Page 29 of The Fire at Longbourn (Pride and Prejudice Variation)

“Mary, my dear!” Lady Lucas clucked, rushing over to greet the third Miss Bennet. “It is so wonderful to see you in company again. How are you, dear?”

“Yes, how are you, Miss Mary?” Mrs. Long demanded. “When I heard what you did at Longbourn; well, my dear, you are quite the heroine of the year! You saved your mother’s life.”

“I am feeling better every day,” Mary said, looking rather uneasy, “and yes, I thank God often that neither Mother nor I perished in the flames.”

Mrs. Long’s niece Phoebe had given up her place at the pianoforte to her sister Sarah, and she was now standing by her aunt.

“Is it true that you went upstairs while the fire raged around you to save Mrs. Bennet?” she asked Mary, her eyes round with awe.

“Erm, yes, that is, I knew that she had not yet come down…”

Mary cast a beseeching look at Kitty, who promptly said, “I promised to look after Mary and make certain that she eats and drinks. Perhaps you can speak with her later?”

“Of course, of course!” the ladies responded and retreated to chat and gossip with the others in the room.

Mary released a soft sigh, and Kitty said, “Are you all right, Mary? Shall I get you a drink or some food?”

“I will prepare a plate for you if you tell me what you would like,” Bingley offered from his position nearby. He knew that Jane was determined to keep a close eye on Mary, who still looked pale and thin after her ordeal. And he, of course, intended to stay very close to the lady he loved.

Elizabeth had also chosen to stay moderately near Mary, but now, confident that her sisters and Mr. Bingley would take care of her injured sister, felt free to join her father, who was talking with Mr. Darcy.

She walked up to the two gentlemen in time for her to hear Mr. Bennet say, “Yes, I had two books about Michelangelo. He was definitely a genius, do you not think, Lizzy?”

Elizabeth nodded and said, “Indeed, he was. My father had a marvelous folio with images of some of his paintings and sculptures.”

“I had the opportunity to see the Sistine Chapel some years ago,” Darcy said. “It was truly marvelous.”

At this point, Sir William surged into view and said, “Mr. Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Miss Elizabeth, I have not yet had the opportunity to say how much we appreciate your attendance tonight at this most joyous occasion while we celebrate Charlotte’s betrothal to Mr. Collins.

And, of course, we are happy for your family as well, Mr. Bennet, Miss Elizabeth.

I am certain that Mr. Bingley and Miss Bennet will be very happy together. ”

“I have no doubt you are correct,” Bennet said, his face relaxing into a genuine smile. “Jane and Bingley have very similar dispositions and are genuinely fond of one another.”

Sir William beamed and then turned to Darcy and said, “Thank you for bringing Miss Mary and Miss Kitty from the Lodge; that was very kind of you.”

“Mr. Bingley was the one who made all the arrangements,” Darcy declared, “so he deserves the credit.”

“Indeed he does,” Sir William agreed, just as Sarah Long began playing an Irish reel.

Lydia took the hand of Captain Denny, who led her out to dance, and Elizabeth, easily able to determine the look of longing on Kitty’s face, said, “I am certain that Kitty would enjoy dancing. I will go sit near Mary so that Kitty can enjoy herself.”

“I suspect Bingley would like to take Jane onto the floor as well,” Bennet said jovially. “Come along, Lizzy.”

The two Bennets made their way over to Jane and Kitty, both of whom, after brief protests, happily relinquished their oversight of Mary so that they could enjoy some dancing.

Elizabeth settled into the seat left by Kitty and, after making certain that Mary was comfortable, looked up and was surprised to observe that Mr. Darcy had walked over to join her father.

After a moment’s cogitation, however, she remembered that Mr. Darcy seemed uncomfortable with strangers, and by now the master of Pemberley was at least an acquaintance, if not quite a friend.

“The ladies of Meryton certainly have much to be thankful for in the arrival of the militia regiment,” Mr. Bennet remarked. “It has been many years since there were enough young men to partner the ladies at assemblies and parties such as these.”

