Chapter 7 #2
Mr Bingley was greatly missed and often mentioned.
Mrs Bennet debated several times if he might propose before or after the ball, while Jane tried very hard to keep her mother’s speculations reasonable.
They had no evidence to justify such hopes, but Mrs Bennet cared little about anything else except her plan.
Jane was distressed by such unreasonable fantasies. She spoke to Elizabeth, confessing her hopes and her worries, wondering every minute if Mr Bingley would call.
Elizabeth was quite at ease after the conversation with her father; she did think of both Mr Darcy and Mr Wickham on several occasions, but she succeeded in satisfying her reason and reaching a sensible conclusion about the two.
She decided to wait before making any more assumptions and to put all her strength into comforting Jane.
One morning, with the ball approaching, the weather eventually took pity on them, and the sun broke through the clouds. A lovely, cold but sunny November day greeted them, brightening their dispositions.
“Mama, could we go to Meryton and see if our bonnets and gloves have arrived?” Lydia asked animatedly. “Mr Crawford ordered them a week ago! I cannot wait any longer! Besides, I would like to see Maria Lucas too!”
Everybody knew that it was not the bonnets, which could easily be delivered to Longbourn, that were drawing Lydia to Meryton.
Her mother hesitated only briefly, glancing at her eldest daughters and at her husband to meet their approving nods.
Elizabeth and Jane were both desirous for some time outdoors, while Mr Bennet looked forward to a peaceful, quiet morning.
“We can all go! It will be a lovely afternoon walk,” Mrs Bennet agreed. “Besides, I can call on Mrs Phillips too; she had a nasty cold last week and she is just now improving.”
Mary preferred to stay at home and practice the pianoforte, so the other five Bennet ladies walked together into Meryton, enjoying the fresh, crisp air.
More than one among them hoped to catch a glimpse of a certain gentleman but such wishes remained undeclared. As they approached Meryton, a gentle yet cold breeze started to blow.
The village was rather empty, as it was getting very cold again. They entered the bonnet shop and were happy to receive the news that their purchases had arrived.
“Would you like to take them now, or should I deliver them to Longbourn?” Mr Crawford asked.
“Oh, do send them, please!” Mrs Bennet answered. “We walked here, and will return home soon, before it starts raining again.”
“Very well. I imagine you are waiting for the ball with much keenness. The entire town is looking forward to it,” Mr Crawford said, with a meaningful look at Mrs Bennet.
“Oh, yes we are. I do not doubt that it will be the finest event that has taken place in the neighbourhood in a long while. Mr Bingley is hosting it at my daughters’ special request,” Mrs Bennet added.
”Mr Bingley invited the entire town! To be honest, we all know that we owe this lovely ball to you,” Mr Crawford whispered meaningfully and Mrs Bennet smiled with the deepest contentment.
“You are too kind, Mr Crawford. Mr Bingley is such an amiable and generous man! I look forward to seeing you at Netherfield.” Mrs Bennet exclaimed with affability.
“I will send the package to you tomorrow. I know the young ladies will want to try them as soon as possible.”
“Excellent, Mr Crawford! Come now girls, let us visit my sister quickly and then return home,” Mrs Bennet hastened them.
Outside, the wind blew stronger, freezing their faces. The clouds were already gathering and it was getting dark, although it was still early in the afternoon.
When they were close to Mrs Phillips’ house, a familiar voice called them and they all turned to face Mr Wickham and Lieutenant Denny.
The pleasure of meeting again was mutual and friendly greetings were readily exchanged.
“We are going to our aunt Phillips’ house. Will you not join us?” Lydia asked animatedly.
“We do not want to intrude,” Wickham replied with friendly politeness.
“No intrusion at all! I am sure my sister will be very pleased to see you,” Mrs Bennet replied.
Wickham looked at Elizabeth for a moment, then at her mother again. “If you believe we will not bother Mrs Phillips, we would be happy to join you.”
“How fortunate that we met!” Lydia laughed as she took Wickham’s arm. “We thought this would be a boring stroll to employ our time. But I did hope we might meet.”
“I hoped that too,” Kitty added.
“You are too kind, ladies,” Wickham uttered with another glance at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was less enthusiastic than her sister about the impromptu encounter, but it pleased her to have some company while visiting her aunt Phillips. Perhaps having the gentlemen around, the conversation would not revolve entirely around Mr Bingley and would not embarrass Jane so much.
