His Choice of a Wife

by Heather Moll

  “You would not exclude me from your confidence if you admit me to your heart?”

  Darcy found the thought of Elizabeth’s familiarity with his concerns to be a welcome relief from a lonely existence. “You are welcome to all my confidences worth having, Elizabeth.”

  “I dearly welcome that, but you will leave it to me to decide the worthiness of your confidence.”

  Darcy gladly nodded his acquiescence.

  “If I had not come across you, would you have gone to London and forgotten me?”

  “I could as soon forget you as I could forget my own existence. I would have ridden to London in anger, but once I arrived, there is little doubt in my mind that my desire to see you again would have overruled my temper. Why did you not confess your affections for me sooner?”

  “You cannot imagine how suddenly it has come on me, how unprepared I was! After you arrived today, I knew my only wish was for us never to be parted.”

  He now realized the lateness of the hour and the necessity of his return to town. They walked arm in arm to find Darcy’s horse, and she speculated on their newfound humility.

  “We have had a merry war betwixt us. We should be gratified to find ourselves not too proud to love one another after all, for you and I are too wise to woo peaceably.”

  Darcy smiled at her reference, took her hands in his, and quoted, “‘I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be buried in thy eyes.’”

  “Your tongue has not failed you now.”

  He laughed, thrilled he had the ability to bring a blush to her cheeks.

  She then changed the subject. “Let us explain and understand one another. The officers will dine at Longbourn the last Wednesday in May, the very last day of the regiment’s remaining in Meryton. Now, Mr. Darcy, might I enquire as to when I shall again be graced by your presence?”

  “Georgiana and I shall call on you Thursday at the earliest possible hour. I should like an interview with your father when I arrive.”

  “Must you speak to him soon?”

  Darcy frowned. He wanted to tell everyone that Elizabeth loved him and make their engagement public as soon as possible.

  “Do not make yourself uneasy!” she assured him. “I have railed against your character at every opportunity since the moment I met you. I wish my opinions had been more reasonable. I would like the opportunity to declare my attachment to you before you speak to my father. Would you not enjoy one more call without having to endure my mother’s raptures on your ten thousand a year or my father’s disbelief that we are devoted to one another?”

  He dared not dwell on the hope of another visit where he might find time alone to kiss Elizabeth. “Another unchaperoned visit could be pleasant.”

  They found Darcy’s horse in a clearing, and he offered to escort Elizabeth home.

  “No, the hour is late, and I am already reluctant to part with you. You have a long ride to London, and it will be too long before I shall see you again. I would prefer you to take leave of me here so I might say good-bye properly.”

  His heart raced as she boldly placed her arms around his neck and kissed him. It was some time before Darcy mounted his horse to return to town.

  Chapter 7

  Elizabeth did not admit their engagement to her family, but she repeatedly explained to them that Mr. Darcy was neither an arrogant nor unpleasant man, that she admired him, and that she had a marked preference for his company.

  “Mamma, Mr. Darcy will call with his sister after the officers leave Meryton. He has excellent understanding and principles. He and I enjoyed a great deal of unreserved conversation when he was last here.”

  “I do not see how! He is rude and proud, but we must endure him for his friend’s sake.”

  Mr. Bennet turned a newspaper page without looking up. “I think our Lizzy enjoys the sport in drawing out a silent, taciturn, unsocial man.”

  “No, Papa, I admire his taste and his abilities. When Mr. Darcy returns, I hope you take the opportunity to know him.”

  “The fools with whom you suffer to pass your time are of no interest to me.”

  “He is the least foolish man I have ever met. His mind is very well-informed, and his enjoyment of books is exceedingly great. I think if you took pains to get to know Mr. Darcy, you would like him as much as I do.”

  “I have not had as many opportunities to estimate the minuter propensities of his mind, but if you think I shall enjoy the challenge of provoking such a proud man to speak, I am happy to take on the challenge.”

