Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
D arcy, Bingley, and Wickham went to dinner at the home of Mr and Mrs Stuart, a friendly couple who lived about eight miles away, that night. Wickham announced just as they were prepared to depart that Georgiana would not be going with them. The reason why was not clear, and he regarded Darcy carefully, seemingly anxious for him to comment. Instead, Darcy only made a vague noise that could be interpreted as ‘how interesting’ or ‘that is a shame’. The Bennets were present and, as soon as possible, Darcy went to Elizabeth, intending to remain by her side.
“Is all well?” she whispered as they stood in the drawing room, waiting for the call to go to the dining room. “Georgiana has not come, yet again?”
Darcy shook his head and told her of his conversation with Bingley and his belief that Wickham’s curiosity had been aroused. “Which might make him more susceptible to believing my offer to reconcile.”
She nodded and rested a hand on his arm. “I propose that we forget about him for the remainder of the evening. As much as possible, given he is here.”
Darcy agreed, and they were able to enjoy themselves. The meal was good, he was almost always with Elizabeth, and he did not speak to Wickham.
Mr Bennet approached him during the separation of the sexes. “Lizzy tells me one of your cousins will be coming to Meryton soon. Am I to believe he will stay long enough to be introduced to us?”
“I believe he intends to remain a fortnight, perhaps longer. You are aware that this last month has been a difficult one for my family, sir, and I shall not hide that I expect Colonel Fitzwilliam’s mood to be less cheerful than usual, but he enjoys society, and I anticipate he will make a favourable impression on your family and neighbours.”
Mr Bennet shrugged. “Speaking of moods, Lizzy’s has been noticeably lighter since your sudden absence. As her father, I feel it my duty to ask if you and she quarrelled. Is that what led to your need to go to town?”
Darcy wanted to like his future father-in-law, but there were moments when it was difficult. This was one. “No. There were several matters of business requiring my attention, and while I was there, I spoke to my solicitor about the marriage contract. Miss Elizabeth and I hoped to speak to you about it in a day or two.”
“You and Lizzy? That is unusual. I would accuse you of hiding behind her skirts, but you are not a man who lacks bravery, I think.” Mr Bennet’s eyes were wide, and he smiled, which Darcy took to mean he was teasing, at least partly.
“There is no one whose opinion I trust more than your daughter and whose wishes mean more to me. She and I have naturally spoken of what we would prefer to do, and since she would like to be involved in the conversation you and I must have, I agreed.”
“I recognise that we shall have to have that talk soon. When I am prepared, I promise I shall listen.” He nodded and went to speak to another gentlemen. Given Mr Bennet’s recent dislike of Elizabeth and Darcy’s engagement, his statement was promising.
From across the room, Darcy saw Wickham watching him. He politely bowed his head and smiled as though pleased.
Later, Darcy was standing with Elizabeth and Mary discussing books. He was explaining some of the volumes on history he owned that he thought would appeal to Mary. “If there is anything you wish to know about the Reformation, I am certain it is in my collection.”
She pulled at one of her curls. Elizabeth gently directed her sister’s hand away from her hair and said to him, “I suppose you believe you have books that would interest every member of my family?”
“Your father will be easy to please, but I am confident your mother and sisters will also find something to divert them.”
Mary sniggered. Elizabeth turned to her and giggled. “You are thinking of our younger sisters, I suppose?”
“I ought not to laugh. I suppose if your library is as extensive as you say, you will succeed, sir,” Mary said. “They are not especially fond of reading, but if you direct Kitty to a book about art and Lydia to one about clothes, they will not object.”
“And what will you recommend to me?” Elizabeth asked him with a coquettish smile. “A guide on the proper deportment of young wives?”
All three of them laughed, and at just that moment, Wickham walked by. He appeared to disapprove of their merriment, but he also slowed his steps and looked at them as though hoping they would say something to tell him what they were discussing.
Darcy decided it was an opportune moment to begin the next part of his plan. “I was telling the ladies about the library at Pemberley. Miss Mary is fond of history, as you will recall my father was, and I promised Elizabeth she will not lack for choices. Since you are the only other person here to have seen the library, you must reassure them that I have not exaggerated, and it is indeed very large.”
