Chapter 3
Elizabeth Bennett had spent the morning following her father's departure attempting to read a novel that she had found in her uncle's library but was uncharacteristically distracted. Her uncle had been in his study all morning at first with a business associate and currently with his accountant and Mrs. Gardiner had been busy with household affairs leaving Elizabeth to her literary solitude. Normally this would have pleased her greatly, but she could not stop thinking alternately about her youngest sister and hoping she should be found and how ill Mr. Darcy must be thinking of her. It did not make for an opportune reading frame of mind.
The ringing at the door startled her out of her reverie and she strained to hear who the visitor was. She moved to make sure she was presentable since she knew that while Mr. Gardiner was presently engaged in business affairs, the guest was likely to be shown into the sitting room to wait.
As the door opened, she heard an unfamiliar voice say to the housemaid, "Please express to Mr. Gardiner the urgency of our request to meet with him."
"Of course, sir," she replied as she entered the room. "Constable Rogers and Mr. Darcy ma'm," she announced.
Upon hearing Mr. Darcy's name Elizabeth stood and watched in amazement as the man that she was sure to never see again entered the room. The look of shock upon his face in seeing her she was sure matched her own.
"Miss Bennett! I had no idea you were…. I thought you to be at Longbourn." He stammered.
"Oh, I could not stay there waiting for word. I would surely go mad," Elizabeth stated softly. "But what brings you to town? And to my uncle's home come to think of it? With a lawman in tow? Has something happened, sir?" she finished in alarm.
As the constable stepped forward to speak, Mr. Gardiner with entered the room with Mrs. Gardiner following closely behind.
"Mr. Darcy, what news do you bring? Has something happened?" Mr. Gardiner asked anxiously.
"I do not think this news suitable to discuss in the presence of the ladies, sir. May we address you privately?" the constable inquired steadily.
Elizabeth rushed to her uncle's side. "Uncle, does this concern Lydia? Surely, I must hear what has happened. Please do not make me leave."
"Let us sit," Mr. Gardiner said uneasily. He took his wife by the arm and led her to the settee and took his place at her side.
Mr. Darcy followed suit and guided Elizabeth towards a chair. She could not help but notice how he took up his own chair only after bringing it close to where she sat.
Clearing his throat, the constable began speaking, "I am afraid that the news I bring is of the most tragic in nature. I do not know how to present it in a way that could lessen the impact so I will just be forthright. The young Miss Lydia Bennett has been killed by an unknown assailant or assailants. We have come straight here from the scene to make notifications. I am deeply sorry to be the one to bring you such news."
Elizabeth could only stare at the man. Surely, she had heard wrong. Lydia? Killed? "This cannot be so, sir. Surely you have the wrong girl."
Mr. Darcy spoke up gently from beside her, "I wish that could be true, Miss Bennett. But I have seen her myself and there can be no mistaken identity."
Elizabeth focused her gaze upon Mr. Darcy and tried to blink back the tears that were now forming. "But how? Why? How is it that you were there so see her in such a state?"
"Almost immediately upon hearing the contents of your letter in Lambton I made my way to town to assist in the search for Mr. Wickham. Since it was my pride that prevented the revelation of his character to society, I felt responsible for what had occurred. I was more acquainted with him than your father and your uncle, so I was better able to know where to find them. Just this morning I met with Mr. Gardiner to discuss arrangements for a marriage and was making my way back to them to finalize the deal and bring Miss Bennett here to await the time in which the ceremony could be performed. I was too late by almost an hour from what I am told," Mr. Darcy finished somberly.
As the weight of the news began to sink in, Elizabeth began to feel as though her corset was a bit too tight and she could not fill her lungs with enough air. She felt herself trying to breath deeper and faster to accommodate. She tried to stand to allow her corset to loosen some but found her legs to be unsteady beneath her. She felt Mr. Darcy take her arm to help lower her back into her seat and call for assistance. A high-pitched ringing in her ears began and grew ever louder. With her free hand, she reached desperately up and grabbed ahold of the arm that still held gently onto hers.
"Air," Elizabeth gasped. "I need air." She again tried to stand but could not find the strength. "Mr. Darcy. Please. I can't breathe. I need to step outside."
Mr. Darcy instructed the young maid to help him get Elizabeth to her feet and they together went out into the garden at the back of the house. She could feel herself leaning too heavily upon Mr. Darcy but instead of feeling mortified as she probably should have, she could only feel grateful for his presence.
The effect of the fresh air on her face had the desired effect for Elizabeth and she felt herself starting to settle. She allowed herself to be guided towards a bench and sat for a long moment allowing the air to fill her lungs.
Once she felt as though she were safe from suffocating, she took the time to notice her current situation. Mr. Darcy sat to her left, still gently but firmly holding her arm while the young maid stood off to her right a bit, both wearing expressions of deep concern.
"Thank you for your help, Harriet. I am feeling better now. You may return to Mrs. Gardiner and see if her or the children are in need of assistance," Elizabeth said quietly to the young maid.
"I apologize for my behavior, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said once the maid had gone away. "I am sure you are wanting to return to your own matters."
She found that she could not look at the man sitting next to her. The tears that she had been trying to hold back since the news about Lydia had been spoken were once again threatening to spill and she did not wish for him to see her lose her composure. Again.
"Miss Bennett, there is nothing that I desire for more than to remain here with y—I mean, to remain at your si—What I mean to say is that I am at your complete disposal. I wish to offer assistance in any possible way that I can," he stammered emotionally.
Elizabeth sighed a breath she had not realized that she had been holding. "I am glad of your offer, sir. I do not know –" She choked back a sob and then suddenly she was overcome with emotion and sobbed openly.
It was several long minutes before she was able to regain control of her emotions and cease her crying. Knowing that she was sitting there with Mr. Darcy witnessing the whole display only seemed to cause her more distress since she was aware how improper she was behaving.
"I am terribly sorry, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said with an embarrassing hiccup. "I should not be putting on such a display."
To her surprise, Mr. Darcy took her hands in his and said in the most gentle but stern manner, "Do not apologize, Miss Bennett. If there were ever a proper occasion to lose composure this would be it. Please do not trouble yourself in thinking that I take offense to your reaction to this tragic news."
Elizabeth caught her breath once again as she saw the intensity of the emotions in his gaze. She could not see a hint of the cold heartless man that she thought she once knew him to be.
"Thank you, sir," she whispered. "I do not pretend to understand why you felt that you needed to tear yourself away from Pemberley and entangle yourself in matters that did no harm or held no concern to you or your family, but if I may be so bold to say so, sir, I am immeasurably grateful for your presence at this time."
"My only thoughts were of you and your happiness, Miss Bennett," Mr. Darcy said sadly. After sitting in silence for several minutes pause he reluctantly continued, "If you are feeling better, Miss Bennett, I feel I must see what assistance I can offer to Mr. Gardiner."
"Of course," Elizabeth said as Mr. Darcy released her hands and stood. "How could I have been so selfish? I must send word to Longbourn at once. Oh, but I do not even know how to convey such news."
She hurried into the house to check on her aunt and to attempt to pen a letter to her family. It would be just one of many grim duties that she would undertake in the next few days.
