A Certain Something

by Cassandra B Leigh

  “Mr Darcy, my daughters have advised me of your kindness during their stay at this fine house, and I must offer my thanks to you.”

  Finding this speech odd, he brushed it off. “Being kind is no hardship, sir, especially when in such well-mannered company.” Elizabeth and her sister had truly conducted themselves admirably during their stay at Netherfield, and he had no cause to fault their behaviour.

  “I have come on this errand to support Elizabeth, who wishes to speak with you.” Mr Bennet patted her hand and nodded his head, gesturing in Darcy’s direction.

  Dear Lord. What could this be about? If she thinks to accuse me of wrongdoing, she shall not prevail. If she hopes to trap me or to force my hand—

  “Mr Darcy, as you well know, my sisters and I have met Mr Wickham,” Elizabeth said in a meek voice.

  Momentary relief was quickly replaced with alarm. The image of Wickham standing next to Elizabeth in town sprang to his mind. If that blackguard had harmed her in any way, I shall happily—

  “We had occasion to see him again last night at my uncle Phillips’s house.” She looked to her father for encouragement. Her grim expression filled Darcy with dread.

  Mr Bennet interjected. “My brother Phillips invited a few officers to a card party and supper.”

  Darcy nodded his understanding and urged Elizabeth to continue, wondering where this story would lead. “He told me of your history at Pemberley and of your father’s generosity.” She paused for a moment to take a deep breath; however, her troubled brow remained. “Mr Darcy, I hope you will not think me impudent, but he made a disturbing claim against you, and I am afraid that he means to do you harm.”

  He found her misty eyes infinitely endearing, and if not for Mr Bennet’s presence, he would have reached out for her hand. “Shall I assume that he referred to my father’s bequest?” he said, knowing this was one of Wickham’s favourite complaints against him. He would not have dared to mention the attempted elopement with Georgiana.

  She nodded. “I must assure you that I believed not one word he said…well, not everything he said, but he seemed determined to portray you as villainous.”

  Her tender concern touched his heart, but he kept his wits about him, unwilling to reveal the slightest tender regard. “You need not worry on my behalf, Miss Elizabeth. My father bequeathed a church living to Mr Wickham, but he informed me of his decision against taking orders. He accepted three thousand pounds in exchange for the preferment,” he said, to which father and daughter exchanged stunned glances. “You may well be surprised to learn that he returned three years later, his inheritance entirely spent on idle pursuits, demanding full access to the living. However, I am certain you would acquit me for my refusal.”

  “Indeed, sir, by accepting the value of the living, he relinquished his rights to it,” Mr Bennet said.

  “Yes, he signed a contract to that effect.”

  Mr Bennet seemed satisfied with this explanation, and he addressed his daughter. “Is there anything else you wish to tell Mr Darcy, Lizzy?”

  The pained look in her eyes lingered. “Only that I am truly sorry for having imposed on you in this way, but I was so shocked by his outrageous story, I felt it my duty to inform you.”

  Darcy knew Wickham held no power against him, but he did pose a danger to the community. “I must warn you, Miss Elizabeth, Mr Wickham is not to be trusted,” he said, knowing of Wickham’s penchant for unprotected women. “I would urge you, Mr Bennet, to keep your daughters well out of his reach.”

  “Thank you, Mr Darcy, I intend to. If there is nothing else, I believe we have taken enough of your time,” he said, rising to shake his hand.

  Darcy accepted it, then reached for Elizabeth and held her small gloved hand between his. “Thank you for confiding in me, Miss Elizabeth. I hope he will not disturb you again.”

  She held her head high and spoke in a confident voice. “No, sir, I shall not allow it.”

  They took their leave and quit the room. Darcy watched through the window as they boarded their carriage and drove away.

  How extraordinary that she would seek to protect me from the likes of George Wickham. The poor sod must have lost his appeal with the ladies to have made such a terrible impression on Elizabeth.

