by Massey, Beth
Breakfast at Longbourn that morning was a raucous affair. Everyone was talking over each other with regards the scandalous last dance. Mary and Mr Collins voiced their disapproval that Mr Bennet’s two eldest daughters had participated in the risqué activity. Mr Bennet calmed his middle daughter and her betrothed by assuring them the scandal would be forgotten by the time they married, and he was sure the gossip from a most provincial part of Hertfordshire would not reach Kent.
Mrs Bennet, however, was not to be quieted so easily. She was not at all perturbed that Jane had agreed, as she felt it was an indication of the intentions of Mr Bingley for him to have asked. However, she had been dumbfounded when she saw Elizabeth whirling about for all to see with Mr Darcy… and if that was not enough, everyone could see the animosity they felt for each other. She demanded an explanation as to what had possessed her daughter to make such a spectacle of herself.
“Mama, I have no excuse, except that it was a misplaced desire to dance a waltz once in my life. Mr Darcy suggested I might enjoy the activity. While we were dancing, he and I had a disagreement over Mr Wickham. As I am sure you have heard, they grew up together.”
Thankfully for Elizabeth, John Reynolds added, “Mr Wickham is not highly regarded in Derbyshire. I am certain, Mrs Bennet that what appeared to be animosity was just Mr Darcy strongly warning Lizzy of the unsavoury nature of the lieutenant’s behaviour.”
Elizabeth smiled her appreciation at her friend. “That is correct, Mama. Mr Darcy was quite animated when he told me that Mr Wickham has a reputation for being a fortune hunter. I told Papa of his accusations.” Lizzy looked to her father for help.
“Yes, Fanny, I have enlisted Sir William to visit Colonel Forster with me to inform him of Mr Wickham’s dubious character. I also plan to visit Miss King’s uncle to warn him.”
Lydia chimed in with, “I knew what he was about when I first met him. All he wanted to talk about was Lizzy. I felt certain he had heard the rumours of her inheritance.”
Mary requested a private conversation with her father. He had been expecting her to ask for an explanation of the changed nature of his relationship with Elizabeth.
“Papa, has Lizzy told you her mystery?”
“She has. Her explanation is very grave. It is necessary for me to closely guard her secret.”
“Is Mr Darcy involved?”
“He is but not precisely in the way we speculated.”
Mr Bennet looked very serious as he said, “I really must beseech you… if you love your sister, end your quest to find out what happened to her. You must take my word as head of this family that I have the situation under control. I appeal to your Christian charity to leave her be.” Mr Bennet looked very stern as he said, “It is my responsibility to see to it that she is protected from everyone, including you.”
Mary bristled under her father’s stricture. “Papa, why, if she is so concerned about people finding out her secret, would she draw so much attention to herself by waltzing with Mr Darcy? Surely she knew that would inflame the gossip about her.”
“This morning, I am certain Lizzy most heartily agrees with your assessment of her decision, but life is more than making perfect choices. Sometimes things, totally outside of our control, happen, that change the course of our lives, and one is forced to live with the consequences. Your sister mistakenly thought that by dancing with Mr Darcy, she could recapture a bit of joy.”
This time his middle daughter looked perplexed. She started to say something more, but he stopped her with finality in his voice. “This is a special time in your life. Look to your own joy. You are soon to wed a good man, but you have challenges in front of you. Marriage requires many adjustments, you will be managing a home for the first time, and I doubt relating appropriately to Mr Collins’ patroness will be an easy endeavour.”
Mr Darcy arrived back at Netherfield as Miss Bingley was informing her brother that she and Mr and Mrs Hurst were returning to London. They had no intention of remaining in Hertfordshire until he returned from his business. Netherfield and the neighbourhood were not of the quality they had imagined, and he should look for an estate in another part of England.
“Mr Darcy, I entreat you to encourage Charles to abandon his plans for Netherfield. I have heard that Miss Bennet used her allurements to attach herself to Sir Walter Trent’s son. After his death, she tried the same thing with his nephew George Trent and, once again, she is luring Charles with the same goal in mind. She wants nothing, but to be the mistress of Netherfield.”
