Miss Bennet & Mr Bingley

by Fenella J Miller

These are conditions, which, considering everything, I had no hesitation in complying with, as far as I thought myself privileged, for you. I shall send this by express, that no time may be lost in bringing me your answer.

  You will easily comprehend from these particulars that Mr Wickham’s circumstances are not so hopeless as they are generally believed to be. The world has been deceived in that respect, and I am happy to say, there will be some little money, even when all his debts are discharged, to settle on my niece, additional to her own fortune. If, as I conclude will be the case, you send me full powers to act in your name, throughout the whole of this business, I will immediately give directions to Haggerston for preparing a proper settlement.

  There will not be the smallest occasion of your coming to town again; therefore, stay quietly at Longbourn, and depend on my diligence and care. Send back your answer as soon as you can, and be careful to write explicitly. We have judged it best, that my niece should be married from this house, which I hope you will approve. She comes to us today. I shall write again as soon as anything more is determined on.

  Your’s &c. EDW GARDINER’

  Elizabeth was astonished by the contents of the letter. ‘I cannot believe it, can it be possible that Wickham will marry Lydia?’

  ‘Wickham is not so undeserving then, as we have thought him,’ Jane added. ‘My dear father, I congratulate you.’

  ‘Papa, have you answered the letter?’

  ‘No, Lizzy, but it must be done soon.’

  ‘Oh! My dear father, come back and write immediately. Consider how important every moment is in such a case.’

  Jane added her entreaties. ‘Let me write it for you, if you dislike the trouble yourself.’

  ‘I dislike it very much, but it must be done, I suppose.’ And so saying, he turned back with them, and walked towards the house.’

  Elizabeth was curious about the terms mentioned in the letter. ‘It is good news indeed; Lydia and Wickham must marry and I am pleased that it took so little to persuade him to comply.’

  Mr Bennet became quite agitated. ‘There are two things that I want very much to know: one is, how much money your uncle has laid down to bring it about; and the other, how I am ever to repay him.’

  When Jane and Elizabeth were together after supper they discussed what had taken place that day. ‘I do wish, with hindsight, Jane, that I had not told Darcy about Lydia and Wickham. Now that she is to marry, he need never have known.’

  ‘It is a pity, but surely Mr Darcy will not discuss the matter?’

  ‘I am certain that he will not; he is a man of the utmost probity and I totally rely on his secrecy in this. But I must wish he did not know about it.’

  ‘He will not think less of you I am sure.’

  ‘Dear Jane, how can he not? He is such a proud man. I thought he was softening in his behaviour towards me, but this has spoilt everything. We can never be more than strangers now.’

  ‘But you do not want to be more than that.’

  ‘No, of course not, but I would rather he did not think badly of our family.’

  ‘Poor Lizzy. Yet we must be happy that Lydia is to marry. I wonder how long it will take our mother to persuade Papa to relent on the matter of them visiting here. He says he will not allow it but I think he must change his mind.’

  ‘He will agree either to the wedding clothes or the visit, but I doubt that he will do both. I am certain that even Mama shall settle for a lack of new clothes in order to be reunited with Lydia.’

  ‘Then we should speak up for them. It will give our sister’s marriage a validity it will not otherwise possess.’

  ‘Very well. Let us go and talk to him.’

  They were soon with their father.

  ‘Dear Papa, I understand how you must feel on this matter, of course neither Lydia nor Mr Wickham deserve to receive your approval. They have both behaved disgracefully. However, would it not look strange to the neighbourhood if we did not bid them farewell before they set off to the north of England?’ Jane smiled sweetly and looked at Elizabeth for support.

  ‘Only think, sir, they shall both be so far away you will not be obliged to receive them again in the foreseeable future. This will give closure to the matter, allow Lydia to say goodbye to Kitty, Mary and her mother. Could you not reconsider for our sakes, if not for theirs?’

  He sighed and raised his hand in a gesture of defeat. ‘Very well, I am not happy about it, do not expect me to be pleased to see either of them. I shall let them come for your sakes, but it will be this once only, be very clear on that.’

