Page 24

Elizabeth awoke more exhausted than when she had, after many anxious hours, finally fallen asleep.

She had tossed and turned, her head full of everything Mr. Darcy told her during their waltz.

Jane must have been aware of her struggle, for when they rose and began preparing for their day, Jane offered to brush out Elizabeth’s hair, and gently began to question her.

“Lizzy… I wonder if you have taken my advice to consider Mr. Darcy’s behavior? You were very restless last night.”

“I have,” Elizabeth replied. “More than you could know, I have agonized over every word.”

“And are you still uncertain?”

Elizabeth hardly knew how to answer. “I hope today might bring me some clarity, for Mr. Darcy said that he would call - he was here yesterday, while we were in Meryton. He brought his sister to apologize for her discourtesy.”

“Oh!” Jane frowned. “I would not like to receive any apology that was forced, and not sincere. I should think it very awkward.”

“If you do not wish to speak to her, perhaps we could send word to Caroline?” Elizabeth maintained a neutral expression, but she was far from wishing to prevent Mr. Darcy’s visit entirely.

Jane saw through her at once. “I think you desire their call - and it is likely Mr. Bingley will accompany them. I have done as you suggested, and been more demonstrative of my regard for him.”

“And what is your success?”

Jane laughed, her smile spreading brightly across her lovely face. “I believe he blushed more than I did at the ball! Particularly when I told him I had chosen my dress for his favorite color.”

“You did not!” Elizabeth stared into the mirror, meeting her sister’s eye as they grinned at one another.

“Even Charlotte praised me for being so brave and bold.”

Elizabeth turned her face up to study her sister. “Has Charlotte been… different toward you since the Bingleys came to Netherfield?”

“A little, yes. She told me that she thinks it likely you and I shall both soon be married; I think that she will be sad to see us go - perhaps she wishes to prepare herself for that inevitable distance.”

“I do not think it inevitable for me to soon be wed. I cannot guess whom Charlotte imagines my husband shall be. Mr. Collins hardly seems close to choosing from amongst us - though perhaps the fact that he has not yet seen Mary in her nightgown may hold some alluring mystery. The colonel has ceased his flirting with me, which I think may prove to be a fine thing for Caroline. But I am proud of you, Jane. Could you not hear Miss Darcy’s apology, at least, since you shall emerge triumphant in the end? ”

“I will, for I think it right to give her a chance, and it may ease your way with Mr. Darcy. You are being very evasive about him, Lizzy, and I can guess what that may portend.”

“You cannot be prettier than me and more prescient, it is hardly fair!” Elizabeth let out a heavy sigh, and Jane stilled her brushing to give Elizabeth’s shoulder a squeeze.

“Oh, Jane, I have ever prided myself on my powers of observation, but I have been very foolish where Mr. Darcy is concerned. And prideful, for I believe I simply cannot allow myself to indulge in any affection for a man so far above me, without first being absolutely certain that I will not be laughed at for aiming so high.”

Jane furrowed her brows. “He is a gentleman, and you are a gentleman’s daughter. In this you are equal. And, Lizzy, you never applied this logic in imaging in some attachment between him and Caroline.”

“Lord, my poor wounded vanity!” Elizabeth rested a hand on her heart and laughed.

“Mr. Darcy will have his work cut out for him when he comes to call, for I have not been kind to myself, in my private musings. I have thought only that if he does like me, he must be ashamed of it. But, Jane, there is something else I must tell you.”

And then it all came spilling out. The sisters had completed their toilette and donned the finest day dresses by the time Elizabeth had completed her tale.

She held back nothing, for she had come to value her sister’s serene counsel very highly.

And so she recounted her conversation with Mr. Wickham as well as all that Mr. Darcy had told her, every detail of how it had affected her to hear it, and she had come to realize her error as she danced with him.

Jane was a patient listener, and gave every proper reaction to Wickham’s forward confidence, his deceit and villainy, and Mr. Darcy’s gentle reproof.

