Chapter 5
The door to the small parlour clicked softly behind them as Mrs Gardiner led Elizabeth inside, her expression a blend of curiosity and maternal concern.
The room was cosy, bathed in the golden glow of a single lamp, with a faint floral scent from a vase of fresh blooms. Elizabeth sank into an armchair, her heart still racing from the whirlwind of the afternoon — Mr Bingley’s earnest apologies, Colonel Fitzwilliam’s jovial banter, and then the shocking arrival of Mr Wickham, whose charming smile had curdled into unease under the colonel’s dark glare.
“My dear Lizzy,” Mrs Gardiner began, settling opposite her with a cup of tea in hand, “that was no ordinary call. First, two delightful gentlemen bearing a dinner invitation, then Mr Wickham and Mr Denny with letters from Longbourn — and the colonel’s behaviour!
I assume Colonel Fitzwilliam is well aware of his cousin’s past dealings with Mr Wickham, considering his harsh response.
How silly of me, of course he knows — if Mr Darcy revealed that story to you, someone who is practically a stranger, he would certainly not keep the secret from his cousin. ”
Elizabeth sighed. “He most certainly knows. Colonel Fitzwilliam is not just Mr Darcy’s cousin but also his friend and Miss Darcy’s second guardian. As for Mr Wickham — I am so angry and appalled by his audacity!”
“My dear, I certainly have no intention of taking Mr Wickham’s side. But please consider he could not possibly have known that Mr Bingley or Colonel Fitzwilliam would be here. This time, he did nothing but a kind service, bringing us a letter from your parents.”
Elizabeth sighed again and rose to pace the room in an attempt to calm her agitation. Her aunt was right, of course. Mr Wickham had acted as he always had in the past, trying to charm her through a favour of some sort.
“You are wise and sensible, as always, Aunt. Just as Jane is. I am the only simpleton. I cannot believe I allowed myself to be so easily fooled by that scoundrel. That makes me angry, indeed!”
“I shall not even attempt to argue with you about this, Lizzy. You were indeed imprudent and naive and prejudiced towards Mr Darcy — which led you to misjudgment. Not to mention your recklessness in confronting Mr Darcy about it — I still cannot imagine how such a conversation came about! To challenge a gentleman about his business with another man, when neither is related to you — it is unthinkable and quite unladylike.”
“I realise I was imprudent, naive, prejudiced, and much more when I trusted Mr Wickham, and even worse when I accused Mr Darcy of supposed cruelty to that-that wretch!”
“Dear Lord, what a horrible man indeed to betray his godfather’s family, to feign innocence and act like a victim! I never liked him as much as you did, but I never suspected such lies and deceit.”
Elizabeth sank into a chair, wondering what Mrs Gardiner would say if she found out about the worst part of Mr Wickham’s betrayal. That story, however, involving the innocent Miss Darcy, she would never reveal to any living soul.
“So, Lizzy, did you apologise to Mr Darcy for your false accusations?”
Elizabeth blushed. “I had no time and no opportunity, Aunt. Mr Darcy left Rosings the next day, and I did not see him again until we met at the theatre.”
“Oh dear! No wonder he looked so restrained and uncomfortable! But the colonel is so friendly towards you. Is he aware of your quarrel with his cousin?”
“I do not know, but I doubt it. His friendliness would probably have soured if he knew of my unfair accusations.”
“You are probably right. Miss Darcy was also very kind and amiable — I presume she does not know either. Mr Darcy has been exceedingly discreet about this matter, much to his credit. If you know you were wrong, I strongly believe you should apologise, Lizzy.”
“I intend to do so, Aunt. I just need an opportunity to express my regrets. How could I have been so silly as to believe a complete stranger, without asking for proof?”
“Well, my dear, in your defence, Mr Wickham seems to have charmed the whole of Meryton. Some men possess such talents. Mr Darcy made a less favourable impression, I am sure. Your mother called him a very unpleasant sort of man, though in Derbyshire he is known as an excellent master and landlord.”
“My first meeting with Mr Darcy was unpleasant, indeed,” Elizabeth replied. “And he did seem cold, arrogant, and proud — but there was a lot of prejudice in that judgment too.”
“Yes, your mother told me that Mr Darcy called you tolerable.” Mrs Gardiner smiled. “I doubt she will ever forgive him for that!”
Elizabeth hesitated to reply, her cheeks warming at the memory of his marriage proposal. If she had accepted it, her mother would have forgiven Mr Darcy instantly and worshipped him for the rest of her life.
“I must repeat, despite what we know about Mr Wickham, he did bring us letters and said he would call again so he might take our replies to your family. That was a kind gesture. We cannot repay it with rejection, can we, Lizzy?”
“No, but I suggest we send our replies by post, as usual, not hand them to Mr Wickham. I shall try to act politely in his presence, but I shall not trust him with anything.”
“I agree, but Lizzy, what a spot we are in now. The colonel will no doubt tell Mr Darcy of Mr Wickham’s visit, and if he believes we are friends with his enemy, he might avoid us.”
Elizabeth’s stomach twisted as she feared much worse. Mr Darcy might assume she had dismissed or distrusted his letter and that she favoured Mr Wickham still. How horrible if he believed her to be silly and credulous even after he had provided her with so much proof!
“Mr Darcy has every reason to presume I am still a simpleton deceived by Mr Wickham. I owe him — and myself — an explanation and apologies. Perhaps at Mr Bingley’s dinner, if Mr Darcy still agrees to be in our company.”
Her aunt’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “That dinner party might be a significant moment. Jane is luminous at the prospect of seeing Mr Bingley again, and I pray we are not hoping for more than is possible.”
