“Such talent,” her teachers enthused. “She is a true artist. It is not unthinkable that she might one day exhibit at the Academy.”
From previous visits, Mr. Darcy had heard that she was developing some artistic abilities, but this was new information, and it gave him a thrill of pleasure to know that his actions might be responsible for bringing her talent into the public eye, as well as giving a purpose to her vivacity. That characteristic was evident in the style and colours of her paintings. They appealed to his taste, and one picture in particular caught his eye, a meadow scene which conveyed great joy. He made an offer to purchase it from her. She insisted that it ought to be a gift, but relented when he begged her not to deprive him of the honour of being her first customer.
“I shall enjoy being able to boast of it one day,” he said.
CHAPTER 15
Mary, Kitty and Lydia were home in excellent time and at first Elizabeth thought they seemed more like their usual selves, since they came bearing news of the regiment. The report of Colonel Forster’s marriage did not please Mrs. Bennet. “Why could not one of you have caught him?” she bemoaned.
Then there was the information about the upcoming new arrival and Mrs. Bennet perked up again, hoping that he would turn out to have the means to marry.
“But there is even greater news than this,” Lydia said. “Mr. Darcy is no longer engaged to Miss Bingley.”
“That is great news,” Mrs. Bennet cried. “He is sure to have one of you instead since you are such good friends. It would not surprise me if he were to choose Lydia.”
“It would surprise me,” Lydia said. “I am certain that he does not think of me in that way. Anyway, I have no wish to marry. I am still much too young.”
“So am I,” Kitty added.
“I have no thoughts of marriage at the moment,” Mary said.
“Well, it will have to be one of you. Jane is to marry his friend, and he will never have Lizzy. They are forever arguing.”
Elizabeth’s might have found this statement amusing if her mind had not been too occupied in wondering what Mr. Darcy would do now. Would he renew his proposal now that he was free to do as he wished, or had there been too much dissent between them? After the things she had said on Saturday, it was possible he would not risk exposing his heart a second time. Perhaps he was even now thinking ill of her for always finding fault with him. She hoped that was not the case. She really had become very fond of him and did not want to lose his good opinion.
If he did propose to her, how would she respond? It now occurred to her that there was no thought of absolutely rejecting him in her mind. The idea of receiving an offer from him filled her with gratitude and something more. Her feelings were still confused, but there was definitely warmth in them.
These thoughts had to be set aside in a moment, for a carriage was heard in the lane, heralding the arrival of their guest. Heart-searching gave way to curiosity, as she went to meet Mr. Collins. He quickly proved himself to be the oddity that they were all expecting, with the exception of Mrs. Bennet. She was keen to hear all about his living and his esteemed patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. This conversation gave her as much delight as it did Mr. Bennet, although her pleasure came from understanding the great lady to be an outstanding person, while his was due to being highly amused by all that he heard.
Mrs. Bennet was also pleased by the hints that marriage to one of her daughters formed his secondary purpose in coming to visit. Mary, Kitty and Lydia were not. They exchanged several glances of concern throughout the meal. Jane was out of the question, as they knew their mother would soon inform him. Lizzy would never have him. They each had no doubt of that and wondered what pressure might come to bear on them.
In the drawing room, Mr. Collins suggested that he might read to them and his eye fell upon Fordyce’s Sermons which Mary had left upon a table.
“Here is the perfect book,” he said picking it up. “I see that it is put to good use in this household. I heartily approve, having often observed that young ladies are not interested in serious books that are written for their own benefit.
“It is Mary’s favourite book,” Mrs. Bennet informed him.
Mary was struck by the wish that she had thrown out that hateful book. “It was at one time,” she said, “but I vastly prefer novels these days.” As evidence, she held up the book which Kitty had kindly slipped into her hand as she was speaking.
Mr. Collins frowned. “I find that there is so much silliness in novels,” he said.
“That is what makes them so enjoyable,” Lydia said, picking hers up and practically waving it under his nose to display the title.
“Perhaps you and I should leave the ladies to their trifling amusements and play at backgammon,” Mr. Bennet said, and Mr. Collins accepted.
Kitty was obliged to leave the room and find herself another book. She returned with two, and handed one to Elizabeth, saying “I think you will enjoy this. It looks to be very silly.”
They exchanged smiles, forging the beginning of a new connection between them. Elizabeth understood and appreciated the sisterly affection and the wish to spare her from being Mr. Collins’s olive branch. She opened the book, but over the top of it, she saw Kitty pull another book out from behind a cushion and tuck it into her novel. She also saw her father look that way and give an approving nod, which made her sister flush with pleasure. Things were growing more curious.
Returned her gaze to the book, she found it not to her taste, but for the rest of the evening she held it up as a shield between her and Mr. Collins, and allowed her thoughts to wander. That they went instantly to Mr. Darcy was most revealing.
After they retired for the night, Elizabeth came back to the drawing room to fetch a shawl which she had intentionally left behind. Her curiosity was urging her to find out what was hidden in Kitty’s chair. Reaching behind the cushions, she withdrew the volume and read the title – Reflections on the Principles of the Art of War. She stared at this in utter astonished for a moment, then returned it to its place and looked thoughtfully at another chair.
