Chapter 10

Elizabeth did not get the opportunity to speak to her father privately until the next morning. After rising early and walking to Oakham Mount, Elizabeth returned to join the family for breakfast. As soon as the meal was finished, Mr. Bennet retreated into his study as usual, and with a quick glance at Jane, Elizabeth followed.

For the first half hour, they spoke of estate matters. The steward had several inquiries that required attention, yet given Mr. Bennet's limited knowledge of estate matters, he had postponed addressing them until her return.

"Papa, I met Mr. Darcy again in Kent," Elizabeth said when they had finished the discussion about the spring planting.

"Was he more agreeable in Kent than he was in Hertfordshire?" he asked. He had already picked up a book to read, missing the way she flushed at his words.

"He was very amiable," Elizabeth replied. "We had quite a few conversations, and he will be coming to Netherfield with Mr. Bingley later this week."

He looked up at that. "So you have heard your mother's gossip about Netherfield being reopened."

"It is not gossip. Jane and I saw the gentlemen last week in London, and they informed us themselves of their intent," Elizabeth said, watching her father to see how he took the news.

"Then I suppose we will hear much about the gentlemen for a month or two, and then they will depart as they did in the autumn. Mr. Bingley will go away as he did before, leaving Jane where she is, and well, perhaps Mr. Darcy finds you slightly more tolerable as well, but he will go away as well. You can still have nothing to tempt him."

"Papa, Mr. Darcy apologised for his initial slight of me, and I have come to think better of him. He is a good man," she implored him to listen, but he waved her off.

"Such wealthy men can want nothing from mere country misses. Your mother may raise her hopes, but I know you are too intelligent to have your head turned by such a man. Now, go, Lizzy and speak to the steward about what we discussed. You know these matters far better than I do."

Though Elizabeth wanted to say more, she knew would have to try again later. At the moment, Mr. Bennet's attention was fixed on the book in front of him, and he would hear no more.

This scene repeated itself the following morning, to Elizabeth's frustration. The gentlemen were to arrive that day and would likely call at Longbourn in the afternoon.

Shortly after arriving at Netherfield,Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy rode across the estate as they visited a few of their former acquaintances, starting with Sir William Lucas. They were greeted pleasantly at Lucas Lodge, where the news of their eldest daughter's marriage to Mr. Collins was shared. Mr. Darcy congratulated the matron and mentioned seeing the couple in Kent. Declining refreshments, they stayed for a little longer than a quarter of an hour before departing Lucas Lodge, heading straight for Longbourn, where they asked to speak to Mr. Bennet. While there, Bingley apologised for his delayed return to the area, claiming business kept him away longer than intended. Through this explanation, Mr. Bennet retained a sardonic look on his face and said little in response, causing Bingley to squirm more than he might otherwise have done.

Once Bingley was finished, Darcy attempted to use what Elizabeth had told him of her father to speak to the man. Elizabeth recommended he not immediately ask for her hand, but to engage her father in conversation first. Mr. Bennet was slightly more alert during this discussion, apparently recognising that Darcy was different from his friend. Regardless, he rejected all attempts to get to know his daughter's suitor, and there was something in his eyes that made Darcy uncomfortable.

Soon, Mr. Bennet had enough and encouraged the gentlemen to move to the sitting room, where the ladies, all except Miss Elizabeth, were gathered.

Mrs. Bennet greeted Mr. Bingley warmly, but Darcy observed that the matron greeted him more coldly. He wondered just how far his words from the assembly had travelled, and he did his best to project warmth into his tone and to speak more than was his wont in an effort to win the woman over.

A few minutes into their call, Miss Elizabeth joined them. The gentlemen rose upon her entry, and she broke into a broad smile upon seeing them. Darcy, whose eyes were trained on her from the moment she entered the room, smiled in return.

She hastily made her way toward him. "Good afternoon, Mr. Darcy. I am pleased to see you have returned to Netherfield."

"I had unfinished business in Meryton and was pleased to join my friend." While his tone likely sounded severe to all who heard it, he was sure Elizabeth saw the love that shone through his eyes.

Grinning, she moved to sit near him. "Do you prefer the country to town? Should you not be in London, enjoying the remainder of the season?" she teased.

"I am, in essence, a gentleman farmer. I much prefer time in the country to that in town. While being in town does offer some things the countryside does not—theatre, opera, book sellers—I still prefer my time spent in the country. Pemberley is quite my favourite place in the world, and if I were not obligated to come to town for business and the social events my aunt demands I attend, I would likely spend all my time at my estate."