Mr Bingley looked at his sister with exasperation. “Caroline, Thomas Trent died when Miss Bennet was fourteen. What sort of allurements are you accusing her of using?”
“Charles, why else would Miss Bennet, an unmarried woman, agree to waltz with you, if it did not involve a motive of the most avaricious sort? You should ask yourself the same question with regard Miss Eliza, Mr Darcy. These two sisters are not to be trusted. They may appear more refined, but they are as vulgar as their mother.”
Darcy chose not to confide his fears of Miss Bennet’s insincerity to Charles until they were alone.
“Charles, I fear your sister may be correct. Miss Bennet’s mother was in my presence at supper last evening. She talked incessantly about her daughter being settled as mistress of Netherfield. I do not believe your angel cares for you at all.”
“Darcy, you are wrong. We have spent time riding together every day since she left Netherfield. Our admiration has grown steadily these past weeks. She and I want the same things, and if that means Netherfield, so be it.”
Darcy gave his friend a scornful look. “You said the same thing about that young woman last year. You know the one—Julia somebody—who was at Lord Reston’s ball. She too wanted the same things you did. The next thing that happened was we went to Pemberley and two weeks later we read of her engagement to the Viscount Haddonwood. He had obviously made her a better offer.
“I do not understand you, Darcy. You convince me to have a waltz so you can dance with her sister… who never goes to balls. She says yes, and Miss Bennet agrees to waltz with me. They do this despite how scandalous it is for unmarried women to engage in such an activity. Why would they do that if they did not care for us?”
Darcy was unsure what to say in reply. Finally he decided to truthfully confide some of his concerns about the Bennet sisters to his friend. “I believe Miss Elizabeth might have been plotting with Wickham to defraud me. It is possible that is why she agreed to waltz. You have heard me speak of how disreputable George Wickham is. My fear with regard her sister is that she was plotting with her mother to be the mistress of Netherfield. Soon after the wedding, you would be ignored as they went about the neighbourhood trumpeting their importance. Mrs Bennet said aloud that she was pleased you asked her daughter to waltz because it would make you indebted to her for putting her in such a risky position.”
Charles Bingley argued with his friend for the better part of a half hour. Finally, worn down and with his confidence shaken; he agreed to remain in London until after the holiday season rather than returning immediately once his business was concluded. Darcy was twenty-eight, had been married, had two lovely children and was responsible for managing both Pemberley and Rosings. He decided to defer to his friend’s greater experience and wisdom… but he did not think he truly agreed. In his heart, he knew the feelings he had for Jane Bennet were not the same as the ones he had experienced with Lillian Wingate, Annabelle Redesdale or Julia Jessup.
The morning following Mr Bingley’s departure for London, Jane Bennet was still glowing. Her feelings for Charles—they had agreed to the familiar address as they waited for the waltz to begin—were very different from what she had experienced with George Trent. Mr Bingley wanted so many of the same things as she. What made her almost giddy with expectation was that he was not hesitant about telling her of his admiration, and his ease had encouraged her to be more open.
Just before noon a messenger from Netherfield brought a not
e for Jane. The young man had been instructed not to wait for a reply.
Netherfield
28 November
When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the business which took him to London might be concluded in three or four days. Knowing Charles as we do, my sister and I determined that once situated in town he will be in no hurry to leave it again. We feel it best to follow him, and I sent him an express to encourage him to open the Hurst’s townhouse instead of spending a few vacant hours in a comfortless hotel. Many of my acquaintances are already there for the winter. I wish I could hear that you, my dearest friend, had the intention of being among us—but of that I despair. I sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may abound in gaieties which that season generally brings, and that your admirers will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of our presence.
