Chapter Ten #2
“Mr. Bennet, what I am about to share does not excuse his atrocious manners, but if you allow me to explain his mindset when he first arrived in Meryton, you might understand his bad mood.” Richard then went on to explain the near elopement of Darcy’s sister and Wickham’s betrayal.
How Darcy thought Elizabeth had been part of another elaborate scheme to exhort money from his cousin.
“As you know, I have taken care of the problem with Wickham, and while I waited for your attendance as a magistrate, I questioned him about the night of the ball. We all know your niece did not collaborate with him, I only solidified the facts by asking him where he was.”
“Colonel, I truly feel Mr. Darcy’s pain over the near elopement of his sister.
If you hadn’t taken that cur in hand, one of my own daughters may have fallen into Mr. Wickham’s web of charms and I would have lost two beloved daughters to circumstances beyond my control.
” Bennet sat up straight in his chair. “This does not excuse the mockery of a marriage settlement he forced me to sign. I cannot even begin to tell you how disgusting that document is. If I could have saved my niece and my daughter’s reputations by any other means, I would have. ”
“I have some knowledge of what the document contains and it is indeed vile. Darcy will not remain unscathed. Of that, you can be assured.”
“Well then, Colonel,” Mr. Bennet raised his glass of brandy in salute. “Let us drink to the chastisement of your cousin and hopefully a reformation. Otherwise, he will miss out on knowing one of the most delightful young ladies in all of England.”
“Sir, I have only spoken with your niece once, yet I already know she is a force to be reckoned with.”
“She is at that.”
The two men finished their drinks and then Mr. Bennet indicated they should join the ladies and he would advise his wife there was a guest for dinner.
“I hope my dear, that you have ordered a good dinner today, because I have invited a gentleman to our family party,” Mr. Bennet called out as the two men entered the room where his wife sat sewing.
“Mr. Bingley has returned?” she cried out hopefully, then fell silent when Richard came in behind her husband.
“The person of whom I speak is a gentleman and a stranger.” Bennet ushered him further into the room. “May I introduce Colonel Fitzwilliam? Colonel, this is my wife, Mrs. Frances Bennet.”
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Bennet. I am very pleased to meet you.”
“Did you say the colonel was joining us for supper, Mr. Bennet?”
“I did, indeed.”
“Then, if you would excuse me, I must see the cook about our extra guest.”
“Mrs. Bennet, also advise Hill that we will need the guest chamber fitted out once more as the gentleman will also spend the night.”
“Oh,” she breathed out with an almost worshipful sigh. Richard could practically see the wheels turning in her head and wondered how long it would take before any, or all of her other daughters who remained at home were sent to the drawing room for his perusal.
He knew his view was jaded, but he’d been around for too long and had witnessed too many Mammas trying to find husbands for their daughters, to not expect some form of machination.
In less than ten minutes, a boisterous girl, barely fifteen if he had to try and guess her age, flounced into the room.
“Oooo… Mamma was not lying. There is an officer here. How do you do colonel, my name is Lydia Bennet.”
He took note Mr. Bennet did nothing to stop his daughter’s forward behavior.
“I see you were let out of the nursery for the day,” Richard said coolly. “Lovely. How old are you, child? Twelve, thirteen? I am sure you are anxious for your turn to come out in society properly.”
As he spoke, Miss Lydia’s mouth opened wider and wider, her eyes flashing with anger. Richard figured it was a safe bet no one had ever put her in her place. He could see why Darcy had a hard time with the family.
“Close your mouth, Lydia or flies will start to congregate,” Mr. Bennet said in a tired voice.
“Papa!” she exclaimed and actually stomped her foot in anger. “He said I was only twelve or thirteen!”
She whirled to face Richard, her back ramrod straight, her chin and ample breasts pushed forward.
“I am nearly sixteen and already out.”
She reminded him of a young kitten trying desperately to appear larger and more ferocious when cornered by other cats.
“Your behavior is certainly juvenile,” Mr. Bennet said. “No young lady enters a room and introduces herself. You have been taught better manners; you choose to ignore them.”
She began to protest anew when the beautiful vision Richard had seen earlier in the day entered the room. He forced himself to close his own mouth, which had threatened to compete with Miss Lydia for how far it could fall open, and noticed the smirk on Mr. Bennet’s face.
“This, Colonel Fitzwilliam, is my eldest daughter Jane.”
The devil take him if Bennet hadn’t set him up. He liked the man even more.
“How do you do, Miss Bennet, I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Good afternoon, Colonel. Are you here long in Meryton?”
“No, I leave tomorrow at first light. I have finished the task I came for and must return to London.”
