Chapter 12 #2
“I understand, of course. I was talking to Miss Lucas, and she agreed that everything that has happened has been most difficult for your family. Miss Lucas is so considerate and wise, and she seems very reliable.”
“She is,” Elizabeth confirmed absently. “I have known Charlotte since I was very young, and I assure you she is the best friend anyone could hope for. And yes, she is exceedingly wise and reliable.”
“Dear cousin, it pleases me to know we are in agreement,” Mr Collins said with emphasis, and Elizabeth cast an apologetic glance towards Charlotte.
Shortly before the third set ended, everyone turned towards the door as a new guest entered. Tall and handsome, he drew the attention of the room, particularly as he was dressed in the uniform of an army officer.
Elizabeth looked at him, puzzled and intrigued, then Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst moved forwards to greet him. Mr Bingley, who was in the middle of the dance, bowed to his partner, then hurried towards the newly arrived guest.
Excusing herself from her own partner, Elizabeth left Mr Collins and went to Jane and her parents. Out of the corner of her eye, she observed Mr Wickham and Lieutenant Denny leaving through a side door.
Mr Bingley approached with the new guest. “Please allow me to introduce Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy’s cousin. Colonel, this is Mrs Bennet, Mr Bennet, and their eldest daughters Miss Jane Bennet and Miss Elizabeth.”
“It is a great pleasure to meet you,” the colonel said with a proper bow, “and to thank you on behalf of myself, my parents, and my brother for saving my cousin.”
∞∞∞
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s arrival had disrupted the ball even more.
Elizabeth took a seat away from the dancing to avoid any further invitations.
Shortly afterwards, Mrs Bennet’s nerves betrayed her, and she needed rest. Elizabeth and Jane took her to their chamber, helping her onto the bed Elizabeth had been using.
“Jane, you should return to the others. I shall stay with Mama,” Elizabeth said. “I need a little bit of rest too.”
“Lizzy is right — you must return to Mr Bingley!” Mrs Bennet interjected.
“I have a terrible headache. I might need to sleep for a little while. It might be from Dr Bates’s medicine or because this entire evening has been so distressing!
I am so upset with Lizzy for neglecting Mr Collins.
Did you see how he danced with Charlotte Lucas?
And Mr Wickham — such audacity to lie to my face! I shall not have it!”
“Dear Mama, please try to sleep,” Elizabeth begged her. “I shall bring you some tea and something to eat. You need rest.”
“I am upset with you, Lizzy! If only Mr Bingley had proposed to Jane sooner, I would not have worried myself so much. And now Colonel Fitzwilliam — is he the son of Lord Matlock? I wonder whether he is married. Such a handsome man — and the son of an earl!”
“Mama, I am going to fetch the tea. And you absolutely must sleep! We can speak of all this in the morning,” Elizabeth insisted before hurrying downstairs for the tea.
From the ballroom, the sound of the music was loud, even though it was on the other side of the house.
She looked about a little, trying to get her bearings in the large house that she did not know particularly well.
After taking a few steps, she stopped, frozen in amazement.
Mr Wickham, Mr Denny, and Mrs Forster were standing in a darkened corner, talking privately.
Seeing her, they separated abruptly, and Mrs Forster said, “I was looking for my husband, but I think I must have become lost myself.”
Then the two men greeted Elizabeth and left, while the woman returned to the party.
Dumbfounded, Elizabeth finally found a maid and asked for some tea.
She could have simply rung the bell in her room, but she had not wanted to cause more work for the already busy servants on the night of the ball, and if she had done so, she would not have witnessed the strange meeting that added to all the other dark details surrounding Mr Darcy’s accident.
With Mrs Bennet finally sleeping soundly, Elizabeth returned to her family almost an hour later. Supper was being served, and Jane informed her that their father had returned to Longbourn, together with Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was eager to see Mr Darcy.
“Mr Bingley insisted that we all — Mama included — remain at Netherfield to rest after the ball. I hope you approve?”
“I do, of course,” Elizabeth responded distractedly. “And the officers? I only see a few of them.”
“I have not seen Mr Wickham or Mr Denny for quite a while. Mrs Forster felt unwell, so she and the colonel left before supper. Dear Lizzy, this ball is so strange that I cannot wait for it to end. I wish Mr Bingley had cancelled it. I should not have allowed Lydia to insist on it.”
“It is strange, Jane, and quite tiresome,” Elizabeth admitted. “But let us try to bear it to the end. You should try to comfort Mr Bingley and perhaps dance another set with him to compensate for his distress, while I shall take care of Lydia, Kitty, and Mary.”
Despite Jane’s worry, the rest of the ball passed without incident, although the conflict between Mrs Bennet and the officers, as well as Mr Darcy’s accident, were further discussed between eating, drinking, and dancing.
Jane spent a lot of time in close company with Mr Bingley, which seemed to please both of them exceedingly.
Elizabeth did little until the ball finally ended except think of Mr Darcy, as well as Colonel Fitzwilliam’s unexpected arrival and Mr Wickham’s sudden departure — which she believed must all be connected in some way.