Chapter XV

O nce Mr. Bennet had settled Lydia, his sternness removing any notion of continuing the argument, harmony returned to the room. Elizabeth sat beside Anne, keeping her company for Jane and herself, while the others arrayed themselves around the room. While the conversation proceeded among the company, Elizabeth noted Lydia did not participate much, and she and Anne said little to each other. This suited Elizabeth's feelings, for so long as Lydia was not rude, she was tolerable.

Mr. Bennet, it seemed, had some interest in Anne, for he addressed several comments to her, questions about her estate in Kent, and others about her family. Anne did not seem to take his interest as intrusive, for she answered readily, though Elizabeth noted she spoke of her mother but little. That, also, was just as well, for the lady was not a subject anyone present other than the woman's daughter would find interesting. Given Anne's lack of mention of her mother, which Elizabeth noted the longer the afternoon continued, she wondered if there was some matter currently between mother and daughter. If there was, Elizabeth could not blame her, knowing that she could not endure the woman for above half an hour, let alone live with her for a lifetime.

As the hour lengthened, the dinner hour approached, such that it was nearly time to go in, they heard an approaching carriage. The custom when they had a visitor was for one of the ladies to approach the window and report on what they saw. On this occasion, it was Kitty who did so, her report much as Elizabeth expected given the hour and the events of the day.

"It is a large chaise and four," said she, pulling the curtains aside so she could see more clearly. "It is Mr. Darcy, and two other men, one of whom is Mr. Bingley! And a lady a little older than Mama."

The sound of Mr. Bingley's name on Kitty's lips shocked Elizabeth, for while Mr. Darcy was expected, Mr. Bingley arriving with him was not an event Elizabeth had contemplated. A glance at Jane showed her cheeks had pinked a little, but she maintained her composure with only a little strain. Jane, however, was not the member of the party about whom they should be concerned.

"Mr. Bingley!" exclaimed Mrs. Bennet, as shocked as the rest. Then a smile of utter delight and satisfaction settled on her features. "Oh, Jane, he has finally come for you! Go change into your lilac dress—"

"They are coming to the door," announced Kitty.

"That will never do," muttered Mrs. Bennet. "Sit up straight, Jane, and ensure Mr. Bingley sees you the moment he enters."

Mrs. Bennet clucked about Jane, though what she was trying to accomplish Elizabeth could not say. Jane was not certain how to act, nor did she appear to wish to hope, though Elizabeth thought her mother was not incorrect about Mr. Bingley's presence. A smile and a nod appeared to firm Jane's resolve, though she remained nervous. What Anne thought of it all she did not say, though she watched with an amused smile, one that suggested she did not suspect the Bennet matron of anything out of the ordinary. Anne noted Elizabeth regarding her and nodded, turning her attention to the door.

Mr. Bennet stepped out into the hall to welcome their guests, and they heard the sounds of voices through the door he had left open. The first to enter, however, was not Mr. Bennet leading the visitors within, but Lady Catherine, who appeared determined to reach her daughter at once.

"Anne!" cried the woman at once upon catching sight of her.

Wisely, the Bennet sisters all hurried to remove themselves from her path to Anne, for it was not beyond the realm of possibility that Lady Catherine would trample them if they were not quick enough. The way Lady Catherine fussed over her daughter suggested she thought the Bennets were highwaymen and had set upon her daughter, leaving her beaten and alone. It was not unlike Mrs. Bennet's earlier fussing, though absent was the motherly concern; there was something manic in Lady Catherine's ministrations, such that it was no wonder Anne had left Rosings as she had.

"As you can see, Mother," said Anne after a few moments of this, finally making herself heard over her mother's exclamations, "I am well."

"Yet you put yourself in the power of George Wickham, of all men!" scolded Lady Catherine. "Whatever were you thinking?"

"That is what I would like to know," said Colonel Fitzwilliam as he stepped into the room with Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Darcy.

Belying his words, the colonel approached Anne and knelt beside her on one knee as if inspecting her for damage. "It appears you are little the worst for wear, Cousin. I hope you will favor us with an explanation of what has happened today."

