The Ramsgate Affair

by Lynne Davidson

  “It's all right,” he said smiling. "Wickham has taken your sister and Miss Darcy home. She thought that the fresh air would do her good." Suddenly, he noticed her companions, and at once his face was wreathed in smiles as he grasped the colonel's hand. "Colonel Fitzwilliam, sir! I had no idea you were back from the Continent! I'm very glad to see you!" They exchanged a few polite words, then Denny marched off to fetch a drink.

  "You will have to admit that you were wrong, Colonel," said Elizabeth. “There is a someone who is not a member of your family who is glad to see you."

  “Ah, but you see, he suspects that I might have some money," replied the colonel in a confidential tone. "Later, he will try to wager me in a game of cards!"

  At this point, Mrs. Younge approached them and greeted Colonel Fitzwilliam with slightly guarded pleasure.

  "How do you do, Mrs. Younge," he declared, bowing with a flourish.

  "I'm well, thank you," she responded tartly. Then, her expression softening, she went on, "You are all welcome to dine with us tonight, if you should be free." All the gentlemen accepted with pleasure, and soon afterwards Mrs. Younge expressed a desire to leave.

  Elizabeth agreed readily, saying, "Yes indeed, ma'am. Lydia felt unwell, and has already gone with Georgiana and Mr. Wickham, who has just arrived with Mr. Denny."

  “Then you must be anxious to see how she does," said Mrs. Younge. They bade the gentlemen goodbye.

  Colonel Fitzwilliam responded with his usual courtesy, and Darcy with rather less than his usual warmth.

  “I trust that your sister will soon be well, and I look forward to meeting her in the future," said the colonel with careless grace that just kept the right side of insolence.

  As they were walking home, Mrs. Younge said thoughtfully and with some diffidence, “I know you will forgive me for speaking to you on this matter for, although you are a grown woman, you have not had a great deal of experience. George Wickham is . . . can be . . . very fascinating, but it might be as well to be a little cautious there. You must, of course, acknowledge him, but it would be wise to keep such an acquaintance to the minimum."

  "Why is that, ma'am?" asked Elizabeth, although she had guessed the answer anyway.

  “I am afraid that his reputation is very bad,” replied her companion. "In fact, to be blunt, he is a notorious rake. To be seen too much in his company would do neither you nor Lydia any good at all."

  “What of Georgiana? It is my understanding that she and Wickham have formed an attachment to each other.”

  “It is difficult to avoid him altogether," said Mrs. Younge thoughtfully. “After all, he is like family. You see, some gentlemen, my dear, number a good many people among their acquaintance, whom they would not, or should not, present to ladies. And indeed, Darcy himself—" She broke off suddenly, then resumed almost immediately in a much more lively tone, "Oh look in that window! What a charming shade of ribbon! I do hope that they have enough of it to trim that bonnet of mine!"

  Elizabeth's interest was caught by her companion's obvious desire to change the subject, and she would have liked to have brought up the matter again when they came out of the shop. She wanted to know what it was that Mrs. Younge had been about to say about Darcy, but she did not know how to raise the topic without seeming over-curious.

  There was also upon her mind the incident of Lydia's being suddenly overcome by faintness in the assembly hall. It had occurred immediately after she had caught sight of Denny at her sister's side, and she could not escape the conclusion that Lydia must have been far more captivated by Denny than she had seemed to be.

  It could be the case that the young militia officer was similarly smitten and, in a world where romance was everything, that would be entirely satisfactory. Unfortunately, the same objection that applied in Wickham and Georgiana's case would also apply to any union between Lydia and Denny. Neither officers had a feather to fly with. Suppose it was a blessing, however, that Lydia was already smitten with Denny, it was most unlikely that she would fall victim to the practiced charms of George Wickham.

  “If Mr. Wickham is such a rake, why invite him to dine?"

  Mrs. Younge looked a little sheepish. "I have to admit that I have a soft spot for a rogue," she confessed. "But for goodness sake, do not tell him so!"

  ****

  They arrived in Lilley Place to find Wickham sitting with Lydia.

  "How are you, my dear?" asked Mrs. Younge concernedly. "I was truly shocked when I heard that you had fainted. I trust you are feeling better. Never say that you walked all the way back!"

