Page 77 of See, Hear, Speak No Evil, Mr. Darcy
“This, Wickham, is one of the greatest and respected ladies of Meryton, Mrs. Bennet. With her is one of the jewels of the county, her daughter, Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” Lieutenant Denny said. “Ladies, may I introduce to your society Mr. George Wickham, who will, come the morrow, take orders in the regiment. He will give us much distinction, I daresay.”
“Impossible. You must have the very secret of life, Mrs. Bennet. You look far too young to claim Miss Bennet as your daughter, though it is easy to see from whom she was granted her beauty.” Mr. Wickham bowed with exaggerated courtesy.
“Sister, I did not expect to see you come with Lizzy today,” Mrs. Philips interrupted the conversation.
“We were on our way to you,” said Mrs. Bennet.
“Oh, I would like your opinion on the seating arrangements, Lizzy,” Mrs. Philips said to her niece. It was impossible to miss that the young man standing next to Elizabeth continued to observe her with great interest.
“I know I am one of many who are looking forward to attending this evening, Mrs. Philips,” Lieutenant Denny said, glancing at Mr. Wickham.
“Yes, it is only tea and some cards, but we should have a pleasant gathering. Your friend is welcome to be one of the party,” Mrs. Philips said.
The offer was accepted with haste. “Thank you for the gracious invitation. I shall look forward to seeing you ladies this evening.” When Mr. Wickham glanced at Elizabeth, he was met by frowns. “Do not despair. We will see one another again in a few short hours.”
“Come, Sister, there is much to do. No other in Meryton has the eye for arranging tables so well as you,” Mrs. Philips said, wrapping her arm with her sister’s.
Mrs. Bennet asked Elizabeth on their walk back to Longbourn later that afternoon, “You will be on your guard?”
“And we will watch over my sisters, Mother.” Elizabeth wrapped their arms together.
Well satisfied in knowing her daughters would always look out for one another, Mrs. Bennet felt her pride in them swelling in her breast.
Tempering herself, Mrs. Bennet told Elizabeth how she had once thought herself a favorite of a young officer she had known many years ago. And she confessed her shame at being so foolish as not to have suspected the same truths they had witnessed that day in Meryton.
“I am certain you were favored, Mama. You are a beauty that my father was fortunate to catch,” Elizabeth said.
“One’s appearance changes with great frequency, Lizzy. You are intelligent and quick-witted. Mr. Darcy chose a true gem in you, daughter. I do hope you find you are suited.” Mrs. Bennet patted her daughter’s hands.
“This evening, I shall make certain none of my sisters speaks with the handsome yet insincere Mr. Wickham. But we must put them on their guard. It is time they know not all men in uniform areuniformin good intentions. With what they have witnessed in Mr. Collins, they will be receptive to the advice.”
“I am confident you will not lose your head over his handsome looks.” Elizabeth’s blush said all Mrs. Bennet needed to know. “Ah, your heartisengaged. I will only say I hope your wishes will be realized, Lizzy.”
“Please, Mother, we cannot speak of it. My affections, foolishly placed or not, may come to nothing. A courtship is not a betrothal. Nothing is yet certain.”
“Perhaps. But he is a very good man, your Mr. Darcy. Though he is of the first circles, and we are not. I hate to think your heart is to be broken if he left you with disappointed hopes.”
“That is why I beg you keep this news betwixt only those in our family. We will cross paths again, often if Jane andMr. Bingley accept how well suited they are. I would hate the unnecessary awkwardness, because I do consider him a friend.”
“True, and he thinks very highly of you. It seems you have chosen the best path and have no need of me.” Mrs. Bennet stopped before the drive of Longbourn and cupped her daughter’s cheeks. “When you need to cry, do not hold it in nor laugh it off as you are wont to do. You deserve such happiness. I am more sorry than I have words that you are without a dowry or better connections. Your father and I failed you.”
“You did not. We cannot claim a circle of society as his wife would need, no matter if I had Miss Bingley’s dowry. But this day, he is inclined toward me. And while I thank you for the sentiment, I am your daughter and cannot repine it.”
“Now, I must lament all the times I wished you were a son, or I will be the less generous again. That is two years of being on my knees, questioning God and praying for things to change. It is much harder to stand now, so this is not welcome news.”
Elizabeth’s laughter rang out, and she hooked arms with her mother as they made their way down the drive to Longbourn.
That evening, Mrs. Bennet led her daughters into the Philips residence, finding it filled with neighbors and officers alike. She had self-appointed tasks to attend to throughout the evening. Her first task was to warn Mrs. Goulding about the young men and what she had seen that afternoon in front of the drapers. Whilst she attended that, the Netherfield party arrived. Mr. Bingley walked in with Miss Bingley on his arm. Behind them, Miss Darcy and Mary.
Miss Bingley found Miss Darcy and Mary seats near Miss Maria. When the younger girls had tea and cake, Miss Bingleymoved to Mrs. Bennet and asked after Elizabeth and Charlotte; Mr. Bingley immediately went in search of Jane. Mrs. Bennet frowned when she saw “that man” sitting with Elizabeth, who chattered away even without encouragement on Elizabeth’s part.
“Miss Bingley, this one is not to be trusted, so Lizzy occupies him that the younger girls might not gain his notice,” Mrs. Bennet said as they made their way to Elizabeth.
“I have heard Darcy was in the area. I would like to extend my greetings. I grew up at Pemberley in Derbyshire. I was a favorite of Mr. Darcy’s father. He left me a living, but Darcy, the son and now master of the estate, denied my claiming of it.”
Mrs. Bennet knew affrontery on Mr. Darcy’s behalf. Even on short acquaintance, her every feeling was against the thought of such a man as a cleric, and she thought Mr. Darcy had the right of it to deny the living.
“Miss Bingley, might I introduce to you Mr. Wickham?” Elizabeth said, delighted to see Miss Bingley with her mother.
