Page 23 of The Painting (Pride and Prejudice Variation)
F or the next three days, joy was an overused word among the party of friends.
Mr Bennet’s consent and blessing arrived, together with a note from Mrs Bennet expressing her exhilaration.
That very day, Bingley wrote to his sisters—in his usual inelegant and hasty handwriting.
Then he joined his betrothed on a visit to Colonel Forster and his wife to convey their acceptance for the ball under the new circumstances.
Unaware that her aunt had already provided both Mr Gardiner and Mr Bennet with all sorts of details and speculations, Elizabeth wrote to her father about her last week in Brighton. He replied, warning her that she had mentioned Mr Darcy’s name five times in two pages.
Elizabeth delayed her next reply, as she had no answer prepared yet.
Her relationship with Darcy developed every day but he had not declared himself yet.
As intimate as their nighttime encounter had been, it was not a true marriage proposal.
While doubts troubled her from time to time, she trusted him enough to assume that a second proposal would eventually come.
She had come to realise how much she wished for her happiness to be connected to him and how well suited he was for her—in every way.
To Julia’s astonishment and surprising even himself, Darcy visited Sir Samuel Fitzroy again twice.
Both visits were as short as a shared drink, and neither of them mentioned Lady Anne or any story from the past ever again.
They discussed the war, the weather, life in Brighton compared with London—as was usual with gentlemen barely acquainted, who enjoy each other’s company, in a truce that both respected.
Two days prior to the ball, Darcy was having a discussion with Bingley about hosting a large dinner at Mrs Clarke’s house before they left Brighton.
It was late in the evening when the servants announced that Mr Bingley had a visitor. They went to the door together and found Colonel Forster, looking at them with an expression of despair on his face.
“Mr Bingley, forgive me for coming here. I know you are engaged to be married to Miss Jane Bennet and I found it easier to speak to you than to Mrs Gardiner about a matter of great delicacy.”
“What is it, sir? Please come in; you may speak openly in front of Darcy, I have no secrets from him.”
“It is my fault and I take all the blame. Earlier tonight we discovered that Miss Lydia had planned to elope…with Wickham. He was waiting for her in front of the house in a carriage. Fortunately, my wife and I returned home earlier than planned and happened upon them.”
Bingley was stunned, staring with his eyes and mouth wide open.
“Where are they now?”
“They are in my house—safe. Miss Lydia is confined to her chamber. Wickham is under guard, in one of the guest rooms. It seems he had some significant debts to his fellow officers and was unable to pay them, so he tried to escape—”
The colonel seemed devastated by shame and guilt but Darcy hastily ended his speech.
“Colonel, I will personally discuss this matter with Wickham. I will settle things once and for all, as I should have done a long time ago. Bingley, please inform Mrs Gardiner and the Miss Bennets but do not alarm them. Tell them there is no danger. Then please come with them in a carriage to fetch Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty from the colonel’s house. Do you agree?”
“Yes, yes of course! But, Darcy, what will you do? Do you not need my help?”
“No indeed. It is a private matter that has bothered me for far too long. Colonel, please—let us go. And do not blame yourself for trusting Wickham, many other honourable men and women have been in your position before.”
∞∞∞
Elizabeth barely felt the movement of the carriage that was travelling at high speed. Next to her, Mrs Gardiner was silent too.
Half an hour ago, they were all getting ready for bed when they received Bingley’s shocking visit. He asked to speak to Mrs Gardiner privately, then Mary was left with the children, while she and Jane were summoned to dress.
Only when they were outside, fearful of not disturbing the other guests, did Mrs Gardiner tell them what had happened. They sneaked out like thieves, to avoid being seen, to the main road where Bingley was expecting them with the carriage prepared.
Elizabeth glanced at Jane’s pale and distressed face and wondered where her sister’s glow had disappeared to in such a short time. Next to her, Bingley sat confused, embarrassed and helpless.
“Mr Bingley, the colonel said Lydia did not leave the house at all; am I correct?”
“Yes, Mrs Gardiner. He caught Miss Lydia in time.”
“We should thank the Lord for that,” Mrs Gardiner said. “I imagine the colonel was very angry.”
“He was, ma’am, and he blames himself. But Darcy was even angrier, I do not remember ever having seen him like this before.”
“But what can Mr Darcy do?” Mrs Gardiner continued.
