Chapter 1.9
Darcy joined Bingley inside Longbourn House with anxiety and excitement. His pleasure in meeting Mr. Bennet again was genuine, but he yearned to see Elizabeth. Yet, she was missing and at first he worried that she might be feeling unwell, so he enquired after her.
“Lizzy went to her room — she must be ill, because she never rests during the day,” Mrs. Bennet said.
“Have you fetched Mr. Jones? Perhaps she has caught a cold?” he insisted.
“No, I do not believe so. She looked well enough earlier. We just had another visit from Mr. Wickham and Mr. Denny,” Mrs. Bennet explained, ruining Darcy’s mood.
So, she had been there but had left. Was it because she wished to avoid his company?
Had she confronted Wickham? But how could she, in the midst of her family?
Or perhaps she still trusted Wickham so much that she had ignored his suggestions.
“Mr. Darcy?”
“Yes?” he finally responded.
“Would you like some biscuits?”
“No, thank you, Mrs. Bennet, you are too kind.”
He noticed that Mr. Collins was nowhere to be seen and he hoped he would be gone for a while. Bearing that man’s attentions was insupportable, whether he was naked or fully dressed.
Fortunately, Mr. Collins did not return in the next hour, for as long as the visit lasted.
Mrs. Bennet and her youngest daughters spoke of the upcoming ball with much enthusiasm, then the lady asked Bingley how long he would be away from Netherfield.
Her interest was apparent, and Darcy wondered how it had happened that she had not taken advantage of the compromising situation in the cottage to force an advantageous marriage for her second daughter.
Did Mrs. Bennet also despise him so much that even for her his fortune was not enough to want him for her daughter?
Wickham’s name was also mentioned often.
The youngest sisters seemed particularly charmed by that man and their mother seemed to encourage them enough to arouse Darcy’s concern.
“Since neither of them is here, I will dare say that I do hope Mr. Collins will propose to Lizzy,” Mrs. Bennet said, cutting Darcy’s heart in two.
“He will inherit Longbourn after all, and it is kind of him to wish to choose a wife from our daughters. To be perfectly honest, his attention was at first drawn by the most beautiful of my daughters, but I suggested to him that he might better choose the second one in beauty and age.”
Darcy glanced around, bewildered. What could have induced Mrs. Bennet to make such a confession to Bingley?
“Mama!” Jane interrupted her. “We cannot discuss such an improper subject that we do not even know to be true!”
“Quite unlikely, I would say,” Mr. Bennet added, and Darcy breathed more easily. “Gentlemen, would you like a drink in the library? I dare say we have spoken enough of lace, balls and improbable marriages for one day.”
“I would like that very much,” Darcy answered in haste, while Bingley’s answer was delayed and his reluctance was apparent.
“Well, let us go, Mr. Darcy; Mr. Bingley seems willing to continue the conversation with the ladies and I am sure he will join us later.”
∞∞∞
The following morning, a bright, sunny, but cold day greeted them, reminding Elizabeth of the one she had spent in the cottage, which had started equally pleasantly but had turned into a nightmare.
She woke up with a bothersome headache and was still tired after another mostly sleepless night.
After her father mentioned that Mr. Darcy had enquired after her and suggested they fetch the apothecary, she regretted not remaining to greet him.
Only then did it cross her mind that he might have assumed she was purposely avoiding him — which was only half true.
She still felt uncomfortable in his presence but did not loathe it any longer.
With puzzlement, Elizabeth listened as her father mentioned Mr. Darcy several times during breakfast. They had barely been in company three times, but somehow, Mr. Bennet’s opinion of the gentleman was completely the opposite of that of his wife, Mrs. Long or Mrs. Phillips. Or her — until recently.
“Lady Catherine de Bourgh used to say that Mr. Darcy was everything a gentleman of consequence should be,” Mr. Collins declared solemnly.
“I am proud to be on the same page as Lady Catherine on this subject,” Mr. Bennet agreed with mock formality.
“But my dear, you must admit that he is very proud and arrogant and rather unpleasant! Besides his refusal to dance with Lizzy at the assembly, every time he has attended a party, he has refused to speak to anyone!”
“Has he? Then I should consider myself quite special since he has spoken to me quite a lot. We have shared some interesting and informative conversations, much more pleasant than I have had in a while,” Mr. Bennet replied.
