Page 41 of The Talented Daughters of Longbourn

Longbourn

The Next Day

“Mrs. Bennet?”

Charlotte, who was studying an account ledger, looked up into the face of Longbourn’s housekeeper, Mrs. Hill, who was standing at the door of the drawing room with a worried expression on her face.

“Yes, Mrs. Hill?” she asked. “Is anything wrong?”

The woman sighed and said, “Yes, I fear there is something wrong, Madam, though nothing to do with Longbourn. All the same, I think you ought to know.”

Charlotte knew Mrs. Hill to be a sensible woman and not inclined to raise foolish alarms.

“Do come in,” she invited, “and tell me what disturbs you.”

Mrs. Hill entered, shut the door behind her, and said, “It has to do with that Mr. Wickham, Madam, whom Mr. Bennet warned us about. ”

“Mr. Wickham?” Charlotte repeated sharply. “What has he done?”

“He is spreading lies, Mrs. Bennet; not about anyone in the family, but about that nice young lady, Miss Darcy. The kitchen maid Polly told me yesterday afternoon that her cousin Phoebe heard from the butcher’s wife, who heard it from her husband, who heard it from one of the servants who serve the militia officers, that Miss Darcy nearly ran off with a rascally man a few months ago. ”

Charlotte lurched awkwardly to her feet and frowned. “That is terrible, but why do you think Mr. Wickham is behind the rumors?”

“I sent a couple of the stable boys to town to discover the source of it,” the housekeeper said.

“I suspected it was likely that Wickham, given that he and Mr. Darcy are enemies, and I was right. He was the one who spoke of the matter at a card game two nights ago. It is not my business, exactly, but what with Mr. Bingley being a good friend to Mr. Darcy, and master of Netherfield, well, I thought we ought to know how the land was lying.”

“You did very well,” Charlotte said, bestowing a distracted smile on the woman.

Not for the first time, she was thankful for a truly excellent housekeeper here at Longbourn; it had made the transition between mistresses far easier.

“I will speak to Mr. Bennet on this matter immediately. If Wickham feels free to lie about the Darcys, he might spread ugly rumors about other women in the area!”

“That is what I was thinking too, Madam.”

/

On the Road to Longbourn

“You could ask Miss Elizabeth for a courtship,” Richard suggested.

Darcy, who had been deep in thought for more than an hour, turned an irritated glance on his cousin. “Thank you, Richard, but I am entirely capable of managing my own romantic affairs.”

Richard, who had spent most of the journey from London in a trance of joy over his engagement, chuckled and said, “I would not say that is necessarily true, Darcy. You have a penchant for speaking immoderately, and indeed, rudely at times, or do you not remember your initial meeting with Miss Elizabeth at the assembly in Meryton? ”

Darcy cringed and said, “I do remember my very regrettable outburst, yes, but I hope my manners have improved since then. I am well aware that Miss Elizabeth is a pearl of great price.”

“It is not merely manners that are the issue here, Cousin,” Richard said, suddenly solemn.

“One of the reasons I fell in love with Miss Bennet is that she is hardly a conventional lady. She rejected a wealthy and charming man in your friend Bingley because she did not respect and love him. I believe Miss Elizabeth to be the same sort of woman. If you do pursue her, do not imagine that she will fall at your feet in gratitude for your notice.”

“I would never expect her to do that!” Darcy exclaimed.

“I know. I simply encourage you to have a humble attitude where Miss Elizabeth is concerned. Do not assume your wealth, your status, your looks, and your connections will win her hand.”

Darcy's lips parted in protest, and then he closed his mouth, frowning thoughtfully.

He had assumed that if he expressed an interest in Miss Elizabeth as a possible wife, the lady would respond eagerly.

Yet, it was true that Miss Bennet had turned down Mr. Bingley, who was, if not as rich as Darcy, much wealthier than Richard.

Miss Elizabeth was, he thought, as independent as her elder sister and even more spirited .

In any case, he was not intending to ask for a courtship; he was here in Hertfordshire to support his cousin when he asked for Josiah Bennet’s blessing in marrying the eldest daughter of Longbourn.

He would probably see Miss Elizabeth Bennet in a short time, and it would be an interesting test. Would his heart leap at the sight of her?

Or would she seem diminished after his time away in London?

Perhaps it was all but infatuation, and his dreams of her were merely the echo of a passing passion.

He heard Richard draw in an excited breath and looked up as the carriage turned onto the drive that led to Longbourn. He smiled. If there was one thing about which he was confident, it was that Elizabeth would be happy for her elder sister’s engagement to Mr. Fitzwilliam.

/

The Library

Longbour n

“How utterly despicable!” Elizabeth raged, striding up and down the floor. “How could Mr. Wickham say such a vile thing about his own godfather’s daughter?”

Josiah, who was seated behind his desk, shook his head and said, “It is truly horrific, my dear. I quite agree. Moreover, it is, besides being evil, decidedly foolish of Wickham; does he think that Mr. Darcy will do nothing about this slur against his sister?”

“Perhaps he thinks with the Darcys now in London, he can safely blacken Miss Darcy’s name?” Charlotte suggested.

“I am so angry!” Elizabeth burst out, her fists tightened in her outrage. “How could he spread such disgusting rumors about a young girl? Why, if this dreadful gossip spreads far afield, Miss Darcy’s reputation could be permanently damaged!”

