Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Elizabeth woke up the next morning feeling out of sorts and grew progressively unhappy as she recalled the events of the previous day. Mama’s diatribe on the follies and selfishness of her most stubborn daughter began as soon as Mr Darcy left and lasted unabated until the arrival of the apothecary, Mr Jones. All of Mama’s grievances with her, both past and present, had come tumbling out. Papa’s attempts to placate Mama or divert her attention did not prove very effective. It was only after Mr Jones advised that she—Elizabeth—be allowed to rest without disturbance that Papa put his foot down, and everyone save Jane was banished from her room.
Elizabeth sighed disconsolately at the recollection, then attempted to cheer herself up by listing what she believed were blessings from yesterday. Mr Darcy’s quick arrival at the site of the accident and his presence of mind in wrapping her in his great coat had prevented her from catching a chill. She had it straight from Mr Jones. Then, what they had feared as a sprain in her left foot turned out to be only a painful wrench. After the application of a special poultice suggested by Mr Jones, twice since yesterday, her foot felt as good as new... well, almost.
She stood up to assess the improvement in her foot once more. It was still tender, but she would be able to walk, especially with assistance. She glanced at the clock on the side table and grimaced. It was later than the time she usually woke up, but still early enough for her sisters and mother to be asleep. Intent on spending some time in the garden and regaining her equilibrium, she rang for her maid, Sarah. If she was to deal with Mama’s continued lamentations with any degree of equanimity, it was necessary to spend some time with nature.
When Sarah came, Elizabeth requested her help getting dressed. Once she was ready, she went down for breakfast with Sarah’s assistance. As Elizabeth had expected, only her father was there in the dining room.
“Good morning, my dear. It is heartening to see you back on your own two feet,” Mr Bennet greeted her as she walked over to her seat. “I hope you are feeling better,” he asked solicitously.
“Yes, Papa. I am feeling much better,” Elizabeth replied with a quick smile. For a while, there was silence in the room as both father and daughter applied themselves to their meals. Mr Bennet was never very talkative at the breakfast table and usually kept himself immersed in the newspaper. Today, though, the newspaper sat neatly folded by his side, and while he did not say much after the pleasantries, Elizabeth found his eyes straying to her often with a troubled look in them.
“Papa, is something the matter?” she asked when she encountered his eyes for the third time in less than ten minutes.
“No... no.... Nothing is the matter, Lizzy. I am just trying to assure myself that you are not suffering any ill effects from your accident.”
Elizabeth noticed that, although her father spoke lightly, his smile did not reach his eyes. It was obvious that he was troubled but was not willing to share the reason with her, at least at present.
She sighed and pushed her plate away. “I will be in the garden if you need me, Papa,” she said, signalling to Sarah to help her out to the garden. She was confident that she could walk unaided, especially for short durations, but she still sought help as she did not want to give Mama any additional reason for irritation to her already exacerbated nerves.
Mr Bennet watched his daughter and her maid walk out of the French windows and murmured unhappily, “Oh Lizzy, stay strong, my child.”
∞∞∞
Nearly an hour after breakfast, Mr Bennet was in his study listening to a worrying report from his butler, Hill, when there was a knock at the door.
A footman came in and announced, “Lieutenant Wickham has come to call on the ladies, sir.”
“Tell him that we are not receiving at the moment,” Mr Bennet replied shortly, and the footman bowed out to convey the message to the visitor. The intelligence Hill had just imparted made the Bennet patriarch very reluctant to entertain anyone from the village at present unless he was very sure of their intentions. That Wickham had come calling at such an unreasonably early hour made Mr Bennet wary of the Lieutenant’s, hence the summary treatment to the man.
Mr Bennet was glad that yesterday’s disturbing events had made most members of his family sleep in later than normal, and no one was available to receive the soldier. Luckily, Lizzy was still out in the gardens and remained oblivious to the visit. But Mr Wickham’s arrival had made him realise that he could not put off speaking with Elizabeth much longer. He sighed unhappily at the thought.
∞∞∞
Wickham pursed his lips in frustration as he turned away from the front door of Longbourn. He had come here in the hope of ferreting out information on the very scandalous gossip he had heard at Mrs Goulding’s card party yestereve. At first, he had found it difficult to credit the whispers doing the rounds of their hostess’s drawing room. He had never known the straitlaced Darcy to act in a manner that would give rise to salacious gossip. However, he knew that he was onto something when he learned that Mrs Goulding had herself witnessed Darcy accompanying Miss Elizabeth to Longbourn. Not only was Darcy carrying the young lady in his arms, but they both had appeared in a state of dishevelment. There was also talk of some sort of accident, but Mrs Goulding was of the opinion that a mishap was not all that seemed to have occurred.
