—
Some other account must have been given.
Darcy had only a moment longer to speculate, for the carriage drew to a halt, the door was opened, and Mrs. Bennet herself appeared at the entrance, all flutter and exclamation.
“My dear, dear Lizzy! Mr. Darcy! Oh, how delighted I am to see you both—such an age it has been, though not so very long, only it feels so—and to think of all that has happened!”
Elizabeth was scarcely upon the ground before she was seized, embraced, and thoroughly inspected. Darcy bowed to his new mother-in-law in greeting before turning and handing down Lady Catherine, Lady Anne, and Georgiana.
Having fussed over her daughter, Mrs. Bennet turned her attentions towards himself.
“Oh, my dear Mr. Darcy, I have long wished tothankyou for your noble behavior when you last came to Longbourn.”
He blinked at her in surprise.Noble?
Mrs. Bennet pressed a hand to her bosom. “To think of it! My poor Lizzy taken so ill, and you with such presence of mind as to break down the door and carry her away at once—quite like a hero in a novel!”
Darcy’s brow lifted almost imperceptibly.
“—and to Rosings, too! Where you had the best of care ready for her, with that excellent physician who attends your cousin—such foresight! I declare, I do not know what we should have done without you!”
As Mrs. Bennet continued prattling, Darcy turned his head and looked at Mr. Bennet, who had the grace to look sheepish as he stood behind his wife.
Darcy suppressed the very strong inclination to say something decidedly pointed.
Instead, he inclined his head with all proper gravity. “You are most kind, madam.”
Elizabeth’s lips pressed together, and he suspected—strongly—that she was engaged in a similar effort.