  Lydia smiled and Elizabeth was pleased to see that her natural color had returned and that she looked much more herself.

  "I did not faint,” she said calmly. "I was simply overcome for a moment, because it was crowded and rather warm. Yes, I did walk home, but Mr. Wickham was with me, and I promise you that it was the best thing for me to do, for I felt much better once I was in the fresh air."

  “I am very glad you feel better, Lydia," said Elizabeth.

  Their hostess changed the subject easily. "I have just met Mr. Denny in the assembly hall, and have invited him to dine with us next week. Perhaps would like to join us, Mr. Wickham?"

  “Thank you, ma'am, I would be delighted to join you," he replied.

  Elizabeth glanced at Lydia and saw that she had colored up a little at the mention of Denny.

  Later, after Wickham had left, and Lydia had been persuaded to go up to her room to rest, Mrs. Younge said to Elizabeth, “That is going to give us quite an unusual problem. Because with Wickham and his friend dining with us we shall be four men and three ladies. Now who shall we invite to make up the number of ladies?"

  "What about Miss King?" suggested Elizabeth mischievously. "We might run out of things to say, but she will never let us down!"

  "Wicked girl!" exclaimed her hostess smiling. "Ah well, there is plenty of time. I shall think of someone."

  Meanwhile, their days always seemed to be full, not of household cares, as would have been the case at home, but of visits to the assembly hall, concerts, dances, and once, a visit to the theater. Often, the group had the same composition: Elizabeth, Lydia, Mrs. Younge, Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Occasionally, Wickham and Denny joined them to the obvious annoyance of Darcy.

  Wickham spent the majority of his time flirting outrageously with all the ladies in turn, and particularly with Elizabeth, for whom he seemed to save his greatest absurdities. Elizabeth, remembering Mrs. Younge's warning, was amused but not in the slightest danger of succumbing to his undoubted charm. As Wickham's spirits rose, however, it seemed as if Darcy became more and more morose, until eventually, halfway through the week, he came to call on the ladies in Lilley Place.

  "I am returning to London today," he said sternly. “But first I must stop at Netherfield Park. There are one or two matters of business which I must not neglect. I have merely come to discover whether you, ma'am,"—and here he turned to Elizabeth—"have any messages to entrust to me."

  Elizabeth was so overcome by the fact that he had called her "ma'am" when he had been calling her by her first name that she could not think of anything to say.

  "You are leaving Ramsgate?" exclaimed his sister. "Surely you are not intending to miss the dinner?"

  Darcy made an impatient sound.

  "I beg that you will hold me excused," he said stiffly.

  "By no means," replied Mrs. Younge, drawing herself to her full height, and addressing him as if she were a dowager. "I will put it off for a few days until you can be here, sir."

  He bowed, and would have withdrawn, but Elizabeth said, "Pray send Mama and Papa and my sisters my best love."

  He turned back, his expression softening. "Your servant,"ma'am," he replied, taking her hand with a bow.

  "It is just as well he is to be gone for a few days," said his sister after he had left. "Perhaps he will come back in a better temper."

  Elizabeth smiled uncertainly. She could not help wondering whether he
was returning home because he wanted to see Mrs. Clarke.

  Exactly a week later, her speculations appeared to have been confirmed. One afternoon, when Mrs. Younge was upstairs and Elizabeth was alone in the drawing-room, there was a knock at the front door. Shortly afterwards, Sims opened the door to admit Darcy accompanied by Mrs. Clarke.

  Elizabeth looked at her in surprise, but Mrs. Clarke hurried over and said, "My dear, I made up my mind! Darcy told me of all the fun that you were having here and I couldn't resist! I am putting up at the Inn and I have come to join you!"

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Mrs. Clarke had never been anything other than courteous to Elizabeth. She had been more; she had been cordial. Elizabeth therefore found it hard to account for the fact that at the sight of the widow, her first feeling was one of consternation, to be followed immediately afterwards by annoyance. Fortunately, Mrs. Clarke's enthusiasm was enough for two and by the time greetings had been exchanged, Elizabeth had regained control of herself.

  "Is my sister at home?" asked Darcy.