"Of course, Cousin," said Anne, accompanied by the sound of her mother's huff of annoyance. "For the moment, however, I believe you are ignoring an important social custom."

With a nod and a grin, Colonel Fitzwilliam rose and turned his attention to Elizabeth, bowing over her hand. "Miss Elizabeth. It is a pleasure to be in your company again. Will you not do the honor of introducing us to your family?"

"Of course, Colonel," returned Elizabeth with a smile.

As Elizabeth did so, she noted Kitty and Lydia's interest at the news he was a colonel, though they would undoubtedly clamor for him to don his regimentals. Mrs. Bennet eyed the man as if wondering if he might do for one of her other daughters, while Mary and Jane looked on with polite interest. While Colonel Fitzwilliam's entrance had captured the attention of the room, Mr. Bingley had positioned himself by Jane's side and appeared determined to remain there—perhaps forever. Lady Catherine looked at them all as if she could not wait to retreat from so unfashionable a place. Elizabeth suspected that was the least of the lady's thoughts at that moment.

"Well met, Mr. Bennet," said the colonel; as the one of the visiting family naturally more genial than the rest, it seemed right that he should take the lead. "While I am eager to hear the explanation of all that has happened this day, I cannot express enough gratitude for the succor you offered my cousin. Should you ever find yourself in need, know that you have a friend in the Fitzwilliam family."

"And the Darcys," added Mr. Darcy quietly.

The man did not look at Elizabeth, a relief as it happened, for she did not know how she would react if he did. In some undefinable way, Elizabeth was certain that his words were for her more than the rest of her family. The notion that he might still interest himself in her person seemed ridiculous, so Elizabeth suspected it was because he had heard something of her actions to help Anne escape Mr. Wickham in Meryton.

" And the de Bourghs," said Anne when her mother did not speak. There was a note of defiance that Lady Catherine did not appear to like, though for the moment the lady did not deign to reply.

"Yes, well, all appears to have ended well," said Mr. Bennet, bemused by such statements of friendship from three influential families. "Though to my mind, we owe Lizzy more of the credit than anyone else. She was the one who set it all in motion, after all."

"Do not make light of your part in the affair, Mr. Bennet," said Anne. "Did you not confront Mr. Wickham outside the walls of this very house and provoke him to turn tail and run?"

"Perhaps I did," said Mr. Bennet, his unconcern showing in his slight shrug. "I had several stout men at my back, so I was in little danger."

"If we continue in this fashion," said Mr. Darcy, "we shall never know what happened. I am certain you all had a part to play. Shall we not discuss the sequence of events so that we may put it to rest forever?"

"An excellent notion, Cousin," said Colonel Fitzwilliam. He turned to Anne and favored her with a grin. "I believe the beginning was in Kent. Will you not share what possessed you to flee Rosings, with Wickham of all men?"

Anne shrugged, clearly not wishing to discuss the matter. "You are well acquainted with Mr. Wickham. Surely you know he is persuasive when he puts his mind to it."

Colonel Fitzwilliam frowned, not liking Anne's answer. "I never found him persuasive at all, for I have always known what he is. He could not have worked on you in a single morning, for I must believe your sense is sufficient to withstand him for a time."

"No," replied Anne. "Mr. Wickham came to Rosings perhaps a month ago, not long after Miss Elizabeth returned home from her visit with Mrs. Collins."

"He must have timed it that way," said Colonel Fitzwilliam, looking to Elizabeth. "Knowing of your propensity to walk, he must have known how odd it would appear if you spied him in Kent."

"Perhaps," said Elizabeth with a shrug.

"Regardless," said Anne, "he acted as if he were passing through when first I met him. It was not long before our meetings grew more frequent, and soon thereafter he declared his undying love."

"Oh, Anne," said Lady Catherine, shaking her head. "Did I not teach you better than this?"

"I did not believe him, Mother," said Anne simply. "When I agreed to go off with him, it was not because I believed myself in love with him."

"Then why did you do it?" asked Colonel Fitzwilliam, his curiosity evident in his confusion.

