Pride in Meryton, page 7
“I am exceedingly sorry for having doubted you, Mr. Darcy. I should have known that an honourable gentleman like you would never avoid his responsibilities,” she replied. There was an unmistakable tone of remorse in her voice.
He decided to put an end to the uncomfortable exchange: “And I apologize for ending our dance so abruptly, Miss Elizabeth. May I have the honour of the supper set with you?” he asked.
She smiled: “I accept, Sir.”
He thanked her and instructed her to quickly leave the balcony before anyone noticed her absence. He watched her walk away and waited a few minutes so no one would notice that they had been on the balcony unchaperoned. He took one last gaze at the night sky; the stars were so constant – they never failed to inspire him. Whatever else life had to offer, the stars were always there. Through the deaths of his parents, the betrayal of his closest childhood friend and Georgiana’s near ruin, the stars had been his constant companions. Now as he was about to leave Hertfordshire and the only woman who had ever gained his notice, he gazed at the stars and wondered if, one day, he might meet her again.
~~~
When Elizabeth emerged from the balcony, she walked immediately to the refreshment table and was accosted by Miss Bingley, bearing an expression of civil disdain.
“So, Miss Eliza, I hear you are quite delighted with George Wickham! Your sister has been talking to me about him, and asking me a thousand questions; and I find that the young man forgot to tell you, among his other communications, that he was the son of old Wickham, the late Mr. Darcy’s steward. Let me recommend you, however as a friend, not to give implicit confidence to all his assertions; for as to Mr. Darcy’s using him ill, it is perfectly false; for, on the contrary, he has been always remarkably kind to him, though George Wickham has treated Mr. Darcy, in a most infamous manner. I do not know the particulars, but I know very well that Mr. Darcy is not in the least to blame, that he cannot bear to hear George Wickham mentioned. His coming into the country at all is a most insolent thing indeed, and I wonder how he could presume to do it. I pity you, Miss Eliza, for this discovery of your favourite’s guild; but really, considering his descent one could not expect much better.”[3]
Elizabeth was surprised to be thusly accosted but not surprised at her hostess’s lack of civility. She was determined to thwart the verbal assault with kindness: “Although I would never betray a story shared in confidence, you are quite correct in your assumptions, Miss Bingley. I am most fortunate to have made Mr. Darcy’s acquaintance. He is the most forthright and honourable gentleman I know,” she replied with a serene smile, attempting her best imitation of her elder sister.
The surprise on Miss Bingley’s face severely tested Elizabeth’s powers of restraint; she struggled to maintain her serene composure and force away the giggles which threatened to emerge. Having been thus denied her small victory, Miss Bingley turned and walked away.
Elizabeth hurried away in the opposite direction and laughed to herself: “Such insolence!” she thought. “My favourite, indeed! Miss Bingley can now have no question of my favourite!”
She found Jane and Charlotte and made every effort to tell them of her latest discovery: “You were correct about the dispute between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham, Jane. There is a perfectly reasonable explanation and Mr. Darcy must be held blameless in the affair.”
Jane, of course, never had any doubts: “I knew there must be an explanation, Lizzy. Did Mr. Darcy confide in you?” she inquired.
“He did and I must tell you that Mr. Darcy’s honour is unimpeachable.”
“What does Mr. Wickham have to gain by telling such a falsehood?” Charlotte whispered.
Elizabeth shook her head in dismay: “It could only be to discredit Mr. Darcy, although why he should attempt it, I could not say.”
~~~
When the supper dance was announced, Mr. Darcy approached to collect Elizabeth and lead her to the dance floor.
She could not help but smile as they waited in place for the dance to begin; Mr. Darcy really was the most handsome man of her acquaintance, especially when he smiled. “Thank you for confiding in me, Mr. Darcy,” she told him at her earliest opportunity.
He nodded: “Mr. Wickham is not the gentleman he appears to be, Miss Elizabeth. I would advise you and your sisters against being alone in his company. He is not to be trusted,” he told her.
