Imperative: Volume 1, A Tale of Pride and Prejudice (9 page)

Bingley saw Elizabeth’s discomfort.  “Mr. Collins, you should know . . .”

“Girls!”  Mrs. Philips appeared, “Come, come, I have been waiting for you to knock for a quarter hour!   The tea will be cold, and we cannot waste it.”

“Forgive us, Aunt.”  Jane said hurriedly.  “We were just meeting some new people.  Mr. Bingley, Mr. Collins, Mr. Denny, oh, and Mr. Wickham you have returned, this is our aunt, Mrs. Philips.”

“Mrs. Philips.”  Denny and Wickham bowed.

“An honour, madam.  I believe that we have been introduced before, at Lucas Lodge?”  Bingley bowed and smiled.  “Well, it seems that I am interrupting your plans.  I am pleased to see you so well, Miss Bennet.  May I pay a call tomorrow?” 

“We are to have supper with our aunt, sir.”  She blushed.

“Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham would enjoy dining with us, Aunt!”  Lydia beamed. 

Elizabeth closed her eyes but did not chastise her sister before the company. Mrs. Philips startled then smiled.  “Of course, I was thinking that would be wonderful!  I have already invited several other officers and I was just going to ask my husband to come out and ask you, Mr. Denny, and your companion to join us.  We would be glad to have two more handsome young gentlemen join our party.  We have some rousing entertainment planned!  Mr. Bingley?”

“I would be pleased to join you, but I would be loath to leave my family behind, and the four of us would be too much to add unexpectedly to your evening, madam.  I will limit my call to a morning visit to Longbourn.”  He nodded to the ladies. 

“You will be very welcome, Mr. Bingley.”  Elizabeth smiled warmly to him and moved to stand closer to Jane.  “We will be so glad to see you.” 

“Excellent.”  He cleared his throat and gave Jane a last look, then bowed.  “Well then, I will leave you to your tea.  Good morning.”  Mounting his horse, he galloped off.  Jane watched after him then studied her hands. 

Elizabeth smiled, “We have kept Aunt long enough.  Good afternoon, Lieutenant, Mr. Wickham.”

 “Ladies.”  Wickham bowed then seeing everyone was occupied, he leaned towards Elizabeth.  “Miss Elizabeth, forgive me for delaying you further, but I must know, am I to understand that you are to be engaged?  Could it be possible that your cousin Mr. Collins was successful?”

“Mr. Collins?”  Elizabeth started and she looked to find he was watching her even as he bobbed and talked to Jane.  “I had a feeling that he was . . . Oh, my, I certainly hope that he does not have any ideas of that sort!”

“It was certainly the impression Denny and I received upon observing him.  I believe that I am quite relieved for you to learn that it is not true.”  Wickham smiled widely.  “So if it is not to be Mr. Collins, who has won your heart?  I am disappointed to have lost the chance of trying myself.”

“You are too charming by half, sir.”  Elizabeth said uncomfortably as she felt his gaze sweep over her in an all too familiar fashion.  “However I am sworn to silence, in fact I will confirm nothing of your suppositions.”

“That only confirms them.” Wickham winked and smiled when Jane joined them.  “Miss Bennet, will you add nothing to my knowledge or will I be forced to speculate?  I know, I will ask your mother tomorrow evening.”  He grinned to see their horror.  “No?  Then I will assume that you are not engaged at all and are merely avoiding your cousin’s advances, which leaves the field clear for me!”  He laughed as her eyes widened.  “I will go and speak to your father, and ask for permission to visit.”

Elizabeth tried to hold back her tongue, but his presumption was infuriating her.  “Sir, surely there are other ladies who . . .”

Wickham held up his hand.  “Ah I see that I am bringing out the fire in you, Miss Elizabeth.  Forgive me for getting carried away.  I am fond of teasing.  I thought that I saw a kindred soul in you.”  He pursed his lips and smiled. “Please forgive me.”

“Oh, well.”  Elizabeth relaxed slightly.  “Forgive me, Mr. Wickham, I am not accustomed to being teased by new acquaintances.”

“My fault again, well then, I look forward to speaking to you again tomorrow evening, when we may further our friendship?”  He raised his brows and bowed to her. 

“Yes.”  Elizabeth spoke slowly as she looked over the confident man. “I will certainly be happy to see you with my Aunt’s company.”  Gathering her sisters, she shooed them into the house.

“Handsome ladies.”  Denny remarked and looked over his shoulder at the Philips’ home.  “Did any strike you?”

“Miss Lydia looks to be good fun.”  He laughed along with Denny, “But I think that Miss Elizabeth would be a great deal more.”

