Chapter 7 In which Mr. Bennet seeks to know Mr. Darcy’s intentions towards his daughter. #3
“Your pride and prejudice have kept you from attempting to win her, yet you continue to show her special regard. Although her mild aversion to you has comforted me that her heart is not in danger, your attentions have been noticed enough to raise speculation, and I shall not sit by and watch her reputation be tarnished. As her father, I must insist you be certain of your intentions and more guarded with your countenance before you are so quick to deny responsibility for the conclusions made by astute observers.”
Darcy was silent for some minutes as he looked downward with a furrowed brow, his hand over his mouth, mulling over the truth of what his friend was saying.
The accusations were not to be refuted, and he was angry with himself for being so easily read.
He was very much attracted to Elizabeth’s innate kindness and spirit of mind and found it difficult not to spend an excessive amount of time basking in her glow.
But he was also offended that Bennet all but demanded a declaration.
Darcy’s intentions were to marry well; his duty to his family and estate demanded it, and it would be most ill advised to admit his feelings towards Elizabeth to anyone.
Darcy was sure her father would extol the blessings of his daughter, but his indicated revelation surely could have no effect on her circumstances within society or her relations.
Darcy felt it prudent to avoid this point and answer only to his insult at the assembly, and he tried to do so with a lightened expression and convivial tone.
“Bennet, I have long regretted my ill-mannered comments at the assembly, and beg your forgiveness. I was not certain which young lady Bingley was promoting for my felicity, thus the comments were directed towards someone I did not know. I also did not know our discussion was overheard, and I am ashamed my remarks were considered to be offensive. No excuse would justify such a deplorable comment regarding any person. I have been remiss in not relating all this to Miss Elizabeth, and I shall correct that as soon as a suitable opportunity avails itself.”
Bennet bowed his head as if accepting the apology.
Darcy took a deep breath and continued, “As to your other point, as much as I enjoy a spirited discussion with you, this is too personal a topic for me to explore dispassionately. I request you respect my privacy on the matter, trusting that I shall take your advice quite seriously. I do thank you for your honesty, and my respect for you will most certainly guide my actions. With that, my friend, I beg your leave to end this debate and attempt a discussion with more levity.”
“You back away like you have something to hide, Darcy, and other fathers would not relent easily. Still, I accept your apology and acknowledge your decision since you have consented to consider my concerns. I agree that we end this discussion as it is no more pleasant for me than you.”
“Very well, Bennet, you are indeed a good friend,” said Darcy. “Now, since you chose that last disagreeable topic, I would like to challenge you with my choice.”
Bennet raised his brows, but Darcy’s demeanour revealed there was jest in his intended conversation, and a smile threatened on one side of his mouth.
Darcy saw his friend understood his intention and so continued, affecting outrage, “Tell me, as a friend, what in blazes is that cousin of yours thinking, dancing when he has no notion of the forms? I was pained to see the embarrassment on your daughters’ faces as he was disrupting all the participants in the dance and ruthlessly treading on the ladies’ feet!
” Bennet noticed a hint of a wry smile in Darcy’s eyes.
“I see we have abandoned all principles of gentlemanly discourse, and I am sorely regretting upsetting your sensibilities with the last topic, such that you feel a need to punish me severely by bringing up my cousin in such a manner,” Bennet said, his mouth twitching to suppress a grin.
“I too observed his performance, and if it were not likely that it would further mortify the young women on the receiving end of his company, I would drag him off by his ear like an errant school boy!” However much he thought his cousin ridiculous, his humour was severely tried by Collins.
“My apologies for his ungentlemanly conduct, my friend,” he continued.
“He drives me quite mad. I was hopeful about his improvement, but it is obvious he does not care how he exposes himself. I have had more than one occasion to chastise him discreetly this evening, but somehow he thinks he is above heeding my counsel. All the response I receive is another ill-mannered speech about your aunt and her condescension and how the import of his station bestows him the right to do as your aunt would admire. I hope you are not so unfortunate as to be much in his company at your aunt’s estate. ”
“I imagine I have succeeded in obtaining a little retribution for your opinions on the last topic, Bennet.” Darcy smiled and added drily, “Perhaps if I am ever again in the company of Mr. Collins, I could imply that you are inferior in the skills needed for a proper supplicating sycophant and make the suggestion that he exert himself to provide you advice on how to show subjection towards me and my station! I am sure he would act on my advice with uncommon alacrity!” Darcy was trying not to laugh.
Bennet showed no such restraint and threw his head back with a hearty chuckle.
“If he were able to convince me as you suggest, it would make our wrangling much less lively!”
“You are correct, Bennet; that would certainly be most regrettable. In that case, I have no choice but to amend my strategy. I shall avoid him, offer my most vicious scowl to show I am not at all approachable, and refuse to attend to his ridiculous speeches.”
“Well done. In any case, we shall not long have him in Hertfordshire; he is to return to Kent next Saturday.”
“I am sure you will be most grateful.”
Bennet indicated his agreement and then paused.
He took a deep breath and began, “Darcy, I have another serious matter to discuss. We have a new acquaintance in the neighbourhood who causes me concern. I worry because it is not likely this person will take his leave any time soon since he is in Colonel Forster’s group of militia officers.
Do you know Mr. George Wickham?” Bennet turned to point the man out.
“He is right now standing up with Miss Maria Lucas. I have not yet met him but have learned much of him. He claims to be known to you.”
Darcy’s defences immediately came to full alert.
He roused himself from the amusing thoughts of a moment before, straightened to his full height, and clenched his fists at his sides.
“I do know him, sir, and he is a scoundrel. He was the son of my father’s steward, a very good man, and I have known him most of my life.
We played together as children, and I was aware of Wickham’s nature, but his pleasant manner allowed him to gain my late father’s good opinion.
My father funded Mr. Wickham’s education through school and at Cambridge.
Away from my father’s eyes, he used his charms to gain friends who shared his wicked ways.
He quickly developed habits of gambling, deceit, and debauchery, which caused me to abandon any presumed friendship from our youth.
” Darcy was unable to hide his disgust towards Wickham.
“He tells a tall tale of misuse at your hands, and even though my family tried to question the verity of his claims, much of Meryton is charmed by him. Tell me, is there any part of truth in his allegation that you denied him the living your father had promised?”
“I had every intention of honouring my dear father’s wishes,” said Darcy, “without regard to my own reservations. Mr. Wickham received a legacy of ￡1,000 on my father’s death and was to gain a most valuable living when one became vacant.
However, Mr. Wickham expressed his disinclination for the clergy, saying that he would not be agreeable to a life of making sermons.
He requested and accepted an additional sum of ￡3,000 for the study of law in lieu of the living promised by my good father.
“Not three years later, the living at Kympton became available, and Wickham returned to claim it, citing my father’s preferment and intention that his godson be well situated.
Of course, I was incredulous and denied his claim, not only because Wickham had already been adequately recompensed, but also because I had strong reservations about his suitability for the church due to my observations of his dissolute behaviour.
Since then, he has continued to speak ill of me and my family. ”
“Well, that is very interesting. No doubt it was gaming that took most of that ￡4,000 in so short a time,” Bennet said crossly. He observed the subject of their discussion leaving the ballroom.
“Yes, and he has been known to leave debts of honour.”