Chapter 6
Following the long conversation with the two ladies most dear to her, Elizabeth gained her first night of sleep in many weeks.
Jane and her aunt voiced arguments that her reason already told her, but she had dismissed them. Everything became more obvious, and her wit eventually kept her distress under proper regulation.
The rain and wind grew stronger and did not stop until dawn. Their sounds were relaxing music that wrapped Elizabeth in calmness and gave her perfect rest until daylight filled the bedchamber.
Next morning, however, the bad weather became a cause of distress for Mrs Bennet’s nerves and destroyed the lady’s appetite; her complaints continued during breakfast and long after.
“I am sure Lady Lucas was jealous about the ball and harboured ill thoughts about it, together with Mr Collins and Charlotte. That is why the weather turned so bad.”
“Mama, I am quite certain that the weather turns ill because it is winter.” Elizabeth laughed. “And the ball will be inside, so it should not trouble us. Let us hope Netherfield’s roof is in good shape!”
“Laugh, Lizzy, laugh away! You always speak in jest and take nothing seriously—just like your father! You will stand up with Mr Darcy for the first set. Can you imagine the honour? And what if your gown or petticoat gets wet or dirty as you walk from the carriage? Then the honour will become a horror! Everybody will stare at you!”
“Mama, I—”
“And Jane! She must look perfect! The ball is meant for her, and she cannot afford any defect! And with the wind blowing and water all over, her hair will be ruined, her gown altered. Dear Lord, such bad luck—bad luck indeed!”
Elizabeth ceased searching for any reasonable argument to dissipate her mother’s growing torment. Mrs Gardiner firmly intervened, calm and compassionate.
“My dear sister, let us not worry three days before the event. The weather might improve. If not, I am sure we shall find a way to avoid any inconvenience. Let us prepare for the ball and keep our good spirits.”
“If only my poor nerves do not collapse before then…”
“After knowing them for over twenty years, I am confident they will survive,” Mr Bennet interjected. “If only it would rain enough for all the roads to be flooded so I do not have to attend the ball.”
“Mr Bennet! How can you say that?”
“Come, Mama, let us have some tea. Papa is only teasing you. Everything will be fine, I promise you,” Jane said, caressing her mother’s arm gently.
“Oh, Jane, what shall I do without you when you leave? Nobody understands me as well as you do.”
“Do not despair, my dear; perhaps the rain will allow us to avoid not only the ball but also the wedding so you can keep Jane near you,” Mr Bennet uttered.
Mrs Bennet cried in despair at such a cruel statement, Elizabeth gently scolded her father for his painful jokes, and Mr Gardiner removed his facetious brother-in-law from the ladies’ company and into the library.
Elizabeth was as amused as her father was by the absurd disagreement. However, as she looked outside at the curtain of falling water, she could not help wondering whether her mother might have a valid point: it was not impossible that bad weather might keep guests in London.
Unlike her mother, though, she was not at all troubled by the idea. The only guest that truly mattered to her was already there, and the three miles’ distance could easily be covered in any weather.
∞∞∞
Around noon, things settled for a while. Mrs Gardiner was taking care of the children upstairs; Kitty was listening to Mary, who practised at the piano. Mrs Bennet was resting in her chamber to calm her tormented nerves under Jane’s supervision.
Elizabeth joined her father and uncle in the library, all three of them reading in peaceful silence.
“Lizzy dear, since I have long wished a private moment with you, I cannot miss this opportunity,” Mr Bennet eventually said. “I must speak to you. And having your uncle here is even better.”
“What is it, Papa?” Elizabeth asked, putting down her book.
“In fact, I rather wish to ask whether you have anything to tell me.”
Elizabeth glanced at her uncle. “About what, Papa?”
“Well, allow me to put it as briefly as possible. I am rather curious about some changes that obviously have occurred regarding you and a certain gentleman. And I know I should not speak about such a delicate subject in front of your uncle, but we all know I am not a good father. If I were, I would have forced you to marry Mr Collins as your mother insisted, and we would not be having this conversation now.”
Elizabeth laughed through her embarrassment. “You are an excellent father; I could not imagine a better one. However, sometimes you enjoy too well making fun at the expense of others.”
