In Want of a Wife: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

by Julia Middleton

  Just after dinner, as they set up for dancing once again, he thought he caught a glimpse of rich chestnut. He straightened up, his heart pounding. Could it be that enchanting young lady he had met that morning? He’d already started towards her, when the lady in question turned. His heart sank as he took in the heavily painted face of Mrs Portland. A further creature from the young lady she could not have been.

  The ball room was crowded and he started to feel overwhelmed by the heavy stench of perfume. He knew he should force himself to stay and dance with some more ladies or he would never find a wife, but he did not think he could bear much more. Perhaps he should have gone to Weston’s ball instead? They were newer people, but it might have been more enjoyable than this crowd, hungrily eyeing each other up as prospects for refilling dwindling family coffers.

  He laughed as he caught the path his thoughts followed. He would need to see Bingley again soon, or he would grow entirely gloomy and cynical. Bangle’s good natured humour was exactly the tonic he needed.

  He checked the time. It was after midnight, and he had danced more dances than he had done in several years. Surely he had made enough effort for the night? It was early for a ball, but there were so many people here, he doubted anyone would notice if he left. And if they did, no matter. A Mr Darcy of Pemberley was always sure of forgiveness.

  To his surprise, Georgiana was still in the sitting room when he came home.

  “It is so early, William” she cried. “Was the ball not to your satisfaction?”

  “I should say not,” he said. He flung himself into his chair and loosened his cravat. “What are you doing up at this time, Georgie? I thought you would be in bed long ago.”

  Georgiana blushed. “I am not tired. I wished to sit up a little longer, that is all.”

  Darcy nodded, then something caught his eye. He looked at his sister closely.

  “What is the matter?” he asked. “Georgie, you seem upset. Has something happened?”

  Georgiana started. “Oh no,” she insisted. “Well, perhaps I have had a headache. You’re right, I should go to bed.” She stood up quickly, then hesitated. “I take it you did not meet anyone pleasant at the ball?” she asked.

  Darcy had still been looking at her in concern, but he smiled wryly at her question. “I am afraid not,” he said. “I am not one for social occasions at the best of times but I should think even Bingley would have been unimpressed by tonight, and you know what a rage he is in to be pleased by everyone he meets.”

  “Oh.” Georgiana looked disappointed. “I am hoping you will meet someone who will make you happy.”

  “That is exactly what I hope as well,” he assured her. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed a tired hand across his face. “It will not be easy, but I never expected it to be.”

  “And you have seen no-one at all in Bath who could please you?” asked Georgiana.

  Darcy hesitated as he once again saw that quick smile and laughing eyes. Georgiana caught the hesitation and inhaled sharply.

  “You have seen someone,” she exclaimed. “Who is she? Will you see her again? Do you like her very much?”

  Darcy stared at his sister in surprise. She was usually quite timid about asking questions, a painful habit he hoped she would grow out of. But right now, her eyes were bright with interest, and whatever had troubled her before seemed to have been forgotten. She really was eager to have him marry. Was she so very lonely? He would have to enquire about a companion soon. And he was sorry to have to disappoint her.

  “I am sorry Georgie, but I have nothing to tell you.” And it was the truth. He was quite sure he would never see the lady again. Bath was not a large place, but people came and went far too often. And there was little point to it anyway. The young lady he had seen would not answer his family’s notions of a proper wife for him, and his own good sense told him the same. “Sleep well. I hope you feel better tomorrow.”

  With a little curtsey, Georgiana left the room. As the door closed behind her, Darcy saw the new little pile of cards that had been placed beside his chair. For a brief moment, he considered casting the whole lot in the fire. He sighed and drew them onto his lap. Which dreadful social occasion should he attend next?

  CHAPTER NINE

  Sydney Gardens was a riot of colour in the bright afternoon sunshine. Elizabeth was happy to stroll around the gardens, lost in contemplation of the night before. Mr Wickham might well be the most interesting, charming man she had ever met. How fortunate that they should have found themselves in the same room. Lady Lacey might easily have chosen another ball to attend, such as the Dalrymple’s, and then they should never have met. What a dreadful prospect.

  As she strolled around the flower beds, she cast her eyes about, eagerly looking for a scarlet coat and a tall figure. Fashionably dressed ladies and gentlemen strolled about her, or rode up high in carriages for everyone to see and admire them. But there was no scarlet coat anywhere to be seen. Elizabeth wanted to laugh at herself. She had only met him for one night. She must not be a fool and allow herself to lose her heart so easily.

  Her attention was caught by a cry from behind. Elizabeth looked around to see a young lady limping towards a bench.

  “Are you alright?” she asked as she lowered her parasol. The young lady looked up in alarm. She had been bent over her foot, and had not noticed Elizabeth’s approach.

  “I am afraid the heel broke on my shoe, and I have hurt my ankle,” said the girl. “I do not think it is injured though. Merely the shock of suddenly being thrown off balance.” She flexed her foot back and forward to demonstrate.