Wickham’s eyes narrowed and remained on Darcy for a long moment.
I have confused him. To be fair, it was the most amiable speech I have made to him in over five years, and he has never been particularly quick-witted.
Addressing the ladies, Wickham smiled charmingly. “It has been the work of generations. Darcy’s father was rightly proud of it and did much to see that it continued to be viewed as the best in the county, and indeed, one of the best private collections in the entire country. If—excuse me, when —you are fortunate enough to see it, you will not be disappointed.”
Darcy swallowed his irritation at the insinuation that he did nothing to maintain the library and was not proud of his family’s history. That was nothing to the suggestion that the Bennets might not go to Pemberley, which made him want to punch the man; it was a feeling Darcy did not like, believing that sort of violence was seldom excusable in a gentleman, no matter the provocation.
Elizabeth said, “From everything I have learnt of the estate, I must say that you are very fortunate to have lived there as a boy, Mr Wickham. I intend for Mary to be one of our earliest visitors after Darcy and I are married. I know she will greatly appreciate the library, and when she returns to Longbourn, she can describe it to my father, and that is sure to tempt him to brave the long journey to Derbyshire.”
Darcy forced himself to laugh. “I have discussed my library with your father, but I suppose hearing about it from one of his daughters will make a difference. As I have told you many times, my love, your family, which will soon be my own, will always be welcome. I shall even send my most comfortable carriage to bring them to us, if you think it will encourage them to make the trip sooner.”
She sighed and smiled broadly. “You are too good to me. Whatever did I do to deserve you?”
His eyes on Elizabeth, Darcy did not see what Wickham made of her statement, but he did catch a glimpse of him walking away.
“I hope Papa lets you marry soon,” Mary murmured before she, too, left them to themselves.
Darcy practised what he would say to Wickham. It was extremely difficult to keep up his act of wanting to be on agreeable terms, and, occasionally, he wondered whether it was possible Wickham could become the man he had once expected him to be. But he dismissed it as too much to hope for.
His new perspective meant he was not constantly full of anger. He had not realised how oppressive it was until he managed to set it aside. I doubt I shall ever rid myself of it entirely, not knowing how he has— is —taking advantage of Georgiana’s artlessness .
The following morning, Darcy seized the opportunity to speak to Wickham when they happened upon each other in the corridor.
“A moment, if you will,” he said, struggling to keep his voice even.
His former friend regarded him, his expression sceptical.
Darcy cleared his throat. “I believe it is time for us to…to set aside the past, the difficulties of the last few years, and find a way to establish a more cordial relationship.”
“You do?” Wickham chuckled and shook his head.
“I doubt we would be having this conversation had you not married Georgiana, but you did. She loves us both, and it would make her happy to see the two of us on more amiable terms. I know we both love and care for her?—”
“Really, Darcy?” Wickham interjected. “ You want to make peace with me, after I deceived your sister into marrying me?”
Darcy scratched the side of his nose before responding; it was a way to avoid blurting out what first came to mind, which would have led to a row loud enough to wake the entire neighbourhood. He had known that Wickham had not married Georgiana for love, that he had lied and coaxed her into going to Scotland, and here was the proof. “It is very true that eloping as you did was wrong. Unfortunate. But your reasons for marrying her cannot be objectionable. I choose to believe that you love her, just as she assures me she loves you.”
He paused and then took a small step towards Wickham, narrowing the space between them. “It is not easy for me to accept the situation. I admit that. You and I, we were friends, and then we were not, which I regret. But now, I believe we must find a way past that. My father thought well of you, and I must believe he would take comfort in her having chosen someone he valued as he did you. ”
With that, Darcy nodded and walked away. His shoulders were back and his steps firm. That was easier than I thought it would be. Vexing, to be sure, but the astonished expression on his face was amusing. I must describe it to Elizabeth later. Then she would laugh, and oh, how he loved to see her eyes shining in merriment.
Elizabeth rejoiced in seeing how much easier Darcy was. There were still many things to worry about—would Mr Wickham ever become a man they could tolerate being near, what would Georgiana’s future be like, and, most concerning for her, how could she best care for Darcy?
