Beginning, Section II, Next Section
Chapter 7, Part 1
An optimist is one who believes marriage is a gamble ~ Laurence J Peter.
Darcy arranged his cravat with more than usual care. He thanked the heavens that he had a fastidious cousin, who had shown him how to tie a cravat to the perfection that the London ton required. No doubt Meryton society would be doubly impressed.
Darcy cast an eye over his bedside table. The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire.....he had reacquainted himself with those volumes, just in case the task would fall to him to entertain Mary Bennet again. Darcy had prepared himself for a night of dancing, or cards or simply a night of conversation. He had prepared himself physically and mentally on all levels, he was to be his most amiable and pleasing. To whom he was trying to be amiable and pleasing hadn't quite registered. It was certainly not to Miss Bingley, or Mrs Hurst, and he was fairly sure he wouldn't go to this effort for any of his male companions, or Lady Annabelle. Mary Bennet? Darcy paused. No he would not be going to this effort for Mary Bennet, he might go to this effort to avoid her though. So who exactly was he trying to impress?...... Elizabeth??
He was just smoothing down his coat and doing a last disarrangement of his hair, when Richard walked in.
"I say Darce, I didn't know you were a dandy! What is all this preparation in aid of? I swear you have taken longer to dress than the ladies of the household! And we are only going to a small gathering at Mrs Phillips'!"
Darcy looked at his figure in the mirror and a crease appeared in his brow. Why was he acting like this?
Richard looked expectantly at his cousin.
"Well, Is there any reason I shouldn't be looking my best?"
"No, but shouldn't you save this coup de grace until Bingley's ball??"
"So he is having a ball?"
"Yes, picked a day and everything, it is a little more than a fortnight from now."
Darcy suddenly became very unhappy with the pin he had chosen to sit in his cravat, he pulled it out and hunted for another one.
Richard sighed and sat down on the end of the bed, this was going to take some time.
"Looks like Ash will be coming down for the ball, Annabelle wrote to him."
Darcy was being indecisive. He had never before in his life been indecisive. Darcy was one of those people, who made decisions easily, but not rashly, every decision he made was right, and if by chance it happened to be wrong, he changed it to the right one. Never before had he felt so indecisive. The diamond pin or the sapphire?
Richard was bemused. He had never seen Darcy like this before? Was it over a woman? Surely not Mary Bennet? Richard shook his head.
"I have received a letter from my cousin today, he might join us for the Netherfield ball as well."
Darcy looked up from his dresser. "Really? Teddy? Or Douglas?"
"Douglas. You want to read his letter?"
Darcy, who appeared at last to be ready, held out his hand for Captain Lord Douglas Cheveley's letter, written in his normally large cursive style.
Ricky,
How is life in Hertfordshire? Recovering admirably from your, let us say, injury I hope. It is a great pity that you have not been in London these last few weeks - a great many events have taken place.
For one there was a party at Vauxhall, which involved a certain Lady M falling into a fountain. Unfortunately the gentleman who joined her in the fountain was not Lord M. Then Sir D is definitely lodging a crim-con ....
Darcy looked up. "Is this all he writes in his letter?"
Richard snorted, "further down."
Darcy scanned the letter further down.
Ash appears to be making preparations for a trip down to Netherfield for Bingley's ball. Am I invited?...sincerely hope so, because I'm coming, got leave and everything. Teddy is steadfastly refusing to come due to some mill. However I will represent the Cheveley's at this auspicious function. (need something to do before the next quarter, money has been leaking out of me like a sieve lately, I hope my ship comes through soon - otherwise I shall be quite rolled up.)
Give Annabelle my love. Tell her Lord Upton has threatened twice to blow his own brains out - she'll like that, ladies always do when a man gets despondent over them ~ well the ones I've met do anyway!. And tell Darcy that that book he gave me was simply criminal and should be tried for boredom.
Trumps.
"Trumps?"
"As in Coming up Trumps. Never knew such a lucky fellow. This close to getting his head shot off somewhere in the Channel. Then his last ship sinks, then this close to killing himself over turning that high-perched thing of his. Then..."
"Ah............." Darcy paused, then he looked up at Richard with a startled expression. He started to think more about Ricky's young cousin who quite the dashing Captain of the Navy.....the last thing he needed was more competition. Darcy shook his head....Competition? But for whose attention???? .....Elizabeth's??
Part Two
He who hates vices hates mankind ~ Thrasea
Lizzy ladled herself some punch. It was shaping up to be a very enjoyable evening and the Netherfield party had not even arrived. Lizzy looked towards the door as some of the officers entered. Wickham was with them.
Wickham, to Lizzy appeared a curiosity. Richard of course had told her all about his background. He was the son of Old Mr Darcy's steward, and had enjoyed the patronage of that gentlemen, until his death. The story became somewhat convoluted here, apparently the Duchess of Hollingbury (Richard's grandmother) had been sojourning at Pemberley (The Darcy Estate) and had taken a fancy to young Wickham and had thenceforth promoted his interests.
