14. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
E lizabeth returned to the box seats alone just as the lights began to dim. She leaned in towards the colonel, then Mrs Gardiner. Once the lights in the house were at their lowest, Colonel Fitzwilliam rose quietly and left the box. Mrs Gardiner gave a worried glance in Elizabeth’s direction.
“Are you certain this is the best course of action?”
“No, but it is the only way I know of to keep Wickham from harming anyone and keep all of us in safety.”
Elizabeth observed a latecomer enter the theatre. He stumbled a step, obviously further in his cups than he was aware, and gained his seat after some impolite jostling. Wickham settled and gazed about at the audience. When Elizabeth felt him turn his focus in their direction, she unfurled her fan, covered her face, and leaned towards her aunt as if imparting some scalding secret into her ear.
“Raise your fan as well, for he is familiar with your face. I think Wickham’s gaze turns this way. Nod as if you are agreeing and give a little laugh. Do not look just yet. He is in the fourth row, just a little in from the far aisle.”
Mrs Gardiner did as she was instructed. After a few more moments, Elizabeth returned her gaze towards the stage. When next she dared a glance, Wickham’s head was nodding as he dozed, apparently unaware of Elizabeth’s presence. Elizabeth felt her shoulders relax and gave a small thank you upwards that Wickham had apparently not observed them the previous evening.
The activity on the stage increased as a song and dance commenced. Elizabeth’s heart leapt as she spotted her sister enter and twirl, her cheeks rouged even redder than they had been last night.
The dance spread and then contracted into couples. All was going exactly as it had the night before. The main couple were in the throes of comedic, overwrought declarations of passion, causing the audience to titter. The chorus began surrounding them tightly.
Lydia, hidden by the action in the foreground, kept back and separate. When the singing was at its highest, she stepped on one spot and remained as the music began its crescendo with boisterous fanfare. From the sideways angle of the box, Elizabeth had a clear view of her nervous sister that would not be visible to the rest of the audience.
The trapdoor opened and Lydia instantly disappeared from view. A few of the audience members in the other boxes gasped and murmured, being the only ones to witness the occurrence. Elizabeth felt a swell of pride for her contrary, wilful youngest sister. Lydia had not let fly a single cry of fear or shock, thereby drawing no attention to herself.
“Well, no one would ever accuse Lydia of poltroonery. She always was a stout, bold one,” Mrs Gardiner murmured as she clutched at her heart.
Elizabeth nodded, biting her lip. Once the action onstage thinned and the singing softened, the crowd parted. Elizabeth glanced towards the audience and observed Wickham stirring. Squinting, he sat up straighter in his chair as his head swung to and fro, keenly attentive to the stage. He stood suddenly as Elizabeth clasped her aunt’s forearm.
“He knows!” she hissed.
“Perhaps he will simply accept the loss and cause no stir,” Mrs Gardiner whispered. “He would gain nothing by causing a commotion. Perhaps all of this was a misunderstanding, and once Lydia is safe at our home—”
Wickham darted to the aisle, tumbling several of his neighbours who cried out in shock. Rapid as a kestrel and with the same fierceness, he ran up to the stage and leapt up to the boards. Actors cursed him soundly as their unexpected guest began shoving them while also grabbing at collars and demanding, “Where is she? Tell me, you silly devils! I shall knock that foppish hat from your crown and bash you! Lydia!”
An actress screamed as he pulled a pistol from his pocket and swung it wildly. A familiar gentleman ran at Wickham and tackled him to the ground as the gun sounded loudly. Shouts rose from the audience and actors. The audience looked about in confusion, uncertain whether this was a part of the show or not.
Colonel Fitzwilliam stood up from where he had tackled Wickham and spoke in a commanding voice. “Please, calm yourselves. This criminal was attempting to harm one of the players. He is subdued now and of no harm to anyone. Do not rush the exits! Remain quiet and in your seats. Could we perhaps bring down the curtain whilst we cart away this drunken fool?”
And so, the curtain swooped down, bringing to a close the impromptu, suddenly violent drama. Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner looked at one another, startled and wondering. Without a word—for though they were not bound by blood, the two ladies were frequently so similar in thought that sometimes speech was unnecessary—they rose in unison and left the box.
A carriage hired by the theatre manager drove the two ladies home. Once there, they were greeted by a curious Mr Gardiner who had no notion of any of the evening’s adventures, for he had not received the letter sent to him and must have passed it on the road. His business had concluded happily and had afforded him an earlier return home than he had anticipated.
After a much-needed tray of tea was brought, Elizabeth and Mrs Gardiner relayed in hushed tones the entire story and the activity of their unexpected trip to the theatre.
