Page 127 of Near Pemberley

The answer came so quickly that Darcy looked at him.

The older man shook his head. “I wish I could disagree.” He folded his arms. “Lydia has been found. Thank God for that. But the neighbourhood will not suddenly forget.”

Darcy nodded. “That is my concern.”

“It is mine as well.” Mr. Gardiner was silent for a moment. “Particularly for Jane and Elizabeth.”

“Exactly.” Darcy hesitated. “I thought of a solution.” He leant forward. “They could move.”

“Pardon?”

“They could move somewhere else. Somewhere they are unknown.”

“Move somewhere else…” Mr. Gardiner sat up. “Why did I not think of that?” Genuine enthusiasm lit his face. Then it vanished almost as quickly. “Oh, but Bennet would never agree.”

“Why?”

Mr. Gardiner laughed. “Because it is troublesome.”

Darcy frowned. “Not even for his daughters?”

“I should like to think so. But you do not know Bennet as I do.”

“Explain.”

“He would have to leave Longbourn. He would have to leave his book room. He would have to organise the removal of an entire household.” Mr. Gardiner shook his head. “He has spent twenty years avoiding inconvenience wherever possible.”

Darcy was silent for a moment.

“I own a house in Ramsgate,” he heard himself say.

That earned Mr. Gardiner’s full attention.

“They could move there. There is no need to search. It is far enough for the scandal not to follow them, if the ladies can be persuaded not to mention anything.”

Mr. Gardiner studied him carefully. “You would let it to the Bennets?”

“Let?” A look of surprise crossed his face. “Yes, let… Yes, I would.”

Mr. Gardiner looked at him thoughtfully. He shook his head. “Large enough?”

“Large enough for the entire family.” Darcy allowed himself the faintest smile. “Even a book room.”

The older man smiled. “That may be the strongest argument yet.” His amusement faded as he considered the matter more seriously. “He will not like the extra cost.”

Darcy bit his lip in order not to answer that.

“And Longbourn?”

“The estate remains exactly as it is.”

Mr. Gardiner’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“Mr. Bennet could travel there quarterly.”

Mr. Gardiner nodded slowly. “He will not enjoy it. But as Elizabeth said, he should sacrifice something. He is the head of the household; he bears some responsibility for what has happened.”

“They would no longer be introduced as the family whose youngest daughter ran away.”