Seven Days With Mr Darcy

by Rose Fairbanks

  Jane gasped. Had they truly been so deceived? “My dear sister, can you be certain? Only yesterday you were certain Mr. Darcy used Wickham so badly. There must be some dreadful misunderstanding between them.”

  “Do you not see there is only enough evidence to make one good sort of man. You may think as you please, but I am certain it is all on Darcy’s side and mean to let the neighbourhood know my mistake.”

  Jane thought seriously for a moment. Her sister had always been stubborn and inflexible and yet she had very quickly changed her opinion on this matter. It seemed as though her father agreed. Surely he understood the particular of Mr. Darcy’s letter better than even Elizabeth did. It pained her to think so amiable a young man could be so terrible, yet she had recently learned another amiable young man could think so little of her feelings. She would not say she was treated cruelly by him or injured intentionally, but his sudden abandonment had hurt her immensely; she would learn from her mistake. A handsome face and charming manners could not be entirely trusted. If her father and sister, who both had exceptional sense, were certain of this path, then she would support them.

  “Very well, but what are we to explain to our sisters? They are enamoured of Mr. Wickham! Nearly every girl in the area is out of her senses over him!”

  “But why are they so enamoured? Because they think he’s handsome and charming? Well, his looks we can do nothing about, but even the silliest lady does not want a dissolute husband. Even Lydia would pay some attention to money and not only is he poor to start with, but he spends far more than he has.”

  “But can you expect a girl in love to have so much more sense than her peers?”

  She began to cry as a sudden revelation struck her. Bingley may have all kinds of sensible reasons to not marry her, but if he were truly in love would they matter at all? And what of her? If he returned today would she still love him despite losing her respect for him? It would hardly be sensible to trust him or marry him after such capriciousness, but then why wonder this at all? Bingley was not to return this day, and her decision may never be required as a thousand things may arise between now and the summer to drive her from his mind. But oh! How she hated to feel a fool and as though her vanity had led her astray. She could only hope time would also drive him from her mind.

  Elizabeth embraced and calmed her. After drying Jane’s eyes, Elizabeth spoke. “There my dear sister. We shall be well. As you say, the pain will not last. They shall be forgot.”

  Before being able to ask her sister just what she meant, she was tugged into the drawing room to help gather her sisters.

  “We are to go and visit our Aunt Phillips when our mother comes down. Come, let us ready ourselves.”

  “It is not our day to visit our Aunt! We always stay home on Tuesdays to receive callers! More officers may come!” Lydia complained.

  “Yes! We have not seen Carter or Saunderson, yet,” Kitty agreed.

  “Do you not wonder why some of the officers are so idle that they can spare time to visit us so frequently?” Elizabeth cried in vexation.

  “Idle! Plenty of men and women do nothing but visit and gossip.” Kitty returned.

  “But they are gentlemen and ladies of leisure whilst an officer must earn his income, and he can scarcely hope to distinguish himself if he is never at task.”

  “Colonel Forster visits and entertains very frequently! He is even to be married!” Lydia exclaimed.

  “And how old is the colonel, Lyddie? How long, even in a time of war, has it taken for him to save enough money to purchase a colonel’s position? Or if he has had it for many years, why not purchase a greater one? Do you not notice all the other officers are unmarried? They cannot afford it, and you better not be taken in by someone only promising love but never any bread on the table let alone ribbons for your hair and shoe roses for dancing. More likely you would be mending their uniforms and washing their smalls!”

  “La! Who notices those things when you are in love? Lizzy, you begin to sound like Charlotte Lucas wanting to count a man’s purse before accepting his suit!”

  Before she could reply, Mary broke in. “Love and infatuation are very different things. All that I have read convinces me that it is so. Infatuation lacks all sound judgement and is often times so extravagant it cannot last. Love requires great constancy for we are told husbands must love their wives as Christ did the church, as He laid down His life for it. An unselfish loyalty is the motivation of love.”

  Kitty rolled her eyes. “Nobody wants your sermons on love! Lizzy, tell us more about your secret beau then. Someone must have caught your eye if you suddenly dislike the company of the officers. I know! It must be Mr. Darcy! Well, he’s got money enough for you then, and the rest of us can be as foolish as we like.”

