In the second week of January, Richard returned to London from a diplomatic trip to Scotland. Even though he would probably never be able to return to the front lines, Richard continued to take an active role in the military as he was a good diplomat and a great strategist.
The next day, Darcy went to visit him and they discussed various topics, including how little money the soldiers' widows received for the service their husbands had done to the country. Darcy asked him if he knew the widows of the soldiers who had died under his command, and Richard replied that he knew very few... He did not know Colonel Barton's wife personally, but he knew about her because she was a friend of Colonel Spencer's wife…
"…Darcy, to be honest, your question is very strange."
Darcy sighed, "Richard, I know this is a strange question, but do you know where she lives?"
"I do not know. I already told you I do not know Mrs. Barton. I don't understand why you want to know where she lives. Could you explain to me?"
Darcy looked into his cousin's eyes, and after hesitating for a few seconds, he decided to tell him the truth, "Do you remember that about five years ago you met Miss Elizabeth Bennet in Rosings?"
Richard nodded slightly, "I remember her, she was a nice and pretty young lady, but she did not have a large dowry." He paused, "What has Miss Bennet to do with Mrs. Barton?"
"Miss Bennet is Mrs. Barton…and I would like to see her."
Richard looked at him surprised and for several seconds he did not know what to say, "I did not know, but why do you want to see her?"
Darcy sighed, "What I am going to tell you is in the strictest confidence, and not even Georgiana knows it. Do I have your word that you will not repeat what I am going to tell you?"
Richard looked at him somewhat offended, and replied, "I am surprised and offended that you do not trust my discretion, I assure you I am not going to repeat anything you tell me."
Darcy took a deep breath, "Five years ago, I was in love with Miss Bennet and I proposed to her, and she flatly refused me."
"She refused you! I can't believe it…"
"Believe me, she refused me… For a long time, I was upset with her, but I have come to the painful conclusion that she had reasons to refused me… Not even all the money and prestige she was going to gain by being my wife were enough for her to agree to marry me" He sighed sadly, "In her opinion, my character had too many shortcomings that she was not willing to accept…"
As Darcy continued to speak, Richard listened with growing surprise. In Rosings he had realized that Darcy was interested in Miss Bennet, but he never imagined he had proposed to her, much less that she had rejected him… "I am so sorry, Darcy. But it has been five years, why do you want to see her now?"
Darcy blushed slightly, "Because despite the years I still think of her. I still don't know exactly why I want to see her. At times I think I want to see her to understand why I was and still am fascinated with her…"
They talked for several more minutes about Miss Bennet, and Richard promised that he would do everything possible to find out her address. He knew where Colonel Spencer lived and could ask about Mrs. Barton without arousing suspicion.
Darcy returned home with the hope that in the near future he would see Elizabeth again. What he had told his cousin was true, he still was not sure what he was going to do and say when he saw her after so many years. He knew that he felt a powerful physical attraction to her and his heart beat so much faster when he saw her.
Entering his house, the housekeeper said in a neutral voice - Darcy thought it had a touch of censorship, "Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Smith came back today and left you a note. I left it on your office."
Darcy nodded; It was the second time Margareth had come to his house that week; the first time he was in an important meeting with his solicitor and he gave orders not to be interrupted. After the failed attempt to find her a husband and the subsequent note he sent her, he hadn't thought of her again.
He read the note and frowned.
28th January 1817
Mr. Darcy,
Forgive me for writing to you again, but I am alone and my situation is desperate; my daughter is sick and I am worried about her. Since you were so generous and considerate to me, I beg you to help me again, please come to my house this Thursday at 4:00.
Please, come.
Margareth Smith
The rest of the afternoon he thought about Margareth's note; he knew that if anything happened to her daughter, it would weigh on his conscience forever... The situation was delicate, he considered asking Richard to see her and give her money but finally changed his mind. He preferred that no one else knew that he had been intimate with her…