by Wynne Mabry
“You know about Wickham?”
“Yes. Fitzwilliam told me everything. I am assuming that circumstances are the same here.”
“The living?”
She nodded.
“And Ramsgate?”
She nodded again. “A truly despicable act.”
“It was indeed. Have you any idea what brings him to Meryton?”
‘He is going to join the regiment,” she informed him. “I am sorry to say that he will be here for the rest of the winter. Will that have any affect upon your plans?”
“No, it will not,” he said firmly. “I would prefer Mr. Wickham to be as far from here as possible, but I will not be leaving because of him. I am committed to doing what I can to help Mr. Hurst, and after that, I hope that there might be some other reason for me to stay. Going elsewhere is not in any of my current plans.”
“I am glad to hear it. Now, can you tell me how Mr. Hurst is progressing?”
“Very well. We were in London yesterday as planned, and he purchased several cylinders. On Sunday, he made a great deal of noise, for which I did my best to offer an explanation. Miss Bingley and the Hursts were not impressed, but Bingley was not bothered by it, which is all that matters. Fortunately, the loudest work has been done. I left Mr. Hurst working quietly today, or else I would not have been able to go out at all. He anticipates being done tomorrow and we are planning to fetch water during the night. I do not want to have to explain my need for numerous jugs of water. He wants you to go to Netherfield on Thursday morning, at which time we should be able to send you home.”
“And bring your Elizabeth back here.”
“Yes. Unfortunately, I think that she may be too late to experience the joy of a certain event which would have pleased her very much.”
“Can you mean that Mr. Bingley is going to propose?”
Mr. Darcy nodded. “He told me this morning that he wanted to, and I could not think of any reason for suggesting that he put it off for a few more days.”
“He discussed his plans with you?”
“He asked for my advice actually.”
“And what advice did you give?”
“That he should not be held back by his sisters’ talk of low connections.”
“I am glad that you did not think he should be dissuaded from it.”
“I may have been influenced by recent events. I have been doing a lot of thinking, even while Mr. Hurst was making a racket. When Mr. Bingley came to me this morning, I could only think that he should have a chance at the happiness which you and Mr. Hurst have described.”
“And do you mean to give yourself the same chance?”
“I have decided to make the attempt. It will all depend on her, of course. I do not know if she can ever bring herself to like me after the poor start to our acquaintance, but I mean to try.”
“I hope you succeed. I am very biased in the matter, you know.”
His smile and laughter were noticed by Mr. Wickham, who had been wondering how his old friend had been received in this neighbourhood. Seeing this apparent exchange of pleasantries gave him the idea that Darcy was well-liked, and that made him decide it would be better not to air his grievances among his new comrades. He would keep quiet and not mention their acquaintance at all. And perhaps it would be best to avoid the company of that lady who was on such good terms with Darcy. Thus it was that later in the day, he made an excuse to politely refuse an invitation from the Bennet girls’ uncle for the following evening.
Mr. Bingley had also dismounted by now, and leading their horses, he and Mr. Darcy walked back to Longbourn with Jane and Elizabeth. There was an awkward moment when she had to insist that Mr. Collins go on with Kitty and Lydia to visit their aunt, but under Mr. Darcy’s gaze, he did not persist in trying to foist himself upon them.
“I believe that he plans to make an offer for me,” she told her walking companion as they set off, following Jane and Mr. Bingley, who were already a little ahead of them. “I am trying to discourage him, but he is not easily discouraged. Of course, I am assuming that is what my other self would want. I hope I am not wrong.”
“So do I,’ he said with great feeling. “Is it an advantageous offer?”
“It could be seen in that light, but she is not likely to care about advantage. I feel certain that like me, she only wants to marry for love, or not at all. I have to admit though, that the matter of the entail has given me a little cause for concern.”
She explained that situation, and Mr. Darcy said, “Then I am even more glad that I did not try to influence Bingley to wait. Miss Bennet’s engagement will make it easier for her sister to act in accordance with her own wishes.”
“So it will,” Elizabeth agreed, looking at the distant pair and wondering if Mr. Bingley had already spoken.
He had, and the news was shared with everybody as soon as they reached Longbourn. Mrs. Bennet was so overjoyed that she even had a friendly word for Mr. Darcy. Although rather surprised by her affability, he took this opportunity to cultivate some goodwill between them. After all, he was hoping that she might one day be his mother-in-law as well as Mr. Bingley’s.
It was quite a few hours later that Elizabeth was alone with Jane, but she had been anticipating that the moment would come. When her own sister had become engaged, they had discussed the joy of the occasion in just such a conversation. Many of the same things were said on this evening, and Elizabeth had to keep up the pretence of being the appropriate recipient for these confidences. She did so with just as much happiness as the first time, except for feeling very sorry that her counterpart had missed such an important moment. She had said as much to Mr. Darcy that afternoon.
At least there was satisfaction in knowing that her other self would be excessively delighted when this news became known to her. And perhaps their change of places had played a part in Mr. Darcy’s approval of Mr. Bingley’s actions today. If she guessed that, then it might lessen her regret for not having been in her own reality in time to congratulate her sister.
