Page 43 of Obligation and Redemption

Elizabeth’s aunt and uncle Gardiner had arrived, along with Elizabeth’s parents, after the first set had begun, so Elizabeth had not yet had the opportunity to introduce them to her fiancé.

Elizabeth knew her Gardiner relations to be ones about whom she need not blush and wanted Mr. Darcy to see that although in trade, they were perfectly fashionable and knowledgeable.

“Mr. Darcy, you have not yet met my family from London; they arrived just today for the wedding and are in attendance this evening. Perhaps after supper, you would allow them to make your acquaintance.”

“As you wish.” Darcy had no desire to meet her relations from trade.

He had heard about them from Miss Bingley who had it from Miss Bennet.

But Darcy supposed that he would need to meet them eventually.

It did not signify that he would have to continue the relationship.

His approval won him a pleasing smile from his betrothed. She had rarely smiled at him.

Elizabeth soon became alarmed when hearing her mother from the table next, speaking loudly about the great matches that her daughters had achieved.

Her words were vulgar and boisterous, so that her meaning was easily discerned from anyone within two tables’ distance.

Mrs. Bennet was sitting next to Lady Lucas, speaking freely and openly, and her theme had made its way to the expectation that Jane would be soon married to Mr. Bingley.

It was an animating subject and Mrs. Bennet seemed incapable of fatigue while enumerating the advantages of the match.

His being such a charming young man, and so rich, and living but three miles from them, were the first points of self-congratulation; and then it was such a comfort to think how fond Elizabeth and Jane were, and how being married to such good friends would allow them to spend more time in one another’s company.

And how grand it would be that when Jane went to visit Lizzy, she herself could join them, so as to save Mr. Bennet the expense of travelling.

She concluded with many good wishes that Lady Lucas might soon be equally fortunate, though evidently and triumphantly believing there was no chance of it.

Elizabeth caught her father’s attention and with pleading eyes, begged him to intervene.

He just looked at her in his usual manner, signifying that he thought it all a good joke.

Can he not see how this must look to Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy?

In Mr. Darcy’s silence, Elizabeth could perceive that he had overheard the chief of her mother’s discourse.

She glanced his way and saw indignant contempt change to a composed and steady gravity.

Elizabeth was glad when Mr. Darcy requested if she would like more of her beverage, giving him a reason to walk away for a time.

As soon as he stood and left, she endeavoured to speak to her father in a hushed tone across the table, making sure Jane and Mr. Bingley were in conversation, “Papa, you must check Mama! What advantage can her display be to Jane? She is making our family look to be mercenary, which can do naught to recommend us.” Nothing that she could say, however, had any influence.

Her father would let her mother rattle on.

This distressed Elizabeth, but Mr. Bennet did not think that Mr. Bingley noticed the prattle, and discomforting Mr. Darcy was the added benefit.

Elizabeth could endure the drollery, and would come around to see the humour in the scene in front of them.

Darcy returned with the punch. He had needed to get away from the Bennets and while gone had taken some needed air outside on the balcony. If he had had any doubt about the avaricious nature of his engagement, he had no more.

At length Mrs. Bennet had no more to say; and Lady Lucas, who had been long yawning at the repetition of delights, which she saw no likelihood of sharing, was left to the comforts of cold ham and chicken.

Elizabeth now began to revive. But not long was the interval of tranquillity, for when supper was over, singing was talked of, and she had the mortification of seeing Mary, after very little entreaty, preparing to oblige the company.

By many significant looks and silent entreaties, did Elizabeth endeavour to prevent such a proof of complaisance, but in vain.

Mary would not understand them; such an opportunity of exhibiting was delightful to her, and she began her song.

Elizabeth’s eyes were fixed on her with most painful sensations; and she watched her progress through the several stanzas with an impatience which was very ill rewarded at their close; for Mary, on receiving thanks from the tables, and in particular praise from her betrothed, began another.

Mary’s powers were by no means fitted for such a display; her voice was weak, and her manner affected.

