Page 31 of The Talented Daughters of Longbourn

Drawing Room

Longbourn

Elizabeth felt her body relax when she entered the drawing room with the Netherfield party at her heels and discovered only Charlotte and Jane waiting.

Charlotte rose to her feet and graciously welcomed her guests, and Elizabeth was confident that the Netherfield party was entirely unaware of any dissension in the house.

She could tell, based on the tightness on Jane’s face, and the slightly unsteady timbre of Charlotte’s voice, that there had been some sort of altercation which had resulted in the elder Mrs. Bennet being ousted from the room.

“Mrs. Bennet, Miss Bennet,” Darcy said, bowing a little, “please do accept my condolences on the loss of the elder Mr. Bennet.”

“Thank you,” Jane answered. “It is indeed a great sorrow to us, though we rejoice that he is free from pain.”

“Please do sit down,” Charlotte suggested, and the ladies and gentlemen took their seats. Darcy was not surprised to discover that his cousin Fitzwilliam had taken a place next to Miss Bennet. A minute later, he realized that he had unconsciously made his way to a seat near Miss Elizabeth.

He felt guilty for a moment; it was not right to give either lady any hope of marriage. But on the other hand ... well, they would be departing for London soon. This was his last goodbye, and he would probably never see Miss Elizabeth’s bright eyes and slender, active figure again.

“It is kind of you to visit, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth said, distracting him from his morose thoughts.

“Oh, it is the least we can do,” he replied and then, after a moment’s hesitation, added, “moreover, this is a farewell visit. My sister, cousin, and I are returning to London tomorrow.”

Was that a hint of disappointment flashing across Miss Elizabeth’s face? If so, it was quickly smoothed away. “I hope you have an excellent journey, sir.”

“Thank you.”

There was an awkward pause as Darcy wracked his brain on what to say.

Fortunately, the door opened to reveal two maids with tea trays.

Elizabeth rose to assist Miss Bennet in preparing tea for the company.

Darcy, when he received his cup from Miss Elizabeth’s hands, was surprised to discover it was exactly as he liked it.

How did she…? Oh yes, she had spent several days at Ne therfield nursing her sister.

She had obviously noticed his preferences then.

“Will Mr. Bingley and his sisters and brother-in-law also be returning to London?” Elizabeth asked, taking her place again.

“No,” Darcy said, taking a sip of tea, before adding, “Well, his sisters and Mr. Hurst may be leaving soon, but Bingley is determined to stay here to oversee the estate.”

“That is good of him,” Elizabeth said with approval. “I understand he has never managed an estate before, and winter is a good time to learn the particulars of the lands and the tenantry.”

“Precisely,” Darcy agreed. “Indeed, I was intending to stay at least two more weeks before departing, but circumstances have changed.”

He stopped, suddenly aware that he had said too much. He ought not to even so much as reference Wickham.

Miss Elizabeth glanced around and lowered her voice. “Is there any chance your departure has something to do with a certain new lieutenant in the militia?”

Darcy felt his spine straighten and his jaw tighten. “Yes. Are there any rumors about…? What is being said? ”

The lady across from him studied him in some surprise, and again he felt a stab of compunction. He was saying too much. He was revealing too much.

“Mr. Darcy,” the girl said, leaning forward a little and lowering her voice further, “I do beg you not to concern yourself excessively. The inhabitants of our little town may not be as sophisticated as the people in London, but when a fine, upstanding gentleman like yourself strikes a new arrival in the mouth, we take notice. We know you are an excellent man, and thus Lieutenant Wickham must be a reprobate.”

Darcy stared at her in surprised gratitude. Given Wickham’s silver tongue and his own stiff demeanor, it was very rare for someone to come to such a rapid conclusion. All the same…

“That is kind of you, Miss Elizabeth, but I beg you to be on your guard. My old acquaintance has a natural charm and a ready tongue. He may well convince your family and your friends that his nature is honorable. He is particularly successful with young girls, I fear.”

Now why had he said that? The obvious assumption would be that Georgiana had fallen under Wickham’s spell, and though he trusted Miss Elizabeth, there was no reason to mention such a thing!

To his surprise, his companion chuckled and said, “Well, he has already tried to do exactly that with Kitty and Lydia. They met him at a party at my aunt’s house a few days ago, and he spun quite a tale for them.”

Darcy felt his eyes bug out slightly in his anger. If Wickham had mentioned Georgiana, he would definitely knock a few teeth out!

“What did he say?” he demanded.

“Pray do not be concerned, sir. Lydia and Kitty did not believe a word of any of it. He said that he was your father’s godson and that your father had intended a valuable living for him, but that you, inspired by jealousy, refused to award the living, thus forcing the lieutenant into comparative poverty. ”

Darcy hesitated, but he could not help himself. “He said nothing else about my family?”

The lady tilted her head in a thoroughly beguiling way, and her brow furrowed in thought.

“Lydia said that Mr. Wickham claimed your father was a good and generous man, but that you and Miss Darcy are proud and rude to those beneath you. That was enough to convince Lydia and Kitty that he was lying; Miss Darcy is shy, but she is gentle and kind. My sister could tell that the lieutenant was playing a part, that he was an actor with himself as the persecuted protagonist.”

Darcy glanced around, noting for the first time that Miss Lydia was not present. He was impressed and amazed. He had thought the girl a silly little innocent; how had she accurately determined Wickham’s character on such short notice?

“My sister Lydia is interested in theater,” Elizabeth continued softly. “She has memorized many Shakespearean sonnets and plays. She is remarkably adept at comprehending the behavior of those around her.”

Darcy felt as if someone had smacked him across the head as understanding dawned. “At Netherfield, perhaps she was acting a part with Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst?”

