‘Thank you for your hospitality,’ she went on, making him a curtsey. ‘You have always made me feel very welcome here.’
‘I hope you will be here often,’ he said, and then went red again, for they were both thinking that that would happen if Jane was a Netherfield bride.
‘I hope so, too,’ she said with a smile.
They parted on good terms. He did everything he could to show that she was not leaving in disgrace. He walked out to the carriage with her and handed her into the carriage himself. He told the coachman to drive carefully, and wished her a safe journey. Then he stood on the drive and watched until the carriage had disappeared.
Elizabeth was most grateful for his attentions. If she had been forced to leave without them, the servants would have gossiped and said she was leaving in disgrace. But Mr Bingley had spoken of her going, in the hearing of the servants, as if it were merely a holiday whilst Mr Darcy was in London. His kind behaviour on seeing her to the carriage convinced them that she was well thought of, and in good standing with her employer and his friend.
And so a chapter of Elizabeth’s life closed as the carriage turned out of the gate of Netherfield Park and took her home to Longbourn.
As the carriage rolled up in front of her own home, she felt all the awkwardness of the situation. To be sent home like this, in the dark – for although it was only late afternoon, it was November, and dark fell early – was disheartening.
The Netherfield footman treated her with deference, for he had seen Mr Bingley do the same, and handed her out of the carriage before lifting her box down from the carriage roof. A knock at the door, her Aunt Philips’s surprised face and a difficult greeting followed, as Elizabeth endeavoured to thank the footman and wait until he was on his way before saying to her aunt, ‘I am afraid I have bad news.’
‘Miss Darcy is dead,’ said her aunt in alarm.
‘No, nothing of the sort, no one is dead,’ Elizabeth reassured her aunt.
At that moment Mrs Philips reminded her of her mother. Her mother had also been in the habit of leaping to alarming conclusions, which was perhaps not surprising as the two ladies had been sisters.
Elizabeth could not face a great many questions, nor her aunt’s fussing, and so she said, ‘Mr Darcy has been called to London on business and Miss Darcy has gone with him. Mr Darcy said that I should return to Longbourn since Miss Darcy would not be needing me.’
‘Well, if that is not generous of him. I do not call that bad news at all,’ said Mrs Philips, escorting her into the drawing-room. ‘Look!’ she said to the Bennets, who were engaged in a variety of activities around the room. Mary was reading an improving book. Lydia and Kitty were adding a new trimming to their best gowns. Mr Philips was playing at patience. Jane was sewing a button on one of her gloves. ‘Elizabeth is home. Mr Darcy has given her a holiday.’
‘That is very generous of him, to be sure,’ said Mr Philips.
‘Did Mr Bingley say anything to you about the Netherfield ball?’ asked Lydia. ‘He promised we should have one. I do hope he will honour his agreement.’
‘He spoke to me about it before I left. He has not yet settled on a date but I believe he will be sending out the invitations very shortly.’
She glanced at Jane as she said it, and saw Jane’s sweet smile.
If only her sister could be happy, it would be a consolation for her own troubles.
‘I had better go upstairs and unpack,’ said Elizabeth.’
‘I will help you,’ said Jane.
She cut off her thread and put her needle back in her sewing bag, then she took Elizabeth’s arm and the two of them left the room.
‘Dinner is in an hour,’ said Mrs Philips behind her. ‘I had better tell Cook we will be one extra.’
Elizabeth and Jane went upstairs. The Longbourn servant had already deposited Elizabeth’s box in her bedroom and after taking off her cloak, pelisse, gloves and bonnet, Elizabeth began to unpack.
She passed her gowns one by one to Jane, who hung them in the wardrobe.
‘Now, Lizzy, you can speak freely,’ said Jane, as she hung away the last of Elizabeth’s new gowns. ‘What really happened? Why have you come home?’
‘I told you,’ said Elizabeth uncomfortably. ‘Mr Darcy has gone to London and he said I might return to Longbourn.’
Jane shook her head. Her golden curls gleamed in the soft candlelight.
‘There is more to it than that, I am sure. You would have come home very cheerfully, if that had been the case, glad to have a holiday. But there are lines of worry around your eyes and mouth.’
