A/N: Posting two long chapters to give you plenty to read over the weekend. Besides, you have all been waiting for this, haven't you? Enjoy and review!
Chapter 35: Mr. Darcy Came to the Point
As Smyth went back to the inn which served as his headquarters, he was surprised to see Mr. Darcy waiting for him.
"Good morning, Mr. Darcy, what a surprise to see you here in Meryton! I was just about to send you an express."
"Good morning, Smyth. Did Wickham finally get himself into trouble?" Mr. Darcy was immediately alarmed by the mention of an express. He had been feeling a sense of unease since hearing what Chamberlayne related to Elizabeth at the ball and decided to stop at Meryton on the way north just to make sure that nothing untoward had happened to Elizabeth, and did not in truth expect any bad news.
"Yes, indeed, Mr. Darcy." Smyth then recounted the incident earlier that morning. He saw Mr. Darcy tensed on the mentioning of a young lady from Longbourn being almost assaulted, but then the corner of his mouth lifted momentarily when he was told of her not only having escaped unharmed, but also sheared off the top of Wickman's nose by accident. Darcy was almost certain of the identity of the lady in question. Nonetheless he asked Smyth whether the young lady was Miss Elizabeth Bennet. When Smyth confirmed this, Mr. Darcy's almost smile appeared again. Smyth then continued to say that except for the people present at the scene, and Mr. Bennet who came after, no one else knew anything about the young lady involved in order to protect her reputation. In addition, only Mr. Bennet was told about his own involvement as they maintained the cover that Smyth and his partners were employed by Mr. Bennet. Mr. Darcy nodded his approval, and asked Smyth to continue to monitor the situation until Wickman was transported out of the area. He felt that Wickham's punishment was fitting as even though Wickham had caused much grief to himself and to the Darcy family, it would be difficult for him to see his boyhood friend hanged. He also felt that Elizabeth might be burdened by blaming herself for such an end for Wickham.
After this conference with Smyth, Mr. Darcy felt imperative to go to Longbourn and claim Miss Elizabeth as his as soon as possible. Even though all concerned agreed to keep Miss Elizabeth's name out of the scandal, the fact that two officers were flogged would make some people very curious and sooner or later, the facts would be leaked. He did not want his Elizabeth to suffer any ignoramus gossip.
Meanwhile, Mr. Bennet had arrived home. He immediately went in search of his second daughter. At the entrance to the book vault, he could not help but admire the steadiness of his gem of a daughter, who was diligently sewing a loose patch of the binding in one of the family's most valued possessions. After such a frightful morning, she seemed entirely unperturbed. He cleared his throat so as not to startle her too much while she was so focused on her task. Elizabeth looked up sharply and her countenance immediately became anxious. So, all the calmness she exhibited was actually forcefully willed by her. She was in fact quite agitated still.
"Papa, how did it go? Does Mr. Wickham live?" asked Elizabeth without preamble.
"Calm down, sweetheart. Except for his face now missing a bit of his nose, which, though a small thing, has quite brutally diminished his looks, he lives. He seemed very put off by it, more than by the punishment he has received for the dastardly imposition on you. He and Chamberlayne are being flogged as we speak, and Wickham has been demoted and will be sent to the front."
"Oh, why was Lieutenant Chamberlayne involved?"
"Ah, I guess I should tell you the whole episode from the beginning."
After Mr. Bennet had finished the account, Elizabeth sat back and let out the breath that she was holding while listening to her father. She was visibly relieved that Wickham would not die because of his attack on her.
She turned to her father and said, "I hope rather than believe that he may make something of himself fighting for King and Country." She paused, and then asked, "It seems that everyone was concerned about my reputation. Do you think it is in danger?"
"With two officers punished so severely, people will be curious and will start digging around for gossip. There were so many people about Colonel Foster's place of business that someone might have heard something. However, since your name was never mentioned, it would take some time if anything were to come out. We should not worry about this too much. I do not believe that even if the facts were known, anyone in these parts would shun us as you are beloved by everyone. I reckon that the worst thing that could happen would be that young men from within ten miles of Longbourn would be beating down our door to offer to save your reputation. So be prepared, Lizzy!"
"Papa, do not jest! If that were to happen, I would rather go to America to live with Uncle for a while until this had calmed down."
"Lizzy, it will not come to that. I am certain I can find a cottage for you in Scotland in which to hide for as long as it takes. You will not need to risk traveling the high seas during wartime."
"Papa, thank you. You are such a comfort," said Lizzy light-heartedly. Father and daughter had perfected the art of bantering so that it did not take long for both to get around the gloom that was hanging over them since the morning.
Just then, Mrs. Hill came in to announce that Mr. Darcy had come to call. Mr. Bennet turned to Elizabeth and grinned, "Don't you see? The first of the young men has arrived. I thought he was either in London or on his way north. Why is he calling today and at this hour? If he asks for your hand in marriage, should I tell him that you would rather go to America?"
