Chapter 5 #2
On their way out, they met the officers again and nodded to them, taking their leave. Once outside, Bingley looked agitated, eager to start the conversation, while Darcy mounted with a grimace of pain as the action necessitated using his hand.
“So — you met Wickham?” Bingley asked as soon as they were on their way.
“I did.”
“You did not tell me about it. Was it on the day you hurt your hand?”
“Yes, it was. Forgive me, but there are things I must keep secret.”
“Yes, yes…I understand that. You have never told me much about your past dealings with Wickham.”
“I did not consider it necessary, Bingley. In truth, if not for the unfortunate coincidence of meeting him here, you should not have even been acquainted with him.”
“You certainly seemed upset with him.”
“I was. But his end was so miserable that I do not wish to speak ill of him.”
“It is strange that he disappeared after he met you, is it not? Why would he wish to meet you in the middle of nowhere?”
“I have no answers to these questions, Bingley.”
“Yes, I imagined as much. Darcy, I would like to call at Longbourn briefly. Only for a short while, to see if they are well. They seemed quite affected by the tragedy last night at the ball.”
“You may do as you please. I shall go for a ride and then return to Netherfield.”
“So…will you not join me?”
“At Longbourn? Indeed not. If they are truly distressed, my presence is the last thing they would wish for. You will be much more welcomed if you go alone.”
“I am sure that is not true, Darcy,” Bingley offered.
“It is as true as it can be. I shall see you later at dinner,” Darcy replied, then pulled on the reins and guided his horse to the left, while Bingley kept to the path towards the Bennets’.
***
“My dear Mr Bingley, how good of you to call on your friends! I cannot tell you how happy we are to see you!” Mrs Bennet cried when he was introduced in the drawing-room.
She hurried to welcome him, while Jane, sitting in a corner with Elizabeth, blushed prettily at his entrance and rewarded him with a shy smile that dissipated any prior unpleasantness.
“Come, sit here. I shall call immediately for refreshments. Would you like some tea, sir? My sister Phillips and Mrs Long visited me earlier — I am sure they will regret missing you. And I shall send for Mr Bennet — I am sure he will be happy to see you.”
“I would be happy to see him, too, madam. I am sorry to barge in without an announcement, but I was worried…after the events last night. I imagine you were shocked by the news…”
“We were indeed,” Jane whispered. “How considerate of you to call, Mr Bingley.”
“Oh yes, very shocked!” Mrs Bennet continued, while Bingley’s attention was all on Jane, and he barely heard the mother.
“Mr Wickham was such a dear friend! Such a pleasant, handsome man! Such agreeable, charming manners! My daughters were all very fond of him, and they looked forward to dancing with him at the ball. How unfortunate they did not have the chance!”
“I am sure the poor fellow’s death had more tragic consequences than a missed dance or a disappointed young lady,” Mr Bennet interrupted as he entered the room. Mr Bingley stood up promptly as the host greeted the young gentleman, and the maid entered with their refreshments.
“It must have been unpleasant that you had to postpone your journey I imagine, Mr Bingley,” Mr Bennet said.
“Somewhat unpleasant,” Bingley admitted. “But what distresses us is the reason behind this change. Plans can be adjusted.”
“True,” Mr Bennet agreed.
“Well, your staying is a comforting surprise for your friends in the neighbourhood,” Mrs Bennet added meaningfully.
Jane blushed again and so did Bingley, who declared, slightly uneasily, “Thank you for saying that. I confess the company of my friends here in Hertfordshire is good compensation for any disturbance.”
“How lovely and kind of you to say so! And your sisters and your friend will stay with you, I understand?” Mrs Bennet continued, with no real interest except to bring entertainment to the conversation.
“Yes. I am not certain how long my sisters will remain, but Darcy assured me he will change his plans to match mine.”
“That was very kind of him,” Mrs Bennet said insincerely. Saying anything good about the arrogant Mr Darcy was a daunting effort, so she added, “Especially since we know he does not enjoy the company here nearly as much as you do. I saw him last night at the ball, and he barely spoke to anyone.”
“Mama!” Elizabeth finally intervened after a meaningful but useless look at her father, trying unsuccessfully to temper her mother.
Bingley flushed at this direct censure of his friend and tried to form a proper excuse for him, when Jane, perceptively, came to his rescue.
“Mr Darcy is well, I hope?” the eldest Miss Bennet asked demurely. “You mentioned last night that he had hurt his hand. I hope he is feeling better.”
“He is indeed a little better,” Bingley replied, relieved to have an explanation. “In fact, he joined me in calling on Colonel Forster earlier.”
“Oh, you rode to Meryton? And called at the Colonel’s quarters? Did you see Lydia and Kitty? They are there too, calling on Mrs Forster. Lydia is such a dear friend to her, you know,” Mrs Bennet uttered, unconcerned, while her husband rolled his eyes, exasperated.
