Chapter 12 #2
Some of the things he had told her were not only unexpected but difficult to believe. He claimed a better opinion of her and even an admiration that she had never noticed and was reluctant to trust.
More unfathomable was the discovery that she wished to believe him. If she were honest with herself, she was pleased and content to have been wrong when assuming he disapproved of everything about her.
She was pleased also by the care and consideration he had shown her.
His company, freed from what she had perceived as arrogance, disdain, and unjustifiable pride, was enjoyable, even delightful.
His seriousness gave way to a teasing wit and dry humour from time to time — and this suited him very well.
And while he was handsome when he was grave and distant, he became even more so on the rare occasions when he smiled.
He was a clever man — that, she had never doubted.
Well read, well-educated, a man of the world and — by all evidence — loyal to his family and friends.
He was also generous even when he was disappointed — as had happened with Wickham.
He had once declared that his good opinion once lost, was lost forever.
And yet, he had given Wickham the benefit of the doubt several times and had helped him more than he deserved.
The most impressive and humbling part of Mr Darcy’s behaviour towards her was his trust in her to talk about his sister — undoubtedly, the person closest and most dear to him.
He must have been involved in the girl’s education, honing her character, being a father-figure to her, a brother, and a friend.
What better proof of his success, of their closeness and strong relationship as well as her worthiness, than her decision and courage to confess to him about her planned elopement?
What better proof of his self-control and inner strength than the fact he had not killed Wickham then and there when he had tried to take advantage of the young, sheltered girl?
The recognition of Darcy’s admirable character came with more remorse and self-blame for her wrong judgment.
Fortunately, it was all in the open and she had had the chance to express her regrets and offer her apologies, even though he had tried to dismiss them and take the greater share of the blame on himself.
She felt somewhat relieved knowing she had made a small contribution towards his peace of mind and was able to clear up any suspicions that might have threatened to dishonour him.
Eventually, her eyes and her mind had opened to see him in a different light.
He was not without faults — as Caroline Bingley had declared in a laughable attempt to flatter him — but exactly as he had stated during that fateful conversation.
And she had wilfully dismissed it as ridiculous pretension.
His faults were not of understanding or character.
He certainly was a good and honourable gentleman — as her father had sensed from the beginning.
Elizabeth shook herself out of her reverie, looking at her mother and sisters who were still animatedly discussing Jane’s engagement.
Mr Darcy had been the one who had procured Mr Bingley the time and opportunity needed to propose.
If he would truly help Mr Bingley to procure a licence too, he would certainly become not only her father’s favourite but also her sister Jane’s and, God help him, her mother’s.
“Who do you think it was, Lizzy? Lizzy?” Elizabeth started from her musings as Lydia was calling her repeatedly.
“Forgive me, I was not attending. Who was who?”
“The woman Mr Wickham was hiding? I heard Denny talking to Archibald, Harriet’s brother. And I asked Denny and he said he suspected that it was a woman who Wickham met from time to time, but he did not know who she was either.”
“Where could you possibly have heard such a discussion, Lydia? Eavesdropping on a conversation between two men? You should not spread any more gossip about a man who has passed away. Let him rest in peace, will you?”
“Where? You forget I visit Harriet all the time. I am her best friend here in Meryton! She said I saved her from boredom. She has no secrets from me!”
“Perhaps. But this is the secret of a deceased man, Lydia. And perhaps of a woman who suffers for him. It is not something to trifle with. If it was a secret, it should remain so forever, buried with Mr Wickham,” Elizabeth said severely.
“La, Lizzy, do not be so serious. Why would you care? It is not like you were the woman, or acquainted with her. Do not worry, I shall tell no one. But if word gets out, do not blame me! I am not the only one who knows the secret and could reveal it.”
“Lydia, you and Mrs Forster, as well as her brother and Mr Denny, surely could employ your time better. It is surprising that all of you pretended to like Mr Wickham and to be his friends, and now suddenly you are making him the object of your idle talk and amusement.”
“You are scolding us for no reason, Lizzy,” Kitty intervened.
“Maria Lucas told me that even her mother and father were secretly discussing Mr Wickham having many lady friends. And you liked him too, Lizzy, have you forgotten? For a while, he was your favourite, and we believed he was courting you!”
“Well, who could blame him, since he was so handsome?” Mrs Bennet interrupted her. “And thank God he was not courting Lizzy after all! I am sure she would have accepted him, and he would not be capable of supporting her properly! Where would we have been then?”
“Mama, what on earth are you all talking about? Stop speaking about such things!” Elizabeth burst out angrily.
“I would never have married Mr Wickham, not even when I considered him a friend. He was a man unworthy of trust and appreciation, and I shall only say God have mercy on his soul! Enough of this!”