  Elizabeth regarded it gravely. “Yes, I think you shall live,” she said. “I was briefly afraid that foot would have to come off.”

  The young lady looked at her in shock, then laughed. “I am glad of your diagnosis,” she said.

  “Will you have trouble getting home with your shoe in that condition?” Elizabeth asked. “I am happy to assist you, of course.”

  The young lady hesitated and looked over the garden. “I should appreciate that,” she said shyly. “But if you are not in a hurry, would you be so kind as to wait with me some minutes? I have been so looking forward to a walk in the gardens that I do not want to return indoors right away.”

  “Of course.” Elizabeth sat beside her. “I am afraid as we have no Master of Ceremonies here, we shall have to manage introductions ourselves,” she said. “My name is Elizabeth Bennet. What is yours?”

  “I am Georgiana Darcy,” said the girl.

  Darcy. Elizabeth wondered where she had heard that name before. Quite recently as well. But she’d heard so many new names over the past few days that it was hard to keep track of them all.

  “How do you like Bath, Miss Darcy?” she asked.

  “I like it very well,” she said. “I am here to spend time with my brother as I do not get to see him very often, and we are the only two left of our family. What of you, Miss Bennet? Is Bath to your liking?”

  “Oh, it is well enough,” said Elizabeth. “I like the baths and the Pump Rooms, although the water is awful to drink. It is quite an experience.”

  Georgiana smiled. “My brother says it is the worst thing he had ever tasted, and far more likely to make someone ill as to cure them. He is not quite enamoured of Bath as others are.”

  “Then I wonder why he should choose to come here?” said Elizabeth. “There are many other resorts he could try.”

  Georgiana blushed. “I am afraid that was to indulge me. I pressed him to come to Bath and he agreed. He is far too indulgent with me sometimes. And he said he supposed he could manage here just as well as any other place.”

  “Manage?”

  Georgiana’s colour deepened. “My brother is here searching for a wife. I should not say such things, but isn’t that why most people come to Bath? To find a partner?”

  “It is indeed,” said Elizabeth. “And although it is not my main motivation, it is one I am quite open to. And how does your brother fi
nd the Bath ladies?”

  “He attended a ball last night at the Dalrymple’s, but I was sorry to see he came home early. He does not like social occasions you see, so it is difficult for him to exert himself.” Georgiana smiled. “But I am quite sure some lady has caught his eye. He would not tell me anything about her, but there was just that something in his countenance that told me he had seen someone who pleased him greatly. I hope she is worthy of him and he has success with her. My brother is a wonderful, kind man, Miss Bennet, although people often think he is aloof. But that is his shyness. I believe any woman he marries will be the luckiest woman in the world.”

  “And if she is worthy of him, I hope he finds her too,” said Elizabeth. It was comforting to know there were several people in Bath who were kind and sincere. Apart from Lady Lacey, she now knew of the handsome man she had seen yesterday, Mr Wickham, this young lady and if her report was correct, her brother too. Perhaps she had been too hasty to judge Bath and its occupants.

  “You are very kind,” said Georgiana. For a moment, she seemed distracted, as if she were searching for someone. Her eyes scanned the park and she seemed to forget Elizabeth was there until Elizabeth gently interrupted her.

  “Is there someone you wish to see here, Miss Darcy?” she asked.

  Georgiana was startled but recovered quickly although her colour was still high. “No, of course not. Forgive me. I was just observing the crowds. How fine they all look.”

  “They do,” agreed Elizabeth. Two ladies passed by, their noses up in the air. Elizabeth laughed. “Better pleased with themselves than what they see, I think.”

  “It can be hard to find friends in Bath, can it not? Even though it is one of the most sociable places around.”

  “I quite agree. I like Bath, but it is hard to find someone to have a rational conversation with.”

  “Miss Bennet,” Georgiana’s face was even brighter red than usual. She fiddled with the folds of her skirt. “Would you like to see the Pump Rooms with me? I have not been there yet. My brother means to take me, but he is so busy and I do not like to impose on him although I know he would take me there directly if I asked.”

  “By all means.” Elizabeth grinned at her. “When would you like to go?”

  The two young ladies settled that they would meet in the park and walk to the Pump Rooms together the following morning. Georgiana found she could manage quite well even in her broken shoe, so they then parted ways, both of them delighted with their new friend.

  CHAPTER TEN

  That night, Elizabeth and Lady Lacey took a carriage back home from a dinner. Elizabeth had hoped Wickham would be there as the invitation had mentioned officers from the militia. She had been disappointed when he had not appeared.

  “I hope you will not allow your spirits to be too downcast, Lizzy,” Lady Lacey chided gently. “Remember, you have only known Wickham for one evening. Do not allow him so much room in your heart when there are many other men for you to meet.”

  “I thank you for the warning, but I do not allow him to take up room in my heart.” Elizabeth smiled at her cousin. “Do not fear, Aunt. I am not the sort to allow my heart be given away lightly. It takes quite a bit for me to fall in love. I simply enjoyed Mr Wickham’s company, and had looked forward to some more conversation.”

