by J P Christy
“Perfectly logical.”
“Does Pegasus like berries?”
“I do not know. I shall ask him later.”
Martin giggled. “Do you talk to your horse?”
“I do. And I talk to my dogs. And my sister. And to small gentlemen such as yourself.”
“I like you.”
“Thank you. I like you as well.”
≈≈≈
Once Cassandra and Martin were safely back at the Laidlaw farm, Kitty and Mary walked to Longbourn with Georgiana, who led Samson. A short distance behind them, Elizabeth walked with Darcy, who led Pegasus. “Have you had much experience with children?” she asked. “Martin was quite taken with you.”
“My experiences have been limited to my sister and to Fitz’s brother, Henry. It has just occurred to me, Miss Elizabeth, I have now been rejected by three females in Hertfordshire.”
“Three?”
“Miss Cassandra.”
“It is rumored she wishes to marry Mr. Ainsworth.”
“Hers is merely my most recent rejection. I am also aware of Miss Lydia’s disapprobation.”
“As to that, Miss Lydia has rejected all of us except Mama.”
“Is your sister so attached to Wickham?”
“Papa thinks she uses Wickham as an excuse to be angry with us because she no longer receives the attention she commanded as a child. Her behavior has nothing to do with anyone from Netherfield. Please assure Georgiana of that if she has felt slighted.”
“My sister is delighted by every Bennet sister with whom she has spent time. She has had no reason to lament the loss of Miss Lydia’s company.” When he looked at Elizabeth, he found her studying him, an unreadable expression on her face. Is this how I seemed to her? No wonder my proposal surprised her. “Is there something you wish to say to me?”
Elizabeth laughed self-consciously. “Oh dear, was I staring? I suppose I was. You are so different from when you first visited Meryton … and from when we were at Rosings.” What a relief that I can say “Rosings” to him without blushing.
“I hope I am the same in essentials, but I also hope my demeanor is less imperious.”
“Others have also mentioned the change in you, saying they were pleasantly surprised.”
The corners of Darcy’s mouth twitched into a small smile. “And you, Miss Elizabeth, are you pleasantly surprised?”
“I am, sir. I would not have predicted that you would return here—and with your sister! Miss Georgiana is delightful. You must be very proud.”
“Must I be ‘very proud’?” he asked quietly.
She blushed, remembering her harsh description of his character. “Might I draw a distinction, sir, between the justifiable regard one has for the intrinsic good qualities of a person’s character versus the … the .…”
“Vanity or arrogance a person might display based on external qualities of no enduring consequence?”
“Stated with elegance and eloquence, sir. So, who is the third lady who has rejected you?” She wondered whether Darcy would name Mrs. Bennet.
“Have you truly forgotten your response to my proposal?”
“No! Well, you did specify your rejections in Hertfordshire. Oh dear!” She pressed her palms to her reddening cheeks.
“What are your thoughts of me now?”
“My opinion has improved. Quite a bit.” This time when they shared a smile, they did not rush to break their gaze. Abruptly, Darcy stopped and scanned the path before them and behind them. Elizabeth gave him a puzzled look. “We are nearly at Longbourn. Is something amiss?”
Dropping Pegasus’s reins, Darcy took a piece of folded paper from his waistcoat pocket and pressed it into her hand. “I have been carrying this around since Wednesday morning, but we have not had a private moment when I could give it to you. Will you do me the honor of reading this?”
“I … of course,” she stammered.
Unexpectedly, Georgiana’s voice interrupted the moment. “Brother, are you ready to return to Netherfield?” To compose herself and conceal the letter in her pocket, Elizabeth turned away from Georgiana, while Darcy watched his sister ride toward them. She said, “Johnny saddled Samson in a trice. He’s very efficient.”
“Let us see Miss Elizabeth to her door, and then I shall race you to Netherfield.”
21
“Be not alarmed, madam, upon receiving this letter.”
