Darcy and Elizabeth What If? Collection 4

by Jennifer Lang

  However, later in the day she received good news from Sally which did something to cheer her. Sally went to the inn, to see if there had been any mail for Elizabeth, and returned with much to tell.

  ‘A letter’s come from your aunt, Miss,’ she said, handing it to Elizabeth. ‘And there’s good news. Miss Lydia’s going to marry Mr Wickham! Miss Lydia told me so herself.’ Elizabeth was doubtful, but Sally said, ‘It’s true, Miss. I had it from Mr Wickham as well. He’s written to your Papa to ask his permission. So you see, Miss, he isn’t as bad as we thought he was. I dare say now he’s got a son he sees things differently and wants to do the right thing. They’re to marry just as soon as your Papa gives his consent. There’s going to be a special license and everything.’

  Elizabeth was amazed. Special licenses were expensive and Mr Wickham had no money. Mr Darcy must have arranged it. She was conscious of the very great debt both she and her family owed Mr Darcy, but her thankfulness was tinged with despair as she knew that Lydia’s escapade had cost her Mr Darcy’s growing friendship and more, for she had strongly suspected – and hoped - that he was still in love with her. But Lydia had ruined everything.

  Elizabeth thought that, if Mr Darcy had not been wishing her gone before, he had made it clear he was wishing it now. He had spoken barely a dozen words to her since learning of Lydia’s situation. She would like to oblige him by leaving but she knew that she could not face the jolting of a carriage at the moment. She had been forced to acknowledge her own weakness the previous day and she no longer deluded herself that she was fit to travel, for her head still had a dull ache and any sudden emotion or jarring movement caused it to throb. But as soon as she was able to face the journey then she must return to the inn, for Mr Darcy’s absence was all the more painful after the growing closeness they had shared.

  She relieved her feelings by turning to her aunt’s letter. What she read went some way to restoring her spirits, for the letter said that her aunt and uncle were coming to Lambton. What is more, they intended to call at Longbourn on the way and tell Mr and Mrs Bennet all about it. Elizabeth was relieved to have this burden lifted from her shoulders.

  When she had finished the letter she looked again at the top, where her aunt had written the date and time. Working out their soonest possible arrival time, if they travelled at speed, she realised they could be in Lambton the following morning.

  She decided that, as long as she felt well enough to travel by the morrow, she would rid Mr Darcy of her presence and return to the inn, where she hoped her aunt’s kindness and good sense could restore her to some kind of equanimity.

  Mr Darcy, meanwhile, was indeed busy. He sent a letter to his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was staying with friends nearby, and asked for his help in finding suitable employment for Wickham. Colonel Fitzwilliam had written to accept Mr Darcy’s invitation to the house party and would soon be at Pemberley, but Mr Darcy did not want to wait for his arrival before dealing with the matter. He wanted Wickham to take up employment as soon as possible, for not until Miss Lydia and Wickham were married and provided for could he truly wash his hands of them.

  To that end, he rode over to a small church which was on the other side of Pemberley from Lambton and not much frequented. In such an isolated setting on the edge of the moors, the wedding would not occasion notice and the reason for it would not have attention called to it. It went against the grain for him to help Wickham in any way, but the thought of Elizabeth spurred him on. Anything he could do to help her he would do, even if it involved helping his arch enemy, George Wickham. He arranged for the marriage to take place there.

  On returning to Pemberley, he had some final preparations for the house party to oversee. By the time he had seen to everything that needed his attention, as well as the ordinary matters connected with running his estate, it was late. On returning to the house he learned that Miss Elizabeth had taken dinner in her room and so he turned his attention to a book. But the book could not hold his attention. He was too busy thinking about Elizabeth.

  The following morning unfolded a new scene at Pemberley. Elizabeth woke feeling much refreshed. The dull ache in her head had all but vanished and she could move with more speed, since abrupt movement no longer set her head throbbing. Her colour was much improved and she felt livelier than she had since the accident.

  She was just partaking of breakfast in the breakfast parlour when Mr Darcy walked in. He enquired after her health and she said she was feeling much better.

  ‘I must thank you for everything you have done on behalf of my poor sister, Lydia,’ she said. ‘Sally has told me all about it.’