“I pray for that, too, Aunt. Jane would be crushed if she suffered another disappointment. If only Mr Bingley would remain as determined as he is now and not allow anyone to interfere in his plans.”
“Lizzy, now that you have mentioned your argument with Mr Darcy, I better understand his peculiar behaviour towards you and his severe expression when he looks at you. He was surprisingly amiable, considering the circumstances.”
“True.”
“And Lizzy, may I assume your opinion of Mr Darcy has improved somewhat? I remember how much you disapproved of him when we were at Longbourn for Christmas. Calling you tolerable is a good reason to hold a grudge,” the lady said, half in jest.
“My opinion certainly improved when I learnt how wrong I was in regard to Mr Wickham. As for calling me tolerable, that was his poor judgment,” Elizabeth replied, attempting a smile.
He had called her tolerable once, and several months later, he had confessed he had been deeply in love with her all that time.
Ardently in love. What would Mrs Gardiner say if she knew the truth?
That evening, Elizabeth slept little and poorly.
She kept thinking of Mr Darcy, wondering what he would think about Mr Wickham’s visit.
There were three more days until she would see him again, if he did not change his mind about attending the dinner.
Three long and torturous days, which eventually passed.
Despite his promise, Mr Wickham did not call again before Mr Bingley’s party, and with some relief, they assumed he had returned to his regiment.
When the carriage stopped in front of Mr Bingley’s house, Jane’s emotions were overwhelming.
She and Mrs Gardiner knew the house only too well from their previous, and ever so painful, visit.
Elizabeth saw it for the first time and noticed it was handsome, but the other details escaped her.
She was distressed, anxious, and embarrassed, wondering whether Mr Darcy was there and whether she would be able to speak to him.
Moments after they stepped from the carriage, Mr Bingley hurried out to greet them with boyish fervour. His eyes were focused on Jane, to whom he immediately offered his arm, and they were followed inside by the Gardiners. Elizabeth walked a little behind, trying to soothe her agitated heart.
“The others have already arrived, and dinner should be ready in half an hour. My sisters are here too,” he explained with some uneasiness.
The drawing room revealed a cosy party: Colonel Fitzwilliam and his brother, the viscount, with a young woman who was a stranger to them; Miss Georgiana Darcy, shyly clutching a fan; and Miss Bingley and Mr and Mrs Hurst.
Elizabeth glanced about, and her heart almost stopped; by the fireplace, stood Mr Darcy.
His dark eyes found Elizabeth’s immediately, holding them with an intensity that stole her breath.
He bowed silently; she leant her head towards him, and a faint smile softened his stern features.
At least he did not seem upset with her.
The unknown lady was introduced as Lady Amelia, Lord Browning’s daughter.
“Lord Browning is our godfather,” the viscount explained. “Amelia grew up with the two of us and with Darcy. She is a dear friend of ours, and she insisted on joining us.”
“It is an extraordinary surprise and honour for us,” Mr Bingley added.
Elizabeth glanced at the lady during the introductions; she looked about the colonel’s age, very handsome, elegant, and confident. She was smiling, but her smile was somehow rigid, with a hint of arrogance.
“I confess I was curious to meet you,” Lady Amelia declared bluntly. “Richard and Philip told me they met you at the theatre and that you were acquainted with the late Mr Darcy and Lady Anne.”
“I was, your ladyship,” Mrs Gardiner answered.
“I had such a wonderful time talking to Mrs Gardiner a few days ago,” Miss Darcy added.
“The pleasure and the honour were certainly ours,” Mrs Gardiner said. “My father owned a shop in Lambton. He was a draper.”
“Cole’s?” Lady Amelia immediately enquired, her eyes brightening. Mrs Gardiner seemed shocked.
“Exactly! How wonderful that your ladyship remembers it!”
“Of course I do! I visited with my mother and with Lady Anne many times. Did you help your father in the shop, Mrs Gardiner?”
“Sometimes. I also helped my mother about the house — her health was rather delicate.”
“How is it that you remember the shop so well and we do not? Not even Darcy?” the colonel asked.
“Well, you were mostly at school, and when we met at Pemberley, you certainly did not care much about a shop selling fabric, gloves, and stockings.”
“I remember Cole’s,” Mr Darcy interjected. “I did not know it was Mrs Gardiner’s father’s shop.”
“I presume you did not ask,” Lady Amelia replied with a sigh. “Why do men loathe asking for details and prefer to presume, even at the risk of being wrong?”
“Some men ask,” the viscount said.
“Only when they should not, and only the wrong questions,” Lady Amelia insisted, and Elizabeth smiled to herself.
Dinner was announced, and Mr Bingley turned to his guests.
“Please allow me to show you to the dining room. We can continue our conversation there. However, first, my sisters would like to apologise to Miss Bennet and Mrs Gardiner for a misunderstanding. They simply forgot to mention your visit to me, and then they had no other opportunity since I was out of town for a few weeks.”
“Indeed, it was a simple misunderstanding,” Mrs Hurst said. “We were sorry to hear we upset dear Jane. It was certainly not our intention.”
The excuse was silly and unbelievable, but Jane and Mrs Gardiner chose to graciously nod in acceptance.
The Bingley sisters forced smiles, but neither of them expressed a clear apology.
Elizabeth glanced at her uncle, raising her eyebrows at him.
The deceitful sisters deserved a proper rebuke, but it was not worth ruining the evening.
They all took seats around the table. Mr Bingley invited Jane to sit to his right, and Elizabeth found herself between her sister and Colonel Fitzwilliam; Mr Darcy was opposite her.
Elizabeth longed for just one moment of privacy with Mr Darcy, but such an opportunity seemed unlikely. She glanced at him several times, hoping the others would not notice.