‘Can I hide nothing from you?’ asked Elizabeth with a sad smile.
She sank down on the bed.
‘No, dearest,’ said Jane, sitting on the bed next to her sister and giving her a hug.
‘Oh, Jane,’ said Lizzy, leaning her head on her sister’s shoulder. ‘I have had such a terrible day.’
She told her sister all about it.
‘There must have been some mistake,’ said Jane, when Elizabeth had finished. ‘What exactly did Mr Darcy say again?’
‘He said he had urgent business to attend to in London,’ said Elizabeth.
‘Then I think he had,’ said Jane. ‘There is nothing strange about it. He has often returned to London for a day or two since arriving in Hertfordshire.’
‘That explains why he needed to go to London, but not why he dismissed me,’ said Elizabeth. ‘If you could have heard his voice as he said that I was not to go to London, nor to remain at Netherfield Park, but that I was to return to Longbourn, you would have been horrified. It was cold and harsh, as if he hated me.’
‘No! That cannot be. No one could hate you,’ said Jane, patting her sister’s hand.
‘Then why did he dismiss me?’ asked Elizabeth.
‘Are you sure he dismissed you? He did not just say you would not be needed whilst Miss Darcy was in London.’
‘Oh, no, Jane, he dismissed me. He said I had been paid for three months and so there were no wages owing to me. Then he said I could consider the unearned salary as being in lieu of notice. I can still see his face, and hear his voice, as he did so.’ Elizabeth shivered. ‘The worst of it was, he would not tell me what I had done wrong.’
‘Did you ask him?’ asked Jane, her forehead wrinkling in concern.
Elizabeth nodded.
‘And what did he say?’
‘He said I was the only person who knew the answer to that,’ Elizabeth said. ‘He said it was between me and my conscience.’
‘That is very strange, to be sure. I cannot help feeling there is some mystery here,’ said Jane.
Elizabeth was soothed by her sister’s calm presence and unwavering affection. As she began to recover her spirits, she thought about Jane’s words. A mystery.
‘It is strange you should say that, Jane. Once or twice Georgiana started to say something about her previous companion, and then fell silent. I remember thinking there was a mystery about it. And once, when Mr Darcy was talking about last summer, he fell suddenly silent, and again I thought there was some mystery about it. Now here is another mystery.’ Her brow furrowed as she remembered all those perplexing conversations, then shook her head. ‘I do not know what to make of it.’
‘I will ask Mr Bingley,’ said Jane reassuringly. ‘He has promised to dine here tomorrow, and I am sure he will tell me everything he knows.’
‘I do not believe he knows anything,’ said Elizabeth with a sigh. ‘He seemed as perplexed as I was.’
‘Whatever the outcome, I can at least ask him,’ said Jane stoutly
Elizabeth’s shoulders sagged.
‘I do not think I can face a dinner party tomorrow,’ she said.
‘You must,’ said Jane, kindly but firmly. ‘You cannot shut yourself away. It will be a sociable occasion and it will lift your spirits. Dear Lizzy, you have always sparkled in company. My aunt has invited some of the officers as well. New faces and new conversations will cheer y
ou, as they always do.’
‘Officers?’ asked Elizabeth. ‘So that is why Lydia and Kitty were adding new trimmings to their best gowns!’
Jane smiled.
‘Yes. The gowns are very shabby, alas, but I took the lace trimming off one of Mama’s shawls and they are using it to give a new look to their old gowns.’
‘Mama would be pleased,’ said Elizabeth. ‘She liked her daughters to look well. But I think we can do better than new trimmings. I have some new gowns and I will lend one to each of my sisters. We are not exactly the same size, but with a little adjustment the dresses will fit very well. You must have the gown with the gauze overskirt, Jane.’
‘I must confess I would like something new to wear, as long as you keep something for yourself.’
‘I will. Mr Darcy was very generous and I had a range of new clothes at his expense. He wanted me to be well dressed when I attended his sister. I am pleased I can now make sure my sisters are well dressed. It is some small consolation for everything that has happened since.’
‘My aunt will be pleased. I am sure she hopes that one of the officers will take a fancy to Mary or Kitty. I believe Kitty likes Captain Denny,’ said Jane.