“Yes, my father has already warned us, Mr. Darcy, and I will make certain that we follow your advice,” she assured him as he circled around her.
“It was most troubling to find you speaking with him in Meryton.”
“Our friend Mr. Denny introduced him; we had no reason to suspect that he was anything but a proper gentleman,” she explained.
“Yes, his manners are everything charming but he is no gentleman.”
“It did give me pause when he confided such an intimate story so early in our acquaintance,” she told him.
“Yes, he uses flattery and charm to win the favours of young ladies but you must not succumb to such measures,” he told her as they went down the dance together.
“I shall not,” she assured him. She could not help but notice his concern for her safety; a most admirable quality in a gentleman. He offered no further conversation but she found their silence in no way unpleasant. She enjoyed their dance and looked forward spending the supper hour with him.
~~~
After the dance, the entire party was directed to the dining room for supper. Elizabeth felt the eyes of the other guests on her as she walked into the dining room on Mr. Darcy’s arm and she felt proud to be escorted by such a distinguished gentleman. When they were seated, she could not help but feel some apprehension as her mother’s voice could be heard above the other guests.
Mama showed no reluctance to voice her displeasure with Mr. Darcy: “Oh Lady Lucas! Mr. Bingley is such an amiable, gracious gentleman, with such excellent manners. He would never think of insulting my daughter in public or abandoning her on the dance floor in the middle of a set,” she complained with a scowl, loud enough for her neighbours to hear.
Mr. Darcy appeared shocked to hear such criticism: “I must beg your indulgence for leaving the dance early, Mrs. Bennet. I was indisposed,” he replied, appearing most remorseful.
Elizabeth quickly came to his defence: “But Mr. Darcy has made up for his faux pas by dancing the supper set with me and he shall be subjected to all my most tedious stories for the next hour so you may consider him sufficiently punished, Mama,” she told her mother with a laugh.
“Mr. Darcy could do much worse than being forced to submit to your stories, Lizzy! He could be forced to hear mine!” Lady Lucas exclaimed with a merry giggle. “My husband was knighted by the King, you know, Mr. Darcy!” she added with the greatest mirth.
Dread overcame Elizabeth: “Not the knighting story again,” she thought. The very idea that Mr. Darcy would be subjected to that story again spurred her to his defence. “Oh dear, I am afraid my stories are much less interesting, Lady Lucas,” Elizabeth replied with a grin. “He shall have to hear of my torn skirts and muddied slippers,” she replied with a laugh.
“Yes, from your tree-climbing days,” Lady Lucas replied with a smile. “Lizzy was an active child, Mr. Darcy,” she explained.
~~~
Darcy observed her enchanting smile: “I am eager to hear your stories, Miss Elizabeth.”
Mrs. Bennet seemed mollified for the moment and Miss Elizabeth lowered her voice: “You must forgive my Mama for her protectiveness,” she whispered.
“She has every right to protect you, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Rather like a mama bear, to be sure,” she replied with a grin.
“Well, those of us with no mama bears to protect us are envious of people like you.”
“Oh my dear Mr. Darcy, are you feeling unwell? Have you suffered a head injury?” she teased. He could not help but smile in response. “Perhaps you are feeling light-headed. We must get your supper immediately!” she insisted. A footman served the white soup and she continued: “There you are; no more talking until you have finished your soup!” she insisted.
He was quite enchanted by her teasing tone: “I am quite well, Miss Elizabeth.”
She became suddenly serious: “When did you lose your mama?” she inquired.
“Just after Georgiana was born.”
She nodded sadly: “You must miss her terribly,” she told him.
He nodded his agreement: “I do but I still have my sister, who is her exact image.”
“Our sisters are very precious to us, are they not?”
“I agree. You walked three miles in the mud for your sister.”
She nodded: “It was the least I could do. I would do anything to relieve her suffering.”