While Elizabeth had become truly annoyed, her mother and sisters seemed to ignore the height of her irritation, exchanging amused glances between themselves.
“Lizzy, you are making too much of this,” Mrs Bennet said dismissively.
“You cannot stop rumours. People do talk, and we might discover much more about Mr Wickham. From what Lady Lucas told me, Mr Collins suggested that even you might have had some special interest in walking alone in the countryside. Fortunately, Lady Lucas and Charlotte knew you had done so since you were a child and disabused him of the notion.”
“Lady Lucas should also employ her time better,” Elizabeth replied through her teeth. “Of Mr Collins, I have no expectations at all!”
“Well, fortunately, we do not have to care about any of them, since Jane will marry Mr Bingley soon,” Mrs Bennet concluded airily.
***
“Caroline, Louisa, there is something of great importance that I must discuss with you,” Bingley said before dinner.
“Is there? You have spent the entire day with Mr Darcy, so I assumed you did not wish to speak to us any longer,” Louisa replied grudgingly.
“I do wish to speak to you. And I would have preferred to spend the day together if you had not offended Darcy.”
“We did no such a thing,” Louisa answered. “We only expressed our opinion of Eliza Bennet and her family. I cannot see why it matters to Mr Darcy.”
“Indeed!” Caroline interjected. “Less than a month ago, Eliza Bennet was a close friend of that Wickham — the whole of Meryton knew that! While Mr Darcy was appalled and dismayed by her and her family. And suddenly, Mr Darcy has completely changed his mind and is ready to offend his intimate friends on behalf of the Bennet family. Why would he do that?”
“I have changed my mind on more than one thing, led by evidence and common sense, Miss Bingley,” Darcy said, entering the room. “Any gentleman, indeed any man, can be wrong on occasion, but it is a measure of his character to admit his errors and to seek to remedy them.”
“But have you not considered you might be in error again?” Caroline insisted. “Are you aware there are rumours in Meryton regarding Eliza’s partiality to that man? Even our servants whisper about it, and who could blame them?”
“I always ignore rumours, Miss Bingley. But I did know that Wickham was a friend of Miss Elizabeth and her family. Just as he was my father’s protégé. My father knew him for twenty years and still held him in high esteem. Do you have anything to say against my father too?”
Despite his cool stance, Darcy’s ire was kindled again, while Caroline, completely caught off guard, desperately sought a proper response.
“The Bennets are not your family, Mr Darcy,” Louisa Hurst dared to intervene in her sister’s defence.
“But they are mine,” Bingley declared. “Or they very soon will be! I must inform you that I proposed to Miss Jane Bennet today and she accepted me. We shall marry as soon as I can procure a common licence.” Bingley completed his statement, and only then did he dare to breathe, freed from the enormous burden.
Stunned, speechless, and motionless, Caroline and Louisa glanced at each other in despair and yet still entertaining vain hopes that it might be a cruel jest. Hurst emptied his glass and filled it again.
“This cannot be! It cannot be! Surely you can see it? Surely there is something to be done?” Caroline whispered, shaking her head in denial, seeing all her hopes vanish like the morning mist.
“It can and it is, Caroline. And there is nothing to be done, I assure you. No arguments, no shouting, no fighting will change it.”
“Charles, but…let us discuss it,” Louisa tried to reason with him, struggling to remain calm. “Such a decision will affect us all. It needs the family’s consent—”
“The decision has already been made and the request addressed and accepted,” Bingley answered. “And I do hope it will influence our entire family. Now, if you do not mind, there is something I must discuss with Darcy before dinner.”
They both left the room, and for a few moments there was silence.
Then, all hell broke loose; a racket of cries, angry shouts, and broken china could be heard through the halls, undoubtedly carrying below stairs and echoing all around the house.
Unmoved, Bingley continued walking, entered the library, and closed the door behind Darcy.
“This room is very pleasant,” Bingley said after he had prepared two drinks and offered one to Darcy. “Silent too — I can understand why you prefer it.”
“It is my favourite room in the house. This and the billiard room,” Darcy said, while the memories of Elizabeth in both aforementioned rooms brought a soft smile to his lips.
“So, Darcy, I forgot to ask you, did you have a pleasant time with Miss Elizabeth? Did you discuss what you wished to?”
“Yes, we had an interesting and enlightening conversation. And a very pleasant time… Very pleasant, indeed.”
“I am glad to hear that. Now that she will be my sister, you will have to meet rather often. I hope you will end up becoming good friends.”
“That is my intention, too,” Darcy said thoughtfully, sipping from his glass and wondering whether it was the brandy that was making him dizzy or the remembrance of Elizabeth’s closeness as she walked by his side and the smiles she directed at him.