Page 8

SCANDAL LURKS AT THE DOOR

“I have never felt more embarrassed, than I did tonight!” Bingley announced once the party was back at Netherfield. “I have no idea as to what the area thinks of any of us! Fitzwilliam I don’t care what your fight was about, that was a horrible display between you and Wickham! As for Fitz, whatever did you do to make Miss Elizabeth Bennet look so dishevelled when she returned from the balcony — no, on second thoughts, I do not want to know. Caroline, Louisa, what were you two thinking this evening?! You looked like you had both tasted sour milk! Why….” Bingley threw up his hands in frustration. “Not one of our party behaved with dignity!”

“Mrs Annesley behaved with dignity,” Darcy quipped.

Bingley rolled his eyes and then glared at his friend before retorting,“That is not funny, Fitz! For a servant to behave with more decorum than we did is a further humiliation!”

“This neighbourhood doesn’t know what decorum is, so I wouldn’t worry too much, Bingley,” Fitzwilliam lazily commented.

“You are in no position to say such a thing! Your fight with Wickham was disgraceful. Tell me, did you have too much to drink?” Bingley asked.

“I didn’t have anything more than a few teas and coffees,” Fitzwilliam answered.

Bingley snorted. “I don’t believe that ! Surely you must have had some wine or beer, everyone does at such events.”

Fitzwilliam shook his head. “I’m far too used to being an officer in uniform at such events. In the army, we are not allowed to drink while in uniform.”

“So your fight with Wickham has no excuse of indulgence then. Tell me what was it about?” Bingley asked.

“I hardly remember. We discussed several topics before the first punch was thrown,” Fitzwilliam admitted.

“Who threw the first punch?” Darcy inquired.

“I couldn’t tell you,” Fitzwilliam remarked. “What about you, Fitz? How long were you on the balcony with Miss Elizabeth in the end and why did she look as though you had ravaged her?”

“I’m not sure how long we were there. Elizabeth wants you to be introduced at the next social event. I’m to stay home with Georgiana,” Darcy answered, steering the conversation away from himself.

“Tell me, are you really courting that woman?” Georgiana interrupted. “She is mightily proud for such a nothing kind of woman.”

“You will treat Elizabeth with respect!” Darcy snapped. “Yes, I am courting her. She treated you better than you deserve!”

Georgiana snorted. “She seemed to think she had some kind of influence over how I am to behave and how you would treat me. She thinks too well of herself!”

“She has a right to that opinion. While Fitzwilliam and I make the ultimate decisions about you, do not think that we would not listen to Elizabeth and Kitty about your behaviour and their suggestions to rein you in,” Darcy angrily informed his sister. “Other than Aunt Matlock and Lady Catherine, she is right that she is the only other woman who could influence your fate!”

“In other words, you want her so you’ll do what she says to impress her,” Georgiana said.

The men blushed at Georgiana’s implied comment. Darcy glared at his sister. “Elizabeth is right, you do need to miss the next few social events. Kindly do not make such filthy remarks in mixed company.”

“What did I say?” Georgiana asked.

Miss Bingley leant over and whispered something in Georgiana’s ear, which caused the younger girl to blush to the roots of her hair.

Seeing his sister’s discomfort, Darcy decided to drive the point home. “I like Elizabeth a lot. The fact that I am courting her gives me a certain privilege of closeness with her and her a certain privilege to advise on parts of my life. However, your remark and implication is simply not true! My intentions towards Elizabeth are none of your or anyone else’s business! They have no impact on my decisions in regard to your behaviour! Mrs Younge did you no favours.”

“Mrs Younge was a lovely woman! Not like Mrs Annesley at all,” Georgiana enthused, sounding rather reminiscent and wistful.

Darcy had allowed Mrs Annesley to retire to bed when they had arrived back at Netherfield and was now grateful that he had. “Is Mrs Annesley unkind?” He asked.

Georgiana shook her head. “I just do not like her.”

“I see. This would not have to do with the fact that she does not let you run wild, would it?” Darcy enquired. He was concerned about his sister’s behaviour, but he knew one thing and that was that Mrs Younge had some kind of hold over his sister that he did not understand. “Have you heard from Mrs Younge since she was dismissed?” He suddenly demanded.

Georgiana began a denial, but could not complete it. Instead, she shook her head.

Darcy looked at Fitzwilliam. The same suspicions seemed to be going through his mind.

“All of this is all very well, but what are we going to do to prove that we are not the undignified group that we appeared to be today?” Bingley suddenly blurted out, waving his hands around the room wildly.