"That is a matter I do not wish to discuss now," replied Anne with nary a hesitation. "As I informed Elizabeth, he never quite convinced me, even when we had been on the road for some time."

Anne chuckled at some memory. "Mr. Wickham begged me to bring a sum of money so we could purchase a license, claiming he was between positions at the present and had not much ready funds. I told him that Mother kept the strongbox locked tight." Anne shrugged. "I could have got the money, of course, but I told him I had little. Even now I do not know why I did it."

"It seems you suspected him," said Mr. Darcy.

"Or perhaps I wished to force him to prove himself." Anne shook her head. "It little signifies, for, in the end, Elizabeth convinced me it was folly to elope with him. I accepted her invitation to shelter at Longbourn. That is the extent of my story."

"Anne, dear," said Lady Catherine, her disdainful glare raking over Elizabeth, "you should not speak so familiarly of a woman who is so far beneath you. As you know, I will not tolerate any blurring of the boundaries between the classes."

Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam appeared put out with their aunt, but it was Anne who responded.

"Elizabeth and I have become firm friends; we agreed to dispense with titles, Mother."

While Lady Catherine frowned at Anne's rebuke, Mr. Darcy spoke quickly to head off her response. "Then I suspect the next part of the story is yours, Miss Elizabeth. Will you not share?"

Still interested in the byplay between Lady Catherine and Anne, Elizabeth forced herself to look away and offered her version of events. There was little enough to explain, for her part was nothing more than seeing Anne and persuading her to forsake her mad design to run away with Mr. Wickham.

"You forced my daughter to walk an entire mile from that insignificant little town to this estate?" demanded Lady Catherine. "Do you not know that Anne has a delicate constitution? Would you ruin her health in such a way?"

Elizabeth regarded the lady coolly. "What would you have me do, Lady Catherine? My sisters and I walked to Meryton and there was no carriage available for our use. Should I have carried Anne to Longbourn on my back?"

"The walk was bracing, Mother," said Anne, again confounding her mother. "I enjoyed it very much and would like to repeat it with my new friend."

"Then Wickham came soon after your arrival," said Colonel Fitzwilliam, again interrupting his aunt and preventing her from speaking. Elizabeth was certain Lady Catherine had never received such treatment as this, for her cheeks were turning red in frustration.

"Only ten minutes later," said Mr. Bennet, eyeing the brewing storm that was Lady Catherine de Bourgh. "When they arrived, the ladies informed me of what happened, allowing me the time to position our lads to protect the estate. Mr. Wickham blustered and threatened, but in the end, he retreated, having no other option, when I set my stable hands to throw him from the estate."

"Then you know nothing of Wickham now?" asked Colonel Fitzwilliam, an intensity she had often attributed to Mr. Darcy taking hold of him.

"I assume he returned to Meryton," said Mr. Bennet with a shrug. "You have my apologies, Colonel Fitzwilliam, but we do not boast the manpower to both protect Longbourn and mount a search for him. I kept my men nearby where they could be of the most use."

"That was the most important consideration," said Fitzwilliam with approval. He turned to Mr. Darcy. "When your men return, they should scour the area for him. Wickham is not one to surrender easily; he may yet be skulking about."

"Before we entered, I sent Barnes back to Meryton to inquire after Wickham," said Mr. Darcy. "When the rest of my men arrive, we can search more effectively."

"While I said it before," said Colonel Fitzwilliam, turning back to Mr. Bennet, "I shall repeat myself: you and your family have done us a favor we can never repay. No thanks can ever be sufficient for the service you rendered us today."

Lady Catherine again huffed in exasperation, but no one paid her any heed.

"You have repeated yourself, and so shall I," said Mr. Bennet. "We were happy to offer our assistance. Now, I think we need not speak of the subject again."

Colonel Fitzwilliam grinned again. "It is refreshing to see such humility, Mr. Bennet. There are not five families in London who would not use such circumstances as this to improve their standing in society."

"As I quite despise London and the pretenders who frequent it, that is not precisely the allure others might think it is."

