Pride in Meryton, page 4
He chuckled with amusement: “Perhaps the invader is merely tending to her sister,” he suggested.
“Perhaps the lady sparrows would get on perfectly well were it not for the presence of a certain gentleman sparrow,” she replied with a mischievous smile.
“Perhaps the lady sparrow wishes the sisters to return to their own nest,” he replied.
“She must wish for the sister’s recovery to hasten the removal of the other sister,” she observed.
He could not help but smile: “How fares Miss Bennet today?” he asked.
“Oh, she is much improved today! If she is up to it, I hope to bring her below stairs this evening for a short visit,” she cheerfully replied.
“I am glad to hear of it but this can only mean that you will both be leaving Netherfield soon,” he observed.
She nodded: “Oh yes, we must go, of course. It would not do to impose on Mr. Bingley’s generosity much longer,” she replied.
He smiled: “I am certain that he sees no imposition at all,” he noted.
“No indeed, he is a perfect host,” she replied with a smile. “And Miss Bingley is a perfect hostess, as well. She has shown Jane every kindness,” she added.
He nodded his agreement and remained silent. They continued walking in silence for a short time, then turned and walked back to the house together. She imagined that his silence indicated that he was enjoying being out of doors as much as she and was reluctant to return indoors. She intended to leave him in the hallway but he insisted on escorting her up the stairs to her sister’s chamber and there they parted.
~~~
Darcy sat alone in his guest chamber staring into the fire. His walk with Miss Elizabeth had discomposed him more than he cared to admit. When she mentioned that she would soon be leaving Netherfield, he was at a loss for words. He wanted to tell her how dull Netherfield would be without her. He wanted to tease her by begging her to stay and protect him from being ensnared in Miss Bingley’s web. He wanted to tell her that Miss Bennet’s recovery was his loss; as long as she was ill, her lovely sister would remain at Netherfield. He wanted to tell her how much he had enjoyed her company and how sorry he would be to be deprived of it. He wanted to tell her how sad he would be to see her go. He wanted to ask her if he could call on her. Of course, it would not do to express any of those thoughts; he could not raise her expectations, so he said nothing. They walked in the bright sunshine with lovely views all around them and he said not a word. The pain in his chest and the tumult in his mind overpowered him and silence was all he could manage. As he sat alone in his chamber, he wondered how he would manage without her.
~~~
Miss Bennet made an appearance below stairs after dinner that evening, accompanied by her devoted sister. Charles appeared infinitely pleased to see her; fussing and fretting over her, stoking up the fire to ensure her comfort and wrapping a blanket around her. She appeared quite pale and frail but was pleased by his attentions and thanked him for his efforts. They whispered to each other and Darcy was pleased to see Bingley so agreeably occupied.
Miss Bingley had done her utmost to engage his attentions when he entered the room but he ignored her, focusing his attentions on Miss Elizabeth. She seemed infinitely pleased to see her sister restored to good health. She gave her attentions to her needlework but her gaze was never far from her sister as she sat with Charles. Darcy resolved to focus his attentions only to his book and afford neither lady any undue attentions.
“Oh Miss Eliza, what excellent stitches you make!” Miss Bingley exclaimed, now turning her attentions to her guest who seemed surprised to be addressed with such enthusiasm. She thanked her hostess for the kind compliment and returned to her stitching. “Such meticulous attention to detail is to be commended, I should think,” she continued, with a hopeful glance towards Darcy. She was once again thanked for the compliment.
Darcy began to comprehend that this display was intended for his benefit; he had, after all, admonished her for abusing Miss Elizabeth so cruelly and she now had made a sudden change in her treatment of the lady. However, knowing the fickle nature of his hostess, he resolved not to give her the least acknowledgment of her improvements for fear of offering the slightest encouragement. He kept his eyes on his book while listening to the conversations in the room.
