Darcy breathed in deeply, gathering his thoughts. “Elizabeth, it is of no use conjecturing what would have happened if this or that had or had not occurred. I am married to you, I love you, and I would not wish it to be any different. Do you believe me?”
Elizabeth’s heart gave a small leap as he spoke those words. Her eyes filled with tears of joy as she whispered back, “Yes, I believe you.”
He held her close to him, leaning over and placing a kiss on the top of her head just as he had the night she slept in his arms on the ship. Only this time, she was aware of it
They remained still, content to keep themselves in the solitude of this alcove, but Darcy, hearing a rustling in the shrubbery nearby, quickly said, “We must get back. You go on inside, and I shall be in within a few minutes.”
Elizabeth reluctantly pulled away and returned inside the house. Darcy glanced out over to the row of trees and bushes that bordered the alcove. It was too dark to see anything, and not hearing anything more, he quickly opened the door and took himself in.
When they met back inside, they were finally able to dance their second dance, which they did in almost complete silence, quite confident of their love for each other and content simply to enjoy each other’s presence.
As the dance ended, people began to leave, and Mrs. Bennet was perfectly satisfied with the events of the evening. She quitted the house under the delightful persuasion that, allowing for the necessary preparation of settlements, new carriages, and wedding clothes, she should undoubtedly see her eldest daughter settled at Netherfield in the course of three or four months.
Of having another daughter married to Mr. Collins, she thought with equal certainty, and with considerable, though not equal pleasure. Elizabeth was the least dear to her of all her children; and though the man and the match were quite good enough for her, the worth of each was eclipsed by Mr. Bingley and Netherfield.
If she had not been so set on her second eldest daughter marrying Mr. Collins, she might have paid more heed to the talk that was beginning to circulate about Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, but she did not consider Elizabeth good enough to tempt a man of his means and therefore paid no notice.
Darcy watched as the Bennets walked out the door. As far as he was concerned the ball was over, but he knew he must remain until the final guests took their leave. He walked over to a window that overlooked the front, and in the subdued light of the torches, watched as Elizabeth was brought up into the carriage.
With a small smile of satisfaction touching his face, he thought to himself, It went superbly! He reproached himself for those days on the ship when he had been reluctant to express his feelings to her. If he had, neither of them would have had these months of wondering, misery, and resignation. How good it felt to tell her he loved her, and even greater to hear her voice the same.
The sound of footsteps behind him and the shrill voice of Caroline Bingley shook him out of his reverie. “Mr. Darcy, there you are!”
Caroline joined him, looking out the window into the darkness. “I cannot tell you how grateful I am that this ball is almost over! Has it not been simply the most wearisome gathering of people you have ever seen?”
When he did not answer, she proceeded. “Those Bennets! You must agree with me, Mr. Darcy, that their incessantly ill behaviour tonight exceeded anything!”
Darcy pursed his lips to avoid lashing out in anger.
“And that Miss Elizabeth Bennet! I am still quite unsure as to her reasons for travelling to America. What do we really know of her character? I am still firmly of the opinion that she found herself disgraced and…”
Darcy did not answer her immediately, making a futile attempt to calm himself. He finally broke the silence with definite, but controlled, anger. “Miss Bingley, I have it on the highest authority that she did not travel there to take care of any disgrace , as you call it!”
Caroline’s eyes widened at his anger, but she remained steadfast. “Certainly, sir, anything you hear from her friends and family around this uncivilized neighbourhood would be biased, I am sure, to keep it…”
“It is on my own authority, Miss Bingley!” Darcy’s eyes glared at her. “Elizabeth Bennet was on the same ship as myself travelling to America! And I can guarantee that she was not in any way disgraced !”
Caroline’s jaw dropped and she felt herself grow suddenly cold. As she gasped at his words, her throat constricted and nothing more than a squawk came out. She quickly swallowed and muttered a conciliatory, “Oh.”
“Now, Miss Bingley, if you will excuse me!”
As Darcy left, he was approached by one of Netherfield’s servants. “Sir, if you would please come up to your room. You are needed there.”
Darcy quickly left for his room and was met by Durnham, who informed him that one of the maids had seen an unknown man leaving his room.
“I have made a thorough going-over of the room, and there are a few pieces of expensive jewellery missing. Your set of diamond cufflinks and a neckcloth pin. I believe it was most likely some ruffian wanting some easy money.”
“Thank you, Durnham.”
The servant looked at Darcy. “Is there anything we can do for you, sir? We deeply apologize for this inconvenience.”
Darcy turned and told him, “There was nothing of consequence taken that cannot be replaced. Let Bingley know so he should have the rest of the house looked over in case he went through other rooms.”
“Yes, sir.”
Darcy was quite surprised by how little this upset him. He was feeling too intoxicated by the lingering warmth of Elizabeth’s embrace and their confessions of love to one another to allow a petty theft to annoy him.
Chapter 26
George Wickham made his way through the darkness to the horse he had tethered in the dense grove of trees that formed a convenient cover for him as he stole away from Netherfield. When he returned to the solitude of his quarters in Meryton, he looked through the various items that he had liberated from his old chum’s room. But it was the simple piece of paper that proved to be most interesting.
A malevolent wave of elation swept over him as he thought back to the events of the evening. He could not determine whether he was more greatly satisfied at what he had been able to secure, what he had seen, what he had heard, or that he was able to accomplish it all without being caught.
He tossed aside the few pieces of jewellery that would garner him a more than adequate amount of gambling money. But in light of the other things he came away with, these small items were inconsequential. His eyes narrowed as he perused what was apparently a marriage certificate. He shook his head as he tried to fathom the circumstances of a marriage between Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. A sly smile crept across his face as he realized that no one in this trifling neighbourhood seemed to be aware of it!
Wickham chuckled as he considered how easily he had been able to charm one of Netherfield’s young servant girls into telling him which room Darcy occupied. He leaned back into his chair, giving this piece of paper his undivided attention. The brief thought crossed his mind to attempt to blackmail his old friend, but chances were Darcy would choose to do something noble, such as divulge the truth to everyone rather than pay.
He thought about the bits and pieces of conversation that he overheard as Darcy and this young lady, who bore the esteemed honour of being his secret wife, stood in the shadows. Something about getting married only to have it annulled later. Must have changed their minds, although they obviously are not living together as man and wife.