Chapter II
Jane Bennet was as mild a young woman as there was in the world.
The eldest of five daughters, she had always considered it her place to provide an example for her younger sisters, and even if they did not always take her likeness, she was not one who sought the attention of others.
Jane was in the habit of thinking the best of her fellow men—nor did she consider that a character failing.
Elizabeth was the cynic between them, and Jane’s natural modesty and trusting demeanor balanced the sisters, each bringing insights and both trusting the other.
Not that Jane was unobservant or incapable of seeing poor behavior.
Jane had always fancied that she possessed as much discernment as anyone else—she was just more willing to allow others to prove themselves than most, and Jane could confess to herself that she sometimes held to this opinion longer than she should.
Case in point was the recent retreat of Mr. Bingley from Hertfordshire.
Though they could not be certain until the truth was confirmed, Jane was coming to suspect that Elizabeth was correct when she named Mr. Darcy and Miss Bingley the culprits in preventing Mr. Bingley’s return.
That was a subject about which Jane remained uncertain.
If Mr. Bingley was such a man as to allow others to persuade him against his inclinations, was he a man worthy of receiving her love?
If she were to marry him, would he put her needs first as a man must for his wife, or would he fall prey to his sister’s sibilant tongue whenever her opinion differed from Jane’s?
There was little hope of discovering his mettle, though the astonishing return of Mr. Hurst told her the door had not yet closed.
The one thing about which Jane had excellent instincts and little tolerance, however, was any slight against her dear sister Elizabeth, and on that evening, she had witnessed something that did not seem right.
As Elizabeth projected strength aplenty and did not allow others to affect her, Jane could not be certain, but she had caught a distinct sensation of discomfort from Elizabeth and had seen Mr. Hurst step in.
The actions of Mr. Wickham and Jane’s continued thought on the subject drove all consideration of Mr. Bingley and his failure to return from her mind.
The party and the journey home offered no opportunity for Jane to confront Elizabeth on the subject, so she resolved to do so once they were in their rooms for the evening.
As it was late and the family retired at once, she allowed only a few moments to pass before knocking on Elizabeth’s door.
As Jane expected, Elizabeth welcomed her with no hesitation other than a desire to retire for the night and related the event when Jane asked. Jane listened, becoming more affronted by Mr. Wickham’s behavior the longer Elizabeth spoke.
“To own the truth,” said Elizabeth when she completed her account, “I am uncertain if I find Mr. Wickham or Mr. Hurst’s behavior more astonishing.”
Though Jane had little opinion of Mr. Hurst, she did not hesitate to offer a few words in his defense. “Any gentleman of character would step in when confronted by such behavior.”
For once, Elizabeth did not protest. “As the event shows, in Mr. Hurst’s case, you are correct. I could have fended Mr. Wickham off myself, given the venue, but I appreciated his support all the same.
“The most puzzling aspect is not Mr. Wickham’s behavior, but Mr. Hurst’s comment.”
“Oh?” asked Jane, still angry with Mr. Wickham for his actions that night. “What did he say?”
“I do not recall his exact words, but he said something about strong drink revealing a man’s secrets.”
Jane contemplated what the comment might mean. “It sounds like Mr. Hurst knows something about Mr. Wickham.”
“Then he must have received this intelligence from Mr. Darcy.”
Though predictable, Jane was not happy with her sister’s continued insistence that anything connected with Mr. Darcy must be suspect.
“He appears to be correct, Lizzy. Did Mr. Wickham not accost you in a manner not worthy of any gentleman? Even I, who was not paying attention, noticed that Mr. Wickham drank more punch than he ought. His next actions resulting from excessive drink prove Mr. Hurst’s assertion, do you not agree? ”
Elizabeth sighed. She was not above confessing error, though she little liked it. As Elizabeth’s observations were so often on the mark, Jane forgave her sister these minor lapses, but that did not mean she was about to allow Elizabeth to continue in the face of Mr. Wickham’s obvious worthlessness.
“It appears they were.”
Elizabeth shook her head, disgusted—Jane understood when she spoke again that her annoyance was all for herself. “If Mr. Wickham is such a man, then it puts his communication regarding Mr. Darcy in a different light altogether.”
“Yes, I believe you are correct.”
