Page 44 of Obligation and Redemption
After the set was over, Elizabeth excused herself from her partner and found Charlotte.
She needed a friend rather than another man requesting a dance.
“Charlotte, have you seen Mr. Wickham? I must keep my distance from him, and I worry that he will try to speak with me. Mr. Darcy intended to make him depart but now he is with another officer. I am afraid he may be attempting to cause further trouble for Mr. Wickham.”
“I did see Mr. Wickham when leaving the dining room, but I did not see Mr. Darcy speak with him, if that is what you are afraid of.”
“I am not sure what disturbs me more, Mr. Wickham’s attempting to speak with me or Mr. Darcy’s throwing him out. This is all so vexing! Why could he not stay away?”
“Calm yourself, Eliza. Why can’t you speak with Mr. Wickham?
” After Elizabeth explained Darcy’s ultimatum, Charlotte continued, “Mr. Darcy is a gentleman, and Mr. Wickham knows your opinion of him. And even if he does not, really, Lizzy, you will be married tomorrow. You cannot be concerned about another man’s feelings towards you. ”
Elizabeth looked thoughtfully at her friend.
“You are right, but I find it difficult to convince my heart.” When Charlotte looked at her in question, she continued, “Do not suppose that he has won my allegiance or my heart in full, but I do admire Mr. Wickham and want the very best for his future. I cannot help but feel for him when Mr. Darcy has treated him so abominably.”
“Are you certain that Mr. Wickham is the victim, Eliza? Could it be that there are two sides to the story? Perhaps, Mr. Darcy could be exonerated of wrongdoing if you knew all the particulars. I know that I am not acquainted with the whole of the tale, but Mr. Darcy seems an honourable man. He has been honourable to you, has he not?”
“But Charlotte, there was truth in all Mr. Wickham said. He gave details and reports completely consistent with Mr. Darcy’s character, as he has so openly displayed.”
“Then why is Mr. Wickham here? Your father asked him not to come. Could he be goading Mr. Darcy to drive him to retaliation in order to show his true character? Or perhaps another reason altogether?” Then Charlotte noticed his approach saying, “Eliza, you must go to your father. Mr. Wickham is coming this way. You must not let Mr. Darcy see him with you. I will intercept him until you can get to Mr. Bennet.” Elizabeth thanked her friend, and then went in pursuit of her father.
Charlotte was able to detain Mr. Wickham until Elizabeth had disappeared into the adjoining room, but Elizabeth could not find her father there.
When she turned to exit into the next area, she saw Mr. Wickham motioning for her to join him on the balcony.
She quickly diverted her eyes, knowing that she must appear exceptionally rude, but could do nothing else.
Shame on Mr. Darcy for making me behave this way!
The gentleman started in her direction, so Elizabeth moved towards her sister, Jane, who was talking with Caroline Bingley, of all people. “Jane, excuse me for interrupting, but I must speak with you in private.”
“Jane, dear, you must not let me detain you. Your sister seems in need of your assistance in some way,” Miss Bingley said sweetly.
“Thank you,” Jane said to her friend, then turned to Elizabeth and said, “Let us go into the room set aside for the ladies to refresh. We can speak there.” There were two older women who were departing as they entered, thus leaving them quite alone. “Lizzy, what has you upset?”
In hushed tones she said, “Mr. Wickham! He is here!”
“You have seen him?”
“Yes, he was coming towards me when I approached you. What can I do? If I go back out there, he will surely try to speak with me. He already motioned for me to meet him on the balcony.”
Jane’s eyes widened, “What did you do?”
“I looked away and sought you,” Elizabeth said as tears threatened her eyes.
“Lizzy, come sit down with me, and we will try to figure out what to do.”
AFTER DARCY HAD SEEN WICKHAM, he began to cross the room to let him know that he was not welcome and to demand that he leave the gathering.
However, he was stopped in his path by a site that truly astonished him.
His cousin, Colonel James Fitzwilliam, stood before him in his full regimentals and wearing a warm smile, pleased to see his best friend again.
Had they been in a more private location, they would have embraced, as they truly loved one another as brothers more so than mere cousins.
“James, what an undeniably pleasant surprise! I cannot believe you are here. I had no expectation that you would come.”
