Chapter X #2
“This sounds serious, Lizzy. How may I help?”
“There is a viper among us, and I mean to deal with him.”
“Do not tease me, Lizzy. What do you mean?”
Elizabeth laid out what she had learned the previous day, and while much of it shocked Charlotte, she ensured Elizabeth understood that she had never trusted the man in question as much as Elizabeth had.
When Charlotte understood, Elizabeth proposed her idea, and her friend agreed.
Thus, Elizabeth put her plan into motion at once.
GEORGIANA WAS SURPRISED and pleased to receive an invitation to join the Bennet sisters in Meryton to visit the shops.
What was less surprising was that the gentlemen would insist on going with them—or at least, that Mr. Bingley would insist. William had been introspective since Jane and Elizabeth had departed Netherfield, but he would go to Meryton with them, if only to ensure Mr. Wickham did not trouble her.
“Tell me, Brother,” said Georgiana as they approached the break in the trees that led to the town, “what will we find in Meryton? I do not recall seeing much of it as I passed through.”
“Meryton is much like any other market town,” said Darcy. “It is not so extensive nor so charming as Lambton, but it is a town much like any other.”
“The streets are unpaved,” added Mr. Bingley, “and it is small, but Meryton has its own charms, though I well understand your brother’s preference for Lambton—it is rather charming, as I recall.”
“Will there be any shops that I will like?”
Mr. Bingley chuckled. “As I recall, Caroline had no affinity for Meryton and would not so much as enter most of the shops. It has a dressmaker, a milliner, a haberdasher, and other such places as young ladies might find interesting, but I confess that I know little of them. We did not spend much time in Meryton when we were here before.”
“And every day since has been spent with the Bennets,” said Georgiana with a grin.
“Guilty as charged,” replied Mr. Bingley, not repentant in the least. “I make no apologies. If the Bennet sisters had not invited you to Meryton today, that would be our next destination.”
Mr. Bingley’s eagerness aside, Georgiana found herself anticipating the day in the sisters’ company.
Though some were more estimable than others, Georgiana had found the sisters kind and without pretension, qualities she sometimes thought were rare in the circles the Darcys frequented.
And Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth were both delightful.
At length, the carriage rolled into town, the quaint buildings rising around them.
As her companions had said, the roads were dirt, likely muddy and difficult to navigate when it rained, the houses were old and in need of paint, and the town was small.
But the people appeared friendly, calling out greetings to each other or speaking in loud, animated voices.
Then she noticed them—clusters of red-coated men in various places about the town.
At once, the sight reminded Georgiana that Mr. Wickham was among their number, that he might be present that day.
Georgiana did not think Mr. Wickham would try anything on a busy town road, especially not with William hovering over her like an avenging angel.
But she was not about to chance anything either—Mr. Wickham had no more power to deceive her, but she had a healthy respect for his ability to cause trouble wherever he went.
They espied the Bennet sisters the moment they alighted from the carriage, and while Georgiana might have expected Elizabeth to greet her first, she was surprised when Kitty and Lydia approached, grins on their faces.
“Shall you not come with us?” asked Lydia, appearing excited to show her around the town.
“We will show you all the best shops,” said Kitty.
Though Georgiana looked back at her brother for permission, she could see that William was not of a mind to forbid her.
Thus, Georgiana allowed the two youngest Bennet sisters, themselves akin to forces of nature, to draw her along.
William and Elizabeth following them did not escape Georgiana’s attention.
Time in the company of the youngest Bennet sisters was quite different from that of the elder.
Not only were they far louder, but they were also unrestrained and distracted by every little thing that crossed their paths.
Soon, Georgiana learned that the most ubiquitous form of distraction was the presence of the officers.
It seemed that they could not take five steps without her new friends hailing some man in a red coat.
Georgiana wondered what all the fuss was—they were decent enough men, but they were no more interesting than any other man she had met.
