Chapter 5 #3
The question startled Darcy and chills ran down his spine.
He looked at Bingley, who was watching him with obvious concern.
How could he respond to such a request? To such a temptation?
Elizabeth would surely be at that gathering, and that made his heart race.
His previous resolution did not need much provocation to fail.
He had not seen her in more than a week.
But, as long as he remained at Netherfield, he could not continue to trap himself in the library, only to avoid her.
That would be utterly ridiculous. He had no reason to refuse the invitation, nor did he wish to.
Moment by moment, excitement enveloped him as he realised how much he missed her smiles and her sparkling eyes.
He longed to be in her presence again–and a room full of people was safe enough.
“Of course I will join you, Bingley,” he replied, much to his friend’s delight.
“You will? This is excellent news. I am very glad to hear that! Very well then. I will let you finish your letters now. If you write to Georgiana, send her my best regards.”
“I will convey her your best wishes on half a page,” Darcy answered in jest, amused by Bingley’s outburst of joy.
He prayed to be wrong in judging the lack of depth in Miss Jane Bennet’s feelings.
Bingley was obviously so smitten by her that all his arrangements, all his actions were somehow related to her.
Darcy had not discovered Bingley’s plan, nor did he insist upon the matter.
Bingley might want to propose, or something else entirely.
But nothing was strange about Miss Jane Bennet and his strong affection for her.
If he were to be deceived or betrayed, Bingley’s happiness would be ruined forever.
But the fear for failure did not allow Darcy the liberty to assume Miss Bennet’s dishonesty and plot against his friend’s desire.
The risk of being wrong and turning his good intentions into the main object of his friend’s misery was too dangerous to be acceptable.
For the time being, there was little he could do but support Bingley for the rest of the time he remained in Hertfordshire.
It would not be for long, but there still might be a chance for a little glimpse of happiness.
A strange sense of joyfulness raised his spirits too, as he thought of the moment he would lay eyes on Elizabeth.
She would likely gaze at him, challenge him with the charming raising of her right eyebrow, smile at him while finding a reason to tease him.
If there was some music, he would ask her to dance again and she would probably refuse him one more time.
Then, with the power of his sound deduction, he would struggle to read beyond her alluring presence and guess what her feelings for him were; how much she enjoyed or loathed his company, and how much more she expected from him.
He knew he could not offer anything more, but the mere thought that she might wish for more was invigorating.
∞∞∞
The dinner at the Lucas’s was the only event that broke the tedium for the Longbourn ladies.
With the poor weather that kept them inside and prevented them from walking into Meryton at all, they were eager for fresh company and recent news.
Also, both Mrs Bennet and her eldest daughter secretly hoped to meet Mr Bingley again–except that one of them was more vocal than the other in expressing her anticipation.
“This rain will be the end of my nerves!” Mrs Bennet complained as she entered the carriage. “It will ruin our appearance completely! And while for the rest of you that is of little importance, Jane must look her best. But then again, she is more beautiful than any other woman in the county.”
Elizabeth looked at her father; cramped into a corner, bored and irritated already at being forced from the comfort of his library.
They smiled and shrugged at each other. When Mrs Bennet wished for something, there was no use opposing her.
And when she complained about something, the wisest reaction was to listen and nod silently.
The road was in a rather poor condition after so many rainy days and the carriage drove carefully through the mud.
“Can you remind me again why on Earth I allowed myself to be convinced to leave the house?” Mr Bennet asked bluntly.
“Come now, my dear. The entire town will be there. And I am sure Mr Bingley will attend too,” Mrs Bennet responded.
“That I understand. But it means little to me. And yet, your insistence has defeated my will one more time. Even worse, fool that I am, I agreed to come so early! What shall I do all evening?” the gentleman asked in earnest.
His wife dismissed his complaint with a gesture.
“Do not whine, Mr Bennet. Once we have at least one daughter happily married, we will have plenty of time to rest.”
“Mrs Bennet, if you promise you will not bother me with balls and parties again, I am ready to chase a few husbands for them right away. I am sorry Mr Collins left; he would have been a good start and without much effort,” Mr Bennet replied in jest, winking at Elizabeth.
She did not enjoy the joke though and she frowned.
“Well, if you can find at least one good husband for our daughters, or if you can induce Mr Bingley to propose sooner, I will never trouble you further,” Mrs Bennet declared.
“Mama, please do not speak of Mr Bingley in such a way,” Jane interjected with despair.
“Oh, hush Jane; he cannot hear us! And if he does, so much the better. It is time for him to decide. He cannot expect the most beautiful woman in the county to wait for him forever!”
“Mama, please!” Jane whispered, blushing with embarrassment.
Mrs Bennet, however, was no longer listening as the carriage stopped in front of the Lucas’s house.
