Chapter Two
Hertfordshire
Mrs. Jennings hosted a dinner party for the Dashwoods and Bennets at Purvis Lodge on Christmas Eve. They dined at an early hour, and after the meal several other local families and officers joined them for cards and dancing.
Marianne did not believe for an instant that Elizabeth was truly so indifferent to Lieutenant Wickham – not until she actually saw them together.
Elizabeth was the picture of nonchalance, and Marianne was appalled.
Mr. Wickham was one of the handsomest men Marianne had ever seen, just as Elizabeth had once claimed in one of her letters, and Elizabeth looked utterly bored in his company.
Marianne moved that way, relishing her own curiosity, and she was introduced to the dashing officer.
“My friend has just been regaling me with the tale of his narrow escape from Miss King’s irate uncle in Liverpool,” Elizabeth drawled.
“It is shocking that he actually fired his pistol at you, sir – imagine what he might have done if his niece had twice the fortune.”
Marianne began to understand Elizabeth’s insouciance.
She had heard from Mrs. Jennings of Elizabeth and her sisters’ secret inheritance, and it seemed her cousin now considered her charming beau a fortune hunter.
Marianne studied the pair for any sign of true attraction between them.
“I am surprised you are not dancing,” she said.
“I may stand up with you or Elinor, in a little while,” Elizabeth said with a shrug.
“Miss Elizabeth is determined to break my heart,” Mr. Wickham said, resting a hand on his chest. “She has been kinder to you, Miss Marianne, though I cannot blame her, for you radiate lively charm.”
Marianne smiled. After so many weeks of weeping for Willoughby, Mrs. Jennings had said that Marianne would lose her looks, which her vanity could not abide. “It is Christmas Eve – we ought to all be in good cheer!”
“And if you are heartbroken, sir, I may suppose Mr. King had more to do with that than I,” Elizabeth chided him. “But if you are in want of a partner, go and ask Miss Lucas. She is in want of cheering.”
“I am surprised to find her and her family in attendance this evening – but then, Collins was your cousin. My condolences, of course.”
“You may pay those to her as well as your compliments, sir.”
“If I do, I shall return to beg a dance of you both – or if you will absolutely not be persuaded, I shall demand you play a duet for us. I hear your playing is superior even to your cousin’s, Miss Marianne.”
“Lizzy plays beautifully – and she is a splendid dancer, too,” Marianne said. “But I would rather dance than sing, after you have stood up with Miss Lucas.”
Elizabeth finally managed to shoo the charming lieutenant away, and she gave a wry laugh.
“I know news of our new fortune is all over the village – Captain Denny has been following Jane around all evening. I cannot blame them, for the handsome men must have something to live on as much as the plain ones, but I have no intention of handing my fortune over to any man, when I have just learned of it.”
“I thought you fancied him.”
“So did I, at one time, though if I had, I would have been wretched at his defection. But I was ready to wish him well with Miss King, if he had succeeded. I believe I enjoyed feeling that I was his favorite amongst my sisters, which is not often the case between Jane’s beauty and Lydia’s boldness – and my own impertinence. "
Marianne laughed. “Very well, I am convinced you harbor no secret yearning for him, though I think it a shame. His manners are as pleasing as his appearance, and there is something to be said of his obedience in seeking Miss Lucas out. It is strange indeed that she has come to the party.”
Elizabeth’s countenance clouded. “She and I quarreled yesterday. I hoped she had come to make amends, but that does not seem to be the case. I shall not seek her out.”
“You quarreled, while she is bereaved?” Marianne gasped and cast a quizzical gaze at Miss Lucas, who was nearly a widow, but smiling brightly as she danced with Mr. Wickham.
“I do not believe she mourns my cousin as a man, but as the prospect of her own security. That is what she grieves. She spoke ill of Jane, before we were even sure that she would inherit Longbourn,” Elizabeth whispered.
Marianne frowned as Miss Lucas dared a glance in their direction. “I might urge you to forgive her mercenary attitude, as you have done with the officers, but disparaging Jane is unpardonable! Bah! I hope Mr. Wickham steps on her toes!”
Suddenly Margaret ran past them, and Marianne reached out to swat at her. But then she looked up, just as Margaret let out a cry of glee. “Edward!”
Marianne stilled and latched onto Elizabeth’s arm. “Good God, Edward.” Elizabeth looked that way with interest, and the two young ladies linked their arms as they approached him. Across the room, their mother led Elinor forward.
