Page 76 of Roses from Pemberley
She shrugged. “Kitty and Mary were here earlier but I sent them upstairs. I did not wish for them to feel any worse than they already did. Jane is running errands with Bingley and my mother is resting in her room.”
“Has no one come to call, then?”
“Only Mr. Bingley, and my aunt and uncle.”
He nodded and pulled her in again. “Do not worry, dearest. Lydia shall be married in a matter of weeks and then everything shall be well. You may even tell everyone of the engagement if you think it will help.”
She shook her head, then led him to the couch and poured him a cup of tea.
“I do not know if I wish to do that,” she said softly, “for it just goes to show, does it not, who your friends truly are. We have known these people all our lives and now they snub us simply because of one sister’s frailty. Sir William was my father’s closest friend, and Lady Lucas my mother’s. And yet neither of them have come to call. Nor has Maria come to see Kitty. How uncertain the world is…and how unreliable are the people you thought you could trust! They may visit again once Lydia is married, but it shall be difficult to get beyond this.”
“Yes…it is difficult to be let down by people,” he murmured. A pause, then, “I am sorry I was not here with you…when he died.”
“Please do not apologise. You took it upon yourself to find Lydia; then you obtained a commission for Wickham. You have done more than anyone. Oh, how can you even look at me after everything! Are you even certain you still wish to marry me?”
“Of course, I am!” he cried. “Do you not recall that my own sister almost eloped with him? It was only through sheer luck that you are in this circumstance instead of me. Furthermore, marrying you is the one bright spot in my future, the thing that keeps me going, and propels every one of my actions. So, pray, do not say such things again.”
She suddenly realised how much he did love her, and how deep his loyalty was to her; and she was in no little amount of awe over it. “No…I shall not say such things anymore.”
“You are an extension of myself,” he said abruptly.
“Am I?”
“I cannot think of you in any other way.”
She looked thoughtfully at him for some time, then eventually said, “It is a unique way of thinking, but I am beginning to understand it.”
“You and I are one,” he continued in the same vein, “therefore there shall never be any need to thank me.”
She took one of his hands and placed a lingering kiss on it. “Still…what would you have me do with the gratitude I feel?”
He smiled faintly. “I suppose if words of thanks occasionally fall from your lips, then I shall just have to bearthem.”
She laughed and suddenly felt lighter of heart than she had in the past few days.
They ate sandwiches and drank tea.
However, before long, Darcy stood up and said, “I just…ah…I suddenly recall promising Georgiana to send word once I arrived. Would you mind terribly if I went to Netherfield for a bit? I promise to return in an hour or two.”
Elizabeth was confused. The trip to Hertfordshire was not a long one. But perhaps Georgiana Darcy had a tendency to worry. “Of course, you must write your sister. Pray, send her my regards.”
He kissed her on the forehead then headed for the door. “I shall see you in a while.”
****
Darcy rode directly to Netherfield and was pleasantly surprised to find Bingley arriving there at the same time.
“Darcy! It is good to see you! You must have left early for it is still before noon.”
“I left just after dawn.”
“Well then, come in, my friend. I have just come from Meryton with Jane.”
Bingley led the way into his study where he asked Mrs. Nichols, his housekeeper, to arrange for a pot of strong coffee to be brought in. A few minutes later, Darcy sipped it appreciatively, feeling his vigour returning. He then informed Bingley of everything that had transpired in London.
“Yes,” said Bingley, “Elizabeth did tell us that you have found Miss Lydia. Unfortunately, Mrs. Bennet is still brought so low by her husband’s death that she rarely smiles anymore and is frequently found weeping at all hours of the day. But at least she is spending time with her daughters and allowing them to console her. It almost makes me tearful sometimes - to see the ladies gathered around the back parlour of Longbourn, each of them attempting to console the other and putting up a brave face. I cannot imagine my own sisters behaving in such a manner. And it makes me happy that I now have such a family.”
“I heard as much,” said Darcy, “for I called at Longbourn before I came here. I take it that the Bennets have been ostracised?”
