Darcy and the Wrong Miss Bennet

by Jane Grix

She also looked forward to more conversation with Mr. Darcy, but he seemed altered at Saturday’s breakfast. Other than giving her the barest civilities, he did not single her out. He made no move to speak with her, saying less than ten words to her the entire day. When she suggested a walk outside, he declined. When she met him by chance in the library, he stared at his book and did not even look at her. After half an hour of sitting in the same room with her, he left with just a nod of farewell.

  She thought his behaviour was odd, but perhaps she did not know him very well. She knew that some men could be mercurial, but she had not expected it of him. She was a little disappointed, but then shrugged it off. She reminded herself that it did not matter what Mr. Darcy thought of her.

  IT TOOK ALL OF DARCY’S self-control not to speak to Elizabeth Bennet. Miss Bingley’s comments Friday evening had alarmed him. He immediately realized how foolish he was behaving and how his behaviour might appear to others. He was resolved that he should give no further signs of any admiration for Elizabeth. He did not want to give her unreasonable expectations or make himself a subject of ridicule. Steady to his purpose, he ignored Elizabeth as best he could on Saturday and on Sunday morning.

  The Bennets departed after Sunday morning service, to his great relief. Miss Bingley said she was glad to have fewer guests. “It will be so much cosier in the evenings.”

  Bingley said several times that he hoped Miss Bennet had not gone home too soon and that her health would not suffer.

  “It was just a cold,” Miss Bingley said sharply. “It wasn’t as if she had consumption.”

  Mrs. Hurst laughed. “No, indeed.”

  Bingley blanched. “Is that even possible?”

  “No,” Darcy assured him. “If Miss Bennet were in any danger, Mr. Jones would have warned her.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Elizabeth and Jane were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother. Mrs. Bennet said that they should not have given Mr. Bingley the trouble of sending them home, and she was certain Jane would catch cold again. She was sent directly to the morning room to lie down on a couch and rest.

  Mr. Bennet was happy to see them and said that the evening conversation had lost much of its animation and almost all of its sense with their absence.

  “I missed you, too,” Lydia said to Elizabeth. “We went to play cards with Aunt Philips one night, and it wasn’t the same without you.”

  Elizabeth sensed that Lydia’s expression was sincere, and she felt a twinge of guilt for being so happy without her twin. She said, “Well, I am home now, and if you like, we can walk to Meryton together. We could call on the Lucas’s.”

  Lydia clapped her hands. “I’d like that, but first, one of us must change.” She motioned to their dissimilar day dresses. That day, Lydia was wearing a pale blue striped dress and Elizabeth was wearing a yellow sprigged muslin.

  “I will change,” Elizabeth offered. As she walked upstairs, Mrs. Bennet cornered her to learn more of her visit to Netherfield. “Did Mr. Bingley get to speak with Jane?”

  “Yes, several times.”

  “Excellent,” Mrs. Bennet said. “I hope he proposes soon because the suspense is making my heart flutter.” She clutched her hands over her breast.

  Elizabeth did not know how to respond to that, so she merely said gently, “Please do not let it worry you.”

  “Worry? Of course I worry. How can I not worry with five daughters to marry and no sons? When your father is dead, this house will go to his detestable cousin and if none of you are married, what will become of us?”

  Elizabeth had heard her mother’s fears for years. She said, “I am certain at least one of us will find a husband.”

  “When?” Mrs. Bennet said. “Jane is already twenty-two and you and Lydia are twenty. I don’t understand what is taking so long. Particularly with Jane. All of you except Mary are pretty, but Jane is a true beauty. I don’t know why none of the gentlemen of our acquaintance have proposed.”

  “Perhaps our social sphere is too limited,” Elizabeth said. “Perhaps we should go to London and stay with the Gardiners.” She smiled, imagining her mother standing the five of them on a street corner, each holding a sign that read Eligible young lady, suitable for marriage.

  Mrs. Bennet tsked her tongue. “Your father won’t hear of it. He thinks it is nonsense. He doesn’t realize that you are all getting older and becoming old maids!”