Mary did not read novels. It had been clear that her intention was to repulse Mr. Collins, but was it possible that she had also been reading something else? There was a book behind her cushion as well. Mr. Locke’s Treatises on Government. Elizabeth smiled. This was a decided improvement on Mr. Fordyce’s intolerable sermons, and evidence that Mary was more capable of deeper thought than she had previously displayed.
What about Lydia? Certain that her youngest sister was also involved in some reading scheme, Elizabeth searched her chair and discovered a book of French grammar. This was the oddest find of all. Could her sister be teaching herself French? For what purpose?
All of this was puzzling, but wonderful. Clearly all three of them were making a concerted effort to improve themselves, and she could only feel very proud of them as their father must. He was in on it, she realized, remembering how he had looked at Kitty and how she had received that look with pleasure.
Elizabeth carefully replaced the book. Her sisters were choosing to keep their endeavours very quiet, which was a pity because she would have liked to know more, but she would not pry any further into their secret. They would reveal all when they were ready and she would be eager to hear all about it. She retrieved her shawl and went to bed, still full of wonder and admiration.
In the morning, before breakfast, Mr. Collins made his intentions clear to Mrs. Bennet and expressed an interest in Jane, perhaps because she was the prettiest of the five sisters, or perhaps because she had been engaged in sensible needlework instead of silly novel reading on the previous evening.
“Dear Jane is very likely to soon be engaged,” he was told, as her sisters had surmised. “I believe that Lydia has also attracted the attentions of a certain gentleman, but as to my other daughters, I know of no attachments. It was the work of a moment for him to quickly switch his intentions and attentions toward Elizabeth.
His notice of he
r at breakfast drew Lydia’s attention, and hoping to give her poor sister some reprieve, she hastily suggested that the five of them should walk into Meryton and visit their aunt. Unfortunately, Mr. Collins liked the sound of this idea and invited himself to accompany them. There was nothing to be done, and the six of them set off, Lydia fearing that she had made things worse since she, Kitty and Mary would part ways with the others after a brief visit to their aunt. That would leave Jane and Elizabeth to walk home with Mr. Collins, which would not be very agreeable.
On the way into Meryton, she undertook to entertain him and spare them too much of his company. Besides, she thought herself the best match for Mr. Collins, having always been the most talkative of her family. The regiment was her chosen subject and she went on at length about the handsome officers.
“We are all excessively fond of a red coat,” she told him.
In town, there were soon officers to be seen, among them Mr. Denny, who was with a stranger.
“I suppose that must be the newest lieutenant,” Kitty said.
On the other side of Meryton, Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley were approaching on horseback. They were both in high spirits. The announcement had been sent to the newspaper, a letter and Mr. Bingley’s carriage had been sent to his cousin, and Miss Bingley and the Hursts had been sent away. It was looking to be a fine day, Mr. Darcy thought as they rode into town.
He recognized the Bennet sisters from some distance. There was no mistaking that group of five, but the stranger beside them was a puzzle. A little closer he noted the man’s collar and wondered if there might be a new clergyman in town. The officer talking to the ladies and with his back to him, looked very much like Mr. Denny, which meant that another stranger by his side must be the friend who was coming to join the regiment. Even with so many new friends, Mr. Darcy was looking forward to making another, but then the man turned and he saw Mr. Wickham.
His heart thumped and his hands tightened. Mr. Bingley kept up the main of the conversation while he sat in shock and devastation. Mr. Wickham back in his life. Just when things had been going so well. He would make friends of all the officers like he always did. It had been too good to last, Mr. Darcy thought regretfully. Mr. Denny had his arm on Wickham’s shoulder, Elizabeth and her sisters were smiling and laughing with the fiend, and even Bingley had shaken his hand.
As they rode away, however, he did not feel inclined to give in so easily. Halfway back to Netherfield, he told Bingley that he wanted to go back to see to some business. He arrived at his leased properties the same time as Mary, Kitty and Lydia and requested a moment of their time.
“I want to warn you about Mr. Wickham,” he said. “He has all the appearance of being a respectable and pleasant gentleman, but he is not. I can tell you something of his history to support my claim.”
“You need not,” Mary said. “Your word has absolute value with us.”
Kitty nodded. “We do not need any proof to know that you speak the truth. Your enemy is our enemy.”
He laughed. “You have been studying too many battles, but it is not far from the truth to call him an enemy. He has betrayed my family.”
“Then he will never be any friend of ours,” Lydia said.
“You are the best of friends,” he said. “The truest of friends, and it means a great deal to me. By the way, who was that other stranger I saw with you.”
“That was our cousin, Mr. Collins. He has come to offer an olive branch,” Mary said, and he heard her laugh for the first time.
“He wrote that in a ridiculous letter,” Lydia explained. “It seems that he means to marry one of us to make up for the entail.”
“Not Miss Bennet,” he gasped. “Bingley is planning to propose but he seems to still be working up he courage.”
“Do not worry. Our mother talked him away from thinking of Jane. He is currently settled upon Elizabeth.”