“We simply be ourselves, Bingley. Your sisters did not like the area and they had nothing and no one to change their opinions. I entered a courtship with Elizabeth Bennet tonight so my behaviour will be under less scrutiny and slightly more to be expected. I’m sure that Fitzwilliam is regretting his actions already and as for my sister, Fitzwilliam and I are working on her behaviour,” Darcy firmly told his friend.

“Why am I singled out as the problem?” Georgiana demanded. “I was not fighting. Nor was I hiding on a darkened balcony with gentlemen. I only engaged in light flirting.”

Darcy snorted. “Heavy flirting you mean! I didn’t see everything because of the time I spent with Elizabeth. However, that you still have your dignity intact is a miracle! Even Lydia Bennet wasn’t flirting as much as you.”

“Trust me when I say that the thoughts of every man you spoke with were far from innocent! I was ashamed that you are my ward!” Fitzwilliam added.

“You were as bad as Fitz! You too were hiding on the balcony with what’s her name… Elizabeth’s sister,” Georgiana exclaimed. “My behaviour is no worse than either of yours.”

“Incorrect,” Bingley argued. “What Fitzwilliam has said is true. I heard some of the ways that the gentlemen were talking about you. Fitz has created a slight scandal by kissing Miss Elizabeth Bennet last week and then his behaviour with her tonight, but he is flirting with only one woman and has offered a courtship. No harm to his or her reputation. Fitzwilliam’s interest in Miss Catherine Bennet is harder to explain, but since all they’ve done is talk – no harm there either. You, Miss Darcy, were flirting hard with every man in attendance.”

“I have to find a husband somehow,” she objected.

“You’re too young to worry about that!” Darcy snapped. “Elizabeth does not attract me because she flirts with me. She attracts me because of her kind and gentle character. She is a worthy opponent, not afraid to speak her mind and can converse with me on a wide range of topics. She is compassionate, kind, and gentle. Above all, she is simply herself. No airs, no graces.”

“You cannot deny that she flirts with you!” Georgiana petulantly argued.

“I don’t want to deny that,” Darcy laughed. “We’d be a sorry couple if we did not flirt a little.”

“I’m confused. If flirting is so wrong, then why are you not despising Miss Elizabeth for flirting with you?” Georgiana asked.

Bingley chuckled. “Because Miss Elizabeth’s behaviour is only more open with Darcy. They are on a fast track to marriage, though they won’t admit it. Miss Elizabeth doesn’t flirt with everyone. Even with Darcy, it’s subtle and gentle. She’s not flaunting herself.”

“I still do not understand,” Georgiana grumbled.

“Perhaps ask Miss Elizabeth next time you two are in the same company,” Bingley replied. “Fitzwilliam, will you pursue your interest with Miss Catherine?”

“Kitty is intriguing, but I am not entirely sure where it is going. Mr Bennet doesn’t know that I am not my cousin, so spending time with Kitty is going to be a lot harder, as Mr Bennet essentially thinks that Darcy is playing about courting both Elizabeth and Kitty. I cannot blame him. However, I’m not sure she will still wish to have something to do with me after tonight. I let Wickham get under my skin,” Fitzwilliam admitted.

Darcy chuckled. “Mr Bennet has given me three months to make a choice I made last week when I kissed Elizabeth. If things don’t work out with Elizabeth, I doubt they will work out with anyone.”

“Don’t give up that easily, Fitz. There’s other women out there.” Bingley was horrified.

Darcy shook his head. “In all the time you’ve known me, how many women have I shown interest in?”

“You’re speaking like you’re an old man!” Bingley teased his friend. “You’re still young.”

“I know.” Darcy sounded slightly depressed. “Fitzwilliam are you going to stay away from Kitty? Do you think you could?”

Fitzwilliam laughed. “No, I’m not going to stay away from her. I won’t know where it will lead if I were to do so.”

“Mr Bennet will never believe either of us is serious about the girls if he does not realise we are different men,” Darcy argued. “I do not know how we are going to prove that we are not the other — especially thanks to your conversation on the balcony!”

“I got you your courtship.” Fitzwilliam shrugged.

“And cost me my good name too!” Darcy responded.

Just then a sergeant of the militia arrived at the house and presented himself in the Netherfield drawing room.

Fitzwilliam instantly stood up. “At ease, sergeant! What business do you have here?”

The man’s posture relaxed only slightly. Smiling ruefully he began, “Colonel Forster sends his compliments, sir, and wishes you to read this letter.” The man withdrew the crisp letter from the satchel that he carried.