This all sounded a little odd to Lizzy, but she took it all at face value and did not inquire any further. It would be too much to hope that the readers of this tale would do the same, so I lay before you the history of George Wickham
George Wickham, was a charming engaging scamp, always in scrapes and in troubles that most boys fell into during their youth. However he was in danger of becoming one of those hardened gamesters and seducers that clung to the edges of society like limpets and made their earnings off the ruin of others. The Duchess of Hollingbury, who being a rather formidable lady (don't worry you will meet her - but if I were you I'd hide behind the nearest tree ~ she is not a woman to be trifled with), had decided that although Lady Matlock was her daughter, Lord Matlock's relations could benefit from her wisdom. She was the kind of lady who revelled in extended families. She in her shrewdness one trip to Pemberley, (she invited herself,) realised this fault in young George Wickham and righted it. He was still a reckless young man but at least he was saved from the most heinous of crimes. He learnt some manners and propriety and was packed off into the Army as quick as The Duchess could contrive (which was immediately.) Thus he turned out well. Of course, like most men of rakish attributes he was hardly completely trusted, but the point was he could be somewhat trusted and he was accepted.
Lizzy, oblivious to this long and complex history, went and sat down on a couch to sip her punch. She was most surprised, and gratified that Wickham came to sit next to her.
"Miss Elizabeth, may I sit here."
"Of course you may Captain Wickham."
Wickham sat down and smiled.
"So what do you do here in Hertfordshire Captain Wickham?"
"Some errands for my regiment, thought I may take some leave. Meryton seems strangely agreeable to me." Wickham gave her a particularly speaking look.
Lizzy blushed.
"I apologise Miss Elizabeth, perhaps I shouldn't have said that."
"Why not? A girl likes to be complimented sometimes."
Wickham opened his mouth to say something, then caught the party from Netherfield arriving and seemed to change tack.
"Have you known Darcy or Colonel Fitzwilliam long?"
"About a month, they are staying at Netherfield, but I forget, you probably know that."
Wickham simply smiled. "And dare I inquire what you think of them?"
"I think the Colonel is a very charming person. He has such a way of speaking..." Lizzy broke off wondering how much she should reveal. Was it possible that Richard sent Wickham to find out what she thought of him??
"Ah Ricky's charms were always all conquering. I have yet to know anyone not slain by them."
Lizzy laughed. "London must be littered with slain women then -" Lizzy stopped and blushed. What was she saying??
Wickham appeared to notice her discomfit and changed the subject. Perhaps Miss Elizabeth was due to become one of Colonel Fitzwilliam's new conquests?? Wickham could not help feel a tinge at regret. "What about Darce? You have no opinion on him."
"Oh no I do have an opinion of him!" But what was it??" Mr Darcy is an enigma, he appears cold and proud yet can be quite amiable. I have spend several days in the same house as him and still I think I know nothing about him."
Wickham nodded. "Yes he can be supercilious. He can be kind where he chooses, he can be cruel and calculating where he chooses. No perhaps cruel is the wrong word, in fact it is the wrong word, hurtful, would have been better He often injures without thought. Burden's of responsibility often take that toll."
Lizzy nodded. "Yes he appears to be somewhat shy at times!"
"Shy? Darce? Nev-ah." Wickham shook his head. His old acquaintance who was more often then not his nemesis at various activities (chess, shooting, riding, that highflyer....) was never shy. Wickham gave Elizabeth a wining smile and changed the subject easily to other matters, such as whether she would save him any dances at Mr Bingley's upcoming ball.
Part Three
Being a philosopher I have a problem for every solution. ~ Robert Zend
Lady Annabelle, smiled at her hostess, tried to avoid the eye of this disgusting little toad that was trying to fawn all over her and crossed to the punch bowl.
She clasped a cup of punch and looked towards where Wickham was sitting with Lizzy. What was he saying to her?
Lady Annabelle shook her head and tried to look elsewhere. She wasn't jealous of Lizzy, in fact she was quite serene about the fact that Lizzy appeared to have three gentlemen vying for her attention. It was that she was used to having someone to flirt with. Someone who knew it was just a game and that she meant nothing by it....someone like Wickham. He knew to a nicety what was expected from him, and never overstepped any bounds, perhaps that was due to the fact he had seen Lady Annabelle handle a pistol, or that she had several tall male relations who would spill his blood if he did anything untoward.
Lady Annabelle sighed. Everywhere around her people seemed to be coupling up. The horrible toad, with that dear girl Kitty, Lady Annabelle decided at some point in the evening she would just have to rescue her, even if it meant drawing the horrible toad to her. Bingley was smiling and sitting next to Jane, Miss Lydia Bennet was talking in a shallow whisper with Mr Denny. Lizzy and Captain Wickham. Then Lady Annabelle caught sight of a most odd couple; her brother and Darcy, she choked with laughter as she saw identical looks of chagrin on their faces when they saw that the lady of their choice was otherwise engaged.
Lady Annabelle snickered when she saw Miss Mary Bennet making her way over to Darcy. Perhaps Darcy won't be alone after all. How humiliating for Ricky!!