“That does not mean I believe Mr. Darcy to be a good man,” asserted Elizabeth, meeting Jane’s eyes with all the fire her sister possessed. “Mr. Darcy still did not portray himself well while he was here, and I am yet convinced he played a large role in preventing Mr. Bingley’s return.”
“Perhaps that is as you say,” replied Jane. “Even so, I would have you recall that there may be some extenuating circumstances that, even if they do not exonerate Mr. Darcy, may at least explain something of his behavior.”
“With that, I will not argue, Jane,” said Elizabeth. “I shall endeavor to think on the gentleman as I have before, though I will discount everything Mr. Wickham said about him. I do not suppose it matters, as I am not likely to meet Mr. Darcy again.
“Then again,” added Elizabeth, with a mischievous grin, “with Mr. Hurst’s appearance in Meryton, perhaps a reunion between you and Mr. Bingley is not as impossible as we all thought.”
“The same thought had occurred to me,” confessed Jane. “If you will pardon me, I shall not hope, for I do not wish to be disappointed. Then again, it may be for the best that Mr. Bingley has disappeared, for I am not certain he would make a good husband.”
Elizabeth looked up, curiosity in her gaze. “What do you mean?”
The sisters spent more than an hour speaking of Jane’s epiphany about Mr. Bingley, Mr. Hurst’s return, and the Netherfield party.
Jane promised she would take care not to judge Mr. Bingley harshly should she ever see him again, and Elizabeth agreed it would be best to be certain of his worth as a husband before accepting his courtship again.
When they settled for the night in Elizabeth’s bed, Jane was content.
Having Elizabeth’s support meant the world—if Mr. Hurst’s presence brought about the return of Mr. Bingley, she knew Elizabeth’s opinion would inform much of her own.
The love of such a discerning sister was no small matter.
BEFORE FALLING ASLEEP, Jane and Elizabeth agreed it was best to warn their sisters about Mr. Wickham’s behavior the night before. Knowing Kitty and Lydia, Elizabeth expected their words would fall on deaf ears; what they had not expected was to receive support from an unexpected quarter.
“Oh, la, Lizzy!” exclaimed Lydia when Elizabeth told them all of what happened. “How droll you are to throw a shade at Mr. Wickham. Do you not know he is quite five times as handsome as any other man in the regiment?”
“You must have misunderstood,” chimed in Kitty. “Excessive drink will alter the behavior of any man.”
“That is the point,” said Elizabeth, praying for patience when dealing with two such vapid girls. “How a man behaves when drink suppresses his inhibitions shows much more about his character than the practiced face he shows the world.”
“That is discerning of you, Lizzy,” said Mr. Bennet, giving her an approving nod. “This Wickham has shown something of his true character—we should believe him when he proves the sort of man he is to us.”
“Mr. Wickham is an excellent man, Papa,” insisted Lydia. “Why, no man possessing such a handsome mien could be evil.”
“That is how such men can pass themselves off as good, Lydia. If all evil men squinted and drooled and lacked half their teeth, they would have much less ability to mislead.”
“But Papa—!” cried Lydia, but Mrs. Bennet interjected into the conversation.
“Quiet, child. Lizzy, are you certain of how this Mr. Wickham behaved toward you?”
“Do you suppose I could be mistaken about it?” demanded Elizabeth, ignoring Lydia’s huff of outrage.
“No, I suppose not,” agreed Mrs. Bennet.
“If he is such a man,” said Jane, “the danger of ruination exists for any young lady caught in his web.”
It was an inspired comment. Mrs. Bennet, though she wanted her daughters to marry and was not choosy about the identity of their future husbands, would not tolerate her daughters ruining themselves.
If one of them suffered a loss of reputation, it would affect the prospects of them all, rendering the chance of them finding good marriages and support for the rest of their lives impossible.
“Yes, Jane, I believe you are correct.” Mrs. Bennet turned to her youngest daughters, her expression serious. “I require you to stay away from Mr. Wickham, girls.”
“But Mama!” shrieked Lydia.
“That is enough, Lydia,” interrupted Mrs. Bennet.
“As you are not old enough to see the danger, your elders must guide you. In this, you will obey me; else, you will find yourself denied access to society. Remember that we allowed you to attend the same events as Kitty, but you are not out. We can rescind that permission any time we wish.”