OUT OF THE BLUE CLEAR SKY: (A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE VARIATION)

by SANDRA P. HIGGINS

  Georgiana had never been in the company of girls her own age and was very happy visiting with them. Kitty and Lydia asked about her brother and the fortune hunters and they discussed Kitty’s collection of stories from The Times. She and Mary next discussed their piano playing and Mary then played some until her father asked her to stop and the girls went outside.

  In Meryton the sisters visited and introduced their friends to Mrs. Phillips who invited them and the Bennets and Miss Darcy to a small party the next evening to introduce them to some of her friends and others she had recently met. The sisters and her friends accepted the invitation and later they visited the merchants where Darcy met and spoke with many. While they were visiting they came upon a man whose wagon had a broken axle. Darcy and Bingley then helped the man move his goods to their carriage and Darcy took the man home and returned later with the man to have the man’s wagon repaired.

  Many people watched Darcy do most of the work and he gained the respect and admiration of many that day the way he interacted with the locals and freely spoke with many people.

  After that Darcy and Bingley returned the sisters to Longbourn and next they returned to Netherfield with Georgiana. Once inside, Jane told her mother that Aunt Phillips had invited them and the men and Georgiana to attend a small party the next evening at her home in Meryton. Such news greatly pleased Mrs. Bennet.

  * *

  “So Georgiana, how was your visit with the Bennet sisters today?”

  “I thought it was wonderful and I just enjoyed talking with girls my same age. I have never done that before. Each sister is friendly and seem innocent but I think Lydia might be a little wild. She kept telling the others that she will be the first Bennet daughter to marry and I do not doubt that, though I wonder how such a marriage would work out when she has little to offer but a pretty face.”

  “Did you have a chance to hear Mary play?”

  “Yes, I did William and to tell the truth, I cannot blame Mr. Bennet for walking out of the house when she starts playing. I believe if she was in town with me I could give her some lessons, or better than that, I believe an instructor would be even better and Mary could be playing much better in a short time. I took the liberty of asking the sisters if I could write them individually and carry on a correspondence with them and they all agreed.”

  CHAPTER 6

  The next day Georgiana and Elizabeth walked with Darcy to the top of Oakham Mount.

  “I see why you like the place,” Darcy said.

  Elizabeth searched his face and he looked well pleased and smiled at her and at Georgiana. “A person can see most of Meryton and even see Longbourn and Netherfield in the distance and the roads to London and elsewhere are also visible.”

  “This is a quiet place to meditate,” she said, but Elizabeth could not stop her thoughts.

  Yes, Mr. Darcy, we might walk here together and you can kiss me just like you did in last nights dream.

  Elizabeth noticed her friend had a quizzical look and replied. “I come here often to clear my mind. It helps me to prioritize things and think on what is important in my life.”

  No sooner had she spoke when a gust of wind blew her bonnet from her head and against the rocks and Georgiana retrieved it.

  Though Elizabeth was not in any danger of falling because it was not a steep drop off, Darcy did not know this because he had not seen the edge, so he reached for her good arm to pull her to him. He only held her a moment but she felt her heart pounding.

  Most of her curls had escaped from her pins which caused her to blush profusely but she saw in his eyes his look of concern and kindness and thought again of his helping her after she had sprained her wrist.

  “I am so embarrassed, please forgive me for I must appear to be a wild thing in all this wind?”

  Georgiana had found only two pins but the party found no more and gave them to Elizabeth along with her bonnet.

  “Hold on, my friend. I have never seen you this way. You have beautiful hair and no wild thing has such beautiful eyes. But I will help you with your bonnet and perhaps you can avoid having others see you disheveled.”

  As he tenderly helped her fold her curls and adjust her bonnet he could only wish that she were in his arms at Pemberley, with her chocolate curls freed from their pins and her hair splayed about his chest.

  Her heart was still pounding as Darcy led her and Georgiana away from the wind but the earlier gust of wind was sudden and there had been little wind since then. They all sat on a rock and rested before returning.

