Chapter 1.24 #2
“Not usually, no. But I do try diligently to be your mind reader, Miss Elizabeth. And your face reader…and your eye reader…I want to understand your every wish and concern so I can do everything in my power to respond to them.”
His whispers warmed the spot near her ear, turning her face crimson, and she felt a now-familiar wave of pleasure course through her body.
A moment later, he continued, his tone more serious.
“Elizabeth, you have every reason to be worried for your sister, but do not think we shall abandon her to Wickham’s power.
Colonel Fitzwilliam has asked that he be supervised at his new commission, and I promise you I shall receive timely reports regarding their situation.
You will be able to help Lydia when she is in need. ”
She squeezed his hand, her eyes speaking more than her words. “Thank you, William.”
The rest of the day was pleasant enough, considering the circumstances.
The bride and groom planned to leave for Hertfordshire the following morning, and Lydia could not stop expressing her pleasure in being the first married of all her sisters and being introduced to her former neighbours as Mrs Wickham. Mr Wickham only smiled charmingly.
“My only regret,” added Lydia, “is that we shall not be in town to attend Lady Matlock’s ball. I would love to be there, and I am sure my dear Wickham and I should have been the most admired dancers.”
There was no response to this statement, so she expressed her displeasure further.
“Now that I think of it, I am sure we could delay our departure for a few days and leave after the ball. We would be a welcome addition, I assure you. No other gentleman will be as charming or as handsome as my husband in his blue coat, and all the ladies would admire him—”
“Unfortunately, that will not be possible.” Mr Darcy’s voice was so severe that Lydia’s words caught in her throat. She looked from him to her sister and then to her husband, searching for support and not oblivious to the sudden tension in the room.
Mr Darcy softened his tone slightly. “Mrs Wickham, I am afraid you will have to follow the planned schedule if you wish to visit your parents before leaving for the North. If I remember correctly, your husband’s commitment begins very soon, and he must be at his regiment a few days hence. Is that not so, Mr Wickham?”
His effort to be civil was only for Lydia’s benefit, as he could not tell her that Lady Ellen had specifically forbidden Wickham to appear, not only at her ball but anywhere near her.
Mr Wickham’s answer was awaited with much impatience by his new wife, and he finally conceded to give it.
“You are correct, Mr Darcy. My dear Lydia, I promise you there will be other balls you will be able to attend at least as pleasurable as this one.” Lydia was evidently displeased but did not contradict her husband.
Conversation returned to earlier topics when, suddenly, Mr Wickham addressed Elizabeth, “I imagine you are very excited about this ball. The whole ton will be present, I imagine.”
“I certainly hope not the whole ton, Mr Wickham. I shall be content to have my own relatives in addition to Mr Darcy’s and Colonel Fitzwilliam’s family. As for the others, I trust Lady Matlock has devised an appropriate guest list. Her ladyship’s understanding of human character is exquisite.”
As he had not been invited, her remark was a pointed reference to his own character that Mr Wickham did not fail to notice—as did all the others, except for the bride. He pursed his lips, and an offended air pervaded his usually smiling countenance.
Darcy cast a quick but eloquent glance at Elizabeth, turning his head to the window to hide an admiring smile. He was surprised to hear Wickham persist in a conversation that was clearly disadvantageous to him.
“I wonder that you have come to trust Lady Matlock’s taste so implicitly after so short an acquaintance. However, were you not curious to see the guest list for yourself? At least then you could have had time to prepare for any less than pleasant encounters and perhaps even avoid them.”
“Mr Wickham, I must thank you again for your concern, though I see no reason for it. As I know very few people in town, it is unlikely that any acquaintance of mine would be on the list. It is also unlikely that I would want to avoid any of the guests.”
“As you like. Still, I wonder whether Lord and Lady Hothfield are on the list, and I wonder even more what your opinion of them will be. You must know that Mr Darcy is as fond of them as they are of him.”
Elizabeth’s annoyance increased at his insistence, and she tried to put an end to the conversation. “Well, on our next meeting, I shall satisfy your curiosity and inform you about my opinions of the event.”
Neither Elizabeth nor any other person in the room failed to notice Mr Wickham’s gaze repeatedly directed at Mr Darcy, who was still facing the window. Though Elizabeth sensed the sudden stillness of his body, none of them could see the instant darkening of his countenance.