  With that Jane had to be satisfied. Now that their aunt had returned with the children to Cheapside both she and Lizzy were much involved with duties around the house but nevertheless found time to take a daily constitutional in the garden. On one of these occasions their conversation returned to their own future.

  ‘I still cannot quite believe that our youngest sister is to be married first. That is turning precedence on its head, is it not, Lizzy?’

  ‘Indeed it is, it could have been me if I had not been so mistaken in Bingley’s feelings. Do you think that we might both be invited to London next year? It would be so much more enjoyable to have you at my side.’

  ‘Perhaps next summer they might decide to go to the Lakes after all, and I shall insist that you come too. If we are to be left firmly on the shelf we must, at least, make an effort to see a little more of the world .’

  Jane smiled. ‘That is another thing, to think that Lydia will be going to the north of England. Indeed, being the wife of a regular soldier, she could be sent to the Americas or even India, could she not?’

  ‘Travel would be wasted on her, as long as there are parties and pretty dresses she is unaware of anything else.’

  Chapter Eighteen

  The day of Lydia’s wedding arrived and Jane and Elizabeth walked in the shrubbery after they had completed all the little tasks Mrs Bennet deemed necessary to prepare for the arrival of Mr and Mrs Wickham.

  ‘It must be so difficult for Lydia, to be married without the support of her family, I do feel for her. To feel herself so shamed, to have let it down her family in this way, to have put everyone to such a deal of trouble and expense, I could not bear it myself, poor Lydia, to have her wedding day spoilt by such feelings as those.’

  ‘Jane, you repine too much on the matter. She has the support of her aunt and uncle and she will be with us by dinner time. I doubt not that the reception she will receive from our mother, Kitty and Mary will more than make up for their absence at the church.’

  ‘I wonder if she shall be very much changed by the experience, Lizzy. I am dreading how Papa will be with them both; also I shall not know how to speak to Mr Wickham.’

  ‘Knowing Lydia as I do, I should very much doubt that the experience will have altered her much. Remember, Jane, according to our uncle she was perfectly happy living out of wedlock with Wickham and not in the least hurry to leave.’

  ‘I cannot understand how a girl with Lydia’s upbringing could have become embroiled in such a scrape. Come, Lizzy, I think we should return to the house, we do not wish to be tardy.’

  They hurried back in order to be in the breakfast room to receive the young couple. Although Jane and her sisters were concerned, their mother was beside herself with excitement. Jane could not help but notice her father looked impenetrably grave; he had not forgiven Lydia for her behaviour.

  She could hear Lydia’s voice in the vestibule and the door was thrown open and she ran into the room as though she had just returned from a delightful visit. Their mother stepped forwards and embraced her and welcomed her with exclamations of rapture, and even gave her hand, with an affectionate smile, to Wickham.

  ‘My dear Lydia, Wickham, I am so happy to see you both and do most heartily congratulate you on your nuptials. Imagine that! You are Mrs Wickham now, who would have thought it? Married at sixteen, and to such a handsome man, an officer and a gentleman.’

  Mr Bennet di
d not greet them quite so cordially. Jane was glad it was not she who had to face his disapproval. His countenance rather gained in austerity and he scarcely opened his lips. The easy assurance of the young couple, the way they behaved as if nothing untoward had occurred, as though they had been married with everybody’s full support and approval, deeply shocked her.

  She could scarcely credit that Lydia had changed not one bit, she was still as unabashed, wild noisy and fearless as always.

  ‘Well! Have I not done exactly as I said I would? It was always my intention to be married first and see what a delightful husband I have. Do you not congratulate me on my wedding day?’

  Reluctantly, it seemed to Jane, all of them offered their felicitations. Even Kitty and Mary were subdued in the face of Lydia and Wickham’s blatant disregard for everybody’s feelings. Eventually they all sat down and Lydia glanced around the room commenting on some little alteration to it, and observing that it was a great while since she had been there.