  Elizabeth’s cheeks burned scarlet, and Jane was surprised to hear such a poor attempt at logic from her Kitty and Lydia. Had they always been so ridiculous?

  “Oh, yes! That will do very well. Mr. Darcy can read to you in Greek every night before you are to go to bed!” Lydia and Kitty giggled, and Mary glared harshly at them.

  “Enough!” Jane cried forcefully, startling the entire room. “You have had nothing but love, flirtation and officers in your head for far too long now. Ask yourself how you could even be a wife. Do you not see Mamma going over the accounts and planning meals with Cook? You must learn to think on serious subjects or I should suggest you go back to the schoolroom! You, too, Kitty.”

  Kitty fairly whimpered, and even Lydia was astonished at their eldest sister’s tone. Jane trembled at her discomposure. She had never let herself feel anything so intense before in her life.

  “Bravo! That is the most unforgiving speech you have ever made.” Elizabeth’s praise made the tension break, and all the sisters lightly laughed.

  At that moment they heard their parents on the stairs.

  “I do believe, Mrs. Bennet, that we have some of the silliest daughters in the country.”

  “Mr. Bennet! How you tease!”

  Such words were often said at Longbourn, but this time the tones of the speakers were so different that they drew the notice of all five daughters. Mr. Bennet took advantage of their attention.

  “Girls, sit and listen,” he spoke with unprecedented authority.

  To Jane’s amazement all her sisters obeyed.

  “I must explain some news regarding an acquaintance. Mr. Wickham is not to be trusted and not to enter our home again. He has entertained us with lies and means to swindle the good people of our town from their money and their virtue.” He paused and looked each daughter in her eyes as they all blushed.

  “Today we shall go to town and make his character known. I have had word, and Elizabeth was able to confirm through Wickham himself, that he was never qualified to receive a position with the church. In addition to providing the bequest from his father, Mr. Darcy very fairly compensated Wickham when he chose to give up the claim to the church. Additionally, Wickham has made little effort in the subsequent years to better himself or find a profession and has gambled all his money while living a life of dissolution. He leaves behind debts, is a gamester and harms young ladies.”

  The three younger girls gasped with the news, but their father continued.

  “Your mother and I have failed to protect you from him and, undoubtedly, other officers of less than savoury ilk. We have been negligent and concerned with our own affairs, but that will change beginning tomorrow. Kitty and Lydia, you will begin lessons with your mother to learn the sobering tasks of being a mistress of an estate.”

  They began to complain, but their father would not stand for it. “No, no. You are daughters of a gentleman and, thus, I wish for you to remain. I know we simply do not have many handsome bachelors who are gentlemen in our area. However, if you can make improvements in behaviour and understanding, perhaps we may all visit London for a few weeks.”

  “During the Season? Oh, think of the amusements!” Lydia nearly shrieked, and, although it was
vulgar, Jane was pleased her primary concern was with things such as shopping instead of men. She really was too young to think of marriage.

  “If you cannot control your outbursts, you shall not go and will return to the nursery.”

  “But, Mamma! You would not…”

  Mrs. Bennet interrupted, “It is not for me to question your father’s discipline, child. I wish you to do well and make a good match; you have much to learn.” That was the nearest thing to reproach Jane had ever heard from her mother toward Lydia.

  “Now, let us carry out our tasks for today. Girls, you shall make it quite clear to our acquaintances that Wickham has been lying about Mr. Darcy, and I will speak with the merchants.”

  *****

  Meryton

  2:30 pm

  In Meryton, Kitty and Lydia bounded into the milliner’s shop, their eldest sister entering serenely behind them, and crossed to the other side of the shop. Like the other customers, they were there under the pretence of shopping but sought conversation. Lydia was not ready to condemn Wickham in her own mind, but also believed gossip harmless. In an effort to gain her father’s approval, and, therefore, to enjoy London with the family, she tugged Kitty towards Mrs. Long’s nieces. Before reaching them, Lydia overheard their whispers.