“And what was the task, Colonel, or is it secretive military movements and you cannot share the information?”
“Nothing secretive. I brought a soldier up on charges of conduct unbecoming and he will be sent to either debtor’s prison or take a very long boat ride.”
“Which officer?” Lydia interrupted.
“Lieutenant Wickham.”
“Wickham! No! That cannot be!” Lydia jumped to her feet and raced to her father, taking his hands in hers. “Please tell me he is not being sent away. He would not have debt if it weren’t for that horrid Mr. Darcy.”
“Miss Lydia,” Richard broke into her cries.
“I am fairly certain Mr. Wickham has been spreading tales of how he was denied a rightful bequest as well as a certain living. I can tell you, with certainty, he did not pass on the full truth of the matter. He received one thousand pounds upon the death of Mr. Darcy’s father and was paid out the equivalent of the living in the amount of three thousand pounds.
If he was destitute, it was not by the hand of Mr. Darcy, but his own. ”
“How would you know?” she challenged. “I am sure Mr. Darcy has told lies, knowing my Wickham was revealing his true character.”
“I know, Miss Lydia, because I was there when Mr. Wickham signed documents agreeing to three thousand pounds only two years ago, and I was there at the reading of the will and watched the solicitor give him the one thousand pounds that very day. Mr. Darcy did not have to tell me anything. I was there.”
“Why would you be there?”
“I am Mr. Darcy’s cousin.”
He heard Miss Bennet gasp softly.
“Lydia,” Mr. Bennet said in a deadly quiet voice. “What did you mean when you said, my Wickham? I hope you did not allow that man any liberties.”
Richard noticed the shift in her body and the furtive licking of her lips. Has the instincts of an alley cat, this one, he thought, and waited to hear what tale she would spin about George Wickham, who had a penchant for seducing young, innocent girls.
“We engaged in only light flirtations. Mr. Wickham always behaved the gentleman, but he let me know in lots of ways that he had singled me out for his particular attention.”
Inwardly, Richard cringed. He well knew what Wickham’s particular attentions were. With luck, she would not grow large with a child.
“Come with me, Daughter. We are going to have a long conversation in my study.”
Mr. Bennet and Miss Lydia left together. As they departed the room, another two daughters entered, followed by a flushed Mrs. Bennet. One girl wore spectacles and appeared closer in age to Mrs. Darcy, the other one looked about the same age as Miss Lydia, although not as tall.
“Where is Mr. Bennet going with Lydia?” Mrs. Bennet asked.
“Papa had something to discuss with her. They shall return shortly.” Miss Bennet turned her attention back to Richard. “May I introduce you to my sisters?” she asked quietly.
“Please do.”
“This is Mary” – indicating the sister wearing glasses – “and this is Catherine or Kitty as the family calls her. Mary, Kitty, this is Colonel Fitzwilliam. He is joining us for the evening, returning to London tomorrow morning.”
He noticed Miss Bennet did not share with them the fact he was Darcy’s cousin. Mrs. Bennet began to flutter and organized the girls in different chairs, leaving the seat next to him empty. He wondered why only briefly until Mrs. Bennet revealed her grand plan.
“I see you already met my Lydia. She is such a lively girl and already a favorite with the officers of the militia encamped in Meryton. She would make a fine officer’s wife.”
It seemed Mrs. Bennet was offering the youngest up for marriage.
Why not Miss Bennet? She was the eldest and far more beautiful than the others, besides, he was not interested in an air-headed child, like Miss Lydia.
It was time to let Mrs. Bennet know her matchmaking would not find fertile ground with him.
“There are few officers who can well afford a wife.”
“But you are a colonel. Have you no fortune or money set aside for your future felicity?”
“As a single man and officer, I have enough to live comfortably, but to support a wife in the lifestyle she would expect, is beyond my means at this time.” He dared look Mrs. Bennet in the eye.
“And even if I was, Madam, I would not marry a child who is not even sixteen and has not yet learned how to behave like a lady in polite company.”
Mrs. Bennet huffed and looked about the room, clearly not knowing how to respond.
He dared to glance toward Miss Bennet. She had her head bowed demurely, but he noticed a tinge of color on her cheeks and was positive she was embarrassed by her mother’s antics.
He had only been in Longbourn for a little under an hour and his personality was one that got along with almost anybody, but he could see how Darcy would have been absolutely horrified to be shackled with them and understood a little better why he hadn’t wanted Georgiana exposed to them, most especially the youngest.
He had to hide a smile. It would do his cousin good to have his feathers ruffled once in a while. Darcy lived such a quiet, somber life and Georgiana trod down the same lonely path. Elizabeth would bring a breath of fresh air into their lives. If they let her.