  ***

  During their ride back home to Longbourn, Elizabeth promised her father that she would advise her sisters of the threat Wickham posed without further delay. In the interest of safeguarding the family secret, Mr Bennet agreed to detain Mr Collins in the library under the guise of showing him the book collection. “I assure you, my dear girl, my cousin has no interest whatsoever in the ancient philosophers or the complete works of Shakespeare, but I will endeavour to keep him out of your way for at least thirty minutes,” he said with a glint in his eye.

  With her cousin otherwise occupied, Elizabeth gathered her mother and sisters into the sitting parlour and closed the door so they would not be overheard. Taking Darcy’s warning to heart, Elizabeth feared not for herself but for her younger sisters, who were far too impressionable. “You must listen carefully to what I am about to tell you, Lydia and Kitty. I have always been honest with you about my gift, but what I perceived in Wickham is far more than just falsehoods,” she said, then explained the various shades of grey she’d observed around the lieutenant and the sinister black haze at the end of their conversation.

  Mary turned pale. “Such evil is a threat to our reputations. We cannot be too guarded in our behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex,” she said in a tremulous voice.

  “You could be mistaken about the meaning of the dark cloud, Lizzy. If you never saw one before, it may not mean what you suppose,” Kitty said.

  Elizabeth bolstered her courage, determined to convince her sister of the depth of Wickham’s depravity. “It is true that I have nothing to compare it to, Kitty, but if you had seen it, you would not give him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, Mr Darcy confirmed that Wickham is unworthy of our trust,” she said, then relayed that conversation.

  Still, Kitty’s doubts persisted. “Perhaps he only meant that we should not play games of chance with Wickham.”

  Elizabeth sighed, momentarily frustrated by her failure to convince her sister of the dangers; however, Mrs Bennet came to her assistance. “Kitty, you have no idea what a desperate man might do. If he has no fortune to lose, he will think nothing of risking your reputation.”

  “But he is so handsome, Mama. Why does Lizzy have to spoil everything?”

  “Be sensible, Kitty,” Jane said. “If not for Lizzy’s gift, we might have never known the truth. The lieutenant may be handsome, but he has a black heart.”

  Elizabeth jumped, startled by a sharp rap on the door; Mr Bennet entered and quickly closed the door behind him. “I only have a minute to spare, but I must tell you all that I have given instructions to the servants that Wickham may not be admitted to Longbourn,” he said, to which Kitty and Lydia gasped.

  “Thank you, Papa,” Mary said in a grave tone. “In my opinion, you are wise to protect us. Nothing is more fragile and in need of preservation than a maiden’s virtue.”

  After thanking Mary for her profound insights, Mr Bennet retrieved a book from a side table, then returned to Mr Collins.

  Mrs Bennet sang his praises. “What an excellent father you have, girls. You should all be grateful that your papa has taken such steps to protect your future matches.”

  “What shall I do if Wickham asks me for a dance at the ball?” Kitty inquired. “If I refuse, I shall be forced to sit out.”

  “You need not refuse him,” Mrs Bennet said, fanning her face, “but you must not leave the ballroom with him. You and Lydia are to come back to me the moment each set is over.”

  Mary huffed indignantly. “I have no fear that he will ask me, but if he does, I shall sit out the entire night.”

  Mrs Bennet cried out in alarm. “No daughter of mine shall be seen sitting out at the most important event of the year. I shall have your
father stay close to you, Mary. If Jane and Lizzy watch out for each other, none of you shall be in danger from Wickham.”

  Grateful for her mother’s plan to protect her and her sisters from Wickham, Elizabeth allowed herself to relax. After they opened the door and called for tea, the conversation turned to happier topics: ribbons, lace, and shoe roses. While her sisters chattered about the pleasures that awaited them in the Netherfield ballroom, Elizabeth preferred to meditate on the man in the library with strong hands, a tender smile on his lips, and an unmistakable glow in the air around him.