  Jane sat listening to them both and blushed, she was aware that Elizabeth was equally uncomfortable. Neither Wickham nor Lydia felt the need to apologize for their behaviour. They seemed both of them to have the happiest memories in the world, nothing of the past was recollected with pain.

  Several times Jane shuddered and looked to Elizabeth for reassurance when Lydia alluded quite happily to subjects that neither of them would have dreamt of mentioning.

  ‘Only think of its being three months since I went away; it seems but a fortnight, I declare; and yet there have been things enough happened in that time. Good gracious! When I went away, I am sure I had no more idea of being married till I came back again! Though I thought it would be very good fun if I was.’

  Jane felt herself colour and shifted with embarrassment in her chair. How could Lydia be so thoughtless? Her sister apparently unaware of the distress she was causing to all that listened, apart from her husband, continued gaily in the same vein.

  ‘Oh! Mama, do the people hereabouts know I am married today? I was afraid they might not; and when we overtook William Goulding in his curricle, I was determined he should know it and so I let down the side glass next to him, took off my glove and let my hand just rest upon the window frame, that he might see the ring, then I bowed and smiled like anything.’

  This last statement proved too much for Elizabeth and she scrambled to her feet and ran from the room; Jane wished she could go with her but felt duty bound to remain where she was and offer support to her parents at this difficult time.

  It was not until they were passing through the hall go to the dining parlour that her sister rejoined them. Lydia at that moment walked up to Jane and said with a condescending smile. ‘Ah! Jane, I take your place now, you must go lower, because I am a married woman.’

  All through the meal Lydia’s ease and good spirits increased. She told her assembled family that she longed to see Mrs Phillips, the Lucases, and all the other neighbours, and hear herself called Mrs Wickham by each of them. It was insupportable, but worse was to come when they were reassembled in the breakfast room.

  ‘Well, Mama, and what you think of my husband? Is not he a charming man? I am sure my sisters must all envy me. I only hope they may have half my good luck. They must all go to Brighton. That is the place to get husbands. What a pity it is, Mama, we did not all go.’

  Mrs Bennet nodded vigorously. ‘Very true; if I had my will, we should. But my dear Lydia, I don’t at all like your going of such a way. Must it be so?’

  ‘Oh, Lord! Yes; there is nothing in that. I shall like it above all things. You and Papa, and my sisters, must come down and see us. We shall be at Newcastle all winter, and I daresay there will be some balls, and I would take care to get good partners for them all.’

  Mrs Bennet trilled happily. ‘I should like it beyond anything.’

  ‘And, then when you go away, you may leave one or two of my sisters behind you; and I dare say I should get husbands for them before the winter is over.’

  Elizabeth could remain silent no longer. ‘I thank you for my share of the favour, Lydia, but I do not particularly like your way of getting husbands.’

  Even this direct reference to her sister’s indiscretion did not repress Lydia’s buoyant spirits.

  When eventually Jane was able to retire to the blessed silence of her shared apartment, she turned to her sister in despair. ‘Lizzy, how shall we support it? They are to be with us a full ten days; imagine the embarrassments, the indiscretions we shall all have to endure before they depart.’

  ‘We must thank God, Jane, that they do not stay above ten days. If Mr Wickham had not received his commission before he left London, and have to join his regiment at the end of a fortnight, they might have been with us for weeks.’

  One afternoon Wickham came to walk beside her in the garden. ‘Miss Bennet, or should I call you Jane, now that I am your brother?’

  ‘It is permissible for you to call me by my given name, but I would prefer it if you did not.’

  She had surprised herself by speaking so sharply to a man she had used to think charming and reliable. His expression changed and for a moment he looked uncertain.

  ‘In which case, I would not dream of offending you. No doubt you are unhappy that I cannot provide for Lydia as well as you might have hoped. If Mr Darcy had not deprived me of my living matters would be very different.’

  ‘I understand, sir, that things are not quite as you would have me believe. Mr Darcy is an honourable man and treats everyone with respect.’

