Darcy scowled at him. He had not guessed that such a rumour would be passed on in Elizabeth’s presence. “I am pleased to hear of my aunt’s health, however, Miss de Bourgh and I are not promised to each other.” He turned to the soldier; from what little he recalled of their interactions Before, Mr. Denny was a sensible young man. “Mr. Denny, it is a pleasure to see you again.”
He felt, rather than saw, Elizabeth’s start beside him. A small smile made its way onto his face. He hoped it was a good surprise, another evidence that she was seeing the changes in his character. Perhaps she had thought said changes only effective inside their small circle.
“Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley,” Mr. Denny replied.
The three of them bowed.
“I have just been telling my friend, Mr. Wickham, of the benefits of being stationed in Meryton as he accepted a commission in the militia only yesterday.” Mr. Denny said, gesturing towards Wickham. “Mr. Wickham, let me introduce Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy.”
Wickham bowed towards Bingley. “Mr. Bingley.”
“Mr. Wickham,” Bingley said coldly.
“Wickham,” Darcy acknowledged, his tone tightly controlled.
“Darcy,” Wickham replied
“We are known to each other,” Darcy said shortly. He risked a glance in Wickham’s direction. Taut lines surrounded his eyes and his shoulders were tensed, his hands hidden behind his back. At one time, Darcy would have revelled in the man’s distress. Now, a wave of sorrow washed over him. This man had once been a friend—not for many, many years, but still, he had been a friend. And the life he had chosen was one he would never succeed in. At best, Wickham could only hope to stay one step ahead of those who hated him. It was a miserable existence—one that Darcy found he could not wish on him, despite the man’s perfidy. If only Wickham would undergo the sort of character revolution Darcy had experienced.
“Now, what are you ladies intending to do today? May we escort you?” Bingley asked, forcibly changing the topic of conversation.
“We had intended to visit our Aunt Philips and perhaps do some shopping, so I doubt you have any desire to join us,” Elizabeth said, laughter in her voice.
Darcy smiled at her. “You do not think we have been shopping with females before? Have you forgotten my sister? Or Bingley’s sisters?”
“Ah, but your sister is only one female, and Mr. Bingley’s sisters can keep each other company. I highly doubt you are inured to the phenomenon of shopping with five sisters. Were Mr. Collins not our cousin, I am certain he would not willingly submit himself to such an ordeal.”
“Not at all, dear cousin. I am more than willing. Indeed, I consider it felicitous that you have invited me to join you on this outing. Lady Catherine always says that it is important to learn of your surroundings and to support the local merchants.”
“Wise words,” Elizabeth said gravely, a smile lurking in her eyes.
“We will submit ourselves to your mercy,” Bingley said to Miss Bennet, “if you will but allow us to accompany you.”
Miss Bennet’s smile widened. “Certainly,” she said.
A burst of giggles sounded from where the two youngest Bennet girls stood next to Mr. Denny.
“And I shall beg leave to join you as well,” Mr. Denny said with a sweeping bow towards Miss Lydia and her sister. “I would not wish to leave you unprotected in such a bustling metropolis.”
The girls giggled again.
“I’m afraid I have business at the camp,” Wickham blurted out. “I hope I shall see you ladies again.” He bowed.
The ladies curtsied, Wickham strode away in the direction of the militia’s quarters, and the Bennet sisters accepted their chosen partner’s arms, the two youngest girls each on one of Mr. Denny’s arms. Bingley had offered his escort to Miss Bennet and Darcy had been quick to repeat his action with Elizabeth. Only Mr. Collins was left on his own—a fact that appeared to agitate him to no end. Darcy found he had little compassion for the verbose man; he had refused to help the Bennets in their time of need Before, despite being a blood relative and a clergyman.
“Apollo, heel,” Darcy said. Apollo eyed him and leaned forward to nuzzle Elizabeth as they began walking through the village.
Elizabeth reached back to pat the stallion on his neck. “You are a lovely horse, Apollo. Perhaps you would like to walk with us too,” she suggested.
Apollo nickered and immediately moved into position behind her.
Elizabeth laughed.
