The Darcys of Pemberley (27 page)

The evening passed uneventfully and in a
similar manner to the one before. The particulars of the menu,
music, and games were altered, lending some novelty to the scheme.
They adjourned early so that the Hursts and Miss Bingley might make
a timely start the next day on their expedition to Heatheridge.
Elizabeth was invited to accompany them and intended to accept. Now
that she had been at home for more than a fortnight, she was eager
for an outing and scarcely less pleased than the others at the
prospect of visiting her relations.

Her husband did not share her enthusiasm over
the idea. “I know you rarely miss an opportunity to see your
sisters,” he said to Elizabeth in their apartment. “But could you
not decline this time and wait until we can both visit there in
comfort?”

“Is there any reason I may not visit now and
again later also? Must I choose between the two?”

“No, not necessarily. I just question the
wisdom of your going now, with
that man
still on the
premises. I cannot countenance the idea with any degree of
tranquility. My every feeling revolts at the possibility of you
coming into contact with him.”

“I very much doubt that Wickham will have the
effrontery to present himself,” Elizabeth said. “If he should, I
shall surely take no pleasure in it, but I have no reason to be
embarrassed either. You mustn’t worry, Darcy; I shall be perfectly
safe.”

“You have no qualms about traveling again?”
he asked, alluding to the unpleasantness on their recent
journey.

“My dear, I am not so easily intimidated. I
refuse to let an unpleasant person – or an unpleasant dream – have
the rule of me.”

Darcy could not help but admire Elizabeth’s
spirit and independence. These were two of the qualities that had
first attracted him. Unfortunately, just now they worked to his
disadvantage. He would have been happier if on this occasion she
had meekly acquiesced to his preference. Even now, he knew that if
he insisted, she would relent for his sake. Yet there was no reason
to suspect any real danger, and he was not in the habit of making
autocratic demands of his wife.

“Very well. Have it your own way, my love,”
he said pulling her into his arms and tucking a stray lock of hair
behind her ear. “Only you must promise me two things: you will
avoid Wickham if you can, and you will never put yourself at risk
by venturing anywhere alone. If I know that you will always be
under the protection of Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley, I will be
easier.”

“As you wish, husband,” she said.

“If it were truly as I wished, Lizzy, you
would not be going at all, as you are perfectly aware.”

An Encounter

By this time, Mr. Darcy had received a
correspondence from Mr. Bingley supporting his plan for moving the
Wickhams to the cottage at Pemberley. In it, Mr. Bingley offered to
do his part by acquainting the couple with the arrangements and
transporting them, along with their belongings, as soon as all was
made ready. He only awaited authorization to proceed. Darcy penned
the final instructions in a note for his wife to deliver to
Heatheridge.

“I have told Bingley to bring your sister and
her husband to the cottage on Friday. I intend to meet them there
and make sure that everything is in order,” Darcy explained,
placing the letter into Elizabeth’s hand.

“I wish you could be spared the ordeal of
meeting Wickham altogether,” she replied. “Could not Mr. Adams
manage the whole business instead?”

“No, unpleasant as it may be, I need to see
Wickham myself. He must know exactly where he stands and what is
expected of him. I mean to leave no reason for mistake, no room for
equivocation. Mr. Adams will take over from there. I hope to be
well out of it henceforth.”

“Oh, how I pray this plan will succeed,” said
Elizabeth with hands clasped tightly together, “for the sake of all
concerned. Do you really think Mr. Bingley can bring off his part?
He is so mild-mannered; I cannot quite imagine that he has the
fortitude to insist they leave Heatheridge if he meets with much
resistance.”

“Were it left strictly up to him, I could
easily envision that he might back down, just as you say. However,
in this case, he knows he acts for me as well, and he has vowed to
stand firm.”

Darcy charged Elizabeth to deliver the
missive and leave the rest to Mr. Bingley. She agreed not to speak
of the matter to her traveling companions or even to Jane, lest the
Wickhams get wind of it prematurely. The idea was to break the news
to the couple at the last possible moment with the hope that all
would be accomplished before they could mount a protest or devise a
scheme to forestall their departure.

