“Darcy,” Bingley said slowly, “I think everyone here understands how you feel about Miss Elizabeth.”
Darcy attempted to argue, but Bingley spoke over him. “Surely you could trust her with the truth. Perhaps if she did not encourage him so much, her sisters would not be endangered by him.”
It was a logical argument, even if the circumstances for the proposition made no sense. Staring at his cup, he confronted the truth of what worried him most. “What makes you think she will listen to anything I have to say?”
“It is worth a try,” Georgiana said.
Darcy gave an almost imperceptible nod. Bingley called for the carriage, and on the way to Longbourn, discussion flowed around Darcy that did feel eerily familiar.
After hearing Richard and Georgiana’s stories, Darcy was relieved to see Longbourn had not changed in the least. Mrs. Bennet was loud and obnoxious. The younger daughters were rude, and Mr. Bennet was absent. Darcy allowed himself to tune out the rest of the room and gaze at his sole purpose for coming. Elizabeth looked as lovely as ever. Darcy took a step towards her, but Richard pushed him towards Miss Mary.
“How do you do, Miss Mary?” Richard asked and sat next to her.
“I am well,” she said, although she blushed and would not look at Richard.
Richard smiled. “Do you have your diary with you today?”
Immediately, Mary’s eyes moved to Richard’s. “You remember?” she whispered so quietly that Darcy nearly missed it.
“I do.” Richard and Mary stared at each other for a long moment.
Georgiana cleared her throat. “So do I!”
“You do?” Mary asked in apparent disbelief. “And do you, Mr. Darcy?”
Richard saved him from having to answer. “Darcy would like to view your diary.”
Mary blushed again but handed over the book. Darcy leafed through it and saw pages she had to add. He also noted the repeating of December 23, 1811. He quickly read her last entry, which detailed a swift passage of time and Lydia eloping with Wickham. When he had finished, Richard looked at him expectantly.
“Very well, I will speak with Miss Elizabeth about Wickham. Although I do not see why you fear when it apparently has not come to pass.”
“Please, sir,” Miss Mary said and held out her hand for the diary. “If I may, chance or decision seems to alter our course significantly. One night all seemed normal, and the next you all arrived; however, we could not receive you, for our cousin Mr. Collins had just died.”
“Indeed!” Richard exclaimed.
“Yes. I presume what altered events was your choice to come here. The next many nights did not change the timing of things, although I noted that Miss Darcy one night spoke badly and openly of Mr. Wickham. Two evenings ago, I attempted to tell Jane of matters, and the next morning I awoke to Lydia having been a wife and mother.”
“And that is when you showed me the diary,” Richard added, causing Mary to blush.
“Yes. Both actions were quite uncharacteristic for me.”
“Me as well,” Richard said. “I hope you know I do not go around kissing ladies all the time.”
Mary turned scarlet and her voice trembled, but still she spoke. “I had only meant to explain my findings to Jane and to you. I hope you know not only were your actions unusual for me, but also I would never go around speaking of them so openly!”
Darcy rolled his eyes as her rebuke caused Richard to blush slightly. “We have meandered from the topic. We must decipher how these loops work so we might end them.”
“Well, when I confronted Wickham, I no longer lost my memories,” Georgiana said.
Richard nodded. “It seems to have worked for me just by listening to Miss Mary.”
“Yes, but life altered when Mr. Bingley chose to return to Netherfield and when I attempted to direct Jane. What do you remember about the two years that passed? Anything connected to my family?” Mary asked Richard and Georgiana.
Richard did not meet her eyes. “Little of significance.”
By the way Richard evaded Mary’s eyes, Darcy knew his cousin lied. What was more, he seemed to wish to protect Mary.
“I visited my aunt at Rosings like I do every Easter,” Richard said. “Darcy did not come; we had heard that Miss Elizabeth was residing with Mrs. Collins. To be safe, he did not return the next year either.”
“Fitzwilliam grew colder and more distant it seemed with each passing week,” Georgiana said with a remote and sad quality to her voice. “By the time we had returned here at last, Mr. Bingley was about to give up on their friendship.”
