'So you don't love this Manners character either, that plainly dressed plain man? I bet his motives aren't much nobler than mine were, though his father undoubtedly had an estate to leave him or he wouldn't receive such a welcome from your brother. Nobody could ever love a man that plain, he could at least spend some energy on looking as good as he can.'
'You are right, I don't love him, though I don't find his plainness as insulting as you clearly find it. There was a time when I was decidedly homely myself, as you were good enough to not quite point out just now, and I still remember the feeling well. In fact, I still feel like the plain little mouse I used to be, except I never was little but rather tall and gangly, my beauty still surprises me when I look in a mirror. So I don't feel too good for a plain-looking man, especially not a kind and truly gentleman-like character like Mr Manners.'
Now Wickham seemed to experience a change of heart and he softly said,
'Let's not quarrel, Georgie, for old time's sake. I have no right to comment on a good man's looks, nor can I claim to be a better man. But may I give you just one little warning, as one scoundrel recognising another? You know I'm in the army now, and out there I've gained quite a lot of insight in the baser aspects of humanity. And elsewhere before that, you may want to ask your brother about it some time, it has to do with your father, who used to be my closest friend. This is it, my piece of advice: beware of that Grenfell type. He watches you like an eagle eyes a mouse hiding in the grass.
Oh, you've noticed already, I can see it all over your face, you have grown indeed. Small wonder you can face me and confront me just like that. Heed your feelings, Georgie, they are not exaggerating, they speak true. Now go dance with your brother, he's coming to save you from me. No wait, is he saving you from that Grenfell fellow instead? I'm almost flattered.'
And he bowed and moved away elegantly, but not before handing her to
Fitzwilliam in person, not a single chance for another man, no matter how determined, to step in.
Darcy had indeed come to save his sister from Grenfell, not from Wickham.
From where he was sitting he could see his sister in conversation with Wickham, and to a keen observer like himself it was clear his sister was not in need of rescue, but rather the opposite. This was a good experience for her. But as the dance drew to a close Grenfell started to become alert, he seemed to be watching all the couples but his intentions were clear, and Darcy excused himself to the Gardiners and marched straight towards his sister. Wickham handed her to him as if to prevent anyone else from stepping in, and Darcy showed his gratitude with a nod to the man he still hated, but would be forced to meet time and time again since they were related by marriage. Still, seeing Georgie handle him had settled his feelings a lot, as well as observing him with Lydia, who was a constant source of vexation to her husband.
Georgie's hand in his, she told him how her dance with Wickham had gone about, still amazed at her own ability to tell him exactly what she had wanted to, and to retort as sharply as she wished whenever he had said something that irritated her. But she was obviously very happy to dance with her brother, it must have been tiring to be on guard all the time, better see to Grenfell soon, Mr Manners had been invited, there was nothing to gain from pursuing Georgiana any longer.
'Georgie, I've invited Mr Manners over for Christmas, and he was happy to accept.'
Her smile was genuine, but still she needed to know he didn't expect more from her than just to enjoy their new friend's visit.
'Elizabeth warned me you might feel obliged to consider him as a husband, because he is so suitable a gentleman. But Georgie, please believe me there will be no pressure from me for you to marry him or anyone else until you want to yourself. No matter how pleasant a man he may be, if you don't love him, don't marry him. I do think I have made the only right choice to ensure lasting happiness, Georgie, marrying someone I can really love and admire.
All the worry and heartbreak were worth it, truly, please follow my example and do not marry for expedience.'
His sister was seriously affected by what he said, and she squeezed his hand thankfully.
'That is so sweet, Fitzwilliam, thank you so much for supporting me like that. Any man who wants to win my affection will have to measure up to you, which will be quite an uphill battle I'm afraid. Don't worry, just relieve me of Mr Grenfell's attentions, and I'll flirt with every unmarried man in the room without caring for a single one. As Elizabeth said, the penniless girls go first, so Kitty and Maria get to marry before me.'
