On Elizabeth's third day in Lambton –the day before Mary's wedding –she had her first opportunity to go for a walk around the village. The landscape was very different from what she was used to in Hertfordshire; even the famed Peaks could be seen in the distance.
It was a sunny day, Elizabeth was absorbed in her thoughts and admiring the beauty of the landscape, she did not realize that she had gone almost a mile from Lambton. As she turned back to Lambton, she was surprised by a noise she heard in some bushes several feet to her right. Moments later, she saw a very dishevelled man step out from behind the bushes. He then began to speak, making lewd references to Elizabeth as he began to approach her.
Elizabeth was very scared and began running with all her might. The laughing man followed her, coming ever closer and closer. It was one of the most terrifying moments of her life; she was screaming for help, but apparently, no one was listening.
When she felt that she had almost no strength left, a rider saw the young woman's precarious situation from afar, and rode faster to help her. The rogue fled immediately upon seeing the gentleman. Elizabeth, very grateful for the serendipitous intervention, looked up and was utterly stunned to meet Mr. Darcy's concerned eyes.
The day before, Darcy had learned from Mr. Martin that Miss Elizabeth Bennet was in Lambton. Eager to see her and to be able to apologize, after breakfast, he rode his horse toward the village. As he was riding, he saw in the distance a rascal chasing a frightened young woman. Without a second thought, he pushed his horse in order to help the woman and catch the scoundrel.
Unfortunately, when the rogue saw him, he escaped. When he went to check on the young woman's well-being, he was very surprised to see that it was the same lady who still occupied his thoughts. He dismounted and in a trembling and worried voice asked, "Miss Bennet, I didn't expect to see you here, are you alright?"
Still very shaken from her flight, she replied, "Good morning, Mr. Darcy. Yes, I am fine." She took a deep breath and said, "I went for a walk around Lambton, recklessly, and without realizing it, I wandered too far out of the village… Thank you for coming to my rescue. I don't know what would have happened without your intervention."
Mr. Darcy looked at her with a mixture of concern and tenderness. " Unfortunately, and despite my best efforts as magistrate, there are still unscrupulous men lurking around here. Let me escort you on your return journey. I can't be calm if you are at risk of being assaulted. "
Resigned, she accepted, and they began to walk towards Lambton. At first, neither of them spokes, until Elizabeth remembered that he was grieving and politely offered her condolences on the death of his wife.
Darcy nodded and, seizing the opportunity, he said, "Miss Bennet, I have wanted to have the opportunity to apologize for my dreadful behaviour the last time we saw each other," he swallowed hard, "You have every right to think the worst of me. Believe me, not a day goes by that I don't regret what I said that day." He sighed again and added, "I beg you just a few minutes of your time to explain my behaviour and beg you a thousand times for your forgiveness."
Elizabeth stared at him for several seconds as they continued walking, deliberating whether he was worth listening to. She remembered that he was her future brother-in-law's patron and for her sister's sake, it was better to listen to him and leave everything in the past. " I am listening, Mr. Darcy, for there is something that I would also like you to clarify. What would have made you think that I wanted your protection?"
"Believe me, what I wanted most was to protect you." He took a deep breath and added, "I am going to start from the beginning. In Hertfordshire, against my will, I began to feel very attracted to you. When I left Netherfield, I thought I would never see you again. In the following months, through a series of circumstances, I ended up engaged to my late wife. After the engagement was announced, you and I met again on my annual trip to Rosings. It was then I realized that I was in love with you, and there was nothing I could do about it because I was already engaged to someone else. I returned to London and tried to forget you, knowing that it was a difficult task." He sighed deeply and continued his story, "One day at White's, some gentlemen were telling stories about some young women who had lost their father, and to survive, they had to do unimaginable things. A few days later, Lady Catherine told me that your father had passed away. I thought of all the terrible things that could happen to you due to a lack of money and protection, and I was anxious about your well-being and your future. I know that I insult you, and you have every right to be upset with me. I wish I could go back in time and erase that afternoon. Furthermore, I am deeply ashamed of my behaviour."
Elizabeth was aware that many young women in precarious situations ended up doing things they would never have otherwise imagined. Although Mr. Darcy's behaviour and words were presumptuous and inappropriate; she decided that, for both her sister and brother-in-law's sake, it would be better to leave what transpired in the past; also, what happened that day had to be kept a secret. So, she replied, "Mr. Darcy, since you are Mr. Martin's patron, it is best to leave the past behind us. There were no witnesses, and nobody else should know what happened that afternoon."
Darcy smiled slightly, and nodded. Taking advantage of the fact that they were still a few minutes from Lambton, she questioned him and reproached him for his part in the separation of her sister Jane from Mr. Bingley.
Surprised, since until that moment Darcy thought Jane Bennet wasn't interested in his friend, he honestly answered, "During the ball at Netherfield, your mother took it upon herself to divulge an alleged engagement between your sister and Mr. Bingley. I studied your sister, and she did not seem to feel the same way as my friend. Bingley's sisters didn't want him to marry your sister, and moreover, knowing my friend's nature, they thought that with a little persuasion and a new pretty face, Bingley would forget about your sister in a few days. When Bingley asked for my opinion, I told him that it didn't appear to me that your sister cared for him very much. After the ball, Bingley had to go to London on business, and his sisters and I joined him. Bingley afterwards decided not to return to Hertfordshire. If I was wrong in my estimation of your sister's feelings, it was not done with malicious intent."
When he finished answering her, they had already reached the outskirts of town, so Elizabeth thanked him again for his help and quickly returned to Mrs. Potter's house. She had many things to think about.