by C. J. Hill
"So, Wickham!" laughed Denny as they walked back to their lodgings. "What do you make of the Bennet sisters, I wonder?"
Wickham smiled and noted, "Miss Lydia certainly appears to be a most determined young lady indeed. I do not think many would have the strength to resist her if she should set her mind upon something. But perhaps it is the way of being the youngest child - they must make their mark when there is so much competition from other siblings. If they are not forceful, they might be overlooked entirely. The two elder Miss Bennets are certainly charming young ladies and contrast very well with Miss Lydia."
Denny laughed loudly at this. "Yes, they are charming indeed. They are entirely different from their younger sisters, and their mother, who is just as noisy. Either of them would make a perfect wife for someone desiring a partner both beautiful and sensible. It is surprising indeed that they are both still unattached but perhaps there are not many suitable young men in the vicinity. It must be difficult to find a husband when you are already acquainted with everybody. That is why our company is so sought after, Wickham! We breathe new life into the social round; we are strangers to them and therefore most interesting."
Wickham laughed. "Well, that certainly gives us a definite advantage should we wish it. Which of them have you your eye upon, Denny?"
To any attachment, however, Denny would not admit and he proposed they return to their lodgings in preparation for the next day's activities which happily included the delivery of an invitation to several of the officers from Mr. Philips to dine with him that evening, followed by an evening of cards with some other guests.
The dinner was adequate, the company dull, and Wickham was relieved to be released from his obligation to appear interested in the happenings of Meryton as portrayed by the local attorney and leave the dining room with Denny where he was immediately accosted by Miss Lydia who, it appeared, had been awaiting his appearance with no great subtlety.
"Mr. Wickham! How delightful to see you again. I am so pleased that you are able to join us this evening. Did you enjoy dinner with my uncle; was there much gossip? Was any of it about me?" she laughed gaily, turning on every charm she possessed to entice the gentleman to her side.
Wickham smiled politely, denied that any gossip had been spoken, absolutely nothing had been said about her, and agreed to join her table after enquiring if her sister, Miss Elizabeth, was also to play.
"Oh, I do not think Lizzy has any intention of playing tickets, do you Lizzy?" demanded Lydia, angry that he had so singled out her sister. "Lizzy is too clever to play games, she much prefers reading and sensible discussions."
Lizzy smiled at Wickham, completely ignoring her sister's outburst, and accepted a seat next to him at the table.
"Oh, well, if you will play, make sure that you allow Mr. Wickham to pay attention, Lizzy. Do not tie him up in conversation so that he loses every game." Lydia said crossly. "Here, Mr. Wickham, take your tickets and place your bets - you will not win, you know, for I always do! I am glad to see that you have your uniform already, it becomes you very well. Do you intend to stay with the Regiment all Winter?"
Wickham played his hand and agreed that that was his intention.
"We shall have such a merry time this Winter, you know. Mr. Bingley has agreed to give a ball very soon at Netherfield, and then I shall insist upon Colonel Forster giving one also - should you speak with him about it, Mr. Wickham? Perhaps you could sway his opinion more easily than I."
Wickham smiled. "I believe that Colonel Forster would much prefer being petitioned by a pretty young lady than an officer and, perhaps, such requests from me should wait until I am more established in the Regiment."
Lydia smiled happily at the compliment. "Oh, I should think that Colonel Forster would be happy to hear that you are already socialising with the general populace. It makes for friendly relations between the inhabitants and the militia, do not you think? Ohhh! That's mine, I win, and you're out!" Lydia's delight in the game gradually turned her attention from Wickham, but he had no such need to concentrate upon the game and gladly turned his attentions to the older and more restrained sister sitting on his other side, who was very willing to hear him. Elizabeth agreed to remove to another area where there was not so much clamour and where they could talk quietly together.
As always, the opportunity of a willing and sympathetic listener encouraged Wickham to take her into his confidence. That she had noticed his interaction with Darcy yesterday, he knew, and he wished to make her understand the reason for it. He hesitatingly enquired how long Mr. Darcy had been in the vicinity.
"About a month," said Elizabeth; and then, unwilling to let the subject drop, added, "He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire, I understand."
"Yes," replied Mr. Wickham; "his estate there is a noble one. A clear ten thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself, for I have been connected with his family in a particular manner from my infancy."
Elizabeth could not but look surprised.
"You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion, after seeing, as you probably might, the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday. Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?"
"As much as I ever wish to be," cried Elizabeth very warmly. "I have spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable."
"I have no right to give my opinion," said Wickham, "as to his being agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I have known him too long and too well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for me to be impartial. The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chooses to be seen."
"I should take him, even on my slight acquaintance, to be an ill-tempered man."
Wickham only shook his head. "I wonder whether he is likely to be in this country much longer."
"I do not at all know; but I heard nothing of his going away when I was at Netherfield. I hope your plans in favour of the __shire will not be affected by his being in the neighbourhood."
"Oh! No - it is not for me to be driven away by Mr. Darcy. If he wishes to avoid seeing me, he must go. We are not on friendly terms, and it always gives me pain to meet him."
