She looked stunned, and then slowly, as she took in what he had said, he saw her expression change to horror.
‘But . . I do not understand. Why am I to go? And why am I to go so quickly? I must have more time . . .’
‘Only my friendship with your brother has persuaded me to give you that hour,’ he went on relentlessly. ‘I would rather turn you out of the house at once, in disgrace. You have your brother to thank for the fact you will be leaving in a carriage, properly attended, instead of on foot with only the clothes on your back.’
‘Mr Darcy, this must be a joke,’ she said with a sickly smile. ‘If you explain it to me I am sure I will laugh as heartily as anyone, but I cannot at present understand it.’
‘Can you not?’ he demanded. ‘Then allow me to explain. Some months ago, a young woman in tragic circumstances asked you for help. She had to humble herself to do so, and her situation would have prompted compassion in anyone with a shred of nobility in their nature. But instead of helping her, you jeered at her.’
‘I never —’
‘I was in the next room and heard everything. Not content with this, you deliberately humiliated her by ridiculing her in front of her family, friends and neighbours, by suggesting the only thing she was fit for was becoming a companion to a bedridden woman, who was so deaf that a lack of musical accomplishment would be no barrier to employment.’
‘I . . . I merely tried to find her a position suited to her abilities,’ stammered Miss Bingley, desperately trying to salvage what she could of the situation.
‘But all this pales into insignificance when set against your later abominable act of lying about her clandestine meetings with Mr Wickham. You claimed to have seen her—’
‘I did see her!’ exclaimed Miss Bingley, jumping to her feet. ‘I saw her as plainly as I see you now, plotting and planning with him.’
‘What, Madam, will you lie to my face?’ demanded Mr Darcy in a thunderous voice.
He was about to rise to his feet when he thought better of it and remained firmly seated.
Miss Bingley saw it, and gulped in despair. Her face went white. No gentleman would ever remain seated in the presence of a lady. She had jumped up. Good manners dictated that he, too, should rise to his feet. But he had remained seated. It was a deliberate, humiliating insult.
‘I have done nothing but try to help you!’ she said in desperation. ‘I have devoted all my time to helping Georgiana—’
‘Who would not have needed your help if you had not lied about her companion, causing her terrible distress. No, Madam, do not seek to defend yourself any further. You will leave this house within the hour. You had better look to your packing.’
‘It cannot be done. I cannot descend on my brother without warning,’ she said.
‘Your brother? Do you really wish to go to Netherfield Park, where you will be confronted by Miss Elizabeth Bennet every day, and reminded of your own wicked acts?’
‘She will not be at Netherfield,’ said Miss Bingley, adding spitefully, ‘I will see to it that my brother does not invite her.’
‘And I will see to it that he does,’ said Mr Darcy implacably. ‘Yes, Miss Bingley, I am going to Netherfield Park myself, and taking Georgiana with me. I wish my sister and Miss Elizabeth Bennet to resume their friendship and I will do everything in my power to promote it. Furthermore, I intend to remain there until the day of your brother’s wedding. You have mentioned more than once that your mother has invited you to spend Christmas with her in Yorkshire. You would be well advised to accept.’
Before Miss Bingley could say anything further, he rang the bell. When the butler arrived he said, ‘Miss Bingley and the Hursts are leaving. See to it they are given every assistance. They have to be on their way within the hour.’
‘Very good, Sir,’ said the butler with a bow.
There was the barest hint of a smile on the butler’s well-schooled lips. Miss Bingley was not a favourite with the servants. She was rude and smug in her dealings with them, and not one of them would be sorry to see her go.
Miss Bingley drew herself up to her full height and endeavoured to regain some dignity.
‘May I say goodbye to Georgiana?’ she asked.
‘If she will speak to you,’ he replied.
Miss Bingley looked shaken and said, ‘Perhaps there will not be time for me to speak to her after all.’
Mr Darcy nodded to the butler, who showed her out.
When he was alone, he dismissed the unpleasant interview from his mind.