  Lydia, overhearing the conversation said, “Do not worry, Mama. I will find a husband before the year is out.”

  “If only that were true, it would be the best Christmas gift.”

  “Do you already have someone in mind?” Elizabeth asked Lydia when they were alone. She had never noticed that her sister preferred any particular gentleman – she and Kitty flirted with all the army officers – but perhaps her sister had been discreet.

  “No, not yet.”

  “Then please, Lydia, do not be rash. Be careful.” Elizabeth opened her closet and removed a blue striped dress.

  Lydia laughed. “I do not need a second mother, Lizzy.”

  “Remember the old saying Marry in haste; repent in leisure.”

  Lydia scoffed. “I prefer to gather daffodils while I may.”

  Mary, walking by Elizabeth’s bedroom said seriously, “I think the flowers in Mr. Herrick’s poem are rosebuds, but I suppose the sentiment is the same, regardless.”

  Lydia said, “I prefer daffodils. Roses are so commonplace.”

  Elizabeth removed her old dress and pulled the new one over her head. Both Mary and Lydia helped her with her sleeves and fastening her ribbons.

  Lydia smiled when she saw Elizabeth in a matching dress. “You look very nice.”

  Elizabeth smoothed her long skirt with her hands. “Thank you.”

  She looked in a mirror on the wall where she could see herself and Lydia standing beside each other. They were like two peas in a pod.

  “I am glad to have you back,” Mary said. “Is Jane still ill?”

  “She has a cough, but she is feeling much better.”

  “Good,” Mary said kindly.

  Feeling generous, Elizabeth asked, “Would you like to come with me and Lydia to call on the Lucas’s?”

  “No, thank you,” Mary said. “I would rather practise the pianoforte.”

  After Mary left, Lydia said in a confidential whisper, “It will be better with just the two of us.”

  THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Mr. Bennet announced at breakfast that his cousin Mr. Collins who would one day inherit Longbourn, would be arriving that afternoon to stay for nearly two weeks.

  Mrs. Bennet nearly choked on her toast. She gasped and coughed until she was nearly blue in her face and when she finally could speak, she said she could not bear to hear that man’s name.

  “I did not expect his name to be the death of you, my dear,” Mr. Bennet said dryly. “But he is our guest, and I hope we will all be hospitable.”

  “I will do my duty, sir, and no more,” Mrs. Bennet announced.

  Her opinion softened, however, soon after Mr. Collins arrived. He was a tall, heavy looking young man of five and twenty with a grave and stately air. He complimented everyone and talked a great deal about his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Apparently, she had advised him to marry and he was of a mind to obey her every wish.

  He made it clear that it was his intention to choose one of his Bennet cousins to make amends for being the future heir to Longbourn.

  As soon as Mrs. Bennet heard this, she eyed Mr. Collins as a future son-in-law. She sat next to him, smiling, and introduced him to each of her daughters.

  He first had some thought of courting Jane, but Mrs. Bennet let him know that Jane might soon be engaged elsewhere, so he shifted his attentions to Elizabeth and Lydia. “Which of your twin daughters is the elder, ma’am?” he asked Mrs. Bennet.

  “Elizabeth, but we call her Lizzy.”

  Mr. Collins said that Lady Catherine did not approve of nicknames.

  Elizabeth
thought she was beginning to not approve of Lady Catherine but wisely kept that thought to herself.

  The following day, Mr. Collins accompanied her, Lydia, Jane and Kitty in a walk to Meryton. Mr. Bennet had encouraged the jaunt because he was weary of Mr. Collins’ constant conversation. During the walk, Mr. Collins provided a steady stream of pompous nothings. Jane was polite and sometimes commented in response, but Elizabeth did her best to ignore him.

  When they entered Meryton, Lydia wanted to look at bonnets in a shop window. They were met by an officer, Mr. Denny and a new gentleman they had never seen before. Mr. Denny asked their permission to introduce them to his friend, Mr. Wickham.

  “Oh, yes,” Lydia said happily. “Please do.”

  In the next few minutes, they learned that Mr. Wickham had just come from Town and had accepted a commission in the militia.

