One Thread Pulled: The Dance With Mr. Darcy (34 page)

Colonel Forster thanked them for bringing the charges against Mr. Wickham to his attention and assured them that he would pursue some action to prevent Meryton or its residents from falling prey to any mischief from his officer. His first act, he declared, would be to assign Mr. Wickham to some duty the next evening, effectively preventing him from attending the ball that the officers had all been invited to at Netherfield.

The two gentlemen left the colonel's quarters reassured that Mr. Wickham's activities would be curtailed to some extent; however, they were not assured that the colonel took the matter as seriously as they would have liked. It took only a few inquiries to determine which inn Wickham was housed in, and the men paid their second call of the morning shortly after the first.

Mr. Wickham would most certainly have declined to see them had he been in his room. However, he was standing by the road with several other officers when Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy approached the inn. Wickham greeted the men civilly, and they did likewise, although those present would later say that they had felt a distinct enmity in their address from the start. They would also say that following a brief private audience with his callers, George Wickham was a changed man. The charm and amiability he was well known for was strained, and his address became more frequently sullen and morose instead. This transformation resulted in much speculation by those who knew him in the militia and by others in Meryton as to what had transpired between the men, but it would be some time before the truth of the matter would be known to anyone except the three men from Derbyshire.

~*~

Mr. Bingley became increasingly impatient for the return of Fitzwilliam and Darcy to Netherfield. The preparations for the ball the next evening had engaged the full attention of his sisters and the staff, and he could discover no corner of the house where he did not find himself in the way, with the exception of his own quarters, to which he had confined himself since breakfast.

His thoughts were not on the ball, however. They were on his lovely Miss Bennet, and although he was more at ease when making calls accompanied by a companion, he eventually decided not to wait for his friends to return but to set out for Longbourn alone.

It was as he was approaching Meryton that he observed a grand carriage. Drawn by four handsome bays and attended by smartly dressed footmen, he saw it leaving the little village going the opposite direction as he. The conveyance was out of place in the countryside, but his mind was so directed on calling on the Bennets that he scarce looked twice as he passed it.

~*~

After Lady Catherine left Longbourn, the household was in an uproar. Mr. Collins had expected that she was there to insist on his decision regarding a wife, but she had not even mentioned it. She had instead, swept into the house, discomposed the entire family and all the servants with her sudden arrival, dispensed with the pleasantries and demanded to know in which house in the neighborhood her nephew could be found.

Mr. Collins, ever anxious to please, had offered that not one, but two of her esteemed nephews—Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam—could be found as houseguests at Netherfield Park. Upon gaining the directions to that estate, she took her leave of the Bennet house with no further ado, departing in the same abrupt and imposing manner in which she had arrived.

Mrs. Bennet was both delighted that such an important person had called at Longbourn a second time and unhappy that the visit had been unsatisfactory. It could hardly be classified as a social call, yet Mrs. Bennet actively sought to identify any elements that could be used to turn it into a triumph to be shared with Lady Lucas and Mrs. Phillips.

Mr. Collins seemed quite beside himself with anxiety and relief upon the departure of his patroness, and seemed suddenly determined to accelerate his success in winning Elizabeth's favor. It did not take long for Elizabeth to tire of his attentions, and she retired to her bedchamber, where she knew that Mr. Collins could not follow. Jane, however, did follow, and the two sisters marveled together over what had transpired in the course of the morning.

“What could it mean, Lady Catherine coming here?” Jane wondered. “She seemed so determined.”

“I do not know for certain.” Elizabeth mused. “But it may have something to do with her daughter, Miss de Bourgh. Mr. Collins told me that Mr. Darcy is engaged to his cousin, but he told me that he is not. I suspect that her mother is of the opinion that he is. I confess to wondering how Miss de Bourgh looks upon the matter. It seems a hopelessly convoluted mess.”

“Lizzy, how grateful I am to hold no doubt of Mr. Bingley's affections. He is such a steady young man.” Jane smiled blissfully. “I am grateful too that he does not have a terrifying aunt chasing him about the countryside. That would be dreadful!”

“One cannot help but feel some compassion for Mr. Darcy, I suppose.” Elizabeth ventured. “His aunt is rather imposing after all. I am certainly glad she is no relation of mine.”

“Has your heart softened toward Mr. Darcy?” Jane's eyes widened hopefully.

Elizabeth laughed at her sister. “Jane, you know what I think of him, but I am now determined to allow myself to like him, at least a little. He is, after all, Mr. Bingley's friend, and we are bound to see him if you are being courted by Mr. Bingley. There is nothing so annoying as constantly being civil to a person one dislikes, so I am of a mind to like him just well enough to be a friend, and I believe that will suit him also, for he has been somewhat more amiable of late.”

“That will please Char ... Mr. Bingley.” Jane smiled contentedly.

“You must not tell Mr. Bingley anything about it.” Elizabeth warned. “I do not wish to give the wrong impression.”

“What, that you're entirely reasonable and not nearly as stubborn as you seem?” Jane teased. “No, we must not spread that about the county!”

A few minutes later, the call came from below that Mr. Bingley was approaching the house. Jane stood to go, but Elizabeth was suddenly reluctant. “I am in no temper to keep company with Mr. Collins. Would it trouble you if I did not join you today?”

“No, it would not trouble me, but I cannot speak for my mother. If you are not to come to the sitting room, you had best quit the house altogether, or Mama will make you come.” Jane replied.

