Not merely contented with Lady Catherine’s acerbic account of Mr. Darcy’s role in Lydia’s recovery and thus her entire family’s salvation, Elizabeth wrote to her aunt Mrs. Gardiner in town to learn what had really happened. Elizabeth had the satisfaction of receiving an answer to her letter as soon as she possibly could. She was no sooner in possession of it than, hurrying into a little copse where she was least likely to be interrupted, she sat down on one of the benches and prepared to be fully enlightened, for the length of the letter convinced her that Lady Catherine’s claims bore merit.
Skimming past the usual pleasantries that were to be expected in a letter from her favorite aunt, she slowed her reading pace exceedingly with the mention of Mr. Darcy’s name.
“Mere days after your father’s return to Longbourn, your uncle had a most unexpected visitor. Mr. Darcy called, and he was shut up with him for several hours. I can rightly assert that your uncle’s surprise in receiving a visit from a gentleman of such consequence—one whom neither of us could boast of having met theretofore—was no less than my own. He came to tell Mr. Gardiner that he had found out where your sister and Mr. Wickham were, and that he had seen and talked with them both.
“He had learned of their supposed elopement while visiting his relations in Kent, and he came to town with the resolution of hunting for them. The motive professed was his conviction of its being owing to himself that Wickham’s worthlessness had not been so well known as to make it impossible for any young woman of character to love or confide in him. He generously imputed the whole to his mistaken pride and confessed that he had before thought it beneath him to lay his private actions open to the world, believing his character was to speak for itself. He called it, therefore, his duty to step forward and endeavor to remedy an evil that had been brought on by himself.
“The gentleman had been some days in town before he was able to discover them, but he had something to direct his search, which was more than we had, for there is a lady, it seems, a Mrs. Younge, who was some time ago governess to Miss Darcy, and was dismissed from her charge on some cause of disapprobation, though he did not say what.”
Elizabeth quickly scanned the next paragraph or two for they confirmed what she already supposed was true based upon Mr. Darcy’s own mentioning of Mrs. Younge and her disgusting character. Picking up on her aunt’s letter, Elizabeth read that which seemed to confirm all that Lady Catherine had suggested—that Mr. Darcy had taken it entirely upon himself to secure a happier resolution to the Wickham debacle than any of them had reason to hope for.
“Upon meeting with Mr. Darcy and hearing the whole of what he had done, your uncle and he battled it together for a long time, for the latter had done too much and ought to be repaid for all he had done for two people who were so little deserving of such benevolence. However, in the end your uncle was forced to yield, and instead was forced to put up with only having the probable credit of it, which went sorely against the grain. I really believe your letter this morning gave him great pleasure, because it required an explanation that would rob him of his borrowed feathers and give the praise where it was due. But, Lizzy, this must not go beyond yourself, or Jane at most.
“You know pretty well, I suppose, what has been done for the young people. Wickham’s debts were paid, amounting, I believe, to considerably more than a thousand pounds, another thousand in addition to her own was settled upon her, and his commission purchased. The reason that all this was to be done by him alone was such as I have given above. It was owing to him, to his reserve and want of proper consideration, that Wickham’s character had been so misunderstood, and consequently that he had been received and noticed as he was. Perhaps there was some truth in this, though I doubt whether his reserve alone can be answerable for the event. But in spite of all this fine talking, my dear Lizzy, you may rest perfectly assured that your uncle would never have yielded if we had not given the young man credit for another interest in the affair.
“However, as neither of you has done or said anything that would give credence to our suppositions, I hope they will not afford you any displeasure. If, on the other hand, such suppositions are well-founded based upon even the slightest symptoms of affection, I must confess that I find Mr. Darcy’s manners and comportment to be all that is pleasing in my estimation. Indeed, he is everything a gentleman ought to be.
“Yours, very sincerely,
“M. Gardiner.”
Her aunt’s letter gave Elizabeth much to consider. That her aunt, whose opinion Elizabeth revered, was favorably impressed by Mr. Darcy was no small matter. Elizabeth’s last letter from Jane confirmed that the news of Lydia’s elopement had been received and that Jane and Bingley were on their way home. Thanks to Mr. Darcy, good news would greet them upon their arrival. A part of Elizabeth desperately wished the former would return to Netherfield too.
