Page 46 of Grief and Grievances
With his usual caution momentarily abandoned, Darcy found himself revealing more than he intended. “Wickham has always been a man of poor judgement and questionable morals, but I never imagined he might sink so low.”
“Men have been driven to far worse deeds by far less,” Mr. Bennet mused, his voice tinged with sorrow. “Fear and desperation can make monsters of us all.”
Darcy nodded solemnly, his thoughts turning inward as he contemplated the potential consequences of Wickham’s actions. He could not allow the man’s treachery to wreak further havoc upon the lives of those he cared for—not when he had the power to prevent it.
“Your words hold great weight, Mr. Bennet,” Darcy conceded, determination steeling his resolve. “I shall do all in my power to ensure that Wickham is brought to account for his actions and that the people of Meryton are protected from further harm.”
“Your readiness to intervene speaks highly of your character, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Bennet said, regarding him with a mixture of curiosity and admiration. “But I must ask you—what drives such steadfast dedication?”
“Perhaps it is merely a desire to see justice done, or an innate sense of responsibility towards those less fortunate than myself,” Darcy replied, struggling to keep his voice steady as he felt the weight of the truth pressing down upon him. While those things mattered, certainly, if not for Elizabeth he would never have taken these actions. It was love that drove him, that and the pressing need to see Elizabeth and her family safe from the threat of Wickham.
“Most noble, indeed. And you have just come from Longbourn?” Mr. Bennet asked.
“Indeed, with Mr. Bingley and my sister. Georgiana very much enjoys the company of Eliz-of Miss Elizabeth and Miss Bennet,” Darcy hastily covered his verbal slip. “She was eager to make the acquaintance of your other daughters.”
“Well, I shall look forward to meeting Miss Darcy on your next visit, whenever that may be,” Mr. Bennet said amiably.
“Oh, we shall see you in the morning,” Darcy said, without thinking.
“Indeed!” The older man’s bushy eyebrows flew up, and he peered at Darcy from sharp blue eyes. “I never imagined that Longbourn might hold such attraction for you, sir.”
Darcy could not contain the blush that rose up his throat to spread across his cheeks. He knew not what he mumbled in response, suddenly desperate to escape, but Mr. Bennet laughed, bid him a good day and walked away.
A sudden realisation dawned on Darcy—in his discomposed state and eagerness to address Wickham’s conduct, he might have inadvertently betrayed his own feelings for Elizabeth to her father. A flush of embarrassment spread across his cheeks at the thought that this astute man could now be in possession of such intimate knowledge.
As Darcy walked back to Netherfield, the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the verdant landscape, giving the countryside an air of serene melancholy. His mind, however, was anything but tranquil, burdened as it was by the weight of his recent conversation with Mr. Bennet.
His musings turned to Wickham, their childhood friendship long tainted by betrayal and deceit. He recalled their days spent together at Pemberley, when they had been as close as brothers, exploring the vast grounds and engaging in various youthful pursuits. Darcy wondered at which point Wickham’s path diverged from his own, leading him down a darker road, one paved with false charm and reckless abandon.
“Where did you lose your way, George?” Darcy murmured to himself. It pained him to think of the boy he had once known, now a man capable of causing such misery and strife. Was there ever a chance to save him from this ignominious fate? Or had the seeds of his ruin been sown long ago, hidden beneath a veneer of camaraderie and laughter?
Darcy shook his head, banishing these thoughts as he neared the imposing facade of Netherfield. He could not change the past, nor could he allow Wickham’s actions to dictate his own future—especially when it came to his love for Elizabeth. It was time to face the challenges ahead with courage and resolve, determined to protect those he held dear.
“Mr. Darcy! What an unexpected pleasure!” Caroline Bingley’s voice rang out, her eyes alight with anticipation as she greeted him at the door. “We were just about to begin a game of whist in the drawing-room. Do join us!”
“Thank you, Miss Bingley,” Darcy replied, his expression carefully composed. “Your invitation is most kind, but I must first speak with your brother on a matter of some urgency.”
“Of course,” Caroline said, disappointment flickering across her face for a moment before she quickly masked it with a smile. “I shall inform Charles of your request.”
As Caroline hurried away, Darcy felt a faint stirring of pity for her misguided attentions. He knew that she was unlikely to abandon her pursuit of him without a clear signal of his disinterest, and it seemed a cruel irony that he must now enlist Bingley’s aid in courting another woman. Yet he could not deny the force of his love for Elizabeth, nor the growing certainty that their union would bring them both enduring happiness.
“Ah, Darcy!” Bingley appeared from the drawing-room, his usual good humour undiminished by his sister’s vexation. “Caroline tells me you have urgent business to discuss?”
“Indeed, I do,” Darcy confirmed, motioning for Bingley to join him in a nearby study. Once the door was closed behind them, he began, “I fear I have been remiss in my duties as a friend, Charles. It is time that I made my intentions clear—not only to you but also to those who may harbour false hopes regarding my affections.”
“False hopes?” Bingley raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. “Do you refer to Caroline?”
“Among others,” Darcy admitted, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks as he thought of Elizabeth. “I have come to realise that my heart belongs elsewhere, and it is only fair that I bring this matter to light before any further misunderstandings occur.”
“Your heart?” Bingley’s eyes widened in surprise, for he had rarely seen his friend so open about his emotions. “You must be quite taken with this lady, Darcy, to speak so candidly of your feelings.”
“Indeed, I am,” Darcy confessed, allowing himself a small smile at the thought of Elizabeth’s lively wit and expressive eyes. “But it is imperative that I first address certain concerns regarding her family’s connections and… a potential threat that could cause great harm if not swiftly dealt with.”
“Then you have my support, as always,” Bingley said, clasping Darcy’s shoulder in a gesture of camaraderie. “Whatever challenges you face, know that I stand by your side. But I absolutely must know—who is this paragon who has captured your heart?”
Darcy took in a deep breath, and allowed a smile to spread across his face. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” he said.
Bingley actually took a step back, his eyes widening comically with shock. “Miss Elizabeth?” he gaped, and then quickly recovering himself, “what, she who was not handsome enough to tempt you?”
