Chapter 8 #2
A long moment of silence followed, then suddenly, Jane began to sob with distress, running to her chamber. Elizabeth followed her, while Mr Bennet caressed his wife’s arm.
“I believe everything will be well, Mrs Bennet. Well, indeed.”
∞∞∞
Darcy entered the carriage with a lighter heart.
The solution to the problem seemed now clear and easy.
The conversation with Mr Bennet and Elizabeth had gone better than he had expected.
He was impressed by Elizabeth’s honesty in refusing his marriage proposal; by Mr Bennet’s straightness, since any man in his position would force his daughter to accept such a marriage proposal; but most of all, he was impressed by Elizabeth’s genuine care for his sister, despite her own torment.
She was indeed an admirable woman. But even so, the most remarkable of women had little chance to repair her reputation against dishonourable men.
“What business do you have, Darcy?” Bingley asked. “You know, Miss Bennet seemed happy to see me. All the misses Bennets,” he added, slightly embarrassed.
“Yes, I noticed. I am going to the Lucases’ party to confront Wickham.”
Bingley looked at his usually calm and controlled friend with disbelief.
“Now? At the party?”
“Yes, what better opportunity? The whole of Meryton will be there.”
“Oh…I see,” Bingley mumbled, although he felt completely lost.
“Will you join me, Bingley?”
“Of course! But should we not change first?”
“Change? Not at all? I am angry with all of them and they do not deserve much consideration from me.”
“Oh, I see,” Bingley repeated, even more lost. In more than five years of friendship, Bingley had never seen Darcy angry enough to alter his usual expression. Now, he seemed remarkably calm, only the strange smile crushed between Darcy’s tight lips alarmed him.
The carriage arrived in front of the house. The sound of voices, laughter and music reached out through the closed windows. The shadows of men and women revealed that the party was rather large.
Darcy entered first, and Bingley followed him. When the servant announced them, countless gazes filled with stupefaction fell upon them and all noise ceased. All the families of consequence from Meryton were there, as well as several officers, Wickham among them.
“Good evening,” Darcy said, with a voice as strong as thunder, stepping forward.
Sir William bowed to him, mumbling a welcome.
“Please sir, let us cease any insincere politeness,” Darcy interrupted his effusions.
“It has come to my attention that, unlike any other part of England, the people of Meryton consider me to be a scoundrel with no honour and no responsibility, ready to trifle with young ladies and then abandon them. In my eight and twenty years, I have never been so offended.”
Again, no reply. He glanced around and continued.
“Despite the briefness of my stay at Netherfield, I have come to consider Meryton a pleasant village, with decent people, civil manners, and much loyalty to each other. People with enough common sense to recognise a fabrication and laugh at it. Obviously, I was wrong.”
A general murmur spread around the crowded room.
“That you easily found me guilty of charges that had never crossed my mind, I can understand, since you did not know me well enough. But that you were so eager to believe the accusations against a young woman whose character you knew so well and had never disappointed any of you, that you all so readily rejected a family who you have known your entire life, because of the rumours spread by some unknown wretch—it is truly astonishing.”
More whispers but no actual reply. Darcy continued, more vexed.
“When I first heard the rumours, I dismissed them with a laugh, being certain nobody would believe something so stupid. How little judgment must one possess to believe that Miss Elizabeth Bennet would behave in a dishonourable manner and become involved in some sordid relationship with me and a scoundrel officer? I may as well suggest that Sir William keeps a mistress at St. James’s Palace and be found equally credible! ”
His angry voice, offensive words and mocking comparison turned half of the people pale and the other half red, but nobody dared confront him. Sir William choked and began to cough.
“In case you were wondering, I confess I do admire Miss Elizabeth Bennet—she is one of the most remarkable women I have ever met. But never until today have I spoken with her on any private matter, nor have I ever encountered her anywhere other than in public. Today, due to the laughable reports that ran around the neighbourhood, in order to save Miss Bennet’s reputation, I proposed marriage to her. As I expected, she refused me.”
A general gasp shook the room and the disbelief could be read on everyone’s faces. Bingley was equally dumbfounded.
Darcy continued, unperturbed.
“Miss Bennet refused me because we are almost strangers to each other, and because she is a woman with remarkable strength and character, who is not willing to enter into a hasty marriage with anyone, just to secure herself a comfortable future.”
Saying that, he could not refrain from glancing at Charlotte Lucas and her parents, who all paled and averted their eyes. The offence was so obvious that more murmurs could be heard in the crowd.
“I shall not detain you any longer. However, before I leave, I must reveal to you the man I hold responsible for intentionally spreading this falsehood. His main purpose was to seek revenge against Miss Bennet for discovering his deceptive nature. That man is George Wickham.”
The name fell like thunder throughout the room. Whispers of denial, glances toward the named man and restless moves created a din about the place again.
“How dare you insult me in such a way? How dare you accuse me?” Wickham interjected with apparent indignation. “Have you not done enough against me?”
“Mr Darcy, such accusations…” Colonel Forster attempted to interfere.
Darcy’s voice could be heard above everyone’s.
“Wickham, if you feel offended, you may act like a gentleman for once in your life, and fight for your honour. You know where to find me!”
“Mr Darcy, please, sir! Let us not…” Sir William said.
Darcy stopped him with a wave of his hand.
“To be honest, I expected that, with the same wisdom that led you to accuse Miss Bennet, some of you would consider that I am trying to put the blame on an innocent man, the very one to whom I refused a living. Yes, I am well aware of this other widespread falsehood. For those of you willing to discover the truth, I will be at Netherfield with all the proof. And this,” he continued, pulling a piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolding it, “is the list of Wickham’s creditors, whose debts I have purchased.
If there are people here who have lent Wickham some money, rest assured that he will never repay you.
I might be willing to compensate you in his name, under some particular conditions. It is all for you to decide.”
A silence deeper than before enveloped the party. Darcy looked around with a contentment he could not conceal. He had never been so boorish, coarse or uncivil to anyone, but Elizabeth’s distress deserved proper restitution.
Wickham said nothing more, but he took a step behind his colleagues and his countenance lost its usual amiability.
“Well, I believe there has been enough excitement for one evening, I am deeply sorry for ruining your party, Lady Lucas, Sir William; please accept my apologies and my best wishes.”
As the two gentlemen left, Lucas Lodge remained in silent consternation for several long moments. Afterwards, the hosts tried to reanimate the party but they failed.
Some of the officers were the first to leave, then Mrs Phillips excused herself, hurrying to Longbourn to bring her sister Bennet the extraordinary news.
In the carriage, Darcy leaned back, with utter satisfaction, while Bingley struggled to recover from what he had witnessed.
“Darcy, do you think Wickham will challenge you? Surely you would not consider a duel with him.”
“Bingley, there is nothing I would like better. But I doubt any of us will see Wickham again, any time soon.”
“Do you think he will run away?”
“He always does. It is his nature. Deceive people, then vanish and find other victims.”
“So what now? What do you think will happen?”
“I am not certain. I wonder if it is too late to have dinner at Longbourn? I am quite hungry and I am in need of some good food and company. I only have to write Georgiana a short note to let her know all is well,” Darcy said, increasing Bingley’s stupefaction.
“No, I believe it is not too late,” he mumbled.
“Good. Let us make haste then. I am very hungry indeed,” Darcy repeated.