Chapter 46 Two Letters #2
Jane and Elizabeth accompanied them whenever they could.
On their third visit that week, they found Wickham and Mr. Denny already in Aunt Phillips's drawing room. Lydia immediately claimed the chair nearest Wickham.
“You promised to tell me whether you dance, Mr. Wickham.”
“I cannot imagine how I neglected so important a question.”
“I think you avoided it.”
“Then I must repair the offense. I do dance, Miss Lydia.”
Lydia looked triumphantly at Kitty. “I told you he must.”
Wickham smiled. “You had greater confidence in me than I deserved.”
Mrs. Phillips called for tea, and Jane drew Lydia into helping her distribute the cups. Elizabeth took the empty chair beside Wickham before Lydia could return to it.
Wickham greeted her with a smile. “I am pleased to have an opportunity to speak with you again, Miss Elizabeth. Our first acquaintance was rather brief.”
“Meryton rarely allows a new officer to remain a stranger for long.”
“So, I am beginning to discover. I have received more kindness since my arrival than I had any right to expect.”
“You will find our neighborhood very hospitable.”
“I already have.”
Mr. Denny joined them, and the conversation moved to the next assembly.
Wickham had not yet attended one in Hertfordshire and professed himself eager to discover whether the neighborhood deserved the praise his fellow officers had given it.
“You have been sadly misled,” Elizabeth said. “There are only a few tolerable dancers among us.”
“Then I shall have to hope they take pity upon a stranger.”
“You will have no difficulty finding partners,” Lydia said as she returned with his tea. “Everyone will wish to dance with you.”
Wickham accepted the cup from her. “Then Hertfordshire already exceeds my expectations.”
Lydia laughed and settled herself on the other side of him.
Elizabeth exchanged a glance with Jane.
For the remainder of the visit, one of them stayed near their youngest sisters. Wickham appeared perfectly content to speak with whoever addressed him. He was attentive to Mrs. Phillips, friendly with Kitty, amusing with Lydia, and courteous to Jane and Elizabeth.
When the sisters left their aunt's house, Lydia waited until they were scarcely beyond the door before saying, “I mean to dance the first with Mr. Wickham at the assembly.”
“You cannot mean anything of the sort unless he asks you,” Jane said.
“He will.”
“How can you possibly know?”
“Because he likes me.”
Kitty immediately agreed.
Elizabeth looked at Lydia. “Mr. Wickham was agreeable to every woman in the room.”
“He was more agreeable to me.”
“He spoke to Aunt Phillips longer than he spoke to you.”
Lydia laughed. “Perhaps he means to marry Aunt Phillips.”
Even Jane smiled.
“Laugh if you please,” Elizabeth said, “but do not mistake good manners for particular regard.”
Lydia tossed her head. “I shall know when a gentleman admires me.”
Jane slipped her arm through Lydia's. “Then you can afford to wait until he makes it unmistakable.”
Lydia accepted this with surprising good humor and began discussing what she intended to wear to the assembly.
Elizabeth and Jane fell a little behind.
“We cannot keep doing this every day,” Jane said quietly.
“No.”
“Have you heard anything more from Aunt Maddie?”
“Nothing. But she can hardly intervene when Mamma has set her foot against the London visit. We need Uncle Edward's influence, for Papa will not exert himself.”
Jane glanced toward Lydia and Kitty. “Perhaps Uncle Edward will come when he returns from Kent.”
Elizabeth hoped he would.
Until then, they would have to keep Lydia safe themselves.
* * *
At Darcy House, Georgiana recognized Elizabeth's hand before she broke the seal.
She read the short letter twice.
A gentleman whose name will be familiar to you has arrived in Meryton. I met Mr. W. today. My youngest sister is already much taken with him, and I fear that Jane and I may not be equal to preventing what followed before.
Please share this with your brother.
E.B.
Georgiana found Darcy in the library with Mr. Kendall, reviewing another report from the investigators.
“Fitzwilliam, a letter has come from Elizabeth.”
Darcy immediately rose, and Mr. Kendall began gathering the papers before him.
“Stay, Kendall. If Miss Elizabeth has written to Georgiana, there must be a reason.”
Georgiana handed him the letter. “There is. Wickham is in Meryton.”
Darcy read what Elizabeth had written and passed the letter to Kendall.
“We have been searching for him in London,” Kendall said. “If he left before our inquiries reached his lodgings, that would explain why we have found so little.”
“Wickham is in Hertfordshire in a little town named Meryton.”
Darcy's eyes had narrowed. “We know where to find him now, and we must act quickly, before he brings harm upon another family.”