Now he had another, far more important – and far more difficult - interview, in front of him. He must go to Netherfield Park, and there he must endeavour to make amends for the harm he had caused Miss Elizabeth Bennet, and he must try to make her fall in love with him, as he had fallen in love with her.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
A week later, most of the packing had been finished at Longbourn. In between dinner with the Purvises and an evening party at Haye Park, Elizabeth and Jane had worked hard to make sure everything was ready for the inevitable move. They had packed the more delicate items themselves and had directed the servants in packing everything else. Mrs Philips had therefore been able to see to the running of the house without additional cares. Now that things were well advanced, Elizabeth and Jane were taking a well-earned rest.
Mary, Kitty and Lydia had returned from London. Mary was much as usual. Kitty was quieter than before, having been reprimanded for helping Lydia to run away with George Wickham. Lydia herself was petulant and out of sorts. If she had married George Wickham, then no doubt she would have returned home very pleased with herself and queened it over her sisters. But as it was, she was humbled.
At first she had tried to brazen it out, saying that Mr Wickham had wanted to marry her. But when Jane gently pointed out that he had not married her, and that if not for Mr Darcy then she would be ruined, Lydia was silenced.
Mr Philips had been unexpectedly severe on Lydia. Though usually content to let his wife rule him, in this case he was firm. Lydia had jeopardised the family name and he wanted to teach her a lesson. He removed her allowance and said she should not have it back until she showed him she had changed. He banned her from the neighbourhood entertainments, so that she would have no chance to flirt with the officers, and he forbade her from walking into Meryton unless she was with him or Mrs Philips. Lydia was petulant and resentful, but she was much better behaved than before.
As Elizabeth and Jane were discussing this, the mail was brought in on a silver salver. Mrs Philips picked it up and looked through it, as Mrs Bennet had once done, reading the name of each recipient and handing out the letters. There was one from Mrs Gardiner to Jane, one to Mrs Philips from an old school friend and one for Elizabeth.
‘I do not recognise the hand,’ said Mrs Philips, as she passed the letter to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth glanced at the writing and saw at once that it was Georgiana’s hand. She did not say so, however, as she wanted to know what the letter said before divulging its contents. She took the letter into the library and Jane followed her, clutching her own letter. They settled down on the window seat to read.
Elizabeth opened her letter and read it rapidly, her eyes crossing and re-crossing the page in haste as she devoured the contents.
‘What is it?’ asked Jane, putting her own letter aside as she heard Elizabeth cry out.
‘Oh, Jane!’ said Elizabeth. ‘Mr Darcy confiscated my letters, so they never reached Georgiana, and he prevented hers from being posted, so they never reached me. I had feared as much.’
‘But she writes to you now,’ said Jane. ‘What has changed?’
Elizabeth scanned the next page of the letter, reading it rapidly.
‘He has . . .’ She paused, and her voice took on a warmer tone. ‘He has seen the error of his ways. He has apologised to Georgiana, and he has given her all my letters. He is bringing her to Netherfield Park, where she hopes we may continue our friendship. Georgiana wi
ll give me all the letters she tried to send me when she sees me. She and her brother will arrive at Netherfield Park this afternoon and they will call on us tomorrow.’
Jane by now had forgotten all about her own letter and moved closer to Elizabeth so that she could read over her shoulder.
My brother has sent Miss Bingley and the Hursts from the house. I do not know all the details, but I know enough to say that Miss Bingley has told lies about you and my brother was furious when he found out. He dismissed Miss Bingley and the Hursts with such a lack of ceremony that the servants knew they were disgraced. I am glad they have gone. They had no love for me, but pretended affection in order to ingratiate themselves with my brother. I am only sorry for Mr Bingley that he has such uncongenial sisters. They are too ashamed to return to Hertfordshire and have gone home to their mother. I will call upon you as soon as I arrive in Meryton, and hope this is convenient. I am longing to see you again.
‘I am looking forward to seeing them again,’ said Jane. ‘It gives me pleasure to know that you and Georgiana will be friends again, as will you and Mr Darcy.’