Though Mrs. Bennet huffed her annoyance and Lady Catherine her disdain, Colonel Fitzwilliam allowed his mirth free rein. He then turned to Mr. Darcy and said: "There you are, Darcy. I believe you have a kindred spirit in Mr. Bennet."

"The only thing I lack," said Mr. Darcy wryly, "is the lack of standing to render my participation with that set unnecessary."

"Then I believe I shall count myself the wealthier man, Mr. Darcy," replied a grinning Mr. Bennet.

It appeared this exchange was too much for Lady Catherine's sensibilities.

"What nonsense are you all speaking? If the Bennets prefer to avoid London, it is likely for the best, for no one there would accept them, regardless. The Fitzwilliam family was made for high society. It is where we are most comfortable."

"To each his own, Lady Catherine," said Mr. Bennet with a nod. "Some find themselves at home in such surroundings; I shall not say they are mistaken, for their perspective is necessarily different from my own."

With a regal nod and a haughty sniff, Lady Catherine turned to Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Now that we have dispensed with the pleasantries, it is time to depart. I mean to return to London today so we may prepare for the future."

"I think not, Lady Catherine," replied Colonel Fitzwilliam.

"Why should that be?" demanded the lady.

"Because your daughter has traveled from Kent to London to Hertfordshire today," said Colonel Fitzwilliam, his glare pointed. "And you mean for her to take to the road again, not to arrive in London until well after dark?"

"That does not even account for the state of my horses," added Mr. Darcy. "They have run quickly today, and while the journey is not long, I would like to rest them for at least a day or two."

"And that is my cue," said Mr. Bingley, speaking up for the first time since arriving. Until that moment, he had conversed with Jane in quiet voices, his actions the same as they had been the previous autumn when he had paid her exclusive attention. "Before we left this morning, I sent my carriage on to Netherfield with instructions to the housekeeper to open the house and prepare for my arrival."

Mr. Bingley offered an apologetic smile. "As the timing of my arrival was uncertain, I was not specific. My housekeeper must still hire new staff, but it should be adequate for our needs."

"That would be for the best, Bingley," said Mr. Darcy. "Thank you for your hospitality."

"Yes, thank you," said Anne. The way she was eyeing her mother suggested she thought her on the verge of another outburst. "It is agreeable to me to remain near my new friends for at least the next few days."

"Anne!" exclaimed Lady Catherine. "Have I not told you about the sovereign importance of separation from the lower classes?"

"You make it sound as if they are tenants, rather than gentlefolk, Mother," said Anne. "I am, after all, naught but the daughter of a knight. A knight is an auspicious title, but as it is not hereditary, a knight is, for all intents and purposes, a gentleman."

"Perhaps that is so," said Lady Catherine, grinding her teeth in frustration. "But what of your mother and your uncle? Are you not the granddaughter of an earl? Do the Bennets have relations to equal that which you possess? Do not imagine me ignorant of their position in life, for I heard it all from Mr. Collins."

"That matters little, Mother," said Anne. "I would ask you to refrain from your diatribes, for you are insulting our hosts, a family of whom I think highly."

Lady Catherine stared at Anne, mouth agape with shock. "I do not appreciate your tone, Anne. I taught you better than this."

"If you do not appreciate it," said Anne, a definite edge of frost in her tone, "then you should not provoke it."

No one in the room could fail to see the tension between mother and daughter, least of all their family. From what Elizabeth had seen of them during her stay in Kent, she did not think Anne had ever said one word in contradiction of her mother's dictates. This behavior must be foreign to Lady Catherine. No doubt she would blame the Bennets for her daughter's new recalcitrance, for so far as she was aware, Anne was the same docile woman she had always been. It was a matter of time before she exploded in anger, yet Anne was not giving an inch. Elizabeth was certain something else was at play, but she could not imagine what it was.

"Regardless," said Mr. Darcy, inserting himself into the conflict, "it is best to stay at least one night, Aunt."

"Very well," said Lady Catherine, giving ground with only the greatest reluctance. "I suppose this Netherfield Park, inadequate though it must be, is better than this place."

