Page 121 of Mr. Darcy’s Diamonds

“I can. I will check in with you once you all move to Longbourn. If you think more men will be helpful, I will send for them.”

The footman nodded but began to look concerned.

“What is it, Matthew?”

“I don’t know what I should look for, sir. I will stay close to Miss Lizzy, at least in the next room, like here. And when she feels like walkin’ outside again, I will be with her. But what else should we do, sir?”

“Find out all the ways in and out of the house. Are the doors and windows locked at night? Miss Elizabeth told me you were suspicious of Wickham—” Darcy paused at the look of fury that briefly overtook Matthew’s face. “Trust your judgment, and alert me of anything that seems wrong.”

“Very well, sir.”

Darcy was concerned about Mrs. Bennet, but she could not have been the one to cut the planks of the bridge. He had observed her after the assembly ball and thought she was vulgar and cruel but not someone who would attempt murder.

“Can you also be sure Dinah sleeps close to Miss Elizabeth at Longbourn? I feel I should send for my men now, so they can at least watch the house at night even if Mr. Bennet objects to anyone being inside.”

“Dinah cares for Miss, too. We will both do everythin’ we can to keep her safe.”

“I have every faith in you, Matthew. I will check in with you once you are settled at Longbourn, but send me a message if you need me for any reason or discover anything of interest.”

“Yes, sir.”

As Darcy walked back to his own bedchamber, he smiled at Matthew’s pride in his new assignment. Darcy had begun to appreciate him at the beginning of the year, before he knew his name, but now he had become a perfect ally. Once he made Elizabeth his wife, he hoped Matthew and Dinah would both be willing to move to Pemberley with them. Given their devotion to their mistress, he suspected it would be easier to convince them than Elizabeth to make the move.

She had sat with him only briefly after dinner the night before, though it had likely been too long, given how she was feeling now, but she had softened toward him. He prayed she would be open to talking with him again when she emerged from her bedchamber.

Chapter Fifty-One

The next morning, Elizabeth felt much better. She rose to dress with Dinah’s help, but the additional day in bed had done wonders. She felt no weakness today at all. Finally, she could return to Longbourn. As soon as Jane woke and came through their shared sitting room to check on her, they could request a carriage and be on their way.

Elizabeth had been dressed for an hour and was reading by her window waiting for Jane when she heard a loud crack of thunder. She looked out into what had been a bright November morning and realized the sky had darkened without her noticing. Suddenly, torrents of rain slapped the window.

Shoulders slumped, she resigned herself to another day at Netherfield Park. She would not even be able to walk in the garden as Mr. Darcy had suggested. She warmed when she thought it may not be so bad to be confined to this house for a bit longer. Had she not decided the day before that she had little more to lose from spending time with the man? Still, their friendship had altered, lessened, and she must remember it. She could appreciate Mr. Darcy without becoming close to him again, surely.

Elizabeth laughed when Jane came in then, wide-eyed and smiling, clearly also understanding their predicament.

“Do you think you will spend even one more night in your childhood home, Jane? We may be preparing you for your wedding day from this house.”

Jane blushed but did not appear at all averse to the idea of remaining close to her betrothed.

“Only four more days until the ball, Lizzy. And then the next day, we will finally be married.”

“You have been the most patient woman I know. Little did I think when I introduced you and Mr. Bingley three and a half years ago that your wedding day would be so far off.”

Jane laughed. “You thought I would marry him that same year?”

Elizabeth joined in her mirth. “No. You know I thought him too young. Yet, I expected you would both fall in love. Given all that has happened, though, I admit I was unsure whether we would ever see this happy ending.”

“You have been such a support to me, Lizzy. Thank you for standing by me even when it was difficult for you. Having you by my side in society was more necessary than you knew. I do not have your confidence; I only hope I will be strong enough to manage the ton.”

“Of course you will be. Mr. Bingley will help you whenever you are unsure.”

“It will be strange not to have Caroline with me. I know she will try to convince Sir Abraham to buy a London home and come each year, but she has not succeeded yet, even when he could have secured her hand far earlier had he given in to her request.”

“Will you not wish to stay here with Mr. Bingley, though? You need not return to London while he has Netherfield Park.”

“I do like London a great deal, but we shall see. Enough of that. You look very well today. Do you plan to go down later, or would you prefer to have the ladies come for a meal in the sitting room again? Caroline may not come, as her betrothed arrived last night…”

“Thank you for indulging me yesterday, but I would not dream of keeping you from your own betrothed another evening. I am ready to go down now, if you wish.”