As Lucas Lodge was close by, Kitty invited Maria and Charlotte Lucas to join them; Sir William and Lady Lucas came too, so the party was large enough to become an animated gathering.
Although it was planned as a brief call, refreshments were ordered and the conversation began, while time flew.
As had happened before, the discussion quickly moved to Mr Wickham; he seemed to know many things, to have extensive knowledge of the world and to be able to relate his stories in a universally appreciated manner.
Elizabeth employed her time with Charlotte but occasionally her glance met Wickham’s. He showed her a particular interest, which intrigued her and made her the recipient of Charlotte’s teasing.
With so much good food and good conversation, Jane was the only one who paid attention to the time and the weather outside, which had turned for the worse.
“Mama, we should leave soon. I am afraid it will start raining. It will take us a while to walk back home.”
Jane’s statement interrupted the animated discussion and caused Mrs Bennet to glance outside. “Oh dear, it is dark already! How did we stay so long? We should leave now; it looks so cold outside!”
“It is not so late, but the clouds are so heavy that they have turned day into night,” Lady Lucas said. “Did you walk to Meryton?”
“Yes, we did; the weather was wonderful when we left and we thought we could benefit from a little exercise. But now, we should send a servant to ask Mr Bennet to send us the carriage.”
“I would be happy to loan you my barouche,” Sir William offered. “It is large and comfortable, although, if it rains, you will get wet. Fortunately, Longbourn is very close so you will be there in no time.”
“You are very kind, but we cannot possibly drive a barouche,” Mrs Bennet replied. “Jane, what do you think? Should we walk or send a note to your father?”
Before Jane had time to answer, Wickham bowed to them and kindly provided the perfect solution.
“Mrs Bennet, Lieutenant Denny and I can accompany you to Longbourn, if this is acceptable to you; we will drive the barouche and then bring it back to Sir William.”
The ladies’ faces brightened in a moment and the youngest cried with delight. Mrs Bennet even clasped her hands together at her chest, in thanks for such generous care.
“My dear Mr Wickham, you are simply the best! What a lovely idea! That will be perfect indeed!”
“We are entirely at your disposal, ma’am. It will be our pleasure to take you safely home,” Wickham answered. He glanced at Elizabeth again and she returned a smile of gratitude to him.
“The barouche will be ready in no time,” Sir William offered, sending a servant to inform his coachman.
“You are such a considerate gentleman!” Mrs Bennet responded.
“I am only doing what I learned during my stay in town and especially on introduction at St. James’,” Sir William responded and readily received even more praise and appreciation.
The party continued cheerfully for a little while, until the barouche was brought in front of the house. Farewells were exchanged in haste and the two officers helped the ladies into the carriage. The wind was blowing quite strongly and a few claps of thunder reverberated across the sky.
“Mama, we will get wet!” Lydia cried, squeezing between her sisters.
“We should have left earlier,” Kitty complained, trying to sit comfortably.
The gentlemen sat in the front seats, with Wickham taking the reins.
In the back, the ladies held each other’s arms tightly, as the carriage began to move.
“Mama, it is so cold! I will freeze,” Lydia cried out.
“Stay still, child. You will have no time to freeze before we reach Longbourn.”
Moments later, another crash of thunder startled them and the horses neighed.
Then, the sky seemed to break, and a heavy, dense, freezing autumn rain started to fall over them while the horses rode on at a fast pace.
The Bennets had taken that path countless times–on foot, on horseback, by carriage–and they knew it by heart.
That day, however, it looked different. There was nothing ahead of them but darkness and a dense curtain of rain.
They soon became soaked, wet and frozen, just as Lydia feared.
But Longbourn should have been very close, as Elizabeth knew.
More thunder was followed by lightning illuminating the sky. Frightened, the girls screamed, and the horses neighed again.
Wickham pulled the reins, and the horses stopped, then rose up on their back legs. Another clap of thunder shook their surroundings, and the horses started to run on at a gallop, jolting the carriage. The girls embraced each other tightly, wet, scared and lost in the dark storm.
“Mr Wickham!” Mrs Bennet yelled. The horses were running blindly, unrestrained. Wickham was pulling the reins with no success, trying in vain to control the stallions.
Long moments passed and Elizabeth struggled to see something– anything. She was sitting on the floor of the barouche, holding her sisters and mother together.
“Mr Wickham!” Mrs Bennet screamed again.