Well... well... who would have thought that the cold-blooded prig would ever let his passions rule him in this uncharacteristic manner? And then run away like a scared rabbit... because if the gossip is to be trusted, then the Netherfield party has already decamped from the estate.Wickham’s lips twitched at the thought as he walked away.
To him, it was baffling that Darcy had run away immediately after causing a scandal. It was something he—Wickham—would have done under the circumstances, not that paragon of virtue. But at the same time, he could also not believe that his erstwhile friend would contemplate lowering himself to marry the penniless daughter of a lowly country squire!
The news of the Netherfield party’s departure had prompted Wickham to visit Longbourn. If he could blacken Darcy’s already maligned character just a little bit more, then why not? He owed it to his friend for the thirty thousand pounds he had snatched away from him so cruelly.
Therefore, it was frustrating to be turned away from the front door when he had come here with such great anticipation. Wickham sighed resignedly and looked around as he walked past a small flower garden. He was overjoyed to see Miss Elizabeth seated there on a stone bench.
It seems my visit has not been in vain after all. He changed directions at the happy thought.
“Miss Elizabeth! I hope you are well,” he said as he came to stand before her.
Elizabeth started at the sudden intrusion. “Oh... Mr Wickham! Good morning, sir. I am very well. I thank you.”
“I am glad to know that, Miss Elizabeth. I heard about your accident when I was at the Gouldings’ card party last evening. I have to confess that the intelligence had me worried.”
Elizabeth was perturbed to learn that the news of her accident had been a matter of discussion among the neighbours. Yesterday, she had been too distracted by Mama’s lamentations and her own miserable condition to take much note of anything. But now that she thought about it, she could recollect that a few of the neighbourhood matrons, including Mrs Goulding, were present when Mr Darcy brought her back to Longbourn.
“There is no cause for worry, Mr Wickham. I feel as fit as a fiddle. Mr Jones, thankfully, ruled what we initially feared to be a sprain to be simply a wrench in my foot.”
“That is excellent news, Miss Elizabeth. I am happy to know that the events of yesterday have not had any ill effects on your health,” Wickham expressed his satisfaction even as he decided to go for the kill. “If only...” he added with a faux-diffident expression.
“If only...?” Elizabeth prompted when Mr Wickham was silent for a long moment.
“Umm... I do not know how to say this. Perhaps I should not be distressing you with this at all... but I consider you my dear friend... and...”
“Mr Wickham, please!” Elizabeth interrupted him a little impatiently, then gentled her voice. “I know that you are a well-wisher, and I insist that you do not hesitate to tell me what it is that is troubling you.”
“Oh, Miss Elizabeth, this is so awkward... but... I believe that it is my duty to tell you that yesterday there was a lot of talk and speculation about... about you and Darcy being alone together for an unspecified period in the woods, and... ah... there was some talk of... of both your clothes in a state of disarray... and...” Wickham stopped abruptly as he heard his companion’s sharply indrawn breath.
Elizabeth paled as she realised the extremely vulgar and dangerous turn the gossip seemed to have taken.
“I do not know what Darcy was even thinking...” Wickham began sanctimoniously, but Elizabeth interrupted him brusquely.
“When Mr Darcy came across me yesterday, I had already twisted my foot and was unable to walk on my own. So, if I were to assume, I would say that he was thinking only of my wellbeing.”
“Of course. I understand that, Miss Elizabeth, but Darcy is a man of the world, and he very well knows the importance of keeping up appearances. The least he could have done was to ensure that he returned you to your home undetected without making a spectacle of his generous deed.”
Even as a shocked Elizabeth observed the slightly malicious twist to Mr Wickham’s mouth, she recalled how careful Mr Darcy had been to ask her the way to Longbourn through the deserted path running behind it. The truth was that he had made every effort to return her to Longbourn unobserved. It was the presence of guests at their home that ruined his efforts. She might have informed Mr Wickham of the fact had she not seen the ghoulish anticipation on his face. It was almost as if he wanted her, and especially Mr Darcy, to be pilloried by the vulgar rumours that appeared to be circulating in Meryton.
“I have to agree with you that the timing of our return was unfortunate... as there were too many witnesses to it,” Elizabeth responded shortly.