“He might have been terribly cross with you, Lizzy, but it sounds as though he presented you with the facts and let you work it all out for yourself. I might also observe that he wished you to know he is not engaged. He must also wish to demonstrate to you that he is sorry for speaking ill of your sisters, for he danced with all of us after supper. And to declare himself at your command….”

“A power he ought to know I shall be tempted to abuse,” Elizabeth teased. He mind again played over everything he had said to her, landing on the look in his eyes when he had said, “I hope I have given you no reason to doubt me.”

“I wonder what shall become of Mr. Wickham. I hope Colonel Forster will not accept him into the regiment, if his presence here merits warning our sisters.”

“And I wonder what else Mr. Darcy has to say of him, that he could not tell me at the ball.”

Jane’s gaze turned contemplative. “I ought not to speculate, but I would guess that it may have something to do with his sister.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “Why should you think that?”

“Mr. Wickham disparaged her to you, too, did he not? She must be but a child to him - what complaint could he have? She was not involved in his dispute with Mr. Darcy - though I would imagine that a large dowry such as hers might appeal to a man in such dire financial circumstances - a man who would be a danger to naive young ladies.”

Elizabeth moved toward the window, smiling at the approaching carriage. “I suppose we shall not have long to wait before we know the answer.”

Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley had each brought their sisters to Longbourn, and the latter was all apologies for arriving before the family had broken their fast. “I assume all the world to be earlier risers than myself,” he said.

“But it may perhaps be the last unseasonably warm day of the year - might we take some fruit and pastries into the garden for a light picnic and a leisurely stroll?”

Mrs. Bennet was happy to oblige her guests, though she insisted that her younger girls had promised to call on their Aunt Phillips that morning, and she shooed them off to the village.

She declared she would take breakfast with Mr. Bennet, to elucidate him on every particular of the ball, while her daughters showed their visitors the garden.

Mr. Collins, entirely forgotten since so many single gentlemen had come to the neighborhood, shambled along with them, scarcely even holding Mary’s attention.

Mr. Bingley wasted little time in singling Jane out, and Mr. Darcy hastened to offer Elizabeth his arm before Mr. Collins could do so.

As they strolled away from the others, who had laid out a picnic blanket to have tea and pastries, Elizabeth blurted out the first thought that came to mind.

“Shall my sisters be quite safe in the village?”

“I believe so. Richard spoke to Colonel Forster last night, and has gone to see him this morning to ensure that Wickham departed the village. If you desire it, I will send word to him to keep an eye out for Miss Catherine and Miss Lydia, and ensure no mischief befalls them.”

Elizabeth nearly dismissed his offer, but there was such earnest concern in his gaze that she nodded her assent. “Because you are at my command?”

“Yes, I remain thus, but also because I think it a right thing.”

“My father will provide you with pen and paper, and a footman to deliver your note. He will likely be very grateful for an escape from my mother’s talk of lace and dancing partners.”

Mr. Darcy withdrew his arm from hers and bowed before stalking back to the manor. As he departed, Miss Darcy rose and excused herself from Mary, Caroline, and Mr. Collins, leaving Elizabeth to wonder with bemusement what such an oddly grouped set might have to talk about.

Miss Darcy approached Elizabeth timidly, but brightened when Elizabeth offered an encouraging smile. “Has my brother gone to speak with your father?”

“Yes, he has. Walk with me?”

“Yes, thank you. Oh, I am so pleased to hear it!”

Elizabeth looked askance at the girl. “Yes, it is very kind of him to think of my sisters. Knowing that Mr. Wickham is not to be trusted, I must hope he is soon gone from the area.”

Miss Darcy tensed and froze. “Mr. Wickham? George Wickham is in the area?”

“Yes - what else could he have to say to my father? But did he not tell you? Miss Darcy, are you unwell?” A sense of foreboding churned in Elizabeth’s chest as she considered Jane’s speculation.

“So that is why he wished me to tell you…. Forgive me, Miss Bennet - might we walk a little further on?”

Elizabeth led Miss Darcy in a direction that would afford them more privacy, and set the small picnic basket she carried down on a stone bench beneath a sprawling oak at the back of the garden, out of view of the rest of their party. She gestured for Miss Darcy to sit with her.