He secretly wished he could introduce her to Georgiana. She was exactly the influence he wished for his sister.
Mrs. Bennet’s voice rang out over the other voices at the table: “Oh Lady Lucas, my Jane is so enamoured with Mr. Bingley! No one could blame her, of course, such a handsome, amiable gentleman has never been seen in Hertfordshire! What a handsome couple they make, do you not agree?” she boasted.
Lady Lucas offered her agreement.
“Such an advantageous match for my sweet Jane! So rich and so handsome and only three miles away! His sisters are so fond of Jane; they dote on her so, I am certain they desire the match as much as we do! What a great thing for my younger daughters, to be thrown in the way of other rich men! I am well ready to consign their care to their older sister so I may be relieved of going out in company so often. I find such comfort in staying at home. I wish the same for you as soon as may be, my dear Lady Lucas!”
~~~
Elizabeth attempted to disguise her mortification at hearing her Mama deplorable pronouncements within Mr. Darcy’s hearing.
“Mr. Darcy has a sister Lydia’s age, Mama,” she suggested.
Startled by this information, her Mama could not mask her curiosity: “Is Miss Darcy out yet?” she inquired.
“Not yet, she is still in the schoolroom but we hope to present her soon,” he replied.
“Is she accomplished?” Mama inquired.
“Yes, she practices the piano-forte nearly constantly.”
“Is she tall like you?” she further inquired.
“She is tall but she resembles my sainted Mama.”
Her Mama gasped: “Oh dear, how sad that your sister shall not have her dear mama with her when she is presented.”
~~~
Darcy was gratified that he had finally made progress with Miss Elizabeth’s disapproving mother: “Yes, but I am certain that my Aunt shall perform the honour admirably. Lady Matlock has no daughters of her own and she looks forward to presenting Georgiana,” he informed her.
Mrs. Bennet seemed to be greatly interested in this bit of news: “Oh, your aunt is titled?” she inquired.
“Yes, my uncle is the Earl of Matlock,” he informed her with a proud smile.
With newfound enthusiasm, she invited him to come to supper the following week with Mr. Bingley and he graciously accepted. He could only suppose that Mrs. Bennet had overcome her deep rooted dislike of him.
Chapter 8: Return to London
“I thank you for confiding in me, Mr. Darcy,” Colonel Forster told Darcy as he took his leave.
Darcy bowed in acknowledgment and watched the Colonel walk away. He had requested a moment of the Colonel’s time in order to relay the story of his dealings with George Wickham; the payment to him for the value of his inheritance and the payment of the many debts he had left behind in Derbyshire. He had not, of course, mentioned the most egregious offense against his sister; he would not expose his precious sister to any further harm.
The Netherfield ball was coming to an end and the guests were walking out to their carriages. Darcy took his leave of the lovely Miss Elizabeth and ascended the stairs to his guest chamber. Once inside his chamber, he felt bereft at the loss of her company. He knew not if he would ever see her again. The memory of her fine eyes, her smiles and her supple form lingered in his mind as he submitted to his valet’s services; he was dressed in his night shirt and made ready for bed. After reminding the valet that they would be returning to Town in the morning, he was left alone with his thoughts.
He attempted to reason with himself; leaving Hertfordshire was for the best. He would find an heiress in London; the Lord knew there were hundreds to choose from. He would find a suitable match, marry and start his nursery. That was what his family expected of him and he had no desire to disappoint them. His uncle had repeated his expectations with such frequency that Darcy had never given a thought to defying him. He would ensure the successful future of Pemberley by fulfilling his duties to his family, tenants and servants; dozens of people were entrusted to his care and he would not fail them.
However, his resolve to do his duty did nothing to prevent the images of the lovely lady from Longbourn from invading his thoughts and, later that night, his dreams.
~~~
Long after the Bennets had gone to bed, Elizabeth was wide awake, unable to dispel the persistent feeling that she may never see Mr. Darcy again. He had been in every way amiable during supper but had become quiet and reserved upon taking his leave.
