Page 31 of Penned By Mr Darcy
“You are sure you are well enough to leave us?” Bingley asked, his brows knitted in concern. “Really, Miss Bennet, there is no hurry.”
“It is very kind of you, but I must continue my recovery at home, lest I cause my mother unbearable worry. I hope to see you all again soon, in better circumstances.”
“Indeed – I cannot imagine that there are many worse circumstances,” Caroline said with a tight smile. “Do take care.”
Miss Elizabeth stepped forward, her sister naturally falling behind her. If one did not know the Bennets, it would be easy to assume that Miss Elizabeth was the elder, for she commanded her sister with ease. Perhaps it was simply the contrast of their natures that brought about the imbalance. Miss Elizabeth seemed to command all those around her with ease.
Caroline straightened herself a little, for even though she would never admit it, she always seemed to be intimidated by ‘Miss Eliza’, for he was one of the only women who did not shrink herself down in Caroline’s overbearing presence.
“Thank you for the stimulating company,” Miss Elizabeth said, nodding her head. “I do not know what I would have done without it.”
Caroline and Mrs Hurst both curtsied to the departing women, before making their excuses to return inside and out of the cold air, leaving only Darcy and Bingley to see the pair safely away.
“Well then,” Miss Elizabeth said after a moment of silence had passed. “We had best be off.”
With the briefest of curtsies, Miss Elizabeth walked to the carriage. Darcy longed to accompany her, but propriety dictatedthat he must say goodbye to Miss Bennet first. It would not to do to be seen as singling out one sister to accompany, whilst the other lingered behind. The crunch of Miss Elizabeth’s footsteps was audible, each step removing her from him.
“Thank you, Mr Bingley, for everything. And Mr Darcy, I understand I owe you a great deal, for the treatments you recommended did me very well.”
“I am glad to have been of service. It was nothing at all.”
She smiled at him, dipping into a perfect curtsey. The eldest Miss Bennet held herself with great elegance, and as she turned and walked away to her waiting sister, she moved with the grace of a queen. Bingley hurriedly walked behind her, helping her into the carriage where Miss Elizabeth already sat.
“Farewell, Miss Elizabeth,” he said softly.
She nodded.
“Farewell, Mr Darcy.”
The carriage door was closed, and both men stood and stared after it, remaining in place until the carriage was but a small dot on the horizon of Netherfield’s grand driveway.
“Well,” Bingley sighed. “That’s that, then.”
“Yes. If you’ll excuse me, I will go and change.”
They walked back to the house in silence, Darcy at once removing himself to his bedroom. As he removed his riding clothes, he went to take his diary from his pocket. He slipped his hand into one pocket of his coat, then another.
Nothing.
His diary was gone.
Chapter Eleven
Elizabeth
Returning home after any period of time away was always a comfort. There was nothing quite like one’s own bed, and the warm embrace of one’s family.
Unfortunately, her family now included the unwelcome Mr Collins.
Lizzie had first met him on the morning they returned from Netherfield, and at once she had been unnerved. He was a ghoulish sort of man, and he had mentioned the attainder more than once. It was as if he were cataloguing the contents of Longbourn, his eyes darting around the room.
That was not his biggest crime; he was unfathomably boring. A preacher, of course, was expected to preach – this she could have forgiven. A usual sort of preacher, however, was left behind at church once the sermon had finished. Mr Collins found endless excuses to insert scripture and moral lessons into every conversation.
Jane was excused this strange torture; she was still bedridden. Whilst her condition had certainly improved from their time atNetherfield, she was still unwell. Lizzy lay awake each night, listening to the sound of her sister’s laboured breathing.
That was not the only thing keeping her awake.
There was a secret that lay pressed between the mattress and the headboard.