Darcy carefully looked over the dance floor once, then again, and felt himself relax. Wickham was no longer present, and Darcy was hopeful that the man had been sensible enough to depart Lucas Lodge to avoid any sort of confrontation.

He realized, belatedly, that Mr. Bennet had said something, and it took him a moment to recall the words.

“I suppose that is true,” Darcy agreed. “So many young men have been called to fight in the wars against Napoleon that there is a dearth of men at parties.”

“That is quite true, sir,” Bennet replied, and added sardonically, “that is why a lady has occasionally been forced to sit out a dance, even if in appearance, she is more than tolerable.”

“Father!” Mary and Elizabeth cried out in dismay.

Darcy, frowning in confusion, first looked at Miss Elizabeth, who was blushing fiercely, and then at Mr. Bennet. “Tolerable, sir? I do not understand.”

Bennet grinned, and then, recollecting the debt he owed to the man standing in front of him, shook his head in contrition. “Kindly forget I said that, Mr. Darcy,” he said. “It was poorly done.”

Darcy’s gaze shifted to Elizabeth again, and observing the obvious discomfort on the lady’s face, Darcy said, “Please, I feel that I am missing something of vital importance. What is this in reference to?”

Elizabeth cast a resentful look at her father and then said to Darcy, “You may remember that you attended an assembly where I was forced to sit out a dance due to want of a partner. Mr. Bingley urged you to dance with me, whereupon you said that ‘she is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.’”

Darcy’s mouth dropped open, his face flushed fiery red, and he choked on his own spittle.

“Miss Elizabeth,” he finally managed to say. “I apologize, most humbly, for my dreadful discourtesy. I had no idea you heard me, not that there is any excuse, of course, for such a monstrous insult.”

He groaned aloud and Elizabeth stood up and said, “Indeed, Mr. Darcy, you are forgiven. It was rather rude, but I now understand you are not comfortable with strangers.”

“And I ought not to have mentioned it, Mr. Darcy,” her father said in a penitent tone. “We are all greatly indebted to you.”

“On the contrary, sir,” Darcy replied with reasonable calm, though his countenance was still flushed with embarrassment.

“I am thankful you told me that I was overheard, which allows me to apologize. Miss Elizabeth, pray believe me when I say that you are quite one of the most handsome women of my acquaintance, and in no way, merely tolerable.”

Elizabeth laughed and shook her head. “Now, now, Mr. Darcy, you must not shift from disdain to flattery so readily. But come, I beg of you, please let us not speak of it again. I forgive you for your thoughtless remark.”

“I am most appreciative,” Darcy said, his eyes fixed on Elizabeth’s piquant face, “though please do believe me when I say that I am not prone to flattery.”

“Indeed, I know you are not,” Elizabeth replied with a rather forced laugh.

“Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy said impulsively, “might I have the honor of the next dance with you?”

“Oh, as to that, I must watch over Mary.”

“Nonsense, Lizzy,” Mary said, watching the couple with interest. “Jane or Kitty will likely return after this dance, and if not, Father can look after me, or Lady Lucas, or any of our other friends.”

Elizabeth found she could not reject the man, not with his handsome face gazing upon her appealingly and his eyes full of hope.

“Of course,” she said, “that would be delightful.”

/

“Well, Mr. Darcy, I must thank you,” Elizabeth said a few minutes later as the two moved through the figures of a country dance. “I can see all my neighbors are quite impressed to observe us dancing together.”

“It is my pleasure,” Darcy said, and he meant it. He felt his gloved fingers tingle every time they touched Miss Elizabeth’s fingers during the dance, and his heart beat with a strange excitement.

The two were separated by the movement of the dance, and Darcy passed by both Miss Kitty and Miss Lydia, both of whom were glowing with pleasure.

He was, he realized, pleased for them. He knew that both girls had been forced to take on new and difficult roles since the fire, and these few hours were doubtless a delightful respite from their troubles.

