A Quest for Mr Darcy

by Cassandra Grafton

  ‘It is more than you can ever comprehend.’ Elizabeth sighed. ‘Though her tale is a sorry one. I cannot imagine what she has been through, and I know not what can be done about it.’

  To Darcy’s surprise, Wentworth stepped forward.

  ‘I hope you will permit me to make a suggestion for now, Miss Bennet? Mr Darcy?’

  Elizabeth looked expectantly between them. ‘Any assistance will be gratefully received, Mr Wentworth. For now, my mind is too full to think with any degree of rationality.’

  ‘It is understandable in the circumstances.’ Wentworth paused, then added. ‘From what your sister has told us thus far, and the additional facts Mr Darcy has since supplied to me, I think I have a fair comprehension of what has befallen your sister. I believe it best if Miss—Mrs Hawes remains here overnight. My housekeeper will be more than willing to care for her and can put off the other servants on the morrow. Mrs Hawes will be safe here in the short term and will avoid any unwelcome scrutiny.’

  ‘It is a sound plan, Wentworth. It would be difficult to bring her to Pemberley at present.’ Darcy met Elizabeth’s gaze, hoping she understood it was not his pride saying so but the need to conceal developments from Latimer and even the other occupants.

  She held his gaze for a second, then nodded. ‘I am in full agreement, sir. Yet surely we must take her to The Grange?’

  ‘You cannot until your father returns.’

  ‘But he may yet arrive this evening, and surely he will be here on the morrow if not? We had a letter earlier stating he anticipated the chance of arriving ahead of it.’

  Darcy glanced around at the fading afternoon. ‘I think we must work upon the premise of his not arriving tonight. Your sister has been through a great deal, and is not at full strength. She needs to rest before any decisions can be made.’

  Elizabeth bit her lip. ‘I fear for what may become of her. Is there no option but to return her to exile?’

  Darcy shook his head. ‘I know not. Her returning should be held only as a last resort. Perhaps she could make some stay at The Grange to begin with. Do you think she would be amenable to doing so? Her aversion to your father may prevent it.’

  ‘I cannot answer, sir. She has spoken of her anger towards Papa, but little else since recounting her tale to us.’

  Darcy mulled over the options, which were few. ‘I believe we ought to consult her, establish her opinion on what she would wish for within the realms of what is feasible. Perhaps she will feel up to seeing us in the morning.’

  ‘Lydia...’ Elizabeth stopped and shook her head ruefully. ‘I know not how I am ever to think of her as ‘Sarah’! She has bathed and Jane is attending to her hair and helping her to dress. She is very tired.’

  ‘I am sure she will soon be restored to full strength, Miss Elizabeth.’ Darcy’s gaze drifted towards the barn. A comfortable bed in the rectory and a hearty meal would go a long way to improving her condition. Then, he frowned and turned back to Elizabeth. ‘How was it you found us?’

  Elizabeth smiled ruefully. ‘By chance, sir. Before I could inform Jane of your coming across Lydia, she mentioned Mr Wentworth asking for some clothing for a waif and stray whom he had come across here at Kympton. Jane said she had dropped the items off at the rectory. We hastened outside, thankful to find the curricle had yet to be unharnessed. Once we came to Kympton, we saw your mount, sir,’ she gestured back towards the road. ‘Thus we knew you were in the vicinity. When Mr Wentworth’s housekeeper said he was not in the house, we turned away, uncertain where to try next, but then we heard the faint sound of voices coming from that building.’ She pointed to the barn.

  ‘It was fortunate timing. Your sister was in doubt of your forgiving her.’

  Elizabeth smiled tremulously. ‘When you have mourned the loss of someone for a year, Mr Darcy, to know they have been restored to you is a joy I cannot express. Who ever expects a second chance such as this?’ She laughed, though the sound wavered with emotion. ‘Besides, I am quite certain we shall all be at loggerheads again before long, as is oft the way with families!’

  Wentworth bowed to them both. ‘If you will excuse me, Miss Bennet; Mr Darcy. I will talk to Mrs Coleman and arrange for a room to be readied.’

  Darcy stayed the man with his hand as he turned away. ‘Thank you, Wentworth.’

  ‘Not at all; it is the least I can do.’

