by Kara Louise
“I believe he is leaving Saturday next.”
Darcy pursed his lips as Mr. Collins cast a glance toward the two and then turned back to the others.
In a soft whisper, he said, “It will not be good for me to talk with your father while Mr. Collins is still in your home. I would not want word getting back to my aunt before I am able to talk to her. Unfortunately, that means it will not be until after the ball that I will be able to speak with him. Does that disappoint you too much, my beloved?”
Elizabeth’s disappointment was soothed by his endearing address. “If that is best, I understand.”
Using his hat as a cover, he gently reached over and took her hand in his, giving it a tender squeeze.
Mr. Denny caught up with Mr. Wickham, who had stopped and turned back toward the group at the far end of the street.
“You left very suddenly there, Wickham.”
“Yes,” he said slowly, his eyes on the group gathered. “I deemed it to be to my best advantage to remain unseen by a certain gentleman.”
As Wickham watched Darcy, his old childhood chum, something unusual caught his eye. Normally, Darcy shunned country neighbourhoods and distanced himself from those of that class. And yet, here he was approaching this group, so far beneath his station, as if they were his equals. He noticed that the two elder Bennet daughters were quite pretty, and from the looks of things, the other gentleman with Darcy seemed to have an attachment to the eldest. Could that mean that Darcy had taken a fancy to Miss Elizabeth?
He shook his head and laughed, thinking to himself, Ol’ Darcy, has this country lady somehow touched your heart? How sweet. But knowing you are in the neighbourhood should prove quite profitable for me if I keep out of your sight and play my cards right!
Wickham turned and slapped his friend on the back. “Come, Denny, I suddenly find myself with quite an appetite!”
Chapter 24
The Bennet ladies remained in Meryton to visit their Aunt and Uncle Phillips, while Darcy and Bingley went on their way, expressing the hope to pay a visit to Longbourn later in the week. For the remainder of the afternoon, the subject of the ball was first and foremost on Lydia’s mind as well as Kitty’s. That was all that would satisfy the two girls as the topic of conversation. Elizabeth was content to reflect silently on her husband, knowing he had returned safely, and she looked forward, with joyful anticipation, to the fact that soon she would not have to conceal her affections and regard for him.
While visiting their aunt and uncle, Lydia wasted no time in securing an invitation to return the next night with the promise that her uncle would extend the invitation to Mr. Wickham himself, along with several other officers. With all the excitement and anticipation of the upcoming ball and the prospect of seeing Mr. Wickham the following night, Lydia was quite sure life could not be more perfect!
Later, as they walked home, Mr. Collins brought up the subject of his patroness and Mr. Darcy. “I would have you know, Miss Elizabeth, that Lady Catherine speaks ever so highly of her nephew. I cannot wait to inform her that I made his acquaintance this very day! She is very mindful of these things, and it will please her to no end.” His outburst of enthusiasm was almost too much for Elizabeth to bear, even if it did concern William. She turned to Jane, raising her eyebrows and concealing a smirk.
His endless effusions about the woman, her home, and her excessive attentions continued with nary an audience but himself. It was some moments later that Elizabeth heard him say, “…one day hers and Mr. Darcy’s great estates shall be united.”
Elizabeth heard Mr. Darcy’s name mentioned and looked at him curiously. “Excuse me? What did you just say?”
Collins looked at her, pleased that Elizabeth was taking an interest. “One day their two great estates shall be united.”
Elizabeth gave him a puzzled glance. “Their two estates united? What does she mean by this?”
With a contented grin, he answered, “Ah, my dearest Cousin Elizabeth, do you not see? Lady Catherine’s daughter, Anne, a princess is what I would call her, although it is very unfortunate that she has a weakly constitution, but still, she is a gem, as I often tell Lady Catherine…”
Elizabeth shook her head in exasperation. “Yes, you have often spoken of her. But what of uniting the two estates?”
“Why, she is engaged to be married to Mr. Darcy! And by this marriage, their two great estates, Pemberley and Rosings, will be united.” Collins clasped his hands as he most eagerly relayed this information to Elizabeth, thinking again that his patroness would be quite pleased when he wrote and informed her that his second eldest cousin was the choice for his wife.
Elizabeth paled. “They are engaged?” she asked meekly as she reached over to Jane and took her arm to give her some support.
“Oh, most certainly! And what joy that will give my patroness when they are finally united in matrimony! Lady Catherine has told me how she and her sister, Mr. Darcy’s mother, promised them to each other as infants. I believe Mr. Darcy has only been waiting until his cousin improves in health before he marries her, but her mother is eagerly anticipating their marriage exceedingly soon.”
Elizabeth looked down to conceal the feelings that suddenly began to overwhelm her as Mr. Collins continued. Certainly William’s aunt would understand that he did not necessarily hold to the hopes that two women made years ago, Elizabeth thought to herself. Or would she? She wondered how much Lady Catherine would feel he was bound, either by moral or familial obligation, to this engagement, and what would the neglect of it mean to him and his relationship with his family? If indeed it was expected that he was engaged to his cousin, where would that ultimately place Elizabeth in his family’s regard? Elizabeth no longer heard her cousin as all these questions flooded her thoughts, and she walked the rest of the way home in silent contemplation.
