Unforgiving Temper (21 page)

It took all the discipline Darcy possessed to
maintain an unruffled exterior as he battled the turmoil churning
within him. An ominous fear had gripped his heart the moment he
heard Elizabeth's name, and increased manifestly as the details
were revealed. He would never permit that odious little man to
breathe even a hint of scandal regarding Elizabeth!

At the same time his mind was racing to
solidify a plan to protect Elizabeth's reputation from Collins'
bungling efforts, Darcy was desperate to know why her family had
not had any word from her. Was it really a simple misunderstanding?
Was she in good hands and out of harm's way? He was not going wait
to find out. He would begin a search at once regardless of
Elizabeth's opinion of him. He would happily endure her disapproval
so long as she was safe. Without waiting for Jane's response, he
pressed for more details.

“What can you tell me about your sister's
departure? Did you see the woman with whom she was traveling?”

“I cannot possibly impose upon you so,” Jane
objected uneasily, “I only came to ask for your help with
Mr. Collins. That is more than enough.”

“You do not impose at all. Mr. Collins
is but a part of your problem and I cannot leave you in distress as
to your sister's circumstances. I am happy to assist.”

“Again I thank you, Mr. Darcy, but my
uncle will be coming soon. He will know what to do.”

For some minutes now, Bingley had exerted
great restraint in keeping his distance, even as his own heart was
fractured by Jane's anguished tears. He wanted very much to gather
her into his arms and comfort her, to wipe away her tears; but
sighing wretchedly, he knew he could not. He had no right, for she
had deemed his affection unsteady, unacceptable.

Disheartened by his exiled status, he hovered
in the background, saying nothing. Then a flash of inspiration lit
his face with unrestrained joy. Of course! He had been seeking a
chance to prove himself, and was this not the perfect opportunity
to do just that? If he could show his usefulness, in such an hour
of need, and return Jane's sister to her, he would prove himself
steadfast, a man upon whom she could depend in any
circumstance!

“Allow
me
to be of service,
Miss Bennet!” Bingley blurted out, startling everyone in the
room. “You may be assured that I shall leave no stone unturned. I
shall begin immediately and have your sister back to you in no
time!”

“Mr. Bingley, that would be impossible!”
Jane declared firmly. “She is likely far from Hertfordshire, and as
I said, my Uncle Gardiner is soon to come. He will know what is to
be done.”

“Surely you would not want to wait another
day, and I should like to be of service,” Bingley came near to
pleading. “You may rely upon me, Miss Bennet - I shall be
steadfast. I shall not fail you!”

“Sir,” said Jane, dropping her eyes at his
reference to her previous criticism of him, “you must see that I
cannot accept anything from you, considering...considering all that
has occurred.”

“That may be, Miss Bennet, but there can
be no such objection to accepting
my
offer,” Darcy argued.
“I shall be happy to find Miss Elizabeth and bring her safely
home. If you would tell me how the invitation to travel came about,
I can – ”

“I say, Darcy,” objected Bingley, “I have
already offered my services!”

“And I had already offered mine, when you did
so.”

“Gentlemen!” cried Jane, holding her hands up
in protest. “This is too much! I cannot accept such an offer from
either
of you!”

“I beg you would reconsider,
Miss Bennet,” replied Darcy unwaveringly. “As we have an
acquaintance of nearly a year and you are obviously in distress, I
would consider it an honor if you will allow me to see to the
recovery of your sister.”

Bingley would not be outdone. “I believe I
can claim the acquaintance as well – and more. Please do accept my
assistance in this matter, Miss Bennet! I am steady in my
purpose and will not yield! Darcy, you have already given yourself
to the matter of Mr. Collins.”

“I am confident Mr. Collins will be no
trouble at all,” Darcy countered easily. “And as for finding
Miss Elizabeth, I have the advantage of many resources at my
disposal.”

“Yes, resources tied to responsibility, I
dare say. I believe you will be needed at Pemberley for the
upcoming quarter-day. A dispatch about it came this very morning,
did it not?”