Lady Annabelle sighed and turned back to the punch bowl. She sighed, what she really needed was Lord Upton. Gracious did she just say she needed Lord Upton? No that could not be right.
Part Four
We think in generalities and act in detail ~ Alfred North Whitehead
Darcy sighed. His cravat had gone to waste. He didn't think he spent so much as two minutes talking to Lizzy. And he knew that Mary Bennet didn't spend any time looking at his cravat.
Darcy pulled off the crumpled cravat. At least I exercised my mind. He thought ruefully. Though it was worth talking to Mary Bennet, just to see Ricky's face when he was forced to talk to his own sister. You couldn't flirt with your own sister.........not that Darcy had flirted with Mary Bennet. He doubted she even knew the meaning of the word.
In the next room, Richard sighed. Wickham was an added complication. He knew that Belle wouldn't do anything unseemly, but it was hard to trust her completely after the Lord Upton affair, the Mr Hargrave Affair and the Sir Douglas affair......she was in danger of becoming a notorious flirt, it would be much better to marry her off as fast as possible.
Richard thought of his own love life. The prime person who sprung to mind was Elizabeth Bennet, but Richard sighed. Did he love her? What was love supposed to feel like? He knew she would make an excellent wife and mother, but for him?
Richard pulled off his boots and thought about things for a while.
Half of his subject of reverie was further done the hall, twirling about in a dress that had just been sent down from London. It was in preparation for the Netherfield Ball. Not that Lady Annabelle had any intention of anything serious happening, except of course dancing with all the handsome men. She knew she had some competition with Lydia on that score, but Lady Annabelle was not scared of Lydia.
Lady Annabelle had never in all her twenty years of life, ever once thought of marriage. Marriage was something that happened to other people, not herself. Indeed the brief thought of the evening of my lord Upton had spurred Lady Annabelle not to ever think of marriage or men again! Which was why she was thinking of who she could marry off in her circle of acquaintances. Kitty needed to get married, if only to save her from a disastrous alliance with that horrible sludge man. Who had inexplicably tore her gown and bored Lady Annabelle senseless with nonsensically conversation about her Aunt Catherine's fireplaces (and windows and staircases). Darcy needed to get married, if only to lighten him up a little. He had spent the evening in sensible discussion with Mary Bennet. Annabelle had a little think and resolved on a plan of action.
Lizzy brushed her hair in her room, listening to Jane's chatter at the end of her bed. Jane had had the best night. She had looked at stars out of a window with Charles. With Charles?? Thought Lizzy. Since when had he become Charles. Lizzy smiled, Jane she knew was not going to have the surname of Bennet for much longer. But what about her?
Lizzy thought about Wickham and immediately put him out of her mind, he was amusing and charming and probably a good friend, but reliant on patronage and way too unstable for her liking. The Colonel was foremost on her mind, for the next agreeable ten minutes, but then out of the gloom of her mind lurked Mr Darcy. Something told her not to discount him.
Chapter 8, Part 1
"Like flies to wanton boys are we to the gods, they kill us for their sport." ~ Shakespeare.
Jane smiled serenely; she sat patiently in her chair that had been placed specially overlooking the drive. Jane had been sitting there for the past hour. Charles had said he might call on her today and Jane was intending to accidentally be able to greet him outside, thus avoiding exposing Charles to her mother.
Charles now there was a nice name. Hello I'd like to introduce you to my husband, Charles ... It just rolled of the tongue Ch-ar-les-sssss. Hello my name is Jane Bingley. Bing!!- ley Now that was a nice last name. Bing!!- ley! Hello I'd like to introduce you to my husband Ch-ar-les-ssssss Bing!!- ley
It was in this rather dreamy state that Jane was surprised by the entrance of Ch-ar-les-ssss Bing!!- ley and Mr Dar - sayyy. Jane shook her head out of this daze, where she seemed to pronounce everyone's name with a precise aristocratic English accent and rose to greet the gentlemen.
"Mr Darcy.... Mr Bingley, a pleasure." Jane curtsied.
"It is a pleasure to see you Miss Bennet, looking so remarkably well." Jane felt her cheeks go a bright red, she couldn't quite bring herself to look at Ch-ar-les-ssss
"Yes Miss Bennet, I am very glad to see you so well recovered, and your sister too, you were both looking well yesterday." Said Darcy.
"Thank you Mr Darcy." smiled Jane; happy to be able to look at someone who didn't make her heart leap at every breath.
"Well Miss Bennet we have come to issue an invitation, personally, for a ball a fortnight hence!" said Mr Bingley handing Jane a stiff white invitation card. He used it as an excuse to sit next to Jane.
"You see we have invited Mr Collins as well."
"That was very kind Mr Bingley, and I'm sure wholly unnecessary. " replied Jane sweetly. The card was of a very high quality and Jane admired it, Charles had such good taste. It did not occur to Jane that Charles may not have picked it - such is love.
"Well Miss Bennet, my cousin and his cousin are attending the ball, also, so it would be hardly fair not to invite Mr Collins." Said Darcy.
Jane smiled. This was a new thing for Mr Darcy - diplomacy. He did not seem at all diplomatic last night with some of his conversation with Mary, but then again did Mary understand tact?