Under such a sympathetic hearing, Mr. Wickham began to speak on more general topics, Meryton, the neighbourhood, the society, appearing highly pleased with all that he had yet seen, and speaking of the latter with gentle but very intelligible gallantry.
"It was the prospect of constant society, and good society," he added, "which was my chief inducement to enter the __shire. I knew it to be a most respectable, agreeable corps, and my friend Denny tempted me further by his account of their present quarters, and the very great attentions and excellent acquaintances Meryton had procured them. Society, I own, is necessary to me. I have been a disappointed man, and my spirits will not bear solitude. I must have employment and society. A military life is not what I was intended for, but circumstances have now made it eligible. The church ought to have been my profession - I was brought up for the church, and I should at this time have been in possession of a most valuable living, had it pleased the gentleman we were speaking of just now."
"Indeed!"
"Yes - the late Mr. Darcy bequeathed me the next presentation of the best living in his gift. He was my godfather, and excessively attached to me. I cannot do justice to his kindness."
"Good heavens!" cried Elizabeth; "but how could that be? How could his will be disregarded? Why did you not seek legal redress?"
"There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to give me no hope from law. A man of honour could not have doubted the intention, but Mr. Darcy chose to doubt it - or to treat it as a merely conditional recommendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extravagance, imprudence - in short anything or nothing. Certain it is, that the living became vacant two years ago, exactly as I was of an age
to hold it, and that it was given to another man. But the fact is, that we are very different sort of men, and that he hates me."
"I had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this - though I have never liked him. I had not thought so very ill of him."
"I will not trust myself on the subject," replied Wickham; "I can hardly be just to him but almost all his actions may be traced to pride; and pride had often been his best friend. Family pride, and filial pride - for he is very proud of what his father was - have done this. He has also brotherly pride, which, with some brotherly affection, makes him a very kind and careful guardian of his sister, and you will hear him generally cried up as the most attentive and best of brothers."
"What sort of girl is Miss Darcy?"
"She is a handsome girl, about fifteen or sixteen, and, I understand, highly accomplished. Since her father's death, her home has been London but I had the recent pleasure of meeting her while holidaying in Ramsgate this Summer."
Mr. Wickham's attention was caught by the breaking up of the whist party; and after observing Mr. Collins for a few moments, he asked Elizabeth in a low voice whether her relation was very intimately acquainted with the family of de Bourgh.
"Lady Catherine de Bourgh," she replied, "has very lately given him a living. I hardly know how Mr. Collins was first introduced to her notice, but he certainly has not known her long."
"You know of course that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady Anne Darcy were sisters; consequently that she is aunt to the present Mr. Darcy. Her daughter, Miss de Bourgh, will have a very large fortune, and it is believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates."
Elizabeth found the information to be most illuminating; they continued talking together, with mutual satisfaction until Lydia finally realised that her sister had engrossed Mr. Wickham entirely and that they were, even now, seated away from everyone else, in private conversation. Lydia determined that her sister was not to monopolise such a charming gentleman to herself all evening, and made her way across the room, hoping to be escorted into supper. She stood at Mr. Wickham's elbow and waited for a moment to be noticed. When this event clearly was not about to happen, she burst in upon their conversation.
"Oh, Lord, Mr. Wickham! What do you do here? Why did you leave the game - it was so exciting! I won some very good prizes, look, here, I shall show you what you missed. Oh, pardon me! Yes, thank you, I will take a seat but only until we go into supper. Are not you starved? I shall die of hunger if I do not eat soon! Now, what are you and Lizzy so serious about in this corner? I must be told, for you know, Mr. Wickham, I know all the interesting news that is to be had in the village."
Elizabeth looked with irritation at her sister. "There is nothing in our conversation that is of interest to you, Lydia. Why do not you return to the tables? I see aunt Philips has set up another game - piquet, from the looks of it. We are too dull here for you."
"Oh, piquet! I do not like it so much as lottery; it is too difficult and so not as much fun, but you are right, I cannot sit here while you two put the world to rights. I will play a hand, I think, but, Mr. Wickham, will not you join me? You may look over my shoulder and advise me. You might whisper my next move in my ear. I am sure that with your help, I would be able to play extremely well indeed!"
Mr. Wickham gallantly acknowledged her desire for his company but modestly proclaimed himself to be unqualified as a tutor at cards, claiming very little experience, and to be quite content talking quietly with Elizabeth.
Lydia did not notice Lizzy's gratified smile which greeted that statement, as her attention was diverted by Mr. Carter beckoning to her from the card table, requesting her assistance, so she forfeited the grand prize of the evening and went to continue her fun with some less desirous but eminently more amusing companions, leaving Wickham with his very pleasant companion until supper was announced
Chapter 17
Much bolstered by the success of his first outing into Meryton society, Wickham was disappointed that, true to the time of year, there was such a succession of rain as prevented any similar gatherings for the foreseeable future. The ladies were confined to their homes and any further visiting postponed until the lanes and streets should be fit to walk through.