  “You do have beautiful eyes, Elizabeth.”

  “Thank you, Georgiana, but I prefer your blue eyes. Perhaps my eyes are too big?”

  “I do not find them so. What do you think, William?”

  “No, but I imagine they hide many secrets, is that not so Miss Elizabeth?”

  Elizabeth could not imagine what he meant but hoped he did not know of her feelings for him.

  “Do you mean I know I should have used more pins on my hair?” That excuse should work for the moment Mr. Darcy.

  * *

  The friends next returned to Longbourn and took tea but first Elizabeth went to her room and Jane helped her with her hair. Jane then asked her mother what she and Lizzy should wear at Mrs. Phillips small party later that evening and the woman made a couple of suggestions. Mrs. Bennet was excited about being able to show off her two eldest daughters and their friends.

  Later that evening the Netherfield guests arrived on time and met the others but a half hour later Colonel Forster and three of the militia officers arrived.

  Darcy saw Georgiana and Elizabeth were talking when a young officer walked over to them.

  “Miss Darcy, I did not expect to see you here this evening. I hope you and your brother are well?”

  Elizabeth could see her friend was displeased and even appeared sick and she never answered the man. As soon as Darcy saw the man speaking with Georgiana next he came over to get his sister but he only stared at the man and did not speak with him. It was impossible not to feel the undercurrent of tension between both men as Elizabeth now watched as Darcy and Mr. Bingley and Georgiana thanked Mrs. Phillips and her husband. After saying goodbyes to the Bennets and Colonel Forster, they returned to Netherfield. This sudden departure did not go unnoticed by Colonel Forster who headed the local militia and he watched carefully as his newest officer began a conversation with Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

  Others noticed the party from Netherfield left early but there was little discussion of the reason as they had arrived early and had met all the others. Still, Colonel Forster had watched as his newest officer had approached Miss Darcy and he wondered if she was sick.

  The regiment of militia arrived in Meryton just days earlier and they would remain encamped nearby throughout the winter.

  “I am sorry that Miss Darcy suddenly became ill,” said the man. “I had hoped she would introduce us.”

  “That is not a problem. I am Elizabeth Bennet and my parents and sister are here as well.”

  “Thank you, I am Lieutenant George Wickham and I have just joined the militia this week. The reason that I came upon Miss Darcy is that I was raised with Mr. Darcy and his sister at their home in Derbyshire.”

  “Oh!” replied Elizabeth. “But I do not quite understand. Are you one of his relatives?”

  “My father was old Mr. Darcy’s steward and after my father died he took me on and treated me as if I was another son. He treated me a lot better than his own son and I believe he was disappointed with Mr. Darcy.”

  Elizabeth resigned herself to hear as much as the man wanted to say about his growing up at Pemberley with the man that she now cared for.

  She thought the man came across as slick and had an agenda to portray Mr. Darcy and his sister in the worst way and so she let him continue so as to learn as much as she could and she even encouraged him to do so as if she suddenly agreed with all he told her.

  By the time the party was finished, Elizabeth had lis
tened as the man talked for most of the evening about his grievances with Mr. Darcy. When it was time to leave they departed under good terms.

  “Who was that officer,” asked her mother and Elizabeth told her the man once lived in Derbyshire and grew up with Mr. Darcy.

  Later, Elizabeth and Jane would talk and she knew her father also had questions to ask.

  * *

  At Netherfield Georgiana went to her room but Darcy told Bingley that Wickham was a scoundrel and used women and he had warned his sister to avoid the man.

  The friends were in the study and Darcy paced the deck as he sipped a glass of brandy. The amber liquid warmed him all over and helped relax him from encountering Wickham earlier. “Charles, I did not know he had joined the militia. Well, he will not last long.”