In short order, the sisters had introduced her to Mr. Denny, Mr. Sanderson, Mr. Chamberlayne, and several others.
And they all felt it necessary to stop, exchange a few words, and some mild flirting, though Lydia’s behavior crossed the line several times.
Yet Georgiana noticed that there was also something .
. . guarded about the men they met, though she was not certain that was the correct word.
They were pleasant enough, but there was some hesitation in their manner. It did not escape Lydia’s attention.
“The officers are all so dull this morning!” exclaimed she a moment after a pair of them—Georgiana could not remember their names—departed, leaving them in the middle of the street.
“Perhaps they are focused on their duties.”
Elizabeth, who had spoken just then, regarded Lydia with a hint of a knowing air.
Along with William, Elizabeth had followed them through the town, allowing them to stop every few moments to speak with officers, but not engaging much herself.
Georgiana wondered about it, for Elizabeth appeared almost self-satisfied by the exchange.
Lydia soon declared they would go to the haberdashers, so Georgiana had little time to consider it.
The shops followed in quick succession, dusty bolts of cloth in the dressmaker, cheery bonnets in the milliner, and the sweet scent of sugar sticks in the general store.
Through it all, her companions behaved as if they had seen nothing of it before, all while complaining about how dull Meryton was.
In time, it began to give Georgiana a headache.
While they were thus engaged, her two companions kept up a running commentary about the officers.
Mr. Denny was so handsome, Mr. Sanderson boyish and kind, this officer was to go to town on leave for a few days, or that officer was rumored to transfer to another regiment.
Georgiana listened politely, injecting a few words into the conversation when required, but saying little more.
When Mr. Wickham’s name rose between them, she decided to speak but attempted to approach the subject from an oblique angle.
“You count the officers as close friends,” said she, wondering how they would answer.
“Of course, we do,” replied Lydia, thinking nothing of Georgiana’s comment. “Who would not? They are such fine, dashing men, and they live interesting lives.”
“Oh?” asked Georgiana. “How is it interesting?”
“Why,” said Lydia, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, “the travel to exotic places, the military life, battle and danger.”
Georgiana heard Elizabeth’s soft snort behind her, and while she agreed, she did not risk a look back at her friend. “Is that so? I had not thought the home guard faced battle unless there was an invasion from the French. Has there been an incursion of which I was not aware?”
Lydia appeared nonplused, while Kitty only stared at her, uncomprehending. Both William and Elizabeth remained silent and watchful, interested to see how Georgiana would handle it, or she was no judge of the matter at all. It was Kitty who finally ventured a response.
“The militia does not see battle, do they?”
Georgiana paused, considering how she might respond. She was of age with these girls and did not wish to appear as if she were lecturing or making them seem silly, though she understood they were quite silly at times.
“I think, Kitty,” said Georgiana, trying for humor rather than instruction, “that we had best hope that the militia does not see battle. If they do, it means the tides of war are shifting against us.”
The sisters remained silent for a time after, considering what she had said. When the subject rose again, Georgiana was not surprised that it was Lydia who spoke.
“Well, perhaps they do not see battle, but they are still interesting men.”
“Perhaps they are,” agreed Georgiana. “As I have some experience with men even more dedicated to the defense of England, I suppose I am simply more accustomed to them.”
Kitty regarded her with open curiosity. “What do you mean? Is there a militia regiment near your home?”
“No, not at all,” replied Georgiana. “I think the regiment protecting Derbyshire was quartered near Derby this year.”
“Ashbourne,” corrected William, the first time he had spoken since they came to Meryton.
“Oh, of course,” replied Georgiana. “Ashbourne is not far from Pemberley, but not close enough that we go there often either.”
“Then how are you familiar with officers?” Lydia’s question was little less than a demand.
“Oh, my cousin is a colonel,” said Georgiana, her tone deliberately offhand. “Anthony is a member of the dragoons and served on the peninsula last year.”