Mr Darcy was impatient to return to Pemberley. His daughter’s birthday is in a fortnight, and his son’s is on Twelfth Night. Our hope is he will bring his family to London in January. We are all longing to meet his sister again. I really do not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments; and the affection she inspires in Louisa and me makes us dare to entertain the hope of her one day being our sister. I do not know whether I ever before mentioned to you my feelings on this subject; but I will not leave without confiding them. My brother admires her greatly already, and her relations all wish the connection as much as his own. I hope a sister’s partiality is not misleading me, because I know Charles most capable of engaging any woman’s heart. With all these circumstances to favour an attachment, and nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many?
Caroline Bingley
Jane rushed to find Elizabeth and Becky. Lizzy had warned her earlier in the morning that his sisters, and possibly even Mr Darcy, might try to separate them. Jane had been entirely too filled with the remembrance of the way Charles had smiled at her during their waltz to take her seriously.
When Lizzy read the note, her anxiety that her history with Darcy might have played a role in this development resurfaced. Becky had told them last night of Mrs Bennet’s talk of both Mr Bingley and Mr Wickham and her hopes for her daughters during supper. However, Elizabeth was not ready to dash her sister’s hopes. Perhaps Mr Bingley was stronger willed than Miss Bingley’s letter made him sound, and he would be able to stand up to both his sisters—and possibly even Mr Darcy.
“Jane, I know that her speculation about Georgiana Darcy to be entirely wishful thinking. Miss Bingley would like a connection with the Darcy family, and she would see an attachment between her brother and Miss Darcy as a favourable turn of events in her quest. However, I am quite certain his sister has neither interest in Mr Bingley, nor he in her. The entire time I was at Netherfield none spoke of any relationship between them—even though Miss Darcy was mentioned several times.”
Becky tried to make her friend laugh. “Jane, if Mr Darcy desired a connection between Mr Bingley and his sister, he would have surely disclosed that information to your mother last night just to end her incessant talking.”
Jane made an attempt to brighten. “I believe you both to be right, but I feel such dread that once again I have been abandoned.”
Lizzy’s eyes bore into her sister’s. “Tom did not abandon you… he died. George Trent did what so many men do; he married for money. Even if the two of you had foolishly wed while blinded by infatuation, I am convinced you would have been miserable. He was not a man capable of loving deeply and forever. There is such a man for you… as sure as there is a god in heaven.” She took her sister’s hands and squeezed them for emphasis. “It may not be that Mr Bingley is the one, but you will find someone. You are entirely too good and too beautiful… do not settle, Jane!”
Elizabeth wrote late into the night to Mr Darcy. In the end, she decided to tell him of the accusations toward him by Mr Wickham, as well as her fears for his sister. With regard to Mr Wickham, she would attempt to acquit herself of those charges and those with respect to Mrs Younge. However, she decided not to tell him of Mrs Darcy’s betrayal. Her decision reflected the hopelessness she felt in being able to change his opinion of her. The integrity of his family was too important to him to be able to see her right for revenge.
She also knew he needed to be informed of her own confession to her father. They had both been responsible for her father’s suspicions—she by her avoidance of Mr Darcy, and he by his careless words during her father’s interview. Neither had guarded their secret well, but instead indulged in reckless behaviour toward one another. She would tell him of the comfort she felt, and her father’s plans to check Wickham.
Darcy’s trip to Pemberley became the occasion for some much needed reflection. There was a key to unlock her that he never seemed to find. The further away from Hertfordshire, the more he was troubled by the things she had said when she did not know he was listening. What Anne should have confessed could be the piece he needed. He remembered how agitated Anne had been trying to tell him. Her guilt had seemed to consume her until she lapsed into unconsciousness. Had she threatened Miss Elizabeth with exposure if she did not relinquish the baby? They had been alone for almost an hour before Anne had secured her agreement. The pain in Miss Elizabeth’s eyes at every mention of Bethany convinced him that must be it. Anne had mumbled something about being entitled. That was the way of their circle; they were… what had Miss Lydia said?… ‘takers’
Jealousy had, indeed, been the reason for his cruel behaviour, and his words were worthy of Othello… ‘You mean nothing to me.’ They had been killing words, and he feared they had strangled any growing affection she may have felt for him.
