Page 178 of Near Pemberley

Mrs. Bennet, for once, said nothing.

She looked at her husband, then back at Darcy. Only now did she truly notice the fading bruise beneath his eye.

Without a word, she rose from her chair.

Everyone watched her in astonishment.

She stepped before Darcy, cupped his face between her hands with surprising gentleness, and pressed a motherly kiss upon the discoloured skin beneath his eye.

Darcy was so completely taken aback that he forgot to move.

Then, quite unexpectedly, he smiled. In that instant, he understood exactly from whom Elizabeth had learnt that simple gesture of comfort.

She patted Darcy’s arm. “I have a son.”

Darcy stared at her for a moment.

Then, quite unexpectedly, his expression softened.

“I am honoured, Mrs. Bennet.”

She nodded as though the matter were settled.

Jane smiled gently. “I think Elizabeth would have been most anxious about your bruises.”

Darcy’s eyes met hers for a brief moment. “She was.”

***

After luncheon, before he departed, Darcy approached Jane.

“Miss Bennet… might I have a word?”

She looked at him with her usual gentle composure. “Certainly.”

Darcy did not waste time. “I owe you an apology.”

Jane looked surprised but listened without interruption as he explained the part he had played in persuading Bingley to leave Netherfield. He admitted his error without attempting to excuse it. He spoke, too, of Caroline and Mrs. Hurst’s concealment of her visit to London.

At that, Jane looked at him in genuine bewilderment.

“He didn’t know?”

Darcy shook his head.

Only then did Darcy realise that Elizabeth had never shared that part of his letter with her sister. A curious mixture of gratitude and embarrassment passed through him.

He finished the account briefly. When he had done, Jane remained thoughtful for several moments.

“So Mr. Bingley never knew I was in London.”

“No.”

“And he truly believed I did not care for him.”

“He did.”

Jane lowered her eyes. “What a terrible misunderstanding.”