“I admit I do. But that is not the case now. You must understand my puzzlement and my desire for clarification. Until recently, the Mr Darcy I knew was arrogant, disdainful, aloof, and haughty. He barely spoke to anyone in the neighbourhood, refused to dance with you, and showed his open disapproval of Bingley’s attachment to Jane.
Is that an accurate description of the gentleman, Lizzy? ”
“It could be, Papa. That was how we saw Mr Darcy when we first met him.”
“I heartily disagree with such an assessment,” Mr Gardiner intervened. “I have seen none of these traits in Mr Darcy, and I have been in his company on several occasions. You were surely wrong.”
“Mr Darcy certainly improved on better acquaintance, although his character was probably unchanged,” Elizabeth whispered. “His manners certainly softened, and his behaviour became more amiable.”
“Yes, and I cannot but wonder about the inducement for such changes,” Mr Bennet continued.
“He must have finally accepted Bingley’s marriage to Jane and become more polite because of him.
I do not mind it at all since I truly enjoy his company.
He appears to be one of the best-educated men I have met.
But he also went from not wanting to dance with Lizzy to asking her for the first set! This has been quite a bumpy journey.”
Elizabeth said nothing, and Mr Gardiner poured himself some wine.
“Well, we should be happy for this journey, bumpy or not. To be honest, Madeline and I are delighted to have Mr Darcy’s friendship.
She is still incredulous that she has been invited to visit Pemberley and that its master calls on us.
And I believe he will be an excellent dancing partner for Lizzy,” concluded Mr Gardiner.
“Yes, yes…I just hope Lizzy will not entertain any silly, unreasonable hopes. A man like Darcy does not make decisions recklessly or outside his circle of friends or family. I would be sad to see Lizzy disappointed. Therefore, if there is more I should know, I do not want to be left oblivious any longer.”
“You have no reason for concern, Papa, and there is nothing specific that I have to tell you for now. I know what I should expect or not; I am no longer a silly girl.”
“I hope so, my dear, because in truth, your unconditional trust and good opinion of Wickham somewhat shattered my confidence in your wisdom.”
She blushed but laughed. “And well deserved, Papa. You could not scold me more than I did myself. I greatly mistook both Mr Wickham and Mr Darcy. My wit and my reason were not at their best last autumn.”
“Not to mention your poor judgement in refusing Mr Collins,” Mr Bennet said in complete earnest, making Elizabeth laugh again.
“I cannot thank you enough for supporting me in that decision, Papa. Few fathers would have done the same.”
“As I said, I have never been the father to decide what is best for his daughters’ future. When I die and Mr Collins throws you out, you will all have to move to Bingley’s garden unless one of you finds an excellent match to split the burden with the poor man.”
“Papa, your jokes are just horrible at times.” Elizabeth embraced him, kissing his forehead.
“Are they? Well, here is another: Can one of you explain to me how it occurred that, of all the places in London, Mr Darcy happened to attend Wickham’s wedding with Lydia?
What could he possibly be doing with the man who seemed more an enemy than a friend and who had just eloped in such a dishonourable manner? ”
Elizabeth took a step back, thinking of a proper reply.
“Come now, do not take me for an old fool! I know there must be something behind all this. You were all in Derbyshire when you received the news about Lydia. You hurried to Town, but Darcy had no reason to leave home. Yet, he suddenly left his friends and sister and travelled halfway across the country to call on you at Gracechurch Street and befriend you. In the meantime, Wickham’s situation was miraculously solved overnight, and Darcy attended his wedding.
As I speak of it, I can see how odd these coincidences were, not to mention how distressing the subject seems to be for the two of you, for Madeline, and for the man himself.
Now—which of you will tell me the story? ”
Mr Bennet filled his glass and took a comfortable seat in his armchair, watching them closely. Mr Gardiner emptied his glass and filled it again.
“Brother, Mr Darcy’s presence in London was astonishing to us too. Neither of us expected such a thing. He first called on us after you left town, and he provided us with invaluable help in discovering Lydia. He apparently knew Wickham’s habits and could more easily discover his whereabouts.”
“Why would he care about Lydia?”
“He probably did not. But he told us Wickham was his responsibility and that, if he had exposed him sooner, no young lady from Meryton would have been deceived by him. He said it was his duty to settle things.”
“Papa, Mr Darcy told you the same a few days ago—remember?”
“I do remember, Lizzy.”