Perilous Siege

by C. P. Odom

  Then, her back stiffly straight, Elizabeth Bennet marched past him and returned to the Netherfield ballroom, leaving Darcy gaping in complete incomprehension as to what had just transpired.

  She has had an attraction to me that I never suspected! I cannot know for how long. And all the time I thought it was my bewitchment for her that was an impediment! How could I have been so blind? There must have been indications, clues of some sort, but I never realized it!

  I have hurt her deeply without ever intending to! How could I have known?

  But she is correct. There is no hope of anything more. Though she is a gentleman’s daughter, our spheres are simply too far apart, and she could bring neither fortune nor status to any connection between us. That would violate the dictates my parents impressed on me when choosing a wife. And most importantly, I simply cannot inflict the improprieties of her family on Georgiana.

  With his thoughts settled, Darcy re-entered the ballroom. He did not espy Elizabeth anywhere in the room, nor did he see her for the rest of the evening.

  But he did not look for her. She had been correct. They should not meet again.

  Chapter 17

  Thus much and more; and yet thou lov’st me not,

  And never wilt! Love dwells not in our will.

  Nor can I blame thee, though it be my lot

  To strongly, wrongly, vainly love thee still.

  — Lord Byron, British nobleman,

  poet, peer, politician, and leader

  of the Romantic Movement,

  final verse of “Love and Death”

  Wednesday, November 27, 1811

  Hertfordshire

  The next day was not at all a quiet one, neither at Longbourn nor at Netherfield. At Longbourn, Elizabeth remained ensconced in her room, having gone there immediately after returning from the ball. She refused to come out for breakfast even though her mother twice sent a servant to demand her presence. Thus, she was not downstairs when Mr. Collins made his declaration to Mary.

  Mrs. Bennet had met no resistance from Mary when Collins had solicited the honor of a private audience with her shortly after breakfast, and her mother was shameless at listening at the door while their guest made his lengthy offer of marriage and Mary rather off-handedly accepted it.

  Mrs. Bennet thereupon entered the breakfast room, congratulated the newly betrothed pair in the warmest of terms, and urged Collins to hasten immediately to her husband for his approval. For her part, Mary bore her mother’s exultation with her usual forbearance.

  Mr. Bennet issued from his room with Collins in trail and convened his family, not even excepting Elizabeth, who responded to his summons when she had ignored her mother’s. Jane was worried when she discerned the redness of Elizabeth’s eyes for she well knew her sister never cried.

  But her concerns had to be put aside as her father made his announcement of the impending marriage of his middle daughter, which brought renewed celebration from Mrs. Bennet and raised eyebrows from her youngest daughters, who thought their sister had lost her senses to have accepted a man who wore a black coat rather than red.

  Mr. Collins, meanwhile, bore the congratulations of the family with a measure of satisfaction that his choice would prove pleasing to Lady Catherine.

  For her part, Mary was well satisfied with the match and had no real objection to the man with whom she was to spend her life. She had always assessed Collins’s abilities higher than did her sisters, and she did not believe him as silly as her father and Lizzy did. Rather, she thought she detected a certain solidity in his reflections, which was to her liking. And while she knew Collins was not nearly as clever as she was, she had hopes that, if she encouraged him to read and to improve himself by her example, he might, in time, become an agreeable companion.

  Mary had never anticipated being married, expecting she would likely remain at Longbourn and attend her mother, who was quite unable to sit alone. The possibility had not been entirely objectionable, but this prospect was by far superior since she would be mistress of her own house. The establishment might be inferior to Longbourn, but at least it would be hers. And when her father died, she would have the management of this house in place of her mother, an expectation she secretly cherished.

  At about this time, Charlotte Lucas came to spend the day with them. Elizabeth met her in the vestibule, having seen her friend approaching through the window. She quickly informed Charlotte of what had occurred, but her friend was little surprised since she had seen Collins hovering at Mary’s side the previous evening.

