Chapter XI #2
“I thank you for your sentiments, Darcy, but as you can see, we have the matter in hand, though it was uncertain for a moment.”
“Mr. Darcy,” said one merchant, the owner of the linen-draper, “I beg your pardon, sir, but you mentioned your willingness to settle Mr. Wickham’s debts.”
“Yes, I shall do it, but only because I failed to speak of my experiences with him,” said Mr. Darcy. “I shall say to you what I said to the merchants in Lambton near my home—this should be a lesson to you of the dangers of extending credit.”
“Trust me, sir,” said the man, “I will inspect my ledgers to ensure they are in order, and will hesitate before being so misled again.”
“Please inform me if you hold any receipts from anyone else in the regiment,” said Colonel Forster. “I will ensure prompt payment.”
It took no great insight to see that one or two of the remaining officers did not appreciate this directive, but Elizabeth knew they were all sons of gentlemen. With the support of their families, Elizabeth knew the merchants would receive what was owed to them.
The colonel then excused himself and walked away to see to his officer.
Mr. Thompson returned, and Mr. Darcy set him to the task of conferring with the merchants and the remaining officers to obtain all Mr. Wickham’s debt receipts and arrange payment.
While all this was happening, Elizabeth noticed that Mr. Bingley, after speaking to support Miss Darcy, was now standing next to Jane in conversation.
Elizabeth was not the only one who noticed this.
“Mr. Bingley,” said Mr. Bennet, stepping toward the genial man, lowering his voice so it would not be overheard, “I am not a man who holds grudges, nor do I interfere in my children’s concerns unless I must. Let me inform you, however, that if you mean to make love to my daughter and then withdraw again without explanation, you may as well retreat from the field now.
I shall not allow her peace of mind to be tested again. ”
It appeared Mr. Bingley had expected this, for he nodded, not a trace of a smile on his face.
“I understand, Mr. Bennet. Let me declare here and now that I have returned to Hertfordshire with every intention to stay and come to know your daughter for the purpose of determining if we wish to bind our lives closer. You have my solemn promise that I shall not depart again unless I must. I have no wish to hurt Miss Bennet.”
While Mr. Bennet eyed him, he appeared impressed with Mr. Bingley’s earnest answer. When he responded, Elizabeth knew it was as much because of Jane’s approving nod as any confidence in Mr. Bingley’s declaration.
“Very well,” said Mr. Bennet. “So long as Jane welcomes your presence, you are permitted to visit Longbourn at any time.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bennet,” replied Mr. Bingley, as serious as Elizabeth had ever seen him. “I have given you no reason to trust me, but I appreciate your forbearance all the same.”
Mr. Bennet’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “Do right by my daughter, and all is forgiven.”
As Mr. Bennet settled in next to Jane and Mr. Bingley to speak, Elizabeth noticed that Miss Darcy was regarding her with apparent interest, Mr. Darcy standing by her side. When they saw her glance, they moved toward her.
“Miss Elizabeth,” said Mr. Darcy, bowing. “Thank you for your quick defense of my sister. It is most appreciated.”
“It was no trouble,” said Elizabeth. No one was near enough to overhear, but Elizabeth leaned forward, nonetheless.
“The best way to discredit anything he said was to do so before he tried to defame you. My neighbors might gossip for a time, but they will not think it is anything other than the desperate attempt of a worthless man.”
“Brother,” said Miss Darcy, her expression unreadable, “will you do me the honor of introducing your friend?”
Mr. Darcy turned to Elizabeth, and when she nodded, he performed the introductions. When the ladies curtseyed to each other, Elizabeth looked on the younger girl with interest.
“Excuse me, Miss Darcy, but do I err in assuming you already know something of me?”
Miss Darcy exchanged a glance with her brother and offered a little laugh. “I told you she was perceptive,” said Mr. Darcy.
“Yes, Miss Elizabeth, and I have been eager to make your acquaintance.
“I see you are curious,” added Miss Darcy. “When he was here in the autumn, my brother mentioned you in his letters to me, though most of what I have learned has been in the past few days.”
Surprised, Elizabeth turned to Mr. Darcy. “You spoke of me to your sister?”
“If you recall,” said Mr. Darcy, appearing a little uncomfortable, “you stayed at Netherfield for a few days. The night Miss Bingley praised me for my even lines, I related some anecdotes about your exchanges with her.”
Though Elizabeth could not be certain, she suspected that Mr. Darcy had not related the scene in Hunsford’s parlor to his sister, nor did he wish her to know of it.
That secrecy might not last much longer, considering Elizabeth’s incautious revelation only the previous evening.
For the moment, however, avoidance of the subject seemed the best course.
“Then perhaps you have come to Hertfordshire to castigate me for my treatment of your dear friend,” jested Elizabeth.
Her tone proved inspired, as Miss Darcy covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a giggle. “While I hesitate to contradict Miss Bingley, her claims of intimacy with me are exaggerated.”
“I never would have guessed,” said Elizabeth, which again provoked Miss Darcy’s laughter. Even Mr. Darcy’s lips curved into a smile.
“At least my brother has given an accurate account of you,” said Miss Darcy. “He told me that you were adept at making others comfortable.”
“It is only that I dearly love to laugh,” replied Elizabeth. “I would not make life into a joke, but laughing is so much better than the alternative.”
“Indeed, it is,” agreed Miss Darcy.
