Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
T he following day was Sunday, and the parties from Longbourn and Netherfield met at church, after which they would go to Longbourn for breakfast. In the churchyard after the service, Mr and Mrs Bennet were occupied speaking to neighbours, and the younger people chatted amongst themselves or with friends for a short while. Darcy stood with Jane and Bingley, and Bingley mentioned that he wished he could return Mrs Bennet’s generosity and have the family to his home.
“I have found myself on the point of writing to my sister to demand she come to Hertfordshire,” he said with a laugh. “I shall not, of course, not now, at least.” He glanced towards where Georgiana and Wickham were; the two youngest Miss Bennets were with them, talking animatedly.
“I would suggest my sister could act as hostess, but…” Darcy said.
Bingley nodded, and Darcy supposed he would agree that it might cause problems; it was impossible to know how Wickham would act or what he would say to Georgiana about it. He might twist the request into something insulting.
Jane looked discomfited by the conversation. Her cheeks were pink, and she kept turning her gaze upon the couple. “I am never quite sure what to do to help your sister, but I would like to. She seems…unsure.”
Friendless, isolated by the man she is convinced she loves, and—Darcy believed—desperately unhappy, although she might not yet recognise it. To Jane, he said, “That is kind of you. What I believe we could all use, including her, is some good news.”
He looked from her to Bingley and back again. Bingley ran a hand across his nape, and the colour in Jane’s cheeks deepened.
Elizabeth, who had been with Miss Lucas, joined them. “Have you gentlemen been embarrassing my dearest sister?”
“Oh, please do not tease me. Not now when there are so many people about,” Jane said.
“I shall protect you!” Bingley gallantly held out his arm to her, which she took.
“I was merely saying that we could all use a happy event to distract us from…” Darcy tilted his head in the direction of Wickham.
“Well, what I propose ”—Elizabeth momentarily fixed her eyes on Bingley as she emphasised the word—“is that first we enjoy a hearty breakfast. I am particularly hungry this morning. Very soon, I hope and expect we shall have several wonderful distractions—mind I used the plural. And the Festive Season will be upon us before we know it. That will add to our merriment.”
Bingley bowed. “I agree with your expectations. Soon. Very soon, I hope.” His gaze turned to Jane, who smiled charmingly at him.
Mrs Bennet called to them, and they began their walk to Longbourn. Unfortunately, Darcy had little chance to speak to Elizabeth privately, since one or other of her sisters was with them the entire time. He sat next to Mrs Bennet during the meal and answered her many questions about his townhouse, including the colour of the walls in each room, and assured Catherine and Lydia that he was certain Elizabeth would have them to stay, “…in two or three years, once your father feels it is appropriate.” Darcy prayed they would be more mature by then and willing to listen and obey any restrictions he and Elizabeth placed on their activities.
With some effort, Darcy managed not to be vexed or anxious about Wickham sitting between Elizabeth and Georgiana. His sister listened to what other people said, but she seldom talked to anyone other than Wickham, which worried him. She watched as Wickham spoke to Elizabeth, going so far as to lean forwards to observe Elizabeth as she replied. Darcy wished he could hear what he was saying to her, but with all the chatter about the table, it was not possible.
Finally, after the meal, he and Elizabeth were able to find a few minutes alone. The families were scattered between the drawing room and smaller parlour, and it was in the latter room that Darcy and Elizabeth sat. It was not as comfortable as the drawing room—the fire did not warm the space as well—but what did that matter?
“What was Wickham blathering about at breakfast?” Darcy said. “I do not want to sound suspicious, but I am curious.”
“Nothing interesting, I assure you. There was a great deal of flattery, and I think he wanted me to understand that he was a sociable person, happy to be in a crowd and meeting new people, whereas you hate everyone and would much prefer to be hiding in a corner of Pemberley.” She grinned, and he rolled his eyes.
“I admit I am not as comfortable with strangers as he is, and I never have been.”
“But you are a far better person and friend than he could ever be.” Darcy asked if Georgiana had participated in their exchange, and Elizabeth shook her head. “She listened attentively, but even when I tried to draw her out, she remained silent. I wondered if Mr Wickham had instructed her to keep quiet.”
Darcy closed his eyes and groaned. “I suppose there is no point going over everything I have said about hating him again. I am determined to think of the present and future and enacting our plot. When I speak to him about burying the hatchet, I shall say my time away, short as it was, was an opportunity for my initial anger at their elopement to ease.”
“‘Burying the hatchet’?” Elizabeth said, her expression questioning. “I have not heard the phrase before.”
Darcy took her hand. “An old friend of my father’s who has travelled to Canada told it to me. It comes from an Indian custom of literally burying a hatchet to symbolise peace. I am trying to believe I can have peace with Wickham. When I recall it is for Georgiana’s sake—and so that you and I can be happy—it is somewhat easier.”