***
The following evening, the coach conveyed Mr. Collins and his five cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton; and the girls had the pleasure of hearing, as they entered the drawing-room, that Mr. Wickham had accepted their uncle’s invitation, and was then in the house.
As Mr. Collins was drawn into a game of whist, the two youngest girls were occupied with some of the officers in a game of cards; Mary was exhibiting on the pianoforte; Jane was politely listening; and Elizabeth found herself alone. At length, Mr. Wickham approached. He was definitely far above the rest of the officers in person, countenance, air, and walk. She watched Lydia’s look of disappointment as he came over to Elizabeth and asked if he could join her.
“Do you not care to play, Mr. Wickham?”
“No, I know little of the game they are playing.”
Elizabeth smiled and there was a pause in the conversation. Elizabeth finally commented, “You left quite suddenly yesterday afternoon. We were not even able to pay our respects.”
“Yes, and I do apologize. I had a pressing engagement.”
The two were distracted by an outburst by Lydia.
“Your youngest sister, Lydia, is a very lively sixteen-year-old.”
Elizabeth raised her eyes at him, wondering if he was attracted or indifferent to her. “She is only fifteen, and yes, sometimes she behaves in a most unreserved manner.”
Mr. Wickham suddenly lowered his voice and looked intently at Elizabeth. “When I left the other day, two gentlemen were approaching. Could you tell me who they are?”
Elizabeth turned her head and met his intense gaze. “One was Mr. Bingley, who recently let Netherfield, and the other was his friend, Mr. Darcy.”
“Hmm, do you know them both well?”
“I… um…” Elizabeth took in a deep breath and felt her face involuntarily blush. “I recently spent a few days at Netherfield, when Jane had taken ill there, and I did come to know them both fairly well. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, nothing in particular. One merely seemed familiar, that is all.”
The subject of the two men was dropped, and soon Wickham left her side to spend most of the rema
ining time in Lydia’s presence. Elizabeth watched as Lydia continued to engage in a flirtatious way with him and seemed to rather enjoy it. Elizabeth shook her head, wondering just how far Lydia was willing to go to attract a man’s attention. She only hoped Wickham was wise enough to know when to walk away and gentleman enough to do it.
***
The prospect of the ball at Netherfield sent the inhabitants of Longbourn into such a disarray of feminine emotions that Mr. Bennet quite believed he would not be able to endure it.
Mrs. Bennet chose to credit Bingley with giving the ball in compliment of her eldest daughter and was particularly flattered by receiving the invitation from Mr. Bingley himself, instead of a ceremonious card. She was frequently overcome by such a variety of nerves causing her both rapture and distress that she knew not how to coherently articulate her feelings save for a frequent eruption of wails accompanied by a set of very animated gestures and flailing of her hands.
Jane’s thoughts on the subject of the ball were more subdued, but her emotions were actually beginning to spill over in anticipation of being able to see and dance with Mr. Bingley again. More than once she was found to be daydreaming when her father addressed her, and although she denied that she was distracted by thoughts of one Charles Bingley, her blushing countenance suggested otherwise.
The happiness anticipated by Kitty and Lydia depended on the hope that Mr. Wickham would be in attendance and that they could dance half the evening with him.
Mary assured her family that she had no disinclination for a ball, although she could not speak as highly in favour of it or as frequently as everyone else did. She often sided with Mr. Bennet as he commented on the tone of the Bennet household that the ball seemed to be the only topic of conversation and everyone was dwelling to a far greater extent upon it than they should. But Mr. Bennet would not allow that he and Mary were of the same opinion and continually contradicted her just for his own caprice.
Elizabeth’s thoughts on the ball were mixed with all the anticipation that the pleasure of being with William would bring, but it was tempered with the gnawing realization that they had several storms to pass through before all would be smooth sailing for them.
Elizabeth also found herself battling another most discomfiting realization. Mr. Collins, despite Elizabeth’s fervent discouragement, was singling her out and displaying overt signs of amiable behaviour toward her, which, she had to assume, was for reasons of matrimonial deliberation.
Politely discouraging Mr. Collins without offending him became increasingly difficult. To add to her dilemma, a few days before the anticipated ball, he unfortunately solicited her hand for the first two dances. She accepted with as much good grace as she could, mostly at the insistence of her mother, and could barely endure his company, as she became the object of his increasing civilities and frequent attempts at complimenting her on her wit and vivacity. Although she was more astonished than gratified by this effect of her charms, it was not long before her mother gave her to understand that the probability of a marriage between her and Collins was exceedingly agreeable to her.
As long as he continued at Longbourn, she would be painfully miserable having to endure his presence and her husband would be prevented from coming to speak to her father because of the association between Collins and his aunt.
To avoid the misery of Mr. Collins’s attentions, coupled by a wish to encounter Darcy out on a walk, Elizabeth wakened every morning with the hope to venture outside. But unfortunately, from the day they received the invitation to the ball to the day of the event itself, there was such a succession of rain as to prevent anyone from walking or visiting anywhere. This left not only Elizabeth in a pitiable state, but Lydia and Kitty, as well, as that meant there was no visit to their aunt in Meryton, no officers, and no news that could be sought after.