  Chapter 11

  Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that she and her family were finally on their way to the Netherfield ball. The past few days at Longbourn had been unbearable; relentless rain had kept her trapped indoors with Mr Collins. Mrs Bennet had instructed Elizabeth and her sisters to see to their cousin’s entertainment and insisted that she and Mary perform on the pianoforte each night. Afterwards, Mr Collins and Mary took turns reading from Fordyce’s Sermons. Despite Elizabeth’s attempts to ignore her ridiculous cousin, his cloying attentions proved that he had singled her out. She could imagine no worse fate than to be married to such a man, unless that man was the dark lieutenant. This was the moniker she and Jane had assigned to Wickham, both preferring to never mention his name again. An icy shiver ran down Elizabeth’s spine at the memory of the black haze surrounding the deceptive man.

  When Elizabeth entered the Netherfield ballroom, she searched through the crowd for Darcy. After spending the last four days thinking of him, she could no longer deny her affection; she wanted nothing more than to dance with him this evening. She had already danced with him twice before, so it was possible that he would ask her again this evening. Unlike Mr Collins’s meaningless flattery, Darcy’s quiet intelligence and reserved temper suited her; and unlike Wickham, he was an honest, respectable man. She had dressed with the utmost care, hoping to impress him, and perhaps discover if her sentiments were returned.

  None of Netherfield’s tastefully appointed rooms looked the same as when she had last seen them. Candlelight glowed from each chandelier and sconce, flower arrangements stood in every corner, and a small orchestra clustered in the corner played quietly. People dressed in elegant attire milled about in every direction, but amongst them she spied no tall, handsome, reserved men.

  She was relieved for the moment that she had also not seen Wickham. She dreaded the thought of having to dance with him this evening; however, if she wished to dance with Darcy, she could not refuse a request from any man.

  As she had feared, Lydia and Kitty wasted no time in drawing attention to themselves with their bold flirtations and ceaseless giggling. Their obsession with the officers did them no credit, and Elizabeth hoped her parents would keep them in check.

  “Eliza!” Charlotte approached with hands outstretched, smiling fondly. “I have not seen you in a fortnight.”

  Comforted by the presence of her friend, Elizabeth embraced her. “Oh, Charlotte, what a strange time it has been. Jane took ill at Netherfield, and then the weather took a bad turn.”

  “Yes, we have endured a torrent of rain these past few days,” Charlotte said as they strolled, arm in arm, around the room. “I want to hear all your news.”

  “Mr Bingley is smitten with Jane,” Elizabeth said, although this was hardly a new development.

  “As anyone can clearly see, but if she does not encourage him, she may lose her chance to secure him.”

  Knowing that Charlotte’s views on securing a husband were vastly different than her own, Elizabeth decided to change the subject; however, she chose not to mention her disturbing encounter with Wickham. She had no desire to spoil the lively mood by speaking of something that could only cause her pain. There would be plenty of time in the coming days to discuss the dark lieutenant. She opted for a less ominous topic. “My father’s heir has come to visit Longbourn. He is unlike anyone I have ever known,” she said, catching his eye from the corner of the room.

  “Is he handsome?” Charlotte whispered.

  “You shall judge for yourself. He comes forward now,” she said as Mr Collins approached them and made his bow. Elizabeth performed the introduction and waited for Charlotte’s reaction.

  Mr Collins took Charlotte’s hand and bowed over it. “My dear Miss Lucas, I am exceedingly gratified to meet a treasured friend of the Bennet family. Your name is very well spoken of at Longbourn, and I am not surprised to find that your charming character exactly matches the portrayal so fondly described by my cousins.”

  Elizabeth wondered how Mr Collins could possibly sketch Charlotte’s character within seconds of meeting her. Charlotte blushed lightly at such profuse praise but had yet to utter one word in reply. Do not be taken in by him, Charlotte, Elizabeth thought. He is all talk and no substance. How could a man who spoke so tirelessly have so little to say? When information could be expressed in a few words, Mr Collins chose to ramble on endlessly, to the point of absurdity.

  The orchestra played a brief refrain to signal the first set, and a hush fell over the ballroom. Mr Bingley escorted Caroline to the dance floor, where he welcomed the guests and wished them every enjoyment of the evening.