  ‘I need no thanks. I did no more than my duty,’ he said, as he took his place at the table. ‘If I had made Wickham’s character known then he could never have imposed on your sister.’

  Elizabeth doubted whether anything could have saved Lydia but she did not want to argue with him. There was an awkward silence, which was broken by the sound of an approaching carriage. Elizabeth glanced out of the window and recognised her uncle’s conveyance bowling down the drive.

  Her evident excitement conveyed itself to Mr Darcy, who said, ‘I can see that you recognise the carriage.’

  ‘Yes, it belongs to my aunt and uncle,’ she said. ‘I wrote to them, telling them of my sister’s troubles, and they replied to say they would come to Lambton. They must have already been to the inn and found out from my sister that I am here.’

  In a few minutes the Gardiners were shown in. Mr Darcy greeted them with great civility and Elizabeth was quietly pleased to see a look of surprise on his face when he met them. He had obviously not expected people of such evident sense and fashion and she was relieved that she had some relatives, besides her beloved Jane, for whom she need not blush.

  Once the usual compliments had been made and the four of them were seated in the drawing-room, Mr Gardiner said, ‘I hope you will excuse me for dispensing with formality, Sir, but the circumstances surrounding my niece are known to all of us and I believe only frank speaking can resolve the situation.’

  ‘Indeed, I am relieved you have suggested it,’ said Mr Darcy.

  ‘I understand you have arranged for a marriage to go ahead.’

  ‘I have,’ said Mr Darcy. ‘It wants only Mr Bennet’s approval and then the wedding can take place.’

  ‘Then might I beg a private interview with you, Sir, so that we may discuss the details? I have Mr Bennet’s authority to speak for him.’

  ‘You may. If the ladies will excuse us, I suggest we retire to the library.’

  Elizabeth and Mrs Gardner inclined their heads in acknowledgement of their approval and the gentlemen left the room.

  ‘So Mr Wickham is to marry Lydia, and Mr Darcy arranged it,’ said Mrs Gardiner. ‘Who would have thought, the last time we were at Pemberley, that our next visit would be so momentous? Lydia told us you had had an accident but she did not provide us with any details. What happened, Lizzy?’

  Elizabeth told her aunt everything. Mrs Gardiner listened in silence and when she had done, said, ‘It seems we have even more for which to thank Mr Darcy. Not only has he worked hard to save Lydia’s reputation, in so far as it can be saved, but he also saved your life and the life of my great-nephew.’

  ‘He has been goodness itself,’ said Elizabeth in heartfelt tones.

  ‘Lizzy?’ asked Mrs Gardiner, looking hard at Elizabeth. ‘Is there anything else you want to tell me?’

  Elizabeth looked uncomfortable but said, ‘No, Aunt, what could there be?’

  ‘I have never heard you speak so warmly about any gentleman before. I thought, on our last visit to Pemberley, that you coloured when you spoke of him and now I begin to wonder if there is anything between you.’

  Thus encouraged, Elizabeth told her aunt about her feelings. She spoke of a growing closeness between her and Mr Darcy, and also a possibility that Mr Bingley would return to Meryton now that Mr Darcy had withdrawn his opposition to a match.

&n
bsp; ‘But it is all ruined. Ruined by Lydia,’ said Elizabeth in anguish.

  ‘My dear Lizzy, I had no idea.’ She expressed her sympathy and allowed Elizabeth to give vent to her feelings, then said, ‘There is no use brooding. Even the best families have their scapegraces, and we must make the best of it.’

  ‘Scapegraces perhaps, but none quite as incorrigible as Lydia,’ said Elizabeth.

  ‘Something, at least, can be done to mend matters. Your uncle is going to suggest that Lydia and Wickham marry this afternoon. He wants a wedding to go ahead as soon as possible so there can be no chance of it coming to nothing. Everything is in place and Lydia has recovered quickly enough to allow it. Once married, she can return to the inn where she can rest again – although, if her exuberance this morning on seeing her Mama is anything to go by, she will not need to rest.’

  ‘Mama is here?’ asked Elizabeth in surprise.