He could not help smiling fondly, she had learned so much from Elizabeth, they both had. Thinking of his beloved his eyes naturally went looking for her, she was on the dance floor with Wickham and Darcy didn't like what he saw at all. Though Elizabeth was keeping an appropriate distance from her brother-in-law, Wickham himself was obviously allowing himself feelings towards her that would have been improper even if they had both been free.
But they weren't, they were even related by marriage, and still Wickham allowed his admiration for Elizabeth to show. Very clearly.
'He looks smitten, Fitzwilliam,' Georgie observed with the frankness of youth.
'Your triumph is complete.'
Your what? What was she talking about, he wanted that man's hands off his wife! His feet automatically followed the moves of the dance, but his mind was somewhere else entirely.
'Brother!'
'I'm sorry, Georgie, I'll concentrate on the dance, I hope I didn't step on your toes.'
'You didn't, Fitzwilliam, I called out because you need to see what is really happening between Elizabeth and Wickham. He obviously admires her, and she doesn't care about him even the slightest bit, she loves you like no woman before ever loved her husband. She's yours, brother, she's dancing with Wickham because she feels sorry for him.'
'Actually, she has to convince him not to urge Lydia to take ergot. You're right, I'm just not altogether answerable where Wickham is concerned. I admire you for not feeling vindictive towards him, I cannot seem to control myself where George Wickham is concerned.'
Georgie was trying to catch his attention.
'Fitzwilliam, what is ergot? What is going on? And by the way, I did feel vindictive, and it allowed me to finally be as sharp as I always wanted to be.
Miss Bingley beware, from now on.'
Oh, Georgie, how could anyone not love her to bits?
'Ergot is a poison that sometimes grows on wheat, it can kill whole villages with poisoned bread. In small, controlled dosages it can cause an unborn child to be driven from the mother. Lydia is with child, Georgie, and Wickham wants her to get rid of it, because she's too young to care for it.'
'That is criminal, Fitzwilliam! How could he? A tiny baby?'
'Imagine a tiny helpless baby in Lydia's hands, Georgie. I imagine he means well, but it is a great sin to take any life, and endanger his wife's into the bargain. Don't worry, Elizabeth will talk him out of it, he can hire a nurse to help his wife care for the child. And don't tell anyone, it would devastate her sisters if they heard it, and bring shame on the family if anyone else did.'
'Of course I won't, but I'll be nice to Lydia, even if she says insulting things.
I'll not try my newly-found pertness on her.'
After that, they danced one more dance together in silence, and when that was through, and Mr Grenfell came forward to claim Georgiana, Darcy intercepted him, putting a hand on the other man's shoulder, leading him to the side of the dance floor for a man-to-man talk. Georgiana looked for Kitty, and they fetched drinks giggling and joking, then went back to the dance floor, where they danced with Mr Gardiner, Mr Bennet, and several of Bingley's friends in turns.
As she was dancing with Wickham, Elizabeth was not unaware of his admiration, which in fact didn't make her feel flattered at all but rather put out. He never had serious intentions towards her, so why pretend to regret her now? It almost reeked of manipulation, some scheme to sow dissent between Fitzwilliam and herself. Better put an end t
o it and talk of things that mattered.
'I talked to Lydia just now, brother, and she told me she was expecting.'
Resignation rather than startlement or displeasure. At least the look of adulation was wiped off his face instantly.
'I wondered whom I'd have to face about this. I'm glad it's you. I was afraid it would be Mrs Bingley, she'd look at me with such deep disappointment, I'd rather it's you, I suppose I can't sink any deeper in your esteem, anyway.
Don't you think it shows a vestige of intelligence to choose you as a confidante? Maybe my beloved wife isn't doomed to perpetual ignorance after all.'
'If you give her the time to gain information, Mr Wickham, instead of trying to kill her together with your son or daughter.'
'Ouch, Mrs Darcy, that does hurt after all. My God you know how to bring a man down even lower! Can't you see I'm already grovelling at your feet? I have nothing to say in my defence, Elizabeth, I panicked and hoped to be able to make my problem go away. So strike me down now, you look like a Greek goddess anyway in that amazing dress, lift your divine arm and blast me to your heathen Hell, to be devoured by your three-headed hound Cerberus.'
