Chapter 1 #3
Elizabeth also discovered that Mr. Wickham had made his past story with Darcy universally known in town although he had declared to her that he would not expose it publicly out of consideration for his late godfather.
Was it acceptable for a gentleman and an officer to change his thoughts and his resolutions so easily?
The first time Elizabeth met Wickham after her return to Longbourn was at a small party in Meryton.
He asked her about her visit to Rosings, and she mentioned the presence of Colonel Fitzwilliam.
She was surprised to see him somehow uneasy and suddenly wondered how she forgot to ask the colonel about Mr. Wickham.
Wickham had then turned the conversation towards Mr. Darcy.
“I would imagine he behaved reasonably well in the presence of his aunt. His fear of her has always operated, I know, when they were together; and a good deal is to be imputed to his wish of forwarding the match with Miss De Bourgh, which I am certain he has very much at heart.”
“Are you certain of this?” she asked to test his honesty, and Wickham reinforced his statement.
“Without doubt. I have known Darcy for a lifetime, and nothing about him is strange to me.”
At such a statement, Elizabeth stepped back, staring at him as if seeing him for the first time. The falsehood was impossible to ignore and suddenly affected everything he had told her before.
Wickham attempted to change the subject, but she would not allow herself to be engaged in conversation, so he apologised and approached other ladies in the room.
Elizabeth studied him thoroughly the entire evening and observed traits she had missed before.
He had a tendency to flirt with the young ladies, starting with Colonel Forster’s wife and ending with herself.
He never spoke of books, or plays, or anything of consequence.
He seemed always to be accompanied by Denny and two other officers younger than he was but never by older fellow officers.
And she admitted that she knew nothing of his previous life, nor could she remember a single proof of the goodness of his character.
In the following weeks, Elizabeth rarely saw Mr. Wickham, but she thought of him often. She also gave much consideration to Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, and Jane’s obvious suffering. There were three gentlemen, all with goodness and mischief, affecting their lives two by two.
Who was right and who was wrong in the accounts of Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham? Where did one man’s blame stop and the other’s fault begin? And who was more responsible for Mr. Bingley’s separation from Jane: the named gentleman himself or his friend Mr. Darcy?
Mr. Darcy seemed to be present everywhere and all the time. And the more she thought of him, the more she realised that she might have been somehow wrong in judging him, but neither was he a man without faults —quite the contrary.
Time and distance —and the certainty that she would never see him again —shadowed part of Elizabeth’s tormented thoughts regarding the gentleman. However, her sleep, her spirit, and her entire life were never the same again after that day at the Parsonage.
Summer had brought the welcome departure of the regiment but also Mrs.Forster’s invitation for Lydia to join her and Mr. Bennet’s ready acceptance.
Elizabeth had argued with her father about allowing Lydia to leave alone, but she met no success in changing his mind.
Mr. Bennet was only too happy to be left in peace, so he approved and encouraged his youngest daughter’s journey, teasing his favourite about her unreasonable worry.
One less nagging person around his library for the entire summer was a most pleasant thought, and Mr. Bennet rejected further discussion on the subject.
∞∞∞
Elizabeth and her two cousins entered the park and immediately noticed the presence of Miss Anna and the countess.
They greeted each other politely; then Elizabeth sat on an available nearby bench.
From the countess’s lap, a white bundle of fur jumped and ran towards the children, who laughed and hugged it tenderly.
“Oh, Didi, I missed you,” Elinor cried, caressing the small Dandie Dinmont terrier, who answered with countless kisses.
“I believe she missed you too,” the countess replied. Miss Anna’s countenance remained unmoved; only her eyes showed a trace of amusement.
From a small elegant basket in her lap, filled with a pile of silky fabric, a small grey-blue head appeared and tried to look outside. Miss Anna gently petted it, holding it delicately but firmly.
“I believe he would like to play too,” Elizabeth said with a smile.
Miss Anna seemed to struggle to reply. “I am sure he does, but I cannot allow it. He is so restless; I can hardly find him when he hides in the house.”
“Indeed, the name ‘Mist’ suits him very nicely,” the countess intervened.
