"Mr. Darcy!-I had not expected you to be up at this hour." Elizabeth said, embarrassment flushing her countenance. She adjusted her robe, suddenly aware of her improper appearance and limp and unkempt hair.
"Nor I you; I was awoken by a noise, presumably yourself, and resolved to discover the cause of it. May I inquire as to what you are doing about in this state?"
"I couldn't sleep; I was directed towards the library and instead ended up here. You can be rest assured no one has been intending to do harm to your estate, Mr. Darcy."
"Oh, I had no fear of that; I merely pondered who could be about this time of day. Do you require assistance in locating your room, Miss Bennet?-it is quite apparent you have misplaced yourself."
"Certainly, Mr. Darcy. It has been a fashion since I last maneuvered these halls; my memory of such things is not to be trusted, and especially in this light."
"Then I shall consider myself obliged to escort you there, will you consent to having a companion?"
"Indeed I will, Mr. Darcy, it would take me a dreadfully long while to find it myself;" she yawned, "this way I will not squander so much time." They made polite conversation until they encountered the corridor in which Elizabeth's room lie.
"Good night, Miss Bennet."
"Yes, good night ,Mr. Darcy." Elizabeth returned to her room and tried to sleep again, but she could not put off reviving her encounter with Mr. Darcy.
Elizabeth woke next morning, dressed and ascended down stairs for breakfast. She was promptly greeted by an agitated Mrs. Bennet.
"Elizabeth darling, what are you doing out of bed? I had expected you to rest at least until the morrow; I would hate for you to be overexerting yourself, so soon after your weakness…"
"Mama, please, do not trouble yourself so. I have an immense amount of energy and it seems unwise for me to waste it, I really am not fatigued at all; you may count upon my being alert all today. I have not the least intention of returning to sleep before the day is over."
"If you must be so stubborn, I can do nothing to sway you; I learnt that the day Mr. Collins proposed." Elizabeth, alarmed that someone would had heard this revealing remark said-
"Mama! Please! There is no need to refer such things!" Elizabeth looked even more alarmed when Mr. Darcy entered the room.
"Mrs. Bennet, you have an express. I thought I'd save time and bring it to you myself."
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Darcy. I wish that it be from Lydia!" Mrs. Bennet undid the seal and began to read.
"What does it say Mama?" Jane asked as she ascended the stairs.
"Ly-Lydia…she, she has…Oh, dear Lord! Lydia has eloped! My, my precious baby! Eloped! Left us all in, into the hands of…Mr. Wickham! Oh, my poor, poor, precious baby!" Mrs. Bennet cried out, bursting into the most enormous, boisterous tears any of them had ever laid eyes upon. Her complexion had lost all colour; she became weak and was unable to support herself on her own. The effect her cry had on others was immediate. Jane tightened her grip on the railing, clutching her heart; Elizabeth paled and prevailed upon her mother to give her the letter clutched tight to her breast; Mary, who had been playing the piano, stopped and stared in awe at her mother; Mr. Bennet, who had just been in the other room and overheard everything, hastened to his wife's side and attempted to comfort her; and Mr. Darcy's brow furrowed, his air gloomy.
Elizabeth took immediate control of the situation, for the time being at least.
"Jane, please go fetch Kitty and acquaint her with what has happened, and after you have done that please relay the information to Aunt and Uncle Gardiner as well. There is not a moment to lose. Mama, you must get to bed, now you are the one who is ill. I shall finish reading the contents of this letter." Elizabeth sat down on the closest article of furniture; Mr. Darcy paced about the room; Mary and Mr. and Mrs. Bennet had fled, Mary to help Jane refer all the particulars to the rest of the family, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet to place Mrs. Bennet in bed. Elizabeth finished the letter and sat in awe at the iniquitous act before her. Mr. Darcy continued pacing until, finally, he resolved to speak.
"I am afraid you have been long desiring my absence, nor have I any thing to plead in excuse of my stay, but real, though unavailing, concern. Would to heaven that any thing could be either said or done on my part, that might offer consolation to such distress.-But I will not torment you with vain wishes, which may seem purposely to ask for your thanks. This unfortunate affair will, I fear, prevent you and your family from staying long enough to properly recover."
"Oh, yes. I am afraid we will need to hasten in order to recover Lydia safely. I apologize for neglecting any expectations as to the length of our stay; if asked, say that urgent business calls us home immediately. Conceal the unhappy truth as long as it is possible.-I know it can't be long."
He readily assured her of his secrecy-again expressed his sorrow for her distress, wished it a happier conclusion than there was at present reason to hope, and leaving his compliments for her relations, with only one, serious, parting, look, went away.
As he quitted the room, Elizabeth felt how improbable it was that they should ever see each other again on such terms of cordiality as had marked their several meetings in Derbyshire; and as she threw a retrospective glance over the whole of their acquaintance, so full of contradictions and varieties, sighed at the perverseness of those feelings which would now have promoted its continuance, and would formerly have rejoiced in its termination. Elizabeth took leave of the room, joining her sisters in governing the chaos which their unfortunate news had aroused.