~*~

After an early breakfast, the Hursts, Miss
Bingley, and Elizabeth set off for Heatheridge. The roads were in
excellent condition owing to the recent lack of rain, but the same
dry conditions obliged them to keep the carriage closed against
dust. The only other difficulty came in the form of a complete
overthrow of the original seating arrangement. It was finally
settled that Mr. and Mrs. Hurst should change to the forward-facing
seats after the gentleman remembered that he had once, years ago,
become ill from riding backwards. The alteration proved next to
impossible to accomplish whilst the carriage was in motion, so a
brief stop was called for. This short delay did not materially
impede their progress, and the party arrived in good time.

The Bingleys received their guests warmly and
ushered them into the drawing room where they were soon joined by
Kitty and Lydia. Mr. Wickham was nowhere to be seen.

Jane soon volunteered that the twins would be
brought down from the nursery directly. Although Miss Bingley and
Mrs. Hurst had thus far forgotten to inquire after their niece and
nephew, this announcement served to remind them of their keen
anticipation in meeting the “precious darlings,” which they then
began to profess most strenuously. When little Charles and Frances
made their appearance, the ladies acted the doting aunts, ready to
admire the infants … from a comfortable distance.

“Yes, how delightful,” said Miss Bingley as
she glimpsed the two pink faces peeking out from their swaddling.
“They seem to be remarkably small creatures. Forgive me, but is
that usual? I had expected … something a little larger,
perhaps.”

“Of course they are small, Caroline,” scolded
her sister mildly. “No doubt they are exactly the right size for
their age. They seem like fine, healthy children to me, and observe
how they favor the Bingley line in their looks.”

Caroline craned her neck for a better
view.

“Here,” suggested Jane, “you must want to
hold him.” Without waiting for confirmation, she delivered little
Charles into Caroline’s wooden arms.

After only a few moments, Caroline passed her
nephew on to Louisa, saying, “Yes, the image of his father. Anyone
can see that.”

“And here is Frances Jane,” said Elizabeth,
reluctantly offering to give up her niece.

“No, no, that will not be necessary,” said
Miss Bingley, waving Elizabeth off. “She looks quite comfortable
where she is. Let us not disturb her.”

“Very well; I am happy to keep her,” said
Elizabeth, continuing to rock her little bundle. “And, for my part,
I could wish nothing finer for this precious babe than that she
take after her mother in every way.”

Mr. Bingley broke in. “Quite, quite. We thank
you all for the kind compliments and good wishes. Uh … shall we go
into dinner now? It is time, I think.”

From the beginning of the visit, Elizabeth
had watched for an opening to give her husband’s message into Mr.
Bingley’s hand without attracting the attention of the others. As
they passed into the dining room, she saw her chance. She slipped
the note to him, and they exchanged a meaningful look that embodied
all their mutual hopes and concerns over the plans outlined
therein.

Her commission dispatched, Elizabeth was free
to enjoy the meal without distraction, her serenity being further
enhanced by the fact that all present seemed resolved to be on best
behavior. Lydia conducted herself with more restraint and decorum
than she usually demonstrated. This, in turn, gave Miss Bingley
fewer opportunities to employ her caustic wit against her present
company. Caroline’s dinner conversation targeted only absent
friends, who could neither feel her derision nor come to their own
defense.

Two hours later, the party from Pemberley
prepared to take their leave. Elizabeth made her good-byes and
stepped outside onto the sunny front porch to await the others. As
she sauntered toward the carriage, she was arrested by the sight of
Mr. Wickham approaching rapidly on horseback. He dismounted
directly in her path. There was no way to avoid him short of flying
back into the house, which seemed unnecessary. She was in no
danger. The coachman and groom were standing by, and her friends
were just inside the door. Hence, despite her husband’s misgivings,
Elizabeth met Mr. Wickham with admirable composure.

“Mrs. Darcy, this is indeed a rare pleasure,”
he said with a formal bow. “How do you do?”

Elizabeth only nodded in return.