Miss Bingley then took up a book and sat with it for a few quiet moments: “How pleasant it is to spend a quiet evening in this way,” she said with a sigh. “I declare there is no better enjoyment than reading a book! Or stitching, of course,” she added. “No indeed, no better enjoyment in the world.”
“Poor Miss Bingley, disheartened when the attentions of the room are not constantly directed to her,” thought Darcy. He stole a momentary glance at Miss Elizabeth and found her to be quite amused by the performance. Glancing at Charles and Miss Bennet, he found them to be oblivious to the other occupants of the room, keeping their attentions only on each other. Charles was obviously smitten with the lady; was this any different from his previous infatuations? – he wondered.
Miss Bingley was obviously discontent with the evening’s activity and cast her book aside to stroll around the room. Darcy could not deny that she was a handsome woman with a fine form; however nothing would stir him from his resolve to keep to his book. She made a few turns about the room and failing to gain his notice, she turned her attentions to Miss Elizabeth. “Miss Eliza, let me persuade you to take a turn about the room with me. I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude.”
Darcy immediately looked up to observe the two women, despite his resolve to give attentions to neither woman. Both women were shown to their best advantage but his eyes were directed to only one.
~~~
“Poor Miss Bingley,” thought Elizabeth as she strode around the room, arm in arm with her hostess. “She is so desperate for Mr. Darcy’s attentions that she has contrived to be agreeable with me.”
“Will you not join us, Mr. Darcy?” Miss Bingley sweetly inquired as she directed Elizabeth around the room, now contriving to have the object of her attentions at her beck and call.
“No, indeed, Miss Bingley! You ladies may only have two motives for walking together and my joining you should only interfere with either one.” he replied.
“What could he mean by such a statement, Miss Eliza?” her hostess asked, bursting with curiosity.
“By all means, Mr. Darcy, please do explain yourself,” Elizabeth told him with a playful grin.
“You have either chosen this method of passing the evening together because you are in each other’s confidence and have secret affairs to discuss or because you are conscious that your figures appear to their greatest advantage while walking. If the first, I would only be in your way and if the second, I may admire you much better from here,” he replied, returning her playful grin.
Elizabeth laughed and Miss Bingley gasped: “How shocking!” she exclaimed, feigning outrage. “I have never heard anything so abominable! How shall we punish him for such a speech?” she asked Elizabeth, all the while keeping her eyes on Mr. Darcy.
“I quite agree, Miss Bingley. I am much better able to admire Mr. Darcy from this vantage point,” she replied with a sweet smile, never diverting her eyes from Mr. Darcy.
“Then I shall not interrupt you, Miss Elizabeth,” he replied with a mischievous grin.
“You are most generous, Mr. Darcy,” she pertly replied.
He appeared amused by her response; however, Miss Bingley seemed less so. “Let us have some music,” she suggested, releasing Elizabeth’s arm and walking to the piano-forte. She began to play a lively concerto and Elizabeth returned to her stitchery. She stole a glance at Mr. Darcy and was disappointed to find him already engrossed in his book.
~~~
Darcy silently cursed himself for his behaviour; he had openly flirted with Miss Elizabeth and she had not hesitated to return the favour! “So much for denying my attentions to either lady this evening,” thought he. There was nothing for it but to return most studiously to his book and attempt to regain some measure of control over his own conduct. This proved to be more challenging than he had anticipated; Miss Bingley’s energetic concerto made concentration quite difficult, however even more difficult to ignore was the delicate tapping of Miss Elizabeth’s feet. She tapped along to the lively music as she worked on her needle project and while he refused to raise his eyes to her face, he could not tear them away from her tapping feet.
~~~
Dear Lizzy,
I am well pleased with Jane’s progress; however, we are unable to send the carriage to Netherfield today as we shall not be able to spare the horses until at least Tuesday.
Fondly,
Your Mama
P.S. If Mr. Bingley and his sisters press you to stay longer than the week, I can very well spare you.