  He looked shocked, but rallied and smiled his usual superficial smile and walked away. Jane watched him go, she could not help comparing him with Charles. Now he was a true gentleman in every respect.

  A few days after Elizabeth and Jane heard such news from Lydia they could scarcely credit it. The girl was determined to share with them every last detail of her wedding day inspite of their discouragement.

  ‘No really, we have no wish to hear of it. I think there cannot be too little said on the subject.’

  ‘La! You are so strange! But I must tell you how it went off. There was my aunt, all the time I was dressing, preaching and talking away just as if she was reading a sermon. However, I did not hear but one word in ten, I was thinking, as you may suppose, of my dear Wickham. I longed to know whether he would be married in his blue coat.’

  Jane made a desperate attempt to stop her sister’s flow of words. ‘Lydia, I believe I heard Kitty calling you, do you not think you should go and see what she wants?’

  ‘Fiddlesticks to that! I should much rather be here with you to and tell you exactly what took place. Just as the carriage came to the door my uncle was called away upon business and I was so frightened that he would not be back in time and we would not be married that day. Luckily he came back again in ten minutes time and then we all set out.’

  She smiled round at her sisters seemingly unaware of their disinclination to listen to her account. ‘However, I recollected afterwards, if he had been prevented from going, the wedding need not be put off, for Mr Darcy might have done as well.’

  ‘Mr Darcy!’

  Jane looked up in surprise and Elizabeth jumped to her feet in utter astonishment.

  ‘Oh, yes - he was to come there with Wickham, you know. But, gracious me! I quite forgot! I was not to have said a word about it. I promised them so faithfully! What will Wickham say? It was to be such a secret!’

  ‘If it was to be a secret,’ Jane said hastily, ‘say not another word on the subject. You may depend upon my seeking no further information.’

  ‘Oh! Certainly,’ said Elizabeth, but Jane could see her sister was burning with curiosity. ‘We shall not ask you any questions on the subject.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Lydia, ‘well, if you did, I should certainly tell you all, and then Wickham would be angry.’

  Jane watched Elizabeth hurry away and was obliged to sit and endure a further thirty minutes of tedious details before she could escape to join h
er sister in their private sitting room. As she walked in Elizabeth was folding a letter. She could guess to whom it was addressed, but her delicate sense of honour would not allow her to speak on the subject even when they were private. If the matter was confidential then it would not be she who would ask impertinent questions.

  However, it did not stop her wondering exactly what Elizabeth had written to her aunt.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Charles returned to his town house four days after receiving the letter from Mr Darcy, leaving his sister Caroline to travel back with Louisa and Hurst. He had no wish to be cooped up in his carriage with her, listening to her complain and criticize everyone she knew. No, he was much better travelling speedily from Derbyshire to London; the closer he got to his destination the more determined he was to send instructions to Nicholls to have her prepare Netherfield for his arrival.

  However, when he reached home he was immediately embroiled in various business matters with his lawyers and was unable to send word to Netherfield for a further two weeks. He advised Darcy that he was back, but received a short note in reply saying would contact him as soon as he was free to do so.

  Charles was puzzled as to why he had been asked to return to town in order to talk to his friend when Darcy refused to come and see him. He was in the drawing-room reading a newspaper when the visitor he had been expecting these past two weeks was finally announced.

  ‘My dear Darcy, I have been kicking my heels in town when I could have been in Derbyshire enjoying my visit to Pemberley in your absence.’

  ‘I do apologize, Bingley. My business has been satisfactorily concluded, I am now here to make a suggestion. I think it is time that we returned to Netherfield. I should like to accompany you, if you would allow me to.’

  This was unexpected, but pleasing, news. It was exactly what he wished to do himself, he felt sure his friend intended to pursue Elizabeth and that would give him the opportunity to renew his acquaintance with Jane without revealing his intentions. He did not wish Darcy to know he still loved her, if he discovered that she had no feelings for him then it would be he alone who suffered from the rejection.