Chapter 1.10
Shortly after, Mr. Bennet arrived, his face transfigured by worry.
Darcy explained the situation to him while Elizabeth climbed into the carriage, handing Darcy back his coat.
Eventually, the two Bennets hurried back home, with Mr. Bennet throwing only an angry look towards Wickham and Elizabeth casting a last glance at Darcy, who was holding the coat tight to his chest.
On the way home, her father asked Elizabeth for all the details, barely able to drive the carriage as he was so overcome by emotion.
“Your mother and sisters know nothing of this. But you must tell me everything, Lizzy! Everything!”
“I will, Papa.”
On the way home, they crossed paths with Colonel Forster, who was followed by Thomas and heading towards the cottage. The colonel saluted them hurriedly as he passed by.
“This does not bode well for Wickham,” Mr. Bennet said. “But if I was in his place, I would be more worried about Darcy than about the colonel.”
Elizabeth completely agreed.
When they arrived home, Elizabeth withdrew directly to her chamber, allowing her father to explain to the family the unfortunate turn her walk had taken.
Once in her room, she changed her clothes and crawled into bed, pulling the sheets around her.
Then, tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
For the first time in her entire life, Elizabeth felt she had been in real danger.
Most obvious was that she had almost fallen into the stream on a freezing day and she would have probably not been able to pull herself out in time.
And even if she had, the danger would have remained, even with the shelter of the cottage.
But the threat came also from being alone in the woods in the company of a man that could have harmed her in many ways.
Wickham had ruined not only her trust in people with his false appearance of goodness but also her enjoyment of solitary walks.
The fact that Darcy had saved her was amazing and her feelings for him were confusing. She had been thinking of him so much that his life-saving appearance seemed like an answer to her wishes. Yes, now she could admit it — she wished to see him!
Before dinner, her father called her into the library.
Her mother and sisters were already debating the shock of Mr. Wickham’s actions, mostly trying to find explanations and excuses for him and concluding that there either had been a misunderstanding or his usual behaviour had been altered by some outside reasons.
“How are you feeling, Lizzy?”
“Very well, Papa. I am unharmed, you do not need to worry.”
“Yes, but you could have been hurt. Either from Wickham’s careless stupidity or from his intentional malice. You do realise that I hope?”
“I do, Papa.”
“And you should also reflect on what would have happened if you had found yourself locked in the cottage several days ago with a man like Wickham. I am deliberately trying to frighten you to hopefully make you more cautious in future. Twice in one week your life has been in great danger. I do not wish for this to happen again.”
“Very well, Papa.”
“You should also be prepared for the ball tomorrow evening. I hope you realise that you will be the talk of the party.”
“I am well aware of that, and I do not care much. But there is something that truly worries me, and I would be grateful if, considering your new friendship, you would speak to him.”
“To whom? And regarding what?”
“To Mr. Darcy, Papa. Mr. Wickham said that there were rumours in Meryton that claimed I intentionally trapped Mr. Darcy in a compromising situation to force him to marry me. It is ridiculous of course, but Mr. Darcy does not know me very well; I would die of shame to know he might consider such a report to be true.”
“I am in a position to be able to ease your worries immediately, Lizzy. Mr. Darcy and I broached this subject on the day of your first adventure. Mr. Bingley mentioned the danger of the compromising circumstances and Mr. Darcy even expressed his willingness to fulfil his duty, if necessary.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What do you mean, Papa? What duty? Surely he could not suggest that…”
“He did suggest it — rather directly. But I assured him it would not be necessary for either of you to ruin your lives in a forced marriage. After all, your dislike for each other is common knowledge, it is not?” Mr. Bennet’s voice sounded different — almost inquisitorial — and he looked at her with his eyebrow arched demandingly.
“It was so, Papa. But I admit that my opinion of Mr. Darcy greatly changed once I had the chance to know him better. I believe he is a good man, Papa.”
“I will not argue with that; from what you have told me, his greatest fault was to offend you at the assembly. And Wickham’s claims, of course, which we can readily dismiss now, despite that man’s handsome appearance.”