Elizabeth looked thoughtful.
‘What is it?’ asked Jane.
‘Oh, nothing . . . it is just that your words reminded me of something. When I was out walking with Georgiana this afternoon, we came across Captain Denny and his friend, Mr Wickham.’
‘Mr Wickham?’ asked Jane. ‘I do not believe I know him.’
‘No. He has only just arrived. Georgiana was very embarrassed, going red and becoming tongue-tied when we met him. I thought it must be because she had a tendre for him. She used to know him in Derbyshire. But now I am beginning to wonder. It was just after we returned from the walk that Mr Darcy announced he was going to London and taking Georgiana with him. He seemed very agitated.’
‘And you think it had something to do with Mr Wickham?’ asked Jane.
Elizabeth frowned.
‘I do not see how the two things could be related, but nevertheless, both Georgiana and her brother began acting oddly as soon as Mr Wickham appeared in Meryton.’
‘I will ask Mr Bingley about it tomorrow,’ said Jane.
Elizabeth became thoughtful. Could Mr Wickham be somehow connected with the strange behaviour of the Darcys? She found herself becoming curious about him.
‘Do you know if Mr Wickham will be dining here with the officers?’ she asked.
‘No. But I will ask my aunt.’
‘If not, I will tell my aunt I met him,’ said Elizabeth. ‘I believe she will then invite him.’
‘Do you think you will find out why Mr Darcy dismissed you from Mr Wickham?’ asked Jane.
‘I do not know,’ said Elizabeth. ‘But I think I might learn something from him. It is a mystery, as you say, Jane. I will not disguise from you that it has upset me deeply, but you are right, I cannot let it dishearten me. I must not think of shutting myself away. Instead, I mean to find out what is at the bottom of it.’
‘That is more like my Lizzy,’ said Jane affectionately. ‘I am glad you have decided to do something about it, and I will help you. Together we will solve this mystery.’
Chapter Fifteen
Elizabeth found it difficult to sleep that night. She had tried to put on a brave face in front of her family but she was deeply wounded by Mr Darcy’s words, and by his cold manner. She had been growing very fond of him, and she had admired and respected him more every day. Also, if truth be told, she had been finding him more and more handsome. His dark hair had a way of curling over his collar that she found most attractive, and there was one lock of his hair which kept falling across his forehead in a most inviting way. Every time she saw it, she wanted to push it back from his face.
But now she was rewarded for her folly. She had allowed herself to become attached to him, thinking she knew him because she had spent several weeks in his company. She would not have believed him capable of the cruelty and injustice she had witnessed when he had dismissed her. But now she realised she had not known him at all.
All her hopes and dreams had crumbled into dust, mocking her. She had thought her family’s problems were over. With Jane looking likely to marry Mr Bingley, and with her own situation assured, she had allowed herself to see a rosy future. But it was not to be. She had lost her employment, and if Jane did not marry Mr Bingley then they were back where they had been in September. The only consolation for Elizabeth was that she had saved her sister from Mr Collins.
She passed a restless night, haunted by dreams of Mr Darcy. In some, she saw him smiling at her in a way that lifted her heart. In others, he was giving her an icy stare and saying, ‘That is between you and your conscience’.
She woke feeling unrefreshed. Nevertheless, her spirits were lifted at breakfast when she told her sisters she was going to give them each one of her new dresses. Their faces lit up and she was glad to have brought them some pleasure. Lydia ran round the breakfast table to hug her, and Kitty did the same. Mary began a long speech about gratitude, friendship and sisterly solicitude. Jane smiled at her quietly and serenely, and Mrs Philips said, ‘Why, if that is not handsome of you, Elizabeth.’
Mr Philips echoed his wife’s words and the house was filled with activity as the younger girls chose a dress and then tried it on.
Kitty and Lydia paraded their choices in the drawing-room after breakfast, and spent the rest of the day trimming their reticules to match. Even Mary could be seen holding up her dress in front of her and glancing at herself in the mirror.
‘You look very well, Mary,’ said Mrs Philips encouragingly. ‘I am sure the officers will think so, too.’
