Chapter 8
Longbourn was in uproar as usual, but the joy was missing. In the late afternoon, it was already dark. The winter had settled in and the cold rain threatened to turn into snow.
Mr Bennet was in his library, the ladies in the drawing-room. Elizabeth was trying to read, Mary was playing the pianoforte, Lydia and Kitty were complaining that the Lucases were hosting another dinner party with all the officers, and again they had not been invited.
“Oh, stop crying, girls! This will be our fate from now on, you may as well become accustomed to it!” Mrs Bennet scolded them.
“Mama, I am sure we are making more of this than we should,” Jane said gently. “We must support each other and overcome this exile for which nobody is guilty.”
“And I am so hungry!” Lydia cried again, completely ignoring her sister’s wise advice.
“Mama, somebody is coming!” Kitty exclaimed, running to the window. Lydia joined her and both tried to see through the glass.
“I do not even care! Whoever is coming at this hour is rude and it cannot be good news,” Mrs Bennet declared.
“Mama, it is a large carriage. It has stopped at the gate! Look, two men are coming in. Oh dear Lord! Mama, it is Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy!”
Mrs Bennet forgot to breathe. Unable to speak, her eyes and mouth open in surprise, she silently instructed her daughters to resume their seats properly. Mary stopped playing and moved near Kitty, Jane turned pale and Elizabeth crimson.
A moment later, the servant announced the guests. Mr Bingley entered first, bowing to the host.
“Mrs Bennet, I beg your forgiveness for intruding. We have just arrived from London and wished to greet your family before going to Netherfield. I hope you are all in good health.”
“Oh, my dear Mr Bingley, what a joy to see you again! Yes, we are all in good health, although we have been suffering from distress quite a lot lately. But please, do come in! And Mr Darcy…What a surprise! Come, come gentlemen… I will order some refreshments, you must be tired and hungry from the journey.”
“Thank you, ma’am, you are very kind,” he responded, sitting on a chair with some clumsiness.
Darcy remained standing. His eyes briefly met Elizabeth’s and he seemed unsure what to do.
At that moment, Mr Bennet entered. Unlike the ladies, he met the gentlemen with suitable composure.
“Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley, I am glad to see you have arrived safely. Mrs Bennet, please send some food to the library, Mr Darcy has come to speak to me and I wish to not be interrupted. Lizzy, please join us, it is no secret that we will talk about how to end this miserable fabrication that has affected us all.”
Mrs Bennet was unable to move from the increasing shock. A private conversation between Mr Bennet, Mr Darcy and Lizzy, under the present circumstances, could signify something that not even she had dared to assume.
As the three retired to the library, Jane took the lead and went to order the refreshments, while Bingley remained with the rest of the ladies, wearing a lost but large smile on his face.
∞∞∞
“Lizzy, Mr Darcy, please sit. Let us not be formal, choose a place that is comfortable for you, as this conversation might be long and difficult.”
The maid entered with a tray of food, then left in a hurry.
Darcy sat only briefly, then stood up again, agitated.
“First, please allow me to tell you that I only found out about this… this … ridiculous madness yesterday. Since I arrived in London, I have barely left my house, as my sister Georgiana was unwell and …”
“Oh dear, is Miss Darcy ill?” Elizabeth interjected.
“You are very kind to worry about my sister at this time, Miss Bennet. Her health has been challenging lately but now she is improving. As I said, yesterday I found out about this matter through some letters sent by my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”
“Oh dear,” Elizabeth whispered.
“I admit that at first I assumed it was some foolish misunderstanding. I was talking to my uncle, Lord Matlock, and my cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and they believed the same.”
“Dear Lord, did your relatives find out too?” Elizabeth asked tearfully.
“Yes. But please do not trouble yourself, Miss Bennet. None of them gave credit to these lies. I explained all the details regarding our acquaintance and they agreed with me.”
“Agreed on what, Mr Darcy?” Mr Bennet asked.
Darcy breathed deeply. “Mr Bennet, Miss Bennet, I have come to the conclusion that this scheme, obviously meant to hurt Miss Bennet, was revenge inflicted by George Wickham.”
Elizabeth stared at him in disbelief.
Mr Bennet frowned and arched his eyebrow. “Are you certain, Mr Darcy?”
“Quite, sir. Wickham has done this to me and others in the past.”
“But what could be his motives, and why expose himself as well?”