“I do not know. He seemed confident he could settle the matter once and for all. That is what he said. ”
Elizabeth barely listened to them, overwhelmed by guilt and despair.
She had known the truth and could have easily anticipated Wickham’s schemes.
She should have been more careful, especially once Jane’s engagement was announced.
With her sister to be married so well, Lydia had gained more interest for a fortune hunter like Wickham.
He knew he could benefit from a rich brother-in-law.
That was if he actually intended to elope and marry Lydia at all.
Even with the elopement interrupted, the shame would remain and would affect their name so much that it could be reason for Bingley to break the engagement. He would likely not do it, as he was too much in love with Jane.
But the officers would surely find out, and rumours might have already arisen at Crawford Cottage due to their sudden departure.
The gossip would spread around like the wind.
Elizabeth barely dared to think of Darcy.
After all he had been through, after all the torment, the grief, the suffering—caused by his memories as well as by her rejection and accusations—he had finally found some tranquillity, which had been ruined in an instant.
Surely she could not expect him to be associated with such a scandal, especially with the man who had tried to hurt his sister too.
If she had some reason and sensibility left, she would abandon any hope of a second proposal.
Even his friendship was unlikely under the new circumstances and he would very likely leave Brighton the very next day.
Any man in his position would do the same—especially one that had already been rejected once.
“Lizzy, we have arrived. What is it, my dear? Are you crying?” Jane asked.
“Why would I cry? My eyes are just tired; I am exhausted and very angry.”
“Come, let us enter,” Mrs Gardiner said. “We will have time for anger and arguments later.”
The colonel’s wife met them with her usual serenity. She seemed unaffected and even invited them to have a cup of tea.
“Thank you, Mrs Forster but we are in a great hurry. Please show us where Lydia and Kitty are and we will take them home,” Elizabeth said harshly.
“They are in their usual room. Only it is locked—my husband insisted on it. What an unpleasant situation, just before the ball! I assume you will not attend, will you? If not, I will have to find other ladies, or else the party will be ruined!”
Elizabeth could barely hold her composure. Inside the chamber, Lydia began to whine the moment she saw them.
“You are all horrible and unfair to me! I love Wickham and I will marry him, no matter what! I will elope again, you will see! He will come after me! Mama would understand me! She would be so happy to know I was marrying a handsome officer!”
Elizabeth grabbed her arm so tightly that Lydia squealed in pain.
“Lydia, shut your mouth this very moment. Now! Kitty, collect your clothes and let us leave. Now!”
“But Lizzy—”
“I said NOW. Do not tempt me, Lydia, or else I will punish you as Mama and Papa should have done a long time ago! Do not embarrass us further. Keep your mouth shut and let us go to the carriage. This instant!”
With whines and cries, Lydia followed her, while Jane took Kitty’s arm. At the bottom of the stairs, Mrs Gardiner was waiting, together with Bingley and Darcy. The latter glanced at Elizabeth briefly but she averted her eyes, too mortified to face him.
Within minutes they were in the carriage, with only Bingley joining them. Elizabeth longed to know about Darcy but did not dare ask.
Lydia began to whine again, while Kitty kept repeating it was not her fault and Jane tried to comfort them both.
“Lydia, listen to me well,” Mrs Gardiner interjected. “I will go back to Mrs Crawford’s to be with my children. You and Kitty will sleep at Mrs Clarke’s cottage, with Jane and Lizzy. You will share one room, all together. And tomorrow afternoon we will return to Longbourn.”
Elizabeth startled, looking at her aunt in wonder .
“Darcy suggested it and Mrs Gardiner agreed,” Bingley explained. “He said that there are other guests at Crawford Cottage while at Mrs Clarke’s it is only the two of us. We do not want to cause any more trouble than necessary.”
“But I do not want to leave! I want to marry Wickham! I know he will come for me,” she repeated until the carriage arrived at their destination.
During the next hour, Mrs Clarke—their new host—showed perfect discretion and efficiency. Several rooms were free and clean, but Elizabeth chose one on the top floor, with a heavy door that was easy to lock.
Luckily, Lydia and Kitty fell asleep as easily as they used to at home. Jane struggled for a while, until she was overcome by tiredness too. But Elizabeth remained awake, staring through the window, listening in vain for the sound of a carriage or horse.