Darcy crossed to the map upon the library table. “Bingley has been considering an estate near Meryton.” He placed his finger on the map. “Kendall, it lies near Harpenden.”
He straightened. “Continue searching for something that can be used to have Wickham transported to Australia. I will speak to Bingley today. If he can be ready, we leave tomorrow.”
Georgiana came to him, and Darcy took her hand.
“Sweetling, I am afraid I cannot take you with me tomorrow.” Darcy drew Georgiana nearer and kissed the top of her head.
“There will be very little pleasure in this journey. Bingley and I must examine as much of the estate as we can on the first day, spend the night at the nearest inn, and finish our inspection the following morning.”
He kept her hand in his. “I must speak with the steward and some of the neighboring landowners to ask about problems with the property that would not be immediately apparent.”
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “You would be much happier and safer with Aunt Helen, my dear, and I would be happier knowing you are with her.”
“I shall be perfectly well with my aunt, and Richard is there. He makes me laugh.” Georgiana squeezed his hand. “Do you suppose you will see Elizabeth?”
“I shall find some reason to meet her. If her father's estate is near Netherfield, Mr. Bennet may be one of the neighboring landowners we can reasonably approach for information about the property.”
Georgiana smiled. “Then if you see her, give her my love.”
* * *
Bingley required very little persuasion.
When Darcy called upon him that afternoon and suggested they examine Netherfield sooner than planned, his friend readily agreed.
“I have been thinking of little else since the agent sent the particulars. If we leave early tomorrow, we can be there before noon.”
“Very good, Charles. Shall we plan to leave by seven tomorrow morning?”
Bingley regarded him with amusement. “You were decidedly less enthusiastic when I first mentioned the place.”
Darcy’s face colored. “I am not enthusiastic, Charles. I am simply willing to accompany you and tomorrow happens to be convenient.”
The following morning, they left London shortly after breakfast.
They reached Netherfield before eleven and spent the remainder of the day with the agent and steward. Bingley's enthusiasm survived the first inspection of the house and increased when they began examining the land.
Darcy was less easily satisfied.
He questioned the steward about drainage, tenants, repairs, the condition of the cottages, and the yield of the farms. By late afternoon, Bingley had ceased pretending to be interested in every answer and allowed Darcy to conduct most of the inquiry.
“You realize I mean only to lease the place,” Bingley said as they crossed one of the fields.
“I do.”
“One would think I had proposed purchasing half of Hertfordshire.”
“If you intend to live here, you should know what you are taking on.”
“I intend to shoot, dine with my neighbors, give an occasional ball, and discover whether Hertfordshire society is tolerable.”
“Then I suggest you first determine whether the roof leaks.”
Bingley laughed. “This is why I brought you.”
They spent the night at an inn and returned to Netherfield early the following morning. Darcy rode the boundaries with the steward while Bingley examined the stables and several outbuildings with the agent.
When they met again near the house, Bingley appeared more pleased than ever.
“I can find nothing to dislike.”
Darcy dismounted and handed his reins to a groom. “There are several matters I would want clarified before you sign anything, but I have found no reason to advise you against the lease.”
Bingley's face brightened. “Excellent. Then we may finish early and return to London.”
“Not quite. I want to speak with one or two neighboring landowners before we leave.”
Bingley looked toward the house. “Can the steward not tell us whatever we need to know?”
“The steward is employed by the owner.”
“Ah. You suspect him of concealing a collapsing roof.”
“I suspect him of wishing the estate to be let.”
The steward joined them a few minutes later, and Darcy asked which gentlemen in the neighborhood had estates adjoining or situated near Netherfield.
“There are several, Mr. Darcy. Sir William Lucas is at Lucas Lodge, and Mr. Bennet's estate at Longbourn lies quite near. The families have been in the neighborhood for many years.”
Darcy kept his attention upon the steward.
“Which would you recommend?”
“Mr. Bennet, I should think. Longbourn has been in his family for generations. He would know anything worth knowing about Netherfield and the surrounding land.”
Bingley glanced at Darcy. “Then let us call upon Mr. Bennet.”
Darcy picked up his gloves. “Thank you, sir. Would you direct us to Longbourn? We would like Mr. Bennet’s opinion of Netherfield before Mr. Bingley makes his decision.”
* * *
The carriage drew up before Longbourn shortly after three.
Hill admitted the two gentlemen and showed them into the drawing room, where Mrs. Bennet sat with her five daughters.
“Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy, ma'am. They have called to speak with Mr. Bennet.”
Elizabeth's sewing slipped from her fingers.
Darcy entered behind Bingley.
For several seconds, neither of them moved.