Chapter Thirty-Three
The card parties at Lucas Lodge were greatly looked forward to by everyone at Longbourn, and the one to be held that night was doubly anticipated as the result of the inclusion of their new friends at Netherfield Park, as well as certain officers of the militia!
Charlotte had met Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley at the assembly, but there had been no opportunity for her to be introduced to Georgiana; thus, when the Netherfield party arrived at Lucas Lodge, Charlotte went at once to Elizabeth. “Will you not introduce me to Miss Darcy, Eliza?” she asked.
“I will, and gladly.”
Hand in hand, Elizabeth and Charlotte made their way through the crowded room to Georgiana, and Elizabeth introduced Charlotte as her great good friend. Georgiana smiled at Charlotte warmly, and thanked her for including the Netherfield occupants in tonight’s entertainment.
There was a sudden commotion at the door; the officers had arrived. They were warmly welcomed by their host, hostess, and a number of young ladies, including – of course – Kitty and Lydia.
Elizabeth stood on tiptoes, trying to make certain that her sisters were behaving themselves, but she was surrounded by taller people and soon gave up the effort. Georgiana was also standing on tiptoe; Elizabeth surmised that she was trying to determine if Mr. Wickham had arrived.
“It seems everyone likes a military man,” Charlotte observed to Elizabeth, nudging her and looking meaningfully at Georgiana. “Though I cannot think why.”
“I suppose men are in such short supply that even those who are not suitable marriage partners nonetheless warrant a second look,” Elizabeth said. She tugged on Georgiana’s skirt. “Come, Georgiana, let me introduce you to some of our neighbours who you have not yet met.’
But Georgiana had seen Mr. Wickham, and nothing would do but for her to greet him at once. “Excuse me, please,” Georgiana murmured, again and again, as she made her way through the crowd to the front door.
And there he was, looking every bit as splendid as Georgiana remembered! He smiled at her, deliberately deepening his dimples, then bowed deeply and addressed Georgiana. “I understand there is to be dancing, Miss Darcy,” he said. “If so, would you be so kind as to favour me with the first?”
Mr. Darcy had been held up by Sir William, but once he had managed to get past that gentleman, he began immediately to look about for his sister.
His gaze landed on a very familiar face, one he had long tried to forget.
For a moment, he literally could not believe his eyes.
Was he dreaming? He must be, for how could it be possible that George Wickham was here, in Meryton?
Surely it could not be – Mr. Darcy found himself actually pushing people aside in order to make his way to Mr. Wickham, who he now saw was standing beside – and far too close, at that – Georgiana.
“Oh, Brother! You would not believe who is here!” Georgiana said, turning toward him as he approached. Her voice was high and excited.
Mr. Wickham knew that he must try to gain control of the meeting as soon as possible. “Darcy,” he said, putting out his hand. “It has been far too long.”
“Has it indeed,” Mr. Darcy murmured, carefully schooling his features and ignoring the outstretched hand.
“Brother,” Georgiana whispered, nudging her brother’s hand toward Mr. Wickham’s, but Mr. Darcy refused to move.
Mr. Wickham dropped his hand. “Darcy, I confess it freely. I have made many errors in the past, and I am now entirely ashamed of my behaviour.” Mr. Wickham hung his head dramatically.
Then he looked up again. “But the Good Book promises us that repentance is possible, does it not? To atone for my past sins, I joined the militia!”
“Lied your way into it, more like,” Mr. Darcy said, coolly.
Georgiana gasped. “Why, how can you say that, Brother? He is risking his life to defend our country!”
Mr. Darcy set his jaw. “I say that simply because to become a lieutenant, you are required to hold land worth at least fifty pounds a year. Tell me, Wickham, where did you get that land?”
Mr. Wickham had the grace to colour at this. “The Colonel was grateful to have a gentleman of my caliber volunteer, and so he offered me this rank.”
“A gentleman of your caliber,” Mr. Darcy repeated, his voice as dry as dust.
“Brother,” Georgiana was now near tears. “You must remember George; we grew up with him, did we not? He says he has made mistakes, but he has changed. Are we not, as Christians, obliged to forgive?”
Mr. Darcy glanced at his sister and his gaze softened.