  They watched him walk across the lawn towards the house, then Darcy turned to Elizabeth. ‘Loath though I am to return to Pemberley, where we will be obliged to pretend nothing of significance has happened, it must be done. It is growing late, and interest will be roused simply by our continued absence.’

  He offered Elizabeth his arm, and she took it with alacrity as they turned to follow the reverend into the house.

  ‘Is it wrong of me to be feeling some displeasure towards my father, Mr Darcy? At first, my emotions were swept away by seeing Lydia again, being able to hold her, hear her voice. Yet now she has told us what happened, how he refused to bring her home... I have not been blind to the failings of my parents in recent years, yet I am struggling to reconcile such a decision with the father I have loved all my life.’

  Darcy drew Elizabeth to a halt just before the door, and she released his arm. He held her gaze, then reached out a hand to touch her cheek and she closed her eyes.

  ‘Give him the benefit of the doubt, Miss Elizabeth. Your father has a duty to five daughters in equal measure; you know not the reasoning behind his decision, and I would caution you to await his explanation before fully condemning his actions.’

  Elizabeth’s eyes opened, and his hand dropped to his side. Though her general air and countenance indicated her unsettled feelings in general, he detected humour in her expressive eyes.

  ‘I suspect you speak from experience, sir. One would think someone had been so foolish as to condemn your own actions before receiving a better explanation of them.’

  Darcy smiled. ‘You must also remember, it is possible to learn from one’s mistakes; to make improvements. I believe your sister, even when her natural spirits return, may be a different person because of all she has endured. You may find this in your father also.’

  ‘There is no denying he has been altered this past year, but I cannot say it is for the better.’ She hesitated. 'Though I now begin to comprehend some of what may have been affecting him.'

  They stared at each other for a moment in silence, anxiety writ clear upon her countenance. Then, unable to help himself, Darcy leaned forward and placed a firm kiss upon her cheek, drawing away slowly. ‘We will resolve this, Elizabeth.’

  Elizabeth stared up at him, but before she could speak, the door swung open, and Jane Bennet appeared.

  ‘Lizzy, can you come and say goodnight to Lyd...’ She stopped and shook her head. ‘I mean, Sarah? She needs to rest.’

  ‘Yes, of course.’ With a brief smile in Darcy’s direction, Elizabeth turned to follow her sister along the corridor to the small parlour, and he walked inside the house to await them outside the door.

  As the door opened, however and first Jane, then Elizabeth, left the room, the latter sent him a tremulous smile and brushed the back of her hand against his as she passed. Darcy made as though to follow, but his gaze was drawn into the room, and he caught sight of Lydia Bennet sitting on a sofa opposite the door.

  ‘Mr Darcy.’

  He bowed, but as he went to turn away, she beckoned him, and he stepped forward into the doorway.

  Lydia—or rather—Sarah Hawes—was painfully thin and hollow-cheeked, but it was evident her sisters had done their best to aid her in improving her appearance, and she looked more reminiscent of the girl Darcy remembered.

  ‘I trust you will feel safe here overnight, Mrs Hawes.’

  ‘It is more than I could have hoped for, sir.’

  ‘I will leave you to rest and will speak to you again on the morrow.’ He bowed and turned to leave.

  ‘Wait!’

  Darcy frowned, but tarr
ied on the threshold. She looked as though she were fighting rising emotion again, and she grabbed his handkerchief from her lap and snuffled loudly into it before summoning a watery smile.

  ‘All our lives, Mr Darcy, we had longed for a brother to protect us. I have come to realise Wickham would have been the worst sort. I suspect you, sir, would be the best.’

  Chapter Sixty-Nine

  The evening at Pemberley passed in quiet fashion. The Latimers, tired by their activities with the Seymours, were the first to retire after the twins had gone to their room, and Georgiana and Eleanor Latimer soon followed thereafter.

  Elizabeth felt incredibly weary, with all she had learned that day and the effort it took to put on the pretence of normality, and took very little persuasion from Jane to accompany her upstairs. The remaining gentlemen had taken themselves off to the billiard room, and with little chance of seeing Mr Darcy for any meaningful conversation, she was more than prepared to give up on this most singular of days.

