Chapter 23 #2
“Indeed I do,” Darcy admitted. “Colonel Forster, it seems that one way or another, this incident made us make some life-altering decisions. For my part, I cannot say on the whole that I have cause to repine.”
“I suppose I might say the same…eventually.”
“Then all is settled. Let us have another drink of Mr Bingley’s excellent brandy.”
***
Immediately after the encounter with Colonel Forster, Mr Bennet hastened back to Longbourn and summoned his family.
Severely, he expressed his decision that his family shook off the burden of Mr Wickham’s tragedy and put an end to all the rumours and discussions related to it.
His demand — like many others — if heard, was barely listened to.
For the rest of the day, his youngest daughters as well as his wife continued to debate the matter quite animatedly.
Elizabeth was the only one who received a complete and detailed report of the conversation that had taken place in the Netherfield library.
“You must talk to Lydia and Kitty, Lizzy, and insist on them minding their own business. There is nothing more we can do for that poor fellow, God rest his soul. I shall ask your aunt to speak to your mother too. Perhaps she will be more successful in convincing her. It is rather embarrassing for me to realise what little influence I have over my family,” he said, bitterly mocking himself.
Elizabeth tried to console him, but she could not find the right words as she actually agreed with him.
To change her mother and youngest sisters’ behaviour was a daunting task with little chance of success.
And despite all the love and affection she had for her father, she could not help but acknowledge and resent his lack of involvement in his younger daughters’ education, his indifference, and the amusement he found in the mortifying behaviour of his own wife.
She was curious about how Darcy had reacted during the meeting with the colonel, but she was not bold enough to ask directly. Mr Bennet seemed distressed enough and willing to retire to his library, which he soon did, accompanied by Mr Gardiner, and joined them again only for dinner.
While she was not indifferent to the tragedy that seemed to affect everyone around them, Elizabeth was concerned and bewildered by the frequency with which her thoughts turned to Darcy. Small details, random words, the mention of his name — everything brought his image vividly to her mind.
With some excitement, she waited for the next morning when she would go walking, hoping she would meet him. She had intended to do so that very morning, but the gentlemen’s encounter with the colonel had altered her plans. Perhaps tomorrow would be a more fortunate day.
“I cannot wait for the Netherfield ball!” Mrs Bennet declared during dinner. “My Jane will be the belle of the ball — as always — but now she is also Mr Bingley’s betrothed. And how much he loves her!”
“Yes, Mama, but it is not fair!” Lydia protested.
“Mr Wickham was the best dancer and so handsome and so funny. There is no better man. And I do not actually care whether it was an accident or not, I know Harriet and Archibald are somehow guilty of his death. He said she was a very close friend and she gave him some money that he had lost at cards!”
Everybody looked at her reproachfully; Mr Bennet shook his head and rolled his eyes, vexed and irritated. Surprisingly, it was Mrs Bennet who answered.
“Enough of this, child! You make me dizzy. I cannot even understand what you are saying and who said what. And I do not even care to know. We all feel sorry for Mr Wickham. But perhaps he had his share of blame. There are things that you heard but are too young to understand.”
“I do understand what it means to be very close friends, Mama! And I know men play card games and lose money.”
“It frightens me to discover how knowledgeable my fifteen-year-old daughter is on matters where she should be ignorant, and how ignorant in matters she should be educated,” Mr Bennet cut her speech sternly. “I believe it is time for a change, and there is no better time than the present.”
He sipped from his glass while his family looked at him, intrigued.
“Starting tomorrow, no discussion about officers is allowed in this house unless it is related to fighting with Napoleon’s army. Kitty and Lydia — you will go to Meryton only in company with one of your sisters. When you are with Mary, she will be in charge of you, and you will listen to her.”
“Papa! What a joke!” Lydia started to laugh noisily, looking around the room only to see that no one else seemed to find it amusing. “You are surely joking!” she called out.
“Not at all, I assure you. If you wish to attend this upcoming ball or any others, you must account for spending at least two hours a day in a rational manner. You will find something to study, and I shall check your progress every week.”
“Papa, you cannot do that!” both Lydia and Kitty cried in dismay, while the others were watching in disbelief.
“Of course I can. In fact, I can do anything I please, since I am the head of this family.”
“But Papa—” Lydia continued, but he interrupted her firmly.
“One more thing. You should ponder that, if Wickham were a good man, he would not have disrespected and dishonoured his colonel’s family by being a very good friend to his wife or playing cards with his brother-in-law.
The colonel would have been entitled to call him out or just to shoot him for such a betrayal.
Actions have consequences, you should learn that too. ”
While the two continued to whine and even Mrs Bennet was prepared to interject, Mr Bennet ended the conversation.
“Since there is a ball in a few days, you must think whether you wish to attend. If so, I expect you to follow the rules immediately. Now, let us finish our dinner. There is nothing further to add on this subject.”
Mr Bennet’s outburst left his family in astonishment for a while, and they ate in silence.
Never had they seen him so decided and firm, nor had he ever forcefully imposed anything upon his wife and daughters.
His severe expression was also something new — and a clear sign of his lasting determination.
Lydia and Kitty attempted to change his mind, but they eventually withdrew to their rooms in tears while Mr Bennet enjoyed another drink with his brother Gardiner, thinking that his brandy seemed tastier than usually.