Fitzwilliam took the letter and broke the seal. “Tell me, do you know what is in this letter?”

“I do not, sir! I do not normally do the colonel’s bidding and I am not in his company. However, may I speak freely?” The sergeant asked.

Fitzwilliam idly nodded as he unfolded the colonel’s letter.

“Mr Wickham’s fight at the ball has every single one of the commissioned officers confined to camp for the next month. Colonel Forster insisted that his usual man, Lieutenant Briggs, be confined to camp just as much as any of the other officers. I’m not sure what’s afoot. I simply do not know what to think.”

“You are not paid to think, sergeant! You are paid to follow orders. Tell me, has Lieutenant Wickham become acquainted with the lash?” Fitzwilliam growled.

“I. I don’t know, sir! I am not privy to that information. He has not been flogged in front of us if he was flogged at all,” the sergeant stated.

Fitzwilliam nodded. “You are dismissed. Tell Colonel Forster that I will join him later today.”

The sergeant snapped to attention again and then hesitated, before being dismissed by Fitzwilliam.

Once the militiaman had left the room, Fitzwilliam looked at the letter again. He would have to go to Horse Guards to explain himself. He was still a member of His Majesty’s Army, even if on half pay. He sat pensively while the conversation swirled around him. It was rare for him to lose his temper and even rarer for him to get into a fight. Perhaps leaving permanently would be better. He glanced over at Georgiana and knew that was not possible. The girl needed the steadying influence of both him and Darcy. Fitzwilliam shook his head. The girl needed a mother! Her brother held the same principles and firm beliefs as their father did, but he did not have the ease in society that his mother had. Fitzwilliam knew that the reason for that was something Darcy held as a firm secret. Nobody was allowed to know that one, but Fitzwilliam remembered the change in Darcy after it happened. Fitzwilliam knew what happened only because they had changed places only days later and had therefore found out by chance as he had been accused of forgetting the incident. After that Darcy had retreated into himself. Fitzwilliam exhaled with his frustration and tried to listen to the conversation again.

* * *

“E lizabeth, Kitty, my study immediately!” Mr Bennet snapped as they entered the Longbourn hallway.

Removing their outerwear, the two girls looked at each other warily. Their father hardly ever bothered to discipline any of them and it was almost unknown for Elizabeth and Catherine to be in trouble. However, they obediently made their way into his study.

Mr Bennet did not hesitate to speak as soon as the door closed with a snap. “I am disappointed in you girls tonight!”

“Why, papa?” Catherine asked.

Mr Bennet took a deep breath. “I am disappointed that you seem content to be sharing the attentions of the same man! I am not sure what game Mr Darcy is playing with the two of you, but it needs to stop.”

Elizabeth looked at Catherine and grinned. “Papa, did you not hear what Fitzwilliam told you on the balcony? He and I have agreed to a courtship with a view to marriage. Neither of us knows where it’s going but we wish to get to know each other better before getting engaged. As for Kitty, he told you the truth there. It was not Mr Darcy who was talking to her and paying attention to her. That was his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Though it may appear that they are the same man and it is true that very few people can tell the two cousins apart, they are in fact two different men. One who likes to talk to me and one who likes to talk to Kitty.”

“Courtship is the very least he could have offered you, considering his behaviour last week at the Harvest Festival. What proof can you give me that they are two different men?” Mr Bennet asked.

“We cannot give you proof,” Catherine answered. “We have met and talked with them both. However, there is trouble with Miss Darcy at the moment. They cannot be in the same place at the same time. I understand that it is planned for Colonel Fitzwilliam to be introduced to society properly at the next society event. Mr Darcy will be staying home with his sister.”

Mr Bennet drew in his breath. “Until I see both of those gentlemen together in the same room I am going to hold in reserve my belief that they are two different men. However, if you have met both of them as you say and you girls are not getting hurt, then I will allow Lizzy’s courtship. Lord knows she and Mr Darcy have behaved extremely intimately. That brings me to something else. What were you doing on the balcony tonight, Lizzy? Your mother was crying to everyone that you looked as though Mr Darcy had been ravaging you! You, more than Kitty, are courting a scandal and disgrace. You are not yet married, you need to behave with a little more restraint and caution.”

Elizabeth blushed and hung her head. “It is true that Mr Darcy was on the balcony with me, papa. It was innocent, I promise. The wind was rather bracing tonight and dried my lips out so that they felt rather sore, it also blew my hair out of its pins. You know how easily my hair falls out of any hairstyle in high winds or when I’m exercising. The content of our discussion was how to help his sister, who it seems has had some rather unsavoury influences around her and he needs to help her to become a better young lady.”

