They began to complain, but their father would not stand for it. “No, no. You are daughters of a gentleman and, thus, I wish for you to remain. I know we simply do not have many handsome bachelors who are gentlemen in our area. However, if you can make improvements in behaviour and understanding, perhaps we may all visit London for a few weeks.”
“During the Season? Oh, think of the amusements!” Lydia nearly shrieked, and, although it was vulgar, Jane was pleased her primary concern was with things such as shopping instead of men. She really was too young to think of marriage.
“If you cannot control your outbursts, you shall not go and will return to the nursery.”
“But, Mamma! You would not...”
Mrs. Bennet interrupted, “It is not for me to question your father’s discipline, child. I wish you to do well and make a good match; you have much to learn.” That was the nearest thing to reproach Jane had ever heard from her mother toward Lydia.
“Now, let us carry out our tasks for today. Girls, you shall make it quite clear to our acquaintances that Wickham has been lying about Mr. Darcy, and I will speak with the merchants.”
*****
Meryton
2:30 pm
In Meryton, Kitty and Lydia bounded into the milliner’s shop, their eldest sister entering serenely behind them, and crossed to the other side of the shop. Like the other customers, they were there under the pretence of shopping but sought conversation. Lydia was not ready to condemn Wickham in her own mind, but also believed gossip harmless. In an effort to gain her father’s approval, and, therefore, to enjoy London with the family, she tugged Kitty towards Mrs. Long’s nieces. Before reaching them, Lydia overheard their whispers.
“Yes, Mr Smith delivered the letter himself, and collected the one from her,” the elder niece said.
“But it has been said she hates him!” her sister countered.
“I believe the letters speak for themselves.”
Desiring to understand whom these delicious rumours condemned, Kitty and Lydia drew closer.
“Then why did he leave?”
“To meet with the solicitor, of course!”
“So Mr. Bingley is to return? Miss Bennet’s hopes shall be answered!”
“No, his proud friend will not allow him, but perhaps as sister to Mrs. Darcy, she can meet with him in Town.” Only the desire for more information could restrain Lydia’s impulse to shriek. As it was, she trembled in silence.
The younger niece huffed. “Well, I did not see any sign of attachment from either. How long can they have been attached?”
The elder of the young ladies drew in closer and spoke softly, causing the youngest Bennet daughters to hold their breath to hear clearly. “They say it all started when she nursed her sister who fell ill at Netherfield, and an understanding was formed at the ball. Why else would he suddenly dance with a local lady? And then he left straightaway for Town.”
At that moment Jane came to gather her sisters, and they easily agreed to leave. Lydia and Kitty raced to the rest of their family before they all left to return to Longbourn. Out of the corner of her eye Lydia thought she saw Wickham in an alley with a lady’s arms about his neck, but surely he would not put his hands there. Briefly she felt a moment of dizziness and before she could gain a better view, Kitty pulled her towards her family.
“Mamma! Mamma!” the girls called out.
Mr. Bennet spoke instead. “Will you not heed my words from earlier? Behave like young ladies or I shall return you to the schoolroom.”
“But I must tell Mamma the most ridiculous gossip we just heard in town. La! What a joke!” exclaimed Lydia.
With grave seriousness, Mr. Bennet allowed them to continue.
“Mr. Darcy has written Lizzy a letter, and she has written one back! Susanna Long was quite sure they were engaged the night of the ball! Only we know it to be impossible, for Lizzy hates him so! What a good laugh we shall have!”
Mrs. Bennet spoke sharply. “Girls! I hope you did not partake of this gossip.”
“No, we had no time before Jane called us to leave,” Kitty answered.
“Lizzy! Do you not agree it is the most ridiculous piece of gossip you have ever heard?” Lydia looked at her sister’s pale face.
Mary spoke up. “We ought not to gossip for it displays a smallness of character and mind. There is seldom gossip without exaggeration, which at best renders the hearer gullible and at worst renders the teller malicious.”