  "Yes, but I think she is resting,” replied Elizabeth.

  "Then perhaps you will crave her kindness on Valerie's behalf,” he went on. "I believe that Mrs. Younge has rearranged her dinner for tomorrow night, and I was wondering whether she might allow Valerie to join the party."

  "Mr. Darcy, I am sure I should not," protested Mrs. Clarke. “After all, I have not met your sister or her companion."

  "I am sure that she would be agreeable," said Elizabeth, knowing her duty. "She was only saying yesterday that she would still like to have another lady at the table."

  “Then it is settled," said Darcy, smiling more broadly than Elizabeth thought was strictly necessary.

  "By no means," contradicted Mrs. Clarke. "I am not so discourteous as to accept an invitation that my hostess has not sanctioned. Mrs. Younge might have issued another invitation unknown to Miss Bennet. I will not impose upon her unless I have confirmation from her that my attendance is welcome."

  Elizabeth could not help feeling pleased that Mrs. Clarke should be so punctilious and she promised to speak to Mrs. Younge as soon as she came downstairs. The visitors left soon afterwards and, looking out of the window, Elizabeth saw them walking down the street with Mrs. Clarke leaning on Darcy's arm in what seemed to be a rather ostentatiously possessive way.

  "So Mrs. Clarke is staying at the Inn,” was Mrs. Younge's comment when she heard the news. "She certainly did not wait long before coming here, did she?"

  Elizabeth made no comment. Clearly she and her hostess were thinking much the same thing about Mrs. Clarke and Darcy.

  That evening, they all attended a concert and Elizabeth observed Denny and Lydia. Neither one behaved indecorously, but to Elizabeth their regard for one another was quite plain. Her heart went out to them, but she could not consider their chances of happiness with any optimism. She turned and saw that Darcy had joined her.

  "Good evening, Elizabeth," he said, looking admiringly at her gown of gold silk with a cream under-dress. "We match, I see.” He noticed the direction of her gaze and as if guessing her thoughts, he said, "Don't worry. I am very discreet.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “I just hope that Mr. Denny will be so too,” she said. "If only I could believe that this will die a natural death!"

  "Denny is no boy in love for the first time,” Darcy reminded her. "He is a grown man, and I think that you should prepare yourself for a lasting attachment.”

  They were silent for a time. Then Elizabeth said. "Did you manage to settle your business matter satisfactorily?"

  He looked at her blankly for a moment. "My business matter?" Then he recollected himself and went on hastily. "Oh yes, yes, that was easily dealt with."

  Elizabeth decided that she had been right in her suspicions. He had no real reason to go back to Netherfield Park apart from wanting to see Mrs. Clarke.

  With this in her mind, she said. "Is Mrs. Clarke coming tonight?"

  "I believe not." he replied, not sounding noticeably dashed.

  "Shall we sit down?" More relieved about Mrs. Clarke's absence than was really logical, Elizabeth allowed Darcy to find places for them. They were about to sit down when Colonel Fitzwilliam approached, looking dashing in dark blue with a waistcoat of a lighter shade.

  "Miss Bennet,” he drawled, bowing with careless grace. "Darcy, my dear fellow! May I join you, or shall I be interrupting?" Elizabeth colored and glanced up at Darcy's face. He did not look particularly pleased, and Elizabeth wondered whether he was annoyed at being coupled with her when his desires were set upon Mrs. Clarke.

  "By no means,” she said quickly. "You are most welcome, Colonel."

  “Are you sure?" he asked mischievously. "Darcy does not look very approving."

  "Don't be absurd, Richard," replied Darcy with a laugh that did not quite meet his eyes. "It is as Elizabeth says; you are welcome to join us."

  "Splendid!" said the colonel sitting down. "We'll be quite a family party. Look, Denny and Miss Lydia are coming to join us."

  That hopeless romance, Elizabeth thought to herself looking at her sister and Mr. Denny before settling down to enjoy the music. During a break in the proceedings, Elizabeth had an opportunity to speak to both Georgiana and Wickham. Georgiana came up to her first.

  "Does your brother know of your attachment?" asked Elizabeth. She knew the answer before Georgiana said a word.