Mr Bennet raised an eyebrow. “And where are their parents?”

Elizabeth looked her father straight in the eye. “In the family crypt at Pemberley.”

Catherine giggled slightly as their father misunderstood his daughter.

“And pray why don’t they come down to train their daughter?” Mr Bennet asked.

Elizabeth grinned at her father. “Well, it would be rather difficult for two mouldering corpses to come to Hertfordshire to discipline their errant daughter. I imagine by now that one of them, at least is nothing but a pile of bones, while the other might have some flesh left on them, but they certainly wouldn’t be a pleasant sight. I guess they would scare poor Miss Darcy senseless.”

Catherine laughed harder as Mr Bennet almost fell over with the shock of Elizabeth’s words. “From what Colonel Fitzwilliam told me, I believe that he and Fitzwilliam have been the guardians of Miss Darcy for the past five years after Mr Darcy’s death.”

“Explain how it is that two men go by the same epithet of Fitzwilliam,” Mr Bennet stated flatly, unamused by his daughter’s antics.

“Fitzwilliam’s mother, Lady Anne Darcy, was the daughter of the fifth Earl of Matlock, James Fitzwilliam. James Fitzwilliam also had another daughter and a son, who is the present Earl of Matlock. The present earl has two sons, the Viscount Milton and Colonel Christopher Fitzwilliam. My Fitzwilliam was named after his mother’s family name, hence he is Mr Fitzwilliam Darcy. As you know it is more common for gentlemen to go by their family names, which is why the colonel goes by Fitzwilliam. However, as you know when we met Darcy he prefers to use his Christian name of Fitzwilliam. Those close to them distinguish them by either using Fitz and Fitzwilliam or Fitz and Christopher. To strangers therefore they are Fitzwilliam and Fitzwilliam.” Elizabeth explained as much of the detail of the situation as she understood it to her father.

Mr Bennet shook his head. “I followed about half of what you just told me. So they are cousins on his mother’s side of the family.”

Elizabeth nodded. “That’s correct, papa.”

“And you both assure me that there is nothing untoward going on, except that they look alike and have the same name?” Mr Bennet pressed.

“That is correct, papa,” Catherine answered.

Mr Bennet sighed. “Very well. Are you sure you two can tell them apart?”

Elizabeth nodded. “Last week Fitzwilliam told me what to look for to tell them apart. After the kiss, and expressing interest in me he did not want me to get hurt.”

“And when Fitzwilliam took his cousin’s place this evening I guessed that he wasn’t Lizzy’s Fitzwilliam straight away. As we got to know each other, I noticed something else that would tell the two of them apart,” Catherine added. “Oh, and Lizzy has laid down some strict rules with them about their behaviour towards us.”

Mr Bennet studied his girls intently and crossed his arms over his chest. “Very well. May I ask what these differences are?”

“No,” both girls answered together.

“They have asked us expressly not to share that information,” Elizabeth clarified.

“I am not sure I like this, but very well. I gave Mr Darcy three months. I stand by that. Lizzy, I will modify that three months to your courtship changing to engagement in those three months. As for the colonel, if he exists, I am going to extend that three months as a minimum of courtship by the end of the three months — and both men need to be seen together if nowhere else than in my study before I agree to marriage or courtship further for either of you. Do you understand?” Mr Bennet asked.

Elizabeth and Catherine nodded. “We understand, papa.”

“Good. Lizzy, I expect you and your young man to behave with dignity and decorum. The whispers are already swirling. You do not need to add fuel to that fire,” Mr Bennet warned.

“I understand, papa,” Elizabeth softly whispered.

Mr Bennet sat down and, lazily, leant back in his chair. “Very well you may both leave.”

The girls hurried from the room to join their mother and sisters in the parlour. However, as they passed the long mirror in the hallway Elizabeth gasped as she spied her reflection. “Kitty, why did you not warn me that my appearance is so unkempt?”

Catherine giggled. “I think papa covered it when he described your appearance.”

“How long have I looked such a fright?” Elizabeth asked.

“Ever since we were standing on the balcony with Christopher and Fitzwilliam,” Catherine informed Elizabeth. Leaning close she whispered, “It wasn’t the wind that made your lips so red. It was Fitz’s kisses. Also, your hair caught on his jacket multiple times when he was holding you earlier.”

Elizabeth blushed deeply.

Catherine laughed. “That is why I didn’t tell you! I didn’t want to embarrass you.”

