Chapter 10 #2
Elizabeth’s cheeks burned with equal delight and regret. She was beyond joyful that he insisted on her visiting his sister, but also sad that he would very likely not return soon, since he already spoke of winter.
“Mr. Darcy, I have rarely refused anything to my elder and wiser daughters. So if Lizzy wishes to visit Miss Darcy, I have no objections. Of my younger daughters, I might allow only Mary to travel. As for her oldest sister, well… We will see how things progress,” Mr. Bennet said, glancing out of the window, where Bingley and Jane were taking a stroll.
Darcy followed his gaze, then looked at Elizabeth and nodded. “Of course. I am sure Miss Elizabeth will discuss all the details with my sister.”
The conversation continued for another half an hour, but neither Elizabeth nor Darcy felt little else except the sorrow of the upcoming separation which both struggled to conceal.
The two gentlemen carried on the discussion, with Elizabeth lost in anguished reflections.
She had become so accustomed to seeing him, to knowing he was nearby, to waiting for his visit with a joyful tension in her stomach, that his leaving brought back her past turmoil stronger than ever.
With some relief, she heard Darcy mention writing to Mr. Bennet with some information.
He also offered to take a letter for the Gardiners, on whom he intended to call.
These small gestures of consideration were enough evidence of his intention to maintain the relationship, not just with Elizabeth but also with her family.
And yet, these eloquent proofs were not enough palliation for her distress.
And his warm farewell, his brief hold of Elizabeth’s hand in his own as he said goodbye, his friendly separation from her father, her mother and sisters, only made his departure harder to bear.
***
Mr. Darcy had been gone for three weeks and there was no news of his return. Except for Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet, few people missed him, each preoccupied with their own concerns.
Mr. Bingley still visited Longbourn quite often. Jane was even invited by Miss Bingley for tea one day, in an attempt at civil behaviour. The visit made Miss Bennet rather uncomfortable, but she confessed her disappointment only to Elizabeth.
Mr. Bennet received a letter from Mr. Darcy and he shared it with Elizabeth. He also received another one from his cousin, Mr. Collins, which he shared with his entire family, announcing an upcoming and most dreaded visit from the future master of Longbourn.
But the best news of all was Mr. Bingley’s decision to host a ball at Netherfield on November 26th, arousing much speculation in Meryton and hope in Mrs. Bennet.
Elizabeth was little involved in her family’s daily excitement.
Her distress at Darcy’s departure was much stronger than previously.
Once her doubts about his opinion of her vanished, accustomed to his friendship and secretly hoping for something more, she allowed her heart to feel for him freely, and to long for him in equal measure.
What kept her busy was her correspondence with Georgiana, with Mrs. Reynolds, who informed her about the constant progress of Pemberley’s household and the return of six families to Lambton, and with her aunt Gardiner, who related to her the news of Mr. Darcy’s unexpected and exciting visit to Gracechurch Street.
Mr. Collins arrived on a Monday in the middle of November, and his appearance was everything Mr. Bennet expected and his wife and daughters dreaded.
He was pompous, humble and vain at the same time, educated but still a simpleton, annoying in his desperate need for attention.
He complimented the girls in a way that made them cringe, declared his admiration for Jane, which Mrs. Bennet quickly averted, then he turned his interest towards Elizabeth and Mr. Bennet advised him to choose a more docile recipient for his plans.
Another addition to Meryton’s society stirred the peace of the small village; a regiment of Militia camped there, much to the delight of the ladies—young and old.
Lydia and Kitty spoke of little else but the officers after each visit to Meryton, and Mrs. Bennet did not oppose listening to them, as well as her sister Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Long.
In great need of exercise and anxious to escape Mr. Collins’ constant nonsense one morning, the five Bennet girls walked into Meryton to shop for some new gloves for the upcoming ball. To their despair, Mr. Collins joined them too, as a continual annoyance.
As soon as they entered the town, their attention was caught by a young man whom they had never seen before, walking with some acquaintances—Lieutenants Denny and Sanderson.
The unknown man’s appearance was most gentlemanlike and his air and his posture were impressive.
As they approached, the ladies could see that his appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing manners, as well as a warm smile.
Elizabeth watched him with intense curiosity, as his figure seemed very familiar to her. She was certain she had met him before, but when his eyes fell upon her, he showed no sign of acknowledgement.
Lieutenant Denny asked their permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had just accepted a commission in their corps.
“How wonderful!” Lydia cried. “There is nothing more charming than a man in uniform!”
Jane tried to censure the girl but failed, as Mr. Wickham bowed and thanked her for such kind words. Lydia was beside herself with joy.
At that very moment, Mr. Bingley was seen riding down the street and he noticed them too. He came closer, dismounted, greeted the ladies and was introduced to the gentlemen. He confessed he was on his way to Longbourn to invite the family to the ball.
“I will also visit Colonel Forster to extend an invitation to the officers,” Bingley said, his words meeting with general approval. After a few more minutes with Jane he apologised and left, promising to call that afternoon.
“A ball is a most wonderful event,” Mr. Wickham declared. “And how kind of Mr. Bingley to invite all the officers.”
Elizabeth was still preoccupied with trying to recollect where she might have met Mr. Wickham before. Even his name was familiar to her. However, when he spoke, his voice was completely new to her.
“Mr. Bingley is very kind and considerate,” Jane said.
“And he is very fond of balls, just like Denny and Sanderson!” Lydia cried. “I hope you are too, Mr. Wickham!”
“I confess I am,” he smiled.
“A respectable ball hosted by an honourable young gentleman is quite pleasant,” Mr. Collins interjected, but everyone ignored him.
“I am glad Mr. Bingley’s friend, Mr. Darcy, has left, or else I am sure we would never have a ball! Everybody knows Mr. Darcy hates balls and parties!” Lydia continued.