Elizabeth was in agony. She looked at Jane, to see how she bore it; but Jane was very composedly talking to Bingley.

She looked at his two sisters, and saw them making signs of derision at each other, and at Darcy, who continued impenetrably grave.

She looked at her father across the table to entreat his interference, lest Mary should be singing all night.

He finally took the hint and when Mary had finished her second song, said aloud and across the room, “That will do extremely well, child. You have delighted us long enough. Let the other young ladies have time to exhibit.”

Elizabeth felt sorry for Mary at her humiliation with her father’s public speech.

But true mortification arrived when her two youngest sisters came bustling into the room being chased by young officers.

The girls were squealing in a delight that was not lessened when Lydia tripped and fell onto the lap of Mr. Collins.

To Elizabeth it appeared that had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as they could during the evening, it would have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit, or finer success; and happy did she think it for Bingley and her sister that some of the exhibition had escaped his notice, and that his feelings were not of a sort to be much distressed by the folly which he must have witnessed.

That his two sisters and especially Mr. Darcy, however, should have such an opportunity of ridiculing her relations was bad enough, and she could not determine whether the silent contempt of the gentleman, or the insolent smiles of the ladies, were more intolerable.

If she could have been privy to the thoughts that truly assaulted Mr. Darcy, she would have been mortified to the extreme and would perhaps have been more solicitous of his predicament.

But happily for her, she was spared that knowledge, and unbeknownst to her, the situation was about to go from very bad to even worse, for there was a new addition to the festivities, who had quietly entered Netherfield, unseen as yet by the honoured couple.

MR. WICKHAM had planned his arrival to occur during the supper set.

He watched as the scene played out like a comedy on the stage.

He could not have been more delighted at Darcy’s discomfiture and would have thought twice about attempting to disengage him from Miss Elizabeth and her ridiculous family had he not had three thousand pounds before him as a reward for his success.

Mr. Collins noticed Wickham standing by one of the columns and nodded to communicate his success in stowing away the missives in Elizabeth’s reticule.

Wickham would still attempt an assignation with Elizabeth for good measure: nothing that might cause an angry father to push another engagement once the other had been terminated, but his success was riding on Mr. Darcy’s discovery of her holding onto communication from him.

Mr. Collins would soon make the accusation that would result in Darcy’s release.

Mr. Darcy was leading Elizabeth out of the dining area when her eyes were arrested by the appearance of Mr. Wickham.

She blushed and looked flustered in the extreme, thereby bringing Darcy’s attention to the object of her disquiet.

There in the corner stood Mr. Wickham displaying a charming countenance as he stared at Elizabeth.

Ire immediately rose in Darcy’s chest, and he had to use all of his fortitude to avoid walking across the room and tossing Wickham out the door.

Elizabeth’s anxiety increased to distraction as she realised that both men were watching her to gauge her reaction.

She could not determine why he chose to attend the ball, in light of her father’s disclosure to the man about her and her family’s strictures.

She could only assume that he did not fully comprehend the risk.

Elizabeth tried to remain calm, but Mr. Wickham’s unbroken gaze made her flush all the more.

Mr. Darcy broke the silence saying, “Miss Elizabeth, it would seem that you have an admirer. Were you aware that Mr. Wickham was to attend the ball this evening?”

“How would I have known that, sir? I have not spoken with him in a week’s time, and my father requested that he not come.”

“Then why is he here?”

“I cannot account for his comings and goings. Perhaps you should ask him yourself.” Mr. Darcy then left towards the man in question, and Elizabeth was sorry she had suggested such a thing.

She turned to walk away when she was solicited for a dance by John Lucas.

Elizabeth accepted, hoping for a distraction from her current circumstances.

When she looked over and saw Mr. Darcy speaking with a man in uniform, she noticed that the officer’s hair was not dark as Wickham’s was, but fair.

He was a man whom Elizabeth had not seen before, and Mr. Darcy was speaking in an unusually animated manner with him.