  She had imagined that the fact of Mr. Darcy’s riding all the way from London would speak to his intentions towards her, but her parents did not understand her hints or his temperament. Perhaps they had to see Mr. Darcy and her interact with one another before they would be willing and able to understand the depth of their attachment.

  Even her sisters, save Jane, would not listen to Elizabeth’s approval of Mr. Darcy. Lydia could not spare time to think of anything but the enjoyments Brighton would offer, Kitty was too despondent over Lydia’s good fortune, and Mary preferred a book to any conversation with her sisters. Even Jane, who had her own concerns about the return of Mr. Bingley, could only smile kindly whenever Elizabeth tried to improve her sister’s opinion of her chosen partner.

  On the final day of the regiment’s remaining in Meryton, the officers dined at Longbourn, and Elizabeth was to see Mr. Wickham for the last time. She found him sickening now that she knew what he was. Elizabeth attempted to make it clear that his attentions annoyed her, but he would not withdraw them. After dinner, Mr. Wickham came upon her unawares after Jane stepped away, and he sat near her and leant forward to block her view of the room.

  “I see I find you alone, my dear friend.”

  “My sister will return presently.” She tried to rise, but Wickham held out his hand and asked her to remain.

  “We were always good friends, were we not?”

  “Yes, I believe we were.” Elizabeth was little disposed to part from him in good humor.

  “And so we must remain. I shall miss our talks when we remove to Brighton. ’Tis a shame you cannot follow the regiment along with your sister.”

  They looked together to see Lydia in boisterous conversation with several officers. Elizabeth turned back when Wickham rested his arm against her chair and leant closer. He seemed mildly amused as a smirk played across the features she once considered handsome.

  “Tell me of the manner in which you passed your time visiting Mrs. Collins at Hunsford. Was Lady Catherine not exactly as I described?” he asked.

  “Yes, she was. Her nephews Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy spent three weeks at Rosings. Are you acquainted with the former?”

  Wickham looked alarmed at the mention of the colonel, but after a moment’s recollection, he calmly replied that he had formerly seen him often and that he was a very gentleman-like man. “But I do not care to speak of the colonel. I am more interested in hearing about Darcy.”

  “I am surprised that you would take an interest in that man’s affairs, given your history.”

  “You know so well my feelings towards Mr. Darcy. At one time, I thought we were of a similar mind.”

  “I do not think our opinions of everybody still coincide.” How could she ever have believed this man to be the model of all that was amiable and pleasing?

  Wickham appraised her with a calculating countenance that could not hide his agitation. He bit his bottom lip and tapped his foot feverishly. Elizabeth attempted to see beyond him to determine whether Jane was on her way back, but he abruptly leant back into his chair and crossed his legs in front of her, his arm on the back of her chair and his legs preventing her from standing.

  “I heard an interesting report from Denny and Pratt last week, and I have been anxious to speak of it to you.”
/>   Elizabeth gave a slight inclination of her head but said nothing.

  “They were returning from Meryton by way of Lucas Lodge, and both men say they saw you walking on the arm of none other than Mr. Darcy, having an intimate tête-à-tête! They thought he might have even kissed your hand. They were adamant although I told them that they could not have suggested a more unlikely couple. After all, Mr. Bingley and his party have been removed from the neighborhood for six months.” Here Wickham lowered his voice, and Elizabeth could not mistake his contempt. “So do now tell me, my dear Miss Elizabeth, how could it be that Fitzwilliam Darcy lent you his arm to stroll about Hertfordshire?”

  Elizabeth remembered Mr. Darcy’s letter and his assertion that Wickham had followed Georgiana to Ramsgate by design, induced by both fortune and revenge. A shiver of revulsion ran down her spine. Could he be so angry about my knowing the truth that he tries to exact revenge upon me? She now knew Wickham to be a man without scruples, but surely he was not dangerous and desperate? She was too poor to be an object of prey, after all, and she held too much disgust for him to continue their acquaintance, let alone be duped by his lies. He could have no power over her.