Elizabeth nodded, but turned to Mr. Darcy. “Now that your testimony and Mr. Wickham’s misdeeds have made the truth incontrovertible, what will become of him?”
Mr. Darcy considered this. “Debtors’ prison is the most immediate consequence. Had he deserted, the army would have had the first claim on him.”
“Is it wise, Brother?” asked Miss Darcy. “With the debts you described, I doubt he will ever leave prison.”
“That is true,” said Mr. Darcy. “Then it may be best to write to our uncle and request that he arrange for Wickham’s transportation. At least in Botany Bay, he will work to support his upkeep. In debtors’ prison, he would rot away with no hope of release.”
“If I am not mistaken,” said Elizabeth, “Van Diemen’s Land will be no better for his temper.”
“It will not,” agreed Mr. Darcy, “but at least he can be useful there, and there will be no threat of escape. When we return to Netherfield, I shall see to it.”
“Darcy,” called Mr. Bingley, “Mr. Bennet has inquired if we wish to join the Bennets at Longbourn for dinner tonight.”
“Having just arrived, I imagine dinner at Longbourn would be more convenient.” Mr. Bennet grinned. “Besides, I believe we all—especially my excellent wife—would welcome you at Longbourn tonight.”
“Yes, I can imagine she would,” said Mr. Bingley, understanding Mrs. Bennet’s character but too well-bred to say anything further. “I was of a mind to accept. What say you?”
“I have no objection,” said Mr. Darcy. “Georgiana and I would be happy to accept.”
“Excellent,” said Mr. Bennet, his look at Elizabeth too knowing. “Then perhaps we should return to our homes—we have family at home who are waiting for an account of what has occurred today.”
“Very well,” said Mr. Bingley. “Thank you again for your kind invitation, Mr. Bennet. We shall join you at Longbourn by six o’clock.”
With that and a few more words, the party separated. The moment they were in the carriage, Elizabeth fixed her father with a glare.
“You are taking far too much enjoyment in this, Papa.”
Mr. Bennet laughed. “Not at all, Lizzy. To own the truth, I am anticipating what your beau will do when he learns you have betrayed the knowledge of his proposal to your family. If he does not flee in terror from your mother, he might be a man worthy of you.”
Jane laughed behind her hand, but Elizabeth refused to show any amusement. “I am afraid I do not care for the turn in your humor, Papa.”
“I am sorry to hear it, Lizzy; as you have known me for twenty years now, you should have expected it.”
Elizabeth did not dignify that with a response.
Instead, she spent the journey back to Longbourn trying to anticipate how Mr. Darcy would react to the news, especially when her mother inserted her opinion on the matter.
A sudden thought occurred to her that he might say something to provoke Mrs. Bennet further.
When he arrived, she would need to take him aside and make it clear to him how unwise such a step would be.
BINGLEY, DARCY NOTICED, was unusually thoughtful on the way back to Netherfield Park. Darcy expected he knew what was occupying his friend, but he commented anyway.
“You should have expected it, my friend. Any father worthy of the title will act to promote his daughter’s interests. I would have thought less of Mr. Bennet if he had not spoken on the subject.”
With a sigh, Bingley offered a tight nod. “You have the right of it, Darcy. As I am determined to prove myself worthy of her, I am not offended, though Mr. Bennet has never appeared attentive to his duty to his daughters.”
“With that, I would agree,” said Darcy. “If I were to guess, the business with Wickham has changed his perspective. Other than the merchants, Mr. Bennet has more to fear from Wickham than any other man in the district, considering he has five daughters to protect.”
Bingley nodded, but his gaze never wavered. “At least Wickham is no longer a threat. You should have spoken of him at once, Darcy. The elder sisters can withstand him, but the dispositions of the youngest render them tempting targets for a man like Wickham.”
“The youngest are not like Miss Elizabeth and Miss Bennet?” asked Georgiana.
“They are . . . high-spirited to say the least,” said Bingley, attempting diplomacy.
“I would call them just short of wild,” said Darcy. “Unlike Bingley, I have little use for tact at the moment.”
“Do you suppose they will like me?” asked Georgiana, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
“Nothing is more certain,” replied Bingley with open warmth. “The Bennet sisters will be eager to make your acquaintance.”
“The youngest girls’ chief fault is a lack of restraint, Georgiana,” said Darcy. “You need have no concern for their acceptance.”
Georgiana offered a shy smile and turned back to the window to look out at the countryside. They fell silent as the carriage approached Netherfield in the distance, and for a moment, Darcy wondered at the strange turns of his life that had led him back here.
When he had departed in November, he had convinced himself it was for the best and determined never to return.
Then, when Miss Elizabeth had refused his proposal, he had been certain he would never see her again.
Yet now he was returning to Netherfield Park, the place where his interest in Miss Elizabeth had first taken hold.
Darcy could not say where matters would lead or if he had any chance of changing her opinion, but he could not help but be heartened by her calm, friendly way of speaking.
The introduction to Georgiana would be a boon to his interest in her.
The Miss Bingleys of society had long used his sister to gain access to Darcy himself—the notion of reversing that stratagem to his advantage was appealing, though he would never be as open about it as Miss Bingley.
Georgiana would not mind. By her own account, she had anticipated making Miss Elizabeth’s acquaintance and would soon come to love her.
Darcy did not think there was a better woman for Georgiana to emulate than Miss Elizabeth.