  Though Charlotte must have wondered at Elizabeth’s reddened eyes, since her friend volunteered no information, she did not enquire about it, and they passed into the sitting room. Mrs. Bennet was already preparing to set out in her husband’s carriage to inform all the neighborhood of her family’s good fortune, and barely had time to accept Charlotte’s congratulations before she and Mary departed.

  ***

  The mood at Netherfield was even more tumultuous. As Bingley had mentioned when bidding the Bennet family adieu the previous evening, he was obliged to go to town for a short time, and he had left early in the morning. He was quite unaware that he left behind two highly agitated sisters concerned by his close attention to Jane Bennet. And they could not but be aware of the whispers about their brother’s attachment to the eldest Bennet sister soon achieving a more formal status.

  Adding to Caroline’s concern, of course, was her awareness of Darcy’s interest in Elizabeth, being affronted at his having danced with her again and even escorting her to supper! The existence of a competitor to the position of mistress of Pemberley accentuated her worry about her brother connecting himself to such a common family as the Bennets.

  Despite their presumed affection for Jane, most of which was insincere, Caroline and Mrs. Hurst had hoped to advance the family status by encouraging their brother’s connection with Darcy’s sister and Caroline’s marriage to her brother. Such a double marriage would advance all their dearest ideals!

  So, in hopes of thwarting their brother’s intentions, the two sisters discussed the matter and decided to travel to town and to enlist Darcy in their venture. They both agreed he must be as concerned as they at the intentions of their brother and would undoubtedly take their point and accompany them in their quest. They were not at all sure they could prevail on their brother themselves. Bingley invariably listened to Darcy’s suggestions and followed the advice he gave while both sisters were painfully aware of how seldom he took theirs.

  ***

  Darcy listened to their pleas with what both Caroline and her sister thought was attentive seriousness, but their perception was quite erroneous. Darcy had spent a restless and almost sleepless night, disturbed by his shocking and bewildering encounter in the garden with Elizabeth. Never in his wildest imaginings could he have anticipated what he had learned, and he still struggled to understand and deal with all of it.

  He did not, however, have any qualms about the impossibility of a connection between them. Even if Elizabeth still had a hold on him, which seemed likely since he was having the utmost difficulty putting her from his mind, the fact remained she was not a lady whom his parents would have recommended. Accordingly, he told himself he had to force his near bewitchment from his mind. Their futures lay in radically different directions, and that was an end to it. As she had said, they should never meet again.

  As distracted and tired as he was, he still concentrated and heard the Bingley sisters’ plan to the end. He agreed that Bingley would be connecting himself to a most unseemly family if he acted as they feared. But Darcy also knew that doing so would not present the same problems it would if he did the same with Elizabeth. As for the affections of both parties, he was fairly certain of Bingley’s feelings. And while he might have been less certain as to Miss Bennet’s sentiments, he recalled Elizabeth’s haunted voice affirming her sister�
��s love for his friend.

  At length, after thinking on the matter for several minutes while he sipped his coffee, he shook his head.

  “I think your endeavor rather ill-advised, ladies. I know you oppose your brother’s marriage to Miss Bennet, but it really is his decision to make. If she is the woman he prefers, I do not think it my place to try to convince him otherwise.

  “You are likely unaware of this, but I spoke with your brother at some length last night. I made the same points you raised about a marriage to Miss Bennet being disadvantageous to your family’s status or fortune, but he was adamant about such matters being of no concern to him. He said he had not fully decided how to proceed, but he was certain of Miss Bennet’s affections toward him, which he felt was most important. In short, I believe we must leave the matter in your brother’s hands.”

  Caroline leapt to her feet. “You are infatuated with Eliza Bennet!” she cried in unrestrained fury. “You cannot keep your eyes off her and her fine eyes! That is why you will not help us save Charles from this disastrous marriage! You wish the same connection for yourself!”

