Chapter 18
Lucas Lodge
There was a sudden burst of noise from the vestibule, and Elizabeth turned and smiled as the entire Netherfield party entered the house.
She was pleased to observe that both Miss Darcy and Miss Georgiana were present, as she liked both girls very much, and Mary was particularly fond of the musical Georgiana.
As servants helped divest the ladies and gentlemen of their outerwear, Elizabeth found her eyes drifting from the Darcy ladies to their brother, who was, as usual, impeccably well dressed.
His own gaze was on his sisters, and she felt a warmth in her chest at the sight.
The Darcy ladies had been orphaned young, and they were blessed indeed to have a devoted and considerate brother to look after them.
This brought a new, unwelcome thought, and she glanced over at Mr. Wickham, who was seated across from her mother near the fire. She hoped there would not be any unpleasantness tonight, with Wickham and Darcy in the same house.
“Miss Elizabeth!” Serena Darcy cried out, and Elizabeth turned back and smiled at her friend.
“Miss Darcy, Miss Georgiana, Mr. Darcy, it is wonderful to see you today,” she said with a slight curtsey.
“Is Miss Mary here?” Georgiana asked eagerly. “I had a pianoforte lesson today, and Mr. Calthrop gave me a new sheet of music which I find very challenging. He said that Miss Mary is already an expert on it, and I was hoping to ask for her advice.”
“She is over there,” Elizabeth said with a gesture toward Mary, who was still standing next to Jane and Mrs. Goulding.
“Brother, may I speak with Miss Mary?” the younger girl asked, turning to face her brother. Mr. Darcy’s expression was rather grim, and Miss Darcy quickly said, “I will go with her.”
“Thank you,” her brother said after a moment of hesitation, and then managed a smile. “Go on with you, then.”
The two ladies scurried off, and Elizabeth watched as Mr. Darcy directed a glowering look toward the fire, where Wickham’s dark head was bent close to Mrs. Bennet’s.
“I hope you will allow my mother’s tête-à-tête with Mr. Wickham to continue,” she said, “as she is desirous of questioning the lieutenant thoroughly.”
Darcy turned a startled look on her, and said, “Whatever do you mean?”
“I spoke to Lieutenant Wickham at my aunt Phillips's home two nights ago, and he confessed to having lived foolishly and extravagantly for many years. My mother, naturally enough, wishes to know more about the young man before permitting any of her daughters to speak to him further.”
This seemed to surprise her companion, who turned to stare at her intently and said, “Did he truly tell you of his former errors?”
“Yes,” Elizabeth said. “He admitted to imbibing far too much liquor and gambling far beyond the resources of his purse, but also claims that he is determined to change his ways. Of course, I have only spoken to Mr. Wickham once, while I understand you have known him since he was a boy. I suppose it behooves me then, as a lady with three younger sisters, to ask whether you believe he is speaking truthfully regarding his desire to alter his behavior.”
Darcy again gave a frowning look in the direction of the young man and then turned back to Elizabeth.
“I do not know. I am not inclined to trust Wickham any more than dark clouds that promise not to rain, but I visited him yesterday, and he said much the same thing, and with a humility that I have never observed before. I would recommend being cautious, Miss Elizabeth, and looking after your sisters carefully, though…”
He trailed off and then said, “If Wickham has not changed, he will not pursue any of you in interest of marriage. In his younger days, at least, he was desirous of finding a rich wife to marry, as that would be the quickest way to an easy fortune.”
Elizabeth had to work hard to maintain a calm expression.
“I suppose that is true of many young gentlemen,” she said. “Those in need of funds doubtless find themselves strongly attracted to women with wealth.”
“True enough,” Darcy said and sighed. “It is the way of the world, especially for young men and women without a fortune, to pursue those who are blessed with money.”
Elizabeth wrinkled her nose and said, “If a lady is wealthy, how does she tell if a young man is pursuing her for her fortune or her person?”
Darcy turned a thoughtful look on her, and she felt herself blush.
“Would I be correct in guessing that you are speaking of yourself, Miss Elizabeth?” he asked softly. “I am aware that your paternal grandfather was very wealthy, at one time at least.”
She hesitated, thinking hard. At her mother’s behest, she had been careful to hide the true extent of her riches from everyone outside her family, and indeed, her three younger sisters knew only the vaguest of details.
It seemed absurd to speak even moderately openly to this man, and yet she believed, somehow, that she could trust Mr. Darcy. Moreover, he had lived an entire life as a wealthy, well-connected gentleman who had been braving the haut ton for years and was still unwed.
“I am not expect I am as wealthy as you are, sir,” she said quietly, “but yes, I am blessed with a substantial fortune from my father. While I look forward to the upcoming Season, I am anxious about being pursued for the wrong reasons. If I am to marry, I wish for a husband who cares for me, not my money, but how can one tell? I used to think that I could determine the character of a person from his outward appearance and manners. But now, I admit that if Mr. Wickham had not confessed to behaving badly in the past, I would have assumed him to be the best of men considering only his speech and face and figure.”
“When fortune is involved and one wishes for a truly compatible spouse, it is wise to take one’s time,” he said.