“I must say, you appear to me to be
very
well indeed,” Wickham continued, his eyes making a
leisurely inspection of her person. “May I congratulate you on the
upcoming blessed event?”

“Thank you,” Elizabeth said coolly.

“Darcy must be quite proud of his
achievement, though the feat is common enough.”

“Sir, you forget yourself! You have no right
to refer to my husband in such a vulgar fashion, or indeed at all.
Now, if you will excuse me …” Elizabeth took another step toward
the carriage.

Wickham moved to block her way again. “Pray,
do not be angry, sister,” he said with an easy laugh. “I do
apologize if I have offended you. Perhaps I presume too much upon
our past acquaintance in speaking so openly. Surely you remember
what good friends we used to be.”

“I remember
everything
, Mr. Wickham,
the good
and
the bad.”

He ignored the remark. “Still, it is a shame
that people and events have conspired to prevent us from continuing
that friendship. Would not you agree?”

“I cannot say that I have given the matter a
moment’s thought, Mr. Wickham. If it is a source of unhappiness for
you, however, then I suggest you put the blame for this misfortune
in its proper place. After all, it is entirely your own doing,
sir.”

“You cut me, madam. Can you really think so
ill of me?”

She did not answer.

“Well then, I must make it my top priority to
improve your opinion.”

“Amend your ways by all means, Mr. Wickham,
but do it for your own sake and for your wife’s, not for me. We
have very little to do with one another anymore.”

“That is precisely my point. I think it a
cruel business that I should have been so long deprived of your
delightful company. Your husband I have seen more recently, but he
is not nearly as agreeable to look at, especially when he is out of
humor, which seems usually the case according to my
observations.”

“May I ask, sir, exactly when you claim to
have had the opportunity to make these observations of Mr.
Darcy?”

“Has he not told you, then? No, I thought he
would not,” he said with obvious amusement. “The truth is, Mrs.
Darcy, we have met several times on business, as lately as a month
ago while you were in town.”

“That is absurd! What possible business could
my husband have with
you
?”

“The answer to that question would doubtless
interest you a great deal, Mrs. Darcy. Unfortunately, it is not in
my power to satisfy your curiosity. You see, a gentleman never
discusses such sordid affairs with a lady, a policy to which your
husband apparently subscribes as well.”

“You cannot deceive me, Mr. Wickham. If there
were anything to this report of yours, my husband would have told
me about it.”

“Of course,” he said with a patronizing
smile. “I’m not surprised you prefer to preserve to your illusions,
Elizabeth. By all means, do forget that I mentioned the business,
and be content with ignorance. That is unquestionably the wisest
course. We are both acquainted with your husband’s resentful
temper. It would be foolish to provoke him by poking your nose in
where it does not belong. You will sorely regret it if you
interfere. That, I believe, I can promise you.”

Elizabeth bristled at the arrogant
self-satisfaction in Wickham’s address, and his words were just
menacing enough to start a little chill running up her spine. She
was not sorry, therefore, to have the interview abruptly ended by
the approach of the others. Wickham remounted his horse, gave her
one last penetrating look, and rode off in the direction of the
stables without another word.

“My dear Eliza,” said Miss Bingley upon
reaching her side, “are you quite safe? You look a little shaken.
What did that horrid man want with you?”

“I hardly know. He was rather unpleasant, but
no harm has been done.”

“Such impudence, putting himself forward like
that! Wait until Darcy hears about this.”

“No, Caroline! I beg you would not mention it
to Mr. Darcy. The incident is of no importance, and it would only
upset him needlessly. I shall not say anything about it, and I hope
no one else will either.”

Caroline acquiesced and the Hursts gave no
difficulty when asked to be likewise discreet. Although Elizabeth
knew she should be relieved by these assurances, her thoughts were
too troubled to permit peace. She found the deterioration in
Wickham’s demeanor disturbing. In the two years since she had seen
him last, he had changed, and not for the better. Some remnants
remained of the easy manners and charm that once made him so
attractive, but an undeniable coarseness had since entered in.
Elizabeth could not help being now even more apprehensive for her
sister’s future happiness than before.