Chapter 28
Shortly after sunrise, Darcy mounted Bart and set off for Longbourn, wondering if he ought not to have suggested this early morning tête-à-tête.
The air was a bit chilly, so he wouldn’t blame Elizabeth if she’d stayed indoors, but he doubted they would have another opportunity that day to spend a few minutes alone.
He need not have worried. She awaited him in the spinney, bundled against the cold with a woollen cloak and shawl. Although he was glad to see her, he couldn’t like her mournful air. “What troubles you, my love?”
“I don’t think I can ever forgive Charlotte for what she has done, or her family."
He was well acquainted with that sentiment. “It’s difficult to forgive our friends when they disappoint us.”
“Like Mr Wickham?” she inquired, to which he nodded. “But you bought his commission, even after everything he has done.”
“He would have been ruined otherwise,” he said, recalling George’s false bravado in the tiny boarding house room. “My father wanted his godson to succeed in life, so I was obliged to help him, but I’ll never trust him again.”
She released a weary sigh. “Nor can I trust Charlotte.”
In Darcy’s opinion, Miss Lucas had also run out of suitable options. “She is rather to be pitied, forever tied to a man like Collins. What’s more, she’ll be subjected to my aunt’s whims and tirades.”
“My cousin holds her ladyship in such high esteem, it’s a shame he can’t marry her instead,” she said with a teasing glint in her eye.
Relieved that she had regained her sense of humour, he drew her into his arms. “I’d much rather contemplate a future with my enchantress.”
Upon being admitted to Sir William Lucas’s study later that morning, Darcy remained light-hearted, despite his host’s unusual gravitas. After exchanging common civilities, Sir William remained grim. “’Tis a terrible shame about the Bennets’ fall from grace,” the older man said.
Which you propagated, Darcy thought, though he kept that to himself.
“That’s precisely my reason for calling.
The situation is regrettable, but not entirely hopeless.
I have every intention of leading Miss Elizabeth to the altar, and if you haven’t heard, Mr Bingley and Miss Bennet are now betrothed. ”
“Are they? I can’t say I am surprised, but Miss Lydia…” He sadly shook his head.
Darcy persevered. “Lydia is currently enrolled in a seminary for young ladies and shall have the benefit of the finest education in town. First Lieutenant Wickham is now enroute to New Castle where he will join General Stanhope’s regiment. I saw to his commission.”
“That is quite generous of you, Mr Darcy.”
“I did it to honour my late father, who would have wanted his godson to succeed and prosper. Mr Wickham was my boyhood friend and a great favourite of my father, who never learned of his debauched lifestyle. When I found him in town last week, he was at point non-plus. Rather than cutting the connection and leaving him to his own fate, I offered him a new start, as my father would have wanted.”
Sir William’s gaze wandered off, as though in deep contemplation.
Undeterred, Darcy continued, “What’s more, a fifteen-year-old girl who dreams of fancy gowns and romance, ought not to be left to suffer when a handsome soldier lures her away from home with false promises. Nor should her sisters lose their reputations due to her impetuous flight.”
Sir William nodded grimly. “There is much in what you say, Mr Darcy, but you must consider my position. I’m a knight of the realm and an elder in the community. Everyone looks to me for guidance and wisdom.”
“As do I, Sir William. George Wickham will come away unscathed from this episode, and Lydia has been sent back to the schoolroom,” he said, attempting to keep his temper under control. “Should we not do everything in our power to protect Mr Bennet’s other daughters?”
“I must protect my own daughters, Mr Darcy. My dear Charlotte is finally betrothed, and her sisters may now look forward to matches of their own. Their reputations could be damaged if they associate with the sisters of a fallen woman.”
Darcy’s anger rose at this nonsensical description of Wickham’s latest victim.
“Your daughter is betrothed to the man who stands to inherit Longbourn. A man who, I might as well add, maliciously spread the story of Lydia’s flight with the sole intention of disgracing his own family.
Will you stand by and allow that man to malign Mr Bennet’s other daughters, who are entirely blameless in this affair? I assure you, I never shall.”
