Chapter 10
The news of the engagement between Mr. Bingley and Jane was received with the utmost transports of delight by the entire Bennet family and caught the interest of everybody in Meryton.
After Mr. Bingley’s departure the previous November, very few still expected such a course of events.
Mrs. Bennet talked of nothing else for days together, declaring it the happiest news imaginable and already planning the splendours of the wedding with a zeal that bordered upon frenzy.
Mr. Bennet, though more measured in his expressions, observed his eldest daughter with quiet satisfaction, while her sisters surrounded her with joy and affection.
Elizabeth was not a little surprised when her father drew her aside one morning and mentioned that he had lately received a letter from Mr. Darcy.
“It contained a most particular warning regarding that agreeable young officer Mr. Wickham. Your favourite, I believe. Mr. Darcy appears to have taken considerable trouble upon himself to warn me that the amiable officer is not quite so amiable and that he should not be allowed in the company of young women unchaperoned.”
Elizabeth was surprised. So Mr. Darcy had taken some measures, even if he had not mentioned it to her.
Since she had returned home, there had not been a day — not even an hour — when she did not think of him.
The time passing proved to her that any opposition was in vain.
She missed Mr. Darcy; she longed for his presence and for his good opinion.
She longed for everything that he had offered that day at the parsonage and she had violently rejected.
“Lizzy? You are very quiet. Are you thinking of your favourite?”
Mr. Bennet raised his eyebrow.
“Mr. Wickham has long ceased to be my favourite, Papa,” Elizabeth said, averting her eyes. “In fact, I have heard from most reliable sources that he is, in essentials, neither amiable nor honest and loyal.”
“Is that so? Well, I cannot say I am surprised. I never trust a man who smiles all the time and prefers to spend time with the women in the drawing-room than with the men in the library.”
Mr. Bennet poured himself a drink before he continued.
“I was pleasantly surprised by Mr. Darcy’s considerate letter — especially since I know how utterly you disliked him. The man does have poor taste since he called you tolerable and refused to dance with you. But otherwise, he might be a trustworthy fellow.”
Warmth rose to Elizabeth’s cheeks. “My opinion of Mr. Darcy has improved a good deal since that time, Papa,” she replied, endeavouring to speak with composure. “He is not at all the man I once believed him to be, and any errors he might have made in the past, he is willing to make amends for.”
Mr. Bennet raised his eyebrow further, a smile playing about his lips. “Indeed? Then I shall not regret having written to your uncle Gardiner to gather what intelligence he might have about this transformed paragon.”
The conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Lydia, who came bursting into the room with her usual high spirits, begging her father’s permission to join the regiment in Brighton.
“Oh, Papa, it would be the greatest fun! Harriet has invited me as her intimate friend! She is the colonel’s wife, and we cannot refuse her!
All the officers will be there, and I am sure Colonel Forster would be delighted to have me. ”
“Slow down, child. What on earth are you talking about? Brighton? Where did this come from?”
“The regiment will be camped in Brighton for the summer! Mama has already said I can go! A summer by the sea — what could be more wonderful?”
“Only if I am losing my mind would I allow my fifteen-year-old daughter to go alone to a place filled with officers. I hardly trust you to meet the officers in the company of your sisters or mother! You should thank Mrs. Forster and decline the invitation for at least three years. When you turn eighteen, we may talk again.”
“Eighteen? I shall be old! If I am not married by then, I shall be a spinster! You will ruin my life if I do not go, Papa!”
“And yet, I am unmoved. If you wish to keep me company further, take a seat and grab a book — we might read together.”
Lydia burst into tears, crying her soul out, but Mr. Bennet remained composed. He glanced at Elizabeth and shrugged, while Lydia ran out, calling for her mother. Mr. Bennet looked pleased with that outcome, so he put his spectacles on and returned to his book.
Elizabeth left the library, following Lydia’s cries and whines. Her sister was complaining to Kitty, Mary, and Jane about how unfair their father was.