“And neither of you had heard anything of Wickham or the Bennets in that time?” Miss Mary did not attempt to conceal her fear.
“We hardly make it a practise to follow the life of George Wickham,” Darcy said coldly.
“Perhaps you should, sir!” Mary said. “You knew his real character and never revealed it while living in the area. You tacitly agreed to care for Elizabeth and still did not feel your honour called upon.”
She paused for a moment and managed to regain her composure as Richard whispered in her ear and placed a hand on hers. “For us, it was a very, very dark time. Lydia went with the regiment to Brighton as the guest of Colonel Forster and his wife. There, she eloped with Wickham, but they never went to Scotland.
“Instead, they disappeared outside of London, and we could not trace her. After several weeks, she emerged at my uncle Gardiner’s house in little more than her petticoat and a shawl. She had traded everything else for food and lodging. She accepted that Wickham did not mean to marry her and left him, at first unwilling to return to the family. A marriage was hastily arranged, and with it, some respectability returned to my family, but the damage was done. There was talk of my sisters never marrying, even one as beautiful and amiable as Jane.”
By the time she had finished, Miss Mary was breathless and took a sip of the water that Richard had brought her. She seemed as though she had never spoken so much at one time, and Darcy could well believe it. For a moment, he wished to argue about his innocence in a hypothetical case that, whether or not it seemed real, happened yesterday and was no longer a reality. Before having a moment to reply, they were directed outside by Mrs. Bennet.
“Do not hog the colonel, Mary. Your sisters admire a man in uniform much more than you do,” Mrs. Bennet called as they left the room. Richard immediately offered Mary his arm, and the younger sisters walked closely behind them. Jane and Bingley wandered off together, leaving Darcy, Georgiana, and Elizabeth to walk together through Longbourn’s garden. He walked in silence as Elizabeth and Georgiana conversed for several minutes. Passing a small bench, Georgiana seized upon the moment to sit, pressing Darcy and Elizabeth to continue without her.
After walking some yards away, Darcy turned to Elizabeth. “I apologise for my sister. Perhaps you think I should scold her, but I am only too happy to see such youthful stubbornness in her. As a child, she was just that way, but as she aged, she put it aside, and I believe that had rather disastrous consequences.”
Darcy perceived immediately that he had surprised Elizabeth with his words.
“I confess that is not at all what I expected to hear from you,” she said in a small voice filled with wonder.
“Why should you not? She is not yet sixteen and has many years left to become wise and dull.”
“Like her brother, then?” Elizabeth said, but the teasing sparkle in her eye kept it from sounding impertinent or cruel.
“I shall not claim you do not know me well enough, for you undoubtedly have some witty retort.” Not caring about the requests of his friends, Darcy acted on the selfish desire of his heart. “In fact, I would very much wish for you to know me better. Indeed, such limited knowledge between a husband and wife would not do very well at all.”
He heard Elizabeth gasp and turned to look at her.
“Pardon me?” Her eyes were wide, and her colour was pale.
“You will forgive me for not knowin
g the usual pretty words of suitors.”
Elizabeth remained fixed in her spot and was speechless. A cold sweat trickled down his spine. He had never seen her at a loss for words. “I had not thought it would come as such a surprise,” he ventured, “but surely your clever mouth can think of something to say.” He took a step forward and reached for her hand. “No witticism from you, my darling?”
Like a flame leaping from a match, Darcy witnessed Elizabeth transform. She snatched her hand away, and her eyes turned dark and fiery. She spoke through clenched teeth. “Allow me to thank you for the honour you have bestowed on me. If I rightly understood, and some request was intended although unsaid. However, it is impossible for me to do otherwise than refuse it.”
Instantly, it felt as though Darcy was punched in the gut. He waited for further explanation, but it seemed none was forthcoming. “Is that all the civility I may expect?”
“How dare you expect more! While you were talking with Mary for so long, you might have taken an interest in what your friend was saying to Jane.” She shook a finger at him. “I heard it from Mr. Bingley’s own lips that you had meant to keep him away forever! Do you think anything could prevail upon me to marry the man who wished to separate my most beloved sister from the man she loved? Do you deny it?”
