Chapter 11

A lthough she was familiar with the room and had been there since Mr Darcy occupied it, Elizabeth stepped in timidly.

“Miss Elizabeth, please come in. Forgive my boldness in calling for you, but it will be short, and I have Mr Bennet’s approval.”

“Mr Darcy, how are you feeling, sir?”

“Not as bad as Dr Bates feared, nor as well as I would wish to.” He smiled. “Would you sit a moment?”

She chose a chair reasonably close to the bed.

“Dr Bates told me about your little chat. I had no objections as I trust your discretion, but I regret that you have been burdened with a situation inappropriate for a young lady.”

“The only thing I regret is my foolish trust in Mr Wickham when I first met him. I am as angry with myself as I am with him. May I ask — what do you plan to do?”

“I am not sure. Bingley confirmed to me the horse had a similar wound. But I did not provide him with the other details, so he is not aware of our suspicions.”

“Mr Bingley should be warned since he is hosting the ball and Mr Wickham might be there.”

“Bingley has been warned, but I am sure Wickham would not be a danger in public. He is a coward whose every action is deceitful and dishonest. Disguise and secrecy are his usual weapons.”

“But why would he… My father told me of your past dealings with him. But why hurt you now? Could he expect some gain if you…?”

“Wickham must have felt desperate that I tried to expose him and he might lose his comfortable position in the regiment and within the Meryton community. He knew he could not stop me otherwise — that he had already done too much. I warned him a few months ago that… You do not know, Miss Elizabeth, but…”

He paused and averted his eyes for a few moments, while Elizabeth waited, silent and anxious.

“Besides my financial dealings with Wickham, something more dreadful happened this past summer. Something that I did not tell your father.”

“Oh…?”

“Once I refused him any assistance, Wickham tried to take advantage of Georgiana. She was in Ramsgate with her previous companion, and he followed her there on purpose. He convinced her to renew their friendship and tried to use her innocent affection for his personal benefit. The consequences could have been tragic if not for my sister’s wisdom and strength of character.”

Elizabeth held her breath, waiting for his narration to unfold. The few details he offered were enough for her to sketch the circumstances. His last words suggested the worst had not occurred, which allowed her a bit of relief.

“That is why you were angered by Mr Bingley’s letter. You feared Miss Darcy would come here and encounter Mr Wickham.”

“Yes. And that is why I wish to avoid any possible meeting — even a brief one — between my sister and that scoundrel.”

“Is Miss Darcy aware Mr Wickham is in Meryton?”

“Yes. I told her yesterday.”

“The poor girl! How she must have suffered at such a betrayal.”

“She did… I fear she still does… She would be distraught if she heard or suspected he might take further steps to harm her. When I take proper measures against him, I must ensure I destroy any evidence of the Ramsgate affair, and I must be certain Georgiana will not suffer any further because of it.”

“But you do remember he was near you? And we saw him.”

“Yes, but neither of us heard or saw a pistol.”

“What do you think happened?”

“I believe he tried to shoot me, but he missed and hit the horse, who panicked, reared, and tried to throw me. There must have then been a second shot, which grazed my temple. Then I hit my head on a branch, which caused me to fall from my mount and lose consciousness.”

Elizabeth quivered, pressing her hand to her mouth. The image Mr Darcy conjured was terrifying, and it was as if she could actually see it.

“Wickham approached me when I was on the ground and said something to me. I am not sure whether he would have attempted to fire another shot or just waited for the cold and rain to kill me. Fortunately, you passed by.”

“I do not understand why… Colonel Forster was not upset with him — you said so. And it is likely most people in Meryton would not believe any accusations against him. He suffered no real consequences. Papa has forbidden my sisters from going to Meryton and meeting the officers, but Mr Wickham would not care about Lydia and Kitty.”

“Perhaps he believed my death would open his path towards Georgiana, but my cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam is also her guardian and would not allow him near her.”

“Could he be so horribly cruel?”

“I wonder too… Or perhaps he fears something else, and it has made him desperate. He wrote to me on the day of the accident, asking to meet and talk. I refused, of course.”

“But how was it possible that he knew you would be there, at that precise moment?”

“That is a mystery… His note said he would be there in the afternoon, close to the spot where I saw him with your youngest sisters last week. I remember mentioning that I used to ride out there. A well-detailed plan…mere coincidence…both… There are only assumptions.”

“Assumptions that are difficult to accept,” Elizabeth whispered. “So what can be done, Mr Darcy? Is there something particular you wish me to do?”

“No… I only wished you to know the truth and to explain the importance of keeping the secret. Please take care of yourself, and please watch over my sister since you are with her and I am not.”

“Of course, sir.” She stood up to leave but stopped at the edge of the bed. “And please take care of yourself, Mr Darcy. I hope you are keeping your promise to take your medicine and to eat.”