“You tease me and I deserve it, Papa. I admit to being fooled by Mr. Wickham’s appearance and I shall take the blame. I had no wit nor wisdom.”
“Lizzy dear, I think you were mostly fooled by your vanity. I know enough about human nature to understand that. You see, when one man offends us and another flatters us with attention, we tend to consider the second one to be better, precisely because he appreciates our worthiness. If Darcy had danced with you at the assembly, I am inclined to assume that you would not have believed Wickham’s story so easily.
You do have wit and wisdom, but you did not use them properly. ”
Elizabeth lowered her head. She knew her father to be correct in his judgment.
What she was not ready to admit yet was her torment caused by thinking of Darcy. Could she be such a complete simpleton to have changed her feelings only because he had improved his behaviour towards her and declared his admiration for her?
“Mr. Darcy was very kind and caring towards me. Like an affectionate friend. It was more than just an honourable gesture that his character required of him.”
“Yes, I noticed that.”
“It could be because of Mr. Bingley’s admiration for Jane.”
Mr. Bennet’s eyebrow arched again. “Yes, it could,” he answered bluntly.
“Since it is important to you and this matter affects me too, I shall open the subject of the compromising situation with Darcy again, most likely at the ball. I doubt I shall see him again before tomorrow unless he calls on me.”
“Thank you, Papa. Tell me please, do you have any news regarding Mr. Wickham’s fate?”
“Not yet; Darcy promised he would send me a note. Your youngest sisters are devastated that they cannot dance with him. Upon my word, I can safely say I have some of the silliest girls in the world! And one of the vainest ones,” he added with a meaningful glance at Elizabeth.
“And the most annoying cousin. But for that, I cannot fault you,” Mr. Bennet concluded.
∞∞∞
On the morning of the ball, Darcy woke up with a dreadful headache.
The entire night he had fought against his own conscience and his desires.
Wickham had been placed under arrest by Colonel Forster, but Darcy now regretted his harsh measures.
The image of his father enjoying the company of his godson, his own memories of playing with Wickham as children, even protecting him as a younger friend, haunted his agitated sleep.
Wickham deserved to be taught a lesson but ruining his life forever was not what Darcy intended.
The previous evening he had written to his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and to Georgiana, relating the incident. He preferred that his sister received the news from him, instead of being surprised by rumours spreading around town.
He was even more preoccupied with the effects of the happenstance on Elizabeth’s reputation.
Both her and her father had easily accepted the day she had spent in the cottage with him.
But the incident with Wickham, that involved him again, was more difficult to overlook.
Certainly, gossip was circulating in Meryton already — Wickham had said as much — and then there was Sir William, that annoying Mr. Collins and all the other ladies, who seemed to enjoy spreading rumours.
As always happened in such circumstances, the lady’s reputation was much more easily damaged than the man’s.
He first accepted that he would willingly marry her if it was needed.
But then, at dawn, he came to a truce with himself and admitted his weakness, even his cowardice.
He could not hide behind social pressure to fulfil his desires.
He loved Elizabeth and, despite any demands by his duty or his relatives, he could not accept defeat before even trying to win her.
When he saw her lying the ground, crying for help, his heart had broken into pieces.
It was like she was almost falling out of his life, without him fighting to keep her.
He was aware of her poor opinion of him, as he was aware that it might have improved in the last few days. At least she had dismissed Wickham’s lies about him and he only needed to mend his manners and attempt to gain her friendship. At least he had a trustworthy ally in her father.
But how could he tell her of his intention, without embarrassing her even more?
How could he explain to her that it was not the compromising situation but his persistent admiration that had aroused his interest in her?
And when could he tell her as much, since he was to leave Hertfordshire the following day?
He did not even have time to call on Mr. Bennet again, since the ball would start in a few hours.
In haste, he took out a piece of paper and wrote,
Mr. Bennet,
I promised to convey to you any news related to Wickham. I confess that I am still undecided on how to progress in his situation, as I desire to act with severity but fairness.
Tomorrow I will leave for London, where Wickham will also be sent. I will gladly keep you informed on this matter if you wish it.