Page 4 of Searching for Elizabeth
Darcy did not want to go back to the empty Netherfield manor. Looking down the street at all the shops and services, Darcy decided to do something that he almost never did: chat with people he did not know, hoping to learn something that made sense out of all the conundrums heaped up against his goal of warning Elizabeth.
Chapter 4: Wickham
—late that night—
George Wickham carefully extricated himself from the arms of Maggie, or Margie, or some name like that. He looked down at the dozing woman, at her tangled auburn hair and still-flushed, buxom figure, and he smiled at the memory of her willingness to do just about anything he asked. She certainly was not as skilled as a highly paid courtesan, but if he could encourage her to practice her skills…?
Wickham found his way back into the main room of the alehouse. He ordered a tankard of ale, asked the barman to put it on his tab, and looked around the room to ascertain his next entertainment.
He heard the name Miss Lizzy, and he wondered if the speaker meant Elizabeth Bennet. Since he had seen her recently, upset and hauling a trunk through a forest, he would want to hear what was said. After all, knowledge was power.
Keeping his slouch casual, Wickham listened carefully to the man, who said, “Ya, I mean Miss Elizabeth Bennet. I was just wondering why a nob like that was asking about her.”
A somewhat more cultured voice answered, “Well, what specifically did he ask?”
The first man said, “Donna be chafed, John; he just asked if I had seen her that afternoon. Said as her mother needed some’at from the butcher, and Mrs. B. had asked him to give Miss Lizzy the message.”
John replied, “Well, that does not seem at all likely, does it? Not unless Mrs. Bennet was trying to somehow throw Miss Elizain the way of Mr. Darcy. Like, if he gives her the message, he is talking to her, and maybe she talks back to him, and you know how Miss Eliza is, the more she talks, the more a fellow likes her. Maybe….”
Wickham had managed to listen to the entire exchange, and noted that, once the conversation shifted to something about the Longs and the Gouldings, whoever they were, neither Lizzy nor Darcy were mentioned again.
Finishing his ale, Wickham left, his whole body awakened by the mention of Darcy. Was there some connection between Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet?
Chapter 5: Elizabeth
—the next morning—
Elizabeth Bennet was happily sorting the foods that Mary and Hill had managed to pack into Mary’s basket. She was so cheered by the sight of an entire cup full of elderberry jam—she was quite hungry, at the moment—that she must have stopped listening to what Mary was saying for a second. But when Mary said “Mr. Darcy,”Lizzystopped putting food into the cupboard and whirled around to face her sister.
“Mr. Darcy?” she said.
Mary narrowed her eyes at her sister. Lizzy blushed, embarrassed that she had not been listening. She tried to think of an excuse, but at that moment a loud grumble from her stomach accomplished the task. Both girls giggled at the sound.
Mary said, “You are too hungry to listen to all the Longbourn drama, especially since there were four momentous things that happened yesterday afternoon. Quick, get some food ready, and I promise I will tell you everything while you eat.”
While Lizzy ate a boiled egg, a piece of toast with jam, and a honey cake, Mary told her the news.Elizabeth thought itseemed surprising that four momentous things could have happened since she had left, less than one day before!
First, Jane had received a note almost immediately after Lizzy had left. It was from Caroline Bingley, who had written that, despite her brother’s assurances that he wouldreturnin three days, circumstances had changed; Caroline and the Hursts were also forced to return to London, and they would likely remain in Town for the rest of the winter.
“Oh, poor Jane!” Lizzy said. Tears sprung to her eyes.
“Yes, and Miss Bingley also hinted that Mr. Bingley would probably marry Georgiana Darcy, and that those two were looking forward to seeing each other again soon.”
Lizzy instantlybecameskeptical. That did not seem at all likely, and it cast doubt on the rest of the letter as well. “I bet the whole thing is a lie,” she said. “Of course I believe that Mr. Bingley has business to handle in London, because that was the plan weeks ago, but I think Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst just took advantage of his absence and decided to escape back to the oh-so-elegant folks they prefer. As for Mr. Bingley marrying Miss Darcy, Mr. Darcy said his sister would not be out until she waseighteenornineteenyears old, several years from now. I am almost positive he would be angry if he knew Miss Bingley was spreading this rumor about his sister!”
“I agree,” Mary said. “But when I told Jane that, she said that she was certain that Mr. Bingley was just a good man who was likely in love with Miss Darcy, and that Miss Bingley would never, ever dissemble, and that she had been foolish to get her hopes up…”
“That is another thing that makes mebelievethe entire letter is rubbish,” Lizzy said. “No one who saw Mr. Bingley and Jane together could doubt that he loves Jane, not Miss Darcy.”
Mary related how Jane had cried,Mama had yelled, and Lydia had just laughed. “I had to escape,” Mary said. “I just had to take a walk and get away from all of them.”
Lizzy smiled, recognizing in Mary her own response to shrieking and tantrums.
Mary went on, “The second thing that happened was that Mr. Darcy called. Idid not seehim, because he arrived after I left andwasgone by the time I came back, but apparently everyone was crying and carrying on until Mr. Darcy was announced.”
Lizzy shook her head again, still surprised. “Mr. Darcy!” sheexclaimed.
“Yes. I heard all about his visit from Jane, and she said he asked for you.”