“A promise is forever, or until it is no longer required, Miss Elizabeth,” he said. His smile looked a little broader, a little more at peace, and she was shocked to notice dimples in his cheeks. Chills ran down her spine, making her quiver, and she felt her face colour.

“Tomorrow is the ball,” Elizabeth said. “Miss Darcy wishes to come and sit with you during the evening.”

“She told me. Bingley will make the necessary arrangements. Mrs Annesley will come with her.”

Elizabeth took a few steps towards the door, but he called to her again.

“Miss Elizabeth, there is something else I must tell you. In regard to the ball.”

She turned and approached the bed again. He was gazing at her intently, and she felt the wave of heat spreading to her neck.

“The ball? Do you wish to confess you had the accident on purpose so you could avoid it?” she attempted to joke in order to conceal her nervousness.

He laughed. “No, indeed. Quite the opposite. I planned to ask you to dance at this ball, and I wondered whether you would have finally accepted my request.”

Utterly astonished, she looked at him, bearing his intense gaze. “Ask me to dance? Are you sure? We all know you believe any savage can dance and you dislike the activity.”

He laughed again. “That might be true, generally speaking. But not on this particular occasion. I looked forward to dancing with you.”

“It would be rude to doubt your word, Mr Darcy, but I shall reserve my opinion,” she replied. She felt more at ease, and teasing him was rather pleasant. “But I must ask — what do you mean by finally accepting your request?”

“Well, I have already asked you to dance twice, and you have refused me.”

“That I can easily declare to be untrue, Mr Darcy. You refused to dance with me at the assembly — which was your prerogative, of course.”

She was still keeping a light tone, but his voice gained some gravity.

“At the assembly, my behaviour was outrageous, and I cannot apologise enough for offending you, Miss Elizabeth. My refusal to dance was caused by my own state of mind, which was not appropriate for entertainment. I was there at Bingley’s insistence, and it was a mistake.”

“I understand, sir. Now, I understand. But I shall not deny I was upset for a while. Therefore, I suggest forgetting that evening entirely.”

“That is very generous of you, Miss Elizabeth. However, I have asked you to dance twice since then. Once at Lucas Lodge, and once at Netherfield.”

Elizabeth needed a moment to think before she finally answered.

“Surely you are joking, sir! You certainly did not truly mean to dance on either of those occasions.”

“I would have danced if you had accepted me. The ball would have been a better opportunity, but the chance is ruined now. So, I must wait for the next one.”

“The next one? I was under the impression you would leave after the ball.”

“That was my plan a week ago. But everything has changed. New circumstances require new plans.”

“Oh…”

“I hope you are not displeased by the prospect of me staying in Hertfordshire longer. I would rather alter my plans than upset you.”

She was unsure whether he spoke in earnest or was joking. There was a glimpse of a smile in his eyes, his gaze still fixed upon her. She had never before wondered how she felt about Mr Darcy’s departure and the fact she would likely never see him again. At that moment, however, she felt a sudden, warm joy knowing he intended to stay longer and that he had asked her opinion in regard to his plans.

“I am certainly neither displeased nor upset, Mr Darcy,” she eventually answered, then left the chamber, her heart racing as never before.

∞∞∞

The conversation with Mr Darcy tangled Elizabeth’s mind even more. The revelations about Mr Wickham’s loathsome character and his attempts to murder the son of his godfather and to harm the young daughter of his benefactor were abominable.

She could now better understand the reason behind Mr Darcy’s responses to so many situations where she had judged him harshly. The two Darcys seemed to be bound by affection and care for each other — which was admirable and excused some of Mr Darcy’s arrogant manners towards strangers.

And then, there was much more she had to comprehend and accept. To her, Mr Darcy’s behaviour had changed far beyond her expectations, beyond gratitude. He trusted her with his personal secrets, he smiled at her differently, he had befriended her father, he had asked to speak to her privately, and he had teased her. And now he had expressed his desire to dance with her and asked her opinion about his remaining longer in Hertfordshire. All this could not be understood, and the possible explanation could not be accepted. That Mr Darcy could have some particular interest in her was more inconceivable than all the other unbelievable things she was already considering.

∞∞∞

The day of the ball arrived, and Elizabeth had mixed feelings about it. She briefly remembered that they had all received the news of the ball with much anticipation, and she had hoped to dance with Mr Wickham, the same man she now loathed and wished to never see again.

Her disposition had changed, and she felt a strange desire to see Mr Darcy and talk to him more. She even imagined dancing with him — which was utterly silly.

Her sisters slept later than usual and, since they were already at Netherfield, began to prepare later. For the first time, they had maids to help them, about which they were overjoyed.

Miss Darcy and Mrs Annesley were to go to Longbourn, and the same carriage would return with Mr and Mrs Bennet as well as Mr Collins. Dr Bates had declined the invitation for the ball.