Marianne embraced Edward as Margaret had done. “Edward, what a surprise! What are you doing in Meryton?”
Edward bowed as Marianne belatedly introduced Elizabeth.
“Having my carriage repaired, unfortunately. I set out early from visiting some friends in Luton, hoping to reach London in time to dine with my family. I intended to call, for I had expected to pass through the village at midday. Your mother wrote to me that you would be going to London after visiting relations in Meryton.”
Marianne glanced over as Elinor approached. Her eyes were wide and fixed on Edward, but she fidgeted with her hands in the folds of her dress, not moving as near to him as Marianne had done.
Mrs. Dashwood kissed him on the cheek. “What a fine surprise, Edward! I take it you received my letter.”
Elinor winced, and Marianne pressed her lips together; she had tried to persuade Elinor to tell her mother what they knew.
“Yes, I was pleased that I can look forward to meeting with you in London,” Edward said.
“I wish it had been a pleasanter surprise – that is, I meant to arrive this afternoon. My carriage broke an axle.”
“Oh dear! I hope you were not harmed,” Mrs. Dashwood said with a look of alarm.
Elinor moved closer to Marianne and linked their hands together, her posture tense.
She breathed a sigh of relief when Edward assured them he was unharmed.
“I may be sore in the morning, but I hope to still reach London tonight. I shall dance with you all, and then I have two hours of riding to look forward to.”
“In the dark? Stay with us, Edward,” Marianne cried. “Your mother and sister would not wish any further harm to befall you.”
“I sent word to my mother when I reached Meryton, promising I would arrive before her own soiree is over.” Edward smiled nervously as Mrs. Jennings fluttered over.
Mrs. Jennings was delighted with her guest. “Ferrars with an F, you say! Well, you are very welcome here, sir. Shall I have a room made up for you?”
The lady refused to accept his polite refusals, and laughed merrily. “I daresay a dance with Miss Dashwood will change your mind!”
A new set was just forming, and Edward led Elinor away as Mr. Wickham came to claim Marianne. “We must place ourselves near my sister, for I wish to spy on her,” Marianne said with a playful wink.
“Then you must tell me of her beau,” Mr. Wickham said cheerfully. “I am glad to learn she has one, for if there was no other man to admire her, I should have to do so myself, upon my honor.”
“Do you intend to make love to all the ladies?”
“I have paid Miss Lucas enough pretty compliments to please her, at Miss Elizabeth’s behest. She once enjoyed my compliments, though I can guess why they no longer amuse her. Alas, until there is a lady who wishes my attentions all for herself, I must recommend myself as I search for her.”
Mr. Wickham spun Marianne with the other dancers and she laughed. She enjoyed Mr. Wickham’s romantic turn of mind and his easy banter so well that she nearly forgot to watch Elinor and Edward; what an uneasy couple they made!
***
As the music ended, Elinor saw Elizabeth and Marianne take Mary’s place at the pianoforte. Elinor expected Edward to partner Marianne next, but he drew her to the back of the room, in a corner that would afford them a modicum of privacy.
Edward procured them each a glass of wine as he took a seat beside her on the chaise, which was just wide enough to admit them both without obliging them to touch.
There had been such a little sofa at Norland, by the fire, and many times Edward had sat at her side, reading aloud.
That happy memory was from before she had learned the awful truth, before she had given up what little hope she had cherished.
Edward’s face grew grim and he averted his eyes. “I understand you have met Miss Lucy Steele.”
She doubted he could be aware of his lady’s reason for traveling to Barton Park, but Elinor bit back an unkind retort. “Yes.”
“And she took you into her confidence.”
Elinor rather felt the confidence had been forced upon her. “Yes.”
Edward’s lips parted and his brows creased; his eyes were full of pity. “I know what you must think of me.”
Elinor could not bear it, and she let herself show the pity she felt for him at the future he would have with Lucy. “I think you a man who will honor his word.”
He closed his eyes and shook his head. “What if I am not?”
Elinor nearly choked as she took a sip of her wine. “Pardon?”
Edward looked pained. On the chaise, his hand slid over hers. “Nearly a dozen times at Norland, I wished to tell you how I felt.”
Elinor drew in a sharp breath. “Did you never once wish to tell me about Lucy?”
He hung his head and sighed. “A foolish infatuation of my youth. Only when I met you did I know what it meant to truly love a woman, and then I feared it was too late. I was afraid – and even now, I fear you will despise me.”