Darcy smiled as Bingley smiled at Miss Bennet and Miss Bennet smiled at Bingley. Obvious it fell to him to talk. This was something very new, normally people talked at Darcy, or to Darcy and didn't mind very much if he didn't say a word. Consequently Darcy had not developed good conversational skills around those he did not know well. He could never think of any small talk to make. He supposed in this case he could ask Miss Bennet about Elizabeth, but Darcy did not think this the time or the place.
"Miss Bennet, I see you have received a letter, I hope it contained good news.
Jane looked down at the letter on the sofa, on her other side. The side she was most intent on looking towards, contained Charles Bingley. Jane wished that Mr Darcy had felt the need to talk about Ch-ar-les-ssss
, it would have been of greater interest, but even a lovelorn Jane realised that to talk about Ch-ar-les-ssss , in front of Ch-ar-les-ssss would be highly awkward. So she was quite content to talk to Mr Darcy about her letter, for the time being anyway.
"Oh that is simply a letter from my Aunt Gardiner, my mother's brother's wife."
"Your mother's brother's wife." Said Bingley, in a half encouraging, half dreamy tone.
"Yes, she lives in London."
" Really?" sighed Bingley as though it was the most fascinating thing he had ever heard in the entire course of his life.
Darcy had to just catch himself from groaning out loud - oh dear how to rescue this conversation.
"Did your Aunt have any interesting news to impart??" Darcy winced. It sounded like he was trawling for news, like some common buzy-body.
Luckily Jane was too concerned with Ch-ar-les-ssssss to even notice the impertinence of such a question.
"Oh yes she does. She has invited me to London just after Christmas."
Bingley snapped out of his admiring stance and looked at Jane. "Going to London?"
"Yes, my aunt often invites one of us to stay with them, it was supposed to be Lizzy's turn this time, but Lizzy visited quite recently to help Aunt Gardiner with my cousins illness."
"But why could not Miss E -" Bingley paused. He looked at Darcy who raised his eyebrows at him. Bingley felt he was on the point of no return, should he jump? To tell Jane that he desperately wished that Miss Elizabeth was going to London, might scare her, indeed sometimes Bingley felt a little scared at the depth of his emotions.
"I mean, what a coincidence, I have to go to town after Christmas too. Wasn't I saying so just today Darcy?"
Darcy had been staring at the door, willing it to open and free him from being the proverbial third wheel. "Huh? Oh yes Bingley your important ....er business, the business about the ....the. ...shipment of...fine linen you were so interested in."
Bingley stared at Darcy, who imperceptibly shrugged.
"When were you leaving Miss Bennet?"
"Well we were planning to leave on the 28th."
"Really?? I cannot believe it, I am planning to leave then too."
Really Bingley, could you be more obvious? Thought Darcy rolling his
eyes.
Part Two
Logic is the art of going wrong with confidence ~ Joseph Wood Krutch.
Kitty could scream. No one would leave her alone. Every way she would turn she would either find Mr Collins, Lydia or Lizzy.
Mr Collins drooled, Lydia laughed and Lizzy consoled. None of which Kitty needed. She did not need Mr Collins' drool, Lydia's laugh or Lizzy's consolation.
She did not want to marry Mr Collins. She was starting to think that Lydia was not the friendly person she appeared, instead a self-obsessing wretch who laughed at other's discomforts. It had been so nice when it was Lydia and her against the world, but when something happened to Kitty, why wouldn't Lydia support her? Finally it was hard to accept consolation from a sister who had a nice, handsome, intelligent charming beau for herself.
Kitty turned towards the house, and saw Lydia with several officers. She turned away from the house to see Lizzy walking with Mr Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. She turned to walk a path that was parallel to both these events and was shocked to see Mrs Bennet and Mr Collin's rapidly approaching her.
Mrs Bennet, ever since the arrival of the invitation yesterday, directly from Mr Bingley's hand, had been planning several marriages...for to be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love
"Oh Kitty my dear, Mr Collins has something to secure from you."
Secure????? Thought Kitty.
"My dear Cousin Catherine, I would honestly and properly like to ask you for the humble solicitation of your superior dancing arrangements. I myself must portend my deprived dancing arrangements. However, I know you will greatly enjoy being my benefactress and teaching me the skills and arts that you possess. I hope the first will not prove to be inconvenient?"
"Er -" said Kitty, looking at the dribbling, oozing mess in front of her. Kitty looked hopefully towards her mother, who had moved to stand next to her, so she could admire this, in her opinion, fine specimen of a man.
"I think he is asking you to dance Kitty. " Hissed Mrs Bennet in an undertone.
"Oh... he is!!!" almost shrieked Kitty, looking for an escape route.
"She means, she would love to dance with you Mr Collins, Kitty always wishes to dance at balls." Said Mrs Bennet smoothly before Kitty's bottom lip managed to connect back with her top lip.
"But...But... Mama!!!" almost wailed Kitty as soon as Mr Collins had lumbered off towards some other... prey.
"Don't Mama me, Mr Collins is a very good sort of man, who will make you a fine husband."