Darcy could scarcely believe his ears. First, Elizabeth refused him. Secondly, Bingley put him forward in an unfavourable light. Lastly, Jane Bennet had felt real affection for his friend. “I do not deny it. Towards him, I have been kinder than to myself.”
He must try and explain his side of matters. He wet his lips to speak, but it was too late. The harridan had more to say.
“It is not merely this matter which formed my dislike of you. Weeks ago, your character was explained to me by Mr. Wickham. Please, tell me how you mean to acquit yourself there. Another act of imagined kindness?”
“You take an eager interest in that man’s concerns!” Darcy could barely contain the rage he felt boiling beneath his skin.
“Who that knows his afflictions can help feeling concern?”
“His afflictions? Oh yes. They are great indeed.”
“And by your making!” she cried. “How dare you treat him so sarcastically and with derision in your voice when it is he who was slighted and misused?”
“You have said more than enough, madam!” Darcy’s chest heaved. “Perhaps if I had flattered you more, you would have accepted my suit.” Darcy knew it was untrue, but he had often noted vanity seemed to be her weakness.
“Do not think I reject your proposal due to your pathetic attempts! I had not known you a month before I felt you were the last man in the world I could be prevailed upon to marry! As it is, your mode of declaration only spared me concern in wounding you, but I assure you that I could not be tempted to accept your suit in any circumstance.”
“Darcy?” Bingley interrupted them, and he did not know whether he hated or rejoiced in the sight of his friend and Miss Bennet.
“Darcy, we are returning to the house now. I must speak with Mr. Bennet, but I hope you will offer me your congratulations.”
Darcy could feel Elizabeth’s eyes upon him. “Indeed, many congratulations to you, and best wishes to Miss Bennet. As I do not think you want for more company while you court, I will take my leave. Shall I send back the carriage at eight o’clock?”
“Leaving? No! You cannot—must not!” Bingley’s eyes darted to Elizabeth, now at Jane’s side, whose anger for Darcy could be overcome only by her happiness for her sister.
Jane turned her pale blue eyes upon him. “Please stay, Mr. Darcy. It is no matter to have an extra guest, and your presence makes our joy complete.”
Elizabeth mumbled something at her side, and Jane elbowed her. “I believe we owe our engagement all to you,” she said, then coughed in an attempt to cover up Elizabeth’s audible gasp.
“Very well,” Darcy said tightly.
“Splendid!” Bingley exclaimed and extended his arm to Jane. “Darcy, you had better help Miss Elizabeth; the path is uneven here.”
The two walked off as though they had no concern in the world, and perhaps they did not. Elizabeth refused to look at Darcy and fixed her eyes towards the gate. “Expecting someone?” he asked in irritation.
“Yes! And look! He has come.” Elizabeth waved gaily and smiled before walking off to meet a uniformed man. Darcy could recognise the silhouette anywhere. Wickham.
O Holy Night
Longbourn
December 23, 1811
As Elizabeth left Mr. Darcy’s side and joined Wickham, something like an unpleasant memory flashed in her mind. However, it was more impression than memory, so she pushed it aside. Expecting Darcy to leave after her refusal, she could barely contain her astonishment when he stayed for dinner. While they gathered in the drawing room before the meal, Darcy glared at her and Wickham.
The officer unabashedly enjoyed goading the arrogant gentleman. However, Wickham’s delight did not serve him well. Elizabeth’s primary interest in Wickham had been that he flattered her vanity. She was not too proud to admit that. What lady would not enjoy the attentions of a handsome man? It soon became apparent, though, that Wickham paying Elizabeth such notice flattered his ego. Out of some rivalry—of which a valuable church living did not seem to be the motive—Wickham preyed upon her dislike of Darcy.