“My horse appears enamoured with you. I hope you do not mind when he follows you into your aunt’s house,” Darcy said dryly.
Elizabeth laughed again. She turned her head to address Apollo. “Apollo, you will not fit in my aunt’s house. You shall have to wait outside.”
“He will pout,” Darcy warned her mock-seriously.
“Lady Catherine says that a good steed is essential for everyone, however, I dare to opine that she would not approve of livestock within anyone’s residence,” Mr. Collins said firmly.
“I daresay you are correct,” Darcy replied. “Nor is Apollo accustomed to entering anyone’s residence,” he said with a half smile at Elizabeth.
“Miss de Bourgh has fine specimens of horseflesh which she uses to pull her phaeton.” Mr. Collins said.
“I am glad you approve of her horses,” Darcy replied.
Mr. Collins flinched back. “It is not for me to approve or disapprove! I merely state their existence.”
“Ah,” Darcy said. The three of them halted, still some distance from the remainder of their group, as one of the youngest Bennets pointed excitedly at one of the shop windows. Bingley and Miss Bennet continued walking.
“Do you often ride in Miss de Bourgh’s phaeton, Mr. Collins?” Elizabeth asked.
Mr. Collins stumbled. “Never! Though I am not opposed to carriage rides when necessary, Lady Catherine has stated her preference for walking as a form of exercise. Thus, my own two feet are my primary means of transportation. In addition, it would certainly be improper to ride unescorted with a young woman of such beauty as Miss de Bourgh’s.”
“Even for a man of the cloth?” Elizabeth asked.
“Especially for a man of the cloth! One must avoid the appearance of all evil,”
“Lacking a carriage must make it difficult to visit all your parishioners,” Darcy commented.
“I walk into the village regularly, and if they have need, they know where I can be found. Besides, Lady Catherine has spoken most intensely about their need for instruction, and I spend much of my week preparing an appropriate sermon.”
“Do you find sermon-making an arduous task?” Elizabeth asked.
“Not at all,” Mr. Collins answered. “One is regularly inspired when being in the presence of such beneficence as Lady Catherine’s. It is my duty to educate and, dare I say, inspire the masses with their need for peaceable living. One has only to look at Lady Catherine to see an example that I can never live up to; an example that I regularly enjoin my parishioners to follow.”
Darcy suppressed a grimace. No wonder his aunt had appointed this obsequious fool to his post. She did not suffer having her wishes gainsaid. Indeed, having someone so in awe of her must be a heady brew.
“In fact,” Mr. Collins continued, “Lady Catherine herself has often given me hints as to what topics would be most useful for my sermons. She often knows of the needs in the parish before even I and does not hesitate to assist where she can.”
“I see,” said Elizabeth. “How fortunate you are to have found such a position.”
“Oh, yes, I consider myself blessed beyond all imaginings to have secured a position with such a great lady,” Mr. Collins said seriously.
“I am certain my aunt appreciates you as well,” Darcy said politely. “Miss Elizabeth, what shops did you intend to visit today?”
Elizabeth smiled at him. “Are you wondering how arduous your gauntlet shall be?”
“Merely curious,” Darcy said.
“I have
already informed my cousins that a wise woman dresses within her means and does not put on airs above her station,” Mr. Collins began.
Darcy suppressed a sigh.
“And we have done the majority of our shopping already,” Elizabeth said hastily. “Only if Kitty or Lydia see something of interest shall we stop at one of the shops.” She laughed. “They go to town so frequently that they are familiar with nearly everything the shopkeepers possess, so it ought not to be many stores. As you can see, we have yet to actually enter a shop.”
“Ah, were you trying to flummery me with your tales of the difficulties of shopping with so many females then?” Darcy asked.
“Merely testing your fortitude,” Elizabeth replied with a half-smile.
“I am certain my cousin did not intend to tell a falsehood,” Mr. Collins said. “After all, Lady Catherine has said that a falsehood is like poison that spreads quickly and taints all who touch it.”
“Then we are primarily visiting your aunt?” Darcy asked, ignoring Mr. Collins.
“Yes.” A faint blush grew on her cheeks. “My sisters enjoy hearing the latest news, and my aunt is a font of information since her husband is the local attorney.”