"Netherfield is a handsome estate," said Mr. Bennet. "As matters at Netherfield are still uncertain, I believe Mrs. Bennet will join me in hoping you will stay and dine with us."

"Of course, you must!" cried Mrs. Bennet, though her attention appeared fixed on Mr. Bingley and Jane more than anyone else in the room. "We were not expecting so many visitors, but I am certain it will be no trouble to host you."

"I thank you for us all, Mrs. Bennet," said Colonel Fitzwilliam. "We shall be delighted to accept."

With those words, the general conversation in the room ceased in favor of conversing with one's neighbors. Kitty and Lydia were engaged in whispering between themselves as was their custom, while Mr. Bennet stood with Mr. Darcy engrossed in a conversation of some seriousness. Mrs. Bennet watched Mr. Bingley and Jane like a hawk focused on a fat hare, though Elizabeth was certain the pair never noticed her. Lady Catherine fussed over Anne, who appeared to endure her fretting with difficulty; the former had nothing to say to anyone else in the room, while the latter appeared to regret the impossibility of speaking with anyone else. Mary was, as usual, seated by herself, observing the rest of the company. As for Elizabeth, the colonel soon approached her, fixing her with a smile, though one of some uncertainty.

"Miss Elizabeth," said the colonel as he stepped close to her and bowed over her hand. "I hope you will indulge me for a moment, for there is a matter for which I must apologize to you."

"Is that so?" asked Elizabeth, unable to fathom what he might mean. "Then by all means, you had best make amends, for I would not wish to hate you forever."

Colonel Fitzwilliam chuckled at her jest. "I dare say you could do a bang-up job of it, Miss Elizabeth. I refer to my unthinking words to you the last time we met on the grounds of Rosings." At Elizabeth's look of incomprehension, he clarified: "When I informed you of my cousin's boast regarding Bingley and your sister."

Understanding flooded Elizabeth's mind, and she hastened to say: "I think no apologies are necessary, Colonel Fitzwilliam."

"Actually, they are," replied he. "For you see, I have a habit of embellishing every tale I tell. The truth of what happened is often tedious, rendering a little exaggeration necessary for a good yarn. In this, however, I overstepped and said more than I should." He paused and chuckled, adding: "My cousin would say I should have said nothing, and I suppose I must allow his opinion to prevail.

"Though I had nothing but the supposition that it concerned Bingley, Darcy mentioned the matter only in passing and certainly did not portray it as callously as I related. Darcy is a good man and an excellent friend—what advice he gave Bingley he offered as a service to a dear friend. He does not disapprove of your sister."

"I believe, Colonel," Elizabeth hastened to say, "I understand what Mr. Darcy was attempting to do. While I cannot agree with it, knowing something of the truth of my sister's feelings, I understand Mr. Darcy's obligation to counsel his friend as truthfully as his understanding allowed."

"Darcy has told me he believes you are as generous as any woman he has ever met," said Colonel Fitzwilliam. "He is correct in every particular."

Elizabeth's eyes found Mr. Darcy, and she saw him still in close conference with her father, apparently oblivious to his cousin's position next to Elizabeth. Whatever he knew about Colonel Fitzwilliam's unfortunate words, it was clear the colonel had not approached her at his cousin's urging. This comforted Elizabeth, for while she still could not repine her refusal of his suit, at least he was not so unfeeling as she had supposed.

"Thank you, Colonel," said Elizabeth, with feeling. "At present, Mr. Bingley appears little inclined to be parted from my sister again."

"Yes, I had noticed that," replied the colonel, regarding the pair with some amusement. "As I informed you in Kent, I do not know Bingley well, but whatever he does, I am convinced he does it with all his heart."

"Then there is nothing else to consider," said Elizabeth. "All appears to have ended well."

"I cannot but suppose it has."

The colonel regarded her as if he wished to say something further. The moment passed and whatever he contemplated, Elizabeth must assume he decided against voicing it, for he made some banal comment, and they spent the rest of their time before dinner conversing amiably about subjects of little consequence.