  Mr. Wickham was a handsome man with a fine countenance, a good figure and a very pleasing address. Having been introduced to both her and Lydia, he confessed that he would have a difficult time telling them apart. “I shall have to get to know you better to decide which of you I like best.”

  Lydia giggled and Elizabeth flinched. She often wished that Lydia was not so easily amused. She sounded like a giddy schoolgirl rather than a proper young woman.

  As they stood talking pleasantly, they were interrupted by Darcy and Bingley who were riding down the street. The two gentlemen came directly towards them and greeted them.

  Bingley told Jane that he was on his way to Longbourn to inquire about her health.

  Darcy bowed, but said nothing.

  Elizabeth was standing in such a position that she was able to see Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham when they recognized each other. Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red.

  Wickham after a moment, touched his hat in salutation, a gesture which Darcy just barely returned.

  From the look of distaste on Darcy’s face, it seemed that there was bad blood between the two men.

  Whatever could it mean?

  Darcy then turned away. Bingley gave his farewells and followed after him.

  Elizabeth wished she knew more, but it would be impolite to ask Wickham. He looked a little shaken by the meeting, but then he smiled as if it were of no great importance.

  Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham then walked with them to Mr. Philips’ house where Elizabeth’s aunt greeted them cordially and invited them to come in.

  The officers declined and Lydia was sad to see them go. “Do not fret,” Mrs. Philips said. “For I shall have Mr. Philips invite them to dine tomorrow night and you may all come as well!”

  Later that evening, Elizabeth asked Jane if she had noticed the strange look on Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham when they met each other. Jane confessed that she had not. “I only had eyes for Mr. Bingley.”

  Elizabeth wished to know more and looked forward to seeing Mr. Wickham again.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  The next evening, Elizabeth and Lydia wore white gowns with gold braid on the sleeves and under the bodice. At the last minute, Elizabeth put a thin gold chain around her neck, which could distinguish her from her twin. When Lydia saw it, she frowned, but since they were already in the family carriage, there was no way for her to wear a necklace as well.

  Kitty wondered out loud if Mr. Wickham would be wearing a red coat.

  “Of course he will,” Lydia said. “He is a lieutenant now.”

  “Who is Mr. Wickham?” Mrs. Bennet asked, and Lydia explained.

  “Do you think he has an income?” Mrs. Bennet asked. “I would have no objections to any one of you marrying a smart young colonel with five or six thousand a year.”

  Elizabeth glanced meaningfully at Jane for both of them knew that the odds of any soldier being so wealthy was slim.

  Mr. Collins said, “Such an income would indeed be a blessing, but remember that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

  Mrs. Bennet said, “Yes, well, but there are no camels in England.”

  “I believe there is a camel in the Tower of London,” Mary said.

  Mrs. Bennet said sharply, “We don’t need your book learning tonight, Mary,” which effectively ended the conversation.

  Once they arrived, Mrs. Philips greeted them, and Mr. Collins went off towards the card tables. When Mr. Wickham walked into the room, Elizabeth heard Lydia sigh. “He is just the type of gentleman I like best – tall with dark hair and blue eyes.”

  “Shh, he will hear you,” Elizabeth warned.

  “I don’t care if he does,” Lydia returned, and they were rewarded with a smile from that gentleman as he approached them. “Miss Elizabeth, Miss Lydia,” he said formally. “How pleasant to see you again.”

  Elizabeth noticed that many of the other women in the room watched him as well. He was easily the most admired man in the room.

  For a few minutes they spoke of inconsequentialities – the weather. It was a wet night and they discussed how long they thought a rainy season would last.

  Lydia asked him to join her in a game of lottery tickets, which he did, but the game did not require all his attention and he continued to speak to Elizabeth. Lydia, becoming engrossed in the game, eagerly made bets and exclaimed over prizes, momentarily distracted.

  Elizabeth wanted to ask Mr. Wickham about Mr. Darcy and was surprised when he brought up the subject himself. He asked her how far Netherfield was from Meryton and then how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there.