Elizabeth shifted back into position across from him, and Darcy observed that the lady’s expression was now thoughtful.

“Is something wrong, Miss Elizabeth?’ he asked in concern.

“No, no, not at all,” she replied. “No, I was just thinking that in addition to the benefits of having numerous officers for dances, there are yet greater advantages for our little town. It must be a great boon to the shopkeepers, the butcher, the baker, and the blacksmith, to have so many additional customers.”

“Perhaps,” Darcy said drily, “but only if the men pay their debts before they leave.”

Elizabeth twirled around him, her brow now wrinkled in perturbation. “Do you think they will not?” she demanded.

Darcy managed a shrug in the midst of the steps.

“I would say it is almost certain that several will renege, as is regrettably the way of many a gentleman’s son.

I also have personal knowledge of one of the militia officers, and I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he will not pay his bills, because he never does. ”

Elizabeth’s eyes had widened throughout this grave recital, and she said, “Mr. Wickham.”

Darcy gulped, and his face hardened. “What do you know of Mr. Wickham?”

“Very little,” his partner said quickly.

“I know that he dislikes you, and my sister Lydia gave a rambling, vague account of a stolen church living, but she did not pay much attention, and given our own family’s problems, I did not care to learn more.

I know you are a good man, regardless of what the lieutenant might say. ”

Darcy was supremely thankful for these words, but he could not help but ask, “Wickham said nothing else?”

Elizabeth peered at the gentlemen with concern.

There was a note of fear in the man’s voice.

“Nothing of note, certainly. Or perhaps he did say something else, and Lydia ignored him. I love my sister, but she does not exactly listen well unless she is very interested in the topic at hand, and she is not usually concerned with the complaints of others.”

Darcy felt his shoulders relax with relief just as the last strains of the music came to an end. The dancers clapped, and Darcy managed to clap with them, though not with any enthusiasm.

“Miss Elizabeth, might I take a few minutes to explain a little more about my relationship with Mr. Wickham?” he asked suddenly. He would not tell her about Georgiana, of course, but he wanted Elizabeth to know ... he needed her to know, that he was as honorable as she thought.

Elizabeth bit her lip before saying, “It is not necessary, sir.”

“No, please, I wish to tell you.”

/

In the carriage

On the way to Longbourn

An Hour Later

“Mr. Darcy paid Mr. Wickham three thousand pounds to give up all rights to the church living,” Elizabeth said, her voice angry in the darkness of the carriage.

“And that was at Wickham’s request. The lieutenant also received an additional thousand pounds from the elder Mr. Darcy’s will.

The man proceeded to spend it all in a few short years.

He is a gambler and a spendthrift! Moreover, he has a long history of failing to pay his debts. ”

“That is atrocious,” Jane said, reaching out to pat her sister’s hand, “but it hardly concerns us. Perhaps Mr. Wickham now regrets his former ways and wishes to make a new start in the militia.”

“I think it does matter,” Mr. Bennet mused aloud. “If the man is prone to reneging on his debts, it will go hard on the merchants who are giving him, and the other officers, credit.”

“He also lied to Lydia about the church living,” Elizabeth said. “That is not the behavior of a repentant man.”

“That is true,” Jane said and then sighed.

She did not wish to think of degenerate men, not with the memory of Mr. Bingley’s hands on her own during the dance, of his eyes lingering on hers.

But her father was correct; if there was one thing she had learned in the last weeks, it was that a few pounds one way or another were a serious matter for merchants and tenants and the like.

“I will mention it to Sir William,” Mr. Bennet declared. “As the local magistrate, he is best suited to talk to the various shopkeepers and the like.”

Lydia, who was sitting in the corner of the carriage, listened to all of this with mild interest. On the one hand, it was a pity that handsome Mr. Wickham was neither wealthy nor particularly honest. On the other, well, she did enjoy dancing with a handsome man in a red coat.