Goodly Creatures: A Pride and Prejudice Deviation (54 page)

Jane would now join her in caring for their mother. Elizabeth would forever struggle to sleep and pray she did not dream, while Jane’s heart would slowly turn to stone. All of Meryton would continue to whisper about the one sister’s disappointments and the possible disgrace of the other.

She looked out over the meadow and saw Mr Darcy at full gallop, heading toward Netherfield. She prayed he would not hurt himself.

Mr Darcy travelled at a dangerous pace across the meadow. As the speed of the horse beneath him increased, the confusion and remorse of a moment ago turned once again to ire. It was unclear at whom the anger was directed. He felt rage toward Wickham for coming between him and the woman who populated his dreams. He was furious with himself that he had not demanded an explanation of what she and his nemesis had talked about for such a long time. He was angry with her, because she had raised his sister and Anne to befuddle him, once again.

The whole town, including her mother, was gossiping about a possible attachment between this woman he had considered proposing to and the man who had sought to humiliate him at every turn. If she was gullible enough to marry the scoundrel, she would certainly live to regret her decision. Damn Wickham! How many more times would he try to come between him and those that were most precious to him?

He dug his heels into his horse with his next thought. Miss Elizabeth had implied he thought her a whore. She knew he did not believe such nonsense and was aware his cousin had tricked her. The accusation of his eyeing her bosom was just a ploy to turn his eye from her own guilt. He did not appreciate her insinuation he was dishonourable.

Yes, he was attracted to her, but he had always acted as a gentleman. Her figure, her beautiful hair… and oh yes, her toes leaped to mind. He did not like her eyes when they glittered like emeralds, but oh, how he loved them on those rare occasions when they were gleaming with light. The only solution was to return home and forget her—what’s done is done. It was best he remember her as a compromised, country nobody, who had managed to persuade Anne to give her a ridiculous sum of money. That painful thought brought to mind his daughter’s face, informing him of what she and Lewis wanted in a mother. She had sent him to Hertfordshire to enjoy himself and possibly find a wife. Instead, he would return with even more anger, at war with an almost overwhelming sadness.

Why did she have to be the only woman of his acquaintance who could make him laugh? Even this morning, despite his anger, her concluding they were the one documented case of Mesmer’s animal magnetism had almost caused him to chuckle aloud.

He needed to get out of this place and never come back; and it was his responsibility to make sure Charles did the same. Miss Bennet had been totally indifferent to his friend until the last few days. Then, her desperate need to claim her place as mistress of Netherfield had become obvious. Darcy’s job as Bingley’s friend was to keep him from being blinded by false affection.

As he slowed the horse upon approach to Netherfield, he remembered again, she had spoken of fear for what Wickham knew and was planning.

Breakfast at Longbourn that morning was a raucous affair. Everyone was talking over each other with regards the scandalous last dance. Mary and Mr Collins voiced their disapproval that Mr Bennet’s two eldest daughters had participated in the risqué activity. Mr Bennet calmed his middle daughter and her betrothed by assuring them the scandal would be forgotten by the time they married, and he was sure the gossip from a most provincial part of Hertfordshire would not reach Kent.

Mrs Bennet, however, was not to be quieted so easily. She was not at all perturbed that Jane had agreed, as she felt it was an indication of the intentions of Mr Bingley for him to have asked. However, she had been dumbfounded when she saw Elizabeth whirling about for all to see with Mr Darcy… and if that was not enough, everyone could see the animosity they felt for each other. She demanded an explanation as to what had possessed her daughter to make such a spectacle of herself.

“Mama, I have no excuse, except that it was a misplaced desire to dance a waltz once in my life. Mr Darcy suggested I might enjoy the activity. While we were dancing, he and I had a disagreement over Mr Wickham. As I am sure you have heard, they grew up together.”

Thankfully for Elizabeth, John Reynolds added, “Mr Wickham is not highly regarded in Derbyshire. I am certain, Mrs Bennet that what appeared to be animosity was just Mr Darcy strongly warning Lizzy of the unsavoury nature of the lieutenant’s behaviour.”