Elizabeth giggled. “Fitz did try to tell me. I guess I should have listened.”

“The wind was bad tonight and it was not a bad cover,” Catherine told her.

Elizabeth looped her arm through Catherine’s. “I think we need to help the two gentlemen cause a bit more havoc.”

Catherine laughed. “It’s rather fun sharing this with you, Lizzy. Jane would want mama to know and Lydia couldn’t keep the secret.”

“And Mary would moralise about how it has the appearance of evil,” Elizabeth mused.

Catherine rolled her eyes. “Papa was quite confused.”

“And he will be even more so by the time you marry the colonel,” Elizabeth answered.

“He is not that interested in me,” Catherine admitted. “I heard him tell Mr Wickham that I was someone to pass the time with. I doubt anything will come of our association.”

“The way he was looking at you, I would not be surprised if he’s just denying what he’s feeling. Remember that he did not deny the possibility when I said that should it get that far that you two were courting, I did not want Darcy kissing you.”

“True! However, I do not think either of them liked the idea of the other kissing the wrong girl. Fitz seemed almost jealous at the idea that Christopher might kiss you,” Catherine mentioned.

“Mmm maybe…” Elizabeth said.

“More than maybe! He was quite fierce about it.” Catherine was interrupted by Lydia exiting the parlour.

“Mama says that you two are to either join us in the parlour or go to bed,” Lydia told them.

Elizabeth sucked in her breath. “Lydia, at least apologise for interrupting our conversation.”

“Why should I? It’s not like you and Kitty are that close. I doubt you have much to say to each other anyway,” Lydia jealously sniped.

“It’s good manners,” Elizabeth pressed.

Lydia shrugged.

Elizabeth sighed. Her sister was getting worse. “We’ll join you in the parlour in a moment.”

Lydia tried to tug Catherine with her. “Kitty, I’ve had such fun tonight. I need to tell you all about it. Wickham is such a good conversationalist and he knows Mr Darcy! Apparently, there is a long association between his family and the Darcys. Oh, and he is so much fun to flirt with! I do not know what I will do if the militia is removed from Meryton.”

“When they are removed from Meryton, Lydia!” Catherine corrected her. “I honestly do not believe that they are to stay here more than a few months at most. Colonel Forster said that the militia moves around about four times a year at least!”

Lydia shrugged. “Well Wickham is here for now and I am having such fun. You know I do believe that he is one of the most fun people I have met in a long time. You and Lizzy can keep your stuffy Mr Darcy, who despises the whole of Meryton. I am going to have the man of my dreams.”

Elizabeth gaped at her sister. Was this all an act? Or was Lydia truly lost to all sense of decorum?

“Fitzwilliam is far more interesting to talk to, Lydia. His conversation is neither shallow nor too deep. He is by far the better man,” Catherine argued.

“Wickham hinted tonight that Mr Darcy had done him a great wrong. He would not tell me what it was, but I could make a good guess. I think that Wickham is by far the better man,” Lydia teased. “Come, Kitty, I need to talk to someone about it and you know how stuffy Mary is. Jane of course simply feigns interest when she has none at all.”

“And you are incorrigible! You know that I’m not interested either! You took Jane’s idea to exaggerate our characters too far. You’re an embarrassment to the whole family,” Catherine spat. “Until I was speaking with Fitzwilliam this evening I was on a track to have you sink my reputation too. I will not do it! I’m going to tell Jane that I am out. I want to go back to my piano practice and my studies. The damage is already done, though! Fitzwilliam and their whole party think that you are a determined flirt and despise you and everyone else in Meryton. Lizzy will be lucky if Fitzwilliam continues to court her!”

“Mr Bingley doesn’t seem to think that the area is not worth anything! In fact, he seems to enjoy flirting with Jane,” Lydia petulantly observed.

“Have you looked at his face and that of his sisters? Their whole family believes ours to have lost all sense of dignity,” Catherine informed her sister. “I also believe that the whole of our society has been made to look as though we are all ridiculous!”

“You are wrong, Kitty!” Lydia yelled. “Plain wrong.”

“Kitty is not wrong,” Elizabeth joined the conversation. “I have heard the same thing from Fitzwilliam and seen the same distaste written on the whole group’s faces. Fitzwilliam and I have entered a courtship, but I fear it may well be a short-lived one, if I cannot change his mind about the area.”

Lydia laughed. “You never know, Lizzy. You really never know.”

Elizabeth shook her head. There was no way to argue their way out of this one. Only time would show whether Darcy and Elizabeth would make it or whether they would break apart as so many couples seemed to do.