The Secrets of Darcy and Elizabeth

“How could I reproach you for following your heart? When I see you with Mr. Darcy, it is clear he is deeply in love with you. How could I begrudge you the same happiness I have with Charles?” Jane’s expression had regained its usual serenity.

Elizabeth had to wipe her eyes with a handkerchief. “My biggest regret was not having you there to share the joy with me. I wanted to tell you when I returned, but William and I had agreed to tell Papa first and—”

“I comprehend perfectly why you could not reveal all. But, I knew, Lizzy,” Jane smiled. “I knew something had happened between you and Mr. Darcy, although I thought it might be a secret engagement.”

“Were we so bad at concealing our affection?” Elizabeth asked with chagrin.

Jane shook her head gently. “I noticed since I know you so well. I am certain no one else was paying such close attention.”

“I hope you are right,” Elizabeth sighed. “Papa should be the first – well, among the first – to know. I know we shall have to tell him very soon. After tonight there will be two more in our confidence.”

“Two?”

“Oh, I forgot to explain what precipitated my revelation.” Elizabeth laughed, a little embarrassed. “When Bingley came to my room to fetch me, he found William there. He was very angry.”

“Oh no! Poor Charles.” Jane covered her mouth to stifle a smile. Then the two sisters burst into laughter and it was some time before they recovered their composure.

Jane’s eyes sparkle with a mischievous smile. “And, you know Lizzy, you were right. You did make me forget all about my ankle!”

The next morning they all gathered for a late breakfast. Darcy had already been for a ride and Elizabeth for a bracing walk around the Netherfield grounds, and, if they entered the house at the same time, there was no one present to notice. Bingley had spent the morning fussing at the staff to ensure Jane had all the pillows, blankets, and tasty morsels she might need. When she insisted on going downstairs for breakfast, he acquiesced, but only upon the condition that he would carry her. Laughing a little at the impropriety, Jane agreed.

He deposited Jane in a chair next to his sister, who sniffed a bit at his boisterousne

ss, but said nothing. Darcy regarded Miss Bingley closely for a moment, afraid that she had heard some of the nocturnal comings and goings the previous night, but her expression seemed much the same. He seated himself next to Elizabeth, a fact which seemed to frustrate Miss Bingley, who had arrived first and had hoped Darcy would be next to her. At a signal from Bingley, one of the serving men provided a full champagne flute for each guest. Miss Bingley looked askance at her brother. “Champagne for breakfast? Has the engagement muddled your head Charles?”

Bingley merely laughed and said, “I simply felt like celebrating. Jane’s ankle is improving and we are enjoying some of the finest company in England!” He raised his glass in a toast, but arched an eyebrow at Elizabeth and Darcy, who knew that his friend was toasting their marriage without revealing anything to his sister. Elizabeth smiled warmly at Bingley, appreciating the gesture.

Everyone fell to eating the fine repast, but they were soon interrupted by Bingley’s butler, who brought an express post to Darcy. Darcy scanned the sender’s address and raised his eyebrows. “Please excuse me for reading this at the table,” he addressed his host and hostess, “but it is a matter of some urgency.”

All eyes were on Darcy as he scanned the lines of the short missive. A stormy expression on his face, he folded it up again. Elizabeth knew such a mien meant the matter was quite serious. She touched his arm gently and asked, “Is it something very disturbing, William?” She heard Miss Bingley’s hiss of indrawn breath and realized she had unwittingly displayed too much familiarity. Their hostess observed Darcy, expecting him to rebuke Elizabeth.

Darcy, deep in thought, did not seem to notice Elizabeth’s slip. “No, I will tell you later.” Elizabeth suspected that the note had something to do with Lydia and Wickham, but could not ask more in front of Miss Bingley. Now that Jane and Bingley knew their secret, Miss Bingley’s presence was most awkward.

Shortly thereafter the breakfast party broke up, although Darcy and Bingley lingered to exchange some private words while Jane waited for her fiancé to carry her upstairs once more. Elizabeth left the room and found herself in the hallway with Miss Bingley, who turned to her with a completely false air of solicitude, “A word of advice, Eliza. Mr. Darcy is a very proper man. I have known him many years and he has never invited me to use his Christian name. Although he is too well mannered to say anything, I could tell that he was quite alarmed by your excessive familiarity.”

“Surely that is for Mr. Darcy to decide,” Elizabeth said with some asperity.

Some of Miss Bingley’s false amiability slid away. “I know you are trying to entice him by pretending a familiarity which does not exist, but let me assure you that such an approach will not succeed with Mr. Darcy.”

“How do you know it does not exist?” Elizabeth asked sweetly, attempting to conceal her anger.

Miss Bingley’s mouth fell open at this rather brazen question, but was saved the necessity of a reply by the arrival of the man in question. Darcy swooped out of the dining room and approached the two women. “Elizabeth!” He cried. “Just the person I was hoping to see. Would you take a turn with me in the garden? I must discuss the contents of this letter with you.”

Elizabeth took his arm and they swept out. She turned back to see Miss Bingley still standing in the hallway, paralyzed with shock and mouth agape.

Once they were outside, Elizabeth could no longer contain a smile, and as she gazed up at her husband he was grinning broadly. “That was very wicked!” She exclaimed. “Did you overhear what she was saying to me?”

“Yes, I admit it. I heard through the dining room door. It is excessively difficult not to eavesdrop when one hears one’s name mentioned. Once I understood what she was saying to you, it was even more difficult not to emerge and administer the chastisement she richly deserves. But I feared revealing too much.”

“The approach you chose had the benefit of being subtle yet effective,” Elizabeth observed, smiling. “And vastly more entertaining.”

“Not to mention satisfying.” He grinned, lengthening his stride to create more distance from the house.

They walked for a minute in silence, but Elizabeth could wait no longer. “Is the letter about Lydia?”

“Yes, it is from Mr. Scott, one of the investigators I hired. They have found Lydia.” Elizabeth regarded him with a mixture of anxiety and hope about what he would say next. “They are not married, but your sister appears unharmed.”

Elizabeth sagged under the combined weight of relief and fresh cause for concern. Darcy put his arm around her shoulders to support her. “What of Wickham?” She asked.