Chapter 11
The next day, Darcy entered Netherfield’s dining room to break his fast just as his host was sitting down to eat.
“Good morning, Darcy! How was your ride?”
“It was quite refreshing, despite not seeing Miss Elizabeth.” Darcy filled his plate as he spoke.
“Do you see her often when you are out for exercise?”
Darcy turned toward the table, plate in hand.
“Not often, no, but I do occasionally. I saw her yesterday, as a matter of fact, and had a pleasant conversation with her.” He set his plate down and pulled out a chair.
As he seated himself next to his friend and nodded to the footman holding the coffee carafe, he continued.
“She never has Miss Bennet with her; I do not know if she does not wish for her sister to join her in the mornings or if there is some other reason she is alone.” He shrugged and picked up a piece of egg with his fork.
Bingley lifted a brow. “I suspect Miss Elizabeth is out before Miss Bennet is even awake. Much like you are always out before I am awake.”
Darcy shrugged again. “Perhaps. There is no way to know without asking, though, and I am not about to inquire into the habits of my betrothed’s sister.”
Bingley laughed. “I completely understand.”
Darcy glanced at the door and, seeing that it was closed and the servants were out of the room, leaned closer to his friend. “How goes it with Miss Bennet, anyway?”
Bingley put down his fork. “I am hopeful. I have been subtly questioning her, asking about this person or that that I’ve seen about the area. Her responses have been all that is kind and generous. I am optimistic that she is everything I hope she is.”
Darcy nodded. He swallowed what was in his mouth and took a sip of coffee. “Elizabeth tells me Miss Bennet is incapable of being unkind or cruel. I suspect you will find it to be true.”
“I hope so. I pray so.”
The gentlemen fell silent for a long moment but then, hearing the noise of the rest of the guests coming toward the room, looked to the door. Seconds later, it opened and the Hursts entered the room, followed by Madison.
“Good morning!” Bingley jumped up and bowed, making an extravagant gesture toward the sideboard. “We started without you, but there is plenty left for your enjoyment.”
The entire party laughed as Hurst helped his wife to sit and he and Madison went to fill plates.
Madison brought his breakfast to the table and sat across from Darcy. “How goes it with Miss Elizabeth?”
Darcy could not help the smile that spread across his face. “Very well, thank you. She is everything I ever wanted in a woman.”
Bingley laughed. “Besotted, is he not?”
Madison lifted his cup of coffee, hiding a grin. “That, he is.”
“You are one to tease.” Hurst set a plate in front of Louisa and another at the place next to her. “How goes it with Miss Lucas?”
Madison blushed but one corner of his lips lifted in a slight smirk. “Very well. I think she likes me as much as I do her. She has given me every indication that she would accept my addresses, were I to make them.”
“Will you?” Louisa tilted her head as she looked at him. “You are not merely trifling with her, are you?”
“No, Mrs. Hurst, I am not.” He glanced around the table at his friends.
“I am not one to expose my emotions for all and sundry, but I am certain I can trust everyone in this room; none will repeat what I say.” He paused as the other occupants of the room nodded.
“I was attracted to her from the first moment I saw her. She is older than the typical lady thrown at my head during the season in town and she is not as beautiful as, say, Miss Bennet, but she is quite pretty. She is sensible, intelligent without being a bluestocking, and good-humored. She makes me forget myself, and, frankly, she takes my breath away. I have no intention of leaving Hertfordshire without her.”
Hurst pointed his fork at Madison. “That Mr. Collins does his best whenever they are in company to pull her attention towards him. He is not an unworthy suitor. Perhaps you ought to make your move sooner rather than later.”
Louisa set her cup of tea down. “She told me at the card party that she likes you and would accept your addresses, but that she does not believe you are interested in more than friendship while you are here.”
Madison sat back, eyes wide. He closed his mouth, which had fallen open. “Well, then, I suppose I should make my intentions clear.” He shook his head. “I will call on her today.”
Bingley grinned. “Good idea. Nothing like a little direct speech to clear the air.”
