Chapter 1.15 #3
Mrs Annesley did not remain long in their company as she left to call on a friend.
After her departure, both Elizabeth and Georgiana attempted to continue the conversation and not allow sadness to overcome them again, but the words came with difficulty, and the awkwardness of their situation proved a difficult obstacle to overcome.
∞∞∞
A strong knock at the door startled them both, and Elizabeth felt she would faint on hearing Mr Darcy’s deep voice.
“Georgiana, may I enter?”
“Yes, William, of course.”
The girl looked briefly at her visitor and saw her face turn white as she twisted her hands in her lap.
He entered and moved closer, greeting them with a reasonably pleasant countenance.
Elizabeth did not fail to notice that he appeared tired, but he was shaved and dressed in different clothes than he wore the previous evening.
He must have returned some time earlier, and Elizabeth was dying of anxiety and curiosity to ask him about Lydia, but she could find no way to do such a thing in Georgiana’s presence.
He leaned down to kiss his sister’s forehead and then turned to Elizabeth, whose embarrassment had turned her into a statue.
“Miss Elizabeth.”
“Mr Darcy.”
“It is fortunate I still find you here, for I have some positive information to share with you. I just left Mr Gardiner’s house a little more than half an hour ago, and I came directly, taking only a few moments to adjust my appearance because I indeed looked very ‘scary,’ as Becky would say.”
She opened her eyes widely at him, failing to notice his small joke about her little cousin, only begging for any news, inconsequential though it might be.
“Sir, my uncle and my father…are they well? I must return home as soon as possible. Georgiana, please forgive me; I cannot delay a moment longer.”
She rose, but Mr Darcy stopped her, heedless of his sister’s presence.
“Miss Elizabeth, please allow me to detain you for a few more minutes. The situation has been taken care of in as satisfactory a way as possible under the circumstances. All three of them are at the Gardiners’ house for the time being, and I think I am correct in saying they are in good health but very tired, and without any doubt, they must be sleeping now. ”
Her astonishment was beyond measure: “All three? Is it possible?”
He smiled comfortingly and nodded in agreement.
“Of course, I would ask the carriage to be prepared for you as soon as you please, but I do not think they are in need of any urgent help at the moment. Mrs Gardiner and Miss Bennet seemed very efficient in taking care of everything. And Mr Bennet sent an express to Longbourn to announce the latest news. So I trust nothing more can be done at this time.”
“I thank you, sir. My gratitude cannot be expressed, I am so…” She could not finish, as tears overwhelmed her. “But, if it is not too much trouble for you, I would want to be with my family as soon as possible.”
“Of course. If you will allow me a few moments, I shall make the arrangements for your departure.” He tightened the grip of her arm a moment, wrapped both women in a warm, affectionate gaze, and then left the room.
Elizabeth could barely look at Georgiana, but the young girl understood the delicacy of the moment and did not inquire further. Instead, she smiled.
“Elizabeth, did you see? William said everything is well now. You need not worry anymore.”
She reached her hands towards her, and Elizabeth sat on the bed and embraced Georgiana, their heads resting on each other’s shoulders.
∞∞∞
At about the same time, Colonel Fitzwilliam entered his parents’ town house—tired, dirty, and seething with repressed anger towards Wickham.
The man’s profligacy and licentiousness had always been outrageous, but the night before, he had overstepped all acceptable limits.
Wickham’s demands had been not only ridiculously high but had been made with such impertinence that the colonel was tempted several times to solve the problem more efficiently at the cost of a bullet—as he had desired ever since he had first learned of the scoundrel’s scheme towards Georgiana.
He was at a loss to understand how Darcy was capable of keeping his calm countenance and dealing with him in a determined but elegant manner, though the colonel could tell that, more than once, Darcy had been as tempted as he was to use a more efficient method than mere persuasion.
At least now, everything was done, and he hoped his new commission would be far enough away so as not to see Wickham more than once in ten years.
As for that stupid, silly girl, mindless and imprudent…
he did not want to imagine what kind of life they would share, and happily, he had no interest in knowing.
He tried to sneak into his room before anyone saw him but with no success. Lady Ellen was waiting for him.