Kitty stuck her fingers in her ears before hearing that last word.
"I didn't hear that Mama, what are you saying?? I fear I can't quite make it out." Said Kitty looking towards her mother with a blank look.
Mrs Bennet pulled Kitty's fingers from her ears.
"Well you will listen now. Mr Collins is to inherit this estate, we are not rich, somebody has got to marry Mr Collins, otherwise when your father dies...we are doomed, doomed I tell you."
"Not doomed. Mr Bingley will look after us, surely."
"Mr Bingley has not proposed yet, and although there are promising signs and Jane is so beautiful there is no certainty. Mr Collins is a certainty. " Said Mrs Bennet with a pointed look, before moving towards the house.
Kitty stamped her foot. Why did her mother choose NOW to be logical about things? But she wasn't going to marry Mr Collins... was she??"
Part Three.
"I'm an idealist. I don't know where I'm going but I'm on my way" - Carl Sandburg.
Lizzy smiled equally at her two male companions, but much to their sadness, she smiled perfectly at the female companion that just joined them.
"Lady Annabelle, it is very good to see you."
"Just Annabelle, or Belle, as I keep telling you! And it is very good to see you looking so well, I confess I did not think I could escape your younger sister, she kept wanting me to show her how to show her a piano piece!"
"Well if Mary is nothing else, she is persistent."
"She has execution."
"Which means she has no taste!"
"No, No! Nobody has taste! It is such a personal thing. I personally have no taste for long walks, but my brother enjoys them immensely."
Darcy groaned inaudibly, there was another thing that Elizabeth had in common with Ricky; it had come on so gradually that Darcy hardly knew when Miss Elizabeth Bennet had simply become Elizabeth in his mind, all he knew was she was Elizabeth.... possibly his Elizabeth.
Lizzy looked towards Colonel Fitzwilliam with an arched brow.
"Oh not him! Ricky is such a lay-a-bed! I mean Ash, my elder brother. I hope you shall like him, Lizzy!"
Colonel Fitzwilliam and Darcy looked at Lady Annabelle...what was she trying to do make the situation more complicated??
Lizzy felt for a slight minute uncomfortable, were men being thrown at her?
"Indeed Annabelle, and is your brother coming for the ball?"
"No! Well Yes, but he is coming down today I think. He wasn't very precise!"
"Today!" exclaimed Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Has Bingley been informed??"
"Well I tried to speak to dear Mr Bingley, but I fear his mind was on other matters, all I got from him was a vague 'Hello', then nothing seemed to register with him. "
"Well, perhaps we should leave you two ladies to yourselves and go find Bingley." Said the Colonel.
Darcy walked rather slowly away from the ladies, with his cousin.
Colonel Fitzwilliam smiled at him. "Fear you will be caught by Mary Bennet, if you leave?"
"Miss Mary Bennet is a very skilled...conversationalist." Said Darcy shortly, not impressed with his cousin.
Colonel Fitzwilliam raised his eyebrows. Surely he had been off the mark in thinking Darcy and Mary Bennet... Darcy and Mary Bennet ...impossible!! He shook his head.
"The question is Darcy, how do we stay on at Netherfield when Bingley races back to town?"
Darcy looked questioningly at him. "We don't. It would be impolite to stay while our host is not here, indeed improper."
"Yessss. That is why I was hoping you had formulated a plan."
"A Plan? Why would I need a plan?"
"To stay here...where we are all enjoying ourselves."
"You may be enjoying yourself to the extent that you would flout common decency but I fear I am not." Said Darcy languidly, hoping against hope that what he was really feeling was not readable on his face. Darcy had no intention of staying in Hertfordshire to watch the woman it appeared he lov-lik-... admired fall in love with his cousin.
Darcy continued into the house, while Colonel Fitzwilliam stood with a confused expression on his face.
Part Four.
Courage is grace under pressure ~ Ernest Hemingway.
It was nearing late afternoon, and a carriage pulled into the main street of Meryton. It was obviously a privately owned carriage, and not pulled by job-horses either. Thus it attracted quite a fair amount of attention from the shoppers, busybodies, and those people employed to hang around and fill a place up.
The carriage door swung open, about 10 seconds before the carriage even looked as though it was slowing, and a young man jumped down. He had blackish hair, and a tall self-assured air of confidence surrounding him. This may have had something to do with the impeccable set of clothes he was wearing, but he for all his youthful demeanour and fancy clothes looked like a man who was used to being obeyed. A very small scar on one of his cheekbones, may have given a clue as to his occupation, to the townspersons, but they were too far away to see it, and had to assume. They assumed he was a lord.
The carriage grinded to a halt about 10 metres down the road, the door, which had been banging open and shut, was grasped by a firm hand and opened again. Out stepped a slightly older gentleman, who had an air of laissez-faire about him. He too was finely dressed, but unlike his companion, in no small way did he exude clues to what sorts of man he was - tinker, tailor, solider or sailor. If he was anything, he must too be a lord; no one else could be as enigmatic. He walked towards his younger companion with a look of boredom on his face.