Happily, there was no such restriction upon the officers; they bravely faced the elements and frequented the local inn, passing their leisure hours in drinking and gambling in the greatest friendliness upon the credit afforded to them; no merchant would refuse a military man credit - it was secured upon his honour - and Wickham soon discovered the benefit of such an arrangement. Unfortunately, with such generosity being proffered, it did not take long for him to fall back into his extravagant and imprudent ways. His easy manner and skill at the tables ensured he was soon universally liked and trusted amongst both the officers and townsfolk. All were equally taken with his elegant style and ease of conversation, and, there was not one who had not been apprised of his trials at the hands of the Darcy family, and who did not sympathise with him entirely; they were reassured to have their own instincts confirmed of how much they had disliked Mr. Darcy even before they had known anything of the matter.
Colonel Forster had announced earlier that day, to great approbation, that all officers had been invited by Mr. Bingley to Netherfield for a Ball which was to be held the following Tuesday, and it was to this topic Denny referred as he and Wickham ran quickly through the rain back to their lodgings after enjoying an evening of cards and society.
"Shall you attend the Ball, Wickham, knowing that Darcy will certainly be in attendance as Bingley's most particular friend? It would not do to create any ill-feeling at such an event, you know, any more than you have already created through your tales of ill-treatment at his hands. Too many in Meryton are now aware of his iniquitous behaviour towards you and would not be able to see both of you in the same room without expecting some type of outburst from one of you. It would not be appropriate to discomfit our host."
"Oh, that will not be a concern, Denny, I assure you. Urgent business in Town calls me away, and to that end I have already requested several days' leave from Colonel Forster. But, if that was not the case, I should have been delighted to attend the Ball without any exterior show of ill-feeling towards Darcy. It is not for me to feel uncomfortable; if he wishes to avoid seeing me again, then he must stay away."
"I am glad to hear it. When do you leave for Town?"
"Tomorrow morning, quite early. I shall stay for several days until I have satisfied myself that everything is in order. And, so, you see, I have a good reason for not attending the Ball, but I would request that you inform Miss Elizabeth Bennet particularly, when you see her there, of the reason for my absence and apologise on my behalf. I should loathe her to think I had left without word."
Denny laughed. "Indeed I shall - you spent a great deal of time in quiet conversation with her the last evening. Are you very attracted to that sister, Wickham? She is handsome and sensible enough to attract any honest gentleman to be sure, but beware, Wickham! I do not think she hides a fortune in her petticoat judging from her uncle and father's situation. And what, pray, should I say to the youngest Miss Bennet when you do not appear? How shall I relieve her suffering on that score?"
"I leave it to you, my friend. The same narrative will suffice and I am certain you will manage to amuse her just as ably as any man in attendance. And as to the elder sister, since you enquire and so kindly warn me against her, I shall say only this: she is a very pleasant young woman who is a most sympathetic listener but, after so little time spent in her company, nothing more can be supposed."
They both laughed at that and shook out their greatcoats as they passed into their lodgings out of the chill and the rain.
Wickham, as he proposed, started early the following morning, riding one of the Regiment's horses through the day's grey mizzling rain and fog, and was quickly chilled to the bone and quite miserable by the time he arrived at the yard behind Julia's house, stabling the horse before smoothin
g down his hair as he impatiently waited for an answer to his ring.
Julia's surprise and delight were all he needed to feel restored to his former confident ease as she embraced him warmly after bustling him into her parlour. His stories of his experiences so far in the Regiment and, more sparingly, of his new friends and acquaintances in Meryton took up the better part of the next hour and rendered her astonished at how much had happened in so short a time; she was most interested to hear more about his entertainments and what he did every day to keep himself occupied. Under her interested questions, he found himself unable to lie entirely, forcing him to bring up the manner in which he and his new friends actually spent much of their time.
At the mention of gambling, Julia's mouth set and her eyes took on a worried look. She immediately understood what he was omitting from his stories and the less he told, the more she imagined the worst. She believed she knew the reason for his unannounced visit.
"How much have you lost, George?"
He affected a look of hurt pride. "I have not said I have lost, Julia. Why do you immediately fix upon that? The local merchants and innkeeper are very supportive of us and our dedication to the safety of our country; they will hardly allow us to pay for anything. Indeed, we have to insist most heartily to be allowed to pay what is owed. They feel such a debt of gratitude that they cannot thank us enough."
Julia looked scathing. "I cannot believe that they provide money for you to gamble with, George, do not think me as foolish as that! Please remember who I am and what I know as an owner of such an establishment. I refused credit to my most trusted and faithful customers, never mind soldiers who were passing through."
Wickham retracted quickly. "No, of course, you are right, my dear! I did not mean a provision of funds for gambling - I use my own, of course I do, and most judiciously. I merely refer to the drinks and refreshments that are supplied to us while we entertain ourselves. And, you may suppose the opposite: I have been quite successful recently. I believe my luck has changed. Did not I tell you that I only needed the opportunity to prove myself and everything would improve?"