Chapter 14
TIME AND CONSIDERATION
By the time Mr. Bennet recollected that Mr. Justin Caseman’s long-anticipated visit was imminent, it had been too late to dispatch a missive to postpone the gentleman’s travels. Before leaving for London, Mr. Bennet had but a few words of counsel for his second eldest daughter.
“My dear Lizzy, you must conceal the unhappy truth as long as possible, for I see no reason that this travesty with Lydia should affect your prospects for marriage, especially if it can be prevented should we discover her in time. None of this might even be made known to the young man.”
With everything else falling apart, Elizabeth did not have the heart to tell her father she had no intention of going through with his scheme. Surely he did not deserve such an added burden.
Days later, Kitty raced downstairs. “Mama, someone is coming! A gentleman! I saw him from the dressing-room window. He is riding towards the house!”
Her mother had the presence of mind to caution Elizabeth to do everything in her power to keep the news of Lydia’s actions from their guest for as long as can be.
How could she possibly consider it? Avoiding telling him the truth was tantamount to entrapment.
Elizabeth would not be a party to her mother’s scheme.
Heading up the stairs, Mrs. Bennet turned and cautioned her daughter.
“You may have no desire to marry the gentleman, but you must think of your other two sisters. It is as important as ever that at least one of the girls stands a decent chance for marriage.” She fanned herself with her crumpled handkerchief as she continued on her way.
“If only I had insisted that Mr. Bingley and Jane were married by special licence. Surely word of Lydia’s elopement is the cause of Mr. Bingley’s defection! ”
Mrs. Bennet carried on in that manner, lamenting her lapse and poor Lydia’s travails, until she reached her room. Now all alone, Elizabeth was tasked with the burden of receiving the guest. As soon as he was shown into the drawing room, she stood to greet him.
Once initial awkward pleasantries were exchanged, Elizabeth said, “I am afraid, sir, I am making your acquaintance under the direst of circumstances. My papa is not here to receive you properly, and there is a good reason for his absence.”
“Miss Elizabeth, if I may be frank, I had hoped to speak to Mr. Bennet before making your acquaintance. I have heard the most disquieting rumours about the Bennet family since arriving here in Meryton.”
“Sir, I understand your desire to speak with my father; however, he is in town.”
The tall lanky man with thinning hair and clothes that had little choice but to hang loosely from his body said, “Yes—I understand the purpose of his trip is rather extraordinary.”
“My father hates London, so you are very correct in surmising his being there is extraordinary.”
“Miss Elizabeth, I see no reason to be coy—especially in view of the gravity of this matter. The point is that an alliance with the Bennet family is most disadvantageous. The recent actions of your—” He combed his fingers through his hair.
“If what is being rumoured about your youngest sister is true, an alliance with the Bennets would be detrimental to any decent family. I have a younger sister who is at an age where her acquaintances are increasing. I can no more injure her prospects than I can tarnish my own name—sully my family’s good name. ”
Elizabeth’s voice filled with impatient indignation. “What are you saying, sir?”
“I would much rather defer this conversation until I can speak with Mr. Bennet.”
“Sir, my father is not here, and my mother is incapacitated. I am afraid that you have no choice other than to speak with me.”
“Miss Elizabeth, in all due respect—”
“Mr. Caseman, what is it that you are trying so desperately not to say?”
His expression pained, he said, “I cannot honour our fathers’ wish for an alliance between our two families.”
In the midst of all her troubles, Elizabeth’s heart leaped with joy.
At least that was something positive that came from the debacle her family found itself in.
Of course, my father and mother will be devastated.
They have been counting on this alliance.
Elizabeth’s demeanour was such that anyone who witnessed her ill-ease could not help but mistake it for heart-break and shattered hopes.
“Miss Elizabeth, I am sorry if what I have said is a cause for pain, especially at a time when your family is already plagued with disappointment, but I know not what to say.”
“Sir, you must not suffer such distress over a decision to do what is in your own best interest.”
“Then you understand.”
“I understand.”
The gentleman moved to sit next to her. “Miss Elizabeth, you cannot possibly know how much I wish I had arrived here to find a different state of affairs. Meeting you and talking with you, I cannot help but consider that an alliance between us would have been something. Pray you bear me no ill-will.”
Ill-will? I just met you, sir. The sooner you take your leave, the sooner I can dwell on matters worthy of my time and consideration.
“Sir, as I have said, I understand your motives perfectly. If you will, please accept my apologies for the time and expense you incurred in your journey to Hertfordshire, when it turned out for naught. Further, I wish you Godspeed on your return to your home in Lincolnshire.”