“It is nothing urgent, I assure you,” snapped
Darcy. “My steward can see to it. He has long experience in
handling such matters. However, you do not have that advantage in
Mr. Hodgkins, do you, Bingley? He is quite new and far more likely
to need help with Netherfield's quarter-day accounts. You had best
put your attentions on your estate.”

“Mr. Hodgkins is very capable!” Bingley
responded hotly. “He can handle a trifling matter such as a
quarter-day without me! Miss Bennet's peace of mind is far
more important!”

“I am grateful for your offer, both of you,”
Jane rose from her chair quickly, effectively separating the two
men who were now glaring at each other, “but it is out of the
question, truly! I cannot trouble you so much.”

“It is no trouble at all, Miss Bennet,”
Bingley insisted. “I will not stand by and see you suffer this
alone. Again I say, nothing shall dissuade me! I shall be
steadfast!”

“Miss Elizabeth must be found quickly!”
Darcy's tone was beginning to betray him. “My position and
connections allow me to offer assistance that you cannot!”

“Gentlemen, your generosity does you credit,
but surely you must see that I cannot accept!” Jane cried in
frustration.

“You must!” declared Bingley. “I must be
allowed to prove myself to you!”

“And I must be allowed to bring
Miss Elizabeth home!” cried an exasperated Darcy.

Georgiana, at first utterly baffled by this
highly irregular display of temper between two men of generally
agreeable dispositions, had begun watching her brother's face with
increasing interest; and his last passionate declaration had caused
her to gasp with the shock of sudden realization.

A few moments of deliberation were sufficient
for Georgiana to recover from her astonishment and decide her upon
a course of action. The newly-discovered insight gave her the
courage needed to speak up despite the increasingly heated words
flying between her brother and his friend.

“Fitzwilliam, Mr. Bingley – could you
not work together to help Miss Bennet find her sister?”

Darcy and Bingley, momentarily stunned by the
interruption that had come from such an unexpected source, measured
each other warily.

“Really, Darcy, I don't see why
Miss Bennet's concerns interest you so much,” grumbled Bingley
peevishly.

“My brother's resources could serve to speed
your noble quest, sir,” Georgiana reasoned quietly, “and
Mr. Bingley's knowledge of the Bennet family would aid your
inquiries as well, would they not Fitzwilliam?”

Had the situation not been so serious,
Georgiana would have been amused at the expressions on the men's
faces. They looked to be two boys caught fighting in the nursery
and then forced to make amends.

“I suppose Georgiana is right.” Darcy
conceded, though a hint of anger still remained. “What do you say,
Bingley – shall we join forces to search for
Miss Elizabeth?”

Bingley gave a grudging nod of his head. “I
dare say I shall be happy to relieve Miss Bennet's distress,
however it is done.”

“But really,” protested Jane weakly, “I
cannot possibly --”

“Good! Then it's all settled,” said Georgiana
brightly. “Miss Bennet, you now have the two best men in the
kingdom at your service. It is an offer I think you cannot
refuse!”

* * * *

Darcy shifted in his chair yet again and
impatiently tapped his fingers on the rich tapestry covering its
arm, amazed that the man before him could ramble on, seemingly
oblivious to the purpose of Darcy's visit. He could see a more
direct approach would be necessary; but then that would require the
man to yield to an actual conversation – and Mr. Collins had
scarce drawn a breath in the past five minutes.

“Indeed, sir, I am delighted at your visit
and honored that you would condescend to concern yourself with the
affairs of my unfortunate relations,” Mr. Collins continued in
animated tones. “Let me assure you, most solemnly, that I do feel
the responsibility to my cousin's family most deeply – especially
in matters that may prove ruinous to the reputation of a young
lady.”

“Just so, Mr. Collins,” said Darcy
quickly when Collins at last allowed the briefest of pauses. “And
it would be less than responsible for you to speak ahead of
yourself, to conjecture when there is so much yet unknown –
particularly to someone such as Lady Catherine.”

“But I must speak with her ladyship! She is
an invaluable source of information, particularly in matters of
propriety. It is beyond me to do otherwise,” Collins blurted in
horror.

“And yet, Mr. Collins, it would be
unwise to act so hastily upon unfounded assumptions. I know my aunt
well and am confident that she would be most displeased to find
herself in a position of ridicule.”

