Chapter 11

"L izzy, you still have a chance to improve Mr Collins's opinion," Mrs Bennet said the next morning, in the room Elizabeth shared with Jane.

"Mama, I love you, and I would never wish to argue with you. I know you want the best for us, but please understand that I shall never, under any circumstances, marry Mr Collins. I beg you, let us not begin another quarrel."

"You will die a spinster, Lizzy!"

"Hopefully not. Let us pray Jane will marry Mr Bingley and they will allow me to stay with them and take care of their children. I may teach them how to climb trees or play the pianoforte very ill."

"Lizzy, let us not make plans or nurture hopes in regard to Mr Bingley. And Mama, please do not mention such a thing when he can hear you!" Jane pleaded.

"Well, if Mr Bingley does not propose to Jane, we shall all be lost. And you, Lizzy, have your fate sealed. You must reflect upon that!"

"I shall, Mama," Elizabeth promised in a gesture of reconciliation. She realised her mother might be correct, that she might not receive another reasonable marriage proposal. With her lack of dowry and connections, she had to find a man who made a decent living. And a man who was educated, clever, and honourable, so she could love and respect him. Where would she find such a man? And if she did, how likely was it that he would admire a woman who liked to wander the countryside alone and who had little consideration for decorum, as well as being headstrong and obstinate?

"While are you smiling, Lizzy?" Jane enquired after their mother left.

"I am thinking that Mama might be right. And still, the notion of a marriage to Mr Collins is inconceivable."

"I am sorry for Mr Collins. I hope your rejection did not hurt him too badly."

"Come now, Jane, you cannot be serious! Why would he be hurt? He barely knew me, and surely he has had no time to feel any affection for me. Lady Catherine gave him a task, and he is desperate to accomplish it. And what rejection? He did not ask anything."

"Be it as you say, Lizzy. Speaking of affection, did you hear the conversation about marriage last night? I wonder about Mr Bingley's opinion."

"Mr Bingley's opinion? He stated it quite clearly. He is in favour of a marriage based on affection. Surprisingly, Mr Darcy claimed to be too, which was quite a surprise."

"I know I sound like a fool, Lizzy, but I think so much about Mr Bingley that I am afraid I cannot judge properly. I am afraid I assume too much, that I might behave too invitingly or too coldly. I have never felt such a simpleton."

"I assume this is because you have never been in love before, Jane. You must be in love — there cannot be another explanation."

"It must be true — either that or I am losing my mind." Jane laughed.

Her sister's words disturbed Elizabeth as they reflected her own thoughts. More than once in the last few days she had suspected herself of losing her mind or being a simpleton when she thought of Mr Darcy. Surely it could not be the same situation! Jane was in love with Mr Bingley. It could not be true in her case.

That day, Mr Collins walked to Meryton again, and Mr Bennet spent most of it in his library.

The Bennet ladies had no other business but to prepare for the ball. Mrs Phillips called on her sister, and they discussed some gossip. Elizabeth heard mention of the officers, including Mr Wickham's name, but she had no patience to listen to them. Mr Bennet's rules restricting their meetings with the officers — especially Mr Wickham — had caused much sadness among her sisters, and her mother took their side.

"Well, girls, things are as bad as they could be, according to what my sister told me," Mrs Bennet said to her family later in the afternoon.

"What is bad, Mama?" Lydia asked.

"My sister told me that Mr Collins has visited Sir William twice this week. And your Mr Wickham is apparently courting Mary King! She inherited a dowry of ten thousand pounds recently, my sister said. Can you imagine such good luck?"

"Mary King?" Lydia cried. "She is not pretty at all, and her face is full of freckles! And she barely speaks! I am sure Mr Wickham cannot be courting her. And if he is, I am sure it is because of her dowry. If I had a dowry, I am sure all the officers would want to court me."

"And me!" Kitty added.

"Lydia, I cannot believe you can say such nasty things!" Elizabeth said harshly. "If he is pursuing her for her dowry, shame on him! You should pray never to be in such a situation."

"Do not be dramatic, Lizzy," Mrs Bennet objected. "Your father listens to everything Lord Matlock says, and I do not wish to upset the earl either, so I do not argue with him. But his grudge against Mr Wickham is ridiculous. It must be because he has taken Mr Darcy's side in their quarrel. That is what my sister Phillips believes, and I agree!"

Elizabeth tried to keep her composure. "Mama, let us be reasonable. Why would such an important man like Lord Matlock hold a grudge against anyone without reason? And why would Mr Darcy quarrel with Mr Wickham unless he had a good reason?"

"I do not know and I do not care, Lizzy. Your father forbade him from calling on our family when everybody else in Meryton invites him to every party!"

"This is so unfair, Mama!" Lydia cried again. "I wonder if he will come to the ball so we can at least dance with him."

"I would not put too much hope on that, Lydia," Elizabeth replied.

"This is so unfair!" Kitty repeated.

"What is unfair?" Mr Bennet enquired, entering the room. "No, you had better not tell me. I am not so curious. I am just hungry. Is dinner ready?"

"It is. I shall let Hill go to bed early tonight, as tomorrow morning she must go to Netherfield. Mr Bingley asked her for help and will send her his carriage. Is that not most considerate of him?"

"It is, Mrs Bennet. Very considerate, as always. Shall we wait for Mr Collins?" the gentleman asked.