  “Yes, Mr Smith delivered the letter himself, and collected the one from her,” the elder niece said.

  “But it has been said she hates him!” her sister countered.

  “I believe the letters speak for themselves.”

  Desiring to understand whom these delicious rumours condemned, Kitty and Lydia drew closer.

  “Then why did he leave?”

  “To meet with the solicitor, of course!”

  “So Mr. Bingley is to return? Miss Bennet’s hopes shall be answered!”

  “No, his proud friend will not allow him, but perhaps as sister to Mrs. Darcy, she can meet with him in Town.” Only the desire for more information could restrain Lydia’s impulse to shriek. As it was, she trembled in silence.

  The younger niece huffed. “Well, I did not see any sign of attachment from either. How long can they have been attached?”

  The elder of the young ladies drew in closer and spoke softly, causing the youngest Bennet daughters to hold their breath to hear clearly. “They say it all started when she nursed her sister who fell ill at Netherfield, and an understanding was formed at the ball. Why else would he suddenly dance with a local lady? And then he left straightaway for Town.”

  At that moment Jane came to gather her sisters, and they easily agreed to leave. Lydia and Kitty raced to the rest of their family before they all left to return to Longbourn. Out of the corner of her eye Lydia thought she saw Wickham in an alley with a lady’s arms about his neck, but surely he would not put his hands there. Briefly she felt a moment of dizziness and before she could gain a better view, Kitty pulled her towards her family.

  “Mamma! Mamma!” the girls called out.

  Mr. Bennet spoke instead. “Will you not heed my words from earlier? Behave like young ladies or I shall return you to the schoolroom.”

  “But I must tell Mamma the most ridiculous gossip we just heard in town. La! What a joke!” exclaimed Lydia.

  With grave seriousness, Mr. Bennet allowed them to continue.

  “Mr. Darcy has written Lizzy a letter, and she has written one back! Susanna Long was quite sure they were engaged the night of the ball! Only we know it to be impossible, for Lizzy hates him so! What a good laugh we shall have!”

  Mrs. Bennet spoke sharply. “Girls! I hope you did not partake of this gossip.”

  “No, we had no time before Jane called us to leave,” Kitty answered.

  “Lizzy! Do you not agree it is the most ridiculous piece of gossip you have ever heard?” Lydia looked at her sister’s pale face.

  Mary spoke up. “We ought not to gossip for it displays a smallness of character and mind. There is seldom gossip without exaggeration, which at best renders the hearer gullible and at worst renders the teller malicious.”

  Elizabeth drew in a sharp breath of air for reasons Lydia could not understand. Before she could wonder more, Kitty was telling the family of the officers they had not been able to meet. Later, Lydia would tease her older sister for being sweet on Saunderson, but for now she wondered at the very odd behaviour of her parents and two eldest sisters.

  Upon arriving home, she was walking into the drawing room when she overheard her father say to her mother, Jane, and Elizabeth: “There is nothing to stop the gossip now; however, we have seen nothing immoral or irreligious in the man. He will arrive shortly, and I have every belief he will marry Elizabeth.”

  Lydia could not contain her gasp, and stood there stunned. Only Elizabeth turned to look at her. Jane and Mrs. Bennet both left for their chambers, and Lydia expected Elizabeth to follow Jane. Instead, Elizabeth took Lydia by the hand and drew her to the back parlour.

  “Lyddie, I know you heard Papa speaking.”

  “It is true? All of it? You really are engaged to Mr. Darcy?”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “No, I am not engaged, but it now seems out of our hands.”

  “Susanna said he proposed at the ball. He did dance with you!”

  “Yes, we danced, and we argued…about Mr. Wickham.”

  “Why are you suddenly so against him? The only thing I heard you actually accuse him of is being poor!”

  “You are quite right, but I assure you Father is correct. Mr. Darcy wrote me a letter…warning me of Mr. Wickham’s past.”

  “Mr. Darcy saw you favoured Wickham and was jealous!” Who knew Mr. Darcy could have such passionate feelings? “His letter is probably nothing more than lies!”