“Very true, Miss Elizabeth, very true.” Wickham shook his head and tried to appear suitably mournful. “But now that his careless actions have resulted in so much damage to your reputation—not that I believe any of the vile gossip even for a moment—it was his duty to offer you the protection of his name.”
The thought of the supercilious Darcy leg shackled to a penniless, country-nobody tickled Wickham very much, and he controlled his amusement with difficulty.
Although the smirk on his lips disappeared as quickly as it had made an appearance, Elizabeth noticed it and reflected bemusedly, how did I ever consider this man charming and good-natured? For the very first time, she wondered whether all that he had told her about his past dealings with Mr Darcy, only hours after meeting her, was true.
Oblivious to her angry fulminations, Wickham continued, “But that coward has already run away. I heard that the Netherfield party left Meryton yesterday.”
And I thank the good Lord for that! Elizabeth thought with a shudder. For all the kindness he demonstrated yesterday, the very notion of beingtied for life to the disdainful Mr Darcy is horrifying! And... it is rather cruel to expect the man to be repaid thusly for being a good Samaritan. After all, he finds me barely tolerable.
“Yes... I am aware of that, Mr Wickham. Miss Bingley sent us a farewell note the day before the last. Their departure was already planned for yesterday. Mr Darcy was hardly to know that his generous deed would cause such a furore in our neighbourhood,” Elizabeth said dismissively.
Wickham stared at Miss Elizabeth for a long moment. It was frustrating to see her deflect each of his poison-laced barbs against Darcy so effortlessly. But as he observed her guileless demeanour, he was forced to conclude that despite Mrs Goulding’s salacious insinuations, all Darcy seemed to have done yesterday was to help an injured Miss Elizabeth to her home. It had been foolish of him to even expect anything else from that dry stick-in-the-mud. He sighed at the lost opportunity to finally collect some dirt on Darcy, but he could not give up before trying one last bit of mischief.
“Ah... yes, I understand, Miss Elizabeth, but you are too innocent about the ways of the world. Darcy certainly is not. He should have at least stayed back long enough to find out the repercussions of his actions.”
He saw Elizabeth’s impatient shrug and added maliciously, “I think you are not realising the gravity of the situation, Miss Elizabeth. All that I heard yestereve is quite detrimental to your reputation. If he were any sort of gentleman, Darcy would have offered you restitution, but he has run away.” Wickham paused to make an effect, and once again, Elizabeth wondered how she could have considered this snake as a friend!
“Would to God, I could offer myself as a substitute, but... I know my station, and I could not in good conscience ask a gentleman’s daughter to lower herself to accept a penniless soldier.”
Elizabeth easily understood Mr Wickham’s words to be the meaningless platitudes they were. Although panic was building up inside her due to all the supposed rumour-mongering in the neighbourhood, just for a moment she could not resist contemplating the effect of pretending to take up Mr Wickham on his spurious offer. Then she shook herself impatiently. Why am I wasting time with this charlatan when I should be apprising Papa of the disaster in the making?
“That is very kind of you, Mr Wickham, but in all fairness, I cannot ask it of you,” she said neutrally, then added with a nonchalance she was far from feeling. “And I do believe you are making a mountain out of a molehill. All this will soon blow over; my friends and neighbours have known me since my childhood.”
“I will pray that it is so.”
“Thank you, Mr Wickham. I am sorry, but I must take your leave now, as suddenly I am feeling the aftereffects of yesterday’s accident.”
“Of course... I...” But before he could complete his thoughts, Elizabeth stood up and, with a stiff curtesy to Wickham, walked away from him—her back ramrod straight!
∞∞∞
Elizabeth went straight to her father’s study from the garden. In her hurry to get away from Wickham, she had not even waited to call out to Sarah, who was gathering herbs in a nearby garden dedicated to cultivating all the herbs needed for the household.
“Papa, can we talk for a moment?”
“Of course, Lizzy, come and have a seat.”
Once seated, Elizabeth found herself quite at a loss as to how to broach the matter with her father. Her cheeks burned with mortification as she recalled Mr Wickham’s vulgar insinuations.
“Lizzy? What is the matter, my dear?”
“Ah... Papa... actually... I met Mr Wickham in the garden ju...”
“What! How dare he? He was told we are not at home to visitors, and still he had the temerity to accost you,” Mr Bennet cried angrily.