“We shall be happy, exquisitely so, regardless of his presence in our lives. Thank you for teaching me something new.” She squeezed his fingers and whispered that she loved him.
In return, he smiled and whispered that he loved her. “I have been thinking of how I should approach him. Let me know what you think. First, I do not want to do it immediately. Instead, I shall take the next two or three days to simply be more agreeable when we are together—not friendly, but not unfriendly. Then I shall talk to him, being sincere but making it sound as though I am hesitant. Which I am.”
She agreed. “If you did too much too soon, he might suspect you were scheming against him. Be prepared for him to be suspicious and confused. I expect we shall see some of it today, once he realises you and I have been speaking privately, actively seeking each other out. In your absence, he determined there is an insurmountable breach growing between us.”
“Fool,” Darcy said, pulling her hand to his mouth to kiss.
“Because he does not know what it is to honestly, openly love. If he did, if he had ever had a glimpse of the sort of love we share, he would know he could not break us apart—and he would have discerned my purpose at once. At times, I pity him.”
“I do not. He is unlikely to guess what you are about. He thinks too highly of himself and his ability to make people value and trust him. He has had a great success with Georgiana, which will only encourage his vanity. All the better, in my opinion. It might make him more likely to believe I am capitulating, that he has won this battle that he started.”
Believing they were becoming too serious, he said, “Let us speak of something more pleasant, such as our future. Your mother wanted to know about my house in town, and between her enquiries and my recent stay there, it made me contemplate bringing you home, which made me think of our wedding and what we should do afterwards.”
They spoke about it for a few minutes but were then interrupted by Wickham, who entered the room with Georgiana trailing behind him, and loudly proclaimed that he had found them at last.
“I have convinced Miss Catherine and Miss Lydia that we should play a game. None of us will object just because it is Sunday, will we?” Wickham said, looking at Mary who was quietly reading.
To her credit, she met his eye and firmly but politely said, “I do not like the notion, but it is not for me to tell others how to spend the Sabbath. If my mother and father give their permission, then I have nothing more to say.”
“Excellent!” Wickham said, giving everyone a smile. When his gaze fell on Darcy and Elizabeth, his eyes narrowed, and his grin faltered briefly. “It will be a friendly game—no wagering. Come along, everyone. To the drawing room! Elizabeth, I know you will find it diverting. A lively mind such as yours could not be satisfied with merely sitting about, speaking of…whatever you were discussing.”
“What we shall do after we are married,” Elizabeth said.
She smiled at Darcy, who stood and offered her a hand; he did not release it. Knowing Wickham was observing them, Darcy briefly looked his way, not allowing his contented expression to change, and proudly escorted Elizabeth from the room.
Darcy did as he told Elizabeth, and over the next few days, he said little to Wickham or Georgiana, and when he did speak to them, he kept his tone even. It was a struggle at times—Wickham clearly wanted to provoke him into betraying his irritation—but Darcy would only nod politely or say a few words that showed he had no interest in disagreeing or being unpleasant. Twice, Darcy simply pretended not to hear or understand what Wickham was implying—both had to do with Elizabeth and her feelings for him. He found an excuse to leave the room for several minutes, regain his composure, and then return to his family. As he had been over the last weeks, Bingley was an excellent ally. He helped Darcy escape, introduced new topics of conversation to engage Wickham for long periods, and the like.
“I am glad to see you more your old self,” Bingley said to Darcy one afternoon. They had gone for a short ride before preparing for an evening engagement. “The course of action you and Miss Elizabeth have concocted will work. I hate to think ill of anyone, but you know my feelings about that man.”
“I do, which makes me all the more grateful that you have allowed him to remain for so long.”
Predictably, Bingley dismissed his thanks. “You know I value your friendship. You have done more for me than I can ever repay—including by supporting my interest in Miss Bennet when my own family does not. And I have always been fond of your sister. Being agreeable with him is a small enough thing to do to help her. I suppose it does help her?”
The look he gave Darcy seemed to ask for reassurance, and so he said, “It does. By the time we depart Netherfield, I am determined to be on good terms with him, which means I shall be able to maintain my connexion with Georgiana, show her by my behaviour that I shall always do whatever I possibly can for her well-being, that I love her and am prepared to protect her.”
Bingley nodded. “I have seen Wickham watching you, and I am certain he is trying to understand why your demeanour is so altered. I anticipate Colonel Fitzwilliam’s arrival. I sense it will create yet another change that helps resolve everything.” He chuckled. “That sounds awkward, but you take my meaning. Now, before we must go to our chambers, when do you intend to speak to Mr Bennet? I am anxious for you and Miss Elizabeth to announce the date of your wedding.”
“Because?” Darcy regarded him, brow arched.
“Because once you have settled your business with him, I intend to discuss mine. After speaking to a certain lady, of course.” He laughed again and blushed.
“Finally! The answer is soon. Elizabeth and I agreed to wait a week after my return from town.”
“Excellent!”