Elizabeth was impatient; therefore, she dressed herself and arranged her hair quicker than her sisters. For reasons she refused to acknowledge, she offered to accompany Miss Darcy to Longbourn and then return with her parents. The arrangement seemed perfect, and nobody opposed it.

Miss Darcy seemed exceedingly pleased with her company and complimented Elizabeth’s appearance several times.

The carriage passed through Meryton, and from there it was only a short distance to Longbourn. The streets were already animated, with groups of people dressed up and ready to attend the ball. Most of them recognised Elizabeth and waved to her, while Miss Darcy was hidden behind the curtains.

In front of a shop, Elizabeth noticed a large group of people, including some officers. She startled, fearing Mr Wickham would be among them, and she immediately glanced at Miss Darcy. Fortunately, moments later, Elizabeth noticed the wretched man was not there, and she breathed in relief, forcing a smile. However, when she looked back at Miss Darcy, the girl looked disconcerted and fearful, biting her lip.

“Miss Elizabeth, do you know who that lady is?”

“Which one?”

“The one with the tall hat with green feathers?”

“Let me see. Ah, that is Mrs Harriet Forster, Colonel Forster’s wife. I understand they married less than two months ago.”

“Oh…”

“Do you know her? Or did she look like an acquaintance of yours? Do you wish to stop?”

“Oh no, please no! Let us continue.”

Miss Darcy leant back into the bench as if trying to hide herself. Her nervousness was so obvious that Elizabeth gently squeezed her hand.

“Miss Darcy, what has happened? Is something wrong? Do you know Harriet Forster?”

“I do know her…”

“You do? May I ask how? I do not wish to intrude, but you seem truly troubled.”

The girl glanced through the window as the carriage left Meryton behind.

“I met her in Ramsgate this past summer. I shall be well, do not worry,” Miss Darcy finally answered, squeezing Elizabeth’s hand in return.

Elizabeth escorted Miss Darcy and Mrs Annesley to Longbourn, where they were met by Mrs Bennet in her usual state of agitation.

“My dear Miss Darcy, I am sorry I cannot be a proper host, but I must dress for the ball, and I am already delayed. Hill has prepared a room for you — the one shared by Lizzy and Jane. There are two beds, all clean, ready for you to rest. It is not as large and elegant as you are used to, but I hope you will find it comfortable enough. Cook will prepare dinner for you and your companion and Dr Bates. I trust you will find the food to your liking. If you need anything, please ask Hill.”

“Mrs Bennet, please do not trouble yourself so much. You have been exceedingly kind to us already, and I cannot thank you enough.”

“Well then, I am going to change now. Hill, can you please help me a moment? Lizzy, you look very pretty! You are not as beautiful as Jane, but you look lovely tonight.”

“Thank you, Mama. Do you wish me to help you?”

“No, no, stay with Miss Darcy. We cannot all abandon her. Your father is with Mr Darcy and Dr Bates. I barely slept last night, and the doctor gave me some herbal tea for my nerves, and now I feel strange and dizzy. I might need to lie down a little at Netherfield. I hope Mr Bingley will have a room for me. Hill! Where are you?”

Mrs Bennet continued to shout as she walked to her chamber, while the ladies smiled at each other. Miss Darcy seemed to have regained her composure.

Mrs Annesley remained in the drawing room, while Georgiana and Elizabeth went to meet the gentlemen. Elizabeth took advantage of her father’s presence in Mr Darcy’s room, and she entered too.

The moment he laid eyes on her, his expression changed; his gaze warmed, and a little smile twisted the corners of his lips.

“Lizzy? What are you doing here? What happened?”

“Nothing, Papa.” She spoke to her father, while her eyes and her interest were a little bit behind him. “I was ready early, so I accompanied Miss Darcy.”

“How kind of you, Miss Elizabeth,” Mr Darcy said. “And please allow me to tell you that you look lovely too.”

“Thank you, Mr Darcy,” she replied, wondering why she was blushing at a compliment she had received so many times before from so many people. “May I ask how the patient is progressing today?” she asked the doctor.

“He is improving. I dare say we are on the right path,” Dr Bates responded.

“I am glad to hear that. Papa, are you ready? We should leave soon.”

“I am ready, Lizzy. Though I am still hoping for a reason to stay at home. An accident or an illness would be very welcome.”

“Papa!”

“Do not worry, Lizzy, I shall go, or else I shall hear of nothing else from your mother. Besides, I heard you will dance with Mr Collins, and I cannot miss such a spectacle.”

“Papa!” Elizabeth cried again, her cheeks heating with embarrassment. She stole a glance at Mr Darcy and noticed his amused expression and mischievous smile, which vexed her.

“Come, Lizzy, laugh with us. After all these distressing days, we need a bit of diversion.”

“I would rather not laugh at my own expense, Papa. But I do prefer to laugh at distress, and in the meantime, I shall seek revenge,” she concluded with mock seriousness.