  Lady Lacey nodded and leaned back against the sheep-lined carriage seat. “I am glad to hear it,” she said. “Mr Wickham is a pleasant enough fellow, but…”

  Elizabeth looked at her sharply. “But what?” she asked quickly.

  Lady Lacey pursed her lips. “I fear he is rather too charming,” she said.

  Elizabeth relaxed and laughed heartily. “Too charming? Oh Aunt, I thought you were about to reveal some dreadful flaw I had overlooked. Instead, you say he has too much of a delightful quality. That is like saying a man can be too handsome.”

  Lady Lacey raised a pencilled eyebrow. “When you’ve lived as long as I have, my dear, you will see that a man can be too much of that also. No, I mean merely to put you on your guard, my dear. Some men can be so charming that it can blind you to their other…less desirable qualities. I should not wish for that to happen to you.”

  “Thank you for the warning,” said Elizabeth. “I do not see what other qualities Mr Wickham could be attempting to hide from me. He was utterly delightful. But you need not have any fear. I am not secretly hoping to marry the gentleman. I did not return home from the ball last night and write long, flowery passages in my journal about how I had met my future husband. Yes, I think Mr Wickham very handsome and very charming, but I am well aware how brief a time I have spent with him. For now, I am simply happy to enjoy his company.”

  Lady Lacey nodded. “I am very glad to hear it,” she said. “I would not like you to get hurt, or send you home with a broken heart. Your father would kill me. And I just want to give you some of the benefit of my knowledge that Wickham reminds me strongly of the kind of man who likes to give delight in the short term, but cannot maintain it for very long.” She held up her hands as Elizabeth started to protest again. “I could be wrong, of course. I hope I am. But I could not sit by without offering you this hint. And know that I do so with full confidence in your sensible nature to know it will be taken in the spirit in which it is given.”

  That took the wind out of Elizabeth’s sails. She relaxed again and laughed. “I understand. And I thank you, Aunt. I do have the fullest respect for your opinions, you know. I will consider what you have said and pay attention when I am next in Mr Wickham’s company.”

  Lady Lacey nodded in satisfaction. She said no more as they pulled up to the house until they were inside the warm drawing room where James had laid out some watered wine and a little tray of biscuits in anticipation of their return.

  “I do wonder why we have not yet seen Mr Darcy,” she mused. “I have heard much of how he is in Bath but have yet to see him.”

  Elizabeth started. “Mr Darcy,” she cried. “There is that name again. That young lady I met in the park is called Miss Darcy, and she made mention of her brother. I wonder if it can be the same person?”

  “There is more than one Darcy, of course,” agreed Lady Lacey. “But I would imagine it is the same one. I heard Lady Dalrymple was quite indignant that he left her ball early the other night. It seemed she had intended him for her daughter. He had a lucky escape, if so. Sophia is a bright eyed little minx and she is exactly the sort of young lady who will bankrupt her husband’s coffers. Her poor papa has spent a fortune on her, and because she is her mother’s darling, he can refuse her nothing unless he wishes to face Lady Dalrymple’s wrath. I should imagine Mr Darcy is too sensible to fall for such a girl, but men have made fools of themselves over pretty faces before.”

  “What sort of man is he?” Elizabeth untied her shawl and sat across from Lady Lacey. She took a biscuit from the tray, and settled back to hear her aunt’s opinion.

  Lady Lacey considered her question, tapping her lips as she did so.

  “I have only met him briefly,” she said. “He is certainly proud and aware of his status as a Darcy. He is wretchedly handsome and very wealthy, so he attracts the attention of ambitious parents and young ladies everywhere he goes. He is eight and twenty, so I do wonder why he is not married. Perhaps he is more of a romantic than he pretends, and desires to find real love.”

  “I could respect him for that,” said Elizabeth. “I think it admirable that a man should marry for love, and forget more worldly advantages.”

  “But those worldly advantages have their uses, my dear,” said Lady Lacey. She looked pointedly at Elizabeth’s fine silk shawl and the delicate bracelets dangling from her wrists. They were gifts from Lady Lacey. Elizabeth looked down at them and laugh self-consciously.

  “You are right, of course. I am not another Mary, who pretends finery does not have its uses. I simply think wealth has its place, but should not come before love.”

  “Hmm,” said Lady Lacey. “Well, my dear, I hope you have the
good fortune to love and be loved by a fine man who also has wealth to offer. I was lucky enough to find it, and I do not see why you should not also. And now, I must to bed. I doubt I shall be awake before you leave to meet Miss Darcy, so I will bid you goodnight.”

  She gave Elizabeth a kiss on the forehead and swept from the room, her rich gown swishing behind her. Elizabeth leaned back in her chair and gazed into the fire. Wickham’s laughing, charming face gave way to another, one with warm brown eyes and a kind smile. It was a shame she had not seen the man again. Something about him told her she should like to