“Perhaps he saw me while passing by the flower garden and thought it would be rude not to acknowledge me,” Elizabeth suggested, although she was now certain that Mr Wickham had indeed accosted her with the intention of conveying the lurid gossip and ferreting out whatever information he could.
Mr Bennet did not respond, but the satirical manner in which he raised his brows revealed his thoughts. “So, what did he have to say?” he enquired instead.
Elizabeth flushed, not really wanting to disclose what she had learnt, but the gossip was not going to disappear on its own. She would need her father’s help in quelling the rumours. So, she cleared her throat and plunged right ahead.
“From what I could understand, he came here to regale me with the vicious gossip being peddled in Meryton about the events of yesterday. He tried to insinuate—not very subtly, I am afraid—that I am on the brink of ruin and that I need to be rescued by Mr Darcy. But then quite gleefully went on to add that Mr Darcy had already ... er... run away from Netherfield! So, in Mr Wickham’s learned opinion, I continue to remain on the brink.” Elizabeth tried to be flippant, but her attempt fell flat owing to the strain easily discernible in her voice.
“What a rogue! He had no business telling you such things. I am very happy that I refused him entry to our home,” Mr Bennet muttered as he took off his spectacles and started polishing the glasses.
Elizabeth watched unhappily as her father avoided looking at her. “Papa...” she could not resist calling after a few moments of tense silence. Mr Bennet released a deep breath and reluctantly raised his eyes to his daughter.
“I do not know if Mr Darcy has left the neighbourhood or not, but that rogue was correct on at least two counts, my Lizzy. The gossip is indeed quite wild. It would appear Mrs Goulding and her maids have been very liberal in talking about yesterday’s incident in great detail with all and sundry. And the way things appear at the moment, I might just have to locate Mr Darcy and appeal to him to do the honourable thing!”
“But Papa, that is most unfair! You know nothing untoward happened. Mr Darcy only lent me his help when I needed it most. Can we not tell everyone the truth? I am sure they will be willing to believe us over Mrs Goulding’s insinuations. After all, they have known me all my life!”
Mr Bennet looked at his daughter sadly. He did not have the heart to tell her that Mrs Goulding and her minions were no longer the only ones spreading the rumours.
Before he could tell her the truth, however, Elizabeth continued agitatedly. “And you also know my feelings about Mr Darcy and what he thinks of me. Papa, please... please do not ask this of me. How will I survive with a man who despises everyone and everything that I hold dear?”
Mr Bennet sighed unhappily at the despair in Elizabeth’s voice. “Please do not distress yourself so, Lizzy. Let us wait for a while and see how things unfold. But I have to tell you that I am very anxious about how your mother will behave once she learns of all that is being bandied about,” he said as he rose from his seat to sit in a chair next to his daughter’s.
He caught hold of Elizabeth’s hand and squeezed it gently between his own. “For what it is worth, Lizzy, Mr Darcy was not at all arrogant when I spoke to him yesterday. In fact, he was rather concerned about your wellbeing.” Mr Bennet tried his best to soothe Elizabeth’s fears.
“Oh... yes, he... he was very kind yesterday. Perhaps he behaves better in a situation of emergency, Papa, but please do not forget that I have spent days in the same house as him. I found him to be rather unpleasant and arrogant. He acts superior and is always looking down his nose at you as if to find some deeply hidden flaw,” Elizabeth protested in a high voice, trying hard not to cry. She suddenly had the most unfamiliar and distressing feeling of being caged in. It felt like the walls of a prison were slowly closing in around her, and if she were to get caught, she would never be free again.
Mr Bennet could see that his daughter was near the end of her tether, so putting aside his own worries, he tried to comfort her. “Very well, Lizzy, I promise you that I will approach Mr Darcy only if I feel that it is necessary to do so. I hope you know that I will consider the necessity only if it’s a matter of my family’s honour.” He patted her hand gently and added, “You must be tired, so, go to your...”
A knock on the door interrupted his words, and Hill peered inside to announce, “Mr Darcy is here to see you, Mr Bennet.”
“Mr Wickham was wrong about one thing at least,” Mr Bennet said dryly.
“Perhaps he has come to collect his coat.” Elizabeth suggested eagerly, then flushed at the expression on her father’s face.
“Or mayhap he has come to enquire after your health,” Mr Bennet suggested gently. “You go to your room and get some rest, Lizzy. I will let you know what he wants,” he promised as he went behind his desk.
“Please show in Mr Darcy once Lizzy leaves,” Mr Bennet told Hill.