Elizabeth smiled her appreciation at her friend. “That is correct, Mama. Mr Darcy was quite animated when he told me that Mr Wickham has a reputation for being a fortune hunter. I told Papa of his accusations.” Lizzy looked to her father for help.

“Yes, Fanny, I have enlisted Sir William to visit Colonel Forster with me to inform him of Mr Wickham’s dubious character. I also plan to visit Miss King’s uncle to warn him.”

Lydia chimed in with, “I knew what he was about when I first met him. All he wanted to talk about was Lizzy. I felt certain he had heard the rumours of her inheritance.”

Mary requested a private conversation with her father. He had been expecting her to ask for an explanation of the changed nature of his relationship with Elizabeth.

“Papa, has Lizzy told you her mystery?”

“She has. Her explanation is very grave. It is necessary for me to closely guard her secret.”

“Is Mr Darcy involved?”

“He is but not precisely in the way we speculated.”

Mr Bennet looked very serious as he said, “I really must beseech you… if you love your sister, end your quest to find out what happened to her. You must take my word as head of this family that I have the situation under control. I appeal to your Christian charity to leave her be.” Mr Bennet looked very stern as he said, “It is my responsibility to see to it that she is protected from everyone, including you.”

Mary bristled under her father’s stricture. “Papa, why, if she is so concerned about people finding out her secret, would she draw so much attention to herself by waltzing with Mr Darcy? Surely she knew that would inflame the gossip about her.”

“This morning, I am certain Lizzy most heartily agrees with your assessment of her decision, but life is more than making perfect choices. Sometimes things, totally outside of our control, happen, that change the course of our lives, and one is forced to live with the consequences. Your sister mistakenly thought that by dancing with Mr Darcy, she could recapture a bit of joy.”

This time his middle daughter looked perplexed. She started to say something more, but he stopped her with finality in his voice. “This is a special time in your life. Look to your own joy. You are soon to wed a good man, but you have challenges in front of you. Marriage requires many adjustments, you will be managing a home for the first time, and I doubt relating appropriately to Mr Collins’ patroness will be an easy endeavour.”

Mr Darcy arrived back at Netherfield as Miss Bingley was informing her brother that she and Mr and Mrs Hurst were returning to London. They had no intention of remaining in Hertfordshire until he returned from his business. Netherfield and the neighbourhood were not of the quality they had imagined, and he should look for an estate in another part of England.

“Mr Darcy, I entreat you to encourage Charles to abandon his plans for Netherfield. I have heard that Miss Bennet used her allurements to attach herself to Sir Walter Trent’s son. After his death, she tried the same thing with his nephew George Trent and, once again, she is luring Charles with the same goal in mind. She wants nothing, but to be the mistress of Netherfield.”

Mr Bingley looked at his sister with exasperation. “Caroline, Thomas Trent died when Miss Bennet was fourteen. What sort of allurements are you accusing her of using?”

“Charles, why else would Miss Bennet, an unmarried woman, agree to waltz with you, if it did not involve a motive of the most avaricious sort? You should ask yourself the same question with regard Miss Eliza, Mr Darcy. These two sisters are not to be trusted. They may appear more refined, but they are as vulgar as their mother.”

Darcy chose not to confide his fears of Miss Bennet’s insincerity to Charles until they were alone.

“Charles, I fear your sister may be correct. Miss Bennet’s mother was in my presence at supper last evening. She talked incessantly about her daughter being settled as mistress of Netherfield. I do not believe your angel cares for you at all.”

“Darcy, you are wrong. We have spent time riding together every day since she left Netherfield. Our admiration has grown steadily these past weeks. She and I want the same things, and if that means Netherfield, so be it.”

Darcy gave his friend a scornful look. “You said the same thing about that young woman last year. You know the one—Julia somebody—who was at Lord Reston’s ball. She too wanted the same things you did. The next thing that happened was we went to Pemberley and two weeks later we read of her engagement to the Viscount Haddonwood. He had obviously made her a better offer.

“I do not understand you, Darcy. You convince me to have a waltz so you can dance with her sister… who never goes to balls. She says yes, and Miss Bennet agrees to waltz with me. They do this despite how scandalous it is for unmarried women to engage in such an activity. Why would they do that if they did not care for us?”