Sir William winced, still hesitant.
Darcy decided to take another approach. “In cases like this, gentlemen are often in a position to quietly assist our friends, without the least need for recognition. It brings to mind a similar situation I’ve recently heard of; a barrister’s daughter needed rescue some ten years ago when her sister ran off with a soldier. ”
Sir William’s eyes flew open wide.
“That lady has sworn me to secrecy, but if you would come to her aid, then I’m certain you will comprehend my efforts to assist other ladies in a similar dilemma, who ought not to suffer for their sister’s folly.”
Sir William absently nodded his head. “Quite so,” he said in a bland voice as though not fully convinced.
“Miss Mary and Miss Kitty are in desperate need of protection. A kind word from you will go a long way to restoring their positions in the community. I’m certain Mr Bennet would appreciate it.”
Sir William’s shoulders slumped as though overcome by a heavy burden. “I’ve known Thomas Bennet all my life. He’s an honourable, respectable gentleman.”
Knowing of that longstanding connection, Darcy pressed on, “Sir William, let me urge you to reconsider your perspective. If we are willing to make allowances for the Prince Regent’s debauched behaviour, a grown man who was born into the highest echelons of society and will someday be our monarch, then can’t we also excuse the whims of an impetuous fifteen-year-old girl? ”
“You’ve given me much to consider, Mr Darcy.”
“That’s all I ask of you, Sir William.”
***
Ready to announce his news to the neighbours, Charles Bingley accompanied Jane and her sisters to the village. Inside the millinery, the proprietors extended their warmest greetings. “Ah, Mr Bingley, you’ve returned at long last,” Mrs Ward said.
“Indeed, I have, and although I haven’t patronised your shop in the past, I intend to do so in the near future,” he said, with Jane standing beside him. “Miss Bennet has agreed to make me the happiest of men.”
Mrs Ward gasped with delight. “What wonderful news, Mr Bingley. We wish you and Miss Bennet every happiness.”
“You’re very kind, Mrs Ward, and I shall rely on you to keep my future wife in the latest style,” he said, gazing fondly at Jane.
Mrs Ward’s eyes grew wide with delight. “Oh, Miss Bennet, I believe Mr Bingley will be a most attentive husband.”
Charles couldn’t have been more pleased by the lady’s reception, nor by Jane’s rosy blush.
Once outside, she accepted his arm. “You are altogether charming, sir. Mrs Ward barely acknowledged me yesterday, but today she was warm and welcoming.”
This was just as Charles had hoped. “With the promise of future business, she would have been a fool to snub you. Where to next, my love?”
Jane glanced over her shoulder at her sisters. “I daresay we’ll have similar results at the green grocer and dry goods shop, but I can scarcely wait to share the news with Mrs Fletcher.”
With Miss Elizabeth and Miss Mary in full agreement, they crossed the street and entered the butcher shop.
“Betrothed?” Mrs Fletcher said upon hearing Charles’s announcement. “What wonderful news, Mr Bingley. I wish you and Miss Bennet much joy. You have captured a rare gem.”
“How well I know, and I can only hope to be worthy of her. I shall cherish each moment with her for the rest of my life.”
Mrs Fletcher gushed with pleasure. “My dear Miss Bennet, I couldn’t be happier for you, not that I didn’t know it would happen from the very start. ‘We’ll have a wedding soon,’ I said when I saw you dance at the assemblies, and so we shall.”
“That went better than I could have imagined,” Charles said, once they had left the shop. He hoped that the news would spread quickly that he hadn’t forsaken Jane due to her sister’s foolish escapade.
“Mrs Fletcher is one of a kind, to be sure, and we may rely on her to spread the good news,” Miss Elizabeth said. “I daresay, the other shopkeepers will extend every curtesy to the future mistress of Netherfield, rather than lose your continued patronage.”
This prediction proved accurate at the next two shops, where the proprietors received the news of Jane’s upcoming change of residence with eager interest. Pleased by their success, Charles hoped to settle one more bit of business.
