Page 15 of Losing Lizzy
“A ship meant to rob others!” she gasped. Tears rushed to her eyes. “Even I could never have imagined such an outcome! I simply knew you loved Elizabeth too dearly to abandon her unless you suffered some great tragedy.”
He confided, “Thoughts of your sister kept me alive fornearly four years. Two months ago, I escaped when a British naval ship came near whereThe Lost Sparrowwas hiding. I jumped overboard during the night and swam for my life.”
“How courageous,” she said in awe. “But I always recognized your strong will. You are not a man who would abandon those for whom you cared.”
He knew she was thinking of Bingley, but Darcy mentioned nothing of recently seeing his former friend. He would not present Miss Bennet false hopes. Instead, he cleared his throat. “Miss Bennet, your father tells me my uncle, Lord Matlock, and my aunt, Lady Catherine, have each recently called upon him, offering to finance dowries for you and your sisters if your father would tell them where Elizabeth is now living. As my uncle conducted questionable business dealings in my name during in my absence, I fear Matlock and others in my family mean to implore Miss Elizabeth to deny me again. Matlock and his sister will make a similar offer to Elizabeth, and, God bless her, you know her nature. She will agree to shoulder the punishment for something she has not done in order to save you and your sisters. She will slip from sight, and I might never find her. I am willing to fight the Devil himself to win her back, but I require assistance in locating her.”
Miss Bennet frowned, “Elizabeth has already suffered enough for our sake.”
“Yet, we both know she would agree to much worse to protect each of you.”
Miss Bennet remained silent for several minutes as they strolled along the path together. At length, she said, “If you are asking if I know of Elizabeth’s whereabouts, I do not. She and Papa were very secretive after she refused both Mr. Bingley and Sir William’s son, John Lucas.”
“Other relatives?” Darcy speculated.
“Early on, Papa’s relations in Scotland refused to take Elizabeth in,” she explained.
“Your mother’s relations?”
“There are only the Phillipses and the Gardiners,” sheconfided. “Aunt and Uncle Phillips are too close to escape the gossips, and, although the Gardiners volunteered to take Elizabeth in, my sister refused.”
Darcy knew he frowned, but her explanation was almost too perfect. “Why would she not seek assistance from the Gardiners? From my limited observations, they always proved to be most supportive of you both.”
Miss Bennet paused and looked away. “I do not know the reason Elizabeth refused, but I suspect—”
When the lady blushed again, he prompted, “You may speak honestly with me, Miss Bennet. I will not judge you. I know, like me, you desire Elizabeth’s best interests.”
She nodded her understanding, but did not look at him. “I ... I saw you ... you and Lizzy leave—”
“The library at Netherfield,” he finished for her when she looked off to the path before them.
“Yes,” she said so softly he could barely hear her.
He cleared his throat in discomfort. “Your sister and I should not have anticipated our vows,” he confessed. “I have no excuse except I love Elizabeth Bennet to distraction.”
“Notloved?” she asked. Again, he thought the lady might be thinking of Bingley’s promises of cherish her forever.
“If I must search every village and town in England, I mean to find her again and profess my undying love and pray she has not chosen another.”
“I am glad of it,” she said. “Elizabeth deserves happiness.” She looked to where they had walked. “I should return to the house. I am certain your visit has set Mama worrying again, and it is not fair to leave Mama’s ‘nerves’ to Mary’s care each time.”
He turned with her. Although he was not certain he wanted to know the answer, he asked, nevertheless. “Miss Bennet, my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, reports when he called upon your father several months after my disappearance, Colonel Forster told him a tale of how an older gentleman called upon Mr. Bennet regarding Elizabeth. Is it possible your sister departed with this man?”
It was the lady’s turn to appear confused. “The only gentleman of whom I am aware of calling on Papa during that trying time, and I would certainly not name him as ‘old,’ was your valet.”
Darcy took a step away from her to digest her words. “Mr. Sheffield, are you certain?” His valet was ten years Darcy’s senior, in his early forties now. Older than Darcy, but, most assuredly, not as old as the man Darcy had been imagining.
“My rooms overlook Longbourn’s drive. Just as I saw you disembark today, I viewed your valet step down from a small coach one afternoon some two months after your wedding date. I assumed he was delivering a message from your family to Mr. Bennet. He only remained at Longbourn a few hours. He did not even stay for supper or to take tea with us.”
“How long after Sheffield’s visit did Miss Elizabeth depart Longbourn?”
“Perhaps three weeks. Papa placed her in the family coach, and we all said our farewells. The coach was gone most of the day, but not overnight, returning shortly after dark. Surely, Elizabeth did not leave with your valet.”
“Miss Bennet,” Darcy said, “I do not want to speculate.” Although he did not wish to hope Sheffield had done the honorable thing and assisted Elizabeth, the action would have been quite typical of the man. Albert Sheffield had always been his compass when Darcy lost his way. “My Cousin Fitzwilliam says it was chaotic in those early weeks of my going missing. Yet, I would ask that you not mention Mr. Sheffield’s presence to another until after I clarify if this information is significant or not.”
The lady reached out to stay his departure. “I fear it may be too late. Mama, in a fit of anger, at Lady Catherine’s most recent snubs told her ladyship your servant had possessed more empathy than did your aunt.”
Chapter Six
