Page 29 of Obligation and Redemption
Taking a deep breath, Darcy began, “While visiting my friend, Charles Bingley, I decided to ride out one morning; however, a storm came up, and by chance I came upon a woman right at the moment lightning struck a tree nearby. Her scream caused my horse to bolt and me to lose my seat. As a result, I was injured. We then spent the day alone, me in a state of injury at her mercy, and she in a position to take advantage. Her father found us but did not immediately push a betrothal. After a few days, word got out of our compromising situation, some of the information truth and other fiction.” Darcy looked away for a few moments before continuing.
“As a result, I had no other recourse but to offer for her. We both know that my intentions were otherwise, but that cannot now be helped. I had no other alternative, if I were to keep my honour. ”
“And what about the respect due a woman of an eminent family? Does she not also deserve your deference? My sister has developed a fondness for you and was greatly disturbed by the news in the papers.” His voice rising, he continued, “A gentleman does not pay his addresses to a maiden, only to leave her to the derision of her friends in disappointed hopes. I told her that you would be an excellent match as your distinction exceeded that of any other man of our acquaintance despite your lack of title, and this is the response we are to receive!”
Darcy felt the sting, as he had been condemning himself likewise.
“I apologise for the role that I have played in injuring your sister. She does not deserve this misfortune. Lady Annette is an exemplary woman, and I wish her the greatest joy and hope that she will one day forgive me for the disservice which came by my hand.”
Wexley stood. “I will convey to her your regrets. I do not believe we have anything else to say to one another.”
“Thank you for hearing me out. I hope that when we are able to put this behind us we can still be friends,” said Darcy, saddened and without hope of reconciliation any time soon.
He left intending to make his way to his solicitor’s office, but instead found himself at Antonio’s Fencing Academy.
The settlement would have to wait until tomorrow, for what he needed was some exertion, and if he were lucky, he would find his just due in a good lashing.
ALTHOUGH ELIZABETH HAD NO WISH TO MARRY MR. DARCY, she had enough wit about her to admit that she was grateful she would not be forced into an embarrassing union with Mr. Collins.
And since Mr. Darcy had left the country for the time being, she determined to enjoy the respite from the stress of the past month.
In addition to her Aunt Philip’s proclamations about the descent of the Bennet family with Elizabeth’s ruin, she also had conveyed news of the militia’s arrival, much to Elizabeth’s little sisters’ delight and vexation since they, up until then, had had no share.
Yet now that the Bennet family could claim triumph in a match with Mr. Darcy, they were welcomed back into Meryton society with all the alacrity due to them.
Shortly after breakfast, four of the five sisters set out for town, the two eldest to the milliners to seek amendments to their dresses for the upcoming ball, and the two youngest to seek out officers.
Elizabeth’s mother had insisted that she obtain a new dress for the occasion, but her practical daughter found no need to spend her father’s money on such an affair when she would be getting a new dress for the actual wedding.
Instead, she would rework her best frock with the green ribbon she had been admiring on her last visit.
This time at the milliners, however, she received all the courtesy due a woman who would soon be mistress of her own grand estate.
After Elizabeth and Jane had joined their younger sisters, the attention of each was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of a most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer on the other side of the roadway.
The officer was Mr. Denny, concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they passed.
All were struck with the stranger’s air, all wondered who he could be, and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find out, led the way across the street towards them, under pretence of wanting something in the opposite shop.
Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and he was happy to say had accepted a commission in their corps.
This was exactly as it should be, for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming.
His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best parts of beauty: a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address.
The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation – a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming – and the whole party were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of a horse drew their notice and Bingley was seen riding down the street.
On distinguishing the ladies of the group, the gentleman came directly towards them, and began the usual civilities, Miss Bennet being the principal object of his attention.
When Mrs. Philips spotted the group of young people standing outside her home, she opened the upstairs window of her house to greet them and to extend the invitation to Mr. Bingley and Mr. Wickham for that evening’s festivities.
Mrs. Philips had invited a group of officers and her nieces to her home for games.
The invitation was accepted with pleasure and all looked forward to an evening spent in the company of new friends.
The officers and Mr. Bingley walked on in their own respective directions, while the Bennet sisters entered their aunt’s home for refreshment.
The sisters, knowing that if any news were to be had, their aunt would most certainly be in possession of the truth of the matter, began making exclamations and inquiries about the officers, especially of Mr. Wickham.
But, she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was to have a lieutenant’s commission in the ----shire.
She had been watching him the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street and had Mr. Wickham appeared again, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the occupation, but unluckily no one passed the windows now except a few of the officers, who in comparison with the stranger, were become “stupid, disagreeable fellows.”
That evening, by the time they entered the drawing room, the sisters had the pleasure of hearing that Mr. Wickham had already arrived along with his comrades and were at the moment in the other room.
No sooner did the ladies sit, than the gentlemen, including Mr. Wickham, entered the room.
Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration.
The officers of the ----shire were in general a very creditable, gentlemanlike set, and the best of them were of the present party; but Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and walk, as they were superior to the broad-faced stuffy uncle Philips, breathing port wine, who followed them into the room.
Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned, and Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated himself.
Moreover, the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into conversation, though it was only on its being a wet night, and on the probability of a rainy season made her feel that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker.
The games were to begin, and with ready delight he was received at the table between Elizabeth and Lydia.
At first there seemed danger of Lydia’s engrossing him entirely, for she was a most determined talker; but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, she soon grew too much interested in the game to have attention for any one in particular.
Allowing for the common demands of the game, Mr. Wickham was therefore at leisure to talk to Elizabeth, and she was very willing to hear him, for although she was newly engaged, a woman could not help but feel flattered at the attentions of a handsome gentleman.
Since being the target of Mr. Collins’ recent regard and being the recipient of Mr. Darcy’s disdain, Elizabeth consoled herself by innocently allowing Mr. Wickham to stoke her wounded vanity.
After a few moments of idle conversation, however, he surprised her by wishing her congratulations on her recent engagement.
At her look of surprise, he informed her that his fellow officers spoke with fervour about all of the local ladies, and since she was one of the most beautiful of the neighbourhood, she had a greater share in their admiration and disappointment at being no longer available to accept the attentions often paid in society.
He flattered her with more words of approbation, which she was happy to accept, and then shocked her with his mention of being well acquainted with her fiancé.
“You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, being an intimate with Darcy and seeing my now lowered place in society. You see Darcy and I have had an extended relationship. Have you yourself known him long?”
“I cannot say that I have, but I do have every expectation that we will soon become more familiar with one another in the near future.”
“You are to be married soon then?”