Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
“Darcy! Have you eaten? Come join us.”
Bingley sat at White’s with two of his friends from Oxford, also recent graduates. Darcy tried to remember their names, but both had finished their meals and excused themselves with apologies as he approached.
“Am I an unsavory acquaintance?” Darcy knew he could expect far worse treatment when he began to court Elizabeth.
“Not at all. They are late to some little rout put on by Hill’s mother. It is good to see you! When did you arrive in town?”
“Yesterday afternoon. How was the festive season? You went to Hertfordshire?”
Bingley sighed comfortably. Darcy was glad to see all was in order with his friend’s engagement. “You left Miss Bennet well, I hope?”
“Yes. Being in the country with her was far different from attending all the parties during the busy Season. We had more time to talk privately together and understand each other even better. She is perfect, Darcy.”
Darcy knew that was not accurate, but if Bingley wanted to believe it, he would not stop him.
“Did you get to know all the Bennets while you were there?”
“I did. I had met everyone in July, of course, but that had been such a short trip. Jane’s sisters are rather lively. Aside from Miss Mary.”
“She is the sister who is closest in age to Miss Elizabeth, I think.”
“Yes, and you will never believe this, Darcy. Her father allowed her to enter into an engagement with a local man at Christmas, though she is not yet nineteen. Yet he will not allow me to wed Jane until late autumn.”
“That seems odd. Will Miss Mary be married before you, then?”
“Possibly!” Bingley shook his head. “In truth, Jane and Miss Mary spoke of a double wedding. Jane is three years older than her sister but must wait.”
“Did Mr. Bennet explain his reasoning?”
Bingley hemmed and hawed, but finally Darcy understood Mr. Bennet trusted the familiar man more than the unknown Bingley or his sister.
“Will you spend more time in Hertfordshire, then, so Mr. Bennet can know you better?”
“Caroline would have a fit if I even suggested staying more than a fortnight there.”
Darcy looked at Bingley, waiting for him to realize Mr. Bennet may be correct about him. When he did not, he spoke again.
“Will you not attempt to rein in your sister’s outspoken and unhelpful manners? You said Mr. Bennet’s biggest objections were your age, which will be rectified by time, and your sister’s behavior, which may only grow worse with time.”
Bingley’s face fell. “I have tried, Darce. She refuses to listen.”
“Do you not know to what most people listen?”
Bingley shook his head.
“Money. I am sorry, but it is true. Perhaps tightening your hold on her allowance will encourage her to heed you.”
“I will take it under consideration. You may very well be right.”
Darcy had ordered his meal and begun eating his fish and peas. He pushed the food about on his plate, considering what to say. He had hoped Bingley would mention Elizabeth without his prompting, but they canvassed nearly every other Bennet but her.
“Did Miss Elizabeth go to Hertfordshire for Christmas?”
“Yes, and do you know, I have never seen her so happy.”
Darcy’s heart warmed to know she had experienced a good holiday with her loved ones.
“She must have liked being back in the countryside. Was the weather conducive for her to walk and ride?”
Bingley looked momentarily bemused. “Oh, yes. I believe she hardly cared whether it was wet or dry. Jane said she went out every day. One day, we all walked through Meryton—that is the local village. That reminds me, you remember that fellow Wickham?”
“Wickham! What about him?” Darcy had barely heard of his former friend’s doings for more than three years. “Did you see him in Hertfordshire?”
“No, no. Apparently he has been calling on Miss Elizabeth—”
“What!” Darcy could not allow the scoundrel anywhere near Elizabeth.
“What is the problem? Caroline saw them both on Bond Street last month and introduced them.”
“And he has been calling on Elizabeth?” Darcy was so agitated he had left off her courtesy title, but his friend did not seem to notice.
Bingley looked as though his memory was being taxed beyond the reasonable.
“I…I believe she said he told her he would call when she returned to London. I did not ask questions, not knowing it would be so important. Forgive me, I forgot you have feelings for her. But really, if you will not pursue her, you cannot expect nobody else to court her.”
“I am aware, but Wickham is the worst kind of man. She cannot know what he is. Will you speak to her?”
“I could try. We do not see each other often in town, but we had a good rapport in Hertfordshire, so if I could see her in a natural setting, I could mention…what exactly would I mention? I know nothing of the man except that you grew up together because he was the steward’s son and always about.”
Darcy considered how to protect Elizabeth. He would tell her himself, but given their lack of communication for the past two years and the urgency of the message, he thought Bingley would be better suited to delivering it.
“George Wickham should not be trusted around women. He does not respect them. Since he was sixteen, he has used and discarded servants, tradesmen’s daughters, and even poorly protected gentlemen’s daughters.
He can have nothing good in mind for Miss Elizabeth.
He is also a terrible gambler, had no profession last I heard, and does not pay his debts, so he could never support a wife and would be looking only for an heiress to wed.
She must be made to understand he will not have marriage in mind. ”
“Oh, dear.”