“Precisely to avoid suspicion. Miss Bennet, when I threatened him—in the library—to speak to Colonel Forster about his true character, he was not too worried. He already knew that the general opinion about me in Meryton was quite low, while he was everyone’s favourite.
Again, I have seen this happen in the past until people came to know him.
However, when he realised you had found out the truth and held him responsible for his deception, he foresaw the danger of losing his privileges.
Nobody would have doubted your word unless your reputation was ruined and people ceased trusting you.
So he invented the story that turned you into an abandoned woman who sought revenge against him.
He must have first shared the story with his colonel.
When I spoke to the man, he seemed to take my warning in jest and almost dismissed me. ”
“Yes, everything sounds very logical. Ridiculous, but logical. In only a few days, the man has ruined the reputation of a young girl who has done him no harm,” Mr Bennet concluded bitterly.
“Yes…I am deeply sorry. He has done it in the past and I should have guessed his intention. I should have warned you...”
Mr Bennet interrupted him. “Nonsense. There was nothing you could have done, except confront him, as he deserved. He is the lowest sort of human.”
Elizabeth was overwhelmed by shame, disappointment and guilt. “What should we do?” she murmured, looking at Darcy hopefully. “This must end now.”
“It is my duty to deal with Wickham, and I will do it without delay,” Darcy declared, then he cleared his throat and said reluctantly but solemnly, “Miss Bennet, Mr Bennet, I am aware this is a most awkward circumstance, but I want to assure you that I am ready to do my duty. I am ready to make an offer of marriage to Miss Bennet immediately and I would be honoured if she agrees…”
“No, no, no…please do not speak further,” Elizabeth interrupted him and Darcy paled with embarrassment. Even Mr Bennet was undecided if he should smile or pity the poor man.
“Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth continued, “I thank you for your willingness to repair the situation, but this is certainly not the way. First, because we barely know each other and marriage between us—as two strangers—could be a disaster. Second, because this would give Wickham the satisfaction of reaching his goal by forcing us against our will. And third, even if the other circumstances were favourable to such an outcome, a marriage in haste, at this moment, would only prove that the rumours were true.”
Darcy bowed to her. “I completely agree, Miss Bennet. I shall not deny that almost from the beginning of our acquaintance I have admired your character, your brightness, your loyalty to your family—so an alliance between us would not be a disaster for me.”
At this honest confession, she blushed from surprise and uneasiness. Mr Bennet smiled, and Darcy continued.
“I admit I never considered a further connection between us until yesterday and indeed it could be considered a confirmation of the ridiculous accusation. Please be assured that my proposal remains at your disposal, while I will settle this situation in another manner.”
“Thank you, sir,” Elizabeth whispered, forcing a grateful, “And how do you wish to proceed?”
“Well, my cousin, the colonel, suggested I should kill Wickham or at least beat him. But I fear this approach would only confirm the gossip, too.”
His statement again took Elizabeth by surprise until she noticed the dimples of a smile in his cheeks and realised his attempt at a joke. Her cheeks coloured again.
“Well, the suggestion is not entirely worthless,” Mr Bennet responded.
“But you must wait until tomorrow. I have heard that tonight, the whole of Meryton, including the officers, are gathered at the Lucases’ party.
My daughters are miserable for not being invited, but I have not been so content and relieved in a long while. ”
“A party? How appropriate indeed,” Darcy said, with a sudden change of tone. “Miss Bennet, Mr Bennet, is there anything more that you wish to discuss tonight?”
“No, not really,” Mr Bennet said. “Will you remain in Hertfordshire long, sir?”
“As long as is necessary, Mr Bennet.”
They returned together to the drawing-room, meeting several curious glances.
“I believe we have discussed everything needed for now,” Mr Bennet addressed his family.
“Darcy, Mrs Bennet has invited us to dinner,” Bingley said animatedly.
Darcy paused for a moment, then he stepped closer to Mrs Bennet, bowed to her and said perfectly amiably, “Mrs Bennet, I must decline the invitation for tonight, as I have some urgent business to attend. Bingley might come alone if he wishes. As for me, I would be grateful for another invitation soon.”
His tone, nearness and formal bow astonished Mrs Bennet. She looked at him, trying to see if he was speaking in earnest, then nodded repeatedly.
“Of course, Mr Darcy, you may come whenever you wish. We always have a good dinner prepared.”
“I am sure you do, Mrs Bennet. I wish you all a lovely evening,” he said, then he left, followed by Bingley.