Elizabeth drew in a sharp breath of air for reasons Lydia could not understand. Before she could wonder more, Kitty was telling the family of the officers they had not been able to meet. Later, Lydia would tease her older sister for being sweet on Saunderson, but for now she wondered at the very odd behaviour of her parents and two eldest sisters.
Upon arriving home, she was walking into the drawing room when she overheard her father say to her mother, Jane, and Elizabeth: “There is nothing to stop the gossip now; however, we have seen nothing immoral or irreligious in the man. He will arrive shortly, and I have every belief he will marry Elizabeth.”
Lydia could not contain her gasp, and stood there stunned. Only Elizabeth turned to look at her. Jane and Mrs. Bennet both left for their chambers, and Lydia expected Elizabeth to follow Jane. Instead, Elizabeth took Lydia by the hand and drew her to the back parlour.
“Lyddie, I know you heard Papa speaking.”
“It is true? All of it? You really are engaged to Mr. Darcy?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, I am not engaged, but it now seems out of our hands.”
“Susanna said he proposed at the ball. He did dance with you!”
“Yes, we danced, and we argued...about Mr. Wickham.”
“Why are you suddenly so against him? The only thing I heard you actually accuse him of is being poor!”
“You are quite right, but I assure you Father is correct. Mr. Darcy wrote me a letter...warning me of Mr. Wickham’s past.”
“Mr. Darcy saw you favoured Wickham and was jealous!” Who knew Mr. Darcy could have such passionate feelings? “His letter is probably nothing more than lies!”
“Lyddie, listen to me. I was deceived by Mr. Wickham and for more than his handsome face. I believed I thought rationally, but I did not. He played on my vanity and compassion. For you, he would play on your desire for adventure. He is not alone in this world. There are many that only desire to use others.”
Lydia was silent for a moment. She attempted to piece together her sister’s information with the gentlemen she knew. “Like Mr. Bingley used Jane?”
Elizabeth smiled sadly. “No, dear. I do not believe Mr. Bingley intended to hurt Jane.”
“How can you be so certain? Mr. Wickham is just as open and amiable as Mr. Bingley and you say one is bad and the other good?”
“Mr. Wickham was too open. He shared very private things with me about his history with Mr. Darcy, and these have been shown to be falsehoods. It was both improper and malicious. I cannot think of a single time Mr. Bingley encouraged improper behaviour. Wickham was also boasting, raising himself above Mr. Darcy. Bingley was too modest to ever do so even when it was evident to all of us he had the better disposition.”
“But Mr. Darcy also raised himself above everyone!”
“Did he do so with his words? Or did we all just assign a meaning to his looks?”
“But why would Wickham lie? Gamesters cheat and are about money.”
“No, gamesters are about winning at all costs, and he wanted to be looked upon more favourably than Mr. Darcy. And like a gamester he played us all like his cards, me more than anyone else.” Elizabeth looked very saddened before she continued speaking. “Mr. Wickham enjoyed me thinking better of him than Mr. Darcy, but he has a history of seducing very young ladies. He knows exactly what to say to make the whole world fall in love with him, give him favours, and lend him money. You should not trust him at all.”
Lydia huffed, but then thought of the image she saw in Meryton.
Wickham was a great favourite of hers, but by no means the only officer which she admired. An alarming and serious thought formed.
“Lizzy, how am I to know if another man is like Mr. Wickham if they are all such good actors?”
Her sister laughed at that. “No, not all men are actors, even if they do not have an open disposition. Age and experience gives us wisdom, but more than trusting our own opinion, we should trust our father to protect us.”
“But he thinks I am too silly to spend time with me!”
“Then prove to him you are not. Respect goes both ways. He will not give any to you until you respect and honour him.”
Elizabeth squeezed Lydia’s hand and gave her a kiss on the forehead before leaving Lydia to her suddenly serious thoughts.