‘Officers!’ squealed Lydia in delight. ‘We must have dancing after dinner, Aunt, then I can dance every dance. Oh, I cannot wait for this evening.’
Elizabeth shared this sentiment, but not for the same reason. She was looking forward to seeing all her Meryton friends again. She would not see Charlotte Lucas, as Charlotte had gone to visit her grandmother, but she expected to see her other friends and she knew their company would cheer her.
She was also looking forward to seeing Mr Wickham. Elizabeth had ascertained from her aunt that he would be a guest, and she was impatient to meet him again, in the hope she could find out why Mr Darcy had treated her in such an ungentlemanlike fashion.
The dinner party that evening was a success. Jane was in looks, and her new dress added to her charms. Mr Bingley could not take his eyes from her. He was mesmerised by her when he walked into the drawing-room and he took a seat next to her, spending almost all his time talking to her. Without Miss Bingley to constantly interfere, he was able to do as he pleased, and spend his time talking to Jane.
The officers were all agreeable. They were good-humoured and soon the sound of conversation and laughter filled the Longbourn dining-room. The dinner was good and, afterwards, the gentlemen enjoyed the last of the Longbourn port when the ladies withdrew.
Before long, however, they were all together again in the drawing-room. Elizabeth had not had an opportunity to talk to Mr Wickham, as her sisters had engaged his attention before dinner, and during dinner he had been seated next to Mrs Philips. But now he came over to her and sat beside her.
To begin with, he complimented her on the excellence of the evening and made a few general remarks about the dinner, her sisters and the weather. But then he said, ‘I hear that Mr Darcy and his sister have returned to London. I am glad, for it means you have a holiday. I can now talk to you without feeling I am distracting you from your charge.’
‘Miss Darcy is no longer my charge,’ Elizabeth admitted. ‘She and her brother have returned to London.’
She tried to keep the emotion out of her voice but it was difficult, as it still hurt.
Mr Wickham looked surprised, then sympathetic, then thoughtful. After a few minutes, he began.
‘I hope I am not speaking out of turn, but
I am glad you are no longer working for Mr Darcy.’
‘How so?’ asked Elizabeth.
‘He can be a difficult man to work for. I have been connected with his family since infancy and I think I know him better than most. He can be charming and agreeable when it suits him, but if it does not suit him then he can change rapidly, going from friendship to coldness in a very short space of time. He is a very wealthy man, and used to having his own way. He does not consider the feelings, or the needs, of others. It never occurs to him that the loss of his patronage might cause difficulties for those beneath him. He has been protected by his wealth all his life. Others are not so lucky.’
This fit in with her own situation so exactly that Elizabeth felt disheartened. She was now forced to admit that had been wrong in her estimation of Mr Darcy, completely wrong. She had thought he was a good and noble man, but now it seemed as if he made a habit of patronising people and then dropping them when it no longer suited him. It seemed as if she was not the only person to have suffered from his capriciousness. There was something in Mr Wickham’s tone which suggested he, too, had suffered from one of Mr Darcy’s incomprehensible changes.
‘You say you have been connected with his family?’
‘Yes. I am the son of his late father’s steward. His father was one of the kindest and wisest men I have ever met. He took a liking to me and paid for my education, and I will always be grateful to him for it. I repaid his kindness by making myself useful to his children. Darcy was always inclined to be arrogant, and never let me forget my status, but Miss Darcy was a delight. I devoted many hours to her amusement when she was a little girl, helping her to ride her pony and playing with her, for she was lonely and I felt sorry for her. I felt even more sorry for her after her father’s death, for she loved him dearly. I was at pains to spend time with her, but Mr Darcy became even more arrogant after inheriting the estate and he made it clear that I was no longer a welcome companion for his sister.’
‘But this is monstrous!’ said Elizabeth.
Mr Wickham nodded sadly.
‘I feel sorry for her,’ he said. ‘I always have. She is a charming girl, turning into a charming young lady, but she has few friends because she is not allowed to make them. Her brother picks people up for a time and she becomes close to them, but then he drops them again. I think he is jealous of her friendships, and once she becomes too close to someone he dismisses them.’
A Companion For Miss Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 16