The rain did not keep Sir William from displaying the proper skills of a host, greeting and welcoming his guests. He invited them in, gibbering about the party, and Lady Lucas, and the times he had attended gatherings in town.
In the dining room, there were more people than Elizabeth expected.
Aside from over fifteen families from Meryton, there were several officers who were entertaining the ladies with what appeared to be an amusing conversation.
Mr Bingley and his family were nowhere to be seen and Jane appeared slightly disappointed.
Her beauty could not conceal the sadness in her eyes, just as Mrs Bennet’s curious glances could not disguise her own displeasure.
While she looked for Charlotte Lucas, a silhouette suddenly brought Elizabeth’s attention to the middle of the crowd.
Surrounded by good-looking officers dressed in neat uniforms, she singled out a gentleman with handsome features and an amiable smile that grew as he took part in an animated conversation.
The ladies nearby appeared delighted by his story, trying to catch his attention.
Charlotte was one of them and Elizabeth smiled to herself.
A pleasant face and some interesting narratives easily beat a path towards any lady’s heart.
Charlotte waved to her and the gentleman turned.
The moment their eyes met, he smiled at Elizabeth and bowed his head in a discreet greeting.
Elizabeth was impressed by his air and she liked him immediately.
She returned the smile, wondering who he might be, content that Charlotte would surely enlighten her.
As she hoped, her friend came in her direction, followed by the gentleman himself and by their old acquaintance, Lieutenant Denny.
“Miss Bennet, what a pleasure to see you,” the lieutenant addressed her directly. “Please allow me to introduce my friend, Mr Wickham.”
She politely curtseyed, while Mr Denny continued.
“I met Wickham in London and we returned together. I am happy to say he has accepted a commission in our regiment.”
“Miss Bennet, it is a privilege and a delight to meet you,” Wickham bowed with great consideration and apparent pleasure.
“I am happy to meet you too, sir. And even happier to hear that you will not leave our little town very soon,” Elizabeth responded.
“No indeed. I just arrived and I am already charmed. I look forward to knowing everyone better and to enjoying many such lovely gatherings,” Wickham declared, holding her gaze.
The rest of the Bennet ladies joined them and Charlotte performed the remaining introductions.
Mr Wickham was equally charming to each of them and led them in a perfectly correct and unassuming conversation.
Elizabeth was delighted by the newcomer, even more so as he showed an immediate inclination towards her.
He spoke to her, looked at her, smiled at her, asked for her opinion, and responded to her questions–proving that the brief acquaintance was equally agreeable for both.
Elizabeth’s sisters were also enchanted by him and Mrs Bennet herself welcomed the young man and expressed her wish to have him as a guest at Longbourn and see more of him soon.
Soon, Mr Wickham was unanimously admired and everything was in his favour: his appearance, his fine countenance, his good figure and enjoyable address.
Elizabeth mused that Mr Wickham had succeeded in gaining everyone’s admiration in such a short while, just as Mr Darcy managed to lose it at the Meryton assembly two months ago.
Contrary to the other gentleman, Mr Wickham talked to each person who happened to be near him and made every effort to make himself likeable to his audience.
She quickly became irritated by her own thoughts. Why on Earth was she thinking of Mr Darcy and even comparing the two? There was no connection and no resemblance between them.
She was surprised to see Jane’s face suddenly lightening and glowing with delight. She searched for her sister’s point of interest, quickly betrayed by Sir William’s rush towards the entrance. There were Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy finally arriving, long after all the other guests.
Elizabeth looked for Bingley’s sisters and was relieved to see no sign of them. Mr Bingley appeared somehow troubled, but his spirits immediately revived as he caught sight of Jane.
Mr Darcy was his usual self–standing still in the doorway, scrutinising the people in attendance with a superior gaze, his expression stern and cold.
His appearance distressed Elizabeth just as it had on previous occasions, stirring strange chills inside her.
He made her uncomfortable like no other man ever had before and she could not be at ease anywhere near him.
All the noise, all the laughter and all the conversation ceased as everyone greeted the two gentlemen.
Mr Bingley quickly moved toward the Bennets; Mr Darcy remained behind and for a moment Elizabeth’s glance met his.
Then his glare travelled beyond her and stopped on a point of interest that startled and darkened his countenance.
A deep disdain marred his face and his eyes narrowed into a fury he could hardly conceal.
Astonished, Elizabeth turned and noticed Mr Wickham staring back at Mr Darcy over her shoulder, crimson and obviously nervous, his mouth wide open, his eyes blurred by distress. Darcy stepped forward, while Wickham took a step back, as if he was being pushed by Mr Darcy’s increasing ire.
Elizabeth remained still, glancing from one to another, ignored by both, feeling like a useless barrier attempting to stop a flooding river of rage.