Chapter 53 Attack
By mid-morning, all the members of the household had been warned to stay in company and stay close to the house.
Mrs. Bennet was the most disappointed, since she had wanted to do more visiting to spread the good news about her three oldest daughters.
Mrs. de Bourgh reminded her that the Gardiners and Mary would be arriving soon and that the dinner party might need more planning.
The two ladies soon settled in the sitting room with Jane, who seemed to have infinite patience with her mother's effusions and Anne, who had never planned a party of any kind before and was curious how it was done.
Darcy and Lizzy joined the younger girls in the music room after Darcy sent a messenger to Netherfield to warn the inhabitants there of Wickham's escape. Bingley arrived soon after in response, saying that the rest of the party had decided to wait until later in the afternoon to make their visit.
"Lady Sheldon is giving my sister lessons in the duties of a gentleman's wife," he explained to Darcy and Lizzy when he joined them in the music room. She has also offered to assist my sister in society if Caroline is willing to work to amend her attitude."
"That is kind of her," Darcy said. "Your sister has many fine attributes. With the help of Lady Sheldon, she can learn to make the most of them."
"Both Lady Sheldon and Mrs. Damask have privately told me that part of their willingness to help is because my sister's behavior and status could eventually affect Mary's happiness. They also said it was a shame for someone with Caroline’s potential to display herself so poorly.
I am just glad she will be gaining their help. "
"They both taught me a great deal," Lizzy said. "I also felt they were able to expose Jane and me to a much wider circle of acquaintances and into a, well, more elevated society, if you will, than we would otherwise expect. I am certain they can do the same for your sister."
"I have to say it is a relief to me that they offered. She has been so subdued since we talked about her expectations for the future. I hope this will ease some of her worry about what will happen as my courtship with Miss Mary progresses."
"Just having Lady Sheldon and Mrs. Damask willing to introduce her to their circles of society will be enough to demonstrate that no one considers her 'on the shelf' even if you do marry before she does," Darcy said.
"Once all the impending Bennet marriages take place, Miss Bingley's connections become an additional draw on top of her dowry and good looks.
If she can also be taught to moderate her behavior, she should be to attract some fine prospects that match what she is looking for in a husband. "
"Just not you," Lizzy teased.
"Never me," confirmed Darcy. "I have everything I need in you."
Bingley rolled his eyes and chuckled at the two of them. Kitty and Lydia looked up from their game of chess at the sound.
"Have you been discussing something amusing?" Lydia asked.
"It is your sister and Darcy who are amusing," replied Bingley.
"Ah, and I suppose you have never said anything like that to Miss Mary?" Darcy asked.
Bingley blushed to his ear tips. His silence spoke volumes and both Lizzy and Darcy chuckled at the lack of response.
"I am looking forward to seeing Mary again," Kitty said, kindly deflecting the attention from Bingley. "She has been gone so long it makes me wonder how different she will be."
"What do you mean?" Lizzy asked.
"Well, you and Jane both changed after your trips to London and the trip to Derbyshire. I do not mean that in a bad way, it was just clear you both had, well, I guess grown is the best way to express it."
Lizzy nodded in understanding. "I suppose you are correct.
We have seen more of the world than Meryton and even the familiar starts to look different when you have a wider experience to compare it to.
That was the intent of the visits in many ways, I think.
But Mary has visited the Gardiners in London before.
Why do you think this trip will have changed her? "
"She visited the Gardiners previously, but not for the exposure to society. And, she has never been in a courtship before. That will make her different as well."
"Not to reveal too much, but I do know it has made her very happy," Lizzy said, causing Bingley to blush again.
"I hope their party arrives here soon," Bingley mumbled.
"That will all depend on how quickly they were able to leave this morning," Lizzy reminded him. "Add four children to the party and it is easy to have unexpected delays."
"I have just about lost this game," Kitty said. "Perhaps you should play the next with Lydia to take your mind off the wait."
Bingley agreed and changed places with Kitty to begin a new game. Georgiana continued playing the pianoforte in the background while Kitty, Lizzy and Darcy watched the chess match.