  Mr Collins bowed a third time. “I beg your indulgence, Miss Lucas, but Cousin Elizabeth has accepted my request for her hand during the first set, and I fear I must tear her away from you for the next half hour. If you are able to forgive me for this offence, I shall be honoured if you would reserve a set for me during the course of the evening.” Charlotte cheerfully accepted this appeal.

  Groaning inwardly, Elizabeth allowed him to escort her to the floor and waited for the set to begin. Although she had already resigned herself to enduring the next thirty minutes with her cousin, she could not be easy about it. Having the neighbours observe her with an unknown man would surely give rise to speculation. Would they believe she preferred him? Would Darcy? Relieved that he still had not made an appearance in the ballroom, she made her curtsy and the dance began.

  Much to her chagrin, Mr Collins danced with little proficiency but suffered no embarrassment from his clumsy missteps and wrong turns. He hung on to her hand longer than called for by the dance, and, even worse, he pressed his shoulder into hers with alarming frequency. A well-bred gentleman would never impose on a lady in such a shocking manner, but Mr Collins thrice repeated this offence without shame. Finally released from him after an exasperating half hour, she vowed in that instant to never dance with him again.

  His increased attentions these past few days had put her on edge. She suspected he planned to address her but hoped he would not choose to do so this evening. Especially since she hoped to attract the attention of another more desirable suitor. She scanned the ballroom again but still saw no sign of Darcy. Although she hoped he had not chosen to stay away, she was glad that he had not witnessed that embarrassing spectacle.

  She danced next with Mr Denny, who performed in splendid fashion. However, he put her on her guard when he mentioned his friend Wickham, how well he was liked by the regiment, and his hopes that he had made a good impression on her. “His manners are impeccable,” she said, which was truthfully the only compliment she could muster.

  “He went to town yesterday and, unfortunately, has not yet returned,” he said with an annoyed frown. “I do not imagine his business would have called him away just now, if he had not wanted to avoid a certain gentleman here.”

  Elizabeth assumed that Wickham had repeated his fabricated story to his friends in the militia. So much for his claims that he would not be driven away by Darcy’s presence; he had obviously fled to London to evade Darcy, the only other person who could expose him as a fraud. Neither did his affection for the elder Mr Darcy prevent him from speaking ill of the son.

  Rather than discussing the dark lieutenant, Elizabeth switched to more pleasing topics. “You and your friends have dazzled the ladies with your fine regimentals.”

  “I should hope so,” he said, sm
iling broadly. “We spend every night polishing and dare not risk a demerit for a smudged boot or lost button.”

  “You are in no such danger this evening, sir, I assure you.” Content that she would suffer no disgrace with this partner, Elizabeth allowed herself to relax and enjoy the dance.

  At the end of the set, her heart fluttered wildly when she noticed Darcy waiting for her at the edge of the dance floor. He greeted her warmly and applied for the next set, which she instantly accepted. He bowed and stalked off, leaving her puzzled, but Charlotte rushed to her side.

  “Mr Darcy is taken with you, Eliza,” she said.

  “No, how can you say so?” she said, although she wished it could be true.

  “He has watched you these past two sets.”

  Her spirits plummeted at the realization that Darcy had witnessed her dance with Mr Collins. Her humiliation now complete, she wondered how she could possibly live down that travesty.

  ***

  Not knowing what else to say after Elizabeth had accepted his request for the next dance, Darcy left her to wait for the orchestra’s signal, but then thought better of it. Why should they not wait together? They were well enough acquainted that he might enjoy a few extra minutes with her before the set began. He turned to retrace his steps but stopped short when he found her already conversing with Charlotte Lucas. If they had secret affairs to discuss, he would not wish to intrude.

  They both saw him hesitate, and, if not for Elizabeth’s welcoming smile, he would have left them to their own devices. He approached them and inquired if he might bring them something from the refreshment table. They both agreed, and he hurried off to fetch two cups of punch, then returned with his offerings, which they both accepted with gracious thanks.

  “My friend is an accomplished dancer, is she not, Mr Darcy?” Charlotte said, shifting her gaze between him and Elizabeth.