  After his friend left for bed Darcy thought about leaving the next day to return to town but he knew if he did so without first speaking to Elizabeth that would mean Wickham would pursue her. He would try to meet her on one of her early walks, though they had not planned to meet.

  Darcy was up and awake before the sun and planned to meet his friend at the same place as on their first walk. He knew she would also be curious about last evening so felt she might also be there.

  It turned out that Darcy was indeed correct as Elizabeth prepared to meet with him and this time carefully put her hair up using more pins. Before she left the house she stopped briefly at her father’s study and he asked her to stop by when she returned from meeting with Mr. Darcy.

  She shook her head and rolled her eyes before giving him a wide grin.

  “You and I are thinking along the same lines, Papa. I will return soon and will meet him at the same place as before.”

  Once again Darcy took his horse and waved at the first sight of her. Elizabeth suddenly worried about what he would tell her.

  “Miss Bennet, I thought you would be here. I hope you enjoyed last evening?”

  “I am sorry you had to leave but I learned a great deal about Mr. Wickham. Has he always hated you?”

  They continued down the same path that she had recently stumbled on. “Mr. Darcy, the man accused you of many things and I believe not a word of what he said.”

  “Well, can you provide me some of what he said?”

  “Yes, that is only fair enough. He said that you denied your father’s wish for him to be given the living by taking a church in Klympton.”

  “That is not true and I have the signed document whereby he requested three-thousand pounds in lieu of the living and I paid him that amount. He said he would use the money to study the law but he squandered all of it on gambling and women and drink. After that he came to me asking for more money and I refused him.”

  “Why was Georgiana so upset? She looked as if she was sick.”

  “Miss Bennet, I am afraid I cannot answer these questions right now. To tell you these things would be very upsetting to my sister and I do not want to put her through that same agony that she had earlier.”

  “So what are you to do Mr. Darcy? I assume you cannot continue to stay at Netherfield with Georgiana?”

  “No, she wants to return to town.”

  “Perhaps I can speak with her?”

  “I have tried to talk to her but she is ashamed of things and blames herself.”

  “Why are you afraid to tell me what happened? I have a stake in all of this as do you. If you return to town I may never see you again and I will be upset. Do you know I wished to strike the man on his head and might have done so if my wrist was not sprained.”

  “Miss Elizabeth, I cannot let her leave for town alone.”

  “Then you are giving into that scoundrel. Do not let him win. He will be certain to disparage you and your sister in Meryton but those who have met you will not believe him. Why not go on the offensive and make his life a living hell?”

  Elizabeth suddenly knew she had chosen her words poorly and Darcy could see she felt ashamed of what she had said.

  What is wrong with me? I am a poor example of a good Christian. He now will think I am not even a lady and it is because I just uttered the truth.

  “You have adequately sized up the man,” said Darcy. “George Wickham never stays in one place very long and I would not be surprised if he soon runs away from the militia after he has had his fill of gambling and seductions.”

  “I hope he did not attempt that with your sister?”

  “Miss Bennet, please do not repeat what I am about to tell you. Earlier last summer my sister’s companion, Mrs. Younge, worked with Mr. Wickham and they planned and schemed for my sister and Mr. Wickham to elope to Gretna Green. Georgiana had always thought well of him and he easily convinced her she was in love. Mrs. Younge and Georgiana were staying in Ramsgate when I paid them a surprised visit. Wickham and Georgiana were walking near the water when she saw me and ran into my arms. Minutes later they would have left for Gretna Green to marry.”

  “That is awful!”

  “I immediacy fired Mrs. Younge and threatened Mr. Wickham. Later, Georgiana was present when he told me he never loved her but just wanted her inheritance of thirty-thousand pounds. That was the closest that I have ever come to killing the man.”

  “You do not have to leave Netherfield. Let me talk with your sister? I will not mention what you just told me but Georgiana is already gaining self confidence. To let her return to town feeling defeated would destroy all the confidence she has gained.”