“You should have waited and let me be of greater help!” Mr Gardiner exclaimed with true anxiety causing him to stand and pace. “You could have been injured, my dear.”
“It all turned out well. It would have been a miraculous shot to have reached me in the safety of the theatre box. The important thing is that we have hopes that Lydia is relatively unharmed and away from that devil of a fellow. It pains me that a young man who grew up so close to the dear town of Lambton should have turned out so poorly.”
“But where is Lydia? If she is so very safe, why is she not here? I must confirm her well-being and then send an express to both Longbourn and Brighton. Though this Forster fellow hardly deserves any such consideration, he did such an abysmal job of watching over my niece.”
“Uncle, I beg you to not judge Colonel Forster too harshly. A man who has never had a wilful, mischievous child such as Lydia would not have known what connivances could be employed so that she could get her own way. Besides, it was perhaps unwise for my parents to allow one of Lydia’s temperament so much licence to travel far from home to a place where temptations abounded. I think there is much blame to go round.”
Mr Gardiner turned from her and muttered into the fire a few angry words about his sister and the spoiling of children. Elizabeth did not wish to say anything else about her own opinions of her parents, for she had never had five daughters close in age and each a strong character in their own unique way.
Mrs Gardiner rose and placed a soothing hand on Mr Gardiner’s back. “It was decided that Lydia would be taken to Mr Darcy’s home at first to ensure they were not being followed. If all seems well, they will be arriving here momentarily. If they believe they are being watched, they will send word in a secretive manner by the servants’ entrance.”
“This is all very unbecoming. And why is this Darcy fellow making it so much of his business? I would have done just as well. He may be as rich as Midas, but it does not follow that he can insert himself in the troubles of an unrelated family for his own amusement.”
Mrs Gardiner glanced at Elizabeth with a raised brow.
Elizabeth felt her cheeks heat as she cleared her throat. “Mr Darcy has made it known that he has hopes of becoming part of our family. Therefore, I believe a man of his high honour would be determined to shoulder our burdens as his own.”
Mr Gardiner simply blinked at her for a few moments before his wife whispered several words to him. Wary happiness replaced the blank puzzlement. With a smile, he said, “I see, I see. Seems I have been observing the wrong young couple!”
At that moment, Jane entered and seemed shocked to find so many within the drawing room. “Elizabeth! I thought you and Aunt Gardiner were at the theatre again this evening. Are you unwell?”
A knock at the front door caused them to pause all attempts at an explanation. Mr Bingley was escorted in. His face went from nervous anticipation to a brief moment of disappointment.
“Ah! All of the family are home this evening.” He glanced at Jane, earnest longing apparent in his expression. “I thought I had understood that you… Well! It is a pleasure to see all of you.”
Elizabeth looked away so that she did not laugh at his frustration at not being alone with Jane so that he may no doubt ask her a much-delayed question.
“Apparently, something occurred at the theatre that caused them to leave early,” Jane said softly.
“That is unfortunate. Was Darcy attending you? Are you well?”
Another knock at the door caused yet another halt to the beginning of an explanation. The door burst open and Lydia rushed in and straight into the arms of her aunt. Loud sobs and stuttering words were uttered by the youngest Bennet sister while in the warm embrace of that good woman.
Jane, shocked and worried, went to pour Lydia a cup of tea. Mr Bingley busied himself adding another log to the fire and placing a shawl over Lydia’s shoulders. Mr Gardiner placed a hand on his wife’s elbow and led the pair of ladies to be seated.
Elizabeth was approaching to ask Lydia if she wished to have some food brought in when Darcy entered, a haggard, resigned expression on his face.
“Darcy,” Elizabeth said as she rested both hands on his forearm. His other hand smoothed his hair down as his shoulders relaxed to her touch. “I see you caught Lydia! Is Colonel Fitzwilliam well? I heard a shot.”
“He is well. At my house.”
“And Wickham?” Elizabeth whispered, though she knew the answer in her heart. When the two men had tumbled to the stage as the gun had fired, Wickham’s form had been suspiciously and unnaturally still. She felt her heart skip a beat, for it had not been long ago when she had held that particular cad in high esteem.
Darcy simply shook his head. Elizabeth felt herself wavering. He quickly reached out his arm and steadied her, leading Elizabeth gently to a chair before fetching her something to drink.
Except for Lydia who was still whimpering on Mrs Gardiner’s shoulder, all eyes were now on Elizabeth and Darcy. Everyone had unasked questions dancing behind their eyes. Darcy straightened and cleared his throat before he began a recitation of Mr Wickham’s true nature and the threats and ill-usage of Lydia that he and Elizabeth had witnessed.