“He cannot!” Mr. Darcy nearly shrieked.
Lydia eyed him speculatively. “She would never accept such a foolish man.”
“He is foolish?”
“In the worst possible way. Not at all in an amusing one.”
“You are certain she would not marry him?”
“Quite certain.”
“That is a relief,” he said, not caring that he was giving away his feelings. “Do you suppose he will think of one of you next?”
“Very likely me,” Mary said. “He heard that I used to read Fordyce’s Sermons and is probably thinking he can mould me into a suitable wife.”
“What a dreadful notion.”
“I quite agree. If he makes me an offer, I will refuse.”
“So will I,” Kitty said.
“I believe education has given all of us a finer taste,” Lydia said. “Mr. Collins will not do for us now. I do not know who will suit us.”
She said it with a smile, but this remark struck a chord with Mr. Darcy and started a new train of thought. “I shall not keep you from your lessons any longer,” he said.
“I do believe he is in love with Lizzy,” Kitty said as he rode away.
“Never mind belief,” Lydia said. “It is plain that he is. I hope she will have him. Think how delightful it would be to have Mr. Darcy as our brother.”
“It would make me feel better about him paying for our lessons,” Mary said. “It has been troubling me that he is too generous.”
What was on his mind was a great deal more generosity that she could have ever imagined. Seeing the other sisters and their cousin at the end of the high street, he decided to take advantage of the moment and ride swiftly to Longbourn for another conversation with Mr. Bennet, who was fortunately at home.
“There is not a problem, I hope,” he said.
“There is not. Everything is going extremely well. I have come because there is something more I wish to do for your daughters, but I fear to offend you.”
“I believe I am beyond being offended.”
“I have become quite fond of them, and feel an interest in their futures. By providing them with these opportunities, it occurs to me that I may be giving them tastes and interests which affect whom they might wish to have as a husband. I do not want to be the cause of disappointment, so I would like to make it easier for them to marry as they choose by settling something on them. You may have heard it said that I have 10,000 a year. That is not quite true although I have certainly not bothered to correct it. With my business dealings, it is more like 15,000. I am not a man of expensive tastes and never spend my full income, so I have a great deal saved. What I propose is to settle the equivalent of an entire year’s income on your three younger daughters. 5000 pounds each to be added to their dowries if you will consent to receive it.”
“The youngest three only? May I ask why not the elder two?”
“I anticipate that Miss Bennet will be in no need of it since Mr. Bingley wishes to marry her and does not care what dowry she has. As for Miss Elizabeth, I am quite certain she would refuse any offer of mine, but if she ever changes her mind on that point, what I am offering her is everything.”
“It’s like that, is it?” Mr. Bennet chuckled. “In that case, I will accept your offer to help my other daughters on one condition. I will only take the money from my son-in-law. If Elizabeth chooses to have you, then you may furnish her sisters with dowries. Mind you, there is to be no telling her of this arrangement. I will not have her persuaded to accept you for their benefit. She must be allowed to choose her husband according to her own feelings.”
“I would not dream of telling her. I shall win her on my own merit, or not at all.”
“I hope you will succeed. I think you will make a worthy son-in-law.”
They stood up and shook hands on the bargain.
CHAPTER 16
While Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham had been staring at each other, Elizabeth had noticed both of their countenances. It was obvious that they knew each other, but also that there was no friendship between them. Mr. Darcy, who was so very popular,
had evidently failed to rouse in Mr. Wickham the same admiration which he received from nearly every other quarter. This seemed to stand as proof of his own testimony that he had not always been so agreeable. She wondered if he had many friends in his past? Or many enemies?
After parting with him, they had gone on to their aunt’s house, where Mr. Collins had been introduced and then largely ignored as Mrs. Phillips was more interested in speculating upon Mr. Wickham.
“I will instruct your uncle to invite him to dine tomorrow,” she said. “A number of the officers are already coming. You must come along after dinner and join in the party.”
This invitation was accepted by all, included Mary, Kitty and Lydia. Elizabeth was somewhat surprised since she was beginning to understand why they had not attended any parties in several weeks, but she supposed it would have been impossible to turn down their aunt. Mrs. Phillips would have persisted.
That was exactly what the three of them had realized, but they agreed, after leaving their aunt’s house, that they had earned a treat.
“Besides, it is no use learning how to behave in society if we avoid it,” Mary had said after they parted from the others.
“We should allow ourselves some time for amusements,” Kitty added, “and the officers are always good company.”
“I rather look forward to an evening of cards,” Lydia admitted. “Being educated has not taken away my fondness for a game of lottery tickets.”
On the next evening her desire was fulfilled. It was unfortunate that Mr. Wickham ended up in the seat beside her, but that did not spoil her enjoyment of the game. She was so occupied in bidding for prizes, in a ladylike manner but still with enthusiasm, that she hardly noticed him.
Elizabeth, sitting on his other side, had all of his conversation for some time. Curious about his acquaintance with Mr. Darcy, she was interested to get to know Mr. Wickham. It was not long before he satisfied her curiosity by mentioning that he and Mr. Darcy had a long-standing connection.
Mr. Darcy Dances: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 11