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He took her hands in his. “Surely you know how important you are to me. There is nothing in the world that I would not do for you.”

“If you would like to help then I know what I would like you to do. Pray you will not view my request as impertinence. And if you will, I shall not be disappointed.”

“Anything, Miss Elizabeth. Ask me anything.”

“I do not wish to remain here in Hunsford a minute longer than is necessary. You know my cousin and your aunt too well not to know what will happen when the news of what my sister has done reaches them. You have offered me the use of your carriage before. I fear I need to avail myself of your offer now to bring me to my uncle’s home in Cheapside. I need to be with my family. I want to do whatever I can to help during what I am certain will be trying times.”

“Indeed. I shall accompany you to your uncle’s home myself. I will have my sister, Georgiana, join us.”

“No—that is to say that I could not ask you to take such a task upon yourself. I most certainly do not feel comfortable involving your sister. What would I say to her in explanation of my distress? What can she possibly know of such evils of the world?”

Darcy brought Elizabeth’s hand to his lips and brushed a reassuring kiss across her knuckles. “My sister is far wiser than you know. She will be a great comfort to you. You must trust me on this.”

Releasing her hands, Darcy traced his fingers along Elizabeth’s chin. “Gather whatever you require for an imminent departure for London. I shall come back with my carriage post haste.” The look in his eyes spoke of his desire to do more than just trace his fingers along her face, rekindling in Elizabeth a small measure of hope. Whether it was on her family’s behalf or her own, she did not know. Any hope was better than none at all.

She smiled at him, and with that Darcy stood and quit the room. Elizabeth went to the window and watched as he made his way along the walk leading to the gate. She knew him too well to suppose he would not soon return. He was too much of a gentleman not to do as he promised.

Lingering by the window, Elizabeth folded one arm over the other as she continued to watch Mr. Darcy walk away. What might take place after he carried her to her uncle’s home in Cheapside was another matter in its entirety. Would the occasion mark the end of whatever power she might have, at one time, held over him?

Returning to Rosings in haste to oversee whatever arrangements were necessary for a swift departure for London, the tumult of Darcy’s mind was terribly great, and, at times, he found himself voicing his dismay aloud.

“How could that scoundrel possibly have supposed he would carry out such a nefarious offense? Did he truly think the young girl was so unprotected? So friendless? Did he not consider that her father or uncles or even the colonel of his regiment would not step forward? The young girl was under the colonel’s protection for Heaven’s sake. Could he expect to be noticed again by his fellow officers after such an affront? What temptation could possibly have made such a risk worthwhile?

“That loathsome man has no money. Why on Earth would he steal away with that young woman? I know him well enough to know he will never marry a woman who does not have her own fortune. He cannot afford it. What claims does this young lady possess that would make him, for her sake, forego his every chance of marrying well?”

With only one possible basis for comparison with a young woman whom he had never met, Darcy’s thoughts turned to Elizabeth—her loveliness, her wit, and her charms. Is this young lady anything at all like her elder sister? Is that why Wickham set his cap at her? Is this his way of striking out at Elizabeth?

Darcy wondered for a moment or two whether Wickham’s chief objective was to exact revenge against himself. He persuaded himself that such could not possibly be the case. Wickham could have no way of knowing that I am acquainted with the Bennets of Hertfordshire. He could not possibly know that I was on the verge of proposing marriage to the second eldest Bennet daughter.

The particulars behind Wickham’s motives no longer matter, he reasoned. What is important now is that I do everything in my power to help bring about a better solution to this crisis than any of Elizabeth’s family have reason to hope for or expect.

Not only was it important to Elizabeth and her family, but it was essential for his own future felicity as well.

CHAPTER 16

HIS OWN TESTIMONY

Elizabeth, with the aid of Charlotte’s maid, managed to have all of her belongings packed and carried downstairs in no time at all. The Collinses had not yet come back from their business in the village. She felt she owed her friend some sort of explanation for her abrupt leave-taking. The decision of what to say and what was best left unsaid made for several starts and stops. Elizabeth could not help but question the futility of it all. No doubt, word had also come from Lady Lucas, Charlotte’s mother, of what had taken place.

What with Lucas Lodge neighboring Longbourn Village and the speed at which gossip of this nature was bound to spread, Elizabeth would not have been surprised if the Collinses were hours away from knowing more than she did. More than one missive had arrived at the parsonage that morning. She was sitting alone in the parlor finishing a letter in explanation of her unexpected departure when Mr. Darcy was shown into the room for the second time that day.

His mood gloomy still and Elizabeth’s only slightly more recovered than when he had left her side earlier, the two of them exchanged knowing looks. She swiftly signed and sealed her letter and then positioned it just so on the table so Charlotte would be certain to see it upon her return. Rising from her seat, she said, “I am ready, sir.”

Nodding, Darcy told her that her belongings were being loaded onto the carriage as they spoke and that his sister was waiting there.

“I imagine your sister’s companion, Mrs. Annesley, is with her, and that she will be traveling with us as well.”

“No, only the three of us will be going to town. In light of the urgency of our departure, it was necessary to leave Mrs. Annesley here. She will oversee the packing of my sister’s personal belongings and return to town later.”

This account gave Elizabeth a small measure of comfort. From what she knew of the elderly companion, she understood her to be an elegant woman of exceptional taste and good values. Elizabeth really did not know how the lady might react towards her in the wake of this scandal. It was difficult enough for her to imagine to what lengths she must go to cover up the truth from Mr. Darcy’s sister.

Elizabeth said, “Again, sir, I am dreadfully sorry for the inconvenience all this must certainly be to you and your sister.”

“You need not trouble yourself with such sentiments, Miss Elizabeth, and by all means do not apologize to me or my sister. Georgiana knows very well the extents to which I would go to be of service to those deemed important to me.”

“What have you told your sister?” Elizabeth exclaimed with more energy than she had intended, her heartbeat now racing.

“I only told her that you are most eager to return to town, owing to a family emergency, and that I offered to see to your safe arrival.”