Chapter 3

“I cannot believe you called at Longbourn without me, Darcy!” Bingley said. “You should have waited so we could go together.”

“It was not a call but an impromptu visit. Perhaps I should have waited for you, but it is done now.”

“Was the family well?”

“I believe so. I spoke mostly to Mr Bennet and barely saw the ladies.”

“Oh… Would you like to go back with me tomorrow?”

“Absolutely not. There is an annoying, insupportable man there whom I do not wish to see if I can help it.”

“Ah, you mean Mr Collins. We met him in Meryton a few days ago, remember?”

“Apparently he is under the patronage of my aunt Lady Catherine. He obviously worships her and — by association — he also worships me.”

Bingley laughed heartily. “There are very few people, I suppose, who dislike so much to be liked by other people.”

“Fortunately, most of our common acquaintances like you more than they like me,” Darcy replied in earnest, and Bingley laughed louder.

“I have no complaints about that. I enjoy being liked, especially by certain people. I am amazed how different we are, yet still you consider me a friend.”

“You are easy to like, Bingley. Besides, you are one of the most honourable and genuine people of my acquaintance. You only lack self-confidence in some matters and possess excessive self-confidence in others.”

“What do you mean? Do tell me — I really wish to know.”

Darcy hesitated briefly.

“I believe you should rely more on your own judgment and less on my advice — and that of your sisters.”

“And…?”

“And…perhaps you should not be so confident when you admire someone or even fall in love.”

“Ah… Your meaning is clear now and perhaps justified. However, if I am to follow your earlier piece of advice, I should rely on my own judgment and tell you that this time things are different.”

Darcy chose not to reply. He knew too well that Bingley spoke of Miss Jane Bennet, and he could not approve. Firstly because he did not trust Bingley’s feelings were more than his usual infatuation. The eldest Miss Bennet was exceptionally beautiful, and most men would need nothing more to be charmed by her. Furthermore, Darcy distrusted Miss Bennet’s feelings too. From the little he had been in her company, she seemed to be reserved and well-mannered, but her heart was probably not easy to touch. If Bingley’s infatuation increased and he had the imprudence to propose, she might accept him for convenience, and they would end up in an unhappy marriage.

The thought of Bingley marrying Jane Bennet was rather disturbing for Darcy for more than one reason. If such an event took place, Elizabeth would become Bingley’s sister too, and Darcy would find himself in her company rather often. Such a notion was as exhilarating as it was distressing and would likely alter his friendship with Bingley. The proximity of the woman he desired but could not allow himself to pursue was a torture to which he refused to be exposed.

“Darcy? What is wrong? You seem distracted.”

“I am… There is something I am considering and cannot decide.”

“May I help?”

“I do not believe so. I am pondering whether to speak to Colonel Forster about Wickham. The man could be a threat to any honourable person. It is only a matter of time before he builds up debts at cards with the other officers or betrays their trust in some other way.”

“Wickham? He is the object of your concern? I know he treated you terribly, but I thought you had chosen to disregard him.”

“I planned to. However, the more I think on it, the more I realise I cannot turn my back on the consequences of his actions.”

“I have no opinion as I am not even aware of what he has done. But since you called him outrageous, I am sure he is.”

“Will Colonel Forster attend the ball? Perhaps I shall speak to him then.”

“He will, but I suspect he would rather dance and enjoy himself than talk about such serious matters on that particular night.”

“Yes, I see your point. In that case, I might speak to him tomorrow — if I decide to speak at all.”

“By the way, I hope you remember we are invited to dine with Sir William at Lucas Lodge tomorrow night. Caroline and Louisa have declined, but I am going.”

“I did forget. I am afraid I must decline too. There will be too many people I wish to avoid, including Wickham and that Mr Collins. Please tell Sir William I have a prior engagement and convey to him my apologies.”

“As you wish, Darcy.”

With that, the conversation ended. During dinner, the Bingley sisters chatted with hardly a pause, but Darcy was barely listening to them.

He considered for a moment going to the dinner at Lucas Lodge the following evening, simply to catch a glimpse of Elizabeth. But he quickly dismissed it as silly, pointless, and painful. He would probably be forced to watch Wickham talking to her in a friendly manner, and that, he could not bear.