“It is appalling,” Charlotte agreed, considering her niece sympathetically. Elizabeth was always kind, but given the situation, that she admired Mr. Darcy and was fond of Miss Darcy, it was no wonder that Elizabeth was furious over this situation.

“Do you know the Darcys’ direction in London?” Josiah asked. “I could send a letter to Mr. Darcy warning him of Wickham’s treachery. ”

“I do,” Elizabeth confessed, striding over to the window to stare to the east, “I have been corresponding with dear Miss Darcy since they departed Hertfordshire.”

“I will write a note to Mr. Darcy straight away,” her uncle said, opening a drawer and removing a piece of paper. He dipped his pen into the inkwell and then halted when his niece abruptly cried out, “Oh, there is a carriage arriving and, oh look!”

Charlotte lurched over to the window and peered out, only to draw in a surprised breath of her own. “Is that who I think it is?”

“Mr. Darcy and Mr. Fitzwilliam, yes!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Perhaps they heard of Wickham’s lies and traveled here in haste?”

Josiah joined his wife and niece as the carriage came to a halt in front of the stables and said, “Perhaps, though it seems unlikely the news would have reached them so quickly, unless Bingley sent an express? Perhaps that is what happened. In any case, Elizabeth, kindly come with me, and we will greet our guests.”

“I will ask Cook to provide tea,” Charlotte said.

“On the contrary, I will speak to cook. I am well aware of how tired you are, my love. Stay here and rest. ”

Charlotte, who was indeed greatly fatigued and was also experiencing some pain, nodded wearily and smiled.

“Thank you, dear husband.”

/

Drawing Room

Longbourn

“Mr. Fitzwilliam, Mr. Darcy,” the butler announced.

Elizabeth stood up and curtsied, biting her tongue as she did so. She wished to burst into speech, to acquaint the gentlemen of the dangerous rumors about Miss Darcy, but that was not her role here.

Nor was there any necessity for her to interfere; Josiah, unlike Elizabeth’s father, did not waste time making sly comments and sarcastic asides.

“Mr. Darcy, Mr. Fitzwilliam,” Mr. Bennet said as soon as the gentlemen had bowed to one another. “Are you here regarding the gossip about Miss Darcy? ”

Darcy, who had been peeking at Elizabeth and finding her even more glorious than he last remembered, jerked to attention at these words. “Gossip? What gossip?”

Elizabeth heaved a sigh, and Josiah continued, “I see you have not. Well, in that case, it is most fortunate that you are here. Regrettably, there are serious and negative rumors about Miss Darcy circulating, and Mr. George Wickham is responsible.”

Darcy heard the rest of Bennet’s description of the local scuttlebutt with an icy mixture of fury and terror.

He had warned Wickham – he had warned him – that Wickham had best not say a word about his dear sister.

To hear that his father’s former godson was subtly boasting about his near elopement with Georgiana and also using it to bring scandal down upon her head…

“I will see him in Marshalsea for this,” he said aloud, and his voice sounded peculiar even in his own ears.

“Good,” Elizabeth declared, and when he looked at her, he observed that her face was flushed, her eyes blazing and jaw tight with indignation. “He deserves prison or worse for spreading such despicable lies. How could he be so cruel to such a lovely young lady?”

“He hates Darcy,” Richard said, and his cousin noticed the change from eager suitor to battle-hardened veteran. “We need to find him immediately. We need to imprison him.”

“Yes,” Darcy said and turned to his cousin. “I am sorry, Richard.”

“Sorry for what?” Mr. Bennet asked, and then, belatedly, the light dawned. “Is it possible that…? I do apologize, Mr. Fitzwilliam. Did you come regarding my niece, perhaps?”

“Yes, and Miss Bennet has done me the honor of accepting my offer of marriage, yes,” Richard said, and Elizabeth swung instantly from anger to joy.

“Oh, Mr. Fitzwilliam, how happy I am!” she cried out, hurrying forward to take Richard’s hands in her own.

And Darcy, watching from a few feet away, felt his throat tighten at the sight of that lovely face, wreathed in smiles, grasping the hands of another man. But of course, there was no romance there. No, she was merely delighted for her sister.

“I know that Jane admires and respects you very much,” Elizabeth continued, beaming up at the gentleman.

“And I adore Jane,” Richard said fervently. “I know myself to be the most fortunate man in the world, and yes, Mr. Bennet, I came to request your blessing and speak about the marriage settlements, but that will need to wait.”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Josiah answered. “May I suggest that we call on Colonel Forster first? He is officially Wickham’s commander, and Sir William Lucas and I spoke to him recently, warning him of Wickham’s proclivities.”

Darcy wished to leap on a horse, gallop to Meryton, find Wickham, and punch his teeth out, but he knew Mr. Bennet was right; best to deal with the miscreant formally and legally, and since Wickham was a member of the militia, Colonel Forster needed to be consulted.

“Lizzy, my dear?”

“Yes, Uncle?”

“While we are in Meryton, perhaps you and Charlotte and Kitty can put your heads together about how to mitigate the possible ramifications of these rumors.”

Elizabeth nodded and found herself looking into Darcy’s dark, worried eyes.

“We will,” she promised.