  They did not linger over their preparations for bed, but once suitably attired, Elizabeth walked through the connecting dressing room to her sister’s chamber. ‘Are you abed yet, Jane?’

  She pushed the door aside, relieved to see Jane perched on the edge of her bed and plaiting her hair, and she crossed the room to sit beside her.

  ‘I think I begin to understand Papa’s strange words to you when Mr Wentworth proposed, Jane. Knowing all he did at the time, he must have been quite anxious to see us settled before any further scandal came to light.’

  Jane got to her feet. ‘It is too late where Mr Wentworth is concerned. I have already told him I cannot marry him.’

  Elizabeth’s brow rose as she watched Jane walk over to pick up the poker and prod the fire. ‘How can you have spoken to him today? I thought you were in Miss Darcy’s company?’

  Jane replaced the poker in its stand and turned around. ‘As I was; but Miss Darcy took the curricle onwards to one of the more distant cottages, and I remained at the church to see to the flowers whilst I awaited her return. Mr Wentworth happened to come in.’

  She walked back over to the bed and sat down beside her sister again.

  ‘We strolled in the churchyard whilst I awaited her return.' Jane smiled ruefully at Elizabeth as she turned to face her. ‘I managed to say what I must.’

  'Oh! And... how was it?'

  Jane shrugged lightly. 'He did not seem surprised; more so, distracted by his parish business, though I suspect we now know why it was quite so engrossing. He will not spend long regretting me.'

  'Then he has a great deal less sense than I gave him credit for!' Elizabeth sighed. 'And perhaps Mr Bingley has a great deal more. Whatever his faults, he has not ceased to regret you.'

  'Enough, Lizzy! Mr Bingley is in charge of his own destiny.’ Jane looked over at the clock on the mantel. ‘You should rest. You looked so tired this evening. I am sorry you had to bear the burden of finding out about Lydia in such a way. I was fortunate to receive the news with you at my side.’

  Unbidden, colour flooded into Elizabeth’s cheeks as she recalled Mr Darcy taking possession of her hand when he came to her and their subsequent walk.

  Leaning forward, Jane smirked. ‘Yet you were adequately recompensed by a certain gentleman’s presence, yes?’

  Elizabeth got to her feet and walked over towards the dressing room before turning to look at her sister. ‘Aye, so it was.’ Then, she sighed. ‘I had no notion of what scandal was attached to this, Jane. Now we have a disgraced sister whom we believed dead, discovered to have been living in exile, and also Wickham threatening Papa for funds. If he does not get his payment on the morrow, the whole world will know how low we have sunk.’

  ‘Do not despair, Lizzy.’ Jane pulled back her counterpane, and Elizabeth smiled tremulously.

  ‘I had become adjusted to our new life; felt we had achieved what Papa sought, a fresh start, untainted by the past.’

  Jane kicked off her slippers and perched on the bed again. ‘Mr Darcy was not put off by anything that happened in the past, Lizzy, even though he was fully aware of it.’

  Elizabeth strove to heed her sister’s words. ‘I do not mean to imply his affection for me is not strong; I have become convinced of his constancy. Yet surely Miss Darcy must be his first consideration.’

  ‘You must let Mr Darcy be the one who decides, Lizzy. Now go to bed and try to sleep.’

  ~o0o~

  The gentlemen’s sport had not been given the focus it deserved, their conversation taking precedence over the lining up of their cues to the ball, and two hours later, they continued to speculate upon the recent discoveries.

  ‘It is important the girl leaves the rectory as soon as possible.’ Darcy flexed his shoulders in an attempt to dislodge the tension. ‘Wentworth has done his best, but his servants cannot be put off for more than one day.’

  The colonel straightened from making his shot. His aim had been much more on target than the others, and he was clearly going to win the game. ‘What can be done for her, do you suppose?’

  Darcy shrugged. ‘I am unsure at present, but I take comfort from Derbyshire giving them precisely the anonymity Mr Bennet sought. Had they been at Longbourn, it would be more of a challenge if not nigh on impossible. Lydia Bennet, as widowed Sarah Hawes, is likely to be introduced as a distant cousin. It would support any perceived family likeness. We all, the young lady included, have as much interest in supporting her new identity.’ He turned to his friend. ‘What of your sisters, Bingley? They were showing Miss Latimer their sketch and story books this evening, were they not?’