“I do believe that I am a bad influence on you, Jane!” Elizabeth laughed. “You go down to Mr. Bingley,
 
I will go for a walk, and perhaps Mr. Collins will oblige us all and spend some time with Mary.”

Jane nodded happily and left the room, while Elizabeth prepared herself to go out. She tiptoed down the stairs and after retrieving her pelisse and gloves, went to the kitchen, where she filled a basket with provisions from the larder. Her mother, as mistress of Longbourn, had a duty to see to the well-being of their tenants, but it was an obligation she frequently neglected. In recent years, Elizabeth and Jane had often performed the visits in her stead. Elizabeth knew that if her mother were upset about her abandoning the callers at Longbourn, she would also be appeased when she learned that Elizabeth had done so while fulfilling the duty to visit their tenants. Leaving through the back door, Elizabeth could not be seen from the sitting room and was soon well out of sight of the house.

~*~

Leaving Meryton after seeing Mr. Wickham, Colonel Fitzwilliam and Mr. Darcy concluded that Mr. Bingley would have most likely become impatient and gone to visit Longbourn without waiting upon their return, so they likewise set out for Longbourn.

Carefully folded and tucked into the pocket nearest his heart, Darcy carried Elizabeth's handkerchief. He had not told Fitzwilliam of his plans to return it, nor had he set his mind to the way he was to accomplish it, only that it must be done. His mind wandered to it constantly as they rode. He composed in his mind little speeches to say as he returned it, but none of the approaches gratified him, for he could envision Miss Bennet challenging whatever he said. He did not wish to inflame her anger against him but rather to please her. Eventually, Colonel Fitzwilliam could bear the silence no longer.

“One would think you were on your way to the gallows, Darcy. I know that you do not enjoy Mrs. Bennet's company, but surely your anticipation of seeing Miss Elizabeth is a happy affair.”

“It would be, I grant you.” Darcy said, “If I were not faced with the prospect of returning the wretched handkerchief that you stole.”

“So you're to return it? Will you tell her how you came by it?” Fitzwilliam asked casually.

“I do not know.” Darcy scowled. “I would not wish her to think I took it.”

“Blast it man, why ever not? She thinks you hold her in contempt. If you prove yourself to be just a bit of a scoundrel, it will make you even, and you can start anew.” Colonel Fitzwilliam laughed.

“But I am not a scoundrel.” Darcy grimaced. “Nor am I likely to be convincing as a pretender. I cannot deceive.”

“Then you had best tell her the truth.” Fitzwilliam grinned. “I
 
am
 
just a bit of a scoundrel, and I am sure she will believe it of me. Would you like me to return it to her? I will gladly tell her why I took it....”

“No!” Darcy nearly bellowed. “You have done enough damage!”

The colonel struck his balled fist long ways against his heart. “I am hit!” He cried dramatically, “You have pierced me!”

“This is not a time for hilarity, Fitz. Your antics make me weary today.” Darcy shook his head.

“The first thing you must know about women, Darcy, is that they like men who are in a good humor. You must shed that serious attitude and discover the delights of pleasing a lady with your attentions.” Fitzwilliam nudged his horse to go faster. “I will be glad to show you how it is done!”

Darcy, alarmed at the implications of Fitzwilliam's offer, spurred his horse as well, and the two cousins raced the last half mile to Longbourn.

Chapter Thirty-One

I Have Found You at Last

A
lthough Colonel Fitzwilliam had the advantage of an early lead, Darcy's magnificent steed possessed superior speed and stamina, and so it was Darcy who arrived first at the gates of Longbourn. The race had invigorated him, and he vaulted from the saddle with energy and an excitement born both of the exercise and his deep desire to see Elizabeth. When his feet acquired the ground, it occurred to him that the ride may have disheveled his appearance, and he spent a moment brushing off the dust and straightening his attire. He reached for his handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow, and in his haste, very nearly mopped his face with the stolen, lacy one in his pocket, but he caught himself in time.

He had just finished the task of making himself presentable again when Colonel Fitzwilliam came walking his horse down the lane. He was in a state of complete relaxation, leaning back in his saddle and loudly singing “The British Grenadiers.” He stopped his horse as he approached Darcy. Peering down at his cousin, he laughed, “Darcy, you will not be making a favorable impression on the ladies of the house by arriving to call in such a state. Whatever were you thinking?”

At this, Darcy rolled his eyes and shook his head, for he knew that Fitzwilliam had been hard upon his heels. The colonel must have reined in prior to their final approach in order to put on this show of nonchalance. “Fitz, you are a chucklehead!”

Fitzwilliam gracefully dismounted. “If you wish to war with slanderous insults, you should surrender now. You know I am better at it than you, you old nincompoop.”

“Nothing as easy as surrender now that
 
you have
 
begun it! I will defer the war until later, you bacon-brained fatwit. For now, exchanging insults with you holds far less appeal than what waits beyond that door.” Darcy nodded with a grin at the entry to Longbourn. It had been many years since he and his cousin had played at this game, but when they were young men, Fitzwilliam, several years his senior, had used it to provoke him, and they eventually had made great sport of it.

Fitzwilliam agreed to the temporary truce, and clapped his cousin playfully on his back as they walked to the house. “I am heartened that you took my advice about being in good humor, Darcy. Your manners improve considerably under my tutelage!”

Darcy ignored his cousin.

Their horses were entrusted to the groom from the stable that approached to take them, and soon Darcy and Fitzwilliam were announced to the Longbourn household.