Elizabeth continued the letter with news of the household, then impulsively added an invitation to Georgiana to visit at her home for a week or two before the wedding if she wished to discover what it was really like to have so many sisters.

She was very pleased with this letter, feeling it struck a delicate balance between acknowledging Georgiana’s points without putting any overemphasis on Mr. Darcy’s behavior.

Georgiana’s reply came a few days later with an enthusiastic acceptance of the invitation to visit. For once, she barely mentioned her brother, which disappointed Elizabeth until she turned to the second page and saw, underneath Georgiana’s signature, several lines written in a firm hand which she knew well from her many perusals of Mr. Darcy’s letter to her at Hunsford. Her heart beating quickly, she jumped ahead to read the postscript:


My dear Miss Bennet, I certainly hope you had as much enjoyment in crafting your last letter as my sister had in reading it, although I, as the proposed victim, must admit to a certain trepidation if you continue to encourage Georgiana in this manner. Thank you for making her laugh; she still does it too rarely. I look forward to seeing you again next month, even if you and Georgiana have had some days together in advance to plot my downfall—I shall attempt to face it with dignity. As ever, yours, FD

Chapter 4

Mrs. Bennet, after many searches, discussions, and negotiations, finally decided that the gowns available in Meryton could not possibly satisfy for a marriage to a man with five thousand a year, and to this purpose she resolved to take Jane to London to visit the dressmakers there. Elizabeth and Kitty were to accompany them; Mary owned that she had rather stay at home, as she had little interest in such frivolities.

Elizabeth was initially pleased to be taking the trip, feeling it might provide her a useful distraction from her thoughts, but after one agonizing day of making the rounds of the dressmakers, she felt she could no longer tolerate the misery of watching her mother’s excitable behavior and Kitty’s sulks, even for Jane’s sake. Hence, the following morning found her pleading a sick headache and making plans to stay at home with her aunt. Once the shopping party had departed, however, Mrs. Gardiner was pleased to notice a substantial improvement in her niece’s health and was gratified to have Elizabeth to herself, since there was a certain subject she wished to broach with her.

“Lizzy, your uncle and I were wondering recently about your Mr. Darcy—do you know how old he was when his father died?”

Elizabeth, most startled by this application, found herself stammering, “I believe it was in the vicinity of five years ago, so he must have been twenty-two or twenty-three, I would imagine. But why do you ask?”

“No reason, my dear, except to settle the question between your uncle and me, but he has the right of it, then; I had thought it was more recent. It is your uncle’s belief that much of Mr. Darcy’s seriousness stems from having been left too young with all the responsibilities of managing a large estate, as well as raising a sister at a delicate age. I argued he has more of a capacity for liveliness than he might be credited for, but perhaps needs the right companion to help him find it.”

“Aunt,” said Elizabeth in some exasperation at this hinting, “why, pray tell, were you discussing Mr. Darcy in the first place?”

“Well, naturally, he does have an obvious interest for us, and also we saw a good deal of him when he was late in London.”

“I have heard nothing of this,” said Elizabeth carefully.

“Really? I would have supposed you to have sources of information… but no matter. Mr. Darcy called on us here shortly after my return from Longbourn, and afterward was our guest on several occasions. I must say that I have been very favorably impressed by him, and he and Mr. Gardiner seem to have established a fine regard for one another. I gather Mr. Darcy solicited his advice on more than one occasion regarding some difficulties he faces in managing a particular situation at Pemberley; thus, it would seem, confirming your uncle’s opinion that his responsibilities are quite large for such a young man.”

Elizabeth had not any idea of how to interpret this intelligence. Mr. Darcy seeking out advice from her uncle in trade? “You seem to take quite a lively interest in Mr. Darcy, aunt.”

“And you do not? Come, my dear, he has made no secret to us of his hopes regarding you, unlike my sly Lizzy who will choose to keep everyone guessing! And when I hear from Jane that you have been somewhat out of spirits this last month, I must wonder what part he plays in that, as well.”

Elizabeth sought to avoid her aunt’s eyes as she pondered what she was willing to say. “I will not attempt to deny that he has been much in my thoughts, nor that I have moments when I wish he was near, but the situation is perhaps more complex than it seems at first glance. I know he does still hold me in some special regard, but he has by no means renewed his addresses, and there are certainly reasons to think he never will do so.”

“Lizzy, how can you doubt it? He is clearly violently in love with you,” said Mrs. Gardiner with a smile.

“Yes, and just as clearly, the person he detests most in the world, the man who disgusts him completely, is now my brother! I cannot believe that he would tolerate being in the same room as Wickham, much less become a relation of his!”

“I believe you seriously underestimate what he is willing to do for you, my dear.”

“If I am so incorrect, why has he made no effort to see me?” Elizabeth said, finally admitting to the worry that was often with her. “He has traveled from Pemberley to London and back twice, and has never stopped in Hertfordshire, though with Mr. Bingley at Netherfield, nothing could be easier.”

Mrs. Gardiner sighed. “Perhaps it is because he remains quite uncertain of your regard for him.”

“How could he possibly be unsure of my regard after my behavior in Lambton?” asked Elizabeth in some exasperation.

“Lizzy, my dear, your regard for him is obvious to me, but do keep in mind, you have refused him twice, which would give anyone some cause for doubt.”

“Not twice, only once, and that was long before Lambton!”