As soon as she was able, Elizabeth concealed herself in the wilderness area beside the house, so she could read Darcy’s letter in private. Staring at the folded paper, she had a moment of trepidation, wondering if it contained a scolding for the charges in her impertinent letter. Feeling annoyed at her reticence, she quickly unfolded the note. Well, I had my say; it is only fair for Mr. Darcy to have his. I cannot believe he wishes to intimidate me now, so I must draw upon my well-known stubbornness, which saves me from being frightened by the will of others.
“You write with a fine hand, Mr. Darcy,” she murmured after her first glance at the page. Then she focused on his words.
Be not alarmed, madam, upon receiving this letter. In my eyes, you have ever been a lady of refinement, grace, wit, beauty, and good sense. I seek only to express my appreciation for the great favor you did me in our meeting at the parsonage. You were well justified in rejecting my ungentlemanly offer, and I am heartily ashamed of my behavior toward you. I have long reflected on your words, which showed me how far I have fallen short of the man I wish to be. Please know that I continue to strive to correct those flaws which made my previous offer so repellent to you. I hope that in time you will forgive me my trespasses. Indeed, my fondest wish is that we will again spend quiet mornings in long walks without the prattle or the prying eyes of others. Those memories of our time together are among the happiest of my life. Your letter has changed me for the better, I believe. God bless you. A Gentleman
Elizabeth was astonished. How could this be? Our walks, so full of awkward silences, were among the happiest times of his life? Upon re-reading Darcy’s letter, she found herself recalling the moments spent in his company and examining each memory for missed meanings. When at last she heard Mary calling her to dinner, Elizabeth was surprised to find that it was now dusk.
Hours later, she was still awake when the longcase clock in the foyer struck one. Jane slumbered peacefully in the bed they shared, unaware that her sister’s agitated mind was reviewing her every conversation with Darcy since his return to Hertfordshire.
Clearly, he attended to my letter. Clearly, he has made an effort to change. But does he seek a platonic friendship or something more? Although my opinion of Mr. Darcy has certainly improved, this does not make us compatible. And anyway, I cannot believe he would renew his offer to me.
≈≈≈
June 1, 1811
Once Darcy and Fitzwilliam had agreed—reluctantly—to take Georgiana to Meryton’s market on Saturday, her challenge was to find the right outfit. She did not want to flaunt her wealth, nor appear extremely young. And to be completely honest, a part of her wished to be so irresistible that should she encounter Wickham, he would regret the loss of her rather than her dowry.
When Georgiana joined the gentlemen of Netherfield in the foyer some quarter of an hour later than agreed, she looked first to Darcy. When he nodded his approval, she looked at Fitzwilliam.
“You look very pretty. Is that a new dress?” the colonel asked.
“You always ask me that,” she said in mock exasperation.
“Only because I am never certain. From a hundred yards, I can differentiate between a wide range of military uniforms, but as for dresses, I seem to have a sort of fashion blindness.”
Unconsciously, Bingley checked his pocket watch. Noticing this, Georgiana said, “I am sorry to have kept you waiting. I know we had planned to leave before now.”
“Think nothing of it,” Bingley said unconvincingly. “It is just that I wish to stop at Longbourn to tell Miss Bennet I will call on her later. I shall mee
t you in Meryton.”
“You do not need to accompany us to the market—truly, Mr. Bingley,” Georgiana said.
“I want to reacquaint myself with the people who greeted me so kindly last year. So off I go to Longbourn, and I will see you soon.” Bingley was nearly out the door when he paused to give Georgiana a reassuring smile. “You do look lovely. If I neglected to say so, it is because you look lovely every day, and I have come to take it for granted. Meryton will be enchanted with you.”
“Thank you.”
≈≈≈
From the parlor window, Elizabeth saw Bingley ride up to the garden gate. A cheerful Jane, who had been reading in the garden, went to meet him. Elizabeth felt cheerful, too, for she had come to trust the gentleman’s sincerity. Thus, when Bingley rode away after less than a minute, she was concerned. You had best not be showing your fickle side again, sir!
A moment later, Jane was inside, calling, “Mary! Kitty! Lizzy!”
Elizabeth joined Jane at the bottom of the staircase just as the younger sisters were descending. “Is something amiss? Mr. Bingley was here so briefly.”