“What and miss my best friend’s wedding? I am hurt you should think so.”
“I just know how your family feels about my decision, and I thought that you too might express your disapproval by not wanting to come.”
“My approval should have no bearing on your decision concerning whom to marry. Surely you do not suspect that I would censor you for your choice in bride. I am concerned, however, of how all of this came about. You must admit that this is unlike you, Darcy. I never thought that you would marry a woman without rank or fortune. She must be exceptionally lovely.”
“What did your parents tell you about her?”
Fitzwilliam grinned, “My parents! They sent me to try to talk some sense into you.” At Darcy’s grave expression, the colonel laughed, “You look like a bear with that countenance. Of course, I would never presume to talk you into or out of anything. I know you better than that. But, I would like to hear what would cause you, a man of your scruples and exacting ways, to change your course and ask a country maiden to marry you. I could not have been more shocked, when I received your letter, had Bony surrendered France to England. I would have made it here sooner if I could have gotten leave.” Fitzwilliam stared at him waiting for the story, but was unprepared to hear what Darcy would say next.
For a moment, Darcy had forgotten his pursuit of Wickham, but then recollected. “Fitzwilliam, did you just see Wickham? He was here not a moment ago.”
“What? That blackguard is here at your engagement celebration?” He began looking around the room.
“It is a long story, but yes; he was over in that corner, but I do not see him anymore,” said Darcy as he scanned the area.
“James, you take this room, and I will look in the game room. If you find him, escort him to the main entrance and wait for me. We will meet there, and once he is gone, I will explain what I can of this mess.”
A little later, Darcy found Wickham coming in from the door that exited onto the balcony. “Darcy, nice party! I had no idea that you had so many friends!”
“What are you doing here? I believe you understood that you were not invited.”
“Au contraire, my friend. I received an invitation from Miss Bennet herself, not to mention Mr. Bingley. Nice gentleman he is, too.” Wickham had indeed received an invitation from a Miss Bennet; Darcy need not know which one.
“Then your welcome has just ended. Would you like to leave of your own volition, or should I assist you to the door?”
“Darcy, do not be so uptight! I will leave if I am not wanted, but you may disappoint more than one lady. Your Elizabeth may not look kindly upon your treatment of me.”
“Miss Elizabeth’s desires will be under regulation soon enough and are no concern of yours. Now, are you walking out on your own, or do I throw you over the balcony?”
Wickham looked at the balcony doors as if to consider the idea, but then began walking towards the entry, followed closely by Darcy.
Colonel Fitzwilliam stood there waiting for them and looked questioningly at his cousin, whose countenance did not betray his resentment.
Wickham made a gentlemanly bow to both men and departed Netherfield.
Fitzwilliam was the first to speak, “Now do you want to tell me what the hell is going on here?”
Darcy led him over to an area of the room where they could not be overheard and began softly, “When I returned from London last week, I discovered that Wickham had joined the militia stationed in Meryton. He must have learnt of my engagement to Miss Elizabeth because before I came back, he had insinuated himself into her good graces. I know not what lies he has told her about me, but I suspect she believes them.”
“Darcy, she is to marry you. Surely she knows not to trust a word that miscreant would say.”
Darcy just looked at him and sighed. “No, I do not think that she does, and furthermore, I cannot be certain that Miss Elizabeth has not known him longer than just this past fortnight.”
“You think they may be somehow allied against you?”
“I do not know what to think, Fitzwilliam.” He looked away trying to consider what to say.
“I have known her a month. I am ignorant to her former ways and connections. She was chafed when I told her she was to have nothing to do with him, but I could not tell if that was because she does not like to be commanded what to do or because she has some biding affiliation with him.”
“Perhaps you should start at the beginning for me. I find that my confusion over your relationship with this woman has me unable to account for your concern over Wickham.”
“Your parents, no doubt, told you about my accident and how I came to be in a situation that compromised Miss Elizabeth and her family’s reputation.
I had no choice but to act honourably.” Darcy’s sombre mien told Fitzwilliam that his speculations were on the mark, that Darcy had finally been forced into a marriage that he could not want.
“And the lady, is she so bad?”
“She has no connections, no dowry to speak of; her family is obscene, and her mother’s relations are in trade.”