In her place, this Elizabeth said all the things which she thought were right and conveyed to Jane that she took great pleasure from this event.
“If only there could be another such man for you,” was Jane’s response. “I wish that you could be as happy as I am.”
Elizabeth made light of this in a merry way, although she would have liked to be able to say that she had indeed found the same happiness. Perhaps one day not too far off, her other self would be able to tell her sister exactly that.
An Enlightening Morning
The other Elizabeth also thought that Mr. Wickham was a pleasant gentleman, who would make an excellent addition to the regiment. Then came a similar realization that Mr. Darcy did not like him. If she had seen that look in her own reality, she would probably have thought that any dislike between them was all of his own making, but in this one, she had learned to trust Mr. Darcy.
It was Mr. Wickham whom she now distrusted. He must have done something quite dreadful to make an enemy of such a reasonable man.
She wondered if there was a Wickham in her reality as well. If there was, perhaps her sisters had also just met him. They would presumably be liking him as much as she had done for a moment, but she would not be able to view him with anything other than suspicion now.
It transpired that Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley had been on their way to Longbourn. They dismounted from their horses and the two couples began walking back that way, a little distance apart. Mr. Collins was left to go with Kitty and Lydia to meet their aunt.
This was an opportunity for Elizabeth to satisfy her curiosity, but she hesitated to pry too deeply. Mr. Darcy had become something of a friend, but their acquaintance was of very short standing. Still, she was also concerned about his feelings.
“I could not help noticing that you looked rather discomposed earlier,” she said. “There seems to be something between you and Mr. Wickham.”
“There is a great deal between us,” he sa
id. “We have had some unpleasant dealings, to be honest. Things that I would rather not be reminded of.”
“Then we should talk of something else,” she said, mindful of his comfort.
“I would prefer that, but first I want to tell you about some of my history with Wickham. I do not feel at liberty to share all of it. If my other self has had the same experiences, then I would be revealing his personal affairs. But there are things I think I can tell you, which will show you what Wickham’s character is like in this reality at any rate.”
What he told Elizabeth convinced her that Mr. Wickham had only the appearance of goodness and none of the substance of it.
“There was also an incident this past summer, which was very distressing for me,” Mr. Darcy said. “I am sure it would have been the same for the man you know if he went through the same thing. And I think it very likely that he did. You see, that is why I came here in an ill mood, which led to my rudeness at the assembly. I cannot say any more, but I hope you might understand him a little better by knowing that he had recently suffered a very trying ordeal.”
“My understanding of him has been changed a little by knowing you,” she said. “I shall certainly look at him differently in future. And I am determined not to be friendly with Mr. Wickham if I encounter him in my reality.”
Mr. Darcy smiled at this before turning to even more serious matters. “Now, I expect that you are wanting to know what has been happening at Netherfield. Mr. Bingley and I rode to London very early on Monday morning, and we consulted a doctor there who specializes in matters of the mind. He has the charge of a reputable private asylum. We were impressed with him, so Mr. Bingley decided to place his sister there.”
“I am glad he was able to find a practical solution. I assume that she has already left Netherfield.”
“Yes. Two assistants returned with us to facilitate her journey. I am sorry to say that she went into a fury and had to be restrained, but Bingley and I are satisfied that she is going to get the very best care. She is fortunate that he does not begrudge a penny of the cost. That much he could do for her, but now it is all in the hands of this doctor.”
“I hope that he can help her,” Elizabeth said. “I do not wish her ill, and I am certain that your fiancée will not either. It is all a very sad business, and I feel greatly for Mr. Bingley and Mrs. Hurst.”
“They have had a difficult time of it,” he agreed. “But so much of the burden has been lifted by finding someone to trust with her care. I just hope that Hurst will be back again soon. Louisa is very much in need of him.”
“She is not alone at this moment, I hope.”
“No, Mrs. Everleigh is at Netherfield. Louisa invited her to spend the morning and stay for luncheon so that we would be able to pay a short visit to you and Jane. She knew that both of you would be wanting to know what had happened, and that Bingley would derive some comfort from a little time spent with Jane. We would not have left her without some companionship, but I think that Mrs. Everleigh’s company will be good for her.”
“I am sure it will. I met her the other day and gained the impression that she is just as calm and practical as my Charlotte, who is a very good person to have around in times of trouble.”
“What has your time at Longbourn been like?” he asked.
“Almost like being at home,” she replied. “There are not very many differences, but we do have a visitor whose arrival was quite a surprise to me. You may have noticed the other gentleman who was with us.”
“Just slightly. I did not see him very well.”
“He is our cousin Mr. Collins. The same gentleman exists in my world, but I have never met him. There, he is the next person in line to inherit Longbourn. Here, the estate is not entailed on him. He has expressed a desire to know his cousins better, but I suspect that what he really wants is to marry one of them and take control of the property in that way.”
“How despicable of him.”