After the cold manner of their parting, she did not suppose it meant he might offer his hand to her in marriage, but it surely meant he cared enough about her to go through so much trouble and expense to save her family’s reputation from ruin.
She lifted her fingers to her lips, as she often did when thinking of Mr. Darcy. The kiss they shared was seared into her memory. That coupled with the letter he had written with confidences of Wickham’s harmful intentions towards Miss Georgiana Darcy had also made a lasting impression on her heart. She had misunderstood Mr. Darcy entirely. Everything she ever knew about him she now recollected with favor. He indeed was a kind, a benevolent, and an honorable man.
If I could but see Mr. Darcy again, she now considered. First, she would thank him for his kindness towards her family even if his doing so had nothing at all to do with some lingering tender feelings for her as Lady Catherine suggested, but in service to his friend instead—a strong inducement in and of itself and a true testament of a gentleman of Mr. Darcy’s character. Secondly, she would apologize to him for ever having formed such an ill opinion of him on the basis of the testimony of a man who had proved to possess less than an ounce of Mr. Darcy’s integrity.
Time passed and once again Elizabeth and Jane were united. When all there was to discuss unreservedly regarding the Wickham debacle and subsequent resolution by way of a hasty marriage was discussed, Elizabeth was at liberty to share those private matters with her sister Jane that had at first been conveyed to her by Lady Catherine de Bourgh and later confirmed by Mrs. Gardiner.
Still, Jane could not understand why Mr. Darcy would do such a thing; her thought being that such a selfless and costly venture must surely be attributable to more than loyalty to his friend. Jane’s uncertainties gave cause to Elizabeth to confide in her sister the other factors that may have given rise to Mr. Darcy’s unparalleled kindness. She told her sister all she could about the true nature of her past acquaintance with the gentleman—only leaving out the parts that might cause Jane pain. She even told her sister about the kiss.
“Why did you not tell me any of this before?” Jane asked.
“I have no excuse except to say I could hardly believe it myself. I never once endeavored to earn Mr. Darcy’s good opinion, as you and I both know.”
“And yet you have managed to secure it, for only the deepest affection would have persuaded the gentleman to do all he has done for you.”
“Oh, Jane, we cannot know that with certainty.”
“Can we not, Lizzy? You said he admitted to admiring you most ardently—to being in love with you. Surely you must suspect, in light of this evidence, that he continues to care for you.”
“After the uncivil manner of our parting, I am afraid to allow myself the tiniest hope,” Elizabeth said. “What is more, it has been weeks since the aforementioned events unfolded, and there has been no evidence of his constancy.”
“It seems your feelings for Mr. Darcy have undergone quite an alteration for the better.”
She would not deny it. Lying to her dearest sister and, worse than that, to her own heart would be pointless, but she would not confess it aloud. She would only do that if she were sure of the gentleman’s feelings towards her. Elizabeth said, “If I could but see him. At the very least, I might thank him on behalf of our family.”
Jane’s eyes lit up. “You cannot know how overjoyed I am to hear that your opinion of Mr. Darcy has improved so dramatically. I have always held him in the highest regard.”
Her spirits rising to playfulness, Elizabeth said, “I shall not credit you in that respect for you think the whole world is good.”
Jane laughed a little. “Indeed, I try; however, it is plain for me to see that you now hold Mr. Darcy in the highest regard as well and there is no wonder, for there is something about the gentleman—something in his air that gives a very favorable impression of his heart.”
Elizabeth did not want to refute her sister, and thus she smiled and said nothing. Jane continued, “I shall speak with Charles and encourage him to invite your Mr. Darcy to Hertfordshire.”
“Pray you do not plan to play matchmaker for I am certain I cannot be a party to such a scheme.”
“Matchmaker! I would not use that term. On the contrary, I believe Charles would benefit from a visit from his friend on matters concerning the estate. Matchmaking indeed,” Jane said. “Trust me, Lizzy, I know exactly what I am about.”