  ‘Yes, indeed. But there is nothing incriminating in there, as the only real likeness is in our possession.’

  Darcy took his shot, unsurprised to miss. His concentration was in pieces!

  ‘I have spoken to Olivia and Viola,’ Bingley continued. ‘I said Miss Elizabeth was a little shocked as the sketch resembled someone she once knew, that is all. They have promised faithfully not to utter a word about it. They may be hard to manage at times, but we can trust them in this, even if in little else!’

  Darcy smiled faintly. ‘When do you propose leaving for Harrogate?’

  Bingley lined up a shot before straightening. ‘I had thought on Friday.’

  ‘So soon?’

  ‘It is a full day in the carriage, more if we have to stop more frequently to change horses.’ Bingley shrugged. ‘It seemed the best choice.’

  The colonel walked over to study the table before stretching his arms and leaning down to place his cue in position. ‘Latimer seems to have let you off the hook at last, Darce.’ He placed the shot, the ball whipping into its net as he straightened and looked over at his cousin. ‘My game, I think. Apparently, he met with a young buck on the shoot earlier and has already lined him up as your replacement!’

  ‘Let us hope Miss Latimer is amenable to his choice.’

  The colonel grunted. ‘Miss Latimer is not all she seems. I doubt she will be manipulated much longer.’

  ‘Then hopefully Latimer will soon be on his way as well.’ Darcy’s hopes rose. It would be so much easier to work on resolving both Lydia Bennet’s plight and Wickham’s attempt at extortion once they were gone.

  ‘I would not count on it; his latest fish lives but ten miles distant, and I suspect he is already baiting his line. He may be in for the duration.’

  ‘Then I may have to ask him to leave.’ Nothing was going to prevent Darcy from doing all he could to make things right for Elizabeth!

  The colonel returned his cue to the rack against the wall. ‘Well, I am for calling it a night, gentlemen. Let us see what the morrow brings.’

  ‘Hopefully it will be Bennet with some answers.’

  Bingley added his cue to the rack and turned about. ‘What of Wickham? Does he not expect more funds?’

  Darcy exchanged a swift glance with his cousin. ‘With Bennet not here, we can do nothing regarding Wickham at present, but this should flush him out. If he t
hinks his source has run dry upon him so soon...’

  The colonel turned for the door. ‘It will bring him to The Grange in search of his source.’

  A sense of unease swept through Darcy as his gaze met his cousin’s, but the colonel shook his head. ‘There is little you can do about it, Darce. Let us convene after breakfast to see if we can formulate a new plan.’

  ~o0o~

  The following morning left few opportunities for Elizabeth to speak to Mr Darcy, other than the general conversation which typified the breakfast table, and to her disappointment, the gentlemen excused themselves and left the room before she had finished her meal.

  Some time afterwards, Elizabeth repaired to her chamber for her outdoor things, Jane having already donned her pelisse and gone back downstairs to await her in the drawing room. They were keen to call upon Lydia again, and the intention was to explain their absence by needing to call at home to ensure all was prepared for their father’s imminent return.

  It was as she returned to the empty entrance hall, suitably attired for their visit, that she heard her name spoken softly, and turning around she saw Mr Darcy standing some feet away in the doorway to his library.

  Just the sight of him was sufficient to bring Elizabeth relief from her interminable thoughts, and she walked quickly over to join him. There seemed to be no one else within, and she looked up at him, only to find his gaze fixed upon her.

  ‘You are pale. I noticed it at breakfast.’

  ‘I did not sleep well.’

  He nodded. ‘You worry about your sister.’

  Elizabeth sighed. Little did he know, her sleepless night had been more about what future there was for them than for her sister, a selfish indulgence she had silently berated herself for all morning.

  ‘Jane and I are to call upon her directly. We have told your sister we are to go to The Grange. I do not like the disguise, but it is a necessity.’

  ‘We all have times when we must twist the truth a little, even if it is not to our liking.’

  ‘I fear...’ she stopped, unable to continue, and he took possession of one of her hands. Elizabeth drew in a shallow breath as he interlaced his fingers with hers.