During the meal, Darcy sat near Mrs. Bennet. Elizabeth observed him to see how he would react to her mother’s constant raving about the good fortune of Mr. Bingley’s return and how kind he was to want to marry her eldest daughter. Soon, Mrs. Bennet hinted at Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam marrying from among her other girls. Beside her, Mary blushed scarlet. How curious. As Mrs. Bennet had not been expecting so much company, the meal had fewer courses than she would have had ordered otherwise, and Elizabeth gloried in the chance to be away from the gentlemen. In fact, she felt tempted to claim illness and return to her chamber, but she did not wish to ruin the evening of Jane’s betrothal. She would not let Mr. Darcy have such a victory over her.
Surprisingly, Mary, Georgiana, and Jane had their heads together when they returned to the drawing room. Now and then they nervously glanced at the clock. Half past six.
“Lizzy,” Jane said, “will you walk with me?”
“Jane, you cannot leave,” Mrs. Bennet screeched. “When the gentlemen return, Mr. Bingley will want to sit with you!”
Elizabeth furrowed her brow as she watched alarm enter Jane’s eyes, and she glanced at Mary and Georgiana.
“Mama,” Mary said suddenly, “Miss Darcy had asked to see the fountain. Jane and Lizzy know it best. We would not want to put her out, would we?”
Mrs. Bennet paused for a moment, as she had always disliked Darcy. However, seeing as he brought Bingley back as well as another single gentleman, and friendship with his sister could do wonders for her daughters, she relented. “Very well, but hurry along!”
The last rays of the sun were slipping from the horizon, and dusk came closer with every passing second. Reaching the fountain, they stared at it appreciatively for a moment.
“Forgive me, but I would hate to miss Mr. Bingley’s return to the drawing room.” Jane blushed. “You cannot fault me, my dear sister, for wishing to be by his side so much after so long a separation.”
Elizabeth gave her most beloved sister an indulgent smile. “No, indeed. If Miss Darcy has no objection to staying out here with me alone, that is. Although I wonder that her brother should like it.”
“Oh, there is no worry there,” Miss Darcy said with laughter. “He often wrote of your superior intelligence and abilities.”
Before Elizabeth could do more than gape at the sister of the most complicated man in the universe, Jane excused herself.
“And what is that?” Georgiana pointed to some flowers by a copse of trees.
Elizabeth explained the species as she walked closer to gain a better view. She had assumed Georgiana followed but noticed she did not hear footsteps. Turning
to see where the girl had gone, a shadow moved from a tree, catching her eye and causing her to yelp.
Immediately, Elizabeth threw an arm out to protect Georgiana from the darkened intruder. “Miss Darcy, run!”
“She has returned to the house,” Wickham said. “She never saw me. We are quite alone.”
“Mr. Wickham? Why would you scare me?” Elizabeth felt her body relax and held a hand to her chest.
“Oh, there is really nothing to fear.”
Suddenly, he grabbed her arm, holding it so tightly that she was certain it bruised. He pulled her hard against his chest. One arm snaked around her waist while the one that abused her limb now raked up her shoulder and neck. Taking her jaw in his hand, he forcefully bent her head back to look at him. Madness shone in his eyes.
“I will finally have my revenge.”
Revenge? What revenge? What did he speak of? “Sir, if you will please come back to the house. You are unwell. We can call a physician.”
“No, no. Your words or looks will not beguile me. Tell me,” he said and thrust her chin this way and then that, “do you think you are worth thirty thousand pounds to him?”
To whom? Elizabeth took a shuddering breath. She had no idea what had caused this madness or whom he spoke of, but she had no time to worry about such things. She needed to be free of him. She did not think she could overpower him. Gruffly, he let go of her face and then thrust a hand into his pocket. What he withdrew flashed in the moonlight.
“I think on your knees will be best.”
He shoved her forward, and Elizabeth stumbled to her knees. Instantly, he was beside her, gripping her around the waist again. Then Elizabeth felt the cold, hard steel against her neck and whimpered.
“You will have to be louder than that,” he said and pressed harder against the tender skin.
Elizabeth felt a trickle of blood and prayed someone might come outside.
“Look!” Wickham exclaimed.
His breath became ragged in excitement and delight. Every exhale scorched her ear.
“Play nice,” he whispered harshly.
Mr Darcy's Miracle at Longbourn Page 8