"I am not sure. My sister said he keeps visiting Sir William, and he might dine there. I hope Lizzy is happy that she cast him away."

As they spoke, the subject of their musings arrived. Mr Collins greeted them with his usual formal politeness and assured them he would be ready for dinner shortly. He barely looked at Elizabeth, as proof that he was still offended by the direct manner of her address. Furthermore, Elizabeth knew he was upset that Lord Matlock and Mr Darcy were more annoyed than pleased by his flattery, unlike Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

With the clergyman present, the dinner conversation was rather restrained, and they mostly discussed the ball. Fortunately, Mr Collins retired early and so did Mrs Bennet, followed by the girls. Elizabeth chose to stay downstairs, searching for a moment of privacy with her father. She found it just as he was enjoying a last drink in the library.

"Papa, I wish to ask you something. I should not interfere, but I am a little worried. It is about Mr Wickham."

Mr Bennet rolled his eyes. "Mr Wickham again? Your sisters tortured me today, talking about him. You too?"

"I am serious, Papa. Unlike my sisters, I believe Lord Matlock's warning was just. I hear he is now courting Mary King, who has recently received a large inheritance."

"And? Why is that my concern?"

"I thought that you might talk to Lord Matlock or Mr Darcy… Perhaps Mary King's family deserves to be warned too before it is too late."

"This is not my business, Lizzy. You may talk to either of them yourself if you wish. But what if that young man has genuine feelings for the lady?"

"I doubt that, Papa."

"What I find curious, Lizzy, is that while your mother and sisters reject all bad reports about that man, you seem to accept them and to worry more than you should."

"I have no reason to distrust the reports, Papa. I believe Lord Matlock and Mr Darcy have sound reasons to disapprove of him. Besides, I found it strange that the day after he arrived in town, he revealed his past misfortunes to people he barely knew."

"I agree. You are a wise girl, Lizzy. I am glad that your reason is strong enough to question a handsome man who charmed your sisters and your friends."

"I deserve no such praise, Papa." She laughed. "I confess I met Mr Darcy two days ago, on my walk, and he gave me a few more details about his past dealings with the man. It seems Mr Wickham requested and was given money by Mr Darcy many times."

"He told you that?"

"He did. Did you know, Papa?"

"Of course. Henry told me. I required more details since his warning seemed so serious. However, I was not aware of your encounter with Mr Darcy."

Elizabeth felt her cheeks burning. "It was nothing, truly, Papa. He was riding, I was taking my usual walk, we unexpectedly met, and he accompanied me part of the way back home."

"You and Mr Darcy have become good friends lately."

"Not good friends, Papa. But once I got to know him better, I better understood his disposition. And he apologised for his past manners, which I found to be commendable for such a proud and haughty man."

"Indeed. He must have improved his opinion of you too since he decided to dance the first set with you tomorrow."

"Papa, do not joke on this matter too much, or Mama might assume God knows what! I am scared to even think what might cross her mind."

"She is still angry with you because you do not wish to marry Mr Collins," her father said with a large smile.

"I am glad you are amused, Papa."

"How can I not be? It is entertaining. You should be happy — Henry was appalled at the thought that my cousin imagined you would marry him."

Her father laughed, but Elizabeth felt a knot in her stomach.

"Papa, you told Lord Matlock? Did you laugh at my expense?"

"Lizzy dear, do not be so dramatic. Henry is a perceptive man, and he noticed my cousin's so-called inclination. Besides, your suitor kept talking about how Lady Catherine demanded he find a wife. Everybody guessed his intentions, not just my friend."

"But it is mortifying, Papa. I hope Lord Matlock did not joke about it at Netherfield! It would be dreadful if Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst were to talk about me in derision and to ridicule me. Or Mr Darcy…"

"My dear, I am quite certain that Henry dislikes Bingley's sisters. I understand he has already had some disagreements with them and reprimanded them. So I doubt he would joke with them. As for Mr Darcy, I am not so sure. Henry might have mentioned it to him, or he might have noticed himself."

"Oh dear, what a shame…"

"Come now, the conversation about marriage the other night was quite revealing regarding everyone's opinions on the matter. And it showed quite clearly that my cousin was irritated by the subject."

"Papa, I find nothing amusing. I feel I am the subject of absurd scorn."

"This is silly, Lizzy. Friends talk about friends, just as you talk to Charlotte Lucas or Jane. Now, have a little port with me, to calm yourself before sleep."

"Papa, I do not need port. I understand friendship, but I do not appreciate you making sport of me. As I am sure Lord Matlock would not appreciate it if you requested more details about his confession at dinner. About the errors he admitted making, especially those related to his marriage. I am perceptive too, and I easily understood that."

She was too upset to mind her words, but their effect on her father was greater than she could have expected. He turned pale, gulped down his drink, then poured another one.

"I know you are perceptive, Lizzy. Henry said too much, probably because of too much brandy. I do not have the liberty to provide you with any details, but I can tell you it is not something to laugh at. There are secrets powerful enough to ruin lives."

Elizabeth sat, looking at her father. "Are you part of these secrets, Papa?" she whispered.

"Only because I found out about them and tried to offer my help."

"I see…"

"We should go to sleep now, Lizzy. We shall need rest to bear the chaos tomorrow. At least I know I shall."