4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

E lizabeth sat idly beside Charlotte, toying with a funny little flaw in the fabric of her skirt and trying to look like she was not watching Mr Wickham charming the room. She could hardly help making mental comparisons between the two men who both wanted Netherfield. While Mr Wickham was undeniably charismatic and engaging, there was something about Mr Bingley's simple, honest kindness that stuck with her.

For herself, she could not help but fancy that, perhaps even more than Mr Wickham's polished charm. But charm could be useful, and it appeared that the gentleman did, indeed, know how to employ it well.

Lost in these thoughts, Elizabeth was startled when Lady Lucas descended upon them, her face alight with excitement. "Charlotte, my dear! You must come and meet Mr Wickham. Such a charming gentleman! Why, you look as though you do not even know which gentleman I speak of! Lizzy, tell her she must come at once."

"Of course, I know who he is, Mama. The whole room is talking of nothing else."

Lady Lucas tutted, waving her fan. "Then what are you waiting for, my dear? Your father must introduce you! Such a genteel man, he will appreciate your… kindness. Mr Wickham is quite the catch, you know. Five thousand a year!"

"Mama, Mr Wickham has already been enchanted by half the county," Charlotte protested. "What reason would he have for noticing me?"

"But you can speak, can you not? You are… well, you are eminently sensible." Lady Lucas sniffed slightly, and Elizabeth caught a slip of the lady's eye as she darted a glance at Lydia and Kitty, squealing with laughter in the corner. "If you will not speak to him for yourself, my dear, then consider Maria. A gentleman likes to think that he would find himself in possession of agreeable relations when he marries." Another swift glance at Elizabeth's family.

Elizabeth suppressed a smile. "Indeed, Lady Lucas. "

Lady Lucas glanced around the room and clucked her tongue faintly. "Oh, and where did Maria go off to? I made her promise to wait for me by the Ficus plant, but she has gone off somewhere—no doubt giggling with her friends. I shall fetch her. Make haste, girls! We shall all be presented together."

Charlotte's eyes flickered with uncertainty as her mother tripped away. Elizabeth stepped closer. "Shall we go together? Or perhaps we could make our excuses to the gentleman and haunt the retiring room?"

Charlotte's smile was weak. "Lizzy, you know I am not unwell. But truly, I cannot present myself to Mr Wickham. Look at him, so charming and popular. What interest could he possibly have in someone like me?"

"A great deal, if he values good conversation, and by all appearances, he does."

"Then it is you who ought to meet him, Lizzy, not I."

Elizabeth shrugged. "A pity I have no interest in speaking to him without you at my side. Truly, how could I be presented to such an amiable gentleman without having my dear friend at hand to laugh at his foibles with me afterwards?"

Charlotte's smile was more genuine this time. "What would I do without you, Lizzy?"

"Let us hope you never have to find out," Elizabeth teased, linking her arm with Charlotte's.

Lady Lucas met them without Maria, but she seemed no less determined in her quest. "That silly girl has gone off who knows where, but we shan't miss our opportunity to meet the gentleman." She seized Elizabeth and Charlotte's arms, steering them across the room. "Come, girls. Mr Philips has promised to introduce us to Mr Wickham at once!"

Elizabeth caught Charlotte's eye, seeing her friend's resignation and trepidation. As they approached, Mr Philips turned from his conversation with Mr Wickham to greet them.

"Ah, Lady Lucas! And Miss Lucas and Miss Elizabeth, too. Just the ladies I was hoping to see." He gestured to Mr Wickham. "Allow me to introduce Mr George Wickham, the new tenant of Netherfield. Mr Wickham, this is Lady Lucas, her daughter Miss Charlotte Lucas, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn."

Mr Wickham bowed, his smile warm. "Lady Lucas, Miss Lucas, Miss Bennet. It is a true pleasure. I have been looking forward to meeting more of Meryton's most charming residents."

Lady Lucas beamed at Mr Wickham. "The pleasure is all ours, Mr Wickham. We are so delighted to welcome you to our community. Are we not, girls?"

Charlotte managed a shy smile and a polite curtsy. "Indeed, sir. Welcome to Meryton."

Elizabeth dipped a curtsy of her own. "A pleasure, Mr Wickham. We have heard so much about you already."

"All good things, I hope," Mr Wickham said with a droll smile.

"The very best," Lady Lucas assured him. "Why, you are quite the talk of the town, Mr Wickham!"

Mr Wickham laughed. "I am flattered, Lady Lucas. But I assure you, I am quite an ordinary fellow. I simply had the good fortune to take a liking to Netherfield."