"So this is Meryton?" he asked, rather rhetorically.
The younger man gave a wicked grin, "Doesn't look very Merry."
"Perhaps it improves with time."
"Like a fine wine."
"Yes like a fine wine... what? No damn you not like a fine wine. You know this is why I hate travelling with you, you always manage to upset the balance."
"And such a fine balance it is too."
The elder man shot his companion such a look that proved to the onlookers what they had been suspecting; they were obviously related.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Onwards to Netherfield." Said the elder man, climbing back into the carriage, giving directions to the coachman.
"Yes onwards to Netherfield. Why did we stop here anyway!"
The wind suddenly changed tack, meaning the eavesdroppers couldn't quite catch what was said in reply from the carriage but it went a little bit like this;
"To stretch my legs, so I will be in prime condition to strangle you, you are the worst person to be shut up in a carriage with. If you arrive at Netherfield unscathed, I will be most surprised!"
The carriage started rolling, as the younger man started to laugh. He had to break into a run, and jump on the step of the carriage to get in, but this was no great athletic feat for him.
The carriage was soon out of sight, but its contents were not soon out of the collective mind of Meryton.
Chapter 9, Part 1
No greater grief than to remember days of gladness when sorrow is at hand ~ Friedrich Schiller
Kitty sat down in a quiet part of the garden. A quiet part of the garden was really quiet a hard place to find these days. It was overrun with officers paying court to Lydia, Bingley lolloping after Jane, men looking lovingly at Lizzy whenever she wasn't looking and Lady Annabelle looking like the Mona Lisa.
Then of course there was Mr Collins. He was currently standing on the other side of a small hedge from Kitty, talking to her father. Mr Bennet had become quite tired of his houseguest and had left his library to take Mr Collins for a walk around the farm. Mr Bennet hoped that he could at least bring Mr Collins to realise exactly what he was inheriting. However this plan was faulty. Mr Collins did not appear to be interested in the advice upon farm management and husbandry. He was more interested in the poor state of his host's health. Mr Bennet was very close to deciding to take Mr Collins on a walk by the very convenient stream.
Kitty sighed. Then there was Mama. She was ensconced in a shady part of the garden with Lady Lucas and Mrs Long. The arrival in the district of not one but two Lords had sent their world into a tailspin.
Mrs Bennet was having particular problems. She only had one daughter left to tempt two Lords with. At the moment she felt it was best to discourage Lizzy from Colonel Fitzwilliam and try to promote Lizzy with the elder, Lord Ashbourne, that left Lydia for the younger Lord Douglas. If the insensitivity of detaching a lady from a younger son, only to throw her in the path of his brother, occurred to Mrs Bennet she didn't let it worry her.
Kitty's spirits had been temporarily buoyed by these arrivals that were on everyone's lips. She had read dispatches about both! They were Lords and in military service! (This much had leaked out to the community - how it had will always remain a mystery - but leaks are always like that) However she had been sunk back into depression when she remembered about Mr Collins. Mr Collins had been seated next to her at dinner, he had seated himself next to her after dinner, he had walked her to her room before saying goodnight and he had been there when she stepped out of her room in the morning.
No, it had not been easy to find herself some peace and quiet. And it was this that Kitty desperately needed. Should she submit to such a marriage to save her family?? Could she live with such a disgusting man? The answer to both of these questions was a resounding... no! The real question was; was she going to get a choice?
Kitty sighed. What to do?? Around her everyone seemed to be pairing up with people that suited him or her. Mr Collins most certainly did not suit her...surely no one could think that?
And come to that, why didn't Mama decide to discourage Mr Collins, and promote her to those Lords? Wasn't she good enough?
Kitty quite accidentally heard the answer to her question; it floated over on the breeze from where her mother was sitting.
"So Mrs Bennet, I am most surprised you are letting Mr Collins court your Kitty, I mean you could have in your family two Ladies, a Mrs Fitzwilliam, a Mrs Darcy and a Mrs Bingley if you discouraged Mr Collins." Said Mrs Long snidely.
"Kitty? Oh no she is perfect for Mr Collins, she is too delicate, too young and too vapid for a Lord! No, no!! Lords have terrible taste they will be captured by Lizzy's impertinent nature. And well no body could resist Lydia. "
Kitty didn't wait to hear any more she stood up and stalked out of the garden.
Part Two
Men are but children of a larger growth ~ John Dryden
Darcy sat uncomfortably silent under a large tree, with Miss Elizabeth Bennet. They were alone, well relatively, except for the large congregation of people roaming about the pretty-ish kind of wilderness that was the Bennet garden. However none of those people were in communicating distance, except by yelling and that would be unrefined.
So Darcy was forced to communicate with Elizabeth...
However she beat him to the punch line, she communicated with him.
"So Mr Darcy are you enjoying your time in Hertfordshire."
Mr Darcy did not appear to be much forthcoming; he gave a non-committal sort of answer and dissolved back into silence.
Lizzy did not know what to think of this man. At times he appeared witty and amusing, then he appeared proud and stiff. She had noticed he seemed particularly rod-like, when his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam and her were around. Part of Lizzy's brain was trying to prompt her that this was due to jealousy on Mr Darcy's part but the other part (the dominant part) told her this was nonsense and he was just a proud man.