“Once I had paid the same young man that Miss Elizabeth and I had dealt with before, he carried a brief note to Miss Lydia of when to stand over the trapdoor in the stage floor. Miss Elizabeth had recalled that particular scene midway through the first act as being an ideal moment to screen her departure from the stage and ensure we had several moments to make an escape before Wickham noticed her absence. I had not thought he would be so desperate as to wave a gun around at a full theatre. I was waiting under the stage with arms outstretched in order to catch her whilst Colonel Fitzwilliam awaited in the wings to be of service in case we ran into obstacles. And we made our way immediately to my carriage. It was all the idea of Miss Elizabeth. Her quick-working mind conceived of the escape in mere moments.” Though he spoke it all with a steady, strong voice, Elizabeth could hear the controlled emotion that ran under his tone.
“It was my voice!” Lydia suddenly wailed out in the shocked silence that ensued. Elizabeth rose and ran to her young, silly sister whom she loved.
“Lydia, though you may have made unwise decisions and abandoned the safety of your guardians, you are young! No one is to blame except for Wickham and his malicious character. It was not your voice that caused all of this. It was the crimes of a dishonourable man.”
“But Papa made me promise to never sing before men. And I did! I broke my promise. Wickham heard me! The enchantment made Wickham do it!”
“No!” Elizabeth cried. “Lydia, there is nothing to that story.”
“Oh, Lord!” Mr Gardiner exclaimed. “That old family nonsense. Nothing but tales spun by jealous ladies who were not as handsome as my sisters.”
“What is all of this about singing?” Mr Bingley asked with a quizzical look at Jane.
“Papa made us promise not to sing before eligible men,” Jane said with a mournful smile and a blush. “It is why I never sang before you. It was so that you would not become unnaturally enamoured.”
“I think that may have happened even without the singing,” Mr Gardiner muttered to his wife.
“And Wickham? Is he worried about me?” Lydia asked through a sheen of pale, tear-dampened cheeks.
Darcy noticeably slumped and dropped his gaze to the floor. Elizabeth left Lydia’s side and took Darcy’s hand in her own. He raised his head and opened his mouth to continue his explanation, but Elizabeth squeezed his hand and stepped forward.
“Wickham was violent towards the other actors, shoving and threatening. He pulled his pistol and was waving it about. Everyone was in danger. A man rushed onstage and was pressing him to the ground. The gun fired, accidentally, I would like to think. For I would not like to believe he intended murder against innocent people. Wickham was killed by his own hand.”
A piercing wail let loose from Lydia, and she then collapsed in a dead faint. With the help of Mr Gardiner and a manservant, Lydia was carried upstairs as the ladies followed. A physician was summoned to attend her. Some calming elixir was administered, and Lydia settled into a deep, motionless slumber.
An hour later, a weary Elizabeth returned to the drawing room. Mr Bingley, Mr Gardiner, and Darcy were still within, talking quietly and sipping some fine French brandy from uncertain origins.
They stood as Elizabeth entered. Without a thought to propriety, Elizabeth rushed to Darcy and embraced him, laying her aching head on his shoulder as she finally allowed a few silent tears to descend from where they had been restrained for the past several hours.
Darcy returned her embrace, placing his cheek upon the top of her head and remaining silent. Elizabeth was so glad he did not dispense silly, empty comforts such as, “There, there, all will be well. It is all over. You need not think of this anymore” as gentlemen believed they ought. For all was not well, and she would indeed think again and again upon this evening and wonder if there would have been some other course of action they could have taken that would have prevented Wickham’s death.
At last, her uncle gently cleared his throat. The two other gentlemen, completely forgotten by Elizabeth as she had recovered herself in the arms of the man she loved, stood near the fire. Mr Bingley was all amazement. Mr Gardiner had a knowing gleam in his eye.
“Mr Darcy,” Mr Gardiner said. “I believe you have something you wish to discuss with me, in lieu of Mr Bennet. But, I think we have all had enough excitement for one evening. Perhaps you could return in the morning?”
Darcy nodded as Elizabeth stepped away. “Of course, sir. But, if you are amenable”—he turned towards Elizabeth—“I would like to request a private interview with Miss Elizabeth before I consult with you, Mr Gardiner. Though much has been implied, there are still things that have yet to be said.”
Elizabeth nodded, the beginnings of a soft smile breaking through the solemnness. “I am looking forward to it.”
“It seems that more things have occurred than I am aware of!” Mr Bingley declared with a glance of chagrin towards Darcy.
“I do have much with which to acquaint you,” Darcy said with a sheepish grin.
“Does Jane truly have a pleasing voice?” Mr Bingley asked Elizabeth.
She sighed. “If angels weep with joy, I would be shocked if they do not when my sister sings.”