  “Are you asking that I account for my whereabouts?” She affected an air of indifference. “Such a responsibility falls to my father.”

  Wickham scoffed. “Yes, Mr. Bennet is alert to his family’s cares and concerns.” Elizabeth blushed with shame; it was well known in their neighborhood that Mr. Bennet was a careless father. “I mean no offense. I am…surprised that you would choose to pass your time with a man whose foul misconduct has caused me such suffering. You yourself have on many occasions said how little you can tolerate Darcy, for he does so despise his fellow creatures in general.”

  “Mr. Wickham,” Elizabeth began slowly, “Mr. Darcy improves on further acquaintance. At Rosings I had the opportunity of knowing him better, and I now understand his true nature.”

  Wickham’s complexion heightened and his eyes narrowed as he, for a moment, sat silent. He exhaled loudly and nodded then said slowly in a low voice, “To whom, may I ask, do you owe this newfound information? Perhaps the good colonel?”

  “My knowledge of Mr. Darcy and the quality of his character comes from the gentleman himself.” Her patience was wearing thin, and she was in no humor to indulge Wickham. There was little doubt in her mind that he understood her to know the truth behind his connections to the Darcy family, but he did not appear embarrassed, only angry. Elizabeth wished he would be gone.

  “I can imagine few inducements that would drive a man as private and reserved as Darcy to discuss his intimate dealings with one wholly unconnected to him.” He paused and allowed his gaze to linger over her in a manner that could only be described as lecherous. “Or perhaps you are not as unconnected to Darcy as you would have me believe?”

  Elizabeth’s eyes widened in affront, but before she could reply, Wickham rose and left to give the other ladies their share of his attentions. Elizabeth was unsettled, and she desired never to meet him again.

  When the party broke up, Lydia left with Mrs. Forster as they intended to depart early the next morning. Elizabeth was forced to accept that her father refused to exert control over Lydia. Elizabeth had frequently united with Jane in an endeavor to check the imprudence of Catherine and Lydia, but as long as the younger girls were supported by their mother’s indulgence and their father’s disregard, there was little chance for improvement. She was disappointed but was consoled by the knowledge that Mr. Darcy would not be as disinterested a husband and father.

  Elizabeth was quick to put Mr. Wickham from her mind and eagerly awaited the arrival of the Darcys.

  ***

  While Elizabeth was forced to spend Wednesday in the company of Mr. Wickham, Darcy passed the time in an equally unbearable manner. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst had called while Georgiana was with him, and after Bingley announced that they were at their leisure, Darcy found himself imprisoned in his own drawing room. Miss Bingley refused all attempts to direct the conversation to more pleasant topics and protested against her brother’s summer plans.

  “Really, Charles, I see no reason to return to Hertfordshire. I would prefer to travel to Bath and then on to Pemberley as planned. Perhaps we might convince Mr. Darcy to accompany us to Scarborough at the end of the summer.”

  “You and Louisa and Hurst may go on to Bath, but I shall return to Netherfield. Imagine, Miss Bennet was in town all winter! You are both fortunate that Darcy learned from Miss Elizabeth that her sister was still in town, and I had the opportunity to call on her.”

  Darcy was attempting to read his book, but upon hearing this, his guilt made him meet Miss Bingley’s eyes. The ladies had been the recipients of Bingley’s short-lived anger for their involvement in the affair. Miss Bingley may have longed to tell Bingley that Darcy had also hidden Jane’s presence, but her desire for that gentleman’s good opinion kept her silent. “How insupportable to pass another evening in such society as we found in Hertfordshire! I was never more annoyed than when I was there. Miss Darcy, you cannot imagine the nothingness, the insipidity of such people.”

  “Miss Bennet was your dear friend while we were in the neighborhood,” cried Bingley.

  “Jane is a sweet girl, despite her inferior connections, but I still do not think that she admires you.”

  “She was attentive to me when I called at her uncle’s house. Even Darcy agreed that she favors me.”