==o==
Elizabeth sighed with exasperation after reading her Mama’s note. She had sent a servant with a note to Longbourn requesting that the carriage come to collect them as Jane had recovered well enough to travel home. There was not a reason in the world to impose any further on Mr. Bingley’s generosity. She and Jane had been here for five days and now that Jane was feeling better, they ought to return home. Elizabeth would have no trouble whatsoever taking the three mile walk home but she would hear no argument that Jane should make the attempt.
She and Jane appealed to Mr. Bingley for the use of his carriage to convey them home to Longbourn but he would hear nothing of it: “But it is not safe, Miss Bennet! You have scarcely recovered from your illness!” he insisted. They both protested that Jane was sufficiently recovered and that there was absolutely no need to impose on his hospitality any longer. He insisted that their continued presence was no imposition whatsoever and insisted that they not trouble themselves needlessly with that notion. They finally agreed that if Jane was feeling well enough in the morning, they would all attend church services together and the two sisters would then return to Longbourn with the Bennets.
This seemed to Elizabeth as the best alternative; spending one more day would not be a hardship to the Netherfield staff, since Jane was perfectly able to attend to her own needs. Jane spent the morning chatting with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst while Elizabeth opted for the silence and comfort of the library. She was comfortably ensconced in a tall wing-back chair, engrossed in her book when Mr. Darcy entered the library carrying a book.
~~~
Darcy had no desire to spend the morning avoiding Miss Bingley and her constant attentions and went instead to the library to while away the hours with a book. He entered the library and stopped abruptly upon observing Miss Elizabeth pleasantly engaged in her own book: “Forgive me Miss Elizabeth, I had not meant to disturb you. I shall leave you to your book,” he said, turning to leave.
She immediately objected: “No, indeed, Mr. Darcy, I should not want to chase you from the library. I should go so you may enjoy your book in relative silence,” she replied, rising from her chair with the intent of leaving.
He held up his hand to stop her: “No, I beg you would not go, Miss Elizabeth. Certainly there is enough room in this vast library for both of us to remain,” he suggested.
She relented and resumed her chair: “I promise not to disturb you, Mr. Darcy,” she whispered.
He sat in the matching wing-back chair near the fire: “You could not disturb me even if you should wish it, Miss Elizabeth,” he replied to which she responded with a warm smile.
She returned her attention to her book and he closed his eyes, forcing her smile into his memory; he would need to refer to it in the coming days. He had heard from Charles that the Bennet sisters were to return home tomorrow after morning church services. While this had been unwelcomed news, he had to concede that it was most likely for the best. It would not do for him to be in constant company with her; her smile was too beguiling, her laugh was too charming and her form was too enticing. Even now, while his eyes were closed and she made not a sound, her scent allured him. It was a subtle floral scent, possibly lavender, which gently wafted in the air. He inhaled it deeply, wishing to force that into his memory as well.
“Are you well, Mr. Darcy?” she whispered, breaking the silence.
He opened his eyes to find her gazing at him with concern: “I am well, Miss Elizabeth,” he replied. She smiled in response and returned to her book. “I understand you will be leaving Netherfield in the morning,” he told her.
She nodded: “Yes, Mr. Bingley has been most kind and hospitable but Jane has recovered well enough that we must take our leave,” she replied with a smile.
He smiled in return: “I am glad that your sister has recovered but I shall be sorry to see you go,” he told her. “I shall be deprived of your company,” he said, unable to prevent doing so.
She graced him once again with her warm smile: “I am certain that we shall be in company again,” she replied.
He nodded his agreement: “I shall look forward to it.”
They returned to their respective books and sat in silence for the next half hour, then she rose and quietly took her leave of him.
~~~
Sunday morning, the entire Netherfield party went to church services, sitting together with the Bennet family. Darcy sat behind Elizabeth and despite his best intentions of paying every attention to the vicar, he spent the entire hour observing Miss Elizabeth’s every move. Her posture as she stood, the curve of her neck as she bowed her head in prayer, the curls that escaped her bonnet, her affectionate gaze at her father, her silent admonishment to her giggling sister, and her gloved hands as she held the prayer book; every move diverted him and he was filled with dread when the service concluded. He knew not when he would see her again.