“And how would you portray your decision at Lambton? When we discovered you and strongly advocated to both of you that steps be taken to protect your honor, he was completely willing to enter into an engagement, and you categorically refused! Did you think that would have no effect on him?”

Elizabeth paled, deeply dismayed at her aunt’s view of the affair. “I was not ready, but I never meant that as a refusal… I never intended to hurt him in any way!” Tears rose to her eyes at the thought.

Mrs. Gardiner looked at her long and seriously. “My dear Lizzy, there are moments when I think that you and Mr. Darcy have a positive talent for misconstruing each other. I will speak openly to you: first, Mr. Darcy does indeed bear a significant burden of distress owing to his fear he will never win your affections, and second, if you think his dislike of Wickham is more powerful than his affection for you, then you are quite in the wrong. I do not wish to violate a confidence, but I will say that he has made it quite clear to me that he is willing to tolerate Mr. Wickham if need be for your sake.”

Elizabeth, quite sobered by her aunt’s statements, soon pleaded a return of her headache which required a retreat to her room, where she spent a great deal of time and tore up several sheets of paper before constructing a letter to suit her particular purposes.

*   *   *

Two days later, the post brought to Pemberley two letters, one to Mr. Darcy from Mr. Gardiner, the other to Miss Darcy from Miss Bennet. Darcy laid the first aside, and, caressing the second in his hand for some moments, decided it was time to practice some of his vaunted self-control, and rang for a footman to take it to Miss Georgiana. With a sigh, he broke the seal on Mr. Gardiner’s letter.


Dear Mr. Darcy,

I have several thoughts which may apply to the situation regarding your tenant, but first, my wife bids me to send you her greetings, and to tell you that we are presently enjoying a short visit from my sister Bennet and her daughters. I am most particularly to tell you that while Miss Jane Bennet looks every bit the joyous bride, her sister Elizabeth appears to be somewhat out of spirits, the which, Mrs. Gardiner, having had extended discourse with her, tells me seems to be regarding the absence of a certain gentleman from Derbyshire. I cannot personally attest to any of this, since the young lady in question did not appear for dinner this evening, pleading a headache.

Now, regarding your tenant, it appears to me that you are faced with one of three choices…


Darcy stared at this surprising missive for several minutes. Bless Mrs. Gardiner! he thought. He felt overtaken by a desire to saddle the nearest horse and head posthaste to London, but he cautioned himself sternly that he must not make assumptions; he knew of the Gardiners’ intentions for Elizabeth and him, and perhaps Mrs. Gardiner had taken an overoptimistic view of something Elizabeth had said.

Remember, man, you will see her for yourself in only a few weeks, he admonished himself. Patience!

His thoughts were interrupted by a gentle knocking on the door. Georgiana entered tentatively in response to his call. “Fitzwilliam? May I speak to you for a moment?” she asked.

He attempted to calm himself. “Of course. What can I do for you?”

She looked at him oddly. “Is anything the matter?” she asked.

Of course! She had just received a letter from Elizabeth, and he was showing absolutely no interest in it. No wonder she was confused.

“No, nothing at all, Georgiana. What does Miss Bennet have to say today?”

Somewhat tentatively, she held out a folded sheet of paper. “She asked me to give you this.”

He all but snatched it out of her hand. Georgiana smiled to see him returned to normal on the subject of Miss Bennet. “I will just go back to my letter, then?” she suggested timidly.

“Very tactful, dear,” he responded with a laugh as she exited.

He was pleased to see that his hands barely trembled as he opened the letter.


Dear Mr. Darcy,

I hope you will forgive the impropriety of my addressing this to you directly; it is a liberty I take out of concern for your sister on her upcoming visit to Longbourn. Sir, I regret having to raise an unpleasant matter, but, as you are perhaps aware, my youngest sister recently married and moved to the far north. While it is certain that neither she nor her husband will be in attendance in Hertfordshire during the time of Miss Darcy’s visit, it is likewise certain that her name will be raised repeatedly by members of my family, and I certainly would not wish Miss Darcy to be taken by surprise by mention of Mrs. Wickham. I defer to your greater authority as to whether it is best for you to discuss this with her in advance, or if it is something best addressed only when she arrives, in which case I will of course be prepared to handle the question in whatever way you see fit. Please consider yourself at liberty to share any information regarding my sister’s situation that you deem appropriate.


Blast Wickham! Would he never stop haunting him? This was hardly what he hoped to hear from Elizabeth. He continued:


On a happier subject, I can safely say that Mr. Bingley and my sister are so deliriously happy as to be occasionally somewhat painful to those of us whose sources of such pleasure may be at a more distant remove. I remind myself that time will heal all these ills, but patience has never been one of my stronger virtues. Perhaps I should endeavor to follow your excellent example and make a study of the strengths and limitations of self-control, instead. Perchance you would be willing to offer me a review of the subject after your arrival at Netherfield?

Affectionately yours, EB


If Mr. Gardiner’s letter had surprised him, Elizabeth’s left him in a state of astonishment. He forced himself to peruse it several times, and even after he finally convinced himself he was reading it correctly, his amazement was such that he could not bring himself immediately to believe she had truly meant the words she had written. Whether his shock was greatest from Elizabeth’s admission of missing him, her provocative flirtation, or the completely compromising adieu was impossible to determine.