“My dear son, would you do me the honour of spending one minute in my company before disappearing again?”
“Of course, Mother, please forgive me. I only wanted to refresh myself a little first.”
“Well, do not worry; I know how you look after a night spent who knows where and in who knows what company. Come and sit a moment. Have a glass of wine and tell me how dinner was last night and why you mercilessly abandoned me without an explanation. Everybody asked about you, especially a few handsome young ladies.”
He laughed, kissed his mother’s hand, and poured some brandy, knowing there was no escape. Moreover, conversations with her had always been a pleasure as she had an amazing understanding of things of which few ladies would dare to think.
Lady Ellen had been one of the beauties of the ton in her time, her lovely face matching a sharp, witty mind, and she had a fortune that gave her a comfortable independence in every aspect of her life—from choosing her husband to doing what she wanted, before and after marriage.
Lord Matlock had been the fortunate man who was rewarded with her affection and hand—an honour desired by many others.
His reckoning had been his wife’s continual contradiction and disobedience for thirty-five years, creating as many battles as any war, although their mutual affection remained strong and assured them a happy marriage and a happier parenthood.
Their two sons each inherited the character of one of their parents, and a fragile balance existed in the family on every important matter.
However, the balance did not exist where the colonel’s life and future were concerned, the other three members demanding that he seek a proper wife and settle down in his own home.
His absence for an entire night was the incentive for his mother—who had a clear but undeclared partiality for him and had never refused him anything—to demand another discussion on the subject of his adventurous life.
“Well? Will you tell me the truth about dinner the other night? Your father will return soon from his club, and I would like to learn the correct version of the story, not the one created for him.”
“My dearest mother, there is not much to tell. I confess I was curious to attend because Darcy invited some unknown guests—his and Bingley’s acquaintances from Hertfordshire.”
“I see…And among those guests were there, by any chance, any attractive ladies to arouse your interest? I find it difficult to believe you were merely there to make new acquaintances.”
“You are right; as a matter of fact, there were two beautiful young ladies: Misses Jane Bennet and Elizabeth Bennet. The other guests were their relatives—an aunt and uncle.”
“Why do you stop, young man? You must know I want more details.”
“Well, there is not much to say. Miss Jane Bennet is the young lady who stole Bingley’s heart—you remember Charles Bingley, do you not?
—and he has never ceased talking about her these last two months.
But I can find no fault in this, for she is indeed remarkably beautiful and has a sweet disposition.
I am sure she will be the perfect wife for him if he ever gains the courage to ask for her hand. ”
“She sounds lovely, and you know I like Mr Bingley very much, especially when he is without that sister of his. By the way, did Darcy manage to eat or breathe, or did Caroline hinder him completely?”
“To be honest, in that respect it was a most entertaining evening. I am sorry you missed it. You would have adored seeing Miss Bingley reprimanded more than once, not only by Darcy but by her own brother—and deservedly so, for she had been quite impertinent and offensive to the guests.”
“Oh dear, what a loss indeed that I was not there. So are you saying that little puppy has become a full-grown guard dog?”
He could not restrain his laughter. “A very inspiring metaphor but true nevertheless. Bingley is quite proficient in protecting Miss Bennet—Miss Jane Bennet, I mean, for the other one does not seem to need protection. She is quite capable of biting by herself—elegantly but efficiently.”
“That sounds interesting. Do I detect the beginning of admiration here?”
“Maybe, my lady, but not the kind of admiration you think. Miss Elizabeth is a remarkable young lady, and I indeed came to admire her after a short time in her company. But I have every reason to believe her affection and hand are already secured—or very soon will be.”
“Well, that is a relief. I would not want you to trifle with a gentleman’s daughter, but I would also want you to remember that a country girl is not what you need in a wife.”
“There is no need to remind me, my lady, you must grant me that. However,” continued the colonel, seizing the opportunity, “Miss Elizabeth appears to be much more than a simple country girl. In manners, wit, and quickness of mind, she reminds me very much of you, or rather of how you must have been some years ago—except that she is not as beautiful as you were and certainly not as wealthy.”