  “What you say makes sense. There is a good reason why I do not wish to return to town. One reason is I like it here and the people are friendly and down to earth. But the main reason is there is one woman who Wickham would try to make his own and I will not let him near you.”

  “I can assure you he would not get very far. But what can you do?”

  “Miss Bennet, I have records and receipts from the many times that I paid his debts and I can use this to send him to debtors prison. But there is still much more that I have on him. He has raped at least two young women who are under age and one of them became pregnant and died with her child during childbirth. When I later confronted him he laughed and said that he never would have given the young woman any money to support her and the baby and said he was glad they were both dead. The man is very evil and thinks of no one but himself.”

  “So he is a sadistic narcissist. Then I suppose such a man would likely not last long in the army, let alone the local militia?”

  “That is my belief. As soon as the novelty wears off and the merchants clamor for him to pay his debts, he will look to leave the militia. He will soon be seen by his fellow officers as a man who refuses to pay his gambling debts and they may turn on him and harm him.”

  “I understand what you are saying, Mr. Darcy.”

  “Thank you for our talk, Miss Bennet. Had I not listened to your good advice I would have made a huge mistake and I have been worried that you might have been influenced by what the man said.”

  “You have no reason to worry. I could see his dark side right away.”

  “Then I have decided to stay. Also I wish for you to speak with Georgiana. She cannot always run away when things get difficult. Wickham is the cause of her pain and soon it will be his turn to feel pain. Lieutenant Wickham will soon be a miserable man.”

  They talked more but Elizabeth never learned of Darcy’s plan for Wickham, but Georgiana and Darcy would visit her that afternoon at Longbourn and Elizabeth would use that time to speak with Georgiana privately.

  * *

  Once Darcy returned to Netherfield he wrote some letters and sent them by express. That afternoon Darcy and Georgiana visited at Longbourn where Elizabeth had a long talk with Georgiana which appeared to calm the young woman and after that she and Darcy returned to Netherfield.

  After they left, Mr. Bennet summoned his favourite daughter to his library.

  “You have been quite busy, Lizzy. It appears Miss Darcy had been crying and then you went off with her on a walk. Why did your friends leave so s
uddenly?”

  “Mr. Darcy told me the man I was talking with is evil and has raped two young women in Derbyshire and seduced others. His sister is afraid of him and wants to return to town.”

  “Well, you spoke with her. Is she going to stay longer?”

  “Yes, but I want to help her in this troubling time. She is such a sweet girl and is so innocent.”

  “Papa, Mr. Darcy was very surprised to see his former friend at the party, but he said Wickham would soon owe the merchants and have gambling debts that would become due.”

  “It sounds like he is a skirt chaser as well as a pervert. The people of Meryton need to know these things and your sisters need to avoid contact with the officers.”

  “He also told me that Wickham would say things about him and his sister to turn all the local people against them.”

  “I do not believe he will have any success doing that around here. Your Aunt Phillips is already spreading the news of Mr. Darcy’s good deeds in Meryton and the report back shows the merchants like your Mr. Darcy.”

  “Papa, he is not my Mr. Darcy.”

  Her father looked over his glasses at her as she now looked at a spot near her feet and began to blush.

  “Now Lizzy, the man and his friend both seem to be too good to be true, but I believe he cares for you and you care for him and his sister, is that not so?”

  “Let us hope you are correct Papa. All I know is Mr. Darcy thanked me for giving him my advice. He is an amazing man, Papa, and he thinks I am wise beyond my years and he sees me as someone special.”

  “Does Mr. Darcy have a plan to deal with the man?”

  “He does have a plan but has remained silent. I suppose I will learn more later but I wanted you to be aware of Mr. Wickham’s past history with innocent girls.”

  “Thank you Lizzy and I will visit Meryton in a couple of days and see what I can learn about how the people of Meryton feel about Lieutenant Wickham.”

  * *

  The next afternoon Darcy went into Meryton but said nothing to Bingley or his sister. He returned later but remained silent on what he did.