“Since we’re so close to the parsonage, perhaps we should call on the vicar and request the banns. ”
“An excellent idea,” Jane said with her usual glowing countenance. “Also, don’t forget to send word to your parish rector at St George’s.”
Charles had indeed forgotten that the banns must also be read in his own parish. “Quite right. The sooner that’s done, the better.”
On their way to the parsonage, the party encountered Miss Lucas and her sister Maria. Miss Elizabeth abruptly stopped walking and wrapped a protective arm around Miss Mary. Jane released Charles’s arm and stood with her sisters.
Despite knowing that the scene in church still weighed heavily on Jane’s mind, he maintained civility and greeted the Lucas sisters.
After returning his greeting, Miss Lucas cast a remorseful glance at the Bennet sisters. “Oh, Eliza. I’m so dreadfully sorry.”
Miss Elizabeth sombrely shook her head. “You mustn’t trouble yourself over it, Miss Lucas. We offer our warmest wishes on your betrothal.”
“Indeed, may you both have every happiness,” Miss Bennet said in a civil tone. “Kindly excuse us. We must hurry home.” She dipped a curtsy and lead her sisters away.
Suspecting that everyone on the street had witnessed that exchange, Charles bowed to the Lucas ladies, then followed Jane and her sisters to the lane.
“I’ll never understand why our friends betrayed us, Jane,” Miss Elizabeth said.
“I’m certain they now realise that they’ve made a terrible mistake, and are heartily sorry for it,” Jane said, in her gentle, unassuming manner.
“Why? Did someone force them to contribute to our ruin?” Miss Elizabeth said in a harsh tone.
“Please don’t despair, my dear Lizzy. Several shopkeepers acknowledged us today, and I think we’ve come a great way in repairing the damage,” Jane said, then cast a worried glance over her shoulder at Charles, as if seeking his assistance.
“Indeed, they were all quite welcoming,” he said, encouraged by their progress, although he privately admitted that gaining acceptance from the neighbouring estate owners would prove more challenging.
“We need not trouble Mama with this trifling matter, Lizzy. She has already suffered so,” Jane said. “Don’t you agree, Mary?”
“I won’t say a word about it,” Mary said, still keeping a firm hold on Miss Elizabeth. “She’ll be overjoyed to hear of our success, especially with Mrs Finch.”
Charles admired the way Jane sought to protect everyone in her sphere, and was more confident than ever that she would be an excellent wife.
Upon their arrival at Longbourn, Jane and her sisters went upstairs to see to Mrs Bennet, and Charles found Mr Bennet in the study with Darcy.
“Join us, Mr Bingley,” Mr Bennet said. “Mr Darcy was just telling me about his morning call at Lucas Lodge.”
Eager to hear of his friend’s success, Charles sat beside Darcy and accepted a tankard of ale from his host.
“I urged Sir William to reexamine his perspective on Lydia’s recent adventure,” Darcy said. “He’s still hesitant, but with some continued reflection on his longstanding connection with you, Mr Bennet, I’m hopeful he’ll reverse himself.”
“One can only hope he’ll see reason,” Mr Bennet said, without much enthusiasm.
Charles sincerely hoped Sir William would change his mind and accept the Bennets.
“I had some success with the merchants this morning, but I believe they’re motivated by my continued patronage, rather than any sense of friendship,” he said, now thinking more clearly about the matter.
“However, that only addresses part of the problem. I might try calling on a few gentlemen in the neighbourhood to announce my good fortune. Do you suppose Mr Harrington, Mr Goulding, and Mr Robinson would receive me?”
“I can’t fathom why they would refuse you,” Mr Bennet said. “I agree that a few well-chosen private conversations would be more beneficial, especially since you plan to reside in the community. The neighbours can’t easily ignore a man with your effervescent charm.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Darcy said with a confident smile, and a wink. “You have a way about you that no one can resist.”
Charles flashed a sidelong warning to his friend. If Darcy meant to accuse him of having magic again, he might be forced to resort to fisticuffs.