Elizabeth's face blushed becomingly at her father's pronouncement. She looked down and tried to think of a comeback against his father's teasing. Despite her looking unflappable just a few moments earlier, she was in fact still quite flustered and was by no means ready to see anyone outside of the family in her current state.
"Papa, are you so eager to let anybody and everybody take me off your hands? I doubt very much that Mr. Darcy even knows what happened. You will find out for me, will you not? I think I shall stay here to finish mending this binding."
Mr. Bennet took a long look at Elizabeth and nodded. He then left to receive Mr. Darcy in his study.
A few moments later, Mr. Darcy was shown in. He was in his traveling attire, and Mr. Bennet surmised that he was on his way north.
"Mr. Darcy, what an unexpected pleasure! I had thought that you would not call until we have removed to town in a month or so."
"Good morning, Mr. Bennet. Please forgive me for this abrupt visit. My man Smyth told me that you knew about my employing him to watch over that blackguard Wickham while the militia is in these parts. I just so happened to be passing by Meryton and decided to get an update before it would become difficult for him to reach me during my journey. I certainly did not expect to hear the disturbing news of Wickham's shockingly shameless audacity that caused Miss Elizabeth such grievances. What a terrible ordeal that she had to go through at the hand of such a criminal! As soon as I heard, I hurried over here to see how Miss Elizabeth fares."
"Mr. Darcy, please be seated. I thank you for your concern over Elizabeth, and also for the foresight of hiring men to watch Wickham. All things considered, she is doing well enough. She is capable of exerting an amazing control over her emotions by focusing her attention on some task so that she does not get overwrought mentally. When I got home not half an hour ago, she was diligently mending one of our books of antiquity. However, when I started talking over what occurred with her, it was clear that she had been deeply affected by what Wickham did, and maybe more so by how she had hurt him."
"Miss Elizabeth is a remarkable lady of immense courage and poise. Many men even would be in hysterics after experiencing what she endured. I am heartily gladdened that no harm has come to her and she is handling the ordeal with such grace and resourcefulness." Here Mr. Darcy stood up and paced around a couple of times in front of Mr. Bennet.
"Mr. Bennet, do I have the permission to have a private conference with Miss Elizabeth, or do you think she is not calm enough to discuss something that would affect her future?"
"Mr. Darcy, do you mean to imply that what you want to discuss with Lizzy should affect both your future and hers?"
"Yes, Mr. Bennet, definitely our future, together, I fervently hope." Mr. Darcy sat back down before continuing, "It must have been clear while I was here that I admired Miss Elizabeth quite openly, and I would flatter myself that Miss Elizabeth did not find me undesirable. That was the reason I asked you for the permission to call when you removed to town so that I would be able to formally court her. Left to my own devices, I would have asked for her hand in marriage before leaving. However my uncle the Earl and my aunt the Countess have been planning for well-nigh on three months a gathering of what they consider eligible young ladies to be introduced to me at their home in Yorkshire in the three weeks before Christmas. After having agreed to their scheme all those months ago, I did not wish to disappoint them by presenting them with a fait accompli of my promise to the young lady who has captured my heart. My plan was to tell my uncle and aunt my choice before the guests arrived so that they would change the objective of the festivities to be just a celebration of the season. My uncle of course has never told his invited guests of the true purpose of the gathering, and he is well-known for hosting lavish parties at his estate. Most if not all in his circles highly covet the invitations to be his houseguests, and will not mind too much that the purpose of the gathering has been altered even if they have guessed it. My intention has always been to show the courtesy that my uncle and aunt deserve and has never been an attempt to deceive you or Miss Elizabeth."
"Mr. Darcy, I have never doubt that you are a gentleman of the highest integrity. This lengthy explanation is very much appreciated, of course, but not necessary. Now that Wickham's dastardly attempt to assault my Lizzy has altered your course of going straight to Wentworth-Woodhouse, what is your intention now?"
"Mr. Bennet, what happened this morning has made me realize that my plan and that of Providence could go on divergent paths in an instant. I know without a doubt that my uncle will defer to my wish in the matter of my marital happiness, and I should take this unhappy event as a sign that I should not dawdle and offer for Miss Elizabeth immediately, if she will have me, before reaching the house party. Besides, I worry a little about Miss Elizabeth's reputation being damaged by gossip even though all measures for controlling it have been put in place."
"Hmm…, Lizzy said that she would rather go to America if any young man within ten miles of Longbourn came to offer for her to save her reputation." Mr. Darcy visibly started when he heard this but said nothing. Mr. Bennet took a long look at Mr. Darcy and continued, "However, you are not just any young man and are certainly from far more than ten miles away. Perhaps she will not include you in the group she will reject, for which I am glad. So, young man, go and save her from the misery of impulsively taking dangerous and drastic measures because I will wager that some young buck close by will be showing up sooner rather than later to save her not-yet-lost reputation."
Mr. Darcy smiled and thanked Mr. Bennet for his kindness, and asked to be shown to Miss Elizabeth.
"Please wait in the library and I will bring her to you." Even though Mr. Darcy might someday be the owner of the Longbourn estate, he had not yet earned the privilege to be shown the book vault.