However she couldn't lie to herself, something inside her stirred when she saw him, she just wasn't sure what type of emotion it was. She didn't feel anything looking at the Colonel. But talking to the Colonel she felt free and happy, like she could talk about anything and not care what he thought; she knew he wouldn't judge - he was all amiability.
Mr Darcy shifted trying to think of something to say, anything to say really. He hadn't been this tongue-tied since being called up to Eton's headmaster to explain something that really Ricky had done. Why was he so blasted silent and sulky around this woman? He knew the answer; he just wouldn't admit it, not even to himself.
Lizzy was not so comfortable herself; she wished he would just say something, anything. She did not feel up to conversation, and normally she felt it best to have conversation. She just couldn't talk to him; and had no idea why.
"What do you think of the name Fitzwilliam, Miss Bennet?" blurted out Darcy.
It took Lizzy by surprise. Was he asking her what she thought of Fitzwilliam as a last name? Was he implying that Colonel Fitzwilliam wanted to marry her? For some reason the idea of marrying Colonel Fitzwilliam did not appeal...it should appeal to her, he was a man of integrity, good humour and handsome. She did not know what to say, so she just looked at Mr Darcy.
"I meant as a first name.... it's my first name. " Darcy added as quickly as he thought of the possible misconstruction that could be placed on his question. Darcy was kicking himself, he steeled himself for conversation and ended up looking like a fool the minute he opened his mouth.
"It's a very nice name...." Said Lizzy cautiously. "It is a family name, obviously, which must add to its charm. " Lizzy noticed that Mr Darcy was squinting as he looked at her. "Mr Darcy you are facing the sun, do move out of it!"
Mr Darcy obliged, however this meant he had to take the other seat, which was on the bench that Lizzy herself was placed on. It somewhat stopped the conversation and let both notice that they could no longer see anyone else in the garden. Lizzy felt apprehensive and turned her face towards Mr Darcy.
"Mr Darcy I think perhaps we should go..."
She was silenced as Darcy did either the best thing he could do, or the worst thing - he kissed her.
It was hardly the most passionate kiss in the universe; it was simple and sweet, and felt as though it took hours, instead of the relative seconds.
Darcy felt rather shocked with himself. That was something he had not planned! He watched Elizabeth's face, which appeared quite passive, and wanted to kick himself. Why did his mouth always do the wrong thing? Was it not connected to his brain?
Lizzy swallowed. Okay ...that had not been expected? Had he assumed that is what prompted her to make him come sit by her? She thought she was doing it out of simple kindness, not wishing to blind a guest, but perhaps she, unconsciously had an ulterior motive?
Lizzy and Darcy at the same time opened their mouths to say something, but were interrupted.
"Oh here you are. I've been looking everywhere for you two." Said Colonel Fitzwilliam jovially.
Darcy looked at his cousin in alarm....oh my...Ricky...he loves her doesn't he?...I had forgotten that...what have I done.
Lizzy looked at Colonel Fitzwilliam with a sinking feeling...Colonel Fitzwilliam she had forgotten him.
Part Three.
Try to know everything of something, and something of everything. ~ Henry Peter, Lord Brougham
Lady Annabelle swung her bonnet from her hand as she climbed, without assistance over a style and jumped down into the mud. Her faithful companion Wickham, managed with difficulty to make it over the style and keep his hat firmly upon his head.
Lady Annabelle laughed, she whirled her head around, as the wind whipped her hair out of its ordered state. Impulsively she set off at a run down the muddy path. Her boots sunk into the mud and made strange glooping sounds as they pulled themselves out. But she didn't care, she felt very free.
Her brother's were here, and she could alternatively tease them; then there was Darcy who was a prime fencing partner (with words of course, although Lady Annabelle was proficient with a sword, not that she would let any male know that J ; then there were the Bennet sisters who provided much needed companionship, and lastly, she thought looking behind her there was Wickham who quite easily fulfilled her quota for flirting.
"Belle, please! I know you are used to running wild, but spare a few thoughts for me, I can't keep up."
Annabelle turned and saw Wickham almost up to his knees in the mud on the side of the path. She went off into a peal of laughter.
"You silly man. Why walk in the deep mud?"
Wickham glared at her. "Possibly because I could not tell it was deep mud?"
"Then you must be a poor solider." She replied swinging her bonnet with one hand watching as he extracted himself.
"Belle I despair of you!!!" he said trying effectively to wipe mud from his legs, all it did was get quite disgusting mud all over his hands.
"Really? You despair of me!"
"Despair! You will never get a husband!"
"Well I don't' want one!"
"Really?"
"Yes. However I think there are a few people around here who wouldn't mind having husbands."
Wickham gave up on extracting mud, and walked up to Lady Annabelle and they continued their walk. Lady Annabelle of course was not miffed that Wickham didn't even offer her his hand; she was too well acquainted with him to expect even that kind of civility when he was annoyed.