Elizabeth was sure she did look at him as if he was mad, but admittedly with a little admiration for his eloquence. He was indeed wasted on Lydia, but that was one of many bad choices in life he had made himself.
'Frankly, I hoped I had managed to talk some sense in you yesterday, without even knowing the relevance of what I said. Dear brother, I know this must seem like the end of the world to you, but you are right, there does seem to be a little spark of hope for my sister, she does seem to think more than she ever did. Apparently her friends at the camp try to inform her, and sometimes she even listens. Did she tell you she's deadly afraid of losing you to a French bullet, or some Hessian bayonet? That she desperately wants this baby to remind her of you in case the love of her life is killed abroad?'
That sure made an impression, though Wickham tried to hide his feelings by being a little too clever.
'If Lydia knows what a Hessian is I'll eat one of their fancy hats. Though it's hard to take heart from your wife's finally understanding the risk of wearing one of those smart red coats, you are right. You have talked some sense and some hope for the future in me, and there will be no mention of certain substances in our household again. Let her have her little George, or her little Lizzy, for you have truly given me hope I may find a glimmer of understanding in my daughters and sons, by reminding me that you and the new Mrs Bingley as well as my wife sprung from the same mother. I'll see how far the influence of her friends goes, and if necessary I'll hire a superior servant to save the child. Will you promise me one thing, my dear sister?'
Elizabeth must have shown her distrust clearly for he smiled regretfully.
'I hope with all my heart your help will not be needed, Elizabeth, and I know it is a lot to ask. But should I fall on some foreign field, or even succumb to a mere fever, will you keep an eye on my children? With myself removed, Fitzwilliam will not mind looking after his nieces and nephews, he has ever been magnanimous like his beloved father. Will you save my children, there
will doubtlessly be several for I suppose our union will be as fruitful as your parents', from deprivations, especially those of the mental kind? Will you see to it that they are educated to their potential, and taught morals?'
As they followed the other couples through the merry dance, Elizabeth had to swallow firmly to lose the emotion blocking her throat. No matter what Wickham had done, he might very well face a painful death on the battlefield one day, and his children could not help their father's behaviour.
Besides, Fitzwilliam had suggested as much after their visit to Longbourn yesterday, imagining a little Elizabeth or a little Jane among Lydia's children. There was no reason not to promise Wickham to look after his future offspring, it was something they would do anyway.
'You may rest assured we will, Mr Wickham, in fact Fitzwilliam already suggested as much when we rode back to Netherfield yesterday afternoon.
Congratulations, my dear brother, you're going to be a father!'
Somehow, Elizabeth was not surprised that Wickham showed little enthusiasm at the prospect, but that was just too bad: babies were a logical consequence of what happened in the bedroom, and they didn't wait for their parents' approval any more than their aunt's.
They finished that dance in reasonable spirits, Elizabeth planning to sit out a few dances with her father and the Gardiners, but she did not get the opportunity, for Mr Hurst applied for her hand next and she stood up with him immediately. Still a bit out of sorts at the idea of Lydia being with child, she was uncharacteristically silent, but Mr Hurst never even noticed, for he was uncharacteristically talkative.
'Thank you for dancing with me, Mrs Darcy, I was a bit shy to ask since you look like a goddess today. I mean, your dress and everything, I've never seen anything like it, it's so beautiful and regal. Mrs Hurst can say all she likes, about your certainly embracing London fashion and a person taking it too far for a country wedding, trying to outshine the bride, but I say, when you know the bride is Mrs Jane Bingley you may shine as much as you like, for she will certainly draw most of the attention anyway. But Mrs Darcy, I'll admit I'm quite an admirer of yours, I always understood Darcy perfectly, going after you until he finally got you, such spunk, such fire, and look how happy you both are. Well done, I say, a smart chap Darcy is, always was, ignoring Caroline and going for true excellence as soon as he met with it.'
Had he really known Fitzwilliam to be in love with her from the first? Her
beloved hadn't even been certain himself most of the time. And how did Mr Hurst get so talkative all of a sudden? Elizabeth had never heard him speak over one sentence at a time, except for a few days ago, when he asked her to dance. But she was not going to pry, she was supposed to be a lady now, and thus polite rather than inquisitive.
