First Impressions: A Modern Pride and Prejudice Adaptation

Chapter 43.2

The best thing about government employment was just how easy it was to find an email address. Mr. Gardiner's .Gov handle fell into his lap with a single search. His message was not at all satisfactory to his own mind, but it would have to do.

He had never exactly wanted to advertise what he was doing—or to overemphasize his past relationship with Wickham. But as he left Lydia and Wickham at the hotel, a strange possibility occurred to him. What if his presence was unknown to everyone not directly involved? Perhaps he could disappear from the story, if he was careful enough with his orchestration. Wickham would tell no one—why would he? Lydia, perhaps, would be embarrassed enough to keep silent. He could try to impose secrecy on her, at least. He needed only be as precise as possible with the Gardiners. If he asked at the same time he delivered a service, maybe they would be kind enough to listen to his request.

He rubbed a knuckle against his lip as he reread the email and quickly added –

I am under the impression Mr. Bennet is with you at the time. I think it would be best if the family wasn't alerted until everything is settled. I hope you can agree in not wishing to raise any expectations until we can ensure Lydia's safety.

Then he quickly backtracked and changed safety to date of return. No need to be overly alarming.

It wasn't until after he had sent the email that he realized maybe he should be alarming. Was his reticence related to the cause of this mess? If he were more vocal about Wickham's character, he would not have been so happily welcomed into homes and lives. He pondered that instinct and hoped very much it was not deeply related to his father's preference for Wickham; he feared very much it might be.

He darkened the screen of his phone and folded his hands together, staring at nothing.

~~~~

The Gardiners were very prompt with a response, as he expected, and asked very few questions, which he had not. They didn't even push him on his secrecy regarding Mr. Bennet; they merely saw him onto his flight back to the States and boarded their own. Mr. Gardiner did continue to email Darcy while they were in the air, though.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were waiting for him in the lobby of their hotel. Mr. Gardiner's expression was grave, though it brightened with the hint of a smile as Darcy stepped through the doors. Mrs. Gardiner was looking at Darcy with an expression he couldn't quite place. Her mouth, which had been drawn down, pulled into a line, her lips pressed sharply together, but her eyes crinkled like a smile.

"Let's discuss this privately," Mr. Gardiner said to him as they shook hands. He nodded. Mrs. Gardiner was still looking at him, as if she expected him to say something more. He wasn't sure what more there was to say, though, and remained silent.

Their room had a large balcony, closed off by a set of French doors and a drapery rod holding white gauze curtains. Mrs. Gardiner threw the doors open and stood in the doorway; the breeze ruffled her hair and the drapes fluttered around her. She rested her hands on her hips and went back to staring at Darcy as if he owed her something. He still could not think of what.

"How did you find them?" Mr. Gardiner asked, without preface.

Darcy turned to him, just as unwilling to answer the asked questions as the unasked. "I... He likes to run away here. Or near here, at least."

"And you didn't tell Liz?" Mrs. Gardiner asked.

Was that what she was trying so hard to silently communicate? "No. I wasn't sure exactly where he would go and I didn't want to get her—get anyone's—hopes up."