He was deeply distracted, his mind warring between what he believed to be his duty — protecting strangers from Wickham — and his real duty of protecting his sister. Any attempt to expose Wickham carried the danger of the attempted elopement being exposed and Georgiana’s reputation being ruined. Was he prepared to take such a risk? Was it truly his duty, or was he just trying to keep Wickham away from Elizabeth?

∞∞∞

By the next day, Darcy was still unsure about what further actions were required.

However, he called on Colonel Forster and requested a private meeting. As expected, it did not last long, and he regretted it almost immediately. He could not reveal much about his past dealings with the scoundrel, only mentioning their long acquaintance and Wickham’s inclination towards debts, gambling, and seduction. At that, the colonel laughed while offering him a drink.

“Mr Darcy, I thank you for your concern, but honestly, your description fits most of my officers. Including myself. I confess I used to drink too much and allow myself to be easily enchanted by charming, pretty ladies. That is precisely how I met my lovely wife, and I do not regret it at all.”

Darcy was lost as to how to reply or contradict such a statement. He could not do it without offering more details, which he was not ready to do, so he abandoned the attempt entirely.

“Mr Darcy, I understand that to an educated and honourable gentleman like you, accustomed to always following the rules of decorum, the behaviours you mentioned might be appalling and condemnable. That must be the reason for your past misunderstandings with Wickham, which he has already mentioned to me. However, for us army men, it is nothing unusual. I am sure your cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam would agree.”

Darcy chose not to respond; he only nodded and bade the man farewell, riding back to Bingley’s estate in a poor mood. Vexed and restless, he wondered whether Mr Bennet had discussed Wickham with his family and what had been Elizabeth’s response. She was probably on Wickham’s side as much as Colonel Forster. Darcy’s word did not count for much when compared with Wickham’s charming manners — as had happened for many years.

Once he returned to Netherfield, Darcy’s disposition turned from bad to worse; Bingley had left for Lucas Lodge, and he was forced to bear an evening with three people he liked too little to enjoy their company. As usual, Hurst hardly spoke at all, while Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst chatted incessantly. As soon as dinner was over, he excused himself and withdrew to his room despite the ladies’ insistence that he remain longer.

He had received a letter from Georgiana earlier and indulged himself with its contents. His sister wrote about the Matlocks, about their older cousin, the viscount, whose wife was expecting their first child, and about the colonel still being away from London. She sounded comfortable with her new companion, Mrs Annesley, which brought Darcy much relief. He still blamed himself for trusting Mrs Younge and wondered how the woman could have betrayed him — and even more so, how she could have betrayed Georgiana after being her companion for ten years. She had been generously paid — more than was usual for such a service — and her every request had been granted. Yet still, Mrs Younge had chosen to plot with Wickham at Ramsgate to deceive his sister.

How it was possible, Darcy could not understand. Did Wickham possess such powers of persuasion that he was able to convince even a woman of a certain age and experience to abandon her comfort, her honour, and her loyalty? Or perhaps Mrs Younge had never possessed such qualities, and he, Darcy, had been as blind to her faults as his father.

From Wickham, his musings moved to Elizabeth, pondering what the scoundrel had told her; most certainly his usual lies, meant to make him appear a victim and convince people to trust and pity him. It was a scheme he had been using for many years now, and many people had been taken in by it, until Wickham used his power to gain advantage over them in one way or another. Was Elizabeth one of those easily fooled?

He recollected some observations of her while she stayed at Netherfield. Her witty remarks, the wry twist of her lips, the sparkle in her eyes… An evening spent with her alone would be a delight. Perhaps with Georgiana joining them. But no, such imaginings must be immediately banished.

As perfectly suited as he believed Elizabeth was to him, her situation in life — her family’s situation — made any connection between them impossible, even though Mr Bennet was an intelligent man, more educated than many others he had met among the ton . The gentleman had expressed his hope of them meeting again, and Darcy would not be opposed to it, if not for his tormenting sentiments for Elizabeth. What use could there be in befriending Mr Bennet since he already struggled to stay away from Elizabeth?

Two glasses of brandy later, he finally fell asleep, confusing thoughts still spinning in his head and turning his rest into restlessness.

Therefore, his state of mind did not improve overnight, and the following morning found him irritated, in no disposition for conversation.