Jane seemed to take the lack of a visit from Bingley with expected serenity and was more concerned with how quiet and withdrawn Elizabeth had become. She knew her sister had taken a liking to Darcy; the fact that he was her Mr. Wright made that apparent. But she wondered if there was something more than just an infatuation with the man from two years ago. If the attachment on her part had grown stronger by his presence at Netherfield, the announcement by Mr. Collins must have disconcerted her. She decided they must talk.
A few days before the ball, whenever everyone had retired, she came into Elizabeth’s room and sat on the edge of her bed.
Elizabeth had been reading, or at least trying to read, when Jane came in and she recognized at once that look of sisterly concern written across her face. She closed the book and set it aside.
“What brings you in here tonight, Jane?”
“I thought we might talk.”
“Hmm,” muttered Elizabeth. “About anything in particular?”
“Is there not something you would like to talk about?”
“You must have something in mind, dear sister. What is it?”
Jane nervously rubbed her hands together. “Ever since the day we walked to Meryton,” she watched her sister’s face, “when Mr. Collins mentioned that Mr. Darcy was engaged to his cousin, you seem distracted, faraway.”
Elizabeth smiled and patted Jane’s hand. “I appreciate your concern, Jane, but…”
“Lizzy, I know how fond you were of Mr. Wright after you met him, and now, having been in his presence, that is, Mr. Darcy’s presence, it cannot be easy to dismiss those feelings you had for him. But you must know that people of their class often marry for reasons of obligation, to improve their status and expand their wealth or, as Mr. Collins said, unite two estates.” She then put her hand on top of Elizabeth’s. “He is of a completely different class, Lizzy. Even if there was not an arranged engagement with his cousin, you could not rationally cling to any hope that he would view you as anything more than an acquaintance of his friend. He may have been your Mr. Wright, but you cannot expect him necessarily to view you in the same light.” Jane gave her sister a smile. “However, in my opinion, he would be a fool to overlook you solely for those reasons.”
Elizabeth took a deep breath and looked away for a moment. She had not wanted to tell Jane this soon, but felt there would be no better opportunity.
“Jane, there is something that I must tell you. But you must promise me not to tell a soul!”
Jane withdrew a little at the intensity in Elizabeth’s face. “What is it, Lizzy?”
“I told you that Mr. Darcy was on the ship going over to America.”
Jane nodded.
“Well there is one small, minor thing that happened that I did not tell you.”
Jane’s eyes widened with anticipation.
Elizabeth gulped and gripped her hands more tightly. “Jane… while we were on the ship… Mr. Darcy and I… we…”
Jane gasped. “You did something you regret?”
“Yes and no.”
“Yes and no? What does that mean?”
“It means when I told you I had done something I regretted, I did, indeed regret it. But now I do not.”
“Oh, Lizzy, whatever do you mean?” Elizabeth had never seen such alarm written across her sister’s face.
Elizabeth closed her eyes as she said in a soft, muffled voice, “We got married.”
Jane’s eyes were now wide with astonishment. “Married? You mean you and Mr. Darcy married… each other?”
“Shhhh,” Elizabeth laughed and nodded. “Oh, Jane, it is a very long story. But the short of it is that he had the only available bed on the ship in his room and I needed one. We married solely so that I could sleep in that bed without any appearance of impropriety. The whole marriage was a pretence and he was going to annul it once he returned to England.”
Jane’s mouth dropped open, but she could not produce one audible sound.
Elizabeth continued, “But something happened on the ship that neither of us expected.”
Jane was not sure she dared ask, but found herself compelled to. “What was that?”
“Oh, Lizzy, my head is spinning with all this news. But tell me, has he annulled the marriage?”
Elizabeth shook her head and patted Jane’s hand. “No, and he does not intend to. He told me the last morning we were at Netherfield. In fact, I really was not aware of his feelings for me until that morning.”
“Oh, Elizabeth, I must admit I am quite astonished! And to find out that he and Charles are best friends!”
Elizabeth smiled at her use of his Christian name. “Yes. When I first saw him at Netherfield, I was quite surprised. Surprised and shaken. I knew how strong my feelings were for him, but I believed him to be indifferent to me, or fond, at best. In fact, I was under the false assumption that he and Miss Bingley shared a mutual regard.”
“Charles has told me that his sister has long desired his good opinion.”
“That is quite apparent.”
“But Lizzy, what of this engagement Mr. Collins spoke of?”
“Knowing Lady Catherine has lived with this expectation that her nephew is to marry her daughter, my main concern is how she will feel about me once she knows the truth. I cannot imagine I will sit in her good graces now.”
“When are you going to tell everyone? I mean… Lizzy! You are married!” Suddenly a serious look swept across Jane’s face. “What about Papa? He will not be happy either!”
Elizabeth nodded. “I have thought about that. William… Mr. Darcy has only informed me that it cannot be until Mr. Collins departs, for he does not want to take any chances that his aunt will find out. It is something he and I need to discuss. Unfortunately with the weather as bad as it has been, neither of our suitors seems inclined to visit us.”