‘As to that, I am not so sure,’ said Elizabeth. ‘I am longing to see Georgiana again, but as for her brother, only time will tell.’
‘Poor Lizzy. It will be an awkward meeting for you.’
‘It will indeed,’ said Elizabeth.
She owned to herself she was dreading it.
‘I had better tell my aunt we are expecting guests tomorrow,’ Jane said. ‘She will need to know we will be quite a large party for tea.’
Mr Bingley’s carriage rolled up to the front door at two o’clock the following afternoon. Out stepped Mr Bingley, with Mr and Miss Darcy. Elizabeth and Jane were sitting on the window seat in the drawing-room when they arrived. Elizabeth saw her sister’s face light up as Jane caught sight of Mr Bingley through the window. Then her own face lit up as she saw Georgiana walking towards the front door. Her feelings on seeing Mr Darcy, as he escorted Georgiana, were more difficult to ascertain. She remembered the great pleasure she had felt in his company before the disastrous misunderstanding had come between them, and the steps he had taken since then to make amends, but she also remembered the hurt, and the turmoil that affected her when he was near.
The guests were shown into the drawing-room and soon they were all sitting down to tea. Mr and Mrs Philips were both there, as were the three younger Miss Bennets.
To begin with, the conversation revolved around matters of interest in the neighbourhood. Mr Bingley took an active part in the conversation but Mr Darcy, after a few civil remarks of a general nature, relapsed into silence.
After tea, Elizabeth and Georgiana sat together on a sofa which was set a little apart, and renewed their friendship.
‘I was going to bring my letters with me, so you could read them at last,’ Georgiana said. ‘But I decided against it. I would rather tell you everything in person.’
‘I am longing to hear,’ said Elizabeth.
Georgiana told her about trips to shops and museums, walks in the park and small evening gatherings. She spoke of duets and sketches and embroidery and other accomplishments, then finished by saying, ‘But these things lack savour if not done with a friend. I am so glad to be here again.’
When Georgiana had recounted her time, Elizabeth told her about her own occupations.
From time to time, Elizabeth was conscious of Mr Darcy’s eyes upon her. She looked up and saw that he wore a serious expression, but as their eyes met a warmth filled his eyes. She looked away again hurriedly, but she felt her hurt and confusion melting away. The pain was receding until only the pleasure remained.
Mrs Philips at last suggested a walk.
‘There is just time for us to walk around the wilderness before dark falls,’ she said.
Her suggestion was met with approval. The day was fine, if cold, and before long they were all dressed in their outdoor clothes and heading for the wilderness. The air stung their cheeks in a pleasant fashion, encouraging them to walk briskly, and their breath clouded in front of them in a most attractive way.
Jane took Mr Bingley’s arm. Elizabeth walked with Georgiana. Mr Darcy escorted Mrs Philips, and Mr Philips kept the younger girls in order.
They took a turn around the wilderness and Mr Philips pointed out its notable aspects. Georgiana asked him some questions and by the time they set off back to the house the arrangements had changed. Jane was still walking with Mr Bingley, but Georgiana had taken Mr Philips’s arm, Mrs Philips was keeping the younger girls in order and Mr Darcy offered Elizabeth his arm.
She placed her hand on his arm and felt a warmth flood through her. She flushed and was about to withdraw her hand when she saw a look of hurt and rejection on his face. She could not bear to see it and so she left her hand where it was. She was rewarded by seeing a look of relief spread over his features.
‘I owe you an apology,’ she said, as they began to walk on together, a little way behind the others.
He was surprised.
‘I cannot think you have any need to apologise,’ he said. ‘I am the one who must apologise. I have behaved abominably. I will never forget your words to me as you roundly condemned me, and rightly so.’
‘I shudder to think of them now,’ said Elizabeth. ‘Please forget them. I uttered them in the heat of the moment. I cannot believe I spoke to you in such a manner.’
