by Kate Speck
Elizabeth stood up to distance herself away from him. She could not understand his speech and all the secrecy around him. “I am confused... Why does not Georgie know... Why are you here? New owner? I did not know Netherfield had a new owner.”
Mr. Darcy stood also and exhaled loudly, “I told you more than I should have. You will write to my sister through me or not at all, and if my men tell me that a letter with Georgiana’s name is found at the post, they will confiscate it and bring it to me in any case. Do not endanger my sister, Elizabeth. It is my final warning.” He walked away and opened the door. “Join to your sister and tell no one of our conversation.”
Elizabeth was incensed, as the condescending man commanded her as if she were a servant and his explanation made no sense whatsoever. She stormed out of the drawing room to find her sister smiling and talking with Mr. Bingley in the sitting room, and after making the excuse of being tired, she went upstairs to write out her frustrations in her journal.
After an hour of venting her anger through words, she realised she had left Lord Byron’s book in the drawing room and groaned. With hopes of everyone having retired for the night, she donned her robe and went downstairs to retrieve it, where she could see Mr. Darcy sitting in a chair in front of the fireplace, sleeping with a drink in one hand and the book on his lap. Elizabeth was tempted to toss a pitcher of water onto his face but instead, tiptoed out of the room very quietly, not hearing the slumbering man whisper, “Elizabeth” in his sleep.
Chapter 9
Jane’s health improved and it was decided that after church services in two days, that the girls would return to Longbourn and at last remove from Netherfield. Mr. Bingley appeared to be sad to lose their company in two days but promised to call on Jane as soon as she was fully recovered and the Bennet sisters spent the entire day in peace, receiving Mr. Bingley’s sisters’ complete attention and hospitality while the gentlemen were out.
Mr. Bingley soon returned from his errands after midday but Mr. Darcy remained off the estate, only to join the party very late after all of the residents had completed their dinner. After declaring that he had already dined with the officers, Mr. Darcy sat at his usual place by the writing desk to scribble several notes while Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst exhibited on the pianoforte.
Elizabeth was caught off-guard, as she had been affectionately watching Mr. Bingley and Jane in deep conversation once again, when Mr. Darcy took a seat next to her and spoke in a low tone. “Do you not wish to play? I have heard you sing and play at Lucas Lodge and it gave me great pleasure to see you perform. Perhaps you would like to dance a jig? We have yet to dance, even though I have asked you before.”
Elizabeth stiffened at his voice but answered archly, “I know you think it intolerable to dance with me and I am sure you would not be tempted to ask someone like myself if you were in town at grand balls with your relatives, the earl and countess. You will be gone in a month so no need to bother with formalities, Mr. Darcy.” She glared at the man who was looking at her impassively. “I have written to Georgie and hope you will be honourable enough to keep my letter to your sister confidential, even if I have written scathing words about you within it. As I gave you the courtesy of not opening your letter, I expect the same from you.” She pulled her letter out from between her Wordsworth and discreetly placed it between them.
Mr. Darcy’s hands grazed over hers as he covertly retrieved the letter, “I give you my word. I wish...” He sighed. “I am sorry.”
“I do not understand you. You confuse me daily and I do not know what to believe of your character.” Elizabeth whispered. “You apologise and appear to be affable one day, and yet formidable and terrifying the next. You are Mr. Bingley’s friend, yet you behave as if you are his master or a general commanding his troops into battle and I do not know what to make of you.”
“I am not Bingley’s master nor a general and I certainly do not see a troop here,” Mr. Darcy smiled softly at her, “and although I have no one to order me about, I feel there is one person in the world who might have power over me. I hope you will learn more about my true character during the remainder of my time in Hertfordshire. I would, by no means, suspend any pleasure of yours.” He took Elizabeth’s letter and returned to the table to continue his letter.
Elizabeth remained still in her seat for the rest of the evening, wondering if Mr. Darcy was speaking of his sister or of the mysterious Anne, and if he might be cordial to her at times only for the sake of his beloved sister. She could not understand him and his actions puzzled her exceedingly. Although finding him to be one of the most intriguing men of her acquaintance, she sought to think of him no more, to focus on Jane’s contentment and to await what next important task the diary desired for her to do.
~*~
Sunday finally arrived and Elizabeth breathed easier as soon as she walked into her home. As grand of a mansion that Netherfield was, she felt uneasy with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley’s false smiles and it was beyond frustrating to be in Mr. Darcy’s vicinity. She was certain he looked at her with disdain and animosity that she had dared to speak out against him when no one else did so, and she was glad to be as far away from his presence as possible.
“Lizzy?” Jane called out as they were unpacking their satchels, “It seems the maid at Netherfield placed your book into my bag. Here it is.” She lifted it up to hand her a leather volume.
Elizabeth looked at her journal and the book of Wordsworth’s poems already in her hands and replied, “I have my books here, Jane.” Then she immediately saw that Jane was holding the copy of Lord Byron’s book. She took it from her sister and wondered how it could have gotten into Jane’s possession when she had last seen it in Mr. Darcy’s hands, and opened the front cover to gasp loudly.