Elizabeth had never been so glad to see a person take his leave as she was to see Mr. Caseman head off with his tail tucked between his legs. Good riddance!
Darcy sat in his study perusing his paperwork when Bingley entered the room.
“What on earth are you doing here, Bingley? I had supposed you would be in Hertfordshire, basking in the lovely Miss Bennet’s smiles.”
Bingley threw himself down in the chair and slouched in his seat.
Darcy arched his brow. “Why do I feel this is not simply a social call?”
“Darcy, the worst possible thing has happened.” Bingley swept his long fingers through his hair. “I have nowhere else to turn.”
“Pray you are exaggerating, but I will do whatever you wish to the extent it is within my power.” Darcy placed his paperwork aside and gave Bingley his full attention. “What has happened?”
“Jane and I anticipated our vows!”
Darcy tapped his fingers on his desk. I can imagine far greater travesties. “You two were engaged. Engaged couples are known to do that sort of thing.”
“Under normal circumstances, I would agree. However, there is a problem.”
“What is it man?”
“Jane has broken off the engagement. We will not be married.”
“What is this strange aversion to marriage inherent in the Bennet daughters? Does Mrs. Bennet know she and her daughters are at cross-purposes?”
“I beg your pardon.”
Darcy frowned. Did I utter out loud? “You were saying you will not be married—”
“Jane feels that in ending our engagement, she is protecting me from scandal.”
Darcy swallowed hard. “Scandal?”
“Yes. Do you recall the youngest Bennet sister?”
“Hardly.” How could I possibly have asked Elizabeth for her hand in marriage, knowing as little as I do about her family—assuming the worst without bothering to know more?
“Miss Lydia is the youngest. I fear she has brought shame and disgrace to the Bennets such that no decent family would ever wish to be attached to them.”
“What has she done?”
“She has run off. She has thrown herself into Mr. Wickham’s power.”
Darcy felt the colour rise in his face.
“At first, it was thought that the two would go to Gretna Green. As unfortunate as that would have been for a young lady of Miss Lydia’s sensibilities, it would have been better than the alternative, which alas proved to be the case, for they did not go to Scotland.
It was later disclosed that George Wickham confided in his friend Mr. Denny that he never intended to go there or to marry Miss Lydia at all. ”
Darcy sucked in a sharp breath. Surely Elizabeth is devastated by this turn of events. “This is grave indeed. My heart goes out to the Bennet family, but what has any of this to do with your engagement?”
“After what we have done—what I have done, society demands that I marry her. I love her. I want nothing more than to marry her, and yet she will not have me.
“I remained in Hertfordshire, hoping to persuade my Jane to see me. Alas, she would not. However, I was made aware of another unfortunate turn of events pursuant to Miss Lydia’s fool-heartedness.”
Pray this has nothing to do with Elizabeth. Darcy intently regarded his friend. “What else has happened?”
“By all accounts, Miss Elizabeth’s prospective beau, Mr. Caseman, was scared away as well.”
Elizabeth’s beau! How can this be? I had no idea. “Who is this Mr. Caseman that you speak of? Have you made his acquaintance?”
“He arrived soon after Miss Elizabeth returned from Kent. Everyone was sure he was going to make her an offer. If I rightly understand, the gentleman’s father and her father arranged the marriage whilst the two were in their cradles.
Then the scandal arose, and he quit Hertfordshire—headed quickly to wherever he came from.
The Bennet family is ruined. Jane is devastated.
What is worse, I feel powerless to do anything about it. ”
Darcy ran his fingers through his hair. “Do you know what has been done to recover the youngest Bennet daughter, Miss Lydia?”
“Colonel Forster and Mr. Bennet followed the trail leading to Miss Lydia’s whereabouts until all avenues were exhausted. The sad truth is Miss Lydia has no money and no connections. She has nothing to tempt Mr. Wickham to behave honourably. Even if discovered, how is such a man to be worked on?”
Darcy stood from his seat and walked to the window. He stared out into the dark night, deep in meditation. Nothing is more important to Elizabeth than her family.
She is the woman I love. Although she is lost to me, perhaps forever, she deserves better than this severe fate brought on by George Wickham’s misdeeds.
Her family deserves better than this. After much silent contemplation on the likely whereabouts of his childhood acquaintance and once friend, the degradation he might endure to recover the na?ve girl, and the expense, he turned to face his friend.
“Fear not, Bingley. I know exactly what must be done.”