Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
D uring the few days Darcy was absent, Mr Wickham was in a fine mood. It was a struggle for Elizabeth not to roll her eyes or kick him whenever they spoke.
“I was so disappointed when I learnt he had gone to town,” the man said to her, slowly shaking his head and sighing. “I would like to say I was shocked, but it is just like him to run off when he feels he is not in sole control of what is happening about him. I do not expect you to tell me what you argued about.”
“What makes you believe we argued?”
He smiled sympathetically. “I know Darcy like no one else hereabouts does. You would not like to admit it to me, but may I propose my dear wife as a confidant? She has had her own…difficulties with him. I do not mean just of late, either. He is overly fond of telling people what they must do and think, and if you do not, it irks him excessively. He is of a resentful nature, I am afraid. I have never seen the like. ”
Listening to Mr Wickham while maintaining her composure and attempting to act as though she were considering his words made Elizabeth feel ill. I might vomit if he does not stop speaking.
He had the audacity to give her arm a gentle squeeze. “I am sure that, once he returns, you will find a way to…soothe his temper. We both know it will be worth your effort and any discomfort it causes you.”
His implication was clear; Elizabeth wanted to marry Darcy because he was rich, thus she would do whatever was necessary to appease him, regardless of the cost to her self-esteem.
It was not only Mr Wickham who saw something more in Darcy’s sojourn to town than a need to conduct business. Mrs Bennet repeatedly asked Elizabeth why it had been necessary, why he could not simply write to his solicitor, and when exactly he would return.
“I am not blind. It is obvious that he is not as happy as an engaged man ought to be,” her mother said when they were alone in her chamber on the second morning of Darcy’s absence. “I know you will not tell me why, but it makes me very nervous, Lizzy, very nervous. We must get you married as soon as possible.”
“I promise you, Mr Darcy and I are as devoted to each other as ever. He does have some matters weighing on his mind, but they do not have to do with me or our engagement.”
Her mother did not appear convinced and spent the next quarter of an hour discussing how they would work on Mr Bennet so that he would give up his objections to Elizabeth marrying.
“I know you are his favourite, but we both knew the day would come when you girls would find husbands and leave Longbourn, likely leave the neighbourhood entirely. Obstinate, headstrong man! I shall speak to him.”
That afternoon it rained, and after taking refreshments with his wife and daughters in the parlour, Mr Bennet asked Elizabeth to join him in his book-room. She did not know if her mother had spoken to him yet, but Elizabeth intended to raise the matter of her nuptials if he did not.
“What have you to say about Mr Darcy running off, leaving us to entertain Mr Wickham? Has Mr Bingley given you any message from him explaining his actions?”
“Apart from informing me he had business to attend to that could not be accomplished from here and that he would return in a few days, no. He did not run off, as you called it. I knew it might be necessary.”
Given her father was not especially fond of Darcy at the moment—thanks to Mr Wickham—she did not want to give him cause for further disapproval, even if it meant telling him a small lie. She had been telling far too many of those lately, for which Mr Wickham was also to blame.
Her father regarded her for a long moment before saying, “What is his plan for…sorting out his sister’s affairs? They cannot hide at Netherfield forever. Good-natured as he is, Mr Bingley would not want it, and while I understand Mr Darcy hesitating to announce his sister’s marriage, he will have to do it soon. And, if I am permitted to be selfish, I would like to be free of seeing the Wickhams. She is a foolish child who ought to have known better, and he is untrustworthy and often sycophantic. How he wants everyone to admire him!” Mr Bennet made a noise of disgust.
“Mr Darcy and his relations will do what they must. I leave it to them to decide. Of more interest to me is you sorting out your daughters’ affairs, chiefly mine. It has been a month since we learnt of Georgiana’s marriage, more than a month since Mr Darcy returned from Derbyshire. We have been engaged for over three months. It is time?—”
“I refuse to discuss your wedding,” her father interjected. He stood, and so Elizabeth did too. “Ask me again once he has told the world his sister is married. Then, if I am assured there will be no significant unpleasantness, we may speak of making arrangements. I am resolved to protect you and this family.”
“Darcy and I are engaged! We are already connected. I consider him part of my family.”
“And if the worst happens and he and his sister and all their relations are embroiled in scandal, no one would blame you for ending your engagement. If you are married when people learn his sister eloped, there will be no way to protect you and your sisters.”
Elizabeth shook her head vigorously. “You are making too much of this. You have all along, and I do not understand why!”
“Because I regret giving my permission in the first place! I did so reluctantly, because it was what you wanted. You hardly knew him before you accepted him, yet you want me to be pleased at the notion of sending you to live in Derbyshire with him, of him parading you about amongst his friends in the ton who will never accept you because you are not rich and highborn?”
Involuntarily, she laughed and had to force herself to be more serious in the face of her father’s indignation.
“You do not approve of him because he is both of those? Is that it, or is it also because I intend to leave Hertfordshire? Papa, I love him more than I can possibly describe, and he feels the same for me. We will be married, even if we have to wait until my birthday in July.”
She left the room without saying that she would likely resent him, possibly forever, if he continued to be so intractable. Already, a large portion of her loyalty had shifted to Darcy; she would always love her Bennet relations and count herself one of them, but Darcy was the man she had chosen to make a family with. Nothing and no one—not Mr Wickham or her father—would keep her from him.