While Edward played with Didi, Elinor approached and curtseyed elegantly, addressing Miss Anna.
“Did Mist sleep well last night?”
“Yes, he did.” The young woman smiled.
“And did he eat properly? He is very little yet and needs good food and rest,” the girl explained.
Miss Anna’s smile brightened.
“I assure you I am taking good care of him. You must not worry.”
Elinor was content and leant to caress the kitten, placing a soft kiss on the small, silky head.
“He is beautiful,” Elizabeth murmured. “I have never seen a kitten of such a wonderful colour.”
“This breed is very rare in England; it is called Chartreux. I looked for a special gift for G…for Anna…they are both very special beauties,” the countess added, and the young lady turned instantly pale then crimson.
“Aunt, please…” She shyly objected to the compliment in front of a stranger. The countess laughed, and Elizabeth smiled, careful not to increase Miss Anna’s uneasiness. The countess caressed her niece’s hand.
“I hope Elinor and Edward do not disturb you,” Elizabeth said as the children became louder, running and shouting in their play.
“Not at all…they are only joyful, and joy is never disturbing,” Miss Anna answered.
Another hour passed in polite conversation and the happy voices of children. The sun was burning stronger, and the day became very warm at noon. They all prepared to leave, Elinor and Edward reluctant to abandon their fun.
As she rose from the bench, Miss Anna’s foot slipped, and she dropped the little basket.
She cried and hurried to pick it up, as did the two servants.
Their hasty movements scared Mist, who looked around frightened, then ran towards the nearest tree and climbed up until he found refuge among the leaves.
From there, he carefully watched his mistress, who panicked, barely holding in her tears.
“Mist, please come down,” Miss Anna begged, together with Elinor and Edward. The servants apologised as if it were their fault while the countess seemed equally embarrassed and worried.
“What should we do, Aunt?” Miss Anna asked while Mist climbed a bit higher.
“Go and fetch the footman,” the countess addressed one of the maids. “Tell him to tie the horses and come quickly. He can climb the tree and take Mist down.”
Elizabeth looked at the young woman who appeared as frightened as Elinor and Edward at the notion of losing the little kitten then glanced around at the almost empty park.
“Your ladyship, we should not delay longer; Mist might run higher or even fall. Let us be quick. I believe I can bring him down. Miss Anna, do you have some treats to show to him —to keep him busy? I will try to climb from the other side of the tree. It is only the third branch; I should reach it easily.”
Both ladies stared at Elizabeth in shock.
“Miss Lizzy, you cannot…it can be dangerous. How could you?”
Before the countess finished, Elizabeth had already lifted her dress and petticoat enough to climb the tree trunk and touch the first branch.
The ladies and children watched her in complete astonishment, and Miss Anna finally remembered to stretch her hand with some treats towards Mist. The kitten showed curiosity and interest, taking a step lower towards its mistress.
A couple of minutes were enough for Elizabeth to grab Mist and pull him to her chest, petting him to calm his trembling little body. She then gave him to Miss Anna, who held him in a tender embrace. Elinor and Edward unanimously cheered their cousin.
“Lizzy, you are a hero,” Edward declared ceremoniously. Elizabeth laughed as she returned safely to the ground, trying to arrange her dress and bonnet.
“Miss Lizzy, that was quite extraordinary,” the countess approved. “How can I thank you? I am so grateful…” Miss Anna intervened with no little emotion, but Elizabeth stopped them both.
“Everything is fine now; let us talk no more of it. Just promise me you will never tell my mother about this, or I shall never have a moment of peace regarding my improper behaviour. It is fortunate that there are no acquaintances around,” Elizabeth joked to avoid further praise.
She felt rather embarrassed for her unladylike gesture but also content for bringing joy back to her companions. Surprisingly, she found herself wondering what Mr. Darcy would have said had he seen her climbing trees in a public London park.
With more expressions of gratitude, the two ladies —together with Didi and Mist —departed, promising to meet again the next day.
On their walk home, Edward and Elinor could not stop chatting about the bravery of their cousin, and they continued long after they reached the house. Even later, at dinner, they related to their father —several times —how Mist was in danger of almost dying, and Lizzy had saved him.