It was evident to her that Darcy’s change in conduct towards Mr Wickham puzzled the man. It astonished her that he seemed to genuinely believe he had convinced her to look at Darcy in a new, less flattering light. Worse—and something she was unlikely to ever forgive him for—he acted as though she only valued Darcy for his wealth, that they had both chosen their marriage partners because of what the brother and sister could do for them. She was nothing like him, and she anticipated the day he understood that.
That evening, the party from Netherfield came to Longbourn for dinner, and Mrs Bennet had invited a few other families to join them for cards and supper. Mr Wickham appeared almost irritated as he once again watched her and Darcy, both when they were together and when they spoke to others separately. Whether it was them laughing, how they smiled, or that she and Darcy were often touching each other that most vexed Mr Wickham, Elizabeth neither knew nor cared.
“I think he is most discomposed by seeing you in such a good mood,” she said to Darcy when they were alone partway through the party. “He has attempted to flatter me by commenting on how refreshing your happy demeanour is and congratulating me on my efforts to ease your pique after our argument—the one he still believes we had before your sojourn to town. Naturally, he implied that I would not want you to throw me over when I have worked so hard to marry your fortune.”
Darcy rolled his eyes. “After spending weeks wanting to scream and throw things like a spoilt child who has been denied a treat, it feels wonderful to not have that weight on me. Now he is the one who is uneasy, who looks at me and wonders what I am doing. It is extremely diverting.”
“I cannot wait for the day he no longer clings to his belief that my interest in you is mercenary. It is tiresome.”
“Having him in our lives is tiresome.” He kissed her hand.
Soon after Darcy went to speak to Mr Bingley and several other young gentlemen, the object of their scheming approached her. Mr Wickham pulled her aside, taking her elbow to lead her to a quiet corner. She did not wish to draw attention to his rudeness and knew she was not in danger—they did not even leave the drawing room—so she allowed it but freed her arm as soon as possible.
“What do you mean by this behaviour, sir?”
“What do I mean by my behaviour?” he hissed. “You are the one who is acting peculiarly, you and Darcy. He leaves abruptly and stays away for days. I have a notion or two of how he spent his time in London, but I am too gentlemanly to mention them to a lady such as yourself. I assure you, he was not alone.”
Elizabeth could not believe what he dared to imply. Many times, since she first met him, she wanted to kick him, but never as much as she did currently.
Mr Wickham continued, keeping his voice low enough not to be overheard by anyone but her. “Then he returns just as suddenly. No word to Georgiana, and Bingley said nothing about it. Bingley was happy to see him, but then, Darcy has somehow convinced the young fool he is the best friend he will ever have and must be grateful to him for…whatever Darcy has done for him. Introduced him to the right people, I suppose.”
“What is it you wanted to say to me, Mr Wickham?” Elizabeth interjected.
“Why is he so different? What game is he playing? I told you what he is really like, yet anyone who did not know better would say that you prefer his company to—” He stopped abruptly, stood tall, and peered at her.
She took her time responding. “Neither he nor I are playing games. We want the same thing that I believe you and Georgiana do. We are family now, or nearly so. None of us want to live always being at odds with each other. Darcy may have needed time to come to terms with your marriage, but he is an intelligent man. He cannot erase what you have done, and so he is doing the only thing possible.”
He snorted. “Darcy wants to be my friend? I suppose he has cried to you about how I misused him, deceived my godfather into believing I was like him—studious, hardworking, diligent in fulfilling my duty?—”
“Why should I care about events that happened years before I knew either of you? Why should long-ago happenings vex you? What occurred three or four years ago is far less important than the fact that you and Georgiana are married, and Darcy and I shall be soon too. I dare say you are both good men, and I am very sorry that you fell out. How much I would like to live a harmonious life! Darcy shares my wish.”
Wickham’s brow was knit so tightly his eyebrows almost touched. Deciding she would rather he not speak again, she added, “Excuse me,” and left him.
Later she found an excuse to talk to Darcy privately and told him everything that had happened with Mr Wickham.
“All in all, I believe we shall look back on this evening as a great success.”