“You had no reason to do all this. You were under no obligation to me, my family, and most of all, Mr. Wickham. What you have done for him… for my sister…” Elizabeth let out a disgusted sigh. “We both know how little Wickham deserves any such generosity.”
Darcy gazed down at her with a single brow raised. “
His words and actions conspired to disarm Elizabeth. She looked down and shook her head. “But why would you do all this?”
“I had my reasons.”
He was obviously not going to explain. With questions still swirling in her head, she debated which one to ask next. She was grateful that Jane and Mr. Bingley were quite a distance ahead of them, but her voice softened as she asked her next question. “What are Mr. Bingley’s views on Lydia’s actions? Certainly he must have considered that if our family was tainted with disgrace, it would not be in his best interest to marry Jane.”
Darcy chuckled lightly under his breath. “My good friend Bingley is of a most peculiar nature. He is so easygoing and good-natured that he hardly ever anticipates any wrong occurring.” His voice became reflective, and he tilted his head at Elizabeth as he said, “I believe your sister is very much like him in that regard.”
Elizabeth murmured an assent.
Darcy turned and began walking again. He extended his arm to Elizabeth, silently inviting her to join him. She came up alongside of him, slipping her fingers around his arm.
Darcy continued. “When I arrived at your aunt and uncle’s house, Bingley and your sister were both overly confident that Wickham and Lydia would be found and the situation would not be as dire as first thought.” He looked down at Elizabeth and smiled. “On this occasion, I did not contradict them with my own conjectures, hoping—yet doubtful—it would progress as they both anticipated.”
“How soon did you find them?”
Darcy drew in a breath. “It was not until the following afternoon. I will spare you the details of how I came to find them. Suffice it to say that marriage was the only viable option.”
“So they are to marry then.” In frustration, she kicked a large pebble that lay in the path. “And how can you allow Wickham to stay at your London home?”
He pursed his lips slightly before answering. “Right now, he is tied up and gagged in one of the draughtiest rooms of the house. I allow him only bread and water and will keep him there until the day of the wedding.”
Now Elizabeth chuckled, but only briefly. “While I highly doubt that, it certainly would be what he deserves.”
Darcy shrugged.
“Pray, forgive me, Mr. Darcy, but I must inquire about the house. How can you justify providing them with such a gift? They are far too undeserving!”
Darcy let out a long breath. “While what I did may sound generous, I have implemented some very strict imperatives. As a matter of fact, the house does not belong to them and will never belong to them. It is in my name, and even if Wickham gambles away everything he owns, the house cannot be taken away. It sits on enough land with sufficient crops and several tenants who will supply a modest income for them. I have hired a reliable associate to be steward, and he will handle all the finances. Your sister will be safe.”
“But still, neither of them deserves this.”
Darcy halted his steps and turned to Elizabeth. “They deserve each other, and they will certainly get what they deserve.”
Elizabeth’s breath faltered, and she stopped and looked up at him as she realized his meaning. “Yes, I suppose they will…”
Darcy continued, “The home is large enough to accommodate the Wickhams, as well as your mother and two younger sisters if they choose to live there. They will no longer need to be at the mercy of your aunt and uncle in Meryton. This will improve their situation.”
“I hope they have expressed their gratitude.”
“Abundantly.”
“And Wickham has agreed to this?”
“It was the only way I would untie him.”
Elizabeth readily noticed the curl of his lips. “It pleases me—yet perplexes me—that you can jest after all that man has done. He ought to be locked up and the key thrown into the Thames!”
“We are of like mind in that,” Darcy offered. “Wickham agreed because he had no other recourse. He had far too many debts—most from gambling—and was about to be dismissed from his regiment for disciplinary reasons.”
“And this man Lydia wants as her husband?” Elizabeth cried out in frustration, pounding her fists through the air. She was not really expecting an answer.
His silence was answer enough.
Finally, Darcy asked, “Do you mind if we speak of other, more pleasant things?”
“Oh, yes!” Elizabeth exclaimed, and the two continued walking. “Please allow me to tell you how much I appreciate you arranging for my travels to London in your carriage. It was most comfortable, and I truly enjoyed Anna’s company on the journey.”
“I am pleased. Georgiana knows her well and thought she would make a good travelling companion for you.”
“Thank you also for the books. We enjoyed reading from them as we journeyed, helping the time to pass more quickly. That was very kind of you. I really did not expect…”
He nodded and waved his hand through the air. “It was nothing.”
When Elizabeth peered up at him, she noticed his pinched brow and tightly pursed lips, a sure indication of the awkwardness he was feeling, likely due to all her praise. She decided to leave the topic of their next discourse to him.
He finally spoke. “The first morning you were at the Ketterlings, I had no knowledge of your departure. I thought… I had hoped you might walk up to the ridge…”
“In my mud boots?” she said with a mischievous smile, hoping to ease his discomfiture.
“Yes, in your mud boots,” he replied as he brought his hands together and nervously rubbed his fingers. “I wished to show you something.”
“The sunrise? I remember.”
He shook his head. “There was something else.”
Elizabeth stopped and turned to look at him. “What was that?”
Darcy looked toward Jane and Bingley, who were now slowly walking back toward them. “There is a house and some land that is for sale. It is on the other side of the ridge. When you encountered me that first morning, I had just come from viewing it from up there.” He moistened his lips and paused. “I thought it would be a good home for Bingley and his new bride. I wished to know your opinion of it.”
Elizabeth’s brows rose as high as her jaw dropped. “You wished to know my opinion?”
“I know the view of the estate from up there was somewhat limited; however, I believed you would have had an idea whether your sister would be pleased with it.”
“Have you mentioned it to Mr. Bingley?”
“Yes, we leave first thing in the morning for Derbyshire. He wishes to see it.”
“And will he make his decision on his own?”
Darcy skewered his mouth. “You mean without my interference?”
Elizabeth laughed. “Or perhaps I was wondering whether he would seek my sister’s input.”
“I promise you the decision will be totally, completely in his hands, but…” Darcy took a deep breath and Elizabeth waited for him to let it out. “If he asks for my advice, I will certainly give it.”
Elizabeth laughed softly. “Indeed, I am quite certain
Darcy’s demeanour grew serious. “I wondered whether you… I mean, I thought you might… reside with them once they are settled. You no longer have a need to be a governess.”
“This is not something Jane and I have even discussed. Perhaps Lydia would want me to live with