He made his way outside and greeted his fellow worshipers with as much cordiality as he could gather. Mr. Bennet approached him and Charles: “Thank you for your diligent attentions to my daughters, Mr. Bingley,” he said with all sincerity. “I am much obliged.”
Charles assured him that it was his pleasure to return his daughters to him in good health.
Mrs. Bennet was more profuse in her thanks: “Indeed Mr. Bingley, we thank you most heartily! We are most appreciative of your hospitality! You all must come to supper at Longbourn this week!” she gushed.
Charles assured her that he would be most pleased to come to supper any day of her desire. Darcy nodded his head in agreement. He took one final glance at Miss Elizabeth and turned to board the carriage back to Netherfield.
~~~
Elizabeth could not help but notice that Mr. Darcy had returned to his dour expression; he had not spared a single smile the entire morning. She wondered if he felt the loss of her company as much as she felt the loss of his. As she rode back to Longbourn with her family, she dismissed the notion as wishful thinking.
Chapter 5: Lady Luck
George Wickham had run out of options. His life had decidedly not turned out the way he had expected it would. How he had arrived at this point was a mystery to George; he had planned it all so carefully. He would marry an heiress and live the life he was destined for.
He had not been of gentle birth; his father had been employed as a steward of a large estate in Derbyshire. His employer had been none other than Mr. George Darcy of Pemberley, who had also been George’s godfather. Mr. Darcy had befriended his father and cared for young George as his own son. He had spent many enjoyable hours in company with the Darcy family and considered himself to be part of the family himself. Mr. Darcy had seen to his education, sending him to university with his own son, Fitzwilliam Darcy, with whom he had forged a life-long friendship. He and ‘William’ had spent many childhood adventures together and he had hoped that they would continue finding adventure together at university; but alas, William had lost his fun-loving spirit when his mother died in childbirth. He turned sullen and serious, giving all his attentions to his studies and his future duties as head of the estate. George’s own mama had died when he was a child but he had no intention of losing his adventurous spirit. During their university days, the two friends had drifted apart and George found new friends willing to share his zest for life.
It was during his university days that George had acquired a taste for women, ale and gaming. As time wore on, his passion for adventure developed into an obsession and he could not get enough of his three favourites. Fortunately, his formative years had taught him well; he was at ease with those of the landed gentry and managed quite successfully to relieve them of their fortunes at the gaming tables. Lady Luck had smiled on him in those days, gracing him with full pockets and the favours of many young maidens.
Four years ago, his godfather had passed away, leaving a generous bequest for George; a living at the church at Kympton. Mr. Darcy had always intended for him to enter the church and George had never had the heart to disabuse him of that notion, despite that fact that he had no intentions of entering that particular profession; certainly the church would be of no assistance in his quest for women, ale and gaming. When the time came to collect his winnings – his bequest, that is, he convinced William to pay out the value of the living in cash. Three thousand pounds was quite a tidy sum and he had been quite proud when he had taken ownership of his inheritance.
Unfortunately, like a fickle lady, Lady Luck had deserted him and his fortune slipped through his fingers in a few short years. His pockets became quite sparse and he was obliged to live on credit until his creditors came knocking on his door; then he was forced to leave his beloved Derbyshire behind. He owed more than he could pay and he escaped to the safety and anonymity of London, where one could blend into the crowd undetected.
While in London he had befriended Miss Camilla Younge, a woman who had inherited her fortune from her father. Mr. Younge had been the headmaster of St. Augustine’s seminary school for young ladies and left his fortune to his daughter. Camilla had been out in society for many years but her mother’s passing during the year of her come-out had prevented her from attending social events that year. Then her father had fallen ill and the duty to care for him and the daily operation of the school had fallen on her shoulders. By the time she had observed a year of mourning after her father’s death, she was decidedly on the shelf.