“Ah, I think you might be out of luck there.  At least on her part there might be an attraction to someone significant.”

“Mr. Collins.”  Wickham snorted.

“Hardly, although that fellow seems confident that he is the one for her.  No, some other man was mentioned, a rich one.  Difficult to imagine such a match, but you know ladies and their hopes.”

“They are always impossibly high.  I can imagine that Collins will not be easily discouraged.  What was the rich man’s name?”

“Hmm, I must admit that I was not listening closely.”  Denny shrugged.  “Village gossip.”

“I am sure we will hear our share of it over the coming months.”  Wickham laughed.   “And perhaps add to it!” 

Denny’s brow creased as he thought.  “He hails from Derbyshire, as a matter of fact.”  Seeing Wickham’s interest, he nodded, “Yes that is your home county.  Perhaps you know the family?  Let me think, oh yes, Darcy was the name.”

“Darcy?”  Wickham stopped dead.  “Was there a first name?”

“No, but there was some mention of an estate . . . Pemberley, and that he is nephew of Lady Catherine . . .”

“De Bourgh.”  A mixture of fear and anger spread through Wickham. 

“You do know him?”  Denny watched him curiously.  “Are you well?”

“Is Darcy here?  In Meryton?  In Hertfordshire?”

“No, I gather he is in London and due to return on Friday or Saturday.  Wickham?”

“Do you think he really is attached to Miss Elizabeth?”  Wickham stared into the horizon.  “Do you?”

“Not knowing him I could not say, but all indications from the lady and the giggling of her sisters, I would say there is something brewing for certain, and more than wishful thinking on their part.”  Denny watched him.  “What are
you
thinking?” 

“You were invited to their home, were you not?”  Wickham raised his brow.  “What say we go now?”

“What is the point?  The ladies are here.”

“Precisely, and their father is probably at home.”  Wickham smiled grimly.  “It is a good thing they did not have a uniform available for me, and I could not sign on until it arrives.”

Denny’s mouth dropped open.  “You are not joining?” 

“I am leaving as soon as I pay this call.”

WEDNESDAY MORNING Darcy sat alone in his solicitor’s office reading over the settlement, and wondering what else he could add to make up for the unhappiness he would be bringing Elizabeth.  “I do not think that more pin money is the way to her heart.”  Setting the papers aside, he stared out the window at the traffic below, watching the fashionable people pass, and every moment feeling less like one of them.  “What did you ask me for, Elizabeth?  Honesty?  Respect?” 

“Respect?”  Samuel Darcy stuck his head around the corner.  “What are you musing about, William?”

Darcy startled and got to his feet to shake his cousin’s hand.  “What brings you here?”

“I work here.”  Samuel waved his hand and saw Darcy’s surprise.  “You did not know?”

“No, I am sorry; I have been rather preoccupied of late, as you might understand.  I am afraid that I have not paid close attention to family news, besides, Mr. Easterly came to the house for our first discussions of this settlement.”  They sat and he smiled.  “I thought you were to go to work with your father?  Or were you to become a barrister?”

“I am to become a judge, so I have been told.”  He sighed.  “But honestly, I would be just as happy being a country solicitor, taking care of the people of the neighbourhood.”

Darcy nodded.  “Your father would not stand for that.” 

“No.  And he has made that quite clear.”  Samuel looked to his hands.  “My working here is seen as the least objectionable form of rebellion.” 

Darcy’s brow creased.  “Rebellion?  This is a very old and respected firm.  If you do not wish to pursue work in the courtroom, what is the problem?”

“Ah, well Father grew up on Pemberley, watching his uncle become a judge.  When our great-uncle died and his portrait was hung in the gallery, Mrs. Reynolds told me that Father would go and stand before it, almost like a pilgrimage every time he visited.  He loved our great uncle, perhaps even more so than our grandfather.  It is his example that made Father pursue the bench, and he expects the same of me.”

“And you said no, good for you, and thank you for saying no to Georgiana.”  Darcy shook his head sadly.  “This is not your failure to repair.”

“I thank you for not supporting the idea.  If you had been behind it, I am afraid . . .” Samuel saw Darcy’s distress and spoke quickly, “If she were not so young, if I knew her better . . . I am sorry William.  She is very sweet, but . . .”

“No, please.”  He held up his hand.  “If she never marries, I do not care.  She has a significant dowry for her support, and of course she is welcome to stay at Pemberley forever.  But I would prefer to see her live a full life.”

“If it were not for this . . . situation,” he caught Darcy’s eye and waved his hand over the settlement, “there would be no need for any of this.  Your plans for this . . . result . . . though . . .”