“It is true that he proved to have disappointing poor taste in not dancing with my Lizzy, but nobody is perfect.”
“We should not forget that Mr. Darcy is accustomed to being in company with the most eligible young ladies in England, so his tastes are understandably fastidious,” Mr. Collins interjected.
Elizabeth glanced at her father, barely concealing her laughter while she wondered how Mr. Collins could offend so easily without even realising it.
She could not help replying, if only to wipe the superior smile from her cousin’s face.
“Mr. Darcy apologised to me for that offence. He explained that he was in a poor disposition that evening and he would not have danced with anyone. And, despite his well-known lack of fondness for dancing, he has asked me to dance once since then and I refused him.”
Her mother and sisters stared at her, incredulous. Her father smiled, but Mr. Collins seemed to be suffocating with horror.
“My dear cousin, I hope that is not true! Refusing to dance with Mr. Darcy would be an offence against him — and against his aunt, Lady Catherine!”
“I assure you I speak the truth, Mr. Collins,” Elizabeth answered. “Mr. Darcy seemed to take that seeming offence well enough. As for his aunt, she cannot possibly find out about it, unless you inform her.”
Mr. Collins’s stupefaction and vexation gave Elizabeth more satisfaction than it should have and fortunately, it silenced him until the end of breakfast when he declared he would visit Sir William.
“Mama, Kitty and I will call on Maria Lucas. We did not want to say anything until Mr. Collins had left; he is such an annoying companion! Walking with him is tedious!”
“So true!” Kitty agreed.
“Hopefully, we will meet Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham, too,” Lydia continued. “Lizzy, will you come with us? By the by, I hope you will not keep Mr. Wickham for yourself the entire ball! We want to dance with him too!”
“You have nothing to worry about. For my part, Mr. Wickham will be free to dance with whomever he pleases,” Elizabeth answered.
“And no, I am not coming to Meryton. I am going to the cottage; my clothes and shoes are still there and I want to bring them home. She felt her cheeks flushing as she spoke, as she knew Darcy’s clothes were there too and it crossed her mind that she had never seen a man’s undergarments before.
“To the cottage again, Lizzy? After everything that happened?” Mrs. Bennet cried.
“Mama, I have walked to the cottage too many times to count. I doubt it will rain again but if it does you may send John for me, as you will know where I am.”
Jane opposed the plan too, expressing her concern and offering to accompany her sister.
“If you insist upon going, you may ask John to escort you,” her father offered.
“No indeed, Papa. John and the carriage surely have better things to do with their time. And I would rather walk by myself, as I have done hundreds of times before.”
Elizabeth dismissed all the arguments, dressed herself properly for a cold day and headed towards her destination.
She had refused to take Jane because she knew the distance was not comfortable for her sister.
Furthermore, for some strange reason she preferred to be alone, as the cottage was filled with too many recent memories — some pleasant, others disturbing, and all uncomfortable.
She had thought of Darcy often in the last few days and he continued to remain at the centre of her interest. He was a man difficult to read and to understand — the latest proof being his sudden familiarity with her father — but she admitted to herself that she would regret not seeing him again.
They would meet again at the ball, but he would leave the next day and unless Mr. Bingley was to take the next step in his admiration for Jane, it was unlikely that Mr. Darcy would return to Hertfordshire.
Elizabeth was also curious to find out more about Wickham’s story, since the officer was obviously a favourite of her younger sisters. There were still many things she would like to discuss with Darcy and she might not have another chance to do so.
Since the road was dry, the walk was easier and quicker than the last time, so she arrived at her destination quickly.
She recollected the spot where Darcy had lifted her into the saddle and she could still feel his arms around her.
With her face burning, she stepped towards the bridge.
The stream was full of water after the recent rainy days and she carefully took hold of a tree, looking for support.
A moment later she turned around, surprised by the sound of hoofbeats and a male voice calling her. Her heart skipped a beat, then vexation replaced her excitement.
“Miss Bennet!”
“Mr. Wickham… How did you know I was here?”
“I met your sisters in Meryton and they told me. I am glad I have caught you; I have been hoping for a chance to speak to you privately for the last two days.”
He dismounted and walked towards her.
“There was no need for you to ride all the way here, sir; we could have spoken privately in Longbourn’s garden, in the presence of my family. Being here alone is hardly appropriate.”