“I am sorry we did not have the pleasure of meeting them. We went straight to see the colonel and returned directly afterwards.”
“The colonel must be very affected by the tragedy. Lydia told me Wickham was a good friend of the entire Forster family!” Mrs Bennet declared.
“He was affected. Everyone is. He will assist in the efforts to discover the truth, as everyone expects,” Bingley replied, his eyes still turning to Jane often.
“It must have been a terrible accident,” Jane suggested in a gentle voice. “I cannot imagine someone would have hurt Mr Wickham on purpose.”
“Yes, it is very possible,” Bingley answered her, momentarily lost in her eyes and in her sweet little smile. “Darcy met with him that morning, and afterwards Wickham returned to the regiment. Something must have happened on his way back.”
“Mr Darcy met Mr Wickham?” Mrs Bennet cried in surprise. “When? Where?”
Her loud voice seemed to awaken Bingley, but the involuntary disclosure seemed to throw him into a state of even more confusion. “Yes…they met somewhere in the woods… Darcy told Colonel Forster everything. Wickham had asked for the meeting… Then Wickham left and we do not know what happened later…”
“It must have been an accident,” Jane repeated and Bingley nodded, while Mrs Bennet became strangely silent.
The visit ended shortly after that conversation. Bingley took his farewell and departed, obviously more troubled than when he arrived.
The family remained with mixed feelings, and Mrs Bennet declared her opinion as soon as the door closed behind the guest.
“Well, this is not surprising at all! So poor Mr Wickham met Mr Darcy. I would not be shocked to hear that he had something to do with this tragedy. Such disagreeable man is capable of the worst!”
“Mama! How can you say that?” Jane interrupted her. “We do not know anything about either gentleman, and Mr Bingley has the highest opinion of Mr Darcy.”
“Because Mr Bingley is kind and amiable, and he assumes everybody is the same!” scoffed Mrs Bennet. “But I am sure he must be wrong.”
“Mrs Bennet, I demand that you cease such insinuations immediately!” Mr Bennet requested severely. “Such speculations are as dangerous as they are foolish!”
“Foolish? Why so, Mr Bennet? Do you not find it suspicious that they met in the woods? The very morning when Mr Wickham disappeared? We all know that Mr Darcy hated Mr Wickham and had treated him so cruelly! Can this be a coincidence?”
“Yes, it can and I am sure it is. I could argue your every claim, but I am in no disposition to do so. I shall only tell you once, Mrs Bennet, I shall be extremely upset if I hear such rumours spread around Meryton! Extremely upset, madam! And you should keep in mind that offending the best friend of the man you expect to make an offer of marriage to your daughter is not the best action.”
The severity of his words silenced Mrs Bennet. Jane was pale, Elizabeth red with embarrassment, while Mr Bennet emptied the rest of his glass and walked eagerly to reclaim the calm and quiet of his own library.
In the doorway, he was almost knocked down by Lydia and Kitty’s impetuous entrance. The girls ran to their mother and their eldest sisters, then glanced over their shoulders at their father.
“You will never guess what we heard!” Lydia started.
“Denny told us in the strictest confidence something beyond imagination. He said that Mr Wickham told him that he was about to meet Mr Darcy at Oakham Mount! The very morning when he disappeared! Mr Darcy, of all people! Denny said he had not told anyone yet, but he told Harriet and we were there too. He asked us to keep the secret. And Harriet asked him to tell Colonel Forster, too!”
Lydia almost lost her voice from excitement as she related the extraordinary news, while Kitty kept nodding to support her sister’s disclosure.
Mrs Bennet threw her husband a most jubilant glare and immediately started to ask her daughters for more details — which they were not able to give.
Elizabeth, Jane, and Mary stood frozen in astonishment, and even Mr Bennet became uneasy as he realised that despite his earlier statement he had already lost control over his family.
Being in the middle of such a tragedy and responsible for spreading rumours of any sort was the last thing he wished for, but seemingly he would be forced to face it.
The gentleman threw a look at his favourite daughter and noticed she was as troubled as he was, and probably even more so; very likely because Elizabeth was the only one capable of understanding the gravity of the situation and the possible extent of all that was being discussed in their parlour.
The excitement and commotion ceased only when Mr Collins returned. At that moment, everyone retired to their chambers to prepare for dinner.
Mr Bennet withdrew to his library; he preferred to enjoy a book rather than change his clothes.
He was interrupted by a knock at the door and Elizabeth’s entrance.
She looked pale and uncharacteristically anxious, wringing her hands as she closed the door behind her, and she stepped forward until she was only a few steps away from him.
“Papa, there is something of great importance and urgency that I must speak to you about. This very moment.”