“What choice have I?”  Darcy said softly.  “I will not abandon either of them.”

“Perhaps . . .” Samuel hesitated.  “I have heard of teas and potions that may be drunk . . .”

“Richard suggested that already, but she may be too far along for anything to be effective, and those things would put her life, or at the least her physical well-being, in danger.”  He looked up and met his eye.  “Believe me, I have considered endless possibilities.”

“I may be six years your junior, Darcy, but I have known since I was very young that you will analyze anything that concerns you to death before you make a decision.  If this marriage scheme is what you believe to be the best solution, then so be it.”  Samuel smiled to see the appreciation in Darcy’s eyes.  “My father, however . . .”

“I have never seen him so angry before.”  Darcy bit his lip.  “How was he after we departed?”

“Cold fury.” 

“Taken out on you?”

“No, he held it inside, like everything else.”  Samuel sighed.  “He discovered that you are not a pushover, William.  That claim of being the Master of Pemberley took him by surprise.”

Darcy’s brow creased.  “Why?  I am.”

“Believe me, I know.”  Samuel laughed.  “I am sure that like everything, you have considered this lady’s mettle before choosing her, and given time, Father will come to appreciate your decision.  He is a hardnosed individual, like you.”

“Darcyish, you mean.”  He smiled ruefully.  “I have heard that from quite a few individuals.”  

“I am glad to take after Mother’s side.”  Samuel smiled.  “I wonder how
your
mother’s side will take the news of your pending nuptials?”

Sighing, Darcy looked down at the settlement.  “Believe me; I do not look forward to finding out.  At least Elizabeth’s family welcomes me.”

“LOOK AT MAMA, she is beside herself.”  Elizabeth whispered.  “She is dying to announce the engagement.”  She inwardly cringed when she could see her mother actively looking between Mr. Collins and Mary, and could almost envision the thoughts of matchmaking them forming.

“Yes, and look at Papa, he is staring at you so wistfully.”  Jane squeezed her arm.  “Oh, he will miss you, Lizzy.”

“I will miss him.  He seems to have aged in the past week.”  She sighed.  “What am I doing?  Without Fitzwilliam here, this feels unreal, like some fantasy that I imagined.”

“He will be here soon, and it will be well.  You are simply missing him.”  Jane smiled and Elizabeth closed her eyes against her sister’s perpetual equanimity. 

“Lizzy.”  Mr. Bennet stood and walked to the parlour door.  “I would like to speak to you.” 

“Mr. Bennet, there is no time for one of your long-winded discussions with Lizzy; we are leaving for supper with my sister in minutes!”  Mrs. Bennet fluttered and shook her finger at him.  “And you
are
attending!  You have a duty to perform tonight, no avoiding it!”

“What I have to say will not take long, Mrs. Bennet.”  He said with a sigh and stood aside.  “Lizzy?”

“Yes, Papa.”  Elizabeth smiled and led the way into the bookroom to take her favourite chair and watched as her father slowly lowered into his own.  “You do look very tired, have you had trouble sleeping?”

“Yes.”  He smiled a little and met her eye while resting his elbows on the desk and clasping his hands.  “I have had you on my mind, and I dwell upon the subject.”

“Do not worry for me; I am sure that all is well.”  Elizabeth bit her lip.

“Ah, you can hide little from me, Daughter.”  Mr. Bennet watched her.  “You are having second thoughts.”  Elizabeth startled and looked up at him with wide eyes.  “Are you regretting your consent?”  He leaned forward and spoke urgently.  “Now is the time to stop it, this is why I held back from announcing the news to the neighbourhood, and managed the herculean feat of keeping your mother’s enthusiasm contained for four days.  What is wrong?  You were so pleased with his letter; I admit that after I read it, I did not sense any particular expression of . . .”

“Love?”  Elizabeth said softly.  “No, you would not, would you?”

“I admit to not being someone who expresses that feeling often.”  

“I think then we are agreed that Mr. Darcy is one who is not given to displaying emotion freely, either.” 

“Unless he is alone with a woman in a library.”  Mr. Bennet said grimly while she blushed.  “Lizzy, you are hesitant; you have had time to think about this, have you changed your mind?”

“No.”  She twisted her hands.  “I am just feeling a little abandoned, that is all, and it is by no fault of his, he is doing what is necessary to accomplish our wedding, but I still wish that he was here with me.  It happened so suddenly, I took a breath and he was gone like a phantom, and with no announcement it does not feel real, and I feel vulnerable to the unwanted attention of other men.”  She sighed as Mr. Bennet frowned.