  ‘Your Mama and Papa are both here, at the inn. Your Papa insisted on coming, once he had overcome his initial shock, and your Mama would not be left behind. We tried to persuade her to remain at Longbourn but she would not be gainsaid.’

  ‘And what of her cold?’ asked Elizabeth.

  ‘She has recovered from it, but her nerves were excited by the news of Lydia and we did not think she should travel. However, she was adamant and at last it was arranged that Jane should come with us so that she could care for your mother.’

  ‘Jane is here as well?’ cried Elizabeth in delight.

  ‘Yes. She is at the inn with your parents.’

  ‘I am so glad! I am longing to see her,’ said Elizabeth. ‘I must ask you to take me with you when you go, Aunt. I have been here long enough.’

  ‘My dear Elizabeth, you cannot leave so suddenly. It would be very rude and it would look very odd. Besides, there is nowhere for you to stay. The inn is full. Your family had to take your room as there were no other rooms available. Your parents are in your room and Jane is in the adjoining room used by your maid. I understand that Mr Darcy has invited you to the Pemberley house party, or at least that is what Mr Wickham indicated. Is it true?’

  ‘Yes, Aunt.’

  ‘Then it is settled.’

  Elizabeth jumped up.

  ‘No, Aunt, it is not settled. I must not impose on him any longer.’

  ‘My dear Elizabeth, whatever your feelings, I fear you must.’

  There was time for nothing more. The gentlemen’s voices could be heard in the hall and their footsteps were coming closer. They had evidently finished their business and were returning to the drawing-room.

  ‘It is settled, my dear,’ said Mr Gardiner to his wife when he entered the drawing-room. ‘Lydia and Mr Wickham are to be married this afternoon. And now we must return to the inn and apprise Mr Bennet of the arrangements.’

  ‘Very well.’

  They made their farewells and soon afterwards were on their way. As Elizabeth watched their carriage roll down the drive she consoled herself with the fact that the Pemberley house party was now only a few days away, after which she could bid Pemberley and Mr Darcy goodbye.

  The thought should have consoled her, but instead it filled her with an aching, heart-wrenching pain.

  Chapter Ten

  Mr and Mrs Gardiner’s news was greeted with high spirits at the inn. With the knowledge that Wickham was to marry her after all, and the arrival of her Mama, Lydia was almost as boisterous as she had been at Meryton. Her experiences had tempered her a little and she was no longer so naïve, but her natural high spirits could not be crushed for long and she was soon bemoaning the lack of a new wedding gown with Mrs Bennet.

  ‘Let one thing be understood. There will be no finery, no pomp and ceremony,’ said Mr Bennet sternly, as the Bennets and Gardiners gathered in the private parlour at the inn. ‘Lydia must wear a clean gown and that will suffice.’

  ‘How can you say so?’ asked Mrs Bennet. ‘Your first daughter to marry, and you will deny her the finery that is her right? At the least, you must buy her a new necklace and a matching bracelet. There is a jewellers in Lambton, I saw it as the carriage drove through the town. It will be a very shabby wedding without.’

  ‘Mrs Bennet, you never cease to amaze me. Your daughter is a mother before she is a wife and you wish to reward her with jewels? Lydia will be married this afternoon in a clean gown and any jewels she already possesses, and that is that.’

  Not all Mrs Bennet’s pouts and lamentations could make him change his mind.

  It was agreed that the wedding would take place in the church Mr Darcy had selected, after which Lydia would return to the inn as Mrs Wickham in truth. Thereafter, once she was sufficiently recovered, she would travel north with her new husband. Mr Wickham had been promised a place in the army, thanks to the influence of Mr Darcy and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. It was a low ranking position but it would give Wickham an income and a degree of respectability. Mr Bennet would give Lydia away, Jane would attend her and Mr Darcy would stand up with Mr Wickham. This was partly through a desire to be useful to Elizabeth, and partly through duty, but mainly so that Mr Wickham did not have a chance to abscond at the last minute.