Appalled by her sister’s outburst, Elizabeth tried to censure her, but that very moment she was struck by the apparent change of colour on Mr. Wickham’s face.
“Mr. Darcy?” Wickham enquired. “Do you know if he happens to be connected to the Darcys of Derbyshire?”
“I believe he is,” Jane said. “Mr. Darcy is Mr. Bingley’s best friend.”
“Mr. Darcy of Derbyshire? He must be the nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh of Rosings Park,” Mr. Collins said, red-faced, almost fainting with excitement.
And at that very moment, revelation struck Elizabeth, and the miniatures in Mr. Darcy’s room at Pemberley, as well as Mrs. Reynolds’ words, popped into her mind.
She was facing the very man who had abused his godfather’s affection and trust, who had betrayed his childhood friend’s generosity, who had turned out wild and dishonourable, as Mrs. Reynolds had stated.
“Do you know Mr. Darcy?” Lydia enquired directly. “I hope he is not your friend. He is such a proud, disagreeable man! Nothing like you, to be sure!”
“Yes, I understand your feelings very well, Miss Lydia. No, he is not my friend; quite the opposite,” Wickham stated impertinently.
Elizabeth was tempted to reply, but they were called by their aunt, Mrs. Phillips, asking them to come in for a cup of tea. Mrs. Long and Lady Lucas, along with Charlotte and her sister Maria, were there too.
At Lydia and Kitty’s insistence and supported by Mrs. Phillips herself, the three officers, as well as Mr. Collins, also entered. Elizabeth and Jane could do little else but look at each other and share their mortification. As for her anger and vexation, Elizabeth had to carry it by herself.
***
For an entire hour, Elizabeth watched her younger sisters embarrassing themselves, Mr. Collins acting in all his ridiculous splendour, and George Wickham spreading his smiles around the room.
While Jane was polite enough to participate in the conversation, Elizabeth remained a little separate, sitting in a chair by the window, with a cup of tea in her hand.
To her astonishment, she observed Mr. Wickham approaching her, first tentatively, then growing more confident until he sat next to her.
“Miss Elizabeth, I hope I am not disturbing you,” he said.
She tried to smile. “One can hardly be disturbed in a room full of people.”
“True. But some company is more pleasant than others.”
“I shall not argue with that, Mr. Wickham.”
For a moment, he seemed uncertain how to continue and Elizabeth hoped he would leave.
“I understood from your younger sisters that you witnessed a rather unpleasant scene with Darcy. To me this is not surprising; he tends to offend people wherever he goes.”
“I witnessed a private conversation between Mr. Darcy and his friend. On such occasions, people are often unguarded in their words.”
“True. But Darcy rarely censures his words. He is accustomed to having his way and expressing his mind openly.”
“Is this to his praise or to his censure?” Elizabeth asked.
“It depends. His family claims he is a man with few if any faults. So do his tenants and his servants. But to many others, he is just as your sister described him.”
“I assume you are well acquainted with Mr. Darcy, Mr. Wickham?” she asked, when the question could not be avoided any longer.
“Better than I would wish to be. We grew up together at Pemberley as children. His father was my godfather and very attached to me.”
“Was he? How wonderful!”
“Indeed! He supported me at school and wished for me to study and become a man of the church. He even wished to provide me a living as soon as I was at the right age. But sadly, the present Mr. Darcy inherited little of his father’s kindness.”
Elizabeth was stunned by the man’s impertinence and disrespect.
That he spoke so ill of Darcy to complete strangers was one thing, but to dare approach her, a lady he was barely acquainted with, and to share with her such intimate stories of his private life was not only ungentlemanly but also offensive and showed a lack of consideration to her.
“And how would you have liked making sermons, Mr. Wickham?”
“Exceedingly well. The quiet, the retirement of such a life, would have answered all my ideas of happiness! But it was not to be and sadly it is entirely Darcy’s fault. My godfather would surely turn in his grave.”
“It is very considerate of you to worry about the late Mr. Darcy. But I have heard, from very good authority, that the living was left to you conditionally only, and at the will of the present patron.”
Her words left Wickham staring at her, silent and pale, while she continued.
“Also, I heard there was a time when sermons were not so palatable to you as they seem to be at present. That you actually declared that the law was instead your choice of career, and you were compensated accordingly and fairly.”
Wickham gulped several times, glanced around and stared at her again.
“I wonder where you acquired such knowledge from, Miss…”
“Well, as a most extraordinary coincidence, my aunt was born and raised in Lambton. She has many friends and relatives there, some of them closely acquainted with Mrs. Reynolds and even with the Darcys.”
“I see… Well, things can be seen differently… Your knowledge is not wholly without foundation. But…”
“Mr. Wickham, we should stop this conversation now, before more damage is done. I have no intention of discussing this matter further.”
“Yes, we should…” he mumbled. “I only wished to…”
“I am lost as to what you intended by starting a conversation on such a delicate subject. I would have never mentioned it to you otherwise, as it is not my business to gossip about anyone’s private affairs.”
“True… Well… I…”
“Let us not quarrel about something that should not have even been mentioned. I must leave you now, and we must return home,” she concluded.
Then without waiting for his reply, she fetched her sisters and left, despite some loud protests.
As they walked home together, with Mr. Collins barely keeping pace with the girls, Elizabeth decided more clearly how to proceed.
Once at Longbourn, she sought out her father in the library and carefully closed the door behind her.
“Papa, you must help me with something. You must write to Mr. Darcy immediately and inform him that George Wickham has joined the Militia and is now in Meryton.”
Mr. Bennet looked at her with a frown but wrote the letter as Elizabeth requested then sent it by express, and only afterwards did he ask his favourite daughter for more details on the matter.