Darcy and Elizabeth What If? Collection 1 (29 page)

The following day was a quiet one at Longbourn. Elizabeth and her sisters had stayed at the Netherfield ball until two o’clock in the morning, and consequently they slept late. Once they were up and dressed, the conversation naturally revolved around the ball. Elizabeth asked Jane several pointed questions, hoping her sister would confide in her if there was anything to confide, but Jane said nothing to any account and Elizabeth thought it best not to force matters. If Jane was indeed falling in love with Mr Bingley, then Elizabeth knew her sister would confide in her when she was ready to do so.

The day afterwards was the day of the boating party.

Just as the Miss Bennets were about to set out, a letter arrived from Mr Gardiner. Elizabeth opened it in the carriage and read it while her sisters laughed and chattered.

She read it once through quickly, scanning it for the most important information. Then she read it again slowly, so that she did not miss anything.

The letter was worrying. Her uncle had made enquiries about George Wickham and had uncovered some disturbing facts. Mr Wickham had run up many debts in London and he had not paid his creditors before leaving. He had been involved in a brawl and he had a reputation for drunkenness. But that was not the worst of it. When she started reading the final part of the letter in more detail, Elizabeth’s hand flew to her chest in horror.

The man I hired to look into Mr Wickham’s past was charged with finding Mr Wickham’s friends and asking them about him, as well as speaking to the tradesmen who had dealings with him. One of those friends told a story that gave me great cause for concern. The friend’s name is Mrs Younge and my investigator managed to win her confidence, with the help of a bottle of gin. She told him things that made me determined that Mr Wickham shall never marry Kitty. I am certain you will feel the same when you know all.

This Mrs Younge told my investigator that she had gained a position as a companion to an heiress, at Mr Wickham’s urging. She would not give the name of the heiress, but she revealed that it was her job to persuade the heiress to run away with Mr Wickham. Apparently, Mr Wickham had a grudge against the heiress’s brother and he wanted his revenge. Luckily for this particular heiress, there was a change of plan as to her whereabouts and shortly afterwards Mrs Younge was dismissed for dishonesty, so the heiress escaped Mr Wickham’s clutches.

No gentleman would use an innocent young woman to gain his revenge on another man but it appears Mr Wickham has done so, and intends to do so again, for Mrs Younge revealed that he has been ingratiating himself with a family who are soon to be closely connected to his enemy. From little things she let slip, I have no doubt that Mr Wickham’s enemy is Mr Darcy. Nor do I have any doubt that the young woman he is using in his scheme is Kitty. I have written to your uncle Philips, telling him he must forbid Mr Wickham from calling at Longbourn and he must make Mr Wickham’s debts known in Meryton. Once it is known that Mr Wickham is a dishonest man, the shopkeepers will not extend him any more credit and that should be enough to persuade him to leave the area.

I myself will come to Longbourn as soon as business allows – next week, I hope – if Mr Wickham has not gone by then. But If Mr Wickham should prove troublesome before then, and if your uncle Philips should prove unequal to the task of banning him from Longbourn, then send me a telegram, Lizzy, and I will come to you at once, business or no business. I will not have Wickham making love to my nieces, or attending them in any way.

The letter was signed by her uncle.

So Mr Darcy was right! Mr Wickham intended to use Kitty for revenge.

And if Mr Wickham’s target here was Mr Darcy, then his first intended victim must have been Georgiana. Thank goodness Mr Darcy had not sent Georgiana to Ramsgate as he had originally intended, thought Elizabeth, remembering that Georgiana had mentioned the abandoned scheme when they spoke at Pemberley. And thank goodness Mrs Younge had now been dismissed so that she could do no more harm in that direction.

But the whole thing was very troubling.

Elizabeth looked across at Kitty. Her sister must be warned, but the carriage was already arriving at Netherfield Park. She decided that, as Mr Wickham could do nothing to hurt her sister in the full gaze of the assembled company, it would be better for her to say nothing until they returned to Longbourn. Then she would show the letter to Kitty, after which, she felt sure, Kitty would not want to see Mr Wickham again.