“That is just what I thought. I do not believe that he has much chance of succeeding though. Mary was not impressed by him, and as you probably know, Kitty and Lydia are currently obsessed with soldiers. Mr. Collins has nothing to tempt them. He is plain in appearance and dull in manner, besides being a parson.”
“Really? A parson. To my mind, that makes his scheme even more despicable.”
“It does indeed.”
“I wonder what sort of undiscerning person gave him a living.”
“Actually, it was your aunt. Mr. Collins has had much to say about his revered patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.”
Mr. Darcy made a rueful expression. “I suppose I should not be surprised,” he said. “There are many ways in which my aunt does not have the most discerning taste. A little flattery from this Mr. Collins could easily have earned him her favour.”
“He does have a great inclination for flattery. Your Elizabeth’s mother was not very interested in hearing it though. She has no good opinion of Mr. Collins either, which I think a very good thing. Unfortunately, that may create some difficulty for me. She has been talking very eagerly of going to London for the purpose of purchasing wedding clothes, and it will not bother her to desert Mr. Collins in the middle of his visit. Naturally, I do not want to go away when it is so important for me to be here. I thought that I might pretend to be ill if necessary, but that may be difficult to carry off.”
“You do look quite healthy,” he observed. “Perhaps it would help if Louisa were to invite your family for dinner. That will help to keep my future-mother-in-law from rushing off to London.”
“It would, but will it not be too much for Mrs. Hurst to manage.”
“Quite the opposite I think. She is wanting to carry on with as much normality as possible, and I think that is the wisest way to proceed.”
“Then I think it might be an excellent precaution as long as she is certain. Aside from needing to be here the moment that Mr. Hurst is done, I do not want to choose somebody else’s wedding clothes, even though we do seem to have identical taste. You never know when it might differ.”
“I just hope that they will be needed,” he said, making her fear that his spirits had been taxed too much by this second problem.
“They will,” she said firmly. “You have said yourself how clever Mr. Hurst is and how determined he will be.”
“Yes, I have,” he agreed to her relief. “He is capable of resolving this situation. I must not lose sight of that.”
“He will resolve it, and then this trying time will only be a memory.”
“A very unusual memory,” he said, with a smile that she was pleased to see that he was still able to keep up his spirits. “In twenty or thirty years’ time, I might be inclined to think that it was all just a dream. But I shall remember your thoughtfulness and kind words. Even though you look exactly like my Elizabeth, and even behave much like her, it has surprisingly easy to see you as a separate person. I will always think of you as a friend that I had for a little time.”
“I will think just the same of you. And I shall probably be a little sad every time that I see the Mrs. Hurst of my reality. I very much envy my other self for having such a lovely friend. But I suppose this will eventually seem like a dream to me as well. After all, I shall not be able to tell anybody about it.”
“Except for your Mr. Darcy. Do not forget that we saw him with my friends in your reality. Presumably he knows what has happened.”
“True, but you are forgetting that we are not on the best of terms.”
“Oh, I am not forgetting. I am being hopeful that you will yet find him irresistible. He is very nearly me, so naturally I take an interest in his concerns.”
She laughed, but it was his appeal on behalf of his other self which amused her, rather than thinking that his ideas were absurd.
Nearly There
“I saw Mr. Wickham in Meryton this morning,” Mr. Darcy said to Mr. Hurst when he was back in the library. “Do you know of him?”
“I do indeed.
The man is a scoundrel who has treated Darcy despicably. Was it the same for you?”
“Very much so. He tried to elope with my sister.”
“Yes, it was exactly the same for Darcy. But what was Mr. Wickham doing here?”
“Come to join the regiment apparently. Is there one quartered in Meryton in your reality as well?”
“There is. In fact, Darcy, Bingley, and I dined with the officers the other day, but Mr. Wickham was not among them.”
“He has only just joined. The one in your reality may well have done the same.”
“Poor Darcy. I am sure he will not like that.”
“I expect not. I certainly did not. I shall do my best to avoid him, but he will probably be at the ball which Bingley is holding next week. All the officers are invited.”
“Keep your head up, and you will be fine,” Mr. Hurst said. “It is Mr. Wickham who ought to feel embarrassed to be in your presence.”
“I hope he does. That will make it easier to avoid him.”
While they were talking of this, Mr. Bingley was telling his sisters about his engagement.
“You could have done a great deal better for yourself,” Mrs. Hurst said.
“I was not concerned with doing better,” he replied.
“We were concerned for you,” Miss Bingley said. “We did try to warn you about her unsuitability.”
“That did not bother me either,” he said with cheerful unconcern for their opinion. “And I will thank you not to say anything more on the subject.”
Although angry about it, they had no choice but to accept the engagement. The next morning, they were obliged to call upon Jane and pretend to be delighted by the news. Elizabeth saw through their pretence, as she guessed her counterpart would have done. The important thing though, was that there was nothing they could do now. This pleased her as much as it was going to please her other self.
On Thursday morning, the two ladies went to Longbourn again, this time with their brother. Two visits in a row were not to their liking, but he insisted upon personally delivering an invitation to the ball, which was to be held on Tuesday.