“I plan to return to Town with Mr. Bingley in the morning, Miss Elizabeth,” he had told her.
Was that his way of telling her that he was never coming back?—she wondered. “Do you have business to attend to?” she inquired.
“Yes and I must also see to my sister. We have been parted for six weeks and I find myself unable to stay away any longer.”
“Will you return next week with Mr. Bingley?” she inquired, unable to prevent doing so.
He remained quiet for a moment, appearing uncomfortable: “My plans are not yet fixed,” he awkwardly replied, staring down at his shoes.
She could only nod in response. He made no mention of returning and she could not help but feel that he never would. Her Mama had invited him and Mr. Bingley to supper next week and she suddenly wondered if either of them would ever return to Hertfordshire. Desperately attempting to prevent a feeling of dread from overtaking her, she had smiled when she took her leave of him. She could not bear to have him observe her so close to tears and walked outside to wait for her family to join her in the carriage. It had been nearly three o’clock in the morning when the Bennets had arrived at Longbourn and gone to bed.
As the hall clock chimed four times, Elizabeth allowed the tears to fill her eyes.
~~~
Darcy and Charles were on the London Road, having set out later than planned. Their valets followed in another carriage with their trunks. They had every intention of setting out earlier that morning but neither had been able to rise from their beds until almost noon. Charles was irritable; he had intended to attend to business matters in London later that day but by the time they would arrive in Town, the lateness of the hour would prevent him from doing so. “I shall not be able to meet with my man of business today, as I had planned,” he groused.
“No indeed, we shall not arrive until after four o’clock,” Darcy agreed.
“A whole day wasted!”
“You shall be more rested in the morning and will be able to devote your full attention to business,” Darcy calmly suggested.
“I am quite fatigued but I had hoped to return to Netherfield on Saturday,” Charles admitted.
“Are you certain that you wish to return?”
Charles nodded: “Quite certain. I do not wish to be deprived of Miss Bennet’s company any longer than necessary.”
Darcy smiled at his friend, once again thinking himself to be in love.
“She is the most heavenly creature I have every beheld,” he mused.
Darcy nodded; yes, that confirmed his suspicions. “Have you declared yourself?”
Charles shook his head: “Not yet.”
“Are you thinking of doing so?”
“My feelings must not be denied, Darcy. I must tell Miss Bennet how much I ardently love and admire her,” Charles boldly replied.
“You love her?”
“Oh yes, Darcy! She is the most divine angel I have ever known. Our acquaintance is of short duration but my heart has never been so much engaged.”
“But Charles, you have frequently been in love,” Darcy reminded his friend.
“Yes but my affections for Miss Bennet are far deeper than any I have ever felt before.”
“But what of her family?” Darcy suggested.
Charles seemed taken aback by this: “What of them?”
“To align yourself with such relations whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath your own would be a degradation.”
“My condition in life is inferior to yours, Darcy, and yet you have befriended me.”
“A marriage is hardly the same as a friendship, Charles.”
He scoffed: “If I cared a whit for that, then indeed I would be increasing my standing. I am a tradesman’s son and she is a gentleman’s daughter. Miss Bennet would be rather aligning herself with an inferior family,” he insisted in an agitated manner.
“But what of their want of connections and lack of fortune?”
“It may be true that she has no fortune but it matters not in the least to me.”
Darcy remained silent. In the past, he had easily dissuaded his friend from other unsuitable alliances but realized that this attempt would take more effort on his part.
“Darcy, I value your good opinion but you must be sensible about this. Over the years, we have attended assemblies at Almack’s, private balls, routs and parties; we have promenaded in the park; we have been to the theatre and the opera. How many women have we met?” Charles inquired.
“Hundreds, I suppose.”
“And in all of those hundreds of women, how many have gained your notice?”
Once again, Darcy remained silent. He could not admit aloud what he knew in his heart; Miss Elizabeth was the only woman who had ever gained his notice.