  "No, I dare not tell him. I cannot imagine what we are going to do. Money is nothing to me, but to my brother it is everything; only I cannot give him up! I cannot!" There was such anguish in her voice and on her young face that Elizabeth was glad that her back was turned to the assembled company.

  Moments later, after Georgiana had returned to her companion's side, Wickham crossed the room to speak to her.

  "She's an angel?" he said rapturously. "Isn't she everything I said she was?"

  "She seems very amiable,” replied Elizabeth honestly.

  “Amiable? I should say so."

  They were looking across at Georgiana, and at that moment Darcy stepped into their line of vision. Wickham's expression changed to one very similar to that which had adorned Georgiana's features only moments before. "Oh, what am I to do?" he asked her.

  Shortly afterwards it was time for them to resume their seats and Darcy came back to sit with her. He looked rather annoyed.

  Elizabeth ventured to say, "Sir, your brow is very black! I trust I have done nothing to vex you?"

  He looked at her, his brow relaxed, and he smiled.

  "No, you have done nothing wrong. It is the actions of others in imposing upon you that vex me."

  "Imposing?" she asked, mystified. "But no one is imposing upon me, I think. Whom can you mean, Mr. Darcy?" Later, she was to wonder whether he meant that Wickham might be deceiving her.

  "How many times do I have to tell you that my name is William?" he replied, not answering her question. "But tell me, have you settled down well with my sister?"

  Elizabeth smiled. "Oh, very well indeed! She has made us so welcome. I feel so spoiled, for I have nothing to do!"

  The musicians were by now clearly about to begin again, so there was no time to ask Darcy to repeat the remark that he had made immediately afterwards.

  After the concert was over, as they were getting ready to leave, Denny approached them.

  “Miss Lydia and I have been talking about exploring some of the surrounding countryside," he said. "We were wondering whether you would all like to join us for an expedition on a day convenient to us all?"

  Wickham accepted immediately. “I have no engagements so any day will do for me. It would be too bad if we did not take advantage of this unexpected family gathering," he replied.

  "The wonder will be if we put up with you for more than ten minutes,” declared Darcy sardonically. "Have you ever thought of going on the stage, Wickham?"

  “Alas, no," was the reply. "I fear that the late hours would be injurious to my health." There was a smot
hered giggle from Lydia. “I see there is someone here who appreciates me," he murmured with a grin.

  Darcy turned to Denny. "For my part I should be glad of a ride. How about next Wednesday? What do you say, ladies?"

  Elizabeth looked a little doubtful. “I am certainly free on Wednesday, but I have not ridden for some time," she said.

  "Then I will make sure that you have a very amenable mount," smiled Denny.

  "You may safely leave the procuring of mounts for Miss Elizabeth and Miss Lydia to me," said Darcy masterfully. "At what hour do you wish to set out?"

  “At ten o"clock if that is agreeable. Wickham and I now have private lodging, so we will come to you in Lilley Place. But we will all meet again tomorrow at Mrs. Younge's for dinner, will we not?"

  ****

  The following evening, Elizabeth dressed with particular care. Had she been accused of not wanting to be outdone by Mrs. Clarke, she would have vigorously denied it, but she wanted to prove that a country girl could have some style about her. She was wearing the primrose evening gown that had arrived from the dressmaker and she had to acknowledge herself very well satisfied with the result.

  In addition, Mrs. Younge's hairdresser had visited only that morning, and had cut and coaxed her heavy dark hair into a more becoming style, taking some away from her brow so that it did not seem to weigh her down so much, and the shape of her face was revealed more flatteringly. The last thing that she did was to clasp around her neck the diamond pendant that had been redeemed for her by Darcy. She put up her hand to her throat to touch it briefly, then she went to the communicating door and tapped on it.

  Lydia had clearly gone to a good deal of trouble as well. Her blonde hair, more manageable than Elizabeth's brown curls, had been brushed till it shone and her white muslin gown made her look almost ethereal. Elizabeth could not help wondering if Mr. Denny would be impressed.

  Certainly, when he arrived that evening with his friend Mr. Wickham he looked very appreciative, although Elizabeth, who was watching him carefully, could not detect any special attachment, as Lydia blushed and curtsied.