His gaze drifted to Elizabeth, a flicker of interest in his eyes. But to her surprise and approval, he tore his eyes immediately back to Charlotte with a warmth that seemed perfectly genuine. "Miss Lucas, if I may say so, that is a lovely gown. The colour suits you tremendously."

Charlotte blushed. "Thank you, Mr Wickham. That is very kind of you to say."

"Not at all. I only speak the truth." He leaned forward with a conspiratorial whisper. "I daresay if the room were larger, I would have asked you to dance a reel. Would you have accepted, Miss Lucas?"

Charlotte's lips parted slightly, but her look was no less astonished than her mother's. "I… I expect I would, sir," she stammered.

"Then I shall look forward to another day," the gentleman assured her. "I mean to solicit your hand for a dance at the earliest opportunity. "And yours, Miss Elizabeth," he added, dipping a slight bow toward Elizabeth.

Elizabeth inclined her head. "I hope I will have a dance free, but I make no promises, sir."

Mr Wickham's brows jumped, and he laughed. "I've some competition, I see! I quite like that. Fear not, Miss Elizabeth, for I know when I am being teased, and I am patient enough to permit a lady to have her fun. Oh! And I daresay I am about to be stolen away." He lifted his glass with an apologetic smile to each of them as Mr Philips gestured to him from the corner. "Duty calls, I fear. More new neighbours to meet, but I shall look forward to speaking with both of you again."

Throughout the rest of the evening, Elizabeth could not help but remain acutely aware of Mr Wickham's presence. Wherever she turned, he appeared to be there, charming the local matrons or sharing a joke with the younger gentlemen, who laughed heartily at his witticisms. But he did appear to hold himself somewhat apart from the unmarried ladies of the room unless he could not escape the introduction. Curious .

Elizabeth had become separated from Charlotte, who was now in conversation with Lady Lucas and Maria. That purchased her the dubious pleasure of watching her younger sisters' antics without distraction. Lydia and Kitty flitted about the room, their giggles and shrill laughter drawing disapproving glances. Mary, on the other hand, was deeply engrossed in a lengthy and earnest conversation about morality with the new vicar's wife.

Elizabeth sighed, contemplating crossing the room to speak with Jane, who, so far, had been doing an admirable job of keeping their mother distracted. Just as she resolved to make her way over, a warm voice at her elbow startled her.

"Miss Elizabeth, you seem to be lost in thought." Mr Wickham appeared beside her, two glasses of punch in his hands. He offered one to her with a smile.

Elizabeth accepted it, returning his smile. "I am, thank you. And yourself? Is Meryton society living up to your expectations?"

"Exceeding them, I would say," he replied, his gaze intent on her face. "Particularly in terms of the charming company."

"You flatter us, Mr Wickham. I am starting to think you are quite the silver-tongued devil."

He chuckled softly. "Not at all, Miss Bennet. I simply have an appreciation for wit and beauty, both of which the area possesses in abundance… particularly some of its residents."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, trying to ignore the quickening of her heart at his bold words. "You are very forward, Mr Wickham."

"Forgive me," he said, his smile turning rueful. "I do not mean to overstep, but I am afraid your good uncle's spirits have quite overcome my senses. Or perhaps it is something else, entirely." He followed this cryptic statement with a friendly nod and a raising of his glass toward Elizabeth.

She studied him for a long moment, trying to read the intentions behind his words. He seemed sincere, his gaze open and earnest.

"Well, Mr Wickham," she replied slowly, "We are always happy to make new friends in Meryton, and no one could be more pleased than I with a witty new companion."

"Indeed? Then if you will be so good, tell me about your other ‘witty companions,' for you strike me as a lady whose tastes in company run akin to my own. Pray, start by telling me the character of the town for some context."

Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, trying to think of how best to phrase her thoughts. "Meryton is a small, close-knit community," she began. "Everyone knows everyone else's business, for better or for worse. My own family, the Bennets, have lived here for five generations."

"And what of the other families? The Lucases, perhaps?"

"The Lucases," Elizabeth echoed with a wry smile. "Sir William Lucas is a respectable man who made his fortune in trade. He and Lady Lucas have several children, the eldest being my dear friend Charlotte. They are a pleasant family, though Lady Lucas has a rather singular focus on marrying off her daughters."

Wickham chuckled. "That is hardly unique to Lady Lucas, I believe."

"True enough," Elizabeth conceded. "Then there are the Gouldings, who are known for their excellent dinner parties, and the Philipses, my aunt and uncle. My aunt Philips is always ready with the latest gossip."

Wickham leaned in slightly, his tone conspiratorial. "And what of the young ladies of the area? Are there any I particularly ought to meet?"

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "Why, Mr Wickham, are you asking me for recommendations? Hoping to make a match already?"

