Page 37 of Sketching Mr. Darcy
“Perhaps…but I also know that your own preference lay elsewhere, Miss Bennet. I would rather say that you disliked Mr Darcy. You displayed it quite obviously several times.”
“I congratulate you on your keen observation of others’ preferences, Miss Bingley. It is only one of your many accomplishments.”
“Well, one does not need to be a keen observer to notice your inclination. I am sure there were very few people in Meryton who were not aware of your preference. By the way, how did Mr Wickham take the news? You were very good friends. I am sure he was quite surprised. Although I am certain now that, being in a position so above everything you were accustomed to, you will hardly keep your old friendships and old preferences .”
Elizabeth noticed Georgiana’s pallor as she stared at Miss Bingley.
She imagined that Miss Darcy was shocked by her being friends with the son of Mr Darcy’s steward.
She must loathe the mere mention of someone whom her brother despised so.
Elizabeth was so annoyed that she wondered how she would be able to remain calm should Miss Darcy make a disapproving remark about her friendship with Mr Wickham.
“In this you are mistaken, Miss Bingley. I shall not change my preferences or my affection just because this marriage gives me a privileged position. Perhaps, you are not such a keen observer of my character after all, Miss Bingley, or privy to my likes and dislikes.”
“Well, I dare say one can hardly tell now how another will or will not change their habits in the future. You are obviously not aware of what being a part of the ton involves. And it truly makes me wonder once more about the peculiarity of this alliance.”
“Miss Bingley, I am sorry our situation makes you wonder so. I would not want you to bother yourself exceedingly. If you have further questions, perhaps you should ask Mr Darcy himself. You should call again sometime, perhaps when Mr Bingley visits. By the way, my sister Jane will be in town soon. I believe she wrote you about her arrival.”
“Indeed, I have not received such a letter from dear Jane. She is well, I hope?”
“Very well, indeed. She will be pleased to see you both. As I said, you should call again, together with your brother, at a time when my husband is home.”
“My brother will not be home soon. He seems to be very comfortable at his friend’s estate.
The location is splendid, and I understand there are several young ladies who hold his interest. He wished to relax after he left Netherfield, and Mr Darcy encouraged him to do so.
Mr Darcy always takes good care of Charles and only wishes the best for him.
That is why Charles followed his advice to leave Netherfield and remain in town for the winter.
In truth, without Mr Darcy’s insistence, perhaps Charles would be in Hertfordshire now.
We were fortunate that Mr Darcy wisely observed the inconvenience of Charles staying in that area.
I cannot but wonder why he did not use that wisdom in his own case. ”
As Miss Bingley’s voice became stronger and more animated, Elizabeth felt the blood drain from her face and cold shivers tremble along her arms and spine.
She stared at Caroline Bingley, whose self-sufficient smile cut her to the quick.
If Miss Bingley hoped for a victory, that was surely her reward. Nothing could hurt Elizabeth more.
Elizabeth remembered Jane’s suffering when she learnt that Mr Bingley had gone with no intention of returning.
She could not believe what she heard, yet her judgment told her it must have been true.
It was her husband, who convinced Bingley to leave Netherfield—and Jane.
It was her husband who made her sister suffer!
Now Jane was alone, Elizabeth was trapped with the man who had caused it, and Mr Bingley was unlikely to return soon.
She felt all the eyes in the room on her, and she struggled to gather herself together. She could not possibly allow the Bingley sisters to see how angry and hurt she was.
The visit lasted another half hour, and Elizabeth was forced to witness their insincere praise of Georgiana and their mischievous remarks about the Bennet family.
She was too exhausted from quelling her anger and disappointment to respond as they deserved, so she mostly listened in silence, fighting the headache that overwhelmed her.
As soon as they left, Elizabeth excused herself from Georgiana and ran to her room. She knew Miss Darcy was not at fault, but she could not bear to speak to her either .
She paced the room in anger with no cordial feelings for either the master of the house or his sister, so she startled when she heard the latter’s small voice from the door.
“Elizabeth, please excuse me for bothering you. I knocked, but I am afraid you did not hear me. I just wanted to see whether you are well. May I bring you anything?”