“What is the matter?” Jane asked in concern.
Elizabeth answered, “I do not understand that man! This is Mr. Darcy’s book I was reading but it now has my name inside.” She showed Jane the bookmark within that had ‘Elizabeth Bennet’ written in a neat, straight script, which appeared to be the same handwriting as the mysterious letter that Elizabeth had returned to Mr. Darcy.
“It is yours now, Lizzy,” Jane smiled. “It has your name on it and he must have wished to gift you with something for offending you. You have said yourself that he owed you several times over and perhaps this is his way of paying his debts.”
“I would consider it a full payment if only he will never speak to me again.” Elizabeth harrumphed. “I wish Georgie were allowed to visit us here so I could see her again but I will never forgive him for his cruelty to Mrs. Younge, and I only want his month here to end so that he could leave me in peace.”
Jane soothed her sister, “He is not so terrible, I think. There must be a reason for his actions and he will be gone as soon as his business is complete. Be patient, dear sister. At least you are aware of his pending departure and that the end is near.”
Elizabeth was placated quickly and smiled at her sister, “If only I had your patience, I would be a better person ten times over. What would I ever do without you, my dearest Jane?”
Jane hugged her sister and they returned to their duties and rested comfortably in their own homes with their family near them.
~*~
Several days later, Elizabeth’s diary sent her a message to expect an unwelcome face in the area soon and to be prepared for danger. Anne was specific in her instructions, that as tempting as it were, Elizabeth was to remain civil to the mysterious person and to not make any mention the name of whom she was barred from speaking.
Elizabeth was confused as to her instructions and was in deep contemplation the next morning while partaking breakfast with her family.
“I have received a letter today, dear family,” Mr. Bennet proudly announced, “which might change the destiny of at least one person in our lives. As you know, Longbourn is entailed and is to go to my distant cousin after my passing, and although my dear wife will have the dower house for her
security, the main house and all of the land within the borders will belong to Mr. Collins. He has written to inform me that he will arrive one week from today at four o’clock in the afternoon exactly and will be staying with us for ten nights, offering an olive branch to mend the break that occurred between our families three generations ago. I do believe, my dear Mrs. Bennet, that he intends to take a wife from amongst our daughters,” he looked at his wife with amusement in his eyes, “and certainly he will be tempted by our dear Jane. As we have decided that our daughters will marry in the birth order which they entered the world, are you agreeable to have our eldest become Mrs. Collins? Your dreams of having a daughter married before the year is out just might come true.”
Mrs. Bennet’s eyes broadened, “And what is his occupation, Mr. Bennet? If he will own Longbourn someday, he must be doing something now for income, unless he is already a landowner.”
“He writes that he is a respectable parson in Kent. His patroness requires his attendance daily and he is most grateful for the condescension.” He replied. “I might live yet another ten or twenty or perhaps thirty years longer, and our daughter would be wife to a reverend until my time comes.”
Elizabeth laughed, “He already sounds like a ridiculous man and will certainly add to our amusement, papa. What say you, mama?” Elizabeth challenged, already understanding that her mother would prefer a gentleman of £5,000 over a mere parson any day, “Shall we shop for Jane’s trousseau for a husband sight unseen?”
Mrs. Bennet joined in the merriment, “Do not be absurd, Lizzy! Jane will marry a good man of her choosing and I know Mr. Bingley is quite interested in her. Who is this Mr. Collins, to think he can invite himself into our home and take one of my daughters for a wife, as if he is choosing for himself an animal at the market?! No!” the matron proudly declared, “Our daughters will all find worthy suitors who will adore them and care for their futures. There must be affection first so that there is happiness in the marriage.”
Lydia laughed loudly, “I am glad you are in agreement with Lizzy’s philosophy, mama! I thought I always wanted to be the first to marry but after she shared of Miss Darcy’s troubles, I would not wish to make the mistake of being fooled into an early marriage, only to regret my choice and be bound for life to a rogue. I wish to have a line of suitors chasing me but I will be the one to make my choice for a man who will treat me well, and not chase after poor officers or someone undeserving who could not take me to balls or parties.”
Elizabeth kissed her youngest sister’s cheek, “What a wise young lady you have become, dear Lydia. Miss Darcy’s experience has taught us all a good lesson and we must avoid scoundrels like Mr. Wickham, but promise me that you will not speak of Miss Darcy’s name or mention to anyone that we know of her and her past experience. Her brother was very severe that we not expose Jane and my acquaintance with the young lady to anyone else and I fear he will become extremely angry if any of us should slip. I understand he is protecting her and I do not wish to see Georgie injured.”
“Has Mr. Darcy threatened you in any way, Lizzy?” Mr. Bennet furrowed his brows. “He seemed a very proper young man but if he is accusing you or being cruel...”
“No, papa,” Elizabeth responded quickly. “He is not mean-spirited, I believe, but rather cares for his sister deeply and wishes to protect her. As much as I dislike the gentleman for his self-importance and incivility, he is a caring brother and I approve of him at least that one good character trait. He came to Ramsgate to take his sister to safety as soon as he was aware of the danger and I will accredit him with one virtue.”