Elizabeth, perceiving an opportunity, drew her mother aside.
“Indeed, Mama,” she said with gentle urgency, “you would not wish to risk Mr. Bingley’s good opinion by allowing Lydia to be seen in such close company with the officers at only fifteen years of age.
He is a man with important connections, and he is fond of decorum.
Any hint of impropriety might trouble him, even if he did not say as much.
After all, Lydia will soon be his youngest sister by association. ”
Mrs. Bennet was thoughtful for a moment.
“Oh! You are quite right, Lizzy. Lydia, you will speak no more of Brighton! Not another word, or I shall be quite cross with you. Think of your poor sister’s future!
And of yours! We want Mr. Bingley to place all of you in the path of other handsome and rich men.
Officers are amusing, but their income can hardly support a wife properly!
So there is no point in you going there! ”
“But, Mama—!”
“Lydia, enough of this. You will be Mr. Bingley’s sister-in-law very soon, and you must act properly!”
Surprised by the harshness of the refusal, Lydia ran to her bedroom, followed by Kitty, the only one who attempted to comfort her. Kitty looked quite pleased; since she had not been invited, she evidently preferred that her sister not go either.
Not many days later, as the regiment prepared to depart, Elizabeth chanced to meet Mr. Wickham in Meryton. He approached her with a large smile on his face, so she seized the moment with a composure born of newfound conviction.
“Miss Bennet! What a wonderful pleasure to see you again! You look exceptionally well, and you have been missed. One thing that I shall regret after our move to Brighton will be the loss of my friends.”
“Will it? I am glad to hear you are fond of your friends, Mr. Wickham, though I am clearly not one of them.”
“Why would you say that? I have long considered you among my most valuable friends, Miss Bennet.”
“How strange. I would assume a friend is someone you do not deceive, whose trust you do not betray, and to whom you do not tell many falsehoods.”
He gazed at her, his eyes widened in disbelief.
“I am not sure what you mean, Miss Bennet.”
“Of course you are, Mr. Wickham. I mean that I discovered how untrue your stories were regarding your dealings with Mr. Darcy. You received, I understand, some important compensation, which you neglected to mention at the time.”
Mr. Wickham started, his handsome face colouring as he took a step back. “Miss Bennet, I hardly know what you are saying. There must be some misunderstanding—”
“I am more than happy to listen to any explanation you may offer,” Elizabeth interrupted with a slight smile, “provided you can present me with proof to support your words. Without any evidence, sir, I fear our conversation must end here.”
Mr. Wickham attempted a few more words of justification, but finding Elizabeth unmoved, he bowed stiffly and walked away, his usual charm quite deserting him.
Elizabeth watched him leave with a deep sense of relief and satisfaction, praying she would not see the man ever again.
The regiment departed for Brighton three weeks before Mr. Bingley’s wedding to Jane.
Without all the soldiers, Meryton returned to its usual peace and comfort.
Some reports spread around about officers who had left behind many debts to the local shops; no name was mentioned, but Elizabeth had quite a good idea about who it might be.
The forthcoming wedding of Mr. Bingley to Jane had now become the main point of interest. More than four-and-twenty families were expected to attend the wedding, and Mrs. Bennet’s nerves were under constant distress.
A week before the date itself, Mr. Bingley’s family arrived, together with Mr. Darcy and his sister. Also, the Gardiners joined the Bennets at Longbourn.
While the Bingley sisters hardly impressed anyone, the return of Mr. Darcy and the arrival of his sister stirred interest and curiosity.
The notion that Miss Darcy was already acquainted with the eldest Bennet sisters, as well as with the Gardiners, provided Mrs. Bennet with new reasons to brag, and the report was spread around Meryton the very next day.
To Elizabeth, the reunion with Miss Darcy was delightful, but seeing Mr. Darcy again aroused a sense of exhilaration and fulfilment inside her. She was so happy to see him that she feared what would happen if he were to leave forever.