When Darcy reached home, Pemberley, Georgiana, Bethany and Lewis were waiting for him on the front steps. The trio had obviously been watching for him. His sister’s face was wreathed with smiles, his daughter was twirling and his son was jumping up and down and laughing. Despite the sadness mixed with self-loathing he felt, his greeting for his family was warm. It was truly marvellous to be home.
Still, by dinnertime, he was struggling to conceal the morose turn of his thoughts. Georgiana, on the other hand, was much improved. Only occasionally did she appear to be thinking of something sad. Lewis was the first to question him about a wife. He momentarily wished his son had remained inarticulate.
“Papa, did you find a wife?”
“No, Lewis, I did not.”
“Why?”
“We are not all as lucky as you to fall in love with the first girl we meet.”
Bethany picked up the conversation from her brother. “Did you meet some ladies?”
“Yes, but several were already spoken for.”
“But not all?”
“No, there were a few that were available.” He refused to lie to his children so he said, “I danced with some, but none were both available and what I wanted.”
Bethany was entirely too smart for him. She said, “So you met one you wanted, but she was not available.”
Georgiana had been watching her brother, and instinctively knew the source of the sadness she had observed in him since his return. She said softly to her brother, “I think Bethany is about to capture your king.” To her niece, she said, “Bethany, your father is tired. Let us tell him about all we did in his absence. After dinner, you will play the Mozart variation, and the three of us can sing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little, Star for him.”
“Oh, yes, Aunt Georgie… umm and you can play that whistle. Papa, Dr Jamie taught Aunt Georgie how to play, and he told us all about Ireland. They fight and laugh there.”
Fitzwilliam Darcy wondered exactly when Dr Wilder had become Dr Jamie.
39 THE TALENT OF WRITING AGREEABLE LETTERS IS PECULIARLY FEMALE
Mrs Reynolds had given him her letter early in the day, before the festivities for Bethany’s birthday began, but he was not able to read it until his children had gone with the nur
se to prepare for bed. He promised them he would be up to tuck them in, and then retired to his study. He sat at his desk and began to read. Several times as he pondered her words, he looked at the painting of the young girl reading.
Longbourn
28 November
Be not alarmed, sir, on receiving this letter, by the apprehension of its containing any renewal of solicitation of monies, which were so disgusting to you in the past. I write without any intention of paining you, by dwelling on our past negotiations, which for the happiness of both cannot be too soon forgotten.
I am fully aware of the impropriety of writing to you, and struggled to determine whether to send this correspondence to you directly by post, or to go through my uncle and Mrs Reynolds. I have chosen selfishly to spare myself the curiosity and gossip of those here in Meryton who might see to whom the letter was addressed. Our ill-advised waltz is still the topic of much rumour and innuendo. I apologize for causing someone in your employ to wonder at my bold behaviour with regard you. Mrs Reynolds will soon be part of my family, and I have long considered her a friend. She is also one of the original conspirators, and I have taken the liberty of explaining to her that you and I had a disagreement while you were in Hertfordshire, which needs clarification. Your perusal of this letter is an imposition that I would have spared you, had not my character required it to be written and read. You must, therefore, pardon the freedom with which I demand your attention. Your feelings, I know, will bestow it unwillingly, but I demand of you that justice of which I know you capable.
This, sir, is a faithful narrative of every event regarding my knowledge of Mr Wickham; and if you do not absolutely reject it as false, you will, I hope acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards you by being in league with that man.
My first knowledge of Mr Wickham came from my sister, Lydia. She met him while visiting Mrs Forster at the militia camp. In the course of relating the particulars of the ball to be held at Netherfield, Mr Wickham heard of your residence at that estate. Lydia observed some apprehension toward you, and even more discomfort was noticed when it was mentioned that your cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, was a friend of Colonel Forster. He did volunteer that you, the colonel and his brother, the Viscount Wolfbridge, had been friends as boys. Lydia believed him proud of his continued close friendship with the Viscount. She also noticed that several times during the conversation, he made me the object of his inquiries, and determined he was a fortune hunter.