Those lovely eyes twinkled. “Yes, sir, that is exactly it. She was playing the role of the innocent country girl in order to charm her hostesses. She meant no harm, I assure you.”

“I did not imagine that she did,” Darcy said, and found himself grinning. Miss Bingley had been so arrogant and condescending toward the youngest Miss Bennet. It was fascinating to realize that the girl had been playing her hostess as a musician plucks the strings of a harp.

“Miss Elizabeth,” Darcy said, forcing himself to consider the matter at hand, “I can only honor you and your family for your perspicacity. Mr. Wickham spoke the truth that he was my father’s godson, and he was a great favorite of my father, who never saw beneath the man’s surface charm.

Before Mr. Darcy passed away, he recommended a valuable living at Kympton, a parish close to Pemberley, for Mr. Wickham, if his godson should choose to take orders.

After my father died, Wickham approached me with the assurance that he did not, in fact, wish to be a clergyman.

He requested, and I paid him, three thousand pounds in return for signing away all rights to the living, in addition to the one thousand pounds my father left for him in his will.

Wickham wasted it all within a few years, and he returned only two years ago when the living became available.

He was angry when I refused to give him the vacancy. ”

Elizabeth had a look of contempt on her face. “Four thousand pounds wasted in a few years? It is beyond belief.”

“Indeed,” Darcy said coldly.

Elizabeth stared into the fire, her beautiful brow creased with concern, and then turned to face him, brown eyes meeting his own.

“Is Mr. Wickham dangerous?”

Darcy bit his lip at these words and considered before saying, “He has never been violent, but he has never needed to be. He is very good looking and was educated at Cambridge, at my father’s expense, so he can easily pass for a gentleman. But he leaves debts wherever he goes and…”

He trailed off, uncertain whether to continue, but the lady in front of him was no shrinking violet, and the local neighborhood should know. “He has seduced many a servant girl and tenant’s daughter with promises of marriage. Pemberley is supporting five of his bastard children.”

The expression on the lady’s face was one of disgust, even revulsion, but she obviously was not ready to swoon in delicate horror. But then the Bennet ladies were country women, and with rabbits in a hutch and the Home Farm nearby, they surely knew a good deal about procreation.

“Thank you,” Elizabeth said. “I know it is not easy to speak of such things, but now that we know the truth, we can take steps to mitigate the dangers of indebtedness and debauchery.”

Darcy eyed her worriedly and said, “I would not think that you, as a lady, should speak of such things with anyone.”

“With your permission, I will speak to my Uncle Josiah,” Elizabeth said promptly. “He is a dedicated, hard-working man and eager to be a good influence on the local community. ”

There was an unspoken intimation that her own father, now dead, would not have bothered to take any steps to protect the populace from a ravager.

“That seems an excellent idea,” Darcy conceded.

/

The Art Room

Longbourn

That Evening

“Have you told Uncle Josiah about Mr. Wickham yet?” Jane asked. The eldest Miss Bennet was seated at a work table, carefully carving a piece of elm wood into the shape of an angora rabbit.

“I have not,” Elizabeth replied, her fingers sketching an image of Mr. Darcy on a sheet of paper.

She had noted before that the master of Pemberley looked very different based on his demeanor and emotions.

She had caught new expressions today and wished to get them down on paper.

“But I will, of course, as soon as possible. ”

“You ought to tomorrow, Lizzy. I think we will likely be moving to London in the near future.”

Elizabeth drew in one aristocratic eyebrow on Darcy’s face and set the tablet aside. “Mamma?”

“Yes, Mamma,” Jane agreed, her lovely face set into ferocious lines of irritation.

“She was quite impossible while you were wandering outside. She began complaining about Charlotte to Mrs. Long, very openly, and it took Lydia fifteen minutes to convince Mamma that she was tired and needed to sleep.”

Elizabeth groaned and rubbed her forehead. “Will Mamma consent to go to London, do you think?”

“Yes, if our uncle tells her that she may buy one or two lovely gowns for mourning at a fine modiste,” Jane said calmly.

“Once she is there, she will not be able to return to Hertfordshire with ease. Moreover, such an explanation should mitigate local gossip; our neighbors will not be surprised if we prefer Town to the country right now.”

Her sister blew out a breath and leaned against the cushion behind her. “Living with her may prove rather unpleasant, Jane.”

“I suppose it might,” Jane agreed, “but I do not mind going. Uncle Josiah’s house has an excellent art studio, and Mr. Fitzwilliam will be in Town. ”

Elizabeth sat up and stared at her sister in wonder. “What?”

Jane carefully carved another line of the rabbit’s ear before saying, “Mr. Fitzwilliam will be in Town, Lizzy. He and the Darcys are…”

“I know they are,” Elizabeth interrupted. “I am merely surprised at you. Are you in love with Mr. Fitzwilliam?”

“I at least like him very much,” her sister said, her face turning pink.

“We spoke briefly today, and he intimated that he is fond of me as well but is uncertain of the financial side of things. I implied, very delicately, that I have more money than might be expected, though I am not certain he understood me. So we shall see.”

Elizabeth stared at Jane so hard that Miss Bennet flushed even pinker and said, “What is it, Lizzy?”

“I am merely astonished, and yes, pleased, that you have found a man you respect and admire.”

“It may come to nothing,” Jane said in a deliberately casual tone, “but he did indicate that he wishes to visit me in London.”

To Elizabeth’s surprise, she felt a twinge of envy for her sister. What was that about ?

Oh, Mr. Darcy. She liked him. She admired him. She respected him.

But there was no reason to think that the man was interested in her in return, not in a romantic sense, anyway.

Ah well, at least Miss Darcy had asked, shyly, whether they might be correspondents. Elizabeth liked the young lady very much and had been happy to answer in the affirmative.