“Mr. Darcy, I am so happy to finally meet you, sir,” Mr. Bennet said. “I must thank you for several things, and I would prefer to do it in person.”
“It is a pleasure to be here, Mr. Bennet. I believe it is my first time at Longbourn.”
“It is indeed, because, I am sorry to mention, last autumn you seemed undesirous of our company,” Mrs. Bennet interjected.
“You must not be sorry, ma’am. I must apologise for my previous poor manners,” Mr. Darcy replied with a glance at Elizabeth. “I am pleased to report that now I am quite desirous of good company and delighted to be here.”
Mrs. Bennet looked stunned at such courtesy.
“How kind of you, sir! Then may I invite you and Miss Darcy to dine with us tomorrow evening? In truth, I would invite you this very evening, but I fear I have not prepared elegant enough dishes to please the delicate tastes of someone like you.”
“If we are not intruding, my sister and I would be happy to remain for dinner even today. I am sure the meal will be excellent, and in truth, the company is more important than the food.”
Mr. Darcy’s response, his friendly tone, and his large smile made everyone look at him in disbelief; even Elizabeth could not help wondering what had caused the transformation of the old proud and arrogant Mr. Darcy into this charming, amiable man.
She did suspect the reason for that transformation — better said, she prayed that it was so — but she did not dare acknowledge it.
“Oh dear, what a surprise!” Mrs. Bennet exclaimed. “You staying for dinner? This is most astonishing! How wonderful! I wonder whether we can all fit around the table! Hill, Hill! Excuse me, I have some urgent matters to resolve!”
“May we help you, Mama?” Elizabeth offered, but Mrs. Bennet had already disappeared in the direction of the kitchen.
The lady’s agitation caused amusement for the others, who immediately engaged in conversation.
Elizabeth cast repeated looks at Mr. Darcy and often met his gaze.
The opportunity to speak to each other, however, arrived only when they sat at the table.
Mr. Darcy was invited to sit next to Mr. Bennet, and Elizabeth boldly chose a chair on his other side.
Miss Darcy was happily situated between Jane and Mrs. Gardiner.
“I was wondering,” Mr. Darcy said, turning towards Elizabeth, “if you might suggest some paths for a morning ride, Miss Elizabeth. I know you are familiar with such things.”
The direct question bewildered her for a moment. Furthermore, Mr. Darcy’s proximity — so close to her that she could feel his warmth — distracted Elizabeth to the point that she could hardly find the words to reply. Had she read his meaning correctly?
“There is a path that I favour for my walks, towards the highest point in the area, Oakham Mount. I am quite sure it would be suitable for riding too.”
“Thank you. Perhaps you may point it out to me later, after dinner, if it is visible from the house?”
“It is very easy to find, I assure you.”
There was no other private conversation between them that night, but the understanding was clear enough; both her mind and her heart agreed on it.
It was close to midnight when the evening came to an end and the Netherfield party departed.
After they had left, the family remained to discuss their favourable impressions, especially Mr. Darcy’s utter transformation.
Elizabeth was quieter than ever, so lost was she in her thoughts.
She would surely meet him tomorrow morning.
What would they talk about? So many things had happened since they last spoke in the privacy of a secluded place.
Being alone with him was a joyful and distressing thought at the same time.
She had so many things to tell him, but of course she would not dare voice most of them.
But suddenly, a smile crossed her lips and lasted until everyone had retired for the night. Only then did Elizabeth take a piece of paper and pen, and write:
Mr. Darcy,
I might never hand you this letter, and it is probably a silly gesture to even write it. But somehow, I feel easier writing down my feelings than speaking them…
Elizabeth continued writing until she had filled the paper on both sides, then sanded it, folded it, and placed it in her reticule, next to Mr. Darcy’s letter, which she always carried with her.