Page 102 of The Governess of My Heart
Miss Bingley’s thoughts were no different.
Mr. Darcy must be out of his mind to ask her to dance. Why did he do that?
Once the dance ended, Darcy led Mary back to her party. He needed some fresh air and ventured out to the balcony.
Darcy did not know why but felt something was amiss with Mary. It was the same feeling he had felt when he met Elizabeth.
He did not know how he almost said Elizabeth’s name to her. He had no idea how he could have slipped up so easily to a stranger.
The balcony was dimly lit and had a terrace leading to the lower level. Darcy saw a few men standing on the terrace. They were oblivious to his presence.
Darcy overheard the conversation amongst them.
“I cannot believe the Bennet family. They act as if nothing happened.”
“Well, according to them, nothing did. She just left to stay with her uncle in town.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“Well, half the village doesn’t believe it as well.”
“The servants in Longbourn say something happened after that relative visited them.”
“Oh! I forgot his name. Who was that?”
“The parson, Mr. Collins. He was a clown.”
“Maybe this will stay a mystery forever. Only if she returns, we may know the truth.”
The topic drifted elsewhere, and Darcy could not believe his ears.
He was well acquainted with Mr. Collins from his yearly visits to Rosings.
What he overheard made no sense to him.
Who are they referring to? How is Mr. Collins associated with the Bennet family?
He was intrigued by the matter.
The evening ended with different emotions for everyone. Mr. Bingley was ashamed to have fallen so blindly for someone likeJane. Miss Bingley and Jane were enraged that their hopes with Darcy did not materialize, and Mrs. Bennet was vexed that Darcy had not spent time with her favorite daughter. Mary was still sad about Darcy’s situation with Elizabeth.
But Darcy had only one thought.
What is the mystery with the Bennet family?
Chapter 32
“So, you say the second daughter disappeared, and no one knows where she is?”
“I believe so, sir. According to their parents, she ran away to live with her aunt and uncle in town,” his valet said, inwardly surprised by his master’s interest in the matter. “The servants here are mostly new and unaware of the details. Mr. Bingley has brought them from town. But the housekeeper may know the exact details.”
Darcy nodded. He did not want his valet to question people about the Bennet family. But the mystery piqued him, and his thoughts circled around Mary. He didn’t have a decent opinion of the Bennets except for her. There was something sincere in her demeanor. He wanted to know how Mr. Collins was related to the Bennets and asked his valet to enquire about the same. His valet got the information from some villagers, and Darcy learned about the entailment.
“Most people say Mr. Collins visited Hertfordshire to see the Longbourn estate because of the entailment. They say there was some disagreement between Mr. Bennet and him, and he left in anger. It seems the daughter disappeared the same day he left the estate.”
Darcy was extremely puzzled by the matter. He knew enough of Mr. Collins during his visits to Rosings to understand that the man lacked sense.His aunt had written to him in detail about his wife’s death in Kent as well, and now Darcy wondered if Mr. Bingley knew anything about the Bennets and their missing daughter.
All families have some secret,he thought as he fought hard to erase the memories of Georgiana’s near elopement in Ramsgate.