~o~
"They truly are late," Lizzy said to the small group sitting in Bennet's study.
Lord Sheldon had joined Bennet, Bingley, Lizzy and Darcy for a time while the others in the party were either sitting with Mrs. Bennet or enjoying the music being provided by the other young ladies in the music room.
It was nearly four in the afternoon, and the party from Netherfield had arrived an hour previous expecting to find the Gardiners and Mary already there.
"The last word we had was that they intended to leave early and should have been here before noon," Bennet said.
"Ordinarily, if Gardiner knows he will be delayed, he will send an express.
I think he would also do so, if possible, should their carriage break down on the way.
After all, we have plenty of people with carriages available to go pick them all up in that event.
It must have been something unforeseen that has made them late without them being able to see how late they would be. "
"I hate to think of all the possibilities," Lizzy said.
"Your uncle is a seasoned traveler," Lord Sheldon said. "While we are all concerned, do not borrow any worries. I am certain they will be here as soon as they can."
"I know you are correct, but normally I would ease my worries by going for a walk. The news about Mr. Wickham being on the loose prevents that outlet for my energy."
"I would be happy to walk with you," Darcy said.
"No," objected Bennet. "You are as much of a target as she is.
Until we know more about where he is, I would not feel comfortable even just having the two of you walk on your own in the garden.
You could easily fight him off if he is unarmed, but we do not know that for certain.
You would have little defense against a gun. "
Whatever response Darcy might have made was interrupted by a knock at the study door. Mrs. Hill looked in.
"Sir, the stable boy you set to watching the road just reported seeing a carriage top the rise. I have come to you first as you requested."
"Thank you, Mrs. Hill," Mr. Bennet replied. He struggled to his feet as he excused the housekeeper. Turning to the others, who had all stood in preparation to leave the room, he said, "I wanted to have a chance to get to the door before the rest of the crowd."
Taking the servants' route, which was a little faster than twisting through the main corridor, the small group made their way to the entry.
They arrived just before the group from the sitting room, who had spotted the carriage through the windows as it came into the drive.
Because of the number of people who wanted to welcome the arrivals, the group spilled out the door and gathered on the front steps.
Darcy heard Lizzy breathe a sigh of relief as she recognized the carriage. "It is them," she said softly.
"Who else did you think it might be?" he asked.
"I had a sudden fear that it might be your aunt come to cause trouble."
"I am glad I had not considered that possibility, or I would have been very worried myself," Darcy told her. "Now we just need to learn what delayed them so."
That appeared to be the question on everyone's minds, because it was asked repeatedly amidst the greetings.
Edward, Madeline and Mary all asked to hold the explanations until the children were settled and the adult travelers could go in and sit down.
The children had no problem speaking up, however.
"Lizzy! Lizzy! Papa shot the wicked man with the Colonel's pistol!" shouted the oldest boy, rushing over to his favorite cousin as soon as he tumbled out of the carriage. He grabbed her hand and bounced on his toes in excitement as he spoke.
The next oldest joined him and added, "The man had red lines all over his face. He tried to grab Mary, but he called her Elizabeth Bennet. That is you! Why would the wicked man want to hurt you, Lizzy?"
"Wicked man!" Darcy exclaimed. "Do they mean Wickham?" He turned to Edward for confirmation.
Edward nodded and Lizzy quickly asked, "He attacked Mary thinking she was me?"
Edward gestured for calm in the explosion of exclamations that followed. "Please!" he said loudly, cutting through the din. "Can we please get the children settled first, so the adults can sit down and tell the story in an orderly fashion? I know I could use a drink!"
Although eager to learn more, the others agreed to his request. Speculating on what might have happened, they began to head inside.
Madeline and the nursemaid the Gardiners had brought with them gathered the children together to take them upstairs.
The young ones went with good grace after Lizzy promised to play with them in the garden after the adults had their discussion.
"Make it soon, please!" the oldest boy asked.
"As soon as I can," Lizzy promised.