  Mr Wickham was by now sober and behaving as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. He was charming to everyone and behaved as if it were a perfectly normal wedding. He flattered Mrs Bennet, telling her that she looked more like Lydia’s sister than her mother, and telling her she must not wear white to the church or everyone would think she was the bride. He called Mr Bennet ‘Sir’ in the most respectful manner, and was politely attentive to Jane. If anyone had not known that he was the veriest scoundrel, he would have seemed the most charming man alive.

  Once everything had been arranged, Mrs Bennet’s thoughts turned to Elizabeth. It had not escaped her notice that Elizabeth was staying at Pemberley, and all her maternal matchmaking instincts came into play. The wedding would not take place for several hours. She retired to her room to rest, but after some ten minutes she spoke to Jane, who was attending her.

  ‘It is no good, Jane. I cannot rest while my poor Lizzy is suffering. We will take the carriage and go to Pemberley.’

  ‘Mama, we cannot go to Pemberley uninvited,’ said Jane, horrified.

  ‘I do not see why not, for your aunt and uncle were there an hour ago and no one invited them.’

  ‘There is not time,’ Jane protested, as she tried to dissuade her Mama from this disastrous course of action.

  ‘There is plenty of time. Have your aunt’s carriage made ready – no, stay, it will take too long. We will hire a carriage.’ She went over to the window and looked down into the yard. ‘I see one standing there. Bring me my cloak, and put on your outer clothes, Jane.’

  She would not be gainsaid and, before long, Mrs Bennet and Jane were on their way.

  As Mrs Bennet set out from the inn, Mr Bingley arrived at Pemberley. He was soon in the drawing-room, where he was welcomed by Mr Darcy. Elizabeth curtsied and watched him as he and Mr Darcy exchanged the greetings of friends. He was thinner than he had been, but he was still friendly and affable, if a little quieter than formerly.

  He turned to Elizabeth after greeting Mr Darcy. He asked no awkward questions and expressed his pleasure at finding her there. When all three of them were seated, Mr Darcy enquired after Mr Bingley’s family.

  ‘My mother misses my father dreadfully, but she has her children to comfort her. Caroline and Louisa are still with her. Caroline wants me to take a house in town so that our mother can visit us and have some diversion.’ Then he added wistfully, ‘But I think I might prefer the country.’

  This, to Elizabeth’s ears, sounded promising, and she was just beginning to think there might be some hope for her sister after all when the sound of another carriage caused her to look out of the window. It rolled to a halt and to Elizabeth’s horror, out stepped Mrs Bennet! Not even the sight of her darling Jane following her mother could compensate for such an unwelcome sight. There was nothing to be done, no way out
.

  Elizabeth turned to Mr Darcy and saw a look of resignation cross his face. She wished the ground would swallow her, for it seemed as though her relations were determined to humiliate her. She did not know why her mother had come, but she knew it did not bode well and that, wherever Mrs Bennet went, embarrassment was sure to follow.

  As her mother was announced, Elizabeth closed her eyes for a moment and hoped Mrs Bennet might be a hallucination, but when she opened them again her mother was still there, as large as life. Jane cast her an apologetic look and then saw Mr Bingley. Colour flooded her face and she sat down in confusion beside her Mama.

  ‘Why, Mr Bingley, this is a pleasant surprise,’ said Mrs Bennet. ‘We did not think to find you here, did we, Jane?’

  Jane said, ‘No.’

  She was now in command of herself but her face, which had flooded with colour on seeing him, was now pale.

  ‘You left us very suddenly last year, Mr Bingley.’

  Mr Bingley looked awkward and Elizabeth felt for him.

  ‘Do you intend to return to Netherfield Park?’

  He mumbled that he might . . . he had not . . that is to say he had no immediate plans.

  ‘You have a very fine park here, Mr Darcy,’ said Mrs Bennet, turning from the harassed Mr Bingley to Mr Darcy.

  Mr Darcy thanked her, and Elizabeth began to hope that her mother would confine herself to commonplaces and not cause too much embarrassment.

  But the hope was in vain.

  ‘It reminds me of Netherfield, though Netherfield is not so large. To think, it is now a year since we were all at the Netherfield ball, so happy together.’

  ‘A little over a year,’ said Mr Bingley. ‘The ball was on the twenty-sixth of November. It was a Tuesday.’