Page 140 of Near Pemberley

“Only where justice is concerned.”

Mrs. Bennet, who had followed the conversation with increasing bewilderment, finally declared, “Well! I hope the horrid man owes everybody.”

That broke the silence. Even Mr. Bennet laughed.

“Mr. Darcy, God bless you,” she said.

And Elizabeth followed Darcy into the hall. She watched Darcy draw on his coat with the same composure he had displayed throughout the conversation. He spoke as though he intended nothing remarkable. That, Elizabeth thought, was precisely what made it remarkable.

She watched him take up his gloves, entirely occupied with plans for her family’s future, while asking nothing for himself.

She became suddenly conscious that she was smiling. Her heart quickened, and she looked away before he could notice.

***

After many embraces, repeated promises to write, and Mrs. Bennet’s final injunction that Lydia was to eat well, keep warm, and never again trust a handsome officer, the travellers at last took their leave.

Lydia cried once more before the carriage had reached the gates, though she recovered with surprising speed when Elizabeth slipped an arm through hers. She turned several times to wave towards Longbourn until the house disappeared behind the trees altogether. Mrs. Bennet’s final embrace seemed still to linger about her, for she touched the ribbon upon her bonnet absently and smiled to herself.

Longbourn disappeared slowly behind them.

“I shall miss them dreadfully,” she admitted at last. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy.”

Lydia’s unexpected seriousness surprised everyone.

“For what?” Darcy asked.

“For everything.” She smiled. “I know very well it is all you.”

Darcy looked faintly uncomfortable. He had never learnt what to do when people thanked him. Criticism was much easier. “You give me more credit than I deserve.”

“I do not think it is possible. It is best if you accept our thanks.” Elizabeth said.

Darcy held her gaze for a long moment. In the end, he inclined his head. “Very well,” he said quietly. “I shall accept your thanks.”

He leaned back against the squabs with a faint sigh.

“Your father appears no longer opposed to the move.”

“Really?” Both Lydia and Elizabeth said at the same time.

“Yes.”

Elizabeth drew a quiet breath of relief. “Then there is hope. Perhaps I shall not need to become a governess.”

Silence fell within the carriage. Elizabeth looked from one astonished face to another and only then understood what she had said.

Darcy went very still.

“You had considered working as a governess?” he asked.

“All because of me! Oh Lizzy, I am so sorry.” Lydia turned anxiously to Darcy. “But she will not have to now, if we remove from Hertfordshire, will she?”

Elizabeth crimsoned to her hairline. She did not realise she said that out loud.

“That was before…”

The thought of Elizabeth compelled by necessity to enter a stranger’s household – dependent upon his temper, his generosity, perhaps even his whims – struck him with a force he could not conceal. Worse still was the knowledge that she had contemplated such a future while he possessed the means to secure her from it, yet no right to offer them.