  “About a month,” Elizabeth answered. “He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire, I understand.”

  Wickham said, “I know the estate well. Pemberley. I was born there. In truth, Darcy and I grew up together.”

  Elizabeth was surprised by this revelation. “But I thought –” she began, then caught herself.

  “No doubt you noticed the cold manner of our meeting yesterday.”

  “I did notice it,” she admitted.

  Wickham leaned forward and lowered his voice so he would not be overheard. “It is a great sorrow to me that the man I once considered my closest friend now wants nothing to do with me. You see, my father was the late Mr. Darcy’s steward, and Mr. Darcy was my godfather. He took an interest in me and paid for my education. He wanted me to become a clergyman and went so far as to leave me a living in his will, but when he died, the present Mr. Darcy refused to honour the bequest.”

  “Good heavens!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “How could he do that?”

  “There was a vagueness in the description, leaving me no recourse by the law.”

  “But that is wicked.”

  Wickham said, “All I can surmise is that someone spoke ill of me, poisoning Mr. Darcy’s mind against me.”

  Elizabeth nodded. “I am sorry to hear that.”

  Wickham said, “Fortunately, I am not one to hold a grudge, and I now have a new career that may be better suited to my talents.”

  Elizabeth thought he was remarkably good natured not to resent Mr. Darcy. She said, “If you grew up at Pemberley, you must know Mr. Darcy’s character.”

  “I do.”

  Elizabeth said, “Then answer me this. Does he quickly change his mind?”

  “In what way?”

  “I recently spent four days visiting Netherfield and at first, I thought Mr. Darcy was quiet but friendly. But then, two days later, he seemed to change his opinion of me, not even wanting to speak to me.”

  Wickham nodded. “Yes, I have seen that. And not only with myself. I have seen Darcy cut other acquaintances off abruptly.”

  “What do you think could be the reason?”

  Wickham said, “It could be anything. It could be as simple as the knowledge that Mr. Philips, an attorney, is your uncle. Or someone could have maligned you.”

  Elizabeth could well imagine Miss Bingley saying something against her. “I see.”

  “Don’t let it unduly upset you,” Wickham said. “Darcy is so exacting; he wouldn’
t approve of Prinny himself.”

  Elizabeth smiled, as she knew what Mr. Wickham intended, but the truth was, she didn’t particularly approve of the Prince Regent herself and wished that he lived with more propriety.

  Later, the card tables were set aside, Mary played some Scottish airs, and there was some dancing in Mrs. Philip’s drawing room. Wickham danced with Lydia first and then with herself. Elizabeth thought he was an excellent dancer and a most intelligent, charming young man.

  On the way home, Lydia said to Elizabeth that she liked Wickham better than any man she had ever met.

  Elizabeth thought that for once, she and Lydia were of a similar mind, but she did not express her opinion aloud.

  That evening, as she and Jane prepared for bed, Jane said, “Mr. Wickham seemed to spend most of the evening speaking to you and Lydia.”

  “Perhaps because twins are a novelty.”

  Jane looked at her closely. “Will it break your heart if he prefers Lydia to you?”

  Elizabeth considered the matter. “I don’t think so,” she said finally. “I like him, but my heart is not engaged. And if, having met us both, he prefers Lydia, then I don’t want him.”

  Jane nodded sagely. “That is reasonable.”

  Elizabeth sighed. Not for the first time, she wished that she and Jane were twins instead of she and Lydia.

  “DARCY, WOULD YOU LIKE to come with us?” Bingley asked.

  Darcy saw that his friend was wearing a long coat and his sisters were wearing heavy pelisses and gloves. They wore poke bonnets. “Where are you going?”

  “To Longbourn to personally invite the Bennets to our ball.” Arrangements for the ball had been discussed extensively for the past two evenings. Darcy knew that a servant was currently delivering invitations to the other guests, but he supposed that Bingley wanted to see Jane Bennet again.

  Darcy could not blame him. He would enjoy seeing Elizabeth again, as well, but he knew that would be unwise.

  He took a deep breath, pushing down the urge to join them. “No, thank you. I will stay here and read.”