Page 12 of Darcy’s Guarded Heart

“And I am fond of him. He is genuinely pleasant and does not seem to be at all bothered by my being nothing but a gentleman’s ward.”

“Unlike some other attendees at today’s gathering,” she said, glancing at Mr Darcy, who stood alongside Miss Bingley, deep in conversation. The sight of the two of them talking made her feel a little ill because she knew nothing good could come of it.

“Mr Darcy will yet change his mind. After all, most of Meryton has come to accept me over the years. I am invited tonight, am I not?” Thomas said with a smile.

“You are, but the Lucases are kind people, no matter what Mother likes to say. I am not certain the same can be said for Mr Darcy,” she replied.

Thomas shrugged. “Even if he is unkind, what does it matter? He will be here for a few months, and then both he and his sister will be gone from our lives. If Mr Bingley purchases Netherfield Park, we may see them on occasion, but it will be rare and far between.”

She could not argue with this; still, in the back of her mind, she continued to worry. What if Mr Darcy attempted to interfere with Jane’s blossoming friendship with Mr Bingley? What if Miss Bingley did? Did Thomas give the man too much of the benefit of the doubt?

***

“Thomas has always had good judgement,” her father said later that evening as Elizabeth sat in his study. The hour was late, as they had returned near midnight, but her father was still awake in his study.

He could be found here at all hours, night and day, for this was the place he felt happiest, among his books and treasures.

She knew he’d be awake when they returned, for the little light he kept on in the window still flickered. She smiled to herself upon seeing it, knowing it was his signal for her to enter his study and tell him about the evening.

And there had been much to tell. She spared her father no detail, telling him all about the dance, the food—but most of all about the Darcys and Mr Wickham.

She concluded her tale with her conversation with Thomas.

“I know he is a good judge of character, but I cannot help but feel that in this case Mr Wickham might be right,” Elizabeth said, unable to believe she was even saying such things.

“Mr Wickham has proven himself to be a charming fellow, but not a righteous one. I spoke to Mr King not long ago, and he attempted to lure the poor girl away from her family. When confronted, he claimed to act out of passion, but Mr King doubts it is so. The motivation was financial; we know this.”

“Perhaps. Likely, yes. But then, many act out of such motivations. Mr Darcy would accuse Jane of being interested in Mr Bingley purely for finances.”

Her father raised his hands and placed them flat on the desk.

“I will not argue the point with you, for you are right. Mr Darcy is not entirely wrong to worry either. Your dear Mama is certainly more interested in Mr Bingley’s fortune than in his character. However, I do take exception with anyone thinking our dear Jane capable of deception.”

“She would never deceive anyone. She adores Mr Bingley, and after tonight even more so. She has received her invitation to tea this night from Miss Bingley. Reluctantly, as I was issued.”

Her father smiled. “But issued it was. I am glad for it. As for Thomas, you would do well to remember his good judgement. He has always had a way about him when it comes to people. Remember when he told me Mr Glasgow was not trustworthy?”

Elizabeth did recall. Mr Glasgow had replaced their former steward some years ago, and Thomas, only thirteen at the time, had voiced a dislike for the new man from the start.

Nobody had taken it seriously at the time, given Thomas’s young age, but in due course, he had been proven right.

Mr Glasgow had been stealing from Longbourn and was exposed and sacked at once.

Thomas’s judgement had been held in much higher esteem since then.

“I had a mind of making Thomas my steward, you know?” her father said then. “He has a good head for estate running. But alas, I think it would do him a disservice.”

Elizabeth understood. Since the estate was entailed away from the family, making Thomas their steward would not have been beneficial to him in the long term.

Once Mr Bennet died, the entire family would have to leave Longbourn to make room for Mr Collins, their distant cousin and heir.

He had already made it clear more than once that he would take charge of Longbourn when the time came.

In addition, Mr Collins and Thomas had never been close.

During Collins’s dreaded annual visits, Thomas often found reason to be away, visiting friends in Hertford or London in order to avoid him. Collins appeared pleased whenever he found Thomas absent, and thus it was clear making Thomas steward would not work.

“I wish he could have better prospects,” Elizabeth said, and her father rubbed his temple.

“As do I. I have done all I could for him thus far. I like to think he has been treated well.”

“Undoubtedly,” Elizabeth said, not wishing for her father to feel badly, for he truly had treated Thomas like a son.

“It is unfortunate that more cannot be done. I do wish he would choose a profession, however. If he decided to read the law, Mr Phillips would take him under his wing, I know he would. Or even the military.”

“I think Thomas struggles with his worth,” Elizabeth argued. “I know he would like to make a life for himself, but he worries being seen as a ward will overshadow him all his life. Perhaps if he knew who his father was it may be different.”

Mr Bennet shook his head as he got up and walked to the window.

“It would make no difference, Elizabeth. My cousin made a mistake and had a child out of wedlock. There is nothing to be done other than what we are doing. In due course, Thomas will find a profession that suits him and hopefully make a life for himself that will allow his unfortunate circumstances to be forgotten.”

“As long as there are people like Mr Darcy in the world, none shall forget,” Elizabeth said bitterly.

“I dare say, Thomas may yet charm even Mr Darcy. Mr Bingley appears fond of him. They do go hunting, you said?”

Elizabeth nodded. “In the morning, yes. All three of them.”

“Well then, let us hope Thomas can sway Mr Darcy’s favour not just for himself but for the entire family. I would hate for him to have such influence over Mr Bingley as to perhaps cause trouble for Jane. Although I would imagine if he were a true gentleman, he would not interfere.”

Elizabeth rose and bade her father goodnight, though as she walked to her chamber, she could not help but reflect on his words.

It seemed he too wished to give Mr Darcy the benefit of the doubt. Thomas had said much the same. Why were these men so willing to think there was good in Mr Darcy? Could it be she was wrong?

He was, after all, quite revered by his sister; that much was clear from the way she had seen them interact with one another.

Mr Bingley was exceedingly fond of him also. Then there was Mr Wickham—although given Mr Wickham’s past actions, could the fact he spoke against Mr Darcy actually be something that could be seen as in Mr Darcy’s favour?

Whatever it was, she knew she had to stop thinking about the matter. Otherwise, sleep would never find her, and after a long evening of dancing, she needed her rest more than ever.