“Yes. So, you will speak with her?”
“I will do my best. She and Caroline have not been on good terms for years, so she has not been at Hurst’s home for a while. Not since that day you…”
Darcy sighed. They sat together eating their meal and discussing nothing of importance for a while before he decided to broach the topic of Elizabeth again.
“Bingley, you should know I may become extremely unpopular, if things go my way.”
“You sound a bit addled, my friend. I know you like to be unsociable and reserved, but I thought you liked people to think well of you.”
“Maybe I am addled, but I have already started down a path that I anticipate will end in an utter severing from society—if Elizabeth will forgive me.”
“Are you saying…have you decided to pursue her after all? After all these years of denying you could even think of her? This is too rich! You must be jesting.”
“I am entirely serious. It will not be easy, as I have a feeling she despises me, but I must try.”
“I knew it! I knew you two were perfect for each other.”
“Keep your voice down, I beg you. I would like to confess my feelings to the woman before all of London hears, if you please.”
“But this is stupendous!” Bingley whispered loudly and grinned. “So, we must dismiss Wickham with all haste, so you can move in, finally apologize to her for being a giant oaf, and then convince her you are not the man she has seen around town for the past two years.”
Darcy swallowed.
“When you put it that way…do you think it a lost cause?”
“Of course not. Do I have your permission to tell Jane? She may have some ideas.”
“Not yet. First, we get rid of Wickham. Then, we see how firmly he has already wormed his way into her heart. The initial campaign for my happiness, fought over the festive season, was mostly successful, but this war may be long and painful. I do not need more witnesses. Please keep this in confidence.”
Bingley nodded.
They finished their meals, Darcy considering the work ahead of him.
He had received grudging and conditional approval from his Matlock relations.
He wanted to tell his sister of his love for her friend, but Richard had convinced him to wait until he was closer to his goal, to avoid upsetting her if it did not work out or he decided he could not go through with what his family expected to be undying humiliation.
Adding Wickham to the obstacles before him was unfortunate, but as long as he got to Elizabeth soon, he had a chance.
“Will you wear Mr. Wickham’s comb tonight, Miss?”
“No, Dinah. It is in my reticule again. I mean to return it to him tonight. Perhaps you would like to mention that to Matthew, so he will not worry?” Elizabeth gave her maid a half smile, but Dinah’s relief was clear.
“I think you are ready for the ball, then, Miss. This new yellow gown suits you.”
“Thank you, Dinah. Please tell my aunt I will be down in a quarter of an hour.”
“Yes, Miss.”
After her maid departed, Elizabeth gazed at her reflection. Then she turned to her dressing table and lifted the miniature that sat there. She looked back and forth between the small portrait and the mirror.
“I look like you now, Mama, do you not think? I am nearly nineteen, as you were when this was painted. You looked so happy…”
She thought back over the past few days. Mr. Wickham had made a brief call Saturday morning to inform her he would have three horses at Hyde Park on Monday afternoon. It had been a dream of hers for several years to ride through the park, and she thanked him eagerly.
“His horses, though, Mama! You would not have liked to see them. All three appeared underfed. Matthew’s horse shied away from him as though afraid, but he soothed her with murmured words.”
Elizabeth shook her head. She had been surprised by the state of Mr. Wickham’s horses, and she wondered whether he was responsible for the care and breeding at his estate.
“Mr. Wickham was not patient enough with his mount, either, and he used a bit that was too tight. It was distressing to witness.”
Perhaps he knew little of horses and had others in charge of them, although he had spoken with such passion about the animals when he first mentioned them. He did talk as though he spent most of his time in London and Bath, though. Perhaps he was not comfortable in the country.
Elizabeth still had no desire to live forever in London.
If she became a governess, she would seek a position at a country estate.
Realizing she still considered entering service, she knew even more firmly that she had not made up her mind about Mr. Wickham.
She would give him the benefit of the doubt, however.
“The state of the horses he brought to Hyde Park could not have been his fault, Mama. He must have others taking care of them.” She sighed.
“Nobody is perfect, Mama. You must agree with me. I cannot expect to interest anyone as gentlemanly or wealthy as Mr. Bingley or Mr. Lucas or Mr. Cage. And I would not wish for any of them. None of them ever made me weak in the knees, as I suspect I will be when I dance with Mr. Wickham tonight.”
She briefly thought of an impromptu dance that had made her weak in the knees, but she hastily pushed it away and looked at the miniature again and considered a possible future with Mr. Wickham.
“When should I tell him of my father, Mama? I think I will not tell him of my real father until the moment before Uncle signs the marriage settlement, should I decide in his favor. He should know about Papa Oliver, though. If I do not find a chance tonight, I will tell him the next time he calls, when we have more privacy. I do not expect he will mind, given his own father was a steward. He says his heart is already engaged, as well, which will make the knowledge less important. Still, I would like him to know before I allow my own heart to be touched.”