‘You had every right to do so. I behaved shamefully. I allowed fear to rule me, and in doing so I was unjust and ungentlemanlike. How that word has haunted me. I have always prided myself on being a gentleman, but you showed me myself through your eyes and I was ashamed. I thought I was acting for the best by dismissing you and taking Georgiana away from Netherfield, but even at the time I began to reconsider. As I began to recover from the shock of seeing Mr Wickham, I started to wonder if I had reacted hastily. But then Miss Bingley . . .’
He stopped, realising that he had said more than he intended.
‘I had already guessed it was Miss Bingley who blackened my name,’ Elizabeth reassured him, ‘though I do not know exactly what she said.’
‘You have a right to know. She told me she had seen you meeting Mr Wickham clandestinely on a number of occasions. It fuelled my fears, for it seemed to me that history was repeating itself. Last summer, Georgiana’s companion aided and abetted George Wickham as he tried to elope with Georgiana. I was afraid that the same thing was happening again. I have always felt responsible for Georgiana. I am many years older than her, and since my parents’ death I have been her guardian as well as her brother. My parents impressed upon me that I must look after her, and I have done my best over the years to keep her happy and safe. And so I decided to take her to London instantly when I saw her with Mr Wickham, determined to protect her from danger. Once my initial fear was subsiding, however, I was going to speak to you again, to ask you about the matter and give you a chance to explain. That is when I saw Miss Bingley, and when she told me she had seen you meeting secretly with Mr Wickham. My fears reignited and I took Georgiana to London. In doing so, I treated you abominably. Can you forgive me?’
‘I have already done so,’ she said quietly. She paused and then said, ‘I must thank you for rescuing Lydia from Mr Wickham’s clutches. Without your help she would have been ruined.’
‘I own I did not do it for Lydia. I did it for you.’
Elizabeth felt a warmth steal over her, despite the cold of the winter day.
‘I hope, now that this unfortunate matter is behind us, we may resume our friendship,’ he said.
‘I would like that,’ she said.
They had by this time arrived back at Longbourn. They were still a little way behind the others, but now they had to go indoors with the rest of the company.
Once they had divested themselves of their outdoor clothing, they returned to the drawing-room. Mr Darcy’s attention was sought by Mrs Philips, and Elizabeth went over to the pianoforte with Georgiana. Jane and Mr Bingley sat toget
her on the sofa. Mary took up an improving book, whilst Lydia and Kitty pored over the latest fashions in a journal.
As Elizabeth turned the pages of music for Georgiana, she looked up to find Mr Darcy’s eyes upon her. The expression on his face made her heart lift.
It was only when Georgiana faltered that Elizabeth realised she was not paying attention to her task, and she turned the page. But the memory of his expression stayed with her and followed her into her dreams that night.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Elizabeth was happier than she had ever been. She saw Mr Darcy daily, sometimes at neighbours’ houses, sometimes at Netherfield and sometimes at Longbourn. They took every opportunity of spending time together, learning more about each others’ lives, and deepening their understanding of each other’s temperaments. With each passing day, they drew closer to each other.
Social engagements now dominated the calendar. These were increasing as Christmas drew ever nearer. The whole of Meryton was giving parties, as people sought to entertain their relatives who were arriving for the festive season.
There were some notable absences at these gatherings. Miss Bingley and the Hursts were missed, and Mr Bingley explained they had gone to spend Christmas with their parents in the north. Mr Wickham was also missed. Elizabeth was nervous every time he was mentioned, but no one suspected the real reason for his sudden removal from Meryton. Indeed, it was explained by Denny, who said that Mr Wickham had joined the army and had been sent north. A great many ladies expressed their disappointment, but then they consoled themselves with the attentions of the other officers.
Lydia was more subdued than previously. She still looked forward to the neighbourhood parties but she was not as wild in her behaviour, and indeed surprised Elizabeth pleasantly by her improved comportment. Georgiana’s influence was having a good effect on her, and it was having a good effect on Kitty, too. The young ladies were often together, either at Longbourn or at Netherfield Park.
A Companion For Miss Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation Page 27