“I would not advise marrying based on three or four meetings, though obviously such arrangements are moderately common among the upper classes, and some of those marriages are successful.”
“And sometimes they are not,” Elizabeth said with a grimace, and then she turned to watch as Mary and the two Misses Darcys passed her by on the way to the pianoforte.
She shifted her attention back to Mr. Darcy only to see that he too was watching his sisters now. Mary and Miss Georgiana took seats side by side on the bench, while Miss Darcy stood a few feet away, hovering over the younger girls protectively.
“You are a very good brother, Mr. Darcy,” she said suddenly, and then she blushed a trifle as the gentleman turned a startled gaze on her.
“Thank you,” he said, looking surprised but pleased at the compliment.
“It must be a substantial amount of work on your part,” she continued, “to care for two younger sisters while also serving as master of Pemberley.”
“I love my sisters very much,” he said, his dark eyes intense. “I would do anything for them.”
“Given their situation in life, they need a protector and are blessed to have you,” she said with approval. “They are delightful young ladies, and I am confident you deserve some of the praise for that.”
He shrugged. “I think that their governess, Miss Winston, deserves much of the credit, Miss Elizabeth. She has been a loyal governess and companion to my sisters for many years, though at the moment she is in Derbyshire caring for her mother, who is ill.”
“Our Miss Trent is likewise a treasure,” Elizabeth said agreeably.
“Our Lydia is an energetic young lady, and Miss Trent incorporates a good deal of exercise in the midst of her lessons, which I think is very beneficial for everyone at Longbourn. Lydia has, at least, given up climbing oak trees as of her last birthday, which is probably for the best.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “That is indeed most active for a young lady.”
She leaned forward a little, her lips quirked up, and said with a sparkle in her eyes, “I will make a confession that I too climbed those same trees, and did not give them up until I turned fifteen too. It was glorious to be up high and observe the area around Longbourn from a lofty perch.”
Darcy blinked, and then smiled. “It is certainly flatter here in Hertfordshire than in Derbyshire, though there is a reasonably sized hill to the east of Meryton, is there not?”
“Yes, Oakham Mount, and I climb it often. It is a delightful walk, and the view is lovely. I am certain you are not surprised to learn that Longbourn is frequently noisy, and it is wonderful to stride along with only the wind rustling the branches of the trees, as well as the cries of birds.”
He frowned at these words, and she frowned back at him, confused.
“Miss Elizabeth,” he said after a moment, “are you saying that you are in the habit of walking alone?”
She drew herself straighter and narrowed her eyes. “Of course I do, and I have since I was ten years old. This is not London, after all, and I am well known in the community. I have never come to any harm.”
He blew out a breath before he said, “I understand that, but I would suggest that you … What I mean is that you tell me that you are an heiress, and there are many new men in the area, after all. You would be well served to bring at least a sister or maid with you.”
She looked around, wide-eyed, and began counting the red coats. Two … four … six … nine militia officers were present, and while they all seemed like decent men…
The thought of curtailing her walks was a painful one, but she would be a fool to disregard Darcy’s admonition, even if his words were a trifle high-handed.
“I will consider it,” she allowed, just as the first few notes of the tune began pouring from the pianoforte.
Elizabeth turned and smiled at the sight and sound of Mary and Miss Georgiana playing a piece of music amicably.
While the one they chose was not particularly difficult, it was delightful to see the two young ladies working together in harmony to entertain their guests.
***
Lucas Lodge
“Well, I am so very glad he is on the mend,” Jane said, raising her voice a trifle over the sound of the pianoforte in the other corner of the room.
“Here come Mr. and Miss Bingley,” Mrs. Goulding said, her gaze fixed over Jane’s shoulder. “I am certain you would rather speak with a handsome young man than with me, so I will fetch some punch for myself. Thank you for your kind questions about my grandson.”
“Of course, Mrs. Goulding,” Jane replied with a warm smile. She watched the older woman leave and then turned around as Mr. Bingley and his younger sister stopped a few feet away from her.
She was pleased to observe Miss Bingley.
She liked the woman very well and also did not relish a private discussion with Charles Bingley.
He was certainly pleasant, but now that she would be enjoying a Season the following spring, she had no desire to grow more intimate with the master of Netherfield.
“Miss Bingley, Mr. Bingley,” she said cheerfully. “Good evening.”
“Good evening, Miss Bennet,” the gentleman said with a bow. “I hope you and your family are well?”
“We are very well, thank you,” Jane replied. “How are you?”
“We are also well,” Caroline Bingley said. “Now, Miss Bennet, Charles and I talked last night and were wondering whether you think the neighborhood would enjoy it if we hosted a ball at Netherfield.”
“Oh!” Jane cried out. “Oh yes, everyone would be very pleased.”
“Including you, I hope?” Mr. Bingley suggested meaningfully.
She felt her cheeks warm, and she said, with tolerable composure, “I would enjoy that, yes, very much, and given that Lizzy and I will be attending a great many balls next year in London, it will also be good practice. I am grateful that you are contemplating such festivities.”
Mr. Bingley’s expression fell a trifle at this statement, but Caroline Bingley looked pleased and said, “Well, we will host the ball as soon as we can make the arrangements.”