Miss Darcy’s voice was so warm that Elizabeth found no reason to reject her, and a trace of shame softened her voice. Miss Darcy reminded her precisely of Jane’s sweet temper.
“I am fine. Forgive me. I just have a terrible headache.”
“I need to apologise for Miss Bingley. She was truly rude to you.”
“Please do not apologise and do not worry about Miss Bingley. I became accustomed to her rudeness after being in close company with her for more than two months.”
“Then I shall leave you to rest. Elizabeth, I just want to ask you—forgive me for being so bold—Miss Bingley said you were friendly with Mr Wickham? Does he happen to be in Hertfordshire? Were you closely acquainted?”
Well, there, so that was the reason for Miss Darcy’s kindness.
She wanted more details to report to her brother.
Elizabeth’s voice sharpened. “Yes, Mr Wickham was in Meryton. He had joined the Militia. Did you not know? And I am glad to call him a close friend although I know that Mr Darcy disapproves of him.”
“I am very pleased to hear that. I have not seen him in a few months, and I hoped he was well. It is good that he found a commission in the Militia and had the fortune to have you as a friend. I imagine William was displeased to find that…”
Miss Darcy’s voice was shy and hesitant, and Elizabeth’s curiosity grew beyond her concern for her own sister. Considering Mr Wickham’s statements about Miss Darcy, Elizabeth would never suspect such a warm concern of her new sister-in-law about the named gentleman.
“Mr Wickham told me a little about his connection to your family. I know he grew up at Pemberley. I understood Mr Darcy was a most excellent man and very fond of him.”
“Yes, that is true. My parents…we were all very fond of Mr Wickham.”
“Except your brother, I would imagine.”
“Oh, it is not… William was not… He just… William is the best brother and the best gentleman. He is always faultless, and he expects everyone to be the same.”
“Yes, I suspected as much.” Elizabeth’s voice was sharp. Of course, Mr Darcy was a man without faults. Even Miss Bingley said so, and she was not to be contradicted!
“I understood you have not seen Mr Wickham for quite some time,” she continued, and Miss Darcy turned absolutely white then crimson and lowered her eyes.
“No, not in the last six months. That is why I was pleased to hear he is well. I shall leave you to rest now, Elizabeth. Thank you and…” She took a few steps then returned, her voice low, unable to hold Elizabeth’s gaze.
“I am sorry to ask you such a horrible thing… I do not want to upset you, but if I am not asking too much, could you please not tell William about our discussion? About Mr Wickham, I mean? I would not wish to upset him.”
“You must not worry about that, I promise you.” Elizabeth took her hands as her anger increased.
How was it possible that Miss Darcy was afraid to mention an old friend’s name in front of her brother?
Was she not allowed to decide whom she liked or disliked?
Was she not allowed to have her own feelings and make her own decisions?
Was this how “the best brother” who was “always faultless” behaved?
After Georgiana left, Elizabeth found no rest. She moved from the bed to the windows, attempted to read with no success, tried to write Jane—but what was to be said?
—then took her diary and filled a couple of pages.
An hour later, her fingers aching from nervous writing, she moved to the windows again. It was getting dark.
A large carriage stopped in front of the house, and she recognised her husband’s figure.
She breathed deeply to calm her nerves, wondering whether she should confront him.
Could she say nothing and only hope that Jane would meet Mr Bingley again and they would be reunited?
At least that much good should come from her forced marriage.
Elizabeth’s attention was suddenly drawn outside.
Mr Darcy stepped to the gate, then he returned and faced a young woman—a servant most likely.
A few words seemed to be exchanged, and Mr Darcy hesitated, looked around, and then turned and walked towards another carriage that was stopped farther down the street.
Elizabeth changed her position so she could see better.
He looked inside the carriage, and a moment later, he entered it.
Elizabeth became intrigued, but she could not see who was in the other carriage. Shortly, her husband appeared again, and entered the yard then the main door. The strange carriage drove by slowly, and Elizabeth saw a shadow within, looking towards the house, but no distinctive figure.
She returned to the middle of the room, wondering about the strange incident.
Who would wait for him outside in the cold and refuse to enter?
They were obviously important for him since he moved towards them.
Was this considered genteel behaviour among the ton —to have a clandestine discussion on the street in the middle of winter?