Everyone agreed to keep Miss Darcy’s name a secret and conversed about what to expect from their distant cousin in one week. Elizabeth wondered if this was the unwelcome visitor that her journal warned of and was wary of Mr. Collins, that he might cause trouble amongst her family and friends in Hertfordshire.
~*~
Mr. Collins arrived seven days later, with all the fanfare that Elizabeth had expected from that oddity of a man. She had suspected the man to be proud and humble at the same time, and she was absolutely correct in that the bumbling buffoon was severely lacking in intelligence as well as in humour.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet welcomed the parson as hospitably as possible, and seeing that he was a harmless young man of five and twenty, who perhaps showed too much deference to his patroness only due to her rank as a daughter of an earl, gave him a warm reception into their home and scheduled several calls in order for Mr. Collins to meet his future neighbours and to give him a chance to look for a wife amongst the residents in this area. Mrs. Bennet had quickly deterred the idiotic man from choosing a wife from amongst the Bennet girls and advised him that Jane was expecting an engagement in the near future and that it would be far too long for him to have to wait for Jane’s betrothal before her second daughter would consider courtship or marriage.
Elizabeth also found amusement to explain that although it was unfair for the younger sisters to have to wait until the elder ones were engaged first, but that the five daughters had made a pact with each other and that a vow between the sisters was stronger than any temptation which might arise from a most eligible bachelor, and that their decisions were firm and unchangeable.
Elizabeth saw this man as an unwelcome visitor but certainly not dangerous and had no fear of being unable to withhold her civility. She wondered what it was about this gentleman that her journal would warn her of him, but continued her vigilance to suspect several new faces, as the militia had descended in full force and there were many newcomers to Meryton.
Chapter 10
Mr. Collins walked next to Elizabeth while her four sisters chatted with each other to Meryton, which was located a mile from Longbourn.
“I have learned that Mr. Bingley resides in Netherfield, which is one of the closest neighbours in the area.” Mr. Collins conversed in all seriousness with Elizabeth. “If Mr. Bingley is nearly engaged to Cousin Jane, I suspect it will not be long until you, yourself, will be ready to become an engaged woman and might be tempted to marry alongside your sister if all goes well.” He tipped his head sideways to look at the slightly shorter lady, “I have enjoyed our conversations these past two days and you seem bright and appear to be formed to have many children,” he missed Elizabeth roll her eyes at his ridiculousness, “and I hope to stay close to you for the next week that I will be here so that we can connect our family lines closer. I am certain your parents will be pleased to have two daughters wed soon so that the burden of raising five daughters will be significantly reduced.” He lifted his eyebrow in flirtation and walked away to lecture at the younger girls who were giggling a bit too loudly for his taste.
Elizabeth groaned, guessing that Mr. Collins was considering her to become his wife even after her parents had explained to him that their daughters would not be enticed by the man, and hoped the next week would pass quickly. They soon arrived in Meryton and Lydia pulled Kitty to run ahead and greet an old neighbour, who had returned to Hertfordshire as a lieutenant and they excitedly rushed towards him standing with another man, who was next to Mr. Denny with his back against the girls.
Elizabeth tugged Jane to her side, “Promise me to never leave me alone with Mr. Collins! He practically implied that I will become Mrs. Collins by year’s end!”
Jane giggled softly into her hand, “I will try, Lizzy. He would be a terrible husband to you and I know you could never marry a man whom you could not respect, and he is certainly not one who could tolerate your impertinence!” She looked at her younger sisters, “I wonder if Mr. Denny brought another recruit. There are so many strangers in the village now.”
Elizabeth smiled and looked around to see the newest visitor but froze as soon as he turned around to face the ladies. She rapidly eyed Jane, who had a shocked appearance on her face also and they could see Lydia frowning as soon as introductions were made. Elizabeth hastened to her sister’s side to interrupt their conversation.
“Mr. Wickham! I di
d not think I would see you here, of all places.” She hid her disgust of the man, remembering her journal’s warning and smiled coyly. “How have you been? Are you here to visit someone?” She turned to Lieutenant Denny, “Jane and I met Mr. Wickham in Ramsgate last summer but it was only one afternoon, as we had so many outings and activities and were too busy with our little cousins and did not get another chance to meet again. Our new friend there, I believe, had to return to town and I know not how she fares now, but I am certain it must have been an urgent family issue that called her away. It is a surprise to see you here, sir.”
Mr. Wickham seemed satisfied with Elizabeth and Jane’s apparent ignorance of his personal affairs and smoothly replied to speak easily with the ladies, “I am here to join the militia, Miss Elizabeth. You shall see me in regimentals like Denny by tomorrow and I hope to carry myself as proper as all of the officers here.”
“Oh? I thought you were studying law. I recall my uncle explaining to me that you were denied a clergy living and was planning to become a barrister.” Elizabeth challenged with a sweet tone. She now understood her diary’s warning of Mr. Wickham being a danger. She had seen a flash of lust in his eyes towards Lydia, who was a stout girl of only fifteen but with a full figure, and she was revolted that such an old man would chase after girls half his age.