Looking back at Mr. Wickham, he said, “Very well, Wickham. You claim that you have changed. I hope, very much, that this is true. I doubt it, of course, but I have always hoped it. But be careful. Be very, very careful around my sister. Do you understand me?”
Georgiana put in, “He is to dance with me, Brother. Please, please let us dance!”
Mr. Darcy did not reply. “I will be watching you, Wickham. Every minute, I will be watching you.”
“I understand, Darcy. Surely you know I would never harm so much as a hair on Georgiana’s head.” The music started up then and Mr. Wickham offered his arm to Georgiana. She took it and floated away.
Mr. Darcy sighed and shook his head. For a long minute, he stared at Mr. Wickham and Georgiana, watching them laugh together easily. Perhaps it would be all right, he thought. Wickham had always been fond of Georgiana.
His eyes drifted around the room and he discovered with a start that Miss Elizabeth Bennet was standing just behind him.
“I apologise, Miss Elizabeth,” he said. “I did not notice you there, or I should have asked you to dance at once. Will you honour me with this dance? It has already begun, but we can join the end of the line.”
“I shall be delighted, Mr. Darcy,” she answered.
Mr. Darcy led Elizabeth to the dance floor.
“I agree with you,” she said at once.
“You do? That is heartening indeed, but about what?”
“Mr. Wickham. I feel strongly that he is not to be trusted, though I cannot tell you why. Is it true that you have known him since boyhood? Though,” she added, colouring. “If you do not wish to discuss it, I completely understand.”
He was silent for a minute, and she was afraid that she had offended him. Finally, he said, “Yes, it is true that I have known him all my life. His father was my father’s steward. We grew up together at Pemberley, and my father gave him a gentleman’s education.”
“Thus his fine manners and accent,” Elizabeth surmised.
Mr. Darcy nodded. “His behaviour since then has been reprehensible; I will not shock your sensibilities by providing details.”
“I am not so easily shocked, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said, coolly.
He opened his mouth and then closed it again, shaking his head. “I cannot speak of it,” he whispered. “Truly, I cannot.”
Elizabeth bit her lip in exasperation, but suddenly understood. “You have always hoped that he would change, have you not?”
Mr. Darcy sighed. “I have, of course. He was a friend, my only friend, for so long, and then…”
“And thus you wish to believe in his transformation, even as you doubt it.”
“You are right, of course; I hope very much that he has improved his character.” He changed the subject then, speaking of the dance, the room, the neighbours, anything and everything except the problem of Mr. Wickham.
Mr. Wickham, once his dance with Georgiana was done and he had escorted her back to a silent Darcy, looked about the room.
He would have to proceed carefully and slowly with Georgiana, but there was no reason not to look for other entertainment while he was here.
He saw two young ladies – girls, really – staring at him in fascination, and so he made his way over to them.
“I do not think there is anyone here to introduce us,” he said, pitching his voice low and flashing his dimples. “Would it be too dreadful if I introduced myself so that I might invite the two loveliest ladies in the room to dance?”
“Not dreadful at all,” cried one of them. “I am Lydia Bennet, this is my sister, Kitty. Who are you?”
These were the two young ladies his friend Denny had spoken of, and clearly Lydia Bennet was a hoyden with no manners at all! Wickham chuckled to himself. “I am Lieutenant Wickham. Might I have the pleasure of the next dance, Miss Lydia?”
The girl cast a triumphant glance at her sister and nodded vigorously.
***
When the Netherfield party returned home, Mr. Darcy spoke to his sister.
“Georgiana, Wickham is not a good man. He says he has changed, and I hope from the bottom of my heart that this is true, but I cannot trust him until he has proven himself. Please, please, have nothing to do with him until I am certain of his character.”
Georgiana frowned at her brother. “He told me what happened between the two of you.”
“He told – what did he tell you?”
Georgiana, remembering now that George had bade her not to repeat what he had said about the disagreement over a woman, looked at the carpet.
“Georgiana, listen to me. You are to have nothing to do with him. That is all. Remember that I am your guardian.” His voice had become stern. “Do you hear me?”
Georgiana nodded. She forced herself to look up at her brother and say, “Yes. I hear you.” And with that, she turned and scampered up the stairs to her room.