The carriage did not go down the drive to the house, but instead it took a side drive which led down to the lake. Here everyone was to meet, and as the carriage rolled to a halt, Elizabeth saw they were not the first to arrive. Most of the other guests had already assembled and were talking in animated fashion.

The scene was enchanting. Long trestle tables were covered with snowy white clothes and they were groaning with the choicest food. Roast meats of every kind were laid out on silver salvers, with dressed salads and fruit from the hothouses, as well as bread and confectionery.

Most of the ladies and gentlemen were strolling by the lake, the colourful high-waited gowns of the older ladies forming a delightful backdrop to the white muslins of the unmarried ladies. The gentlemen were in cream pantaloons with blue or black coats, and the officers were resplendent in scarlet coats trimmed with gold braiding.

The lake itself was a blue jewel set in the emerald grass. It had a wooden jetty reaching out into the water. Wooden rowing boats were tied up at the jetty. One boat was already on the water, with Colonel Fitzwilliam rowing Charlotte Lucas and her mother across the lake.

Mr Bingley came forward and greeted them. After welcoming them, he asked them if they would care to go out on the water, or if they would rather stroll.

Lydia replied at once, saying that she was longing to go in a boat, and before long the four Miss Bennets – without Mary, who said she would rather sit at the lakeside – were clambering into one of the larger boats, with much laughter as it rocked beneath them.

Colonel Forster and one of his fellow officers volunteered themselves as oarsmen, and before long, Elizabeth found herself being rowed across the lake in the most agreeable fashion. The day was warm for the time of year and there was a light breeze, which fluttered the ribbons on the ladies’ bonnets but did not disturb their other apparel.

Elizabeth was pleased to be in a boat for another reason. Mr Wickham was on the shore, and so he could not approach Kitty.

Elizabeth felt free to relax and enjoy the day.

Or, at least, she would have enjoyed it, had not the sight of Mr Darcy talking to Mr Bingley on the bank made her feel guilty, for she had misjudged him and she knew she must apologise.

She turned her attention back to her sisters in the boat. Lydia was waving to Mr Denny on the side of the lake but she could not get his attention. She half-stood in the boat and waved again.

‘Lydia! Sit down!’ said Elizabeth.

But Lydia took no notice. She was in high spirits and she stood up completely, laughing and waving and saying, ‘What a lark!’.

‘Sit down, Miss Lydia,’ said Colonel Forster commandingly.

‘Oh, la!’ said Lydia. ‘What a fuss! There is no da—’

But here she began to sway and she broke off, waving her arms about as she tried to regain her balance. She swayed ever more dangerously and Colonel Forster reached out to seize her, but he was too late. Lydia’s antics had proved disastrous and she toppled over the side of the boat. The force of this was so great that the boat itself was in danger of capsizing and Elizabeth shifted her weight instinctively to compensate. But the boat rocked too far and tipped over, throwing them all into the water.

Elizabeth found herself in the water with the boat on top of her and she started to panic. She was an indifferent swimmer at the best of times, and this was far from the best of times. She tried to find her way under the boat but, every way she turned, there seemed to be the boat above her.

And then she felt strong hands catching hold of her and somehow, she knew not how, she was free of the boat and breaking the surface of the water. She coughed and spluttered and gasped in the welcome fresh air. The strong hands held her safely and swam with her to the shore. As she glanced down and saw the hands, she recognised them and knew who her rescuer was.

It was Mr Darcy.

She felt herself lifted out of the lake and she scrambled up the bank before collapsing and coughing up water.

‘Are you all right?’ asked Mr Darcy in gentle tones.

Elizabeth nodded.

‘Yes, thanks to you.’

He took her hand and clasped it tight. But then, as if remember where they were and that his intended bride was only a few feet away, he stood up and moved away from her.