Jane said, “I would like us all to walk to town. Mr. Bingley and his guests are going to the market today.”
Kitty said, “Mama and Lydia left for there not but an hour ago. Surely they will return with whatever the household needs.”
“I wish to join our friends as a gesture of welcome,” Jane said.
Elizabeth agreed. “Their reputations were colored not only by their actions of last year but by the slanders of Mr. Wickham and the rumors and the suppositions regarding our family. Let us demonstrate our approval of our friends.”
Within minutes, bonnet strings were tied prettily under chins, and four Bennet daughters set off for Meryton, only a mile away. As they passed some trees lining the road, they were delighted to see Ainsworth emerge from the thicket, for this was a shortcut from the Laidlaw farm. Young Martin was perched on his cousin’s shoulders, and Cassandra walked alongside.
“Good day to you, Miss Bennets all!” Ainsworth called.
Cassandra announced, “We are sent to market on an errand. It is our punishment. Mama said a long walk would allow me to think about what I did wrong yesterday.”
“And what have you decided, Miss Cassandra?” Jane asked.
“I like walking, so I have decided this is no punishment!”
Ainsworth said, “These two are such energetic imps, Aunt Tessa was desperate for a bit of peace and quiet. Are you off to the market, as well?”
“Yes, shall we walk together?” Mary asked.
“Most happily, Miss Mary.”
“We hope to meet with the Netherfield party,” Kitty said, “but it may not be easy to find them in the crowd. This is the militia’s last Saturday in Meryton, so—oh dear, there may be more to this outing than we think!”
“What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked.
“I asked Colonel Fitzwilliam if Mr. Wickham was as bad as was rumored. He said that although he could not share the details, Mr. Wickham was ‘in every way a scoundrel towards a dear family member.’ He described her as a young lady of about my age. Could Mr. Wickham have toyed with Georgiana’s affections?”
Thatwould explain much, Elizabeth thought.
This possibility brought out the prim moralist in Mary, a quality which had been pleasantly absent since she began spending time with Ainsworth. “Unhappy as such an event would be for Miss Georgiana, we may draw from it a useful lesson for a female: the loss of virtue is irretrievable; one false step involves her in endless ruin.”
“Mary, stop!” Elizabeth said. “We have no facts. We must make no assumptions.”
Jane agreed. “If Mr. Wickham did importune our friend, do not forget she was only fifteen. He is twice her age. To my mind, any fault would lie with him.”
“You are right, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Jane,” Ainsworth said.
Kitty, mortified to have voiced her suspicion, grabbed Mary’s arm. “You must not judge Georgiana because of my foolish guess. I may be mistaken as to the identity of the lady. Please, think of her kindnesses to all of us!” she implored tearfully.
“But if she—” Mary began.
Gently, Ainsworth said, “Recall that the Pharisees falsely denounced a woman as an adulteress. Jesus asked, ‘Woman, where are your accusers?’ When the woman replied no man had condemned her, Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn thee.’”
“But—”
“Miss Mary, you are unfamiliar with the worst of my sex, of the callous behavior of some men, and for this I am glad. As your sister said, we must not make assumptions. However, if Miss Darcy was wronged, do you not believe compassion is in order?”
Jane said firmly, “Kitty is not certain of whom the colonel was speaking. In the name of fairness, let us refrain from speculating. Is that not what we would wish for ourselves?” Everyone nodded, even Cassandra, although she did not understand the discussion.
“And, please, let us not repeat this conversation to anyone,” Elizabeth insisted. “In particular, Lydia and Mama must never hear of it, for they would surely carry on in a manner that embarrasses our friends.”
After a moment, Mary nodded again. “I do not believe Miss Darcy has an unsavory history with Mr. Wickham. If she did, she would not go to Meryton where she might encounter him.”
Unless she wanted to put a demon to rest, Elizabeth thought.
≈≈≈
At the open-air market held in Meryton every Wednesday and Saturday, local farmers brought produce and livestock, tinkers and peddlers arrived with wares from other corners of the kingdom, and there was festive quality to the busyness in the square. This was the place to see and be seen in small town.