Darcy took in her mien. She seemed braced as though expecting him to say something cutting. He smiled. If she had not gotten a good measure of his aunt from Mr. Collins, he was sorely mistaken. How could she worry that he would condemn her for her aunt when his aunt was equally ridiculous, if in a different manner? Or perhaps she was concerned about him condemning her for having relatives in trade? No, their conversation in Bingley’s library about the Gardiners had to have alleviated that worry. Elizabeth’s shoulders tensed even further and Darcy realised he had yet to respond. “She must be very observant,” he settled on.
“That is a quality Lady Catherine possesses in abundance, and one I have often exhorted my church members to emulate. Observation allows one to tend to our fellow man’s needs more accurately—after all, our Lord did not give sight to the lame. Only by observing our neighbours needs can we meet those needs.”
“Very true, Mr. Collins,” Elizabeth said.
“Although I have found asking them about their needs to be equally useful,” Darcy commented. “At times, their real needs are not on display.” He thought of Georgiana, needing character growth, despite appearing to need absolution from guilt. She had told him Before that she had needed to accept her guilt, not be absolved from it. All his protestations that it wasn’t her fault had fallen on deaf ears because deep down, she had known she was not blameless. She had ignored all the rules of propriety, had allowed her companion to leave her alone with Wickham, and had agreed to elope without her brother’s blessing. Only after Darcy had gone to Netherfield had his aunt and Mrs. Annesley been able to impress upon her that this was an opportunity to change. If she did not like who she had been, she had only to learn from the experience and become a better person.
“This is true. Few people exhibit their real needs,” Elizabeth said. She cast Darcy a sideways glance. “Particularly those who are reticent among all but their closest friends.” She returned her attention to Mr. Collins. “I have often found the tenants will not come to us with their problems voluntarily, but if I ask them of their needs, they will—eventually—speak of them.”
“Cousin, forgive me for differing from your opinion, however, as a man with greater experience, I feel it is my duty to caution you when asking after tenants’ ‘needs.’ Lady Catherine has found that tenants often complain of things that are simply part of their lot as tenants. After all, she will not allow them to live in Rosings and many of them seem to desire such luxuries as are only found in the first circles. If they are uncomfortable with their station in life, they need to modify their attitude. They do not need someone to pander to their imagined ills.”
Darcy’s eyebrows shot up. If this man’s perceptions remained unchanged, it would be a wonder if Longbourn survived his ownership. All the tenants would leave, and there would be nothing left to pass on to another generation. “I suppose it depends on the tenant,” Darcy began. “There are tenants who would take advantage of any situation, however, a good landowner must ascertain the true situation and remedy it accordingly.”
Before Mr. Collins could gainsay him, they arrived at Mrs. Philips’s house. Mrs. Philips threw open the upstairs window and invited the gentlemen in. Darcy glanced at Elizabeth. Her eyes were downcast, and she appeared uncomfortable in the extreme. Did she wish him to remain outside or to accept her aunt’s invitation? He hesitated, then Bingley heartily accepted Mrs. Philips’s invitation on their behalf. He did not wish to make Elizabeth uncomfortable, however, he had resolved to be polite to whomever he met and, if Elizabeth became his bride, she would wish to continue her association with her aunt. So, he seconded Bingley’s assent and tied up Apollo.
Apollo nickered mournfully.
Some of the tension left Elizabeth, and she gave Apollo a small smile. “We will be back soon,” she soothed.
Darcy had only observed Mrs. Philips Before and had thought there was a great similarity of character between her and Mrs. Bennet. Both women had no sense of tact and gossiped with the speed of twittering birds. Now, however, he perceived she was likely very bored as she had no children of her own. Probably her boredom had been channelled into observing her neighbours. As his aunt’s motivation for spying on her neighbours was considerably less friendly, he concluded that Elizabeth’s aunt might have a better heart than Lady Catherine, even if she did not express her care well.
