Page 33 of Grief and Grievances
"Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth replied, attempting to regain her composure, her cheeks flushed from her hurried pace. "I apologise for my appearance. I have received a letter from my sister Mary, and find myself in need of returning home with haste."
"Allow me to be of service, then," he offered earnestly. "If you require swift passage to Longbourn, it would be my honour to convey you and Miss Bennet thither as expeditiously as may be arranged."
"Your offer is most generous, sir," she said, touched by his unexpected kindness. "But surely it must be an imposition on your time and duties here at Rosings Park."
"Pray do not think of it as such!" he assured her. "It would afford me great satisfaction to assist you in your time of need. However," he paused, his brow furrowing with concern, "may I inquire as to the cause of your distress? If there is anything further I can do to help, please do not hesitate to inform me."
Elizabeth hesitated, torn between her desire for privacy and the urgent need for aid. The weight of her worry pressed heavily upon her, and she found herself confiding in Mr. Darcy, despite her fear that his opinion of her family would sink even lower with the news she was about to impart.
Drawing a deep breath, she began, "My youngest sister, Lydia, has been invited to accompany Colonel and Mrs. Forster to Brighton at the beginning of June. I fear that given her impetuous nature, she may find herself in... unfortunate circumstances."
Darcy's brow furrowed with concern as he listened attentively. Encouraged by his response, Elizabeth continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Lydia is a silly, reckless girl, and her thoughts have been filled with nothing but flirtations and officers since the regiment first arrived in Meryton. I fear, if she is allowed to go unchecked and unsupervised in such a place as Brighton, some unscrupulous man will find her easy prey.”
“She is full young,” Darcy said quietly.
“Her wilful ignorance could be the ruin of us all.” She shook her head. “Especially with such a man as Mr. Wickham there!”
At the mention of Wickham's name, Darcy visibly recoiled.
Elizabeth hesitated, before rushing on. “Mr. Darcy, I was very foolish to once believe Mr. Wickham, when he spread some falsehoods about you. However, Georgiana told me the truth of your history with him some days ago, including what happened at Ramsgate last summer.”
Darcy’s mouth fell open, and he seemed unable to speak.
“I will hold her secret in the strictest confidence, of course!” Elizabeth added quickly, seeing his shock.
"Miss Elizabeth," Darcy said, collecting himself and taking a step back, his countenance softening. "I appreciate your discretion and concern for my sister." He paused, pondering the situation. "Miss Lydia is not due to depart for Brighton for four weeks, so we have some time. If you and Miss Bennet will make ready, I shall convey you both to Longbourn in my carriage next week, once my official mourning is concluded, which will also give you and Miss Bennet time to prepare Lady Catherine for your departure. You will then have plenty of time to convince your father of the need to keep your sister safely at home.”
Elizabeth took in his words, relieved and grateful for his understanding and willingness to help. His thoughtfulness and consideration were qualities she had not always attributed to Mr. Darcy, but she was beginning to realise the depth of his character. "Thank you, Mr. Darcy," she replied, her voice filled with sincerity. "Your kindness and assistance are invaluable to me."
As they stood there, the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze accompanied their shared silence. The weight of Georgiana's secret hung heavily between them, and Elizabeth wondered how it must affect Darcy to trust someone outside his family with such delicate information. Her thoughts turned inward, reflecting on the challenges that lay ahead—the confrontation with her father, the need to convince him of the danger Lydia faced, and the ever-present shadow of Wickham lurking in her mind.
"Miss Bennet," Darcy said, interrupting her reverie, "I wish you to know that I have every confidence in your ability to handle this difficult situation. We will do everything in our power to ensure your sister's wellbeing and safety."
"Your words are a great comfort to me, Mr. Darcy," she responded, her heart warmed by his assurances.
"There is one more matter I wish to discuss with you," he said, watching her face closely as though to gauge her reaction.
Elizabeth turned to face him, her curiosity piqued. "Yes, Mr. Darcy?"
"I have reason to believe Mr. Bingley will return to Netherfield, and likely be in residence by the time we arrive at Longbourn," he said. "I am confident your sister, Jane, will be eager to see him again."
For a moment, Elizabeth simply stared at him, her heart caught between gratitude and concern. "I... thank you for informing me," she said, attempting to steady her voice. "I believe it would indeed please Jane greatly to renew her acquaintance with Mr. Bingley."
"Then let us hope for a favourable outcome," Darcy said, offering her a small smile. "In the meantime, you must focus on the matters at hand with your own family's well-being."
Chapter Sixteen
"Areyousure,Mr.Darcy?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes shining with a mixture of surprise and delight. "Mr. Bingley is truly returning to Netherfield?"
"Mr. Bingley has informed me that he intends to return to Netherfield and await Jane's arrival at Longbourn," Darcy revealed, watching her face carefully for any sign of reaction. "He feels deeply for her still and wishes to renew his courtship at the earliest opportunity."
A radiant smile spread across Elizabeth's features, her eyes reflecting the warmth of the fire before them. "Oh, Mr. Darcy! This is wonderful news indeed! My dear sister's heart has suffered greatly, and I cannot begin to express my gratitude for your part in this reconciliation."
Inwardly, Darcy revelled in his success; seeing Elizabeth so pleased with the result of his actions filled him with a sense of triumph. He knew that by admitting his past mistakes and aiding in reuniting Bingley and Jane, he would not only be righting a wrong but also proving to Elizabeth that he was capable of change. Her opinion of him mattered more than he could have ever anticipated.
Darcy hesitated, his own guilt gnawing at him. It was time to make his confession. "Miss Elizabeth, I must admit that I have not been entirely truthful with you. I played a significant role in keeping Mr. Bingley and your sister apart."
Elizabeth's expression transformed from one of joy to shock and bewilderment. "Mr. Darcy, how could you?"