  “Far be it from me to question the judgment of Mr. Darcy! But need I remind you of all the follies and absurdities of the entire Bennet family?”

  Bingley spoke on of Miss Bennet’s loveliness while Miss Bingley harangued her relations. However little Darcy liked her address, he attempted to remain cool and unaffected. If Bingley were to court Jane, he should act with conviction. If he could not limit his sister’s disparagement of his intended love, what would Bingley do in the face of the fashionable world?

  His notice of the conversation was captured again when he realized that Miss Bingley had proceeded from maligning the Bennets’ connections to discussing Elizabeth.

  “I cannot abide that Eliza Bennet! She is unconventional and not in a fashionable way, which is intolerable. Such an impertinent girl with no taste, no style, and no conversation.”

  “I found Miss Elizabeth Bennet kind and charming,” Georgiana whispered.

  Miss Bingley was overcome by confusion, and with prompting from Mrs. Hurst, Georgiana made known to them that she had met Elizabeth at the Gardiners’ home and the visit was promptly returned.

  “Eliza Bennet called here at Darcy House? I am all astonishment. She did not walk here from Cheapside by herself, did she? Was her petticoat covered in mud when you received her?”

  Bingley commended Miss Elizabeth’s affection for Jane, but his sisters lambasted her manners and lack of decorum. Georgiana looked questioningly at her brother. Darcy was conflicted: he could not allow Bingley’s sisters to censure Elizabeth in his presence, but he had not yet secured her father’s blessing and could not announce their engagement. Yet, in his heart, he felt he betrayed her while he remained silent.

  “Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s manners were pleasing, Miss Bingley,” Georgiana murmured.

  “You are a sweet girl to speak kindly of one so beneath you. I believe, Louisa, there was a time when we were all amazed to find that Eliza Bennet was a reputed beauty. I know Mr. Darcy eventually found her eyes to be fine, but I find them to have a shrewish look. I particularly recollect Mr. Darcy saying one evening, ‘She a beauty? I should as soon call her mother a wit.’”

  At the pained look on his sister’s face, Darcy wished his former opinions of Elizabeth had been more sensible. He must do what he could to atone for his mistake. “Her eyes are not only fine, but striking, and there is a general sweetness in her countenance that those who know her well can readil
y perceive.”

  Miss Bingley steered the conversation back to Bingley’s summer plans. “Can you be sure that Jane wishes to continue her acquaintance with you? You could come with us to Bath instead.”

  “You have no reason to believe that Miss Bennet no longer wishes my company, do you?”

  “Jane is serene and mild. Perhaps she is just as welcoming to any man’s attentions. Perhaps it is her nature.”

  Bingley pursed his lips but reaffirmed that Miss Bennet appeared pleased with him when he called at Gracechurch Street. He then asked his sister to come to Netherfield to be his hostess.

  “You may return to the country, Charles, but I shall not! I shall join my sister and brother in Bath. We shall be in a good situation. I am fond of Bath and am determined to stay there until we adjourn to Pemberley with Mr. Darcy in August.” She looked admiringly at her object, who had returned to his book.

  “You may do as you please, Caroline, but I am removing to Hertfordshire in June and shall stay there indefinitely.”

  “Miss Bingley, my plans for the summer have changed, and I shall not be hosting a party at Pemberley.” She looked at Darcy in alarm. “I shall join Bingley at Netherfield and shall not be removing to Pemberley until a desirable event takes place.” Without elaborating on what event he desired, Darcy asked Georgiana to speak with him privately. The Darcys went away, and Miss Bingley was left in the company of her brother, likely to spend the rest of the call dissuading him from offering to Jane.

  Darcy led his sister into the library and closed the door. He sighed at the sight of his sister fidgeting with her hands and her gaze on the floor. She clearly wished to speak to him but knew not how to broach the subject. Again he wished Georgiana would not be so anxious, but he did not how to encourage her. Elizabeth would be better suited for such a task.