Elizabeth saw the sense of this, although she longed to feel his hands on her again. She had felt so safe and secure. She had felt she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

She gave a deep sigh then looked around for her sisters. She was anxious about them and wanted to know they were safe.

Jane was not far away, and bending over her was Mr Bingley. His clothes were dripping wet and he had evidently saved Jane.

Lydia was climbing out of the lake by herself. Lydia had always been a good swimmer and her antics had thrown her free of the boat when it capsized, so that she had not been trapped beneath it.

Kitty, too, was safe. Mr Denny had dived in to the lake and was helping her up the bank and attending to her.

Mr Wickham had not made any move to go to Kitty’s rescue, and Elizabeth felt only disgust for a man she had, at first meeting, been prepared to like. He was a scoundrel and a wastrel and he did not deserve any more of her time or attention.

Mr Darcy was busy making arrangements to take the Miss Bennets back to the house. She heard him telling the servants to bring the carriage immediately and within a few minutes he had organised everything. Before very long, Elizabeth found herself being driven back to Netherfield with her sisters, where they were treated to hot baths. Then, freshly washed, warm and dry, they were given hot soup and handed some of Miss Bingley’ and Mrs Hurst’s clean clothes to wear.

Mr Darcy excused himself from the boating party as soon as the Miss Bennets had been placed in the carriage. He was dripping wet and he needed to change his clothes. He picked up his coat and boots, which he had discarded before he dived into the lake, and made for his own carriage. On the way he met Mr Bingley, who was reclaiming his own coat and boots, also discarded before he had dived into the lake.

‘May I travel with you?’ asked Mr Bingley. ‘My sisters will look after the guests while I change.’

Mr Darcy nodded.

The two gentlemen climbed into Mr Darcy’s carriage.

Mr Bingley looked at the seats, but Mr Darcy said, ‘Never mind about the seats, I will have them cleaned.’

The footman shut the door and the carriage pulled away.

‘I owe you an apology,’ said Mr Bingley shamefacedly to Mr Darcy. ‘I should have let you rescue Jane.’

Mr Darcy looked at his friend in surprise, for Mr Bingley had not said
Miss Bennet
, he had said
Jane
.

A new and very welcome idea began to form in his mind. He recalled little things which he had not thought anything about at the time: Bingley and Jane talking together, smiling together, dancing together, walking together. Every memory added more conviction to Mr Darcy’s idea and he felt as though a huge weight had started to lift from his shoulders.

‘I acted on instinct,’ Mr Bingley went on. ‘When I saw her fall into the water I did not think, and by the time I had thought about it, it was too late. I had already rescued Jane, leaving you to rescue her sister.’

‘You did not leave me to rescue her sister,’ said Mr Darcy.

‘Well, no, one of the officers could have done it, I suppose,’ said Mr Bingley.

‘That is not what I meant.’

When Mr Darcy had seen Elizabeth go into the water, he had not been able to think about anything else. He had ripped off his coat and boots and dived in after her without conscious thought, and nothing could have prevented him from rescuing her. She was his one true love and seeing her in danger had proved it to him beyond a shadow of a doubt. He could not live without her.

‘Tell me, Bingley,’ said Mr Darcy, looking at his friend intently. ‘Are you in love with Miss Bennet?’

Mr Bingley looked guilty.

‘The truth, please, Bingley,’ said Mr Darcy.

Mr Bingley looked at the floor of the carriage and said, ‘Yes.’ Then, raising his eyes to meet Mr Darcy’s, he said. ‘I am very sorry, Darcy, but I am.’

‘And is she in love with you?’

Mr Bingley hung his head.

‘Yes, I believe she is. But no fault must attach to her. It was my fault entirely. I felt myself falling in love with her and I should have stayed away, instead of which I visited her at Longbourn and invited her to Netherfield. I talked with her and danced with her whenever I could. I told myself it was because I wanted to make her welcome, as your friend, but I knew in the heart of me that I was falling in love with her. I have played you a shabby trick,’ he finished in a failing voice