Chapter Six
Darcy carriage
4:00 pm
Darcy had grown so distraught over the idea of offending his beloved, fearing she would be forced to marry against her will, that he truly looked ill.
As they changed horses, Georgiana queried her brother.
“Now, that look I know is concern,” she emphasized and searched his face, “and guilt. Whatever is in that letter?”
Darcy feigned ignorance.
“William, will you tell me what concerns you? If you refuse, I am afraid I will have to demand you turn it over.”
Darcy stared at her in disbelief. “Mouse?” He called her by the pet name he gave her as an infant. “What has caused all this?” For months, since George Wickham broke her heart, she had been meek and shy even with him. Since learning he was to return to Netherfield she returned more to her former spirited ways.
Bingley roused at the sound of voices.
Georgiana straightened. “I am not a mouse! I am nearly grown and shall soon be out of your house. Allow me to help you.”
Darcy's jaw tensed as he thought for a moment. It was true. His dear sister, whom he cared for more as a father than as a brother, was soon to come out and had already had one encounter with a villain. She had lost most of her child-like innocence due to that episode.
If I cannot protect her, at least I should respect her. And Bingley ought to know the full truth as well. For a moment the irony of the fact that he had previously held hopes for them making a match struck him. He had thought he acted brotherly to Bingley, as a stand in for his old friend Harry, but perhaps he just acted as father figure there as well.
“Very well, Georgiana. Bingley should hear this as well. I am in love with Miss Elizabeth Bennet and plan to offer for her as soon as we reach Longbourn.” He was pleased to note his baby sister was not so grown that she could entirely suppress her squeal at his words. Bingley laughed, no doubt pleased with his earlier assumptions.
“But why do you seem so unsettled?”
“I...” Darcy gulped. He had severely broken with propriety and was rather hesitant to admit the truth of it to his sister, but he always found it difficult to resist anything she asked when she looked upon him with that expression.
“Elizabeth—forgive me, I cannot think of her as anything else now—is a stellar woman. I cannot explain it, but she has a combination of virtues that makes her the most amazing and fascinating young lady I have ever met. But I had not planned to propose. Her family has connections in trade, and she is nearly penniless.”
Darcy rolled his eyes at the look on his sister’s face. It was obvious she had been reading too many novels, for she seemed entirely unmoved by his reasonable scruples. Real life was not a fairy tale. It was natural to be prudent as to fortune, but he knew he was blessed with the independence that made the match bearable.
“But her lack of fortune and the situation of her mother’s family, though objectionable, are nothing in comparison to the total want of propriety frequently and nearly uniformly betrayed by her nearest relations, except for her eldest sister.”
Georgiana flushed in apparent sympathy for the young lady she had never met. “And your pride would not allow you to connect yourself with them? Honestly, Brother! Must I give you a lesson on family history? Shall I start with the noble Fitzwilliams? Now, which relative is your favourite? The one who seduced the youngest daughter of an earl? Or perhaps our Darcy ancestor, Marmaduke, who attempted to lead his troops entirely bottomless into battle, more than once, due to emptying a gin bottle the night before?”
Darcy held up his hands in protest. “Georgiana, you previously illustrated your point, and I had already begun to think differently upon the subject. But there is more...” Darcy trailed off.
Georgiana was not deficient in understanding. “If you had not planned to offer for her while you were in Hertfordshire, and have only just recently thought better of your reasons against the match, why are we already on the road?”
Letting out an exasperated sigh, Darcy attempted to explain. “You may have noticed I have been in poor spirits.”
Georgiana rolled her eyes. “Poor? You have had all the geniality of a bear with a thorn in its paw.” Darcy met that piece of impertinence with a grunt. Clearly she will enjoy Elizabeth's company.
“And Bingley as well.” Bingley straightened when he heard his name.
“Yes, he has not been quite his energetic self of late.” Bingley smiled at the tease, and Darcy could only shake his head in amazement.