'Thank you Mr Hurst. How long have you been married yourself?'
'I think it's been five years, but it seems forever! I'm glad Bingley has finally married, and has such entertaining friends, it'll bring some life back into our boring existence. Between us, Mrs Darcy, what do you think of Grenfell, do you think he's such a catch as would make Caroline happy?'
Trying to be diplomatic, for Elizabeth was trying very hard to be a lady here and besides, she didn't believe in 'between us' until proven beyond a doubt, she thought of what to say, then observed, 'Well, he's certainly a very handsome man, and his prospects are just what they ought to be.'
'Very good, Mrs Darcy, excellent! You'll survive among Darcy's stuck-up relatives no problem! Now tell me you don't find Grenfell a self-congratulating, acquisitive pig. And mind you, I know you quite well by now, I hear a lot more than people give me credit for, and anytime I seem asleep I may actually be thinking deeply on some subject or other.'
He was being funny! But how was she to answer him with enough candour to satisfy him, and still not give him any food for gossip? At that very moment, Elizabeth started to understand the position poor Fanny found herself in at Netherfield, she knew things that would make an impact on her peers, but had to be silent to please people who considered themselves way above her. Elizabeth believed she gave her maid enough support and respect to keep her loyal, but frankly that might not be enough. But now, Mr Hurst needed an answer, and a subtle one.
'All right Mr Hurst, you win. I cannot deny the exact thought having crossed my mind.'
'I suppose you are protecting Miss Darcy from his eager grasp, I saw Darcy talking to the fellow just now and when they had parted with the usual politeness Mr Grenfell scowled dark enough to guess what he'd heard from your husband. And I guess Mr Manners will do his part for Miss Darcy, don't mistake him by the way, I know of him, he's a well-known figure in London society, he's not as soft and obliging as he seems, there is a core of iron in that fellow. I wish Caroline could look beyond the outer layer, for I'd much prefer to have Manners in our circle. But si
nce she doesn't, and she
won't meet the real Grenfell until the day after the wedding, I wish I could speak as frankly to her as I dare to you. The man is bad news, and I have no clue how to protect my sister.'
That was almost endearing, Mr Hurst worrying about his sister-in-law.
'Maybe she'll come to her senses, Mr Hurst, they're not married, yet.'
'That is all we can hope for, or maybe he will show his true colours before she's too stuck on him.'
With that, they parted, Elizabeth almost stunned to have the indolent Mr Hurst talk so freely to her.
Before she could locate Fitzwilliam she found herself addressed by the infamous Mr Grenfell himself, and since she could not refuse him and was rather curious about him as well, she moved back to the floor to dance with him. He was as tall as Fitzwilliam, and as handsome, maybe even more so, though not as carefully dressed. Simon would certainly score points tonight with his master's apparel. Especially the hairdo and the slight enhancement of his eyes would make an impact, and Mr Grenfell's valet needed a another few years' experience tying and pleating cravats. Mr Grenfell's voice gave her the shivers and she wasn't even certain what kind.
'You're the queen of the ball, Mrs Darcy. The bride is your sister, isn't she?
She's absolutely stunning, but personally I prefer a little fire to a woman.
Too bad you're already married, I've heard you always give as good as you get.'
From Miss Bingley no doubt, and not a good way to enter a conversation with the sister-in-law of your intended. But that soon became clear.
'I've had a nice, friendly chat with your husband just now, and he very politely, amicably even, warned me off his sister. I like her, I'm sure she liked me, I cannot understand why I am not good enough for your husband, my reputation is flawless, my estate and fortune without equal in this little group of friends, and you checked out my looks rather carefully just now.
Tell me, do you find me lacking in personal beauty?'
Well, she didn't need to rile him up, and she could not imagine Fitzwilliam letting him down hard, he had to be very sensitive, so she replied, 'I most certainly do not, Mr Grenfell, I see few men here who can compete with you in good looks.'
Revelations Page 57
