Vol 1, Chapter 7 #3
“Add one to your age. I must inform you that my dowry is small, only five hundred pounds.” Charlotte did not want to hide her situation from her betrothed.
Her betrothed! Hardly knowing him at all, Charlotte recognised the deficiencies in the man she had agreed to marry, but she felt that she would, in time, soften the edges on the man.
Also she calculated that she would be able to direct him.
“When would you like to marry, Mr. Collins?”
“In December before the Christmas season,” Collins stated.
“Would you be willing to wait util after Twelfth Night? I have accepted an invitation to go to a friend’s family for the holiday and I am loath to renege after our hosts are expecting me.” Charlotte was vague without telling a lie, but she would give up her holiday if the man stood firm.
“As I will return betrothed, that is not a problem. Should we go see your father now, Miss Lucas?” Collins wanted to make it official before the lady changed her mind.
“We will walk to Lucas Lodge on our return. Also remember, Sir, that I am of age and do not need my father’s consent or blessing, although I would prefer to receive both,” Charlotte stated reassuringly.
“Then it will be as you say, Miss Lucas,” Collins acquiesced as he offered his betrothed his arm. Charlotte rested her hand on his arm lightly as they walked on, both happy with the resolution.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After his disappointment trying to establish credit, Wickham was walking down Meryton’s main street with Denny when he spied a group of women, a man, a boy, and a footman trailing behind them.
Three of the young ladies were among the most beautiful he had ever seen.
There were a tall blonde and two shorter ladies, one with chestnut curls and the other one in with sandy blond hair.
“Denny, who are those ladies?” Wickham asked, pointing at the group across the way.
“The three pretty ones are the Misses Bennet, and the plain one is Miss Lucas. Would you like to meet them? I was introduced to them one night at the Lucas estate,” Denny offered.
The two officers crossed the street and bowed to the party. “Good morning, Mr. Denny,” Jane spoke for the group.
“May I introduce a new officer to the unit, Ensign Wickham?” Denny requested.
Miss Bennet inclined her head. “Miss Bennet, Miss Lucas, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Esther, Master Bennet, this is Mr. George Wickham of Derbyshire. Wickham, the Bennets and Miss Lucas. I apologise sir, but I am not acquainted with you.” Denny told Collins.
Before anyone could perform the office, Mr. Collins did so himself. “Well met, Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham, William Collins at your service.” As was his wont, Collins made one of his exaggerated bows. As the group was talking, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy rode towards the Bennet sisters and their party.
Darcy did not miss how pretty Miss Elizabeth looked as she and her party spoke to two officers who had their backs to him.
By the time Darcy was level with the group, Bingley had vaulted off his horse and was making a beeline for Miss Bennet, but she did not seem happy to see him.
Darcy started to question why a poor country miss did not show any affection for his friend when he noticed who one of the officers was. “Wickham!” Darcy exclaimed.
Having been engrossed in telling his tale of how he became to be injured to the delectable Miss Elizabeth, Wickham had not paid attention to who was on the horses.
His head whipped around when he heard his name.
When he spied his nemesis on his big black stallion, all the colour drained from Wickham’s damaged face and his charming look was replaced by one of abject fear.
Elizabeth noted both men. One was deathly afraid, the other angry. She watched as Mr. Darcy wheeled his horse without another word and began riding back the way he had come. Elizabeth watched as Mr. Wickham attempted to regain his equanimity as soon as Mr. Darcy withdrew.
Bingley had not noticed his friend was no longer with them.
“Miss Bennet, good morning, he bubbled. “I was on my way to Longbourn to deliver your invitation to the ball. It seems that I have been saved the rest of the ride.” Bingley proffered the invitation, which Jane accepted, making sure their hands did not touch.
“On behalf of my family, I thank you for the honour,” Jane said coolly.
“May I have the honour of securing the first and supper sets, Miss Bennet?” Bingley asked assured of a positive response.
“I am afraid not, Mr. Bingley. Those two sets are already reserved. Once word of your ball circulated, my sisters and I were asked for a number of sets, including the two you mentioned and the final set,” Jane informed the crestfallen man.
“I do have the set after supper still open, Mr. Bingley.” She would not refuse to dance with the puppy, but she would not allow him any set other than a meaningless one.
“Did you know that Mr. Darcy seems to be returning to Netherfield?” Jane pointed out.
“Then I must follow him.” Before he departed, Bingley turned to Mr. Denny.
“Mr. Denny, please inform the Colonel that all of his officers, and their wives for those who are in the married state, are invited. It is this Friday coming.” Bingley bowed, and the extremely disappointed man mounted his horse and turned to follow his friend.
Jane reminded herself to thank Lizzy for her suggestion to lock up the important sets so she would not have to refuse Mr. Bingley. Luckily, he did not ask for a second set, as she would have refused a second with the man.
Once Mr. Wickham had plastered his charming smile back on his face, he turned once more to Miss Elizabeth. “I am sure you noticed the strained way Darcy and I were just now.” Elizabeth allowed it was so. “How long has he been in the neighbourhood?” Wickham fished for intelligence.
Elizabeth decided to play along to see what she would learn, as she did not find Mr. Wickham trustworthy at all, though the normally observant Elizabeth missed the fact that Charlotte and her cousin had not ceased talking one to the other.
“He has been here above a month. His friend who you saw now, Mr. Bingley, is leasing the estate of Netherfield Park. He is such a rude, proud, and disagreeable man,” Elizabeth shared her sentiments of Mr. Darcy.
Wickham thought that he had found fertile ground for his tale of woe and was about to take a chance at blackening Darcy’s name as he believed that with the antipathy that Miss Elizabeth had for his nemesis, she would never reveal what he said to Darcy.
Before he could say any more, the Bennets were hailed by a lady.
“Hello nieces, nephew, Charlotte,” Mrs. Phillips said.
Charlotte then introduced Mr. Collins before he could do it himself, and Denny performed the honours for Wickham.
“It is fortuitous that I saw you. Please remind your parents that they are invited to my card party this evening, and you as well, Charlotte. Mr. Denny, Mr. Wickham, you are both welcome too.”
Both officers indicated their gratitude as they accepted. For Wickham, it meant free food and drink, and the opportunity to spin his yarn for Miss Elizabeth.