Although the Netherfield party had attended local church services, they had spent little time in Meryton. Of the twenty-four families in the neighborhood who might have been expected to call at Netherfield, only Sir William Lucas had done so. In general, the people of Meryton viewed the return of Bingley and the Darcys with a degree of suspicion. Some considered Bingley an insincere fellow who had not treated their own Jane Bennet kindly. Mr. Darcy was remembered for his arrogance, and all that was known of Miss Darcy were Wickham’s accusations of her insufferable pride. As for Fitzwilliam, his brief visit to Colonel Forster a few weeks earlier had not provided an opportunity for the townspeople to know him. (Wickham had grumbled some uncomplimentary remarks but provided no details.)
After leaving their horses at the local livery stable, the residents of Netherfield strolled through the marketplace. Mingling with the Saturday shoppers, Georgiana strove to be outgoing as she selected some ribbons for herself and a pair of crocheted gloves to send to Mrs. Annesley. Fitzwilliam and Bingley were all friendliness, as was their nature; Darcy, however, was distracted, wondering when they would find themselves facing Wickham.
When the Bennets and their friends arrived, it was young Martin who first spotted the Netherfield party. “The tall man,” he yelled, pointing at Darcy. After Ainsworth set the boy on his feet, he raced to the gentleman who had given him a ride on his horse.
Darcy had not heard Martin single him out. Thus, when the sturdy four-year-old flung himself at the gentleman’s legs, the unexpected impact caused him to totter for an instant. Looking down at the boy’s upturned face, he saw a broad smile. “Good morning, Master Martin. Did you walk here from your home?” Darcy asked, picking up the child. Fitzwilliam, hearing his cousin speak, turned to look.
Martin said, “Yes, I walked.” Pointing at Ainsworth, he added, “But I used his legs.”
“What a clever young man,” Fitzwilliam said.
“He also has some interesting names your next horse.”
“I rode on his horse,” Martin told Fitzwilliam, tilting his head toward Darcy. Then, recognizing the colonel, he shouted happily, “You picked berries with us!”
“Indeed I did. And Mr. Darcy is my cousin,” Fitzwilliam said.
“I forgot his name, but I know his h
orse and his father are called the same thing.”
“What? Pegasus?”
Martin covered his mouth with both hands and laughed. “I have made a joke, sir!”
“Yes, you have,” Darcy said, grinning. Although he did not notice the approving looks on the faces of those who overheard this conversation, the Bennets and Ainsworth did.
Meanwhile, at Elizabeth’s greeting, Georgiana responded cheerily. Glancing around, she noticed Kitty, Mary, and Jane had joined them. Seeing Ainsworth and Cassandra standing slightly apart, she waved them over. “Miss Cassandra, have you come down from your tree to visit town?”
Cassandra sighed. “I am forbidden from climbing trees until I am older.”
“And how are you today, Mr. Ainsworth?”
“We are all well, Miss Darcy.”
As the friends from Netherfield and Longbourn perused the market stalls, they chatted with each other and the sellers. But soon, Lydia’s voice sounded above the hubbub. “Kitty! Join us!” All eyes were on the youngest Bennet daughter as she danced her way through the crowd with Wickham on one arm and a Lieutenant Denny on the other.
Elizabeth, who had linked her arm with Georgiana’s, heard her friend take a steadying breath. Darcy, who was carrying Martin on his shoulders, stepped closer to his sister, as did Fitzwilliam, who murmured, “Your birthday is coming up, dearest. If you would like me to run him through, I am happy to make that my gift to you.”
Wickham’s initial look of panic was quickly replaced by the melancholy expression of a man mistreated by life. He ran his glance over the townspeople, certain they had more affection for him than for Darcy.
“Lydia, where is Mama?” Jane asked sternly when her sister and the two lieutenants stood but a few feet away.
“With Aunt Phillips. Kitty, join us; we are ever so much more fun than your company.”
Georgiana’s voice was calm. “Mr. Wickham, I have not seen you since last summer.”
“I trust you are well, Miss Darcy.” He nodded to her guardians, “Colonel, Darcy.”