Sometime later, Darcy abandoned his position and took a seat close to Elizabeth.
He ignored Wickham, despite the latter’s efforts to interfere in various topics of conversation, and barely talked to anyone except his intended.
Only later, after the newlyweds had departed for Hertfordshire, did Darcy’s mood improve.
∞∞∞
The day after Lydia’s wedding was unusually bright and not very cold, and Becky enthusiastically expressed her desire to take a stroll in the park near Mr Darcy’s house as her cousins had promised her for several days.
Jane confessed to being fatigued and preferred to remain indoors with Georgiana.
Mr Darcy, however, readily offered to accompany Elizabeth and the little girl to the park, content to be in relative privacy with his betrothed.
They spoke in low tones, discussing the Matlock ball, their return to Hertfordshire, and wedding plans.
Mr Bennet had written to Mr Darcy once since his return, and the letter was a continuous complaint about Mrs Bennet’s preparations and the unbearable agitation in his house.
He demanded that his sensible daughters return as soon as possible.
As a great favour, he accepted the three-day delay until after the ball, but he insisted that Mr Darcy owed him a month of solitude in his library in exchange for the favour.
Both Mr Darcy and Elizabeth had been pleased the day before to hear Mr Bingley say that he had asked his housekeeper to prepare Netherfield for his return.
He intended to make his way back at the same time as the Miss Bennets, and he put his house at Darcy’s disposal, offering to host all the guests for his wedding.
They were even discussing the possibility of taking Georgiana with them if the doctor agreed, though Mr Darcy was reluctant to expose her to a journey so soon.
As the day was bright, Becky was happy to run and play under the attentive eye of her cousin.
She showed them various little things she had found and asked many questions. An hour later, when she was finally tired and cold, they decided to return home.
As expected, Becky’s feet hurt her too much to walk home, so Mr Darcy lifted her in his arms. Delighted, she continued asking questions about anything and everything. Having Elizabeth on his arm, Mr Darcy seemed to bear the chatter reasonably well.
Worried about his change of mood the previous day, Elizabeth was determined to discover what had upset him.
Mr Wickham’s impertinent remarks were annoying but no more than usual, so it was more likely that his words held a different meaning for Mr Darcy—and for Mr Wickham.
However, the moment she tried to guide the conversation towards that subject, he interrupted her decidedly.
“Elizabeth, let us not waste this beautiful morning talking about Mr Wickham. There is nothing about him that deserves our attention.”
His tone alone was sufficient for her to belay her inquiry, though it only left her with more questions. It was the first time he had avoided speaking about a subject in which she was interested.
Still preoccupied, she forced herself to put aside her curiosity and to respect his decision.
He deserved her trust—he had proven that—so she decided to trust him and wait for him to tell her willingly.
She resumed the topic of their return to Hertfordshire, and they were so deep in conversation that they did not notice the person who stopped in front of them until Mr Darcy almost ran into her.
“Lady Ellen!”
“Darcy! Watch your step, boy, or you will hurt somebody!”
He put Becky down to greet her properly as Elizabeth already had.
“Lady Ellen, did you come for a walk in the park?” she inquired.
“No, dear, I came to find you both because I have pressing matters to discuss with you. Early tomorrow we must go to Madame Claudette’s to try on the gowns for the ball so they can be delivered in time after the final fitting.
Mrs Hamilton told me where you were, and as I had not the patience to wait, here I am.
But it is strange: I cannot remember when I last walked in the park in such cold weather. It must have been years ago.”
Becky raised her eyes to Lady Matlock, an astonished expression on her face. Just then, Elizabeth remembered her presence.
“Lady Ellen, allow me to introduce to you my cousin Miss Rebecca Gardiner.”
“Pleased to meet you, Miss Rebecca.” The girl remained silent, and Lady Ellen turned to Elizabeth. “Does Miss Rebecca not know how to speak?”
“Oh, I know how to speak,” Becky finally answered, “but you are so beautiful that I forgot the words.”
Her little face was so honestly impressed that Lady Matlock smiled.
“Why, thank you, dear! That is the most charming compliment I have heard in quite a while.”