Chapter 4
Elizabeth returned home deep in thought, considering all she had learned that morning. Mr. Darcy intended to follow up with the other trustee, but she felt confident that the lady he described was her. She knew his father was dead, but she wondered if this other trustee knew her real parents or the grandparents who had left her the estate. Her feelings were in turmoil—partly elation, given her agreement to enter a courtship with Mr Darcy, but a more significant part of her was angry and upset with the Bennets and this secret they had kept from her.
"What do I do now?" she thought. "Knowing what I now know, how do I face Mr and Mrs Bennet and continue to treat them as I always have?" These thoughts and several others pushed her courtship with Mr Darcy to the back of her mind as she turned these other thoughts round and round in her head.
She entered the breakfast room where most of the family, at least the female contingent, was gathered. Her slipping in was largely unheeded in the noise of the room, and she sat down after serving herself from the sideboard. However, she struggled to eat much, and Lydia eventually noticed her silence.
"What is wrong with you this morning, Lizzy?" she cried loudly, gathering the attention of all at the table. "You are barely eating, and you look like you have been crying."
Elizabeth looked up at Lydia's words. "I am fine, Lydia, just a little tired from my walk."
"Do not waste our good food," Mrs. Bennet said sharply, eyeing her carefully.
"Yes, madam," Elizabeth responded, looking back down to her plate and forcing herself to finish what she had taken.
The conversation returned to the discussion of the coming militia—and all the officers that would come with it—and Mr. Bingley at Netherfield. Mrs Bennet encouraged Jane to do whatever she could to ensure Mr Bingley continued to pay her attention and suggested that she flirt and act in a way that would entice him to propose. Jane blushed scarlet at such talk and quietly listened to all her mother's suggestions. Finally, breakfast was over, and everyone was dismissed to their individual pursuits. Mary went into the music room to practise the piano, Lydia and Kitty went to their room to get bonnets to redo, and Jane and Elizabeth went into the sitting room to work on their sewing.
Elizabeth remained contemplative throughout the morning. Jane occasionally attempted to engage her in conversation, but Elizabeth had little to say. After lunch, she retreated into her room, claiming a need to rest, but really, her mind was engaged with the news from the morning. Honestly, she was unsure which thought to deal with first – Mr Darcy wanting to court her or the information about her parentage and inheritance.
After a few minutes of contemplation, she decided she simply could not deal with the question of her not being a Bennet and instead chose to focus on Mr Darcy. Her first impression of him was that of a haughty man, but then she had overheard his conversation and began to feel compassion for his frustration and pain. Since that night, they had met nearly every day at Oakham Mount, first by accident but obviously now by design. Elizabeth considered briefly that if anyone became aware of these meetings, they could be forced to marry, and she wondered what Fanny Bennet would do in that instance. She also wondered if the Bennets knew the stipulations about her inheritance. While Mr. Bennet was intelligent enough, he was lazy and likely would not have bothered reading the entire document. Mrs. Bennet would not have understood it, even if she had bothered to read it. What would they know about the stipulations of her inheritance?
She realised her thoughts had drifted back to her circumstances and focused them back on Mr Darcy—the very handsome man who had asked to court her.
Later that afternoon, she broached the idea of visiting London with Mr Bennet. She still called him Papa, but doing so felt strange now. "Papa," she began, hesitation over the familiar name that now felt … wrong, "I was wondering if I might be permitted to go to London to visit the Gardiners soon. Aunt Maddie wrote that she is expecting again, and I would like to be of aid if I can. I know she writes that she is well, but her last confinement was difficult for her. If you allow me, I could help with the children. It has been some time since I have visited London, and with the guests at Netherfield presently, Mama is distracted by them and would not miss me."
Mr Bennet agreed readily since Mrs Bennet had been complaining just the day before about how unfair it was they had to care for their niece while acting as if she were their actual daughter. That lady was becoming more fractious the closer it came to Elizabeth's majority, and while it was still months away, Mrs Bennet was angry that those funds would soon stop coming. "You may go; ask Edward to send the coach halfway if you can. Although, keep your ear out for anyone else who might be travelling to London soon—perhaps someone else can fund your travel for once."
Elizabeth then determined never to return to Longbourn after that casual dismissal. She did not know why suddenly, after so many years of it, this simple dismissal hurt so much more than before, but she would speak to Mr Darcy about finding her a way to London that did not cost her uncle a farthing. He might receive that stipend until August, but after that, the Bennet family would be entirely on their own.
At Netherfield, Mr Darcy was thinking of that morning as well. "She has agreed," he whispered as his valet assisted him into the bath.
"What was that, sir?" his valet asked.
"Oh, I did not realise I had spoken out loud. However, Roberts, congratulate me; I entered into a courtship with a lovely lady, Miss Elizabeth Tomlinson, although she is more commonly known as Bennet. I have just learned of her true heritage and realised I have been managing her estate, Briarwood, since my father's death. Right now, our understanding is a secret, and I am honestly not certain her guardian will even agree to it, although I will need to speak to old Mr Elliott to see what can be done if he will not."
"Congratulations, sir, but can I suggest you not mention it outside this room?" Roberts replied. "And it may be best to depart sooner than you intended, particularly if you can convince your lady to visit London to continue your courtship. Miss Bingley has begun to ask questions about your rooms being locked and is frustrated that she has been unable to 'persuade' you to marry her."
His valet's emphasis on the word 'persuade' made Darcy look at him with interest. "What do you know, Robert?" he demanded.
"Mrs Nicholls has told me that Miss Bingley has on several occasions attempted to obtain a key to your doors and has been annoyed that one has not been provided. She claims that as mistress, she is entitled to every key, but Mrs Nicholls has reminded her she is only acting as mistress since the house is leased. As I am certain you have seen, she regularly attempts to dismiss the servants so she can be found alone with you, but they have been well compensated to ignore such commands," Roberts replied.
"Why has this not been mentioned before?" Darcy asked.
"Mr and Mrs Hurst took care of some of these arrangements, and some have been handled locally. Apparently, the neighbourhood greatly admires Miss Elizabeth, and your interest has been noted. They also despise Miss Bingley and find her harsh and rude, but appreciate your more welcoming attitude," Roberts informed his master.
Darcy grimaced. "Well, I appreciate the efforts made on my behalf, but next time, I would prefer to know about them sooner. Let me know if you need additional funds to compensate anyone on my behalf."
"Mr Hurst has been taking care of matters, and Mrs Hurst has been subtly informing Mrs Nicholls of anything she needed to be aware of," he paused, but at a look from Darcy, continued. "Mr Bingley is aware of Miss Bingley's efforts, and while he has nothing to aid her, he also has not done anything to stop her. He has laughed at her ambition and has refused to help her but would have demanded you marry her had she been successful."
Darcy started with that knowledge. "He has said nothing to me, and I have told him many times I would not marry his sister under any circumstances. It is galling that Mr and Mrs Hurst are proving better friends than Bingley."
"He wants her married but is unwilling to completely sacrifice his connection to you by aiding her. Neither was he willing to claim any prior knowledge of the attempt, but still…" the valet trailed off as the feeling of betrayal sunk more deeply into Darcy's mind.
"I would not have expected it of Bingley, but I am uncertain why I am surprised to learn that my amiable friend proves so unsteady regarding his sister. He has forever given in to her," Darcy replied. Sighing, he asked his valet a question in his frustration. "I need to depart as soon as can be arranged, but I will need to see what can be done about Elizabeth—now that I have found her, I do not want to lose her so soon. And I must wait until I receive Elliot's next letter."
