Page 97 of The Mistress of All & Torn

She touched it, still doubtful, looking at it with her heart pounding. Mr. Bennet was completely caught up in his daughter's heart-wrenching excitement and his eyes moistened too.

“Papa, where did you find it?” she whispered. “I lost it a while ago and I thought Lord Barrington had sold it.”

“He had, my dear. Darcy brought me the ring—he said it would be more appropriate if you received it from me. He claimed it was not much of an effort to find the ring and retrieve it, but even someone like me, who is not accustomed to such affairs, knows better. He said Bingley showed him the ring in a portrait of Lady Sedgewick and they conspired together to find it. In fact, he suggested you had Bingley to thank for it.”

“Dear Papa, do you know what this means to me?”

“I confess I did not—until now. I was rather confused that he had put so much effort into finding a ring when you said you have so many others. But now that I see your tears...It must be very expensive.”

“It is, Papa—but its value is even more significant. The ring had been in Lady Sedgewick’s family for generations and she gave it to me! Of all people, to me! And he, her own nephew, stole it and sold it...And now it has been returned to me...Papa, this is...”

Lost in her tears and awestruck, she suddenly began to speak of the countess and her late husband, with restlessness and little coherence. Neither of them heard the knock, nor noticed the door opening and Darcy, Bingley and Cece in the doorway.

∞∞∞

“Forgive us, we did not mean to interrupt,” Bingley uttered, ready to withdraw.

“Please come in,” Elizabeth invited them. She looked at Darcy, this time without any reluctance. “You found my ring...”

He averted his gaze. “As I told Mr. Bennet, Bingley and I decided...”

“I did nothing but show Darcy the portrait,” Bingley interrupted. “Each must accept their fair share of recognition.”

“Mr. Darcy, I am afraid you have no other choice but to bear the gratitude,” Mr. Bennet declared, in an attempt to ease the young man’s discomfort.

“Your gratitude is not necessary, I assure you. I am glad I could retrieve a valuable object. There are very few places in London where one could sell such a ring and very few people who would have the means and the audacity to purchase it. I simply enquired until I obtained the desired outcome. There truly is no need to speak of this matter further.”

Darcy’s request was genuine and his uneasiness apparent. Any further insistence would have only made him more uncomfortable.

Elizabeth moved towards him, holding the ring. Her fingers were trembling.

“Thank you, Mr. Darcy,” she said simply. Their eyes locked again. Briefly. Deeply. Intensely. He knew not how to reply and did not trust his voice to sound reasonable, so he only nodded.

“So, where are the others?” Mr. Bennet enquired, to quell the heightened emotions in the small library.

“They are with Mrs. Bennet. We planned to walk to Oakham Mount and we wished to invite Elizabeth to join us,” Cece explained. “Mrs. Bingley...Jane says there is a lovely view and the weather is very fine.”

“Since it is quite a distance, we will take the carriage and will walk only the last part,” Bingley added. “We are not all such excellent walkers as Elizabeth.”

She smiled and put the ring on her finger. “Excellence comes from practice; unlike me, you are all good riders. A walk would be perfect.” She looked at Darcy out of the corner of her eye, but he addressed her father.

“Mr. Bennet, until they return, perhaps we may conclude the discussion we began yesterday?”

Mr. Bennet waved his hand. “Mr. Darcy, I admit I am in no mood for business affairs today. I would strongly suggest you spend some time outdoors, with your friends. Until then, I will write to my cousin, Mr. Collins. I intended to inform him that Longbourn’s income was ruinous, but fortunately, I have two wealthy daughters now. Upon my word, the correspondence with my cousin is exceedingly stimulating.”

Darcy could not hide his amusement. “I am sure it is, sir.”

“I hope you will not find it offensive, but every time he writes to me with some nonsense about your aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, I write back to him about Lady Barrington.”

“I most certainly do not find it offensive. The exchange must be quite diverting.”

“You are most welcome to read the letters if you wish. But another time; Oakham Mount must be seen today.”

Mr. Bennet’s little scheme was awkwardly obvious, yet Darcy readily attended to it. Of the Bennet ladies, the three youngest refused to go. Elizabeth, Jane, Cece and Georgiana took the carriage while the gentlemen preferred to ride.

Every other minute, Elizabeth touched the ring, still incredulous that it had been found. Her companions were engaged in conversation, but she was preoccupied by guessing what Darcy was thinking. He rode at the side of the carriage but rarely turned to her. He seemed more preoccupied than pleased with the escapade.

They stopped when the road narrowed and began its ascent. The horses were tied up, and the group began walking.