He stopped and smiled at her, waiting to see how she would respond. She had her head cocked to one side, looking at him. "Yes, you are of a serious, taciturn disposition. I would imagine you are much more comfortable in the country and among fewer people than you might find in town. I also prefer the country, though I do adore the theatre. My uncle does not care for opera, so I have never been."

"Then I must remedy that, and soon," he murmured, his eyes boring into hers.

"My father has been reluctant to hear me speak of you," she replied, equally quietly.

Darcy furrowed his brows. "Why?" he asked, his concern growing. Their conversation in the study had felt awkward, and Darcy wondered if Bennet held something against him.

Before Elizabeth could respond, their conversation was interrupted by the housekeeper announcing several additional visitors, among them George Wickham.

Though Darcy had been aware of Wickham's presence in Meryton and resolved to remain unaffected by it, he found it challenging not to react to the mention of Wickham's name or his unexpected appearance in the home of the woman he loved. Both he and Elizabeth observed Wickham's pallor upon seeing Darcy seated there. Darcy pondered how Wickham might behave with him, particularly in Elizabeth's presence. He harboured little doubt that Wickham had recognized Darcy's interest in Elizabeth at their initial encounter in Meryton and had subsequently singled her out for his tales of wrongdoing. Even though he knew she now understood the truth of their past, he remained apprehensive about any potential mischief Wickham might attempt upon learning of their engagement. For a moment, he struggled to hide his concern, but his mask soon dropped and covered his face.

Likewise, Wickham had regained his own composure and strode toward where Darcy sat with Miss Elizabeth. "Miss Elizabeth," he greeted cheerfully, "it is pleasant to see you today. Darcy, I am greatly surprised you have returned to Meryton. I had heard you were in London and would not return to this part of the country. Tell me, how is your family?"

Darcy spoke after only a brief pause. "I have returned with Bingley to continue teaching him about managing the estate he has leased. My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, will be joining us in a day or two for a visit, and I believe he intended to pay a call on his old friend Colonel Forster."

Wickham paled again. "Fitzwilliam is here?" he asked, his voice slightly higher than usual.

"He will be on Monday," Darcy replied, staring steadily at his former friend.

Next, Wickham attempted bravado. "Do tell me, Darcy, will your sister be joining you here as well?"

Darcy nearly growled at this. His voice was tight and constrained when he spoke to Wickham, and he ensured no one other than the three of them could hear it. "Keep away from Georgiana, Wickham. Remember, Colonel Fitzwilliam is not nearly as forgiving as I. And he has been looking forward to greeting you when he comes."

Abruptly, Wickham stood, murmuring his apologies, and leaving the house at nearly a run. Elizabeth and Darcy watched him flee—there was no other word for his hasty departure.

A moment after he departed, Elizabeth spoke again. "Do you think we shall see him again?"

"Will you still walk to Oakham Mount in the mornings?" he asked.

Confused by the sudden change of topic, she replied hesitantly, "I will."

"We will speak further in the morning," he said. "I cannot speak openly here about that, and we have other things to discuss as well."

"Sunrise?" she asked, and smiled when he nodded.

Soon after this, all the gentlemen took their leave of the ladies. Mrs. Bennet encouraged Jane to show Mr. Bingley out, so Elizabeth accompanied them and took a private leave of Darcy. He could do little else than press her hand, not even kiss it in company of other officers, and reluctantly he departed.

Not long afterthe gentlemen departed, Mr. Bennet requested Elizabeth to join him in his study. "So, Lizzy, it seems your mother's news was correct and both Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy have returned. I know you think better of Mr. Darcy than you did in the autumn, but he is far too rich and too well connected to settle for a woman of your standing. You have nothing to offer the gentleman. Though you are intelligent for a female and witty, those things will not tempt a man such as that haughty Mr. Darcy, at least not into marriage."

Elizabeth sighed heavily. Her father's reluctance concerned her, and for the first time, she heard his insults as they were intended rather than thinking they were meant affectionately as she had believed before. Filing this away to think about it later, she attempted to refute her father's words.

"Papa, you have misunderstood Mr. Darcy. I believe his intentions toward me are honourable."

"Do not surrender to him, my dear. He will take whatever you give him, but in the end, he will leave. You are better off not giving him your heart—or anything else for that matter." This was said with an arched brow, and it made Elizabeth's cheeks heat.

"You are mistaken, Papa," she said sadly, unwilling to say more before Mr. Darcy approached him on his own.

He shook his head in disbelief at her words, but said little else before dismissing her.