He laughed, shaking his head. "Merely curious, Miss Elizabeth. I value your judgment."

"Now, there is a pretty notion. You have known me less than half an evening, yet you seem to think I possess some insights worth hearing? You do know how to stroke my vanity, sir."

"Vanity? I've no interest in a lady's vanity," he protested. "But I know a lady of uncommon cleverness when I meet her. Moreover, I feel quite safe confiding in you, for I think you are not the lady to lead a gentleman astray for her own ends. So? Am I mistaken in my judgments?"

Her brows edged upward. "I like to think I am both honest and sensible, particularly in my dealings with gentlemen."

"Then we are agreed," he laughed. "Care to divulge your thoughts on all the local ladies? Ah, that one for instance. I met her earlier, but I confess, I cannot recall her name."

Elizabeth followed the direction of his gaze. "Miss King."

"King! Quite right. It was just there on my tongue before you said it. What can you tell me of her?"

"Oh, she is quite an… eligible young lady. An orphan, sadly, but she has a fine guardian in her uncle. She has a number of friends in town, though she is rumoured to be soon sent away to London. "

"Dreadful shame! And… ah, that one? The younger Miss Lucas?"

"Maria. She is lively and a delightful dancer. I am more particular friends with Charlotte, of course. And then there are the Long sisters, though their tastes run more to red coats."

Wickham's eyes gleamed with amusement. "I shall keep that in mind. And let us return to your own family, Miss Elizabeth. You mentioned you have several sisters."

"I am the second of five daughters. Jane, the eldest, is the sweetest and most beautiful of us all. Mary, our middle sister, is very studious and, she fancies, pious. Then there are the two youngest, Kitty and Lydia, who are quite… ah… spirited."

"Spirited?" Wickham repeated, clearly intrigued.

"Yes," Elizabeth confirmed with a sigh. "Lydia, in particular, has a knack for finding herself at the centre of attention. She is quite fearless, much to my mother's delight and my father's consternation."

Wickham nodded thoughtfully. "It sounds as though your family keeps life interesting."

"Interesting might be one word for it. Chaotic is another. My sisters are quite a handful, each in their own unique way."

"From what I have seen, I would call it a delightful sort of mayhem. How does your mother manage to keep order?"

Elizabeth laughed softly. "Oh, there is very little order to keep. We mostly operate under the philosophy of controlled chaos. And occasionally, we manage to avoid catastrophe."

Wickham chuckled. "Controlled chaos sounds like quite the feat. Tell me, Miss Elizabeth, do you often find yourself in the role of peacemaker among your sisters?"

"More often than I would like to admit," Elizabeth replied, smiling. "But I do enjoy the challenge. And it does make for lively dinner conversations."

"I can only imagine," Wickham said. "I must admit, I envy you. I have no siblings, so I am fascinated by the dynamics of larger families."

"None at all, Mr Wickham? Have you any family to speak of?"

"Not as lively as yours, I am afraid," Wickham replied with a faint sigh. "I am an only child. My mother passed away when I was young, and my father followed ten years later. I had some distant relations I never met, and I had a very fine mentor who, I regret to say, has also passed on now. So, you see, Miss Elizabeth, I am almost entirely alone in the world."

"Well, it sounds as though you have done quite well for yourself despite that. Taking up residence at Netherfield is an accomplishment sure to win you universal approval."

"Ah, but I must confess, it was not entirely my doing," Wickham said with a grin. "I have been quite fortunate in my circumstances. And now, I find myself in the company of such charming new acquaintances."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, a smile playing at her lips. "You are very practised in flattery, Mr Wickham."

"I only speak the truth, Miss Elizabeth," Wickham replied, his tone earnest. "I have every hope of finding happiness here in Meryton."

"Well, I shall echo that hope for you, and I shall add to that hope my very warmest wishes that you may find a lady of worth here in Meryton. Though I must warn you, my sisters can be quite... overwhelming."

"I look forward to the challenge," Wickham laughed. "I am sure I shall manage."

Just as Elizabeth opened her mouth to reply, Lydia's voice rang out from across the room. "Mr Wickham! There you are! You must come and meet Kitty's new friend!" She bounded over, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Lydia, I am sure whatever it is can wait," Elizabeth began, but Lydia was already pulling Mr Wickham away.

"Come along, Mr Wickham! Kitty insists you meet him immediately!" Lydia insisted, practically dragging him across the room.

Wickham laughed, following obligingly. "Lead the way, Miss Lydia."

Elizabeth threw an apologetic glance back at him. "Forgive my sister. She is… very young."

"Think nothing of it," Wickham said, offering her a friendly wink over his shoulder. "I look forward to our next conversation, Miss Elizabeth."