“Exactly.” Madison lifted his fork in the air in salute.
Turning to Louisa, Bingley said, “I am happy that you are making friends here.”
“I am, as well.” Louisa sighed and smiled. “It is such a relief. I am so glad you encouraged us to come here with you.”
“I agree.” Hurst gave his attention to his brother-in-law. “I was concerned for her well-being for a while there. Coming to Netherfield has breathed new life into both of us.”
“Good. I am glad to hear it.” Bingley glanced at Darcy. “I hope to use this time to move on with my life.”
Louisa bit her lip. “Miss Bennet seems like a kind and loving person.”
“She does.” Bingley smiled at his sister. “I was just telling Darcy that I have high hopes in regards to her.”
Hurst leaned back in his seat. “So, it seems as though all the single gentlemen of Netherfield may be giving up their bachelorhoods.” He looked around at his friends. “It must be something in the air.” He winked when the rest of the party laughed.
~~~***~~~
At Longbourn that same morning, the ladies of the house were at home and visiting with the neighbors. Mr. Collins had disappeared early. No one knew where he had taken himself off to, and no one seemed to care.
The officers were among those who made their way into the drawing room, and Elizabeth was dismayed to see Mr. Wickham among them. As far as she knew, her father had yet to say anything to her mother and sisters about the man.
Her greeting to the newest officer was barely civil, and she watched warily as he approached her youngest sister.
She vowed to herself to keep an eye on Lydia and to intervene if it seemed necessary.
Her attention was diverted from her vigil when she noticed her father enter the room and take a seat in a quiet corner.
He had a book in his hand, which he promptly opened, but it appeared to his favorite daughter that he was not really reading it.
She relaxed with his presence, and when Mrs. Goulding approached to congratulate her on her upcoming nuptials, Elizabeth was able to smile and give the matron her full attention.
In his chair across the room, Bennet made a show of being involved with his book, but his gaze was rarely on the page.
He had seen the officers enter from the drive and approach the house.
He knew not which was Wickham, but he intended to find out.
He had not yet decided what to do about the man; he hoped that observation would help him decide.
By paying careful attention, he was able to discern which officer was the one who had concerned Darcy so much.
It did not take long for him to see that his youngest child was, indeed, enamored of the man.
His notice was drawn away when the housekeeper approached him with the information that his steward required his presence.
He rose from his chair and, with a long, last, stern look in Wickham’s direction, retired to his book room.
Wickham himself had, by this time, become bored with Lydia’s ploys for attention.
His eyes wandered over the occupants of the room.
He noted Elizabeth sitting with her elder sister and two other young ladies.
He had been surprised by her cold reception to his greeting when he arrived; he assumed she had decided not to believe his tale about Darcy.
He still hoped to discredit the other man, though, and prevent his marriage.
He had originally thought to share his story with the youngest Bennet.
He had, indeed, spoken of it briefly to her.
However, Lydia could think of nothing but Darcy’s kissing of her sister in public, so he changed his mind.
As he looked around the room now, he noted again how attractive the mistress of the house was, and how eager to gossip she seemed to be.
When he walked nearer and heard her complaints to her friend about not wanting Darcy as her son-in-law, he smiled to himself.
Here surely was his answer. With that in mind, when her conversation seemed to wane and she rose to see to her other guests, he approached her.
“Mrs. Bennet, how good to see you today.” He bowed to her, reaching to take her hand and bestow a barely-there kiss to her fingers.
Mrs. Bennet giggled. “Good morning, Mr. Wickham. I am glad you could come to visit.” She batted her lashes at him. “Please, sit beside me. The tea service will be here soon and this is my favorite place to sit while I pour.”
“Of course.” Wickham smiled broadly as he helped her sit and took his place at her side.
When they were comfortable, he complimented her taste in decoration as a way to begin a conversation.
Before long, when he realized how flirtatious she was with him, he became excited.
She will do, he thought. I can drop whispers in her ear about Darcy and know they will be spread about.
And … His eyes honed in on her décolletage.
Perhaps I can get a bit more than that. I have always appreciated older women.