Chapter 9 #2
It had been easy for Jane to pick out the inconsistencies and contradictions in the pieces of the man’s story she overheard. Normally Lizzy would not be blind to them either, but she was so determined to learn negative things about Mr. Darcy that she was not thinking clearly.
For his part, Wickham felt good about what he had achieved. He was certain after he beseeched her not to repeat the story, Miss Elizabeth would remain silent, so he would be safe from Darcy’s cousin. He was happy to see how receptive Miss Elizabeth was to his tale.
He was sure he had killed any chance of the woman ever being receptive to his nemesis. She hated him and laid all manner of ills at his door. The indignant response to his tale warmed his heart.
One thing he did realise was Miss Bennet was no fool; even had he preferred girls of her age, she would not have been open to his seductions. Wickham was many things, but rapist was not one of them; even he drew the line at forcing a woman.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The two days before the ball were gloomy and rain filled.
For Elizabeth it meant she was trapped in a house with a man who was determined to stick to her as if she were the only woman in the world.
Nothing she said or did penetrated his thick head.
The man did not take either covert or blatantly overt hints.
It seemed every time she hid herself away, her mother sent one of her sisters to find her and demand her attendance in the drawing room where the stinking man would sit next to her, far too close for comfort.
She hated the way he leered at her and she caught him trying to peer down the front of her day dress more than once.
The one thing most troubling to Elizabeth was her favourite sister, Jane.
Elizabeth expected Jane to commiserate with her and help her hide from Mr. Collins, but other than some platitudes, Jane seemed disinclined to help her.
In fact, it seemed when she hid in a place known only to Jane, she was always found.
Surely, Jane would not tell her mother where she was, would she? Slowly but surely, Elizabeth reached the conclusion there was no other explanation. It was then she remembered some things she had noticed about Jane and words Charlotte had spoken.
It was the most difficult thing Elizabeth ever had to face, but she was beginning to realise that Jane’s serene facade was just that, a facade. That hurt her more than anything her mother had ever said or done to her.
She loved Jane and would have done anything for her sister, so why did she not return the sentiment?
Just then she remembered Jane had suddenly ceased joining her during her visits to the Gardiners at Gracechurch Street.
It struck Elizabeth?Aunt Maddie had seen the true Jane and her sister would not wish to return to where someone saw her as she truly was.
At the same time Elizabeth was saddened to realise very little Jane said or did was honest?but she would not allow herself to question the things Jane had told her about Mr. Darcy.
If she had to hear about Lady Catherine de Bourg’s glazing, chimney pieces, the magnificence of Rosings Park, or the shelves he had placed in his closets at the virago’s behest, one more time, she would scream.
She was forced to award him her first set at the ball when he requested it, as she did not want to sit out the whole of the ball.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Thank goodness the Friday of the ball was clear and dry. Elizabeth collected something to eat from cook and left the house before anyone but her father was up. She did not know how sad her father was.
He had noticed no matter what Elizabeth did to discourage his fool of a cousin; he was blind to it as the man saw naught but what he desired. It sickened Bennet when he saw the lecherous way the man looked at his Lizzy.
For the sake of peace, he would have to support his wife. The only thing that comforted him was the knowledge although Lizzy would be hurt at his abandonment, she would still not agree and no clergyman would perform a wedding where the bride did not consent, regardless of her parents’ wishes.
He would do what his wife wanted. How he wished he were strong enough to protect his daughter, but he simply did not have the fortitude to assert himself. He could only pray Elizabeth would forgive him one day.
As he sat atop Zeus, Darcy watched as a determined Miss Elizabeth walked over Longbourn’s fields towards the hill they called Oakham Mount. His heart told him to ride to her, tell her all, apologise to her, but his head overruled it.
There was no doubt he loved her, but what was love in an unequal match? Somehow, over the years, Darcy forgot exactly what his father had told him to seek and only remembered his last instruction, without analysing what it could have meant other than what he assumed it did.
By the time Elizabeth returned from her extra-long ramble, there was little time for Mr. Collins to bother her, as it was time to make ready for the ball.
Elizabeth was to wear a hunter green silk gown Aunt Maddie and Uncle Edward had gifted her.
Her mother wanted to give it to Lydia, but as her youngest was much taller and of a larger girth than Elizabeth, to Fanny’s chagrin, that did not happen.
During her walk she had resolved to talk to Jane after the ball. It would benefit no one if she confronted her sister before the dance. She hated that she now saw what she previously refused to see. Elizabeth still had one blind spot?Mr. Darcy.
For once Mrs. Bennet would not allow her husband to remain at home, so when it was time to depart, as indignant as he felt at having to ride on the box, Mr. Collins had no choice but to join his cousin Bennet there as the interior of the carriage was full of gowned ladies.
Netherfield Park was glowing when they arrived, a multitude of torches lining the drive. As Mrs. Bennet planned, the Bennets were one of the first at the estate.
Mr. Collins was pleased he would finally be able to meet Mr. Darcy and report back to his patroness, as she had requested.
It had been one of his frustrations that there had been no opportunity before this night, but he intended to take full advantage of the proximity to the great man.
He would introduce himself as soon as he had the opportunity.
Darcy stood in his chamber, partially hidden by the drapes. He saw her handed out of the carriage by a ridiculous looking man, the same one he had seen with the Bennet sisters the day he saw the libertine Wickham in Meryton.
He jumped back as Miss Elizabeth looked up. He could swear she saw him. Then the Bennet’s party was out of sight as they entered the manor house.