“Sir?” Collins frowned in confusion.

“A man of your position and calling in life
owes it to himself to be above reproach. There is most probably
nothing more than a misunderstanding here; but if you
should
find yourself connected to scandal of any kind, then through you,
Lady Catherine would be touched as well. A position I
recommend you avoid at all costs. The other side of the coin is
equally grievous. Should there be no foundation for your suspicions
and you are found to be the bearer of false rumors, your own
reputation of honesty and integrity would suffer for the
folly.”

“Hmm, yes, you may have a point there,”
Collins broodingly considered his precarious position. “Perhaps it
would be wiser to move with a little more caution.”

“Better still, Mr. Collins, I would
recommend you disregard it completely.”

“Oh, no! I cannot disregard it completely,
Mr. Darcy,” he exclaimed in renewed dismay.
“Lady Catherine is deserving of a full and complete account of
my endeavors at Longbourn. I will take your advice under counsel,
however, and investigate more thoroughly before informing her
ladyship of the particulars.”

“Mr. Collins!” The man's startled
expression forced Darcy to check his growing impatience and adjust
to a more temperate tone. “Mr. Collins, I must insist that you
do nothing more in this matter. I will take fully responsibility
for any information that needs to be passed on to my aunt.”
Which is nothing
, he added to himself.

“But, sir – I cannot, in good conscience,
allow you to bear that responsibility!”

“You can and you shall,” Darcy stated
matter-of-factly.

Mr. Collins' ambivalence was obvious. He
rose from his chair, muttering to himself and pacing the length of
the small sitting room before finally turning a skeptical eye to
Darcy.

“I beg your indulgence, Mr. Darcy, for I
cannot see what purpose it serves that you would exert yourself on
behalf of my relations. Their station in life is so decidedly
beneath your own. I cannot reconcile that you would deign to
trouble yourself.”

“I consider Miss Bennet and
Miss Elizabeth to be acquaintances of mine, and as such feel
an obligation to lend my assistance,” came his even reply. “As a
clergyman, I am certain you see the import of offering Christian
charity to those less fortunate than ourselves.”

“I agree with your admirable sentiments most
heartily, sir, and your great and honorable aunt,
Lady Catherine, has shown herself to be equally generous in
her charitable acts. Therefore, it follows that it cannot be
agreeable for her to remain entirely ignorant of the matter, for it
was she who encouraged me on my present errand. Indeed, she
expressed the utmost concern for the welfare of my relations when I
last saw her, but two days ago.”

“There is no point in exciting any further
interest, Mr. Collins. In good time, I am certain we shall
find that there is nothing amiss and it has all been an unfortunate
misunderstanding,” Darcy replied convincingly. He knew enough of
Elizabeth to realize a month's passing with no letters home was a
sign that something was very much amiss, but he would brook no
interference from this heavy-handed clergyman. “I need not remind
you that where a virtuous young lady's reputation is concerned, any
true gentleman will hold himself bound by honor to avoid
gossip-mongering, rumor, and innuendo. You must also know that if
scandal falls upon the Bennets while I am acting on their behalf,
my own reputation could easily be tarnished by association. I
should not like to think you any less than gentlemanly in such a
case, sir, nor can I imagine it would serve your future interests
to incur my displeasure.”

“Indeed, I am a man of honor, sir!” cried
Mr. Collins, beads of sweat beginning to gather on his brow.
“But surely you would not want me to disappoint
Lady Catherine. It is her particular wish to know everything
that happens in the parish, regardless whether – ”

“When did Meryton become your parish,
Mr. Collins?”

“It isn't, but – ”

“You believe that my aunt wishes to be
informed about the concerns of every family in Hertfordshire, then?
And perhaps Devon and Staffordshire, as well?”

“No, sir! It's just that, you see, I cannot
be sure...” Anxiously, Mr. Collins avoided Darcy's impatient
gaze, his face clearly reflecting each thought passing through his
head. He would be very hard pressed if he were to displease
Lady Catherine, especially now that he was newly married. But
Mr. Darcy was a man of considerable wealth and influence, and
obviously possessed the same iron will as his formidable aunt.