  From deep within her, Caroline heard a small voice urging restraint, but she ignored it. She was too angry, too mortified, and too desperate to turn back.

  “If such was my intention,” Darcy said with a gentleness that surprised him, “then such an accusation as you make would be more likely to enhance my intention than otherwise. But you are free to do as you please, Miss Bingley, though I believe you and your sister are wasting your time.”

  But Caroline’s blood was up, and she rushed on heedlessly. “A fine friend you are turning out to be, Mr. Darcy! You are determined to let my brother be drawn into the muddy pit where that idiot of a mother and those improper sisters reside—not to speak of the father! Well, I will have no part of it, and my only hope is to save my brother from utter disaster, despite you who purport to be his friend!”

  “Suit yourself, Miss Bingley,” Darcy replied icily, and he silently watched the two ladies quit the room.

  I believe Bingley is quite satisfied with his new estate. As for me, it is past time to leave Netherfield and put Miss Elizabeth Bennet behind me. I do feel sympathy for Elizabeth’s disappointed hopes, but I had no part in inspiring them. She will simply have to deal with her circumstances. I think I shall return to town within a day or two.

  Darcy was unaware that Caroline was upstairs composing a note to Jane, informing her of her brother’s departure. She stated that she and Louisa planned to follow him to town, giving as their reasons a small amount of truth mixed with outright fabrications. She then sealed the note, addressed it to Jane, and gave it to the butler with instructions to dispatch it to Longbourn the following morning.

  Caroline went upstairs to supervise the packing of her things, wishing she did not feel terribly sick at how everything was going so wrong.

  ***

  Thursday, November 28, 1811

  Hurst Townhouse, London

  “So, what is the urgent matter that brings the two of you here?” Bingley asked cheerfully, sitting down at the breakfast table with his sisters.

  “We had hoped to talk with you last evening, Charles,” Caroline said, not inclined to waste any more time.

  “As I told you, I had some friends to see. I had intended to be home earlier, but we became so involved with memories of Cambridge, I am afraid I was late to home and to bed.” Bingley was not concerned with his sister’s ill humor. When in private, his sisters were not nearly as mannerly as when others were present.

  “We are greatly concerned for your welfare,” Louisa said.“We believe you are on the verge of making a terrible mistake.”

  “Is that so? I am not aware of anything pending requiring my attention.”

  “Even in the matter of Miss Jane Bennet?” Caroline said, her lips compressed into lines of disapproval.

  Bingley put down his biscuit and looked sharply at his sisters. “What do you mean, Caroline? Miss Bennet is, after all, a good friend to both of you.”

  “She has no money to bring to a marriage,” Louisa said gently, trying to placate her sister, “and we believe you are contemplating making her an offer.”

  “Her family, Charles!” Caroline said. “I do not know of a family with less to recommend them! They have no connections! None at all!”

  “Their father is a mere country gentleman with a tiny estate, and it is entailed away to that Collins fellow we met,” added Louisa. “When Mr. Bennet dies, his wife and daughters will have nothing. That is why Mrs. Bennet has schemed to make her daughter seek an attachment with you. It is her only hope of providing for her other daughters.”

  “So Mrs. Bennet is a fortune hunter? Is that what you are saying?” Bingley was no longer interested in his breakfast, and he looked angrily at his sisters, who gave no answer to his challenge. “And is Miss Bennet also a fortune hunter?”

  Caroline and Louisa were silent, and Bingley snapped, “Answer me! You appear to be labeling the sweetest, most gentle young lady I have ever known a fortune hunter, pursuing me for my wealth at the behest of her scheming mother! Is that what you are saying?”

  Bingley’s anger had taken the sisters aback for they had seldom seen their brother so irate. After a few seconds, Louisa said, “You must think of the future of your family before you rush into—”

  “I am not rushing into anything,” Bingley said icily. “And it is my decision to make! Darcy said as much before I left!”