Was it the hope of meeting Elizabeth which restored her good humour? How had he not thought it before? Georgiana did not need a marriage to a wealthy and well-connected man, she needed love and acceptance. If somehow marriage to Elizabeth damaged his position in Society, they would gain things of much greater importance.
He redirected his thoughts to the point on hand. “He has been mourning the loss of Elizabeth's eldest sister whom, he idolized. In addition to the evils against the match that I had put to him, the same as I used to suppress my own desires, I did not notice any sign of regard on Miss Bennet's side. This last was telling, and he decided to give up the lease on Netherfield so he would not be in her company again.”
Georgiana chewed her bottom lip in thought. “What has changed the circumstances?”
“I now know that Miss Bennet loves Bingley.” Both of his companions gasped.
“How can you possibly know that now?” They asked nearly in unison.
“Elizabeth wrote me a letter.”
Georgiana's eyes went wide, and she gasped.
“I do not believe it!” Bingley nearly shouted as though Darcy had insulted a lady.
“I do not believe she meant to send it.”
Georgiana scowled. Darcy saw she believed Elizabeth Bennet was nothing more than the rest of the conniving and mercenary women who hunted him.
“How can that error possibly be made?” she asked.
“I can easily understand it, for the same has happened to me. Last night my head was not as clear as usual.”
“You were in your cups?” Her gaze drifted to Bingley, and he hung his head in shame.
Darcy gave her a reproachful look. “Hardly. You know I never over-indulge.”
“According to Richard, not since that one night at Cambridge when...”
“Georgiana! Let this be a lesson to you even as that story is. I was not in my cups, but I still felt some impairment, my faculties still affected.”
She snorted. “So you sent a young lady a letter?”
“No!” He was perhaps too vehement in his protest. “I only wrote one. I never meant to send it, never meant for her to read it. It was meant to be an exercise to firm my resolve and persuade me that I was right to not pursue Elizabeth. And her letter to me seemed, similarly, to be more an attempt to decipher her own conflictions over me and, obviously, was written in ignorance of my letter. She was painfully honest in stating her confused feelings, and strongly berated me on some issues; it could never be interpreted as an attempt to entice me. Neither letter, I suspect, was written in a calm, rational state, nor were they intended to be posted.”
Clearly only somewhat mollified by her brother’s thoughts on E
lizabeth’s intentions, Georgiana persisted. “Well, you did send yours, and now her reputation will be in tatters. So you are doing your duty and will marry her.” She sighed. “No lady wishes to be married in such a way.”
No true lady anyway, Darcy thought. He knew several who would gleefully accept him even due to scandal.
“I have my hopes that she has not read mine and may not know of it. I received an express from Mr. Bennet, so I do assume it has been received, but he may have withheld it from her.”
Georgiana seemed confused by her brother's logic. “If you love her and your judgment was so impaired last night, then I suppose you said as much in your letter. Why would you wish she not know of it? She must know her letter was sent, and there is no alternative but to marry. Knowing your affection would be a reassuring balm.”
Darcy grimaced. He sincerely doubted Elizabeth would find any comfort in his words. His sister saw his expression and gave him a sharp look. “What did you write?”
Darcy looked away, guilty. “Remember, I meant to save the letter to remind myself of the reasons why, no matter how great my affection, I could never marry her.”
“You wrote that you disapproved of her family? Denigrated her lack of connections and dowry?”
Darcy nodded his head affirmatively. Georgiana’s disgust showed on her face, but then a thought seemed to strike her. “But it is her letter you look at anxiously.”
“Yes.” Darcy said nothing more.
Georgiana looked at him in exasperation. Darcy did not doubt she was quelling the urge to lunge for the letter and read for herself. “William, do not try me today. You have insulted the lady you love and wish to marry… and now must marry. If you have any desire to begin your marriage in happiness, you will tell me what her wayward letter says.”
“That she loves me against her reason and against her will, and knows nothing good of me.”
Georgiana gasped. “She confessed love? Oh, William!”
One Autumn with Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Anthology Page 13