"If you are talking about the young woman who you appear to be throwing men at, I would stop if I were you from what I can see the participants in that event are already confused."
"Throw men?" said Lady Annabelle genuinely confused.
"Miss Elizabeth? Ricky told me you were now hoping she would get to know Ash!!"
"Oh! I didn't mean it like that! I was trying to point out a bad quality of Ricky's, and well I think she would like Ash, as a friend."
"Bad Quality of Ricky's?"
"His penchant for laziness, I am not saying he isn't athletic but well he sure likes his armchairs."
"Yes I am aware of Ricky's bad qualities, but what I meant was why draw Miss Elizabeth's attention to them?"
"Because I don't think Ricky and Lizzy suit! I have been talking to her quite a bit lately, when I can draw her away from the gentlemen, and I think she doesn't like Ricky in that way at all!"
"What if Ricky does!" said Wickham.
"Ricky? No I don't think he thinks seriously about Lizzy! But he doesn't think Darcy does either! He thinks Darcy has some thing for Mary!"
Wickham stopped dead in his tracks and made a curious sound with his throat. "Mary...Mary?"
"Yes! So I'm only helping sort them all out!"
"You'd be much better off if you just let them sort it all out! You are hardly an expert when it comes to courting. I mean you let Lord Upton get away."
It was Lady Annabelle's time to stop stock-still and stare at her companion. "Let him get away? I did not want him! It was not a case of letting him get away!"
"If you say so."
"I do say so! Anyway, what do you think of my inviting Lizzy to Rosings?"
"Why would you do that?"
"I need to keep her near me, so I can make sure thinks don't go awry!"
Wickham shook his head. Belle the matchmaker...this cannot be good. And Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet...for some reason Wickham thought that, that could work.
Part Four.
How did I get here? Somebody pushed me. Somebody must have set me off in this direction and clusters of other hands must have touched themselves to the controls at various times, for I would not have picked this way for the world. ~ Joseph Heller.
Kitty stormed along, oblivious to the world. How could her own mother think the only thing she was useful for was marrying Mr Collins? She had thought her mother made some sense, now she realised her mother was just as illogical as always. It obviously made sense that she, Kitty, was too young for a Lord, but that Lydia, two years even younger was perfect!
Kitty stomped along. She had always thought Lydia the perfect sister, charming, fun and caring. But Lydia had shown her in the past few days that she was not caring, Lydia had not cared less that Kitty was being put in a difficult situation. Lydia in fact spent most of her time, when not with officers, laughing at Kitty. Kitty had, had her eyes opened to her sister, and not before time.
Kitty was not going to do her duty. She had been this close to resigning herself to a fate worse than death, if it was going to help her family, but after her mother's words, Kitty could not steal herself to do it.
Kitty knew that Jane would have willingly married to save her family, Lizzy she did not think would do it, but then Lizzy would never have let herself get into a position where Mr Collins was after her attentions. Mary too would have married Mr Collins if asked, but that was because Mary admired sensible, dull men. Lydia would also never accept Mr Collins; unless there was a chance he would suddenly become a General in the Army.
So perhaps it wasn't totally bad of her not to accept Mr Collins? Not that he had asked her ... yet. Kitty smiled as her thoughts left Mr Collins, and alighted on some of the officers currently in Meryton. Colonel Fitzwilliam, Wickham, Denny, Carter.... men in uniforms, how dreamy, thought Kitty.
No, she could not give up the chance of being with courageous men, to marry a parson, who would seclude her in the wilds of Kent.
Kitty was so engrossed in her thoughts, that she didn't notice a man on the path. The man was staring off into the distance, looking at the prospect of Netherfield.
Kitty gave a shriek, as she practically stepped on his feet. He too gave a start and stepped back. However this action on his part meant that Kitty put her foot down on a particularly slippery part of the path and started to fall. He caught her around the waist, picked her up and placed her back down on a more stable part of the path.
Kitty couldn't say anything; she unconsciously put a hand up to straighten her bonnet. This was a particularly attractive man, not in uniform but in well-fit clothes, he had a hat on, but Kitty could tell that he had blackish hair that was wavy.
"Th-Th-Thankyou Sir." She finally managed to stutter.
"My pleasure." Said the unknown man. Kitty finally realised that he still had a hold of her waist and gulped.
He too finally seemed to realise this and seemed to reluctantly drop his hands.
Kitty looked up and down the path, not sure what she should do. She dropped a quick curtsey.
"Thankyou again...." She whispered, before stumbling up the muddy path back the way she came. She had got several meters before she felt the need to look around.
He was still standing there, looking after her. He brought his hand to his hat and tipped it in salute to her. Kitty's heart jumped. She gave a little nervous smile and turned back on her way, being forced to hold up her skirts in an undignified way to keep them out of the mud.
The man still watched her. His brow was creased, as he thought of his own actions, a small little smile crossed his face, then he shrugged it away. He shook his head and started in the opposite direction to the intriguing lady.
Kitty reached a bend in the path, she used all her courage to look behind her again, he was walking away. She gave a quick little breath and continued to walk.
No she couldn't Marry Mr Collins.
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