  “Charles, look at their connections!” Caroline cried. “One uncle is a country solicitor in a small town and the other makes a living in trade! In Cheapside! Are these the type of people you want associated with our family?”

  “Our own father made his fortune in trade. You live under this roof and eat at this table based on the fortune he settled on you. Mr. Bennet is a gentleman of more than one generation while we are only the first generation of our family to aspire to that station.”

  He looked at both his sisters with contempt. “I had thought Miss Bennet was your friend and you would celebrate her happiness if—and I say if, for I have not yet made any decision in the matter—I made her an offer of marriage and she did me the honor of accepting it. To find your protestations of friendship were nothing but pretense is disingenuous at the very least! It might be better described as despicable, ladies! Despicable!”

  Caroline muttered something under her breath, but Bingley’s sharp hearing picked out the name Darcy.

  “Darcy!” he said angrily. “What does Darcy have to do with any of this?”

  When they again made no answer, he leaned over the breakfast table and commanded, “Tell me! What is Darcy’s involvement?”

  After his sisters made some attempts at diversion and even deceit, Bingley finally forced them to admit they believed he would have listened to these arguments if Darcy had made them. And when further questions elicited the fact that they had attempted to enlist his aid in their quest and Darcy had declined, Bingley sat back in his chair.

  “I think it best,” he said finally, “that I take myself off to a hotel for the remainder of my stay in town. When I return to Netherfield, I shall send anything you left behind to you here. And I shall not need you to act as my hostess any longer, Caroline. Now, if you will excuse me, I have an urgent express to send to Darcy.”

  ***

  Thursday, November 28, 1811

  Hertfordshire

  Mrs. Bennet’s joy had begun to decline by the next day since she had already dragged Mary to see most of their friends. Since her two youngest daughters were more than desperate to escape from her presence, they expressed their inclination to walk to Meryton as they so often did in the mornings. Elizabeth was reluctant to go with them, despite her usual zest for exercise and sunshine, but Jane was most urgent in wishing her to come, and Elizabeth reluctantly relented.


  Upon reaching the town, the group almost immediately met with Lieutenants Denny and Wickham, who greeted them warmly—or mostly so since Elizabeth noted his greeting to her was terser and less cordial than on previous occasions. However, since she was far more concerned with recovering from her encounter with Darcy, she paid his coolness little attention, especially since she knew he never could have had any intentions toward her because of her lack of money.

  At her younger sisters’ insistence, Wickham joined their party when they went to their aunt’s house. When they arrived, Mrs. Philips was most enthusiastic about Mary’s good fortune. She was also cognizant of the events at the ball and slyly complimented both Jane and Elizabeth on their good fortune, even going so far as to wonder whether additional good news might not be forthcoming.

  This latter statement was not received well by Wickham, who now carefully looked all about the room at everyone except Elizabeth. He realized why she had been so unresponsive on the first evening they met when he tried to spin his tale of Darcy’s malefactions toward himself. However, as a seasoned campaigner in the pursuit of the opposite sex, he put the topic from his mind. There were far more fish in the sea than Miss Elizabeth Bennet, even if she was one of the more delectable ones.

  As Wickham and Denny walked back with them to Longbourn, the Netherfield ball remained the prime topic of conversation. Elizabeth noticed that Wickham continued to ignore her, seeming to pay more attention to her youngest sister, who was so flattered by the attention that she invited the two officers inside to introduce them to her father and mother.

  Soon after their return, a letter arrived from Netherfield for Jane, who opened it immediately. Elizabeth saw her sister’s expression change as she read the sheet of paper covered on both sides with a fair, elegant hand. Though Jane collected herself and tried to join the conversation with her usual cheerfulness, Elizabeth knew her sister too well. She guessed the note came from Caroline Bingley, and her sisterly eye told her it contained news less than pleasant in nature. As soon as possible, even though Wickham and Denny had not yet departed, Elizabeth gave a nod of her head toward the stairs and both sisters went to Jane’s room.