Darcy arrived at Netherfield later than planned. There had been an accident on the road, and he stayed to assist. Bingley, Georgiana, and Wickham had finished dinner by the time he made it to Netherfield, sparing him a portion of the latter’s company, but the four of them spent an hour or so together.
“Our brother’s absence was so unexpected. Hastily arranged, I would say. He will value being with his family,” Wickham told Georgiana, making it sound as though he had to convince her to remain in the drawing room rather than retreat to her apartment. Turning to him, Wickham continued. “I never did hear a good explanation for your sudden trip. I spoke to Elizabeth several times while you were in London occupied with…whatever drew you there. She did not seem as lively as usual, but she would not admit that you had quarrelled.”
“Did you?” Georgiana asked, her eyes wide.
“No.” Darcy shook his head. “Elizabeth is aware of my reasons for going. I imagine any change in her mood was from missing me.” Or having to speak to you , he silently added, glancing at Wickham. “Neither of us were pleased at the prospect of being apart, but I was able to accomplish a great deal, and I cannot foresee a need for another separation.”
It was refreshing to sit across from the hateful man and not feel the same intense loathing as he had previously. Instead, Darcy was able to smile calmly at his sister and pretend he was not there. Georgiana readily answered his questions about her activities over the last few days. He liked to think her easy manner was because she had missed him, but it might be because he was not letting his true feelings for Wickham show. For once, Wickham did not intervene; he sat beside her, watching Darcy through narrowed eyes. Clearly, Wickham had noticed the change in him. I almost wonder what he makes of it, and how he will explain it to himself in the coming days.
Seeing her beloved Darcy standing next to Mr Bingley the following morning, Elizabeth almost cheered. His eyes met hers, and even across the room, she knew his gaze was full of love and warmth.
“Oh! Mr Darcy, you have returned,” Mrs Bennet cried. “It is very good to see you. Lizzy, Mr Darcy has come. Tell him you are glad.” The order was said in a loud whisper that everyone in the parlour could hear.
Doing her best not to laugh, Elizabeth said, “I am extremely glad.”
Her sisters said good morning to Mr Bingley and welcomed Mr Darcy to Longbourn after his absence in their various ways. Her mother continued her chatter, apparently wishing to inform him of everything that had happened while he was in town, and her father, after listening for a minute or two, announced that he wanted his breakfast, and if it was not ready for them yet, why not?
While they ate, Kitty and Lydia asked Darcy how he had spent his time in London and were disappointed that he had not done anything amusing.
“Perhaps nothing you would find diverting, but I assure you, I did not feel the lack of activity. I had dinner with my cousin, Lord Bramwell. I believe I shall tell him you consider it a dull way to pass an evening. He thinks far too highly of his company.” Darcy chuckled, and that—along with his joke—confirmed Elizabeth’s feeling that he was in far better spirits. “I also saw Bingley’s sisters while walking in the park. They send their regards to you all.”
The way he glanced at her and Mr Bingley scratched his jaw suggested they had not. Elizabeth did not care; if anything, she took it as a kindness to the ladies and to Jane, who would one day call them her sisters.
“And I went to see Mr and Mrs Gardiner. They were kind enough to invite me to dinner, even though I had not warned them I would be calling. They send their love to you all, mentioned how eager they are to see you at Christmas, and I collected a few drawings from their children they especially wished for me to deliver to their cousins. I believe there is one for each of you,” Darcy said.
Unaccountably, Elizabeth felt tears in her eyes. It was because of what her aunt had said the day she first met Darcy, that he might not like to have a connexion to them, given the disparity in their positions in life. Elizabeth had worried about it, but, admittedly, she had set it aside as a problem for another time, preferring to think only of what made her happy. She grinned at him and surreptitiously rested a hand on his leg under the table.
“You went to Gracechurch Street?” she whispered once their companions were occupied speaking amongst themselves.
He nodded. “I like the Gardiners, all six of them, very much. Before long, I am sure I shall love them, just as I shall all your relations, but never as much as I love you.”
Mr Bennet contributed little to the conversation, though Elizabeth noticed him watching her and Darcy a fair bit. She hoped he was thinking of her words of the previous afternoon. She was disappointed in him still and had said little to him since then. While understanding his worry regarding Georgiana’s elopement, it was over a month ago, and there had been no speculation. When the marriage was generally known, people might wonder about the circumstances of it but talk would soon move on to a more interesting topic. This meant that there was no reason Georgiana and Mr Wickham’s shocking behaviour should prevent Elizabeth and Darcy from marrying immediately. Her father was clever enough to have concluded as much, which left her convinced his reasons for not yet granting his permission had more to do with the prejudice against gentlemen of Darcy’s ilk and the ton he had inadvertently admitted during their dispute. That she found inexcusable.
“It is a fine day. For November, that is,” Mr Bingley said. He chuckled, then continued. “Darcy and I would be pleased to escort the Miss Bennets to Meryton, should any of them like to go. ”
He smiled as he looked about the table. To no great surprise, they all agreed. After adding her own response, Elizabeth contented herself with exchanging glances with Darcy and finishing her breakfast, eager for the walk so that they might speak alone.