After he and Bingley had bowed over Mrs. Philips’s hand, Mr. Collins dominated the conversation by apologising to Mrs. Philips for his intrusion using copious flowery language. At first, Darcy thought their lengthy exchange might fill the entirety of their visit, however, Miss Lydia brought said niceties to an abrupt halt when she demanded to know if Mrs. Philips knew aught of “handsome” Mr. Wickham.
Darcy and Bingley shared a look but kept silent until after Mrs. Philips had emptied her small budget of information about him and promised to invite him to dinner.
Bingley cleared his throat. “I am afraid I have heard Mr. Wickham is not to be trusted. I do not have personal experience with him, but I have trusted friends who have warned me to be wary where he is concerned.”
Mrs. Philips and Miss Lydia loudly decried this position, requesting exact actions and dates of indiscretions, arguing that such a handsome, well-behaved gentleman was unlikely to be a cad.
“I cannot divulge the details as they are not mine to do so, but I believe Mr. Wickham is guilty of a great many transgressions and is not the sort of person with whom a lady would desire to associate,” Bingley said.
Mrs. Philips, Miss Lydia, and Miss Kitty remained skeptical, bolstering their position with tales of other handsome officers who were perfectly unexceptional and the belief that officers were, by and large, very worthy young men.
Through it all, Elizabeth watched Darcy, her eyes full of questions.
“Later,” he promised quietly.
When they finally wound down, Mrs. Philips turned to the three gentlemen. “You are, of course, invited to dinner too.”
Mr. Collins fulsomely accepted, giving a veritable paean to her generosity in inviting someone only just introduced to her.
Bingley and Darcy agreed to attend as well, and with that, the whole party took their leave.
Chapter 15
Apollo’s excited neigh greeted them as they exited Mrs. Philips’s house.
Elizabeth laughed. “Did you want to come with us?” she asked him. She stepped forward to pet his neck. “Poor baby. You were quite alone out here, weren’t you?”
Bingley huffed in mock exasperation. “Caesar would disagree with you,” he said, pointing to his horse who was waiting patiently.
“Of course. My mistake,” Elizabeth agreed.
“I told you he would pout,” Darcy said.
Elizabeth’s head tilted to one side. “I do not think I consid
er this pouting. If he were pouting, would his greeting be quite so enthusiastic?”
Darcy raised a hand to pet Apollo and the horse jerked away, giving Darcy a reproachful look.
“I stand corrected, good sir,” she said with another laugh.
“I have always found the tendency to anthropomorphise an animal’s reactions to be the province of the illiterate,” Mr. Collins began. “Not that you are illiterate, sir,” he hastily added. “Merely that those with fewer advantages are more likely to impute human motivations and reactions to the animals around them—perhaps because of their greater familiarity with animals.”
The smile slid from Elizabeth’s face, though a twinkle remained in her eye. “I am surprised to hear such a view from a clergyman, Mr. Collins.”
“How so?” Mr. Collins asked.
“I have always found the Bible full of such statements: from the serpent in Eden to Balaam’s donkey and on through the wolf and the lamb lying down together in the last days. Does not God Himself anthropomorphise His creatures? And there are many great poets and authors who follow in His footsteps.”
“Ah. Well, perhaps I was a bit—hasty. In certain contexts there is perhaps nothing immoral about such a perspective. It is only the frivolity behind it that I find unbecoming to one in pursuit of following our Lord.”
Bingley cleared his throat. “Perhaps we can continue this conversation on our way to Longbourn.” He looked down at Jane. “If we may escort you home, of course.”
Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty giggled.
Mr. Denny looked torn, but seconded the request with the proviso that he was required to report back to camp before — o’clock and so he would not have time to tarry on their journey.
“Would you allow Apollo and me to escort you home, Miss Elizabeth?” Darcy asked quietly.
She hesitated, her gaze searching his, then nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Darcy.”
“It is my pleasure.”
To Darcy’s joy, Bingley immediately engaged Mr. Collins in conversation and Mr. Denny escorted Miss Lydia and Miss Kitty, setting such a rapid pace that they quickly drew apart from the rest of the group. It wanted only for Darcy to slow but a little for the others to be out of earshot. Apollo appeared to conspire with him, halting for a moment to investigate the edibility of some foliage.
A Vision of the Path Before Him Page 15