  “Lyddie, listen to me. I was deceived by Mr. Wickham and for more than his handsome face. I believed I thought rationally, but I did not. He played on my vanity and compassion. For you, he would play on your desire for adventure. He is not alone in this world. There are many that only desire to use others.”

  Lydia was silent for a moment. She attempted to piece together her sister’s information with the gentlemen she knew. “Like Mr. Bingley used Jane?”

  Elizabeth smiled sadly. “No, dear. I do not believe Mr. Bingley intended to hurt Jane.”

  “How can you be so certain? Mr. Wickham is just as open and amiable as Mr. Bingley and you say one is bad and the other good?”

  “Mr. Wickham was too open. He shared very private things with me about his history with Mr. Darcy, and these have been shown to be falsehoods. It was both improper and malicious. I cannot think of a single time Mr. Bingley encouraged improper behaviour. Wickham was also boasting, raising himself above Mr. Darcy. Bingley was too modest to ever do so even when it was evident to all of us he had the better disposition.”

  “But Mr. Darcy also raised himself above everyone!”

  “Did he do so with his words? Or did we all just assign a meaning to his looks?”

  “But why would Wickham lie? Gamesters cheat and are about money.”

  “No, gamesters are about winning at all costs, and he wanted to be looked upon more favourably than Mr. Darcy. And like a gamester he played us all like his cards, me more than anyone else.” Elizabeth looked very saddened before she continued speaking. “Mr. Wickham enjoyed me thinking better of him than Mr. Darcy, but he has a history of seducing very young ladies. He knows exactly what to say to make the whole world fall in love with him, give him favours, and lend him money. You should not trust him at all.”

  Lydia huffed, but then thought of the image she saw in Meryton. Wickham was a great favourite of hers, but by no means the only officer which she admired. An alarming and serious thought formed.

  “Lizzy, how am I to know if another man is like Mr. Wickham if they are all such good actors?”

  Her sister laughed at that. “No, not all men are actors, even if they do not have an open disposition. Age and experience gives us wisdom, but more than trusting our own opinion, we should trust our father to protect us
.”

  “But he thinks I am too silly to spend time with me!”

  “Then prove to him you are not. Respect goes both ways. He will not give any to you until you respect and honour him.”

  Elizabeth squeezed Lydia’s hand and gave her a kiss on the forehead before leaving Lydia to her suddenly serious thoughts.

  Chapter Six

  Darcy carriage

  4:00 pm

  Darcy had grown so distraught over the idea of offending his beloved, fearing she would be forced to marry against her will, that he truly looked ill.

  As they changed horses, Georgiana queried her brother.

  “Now, that look I know is concern,” she emphasized and searched his face, “and guilt. Whatever is in that letter?”

  Darcy feigned ignorance.

  “William, will you tell me what concerns you? If you refuse, I am afraid I will have to demand you turn it over.”

  Darcy stared at her in disbelief. “Mouse?” He called her by the pet name he gave her as an infant. “What has caused all this?” For months, since George Wickham broke her heart, she had been meek and shy even with him. Since learning he was to return to Netherfield she returned more to her former spirited ways.

  Bingley roused at the sound of voices.

  Georgiana straightened. “I am not a mouse! I am nearly grown and shall soon be out of your house. Allow me to help you.”

  Darcy’s jaw tensed as he thought for a moment. It was true. His dear sister, whom he cared for more as a father than as a brother, was soon to come out and had already had one encounter with a villain. She had lost most of her child-like innocence due to that episode.

  If I cannot protect her, at least I should respect her. And Bingley ought to know the full truth as well. For a moment the irony of the fact that he had previously held hopes for them making a match struck him. He had thought he acted brotherly to Bingley, as a stand in for his old friend Harry, but perhaps he just acted as father figure there as well.

  “Very well, Georgiana. Bingley should hear this as well. I am in love with Miss Elizabeth Bennet and plan to offer for her as soon as we reach Longbourn.” He was pleased to note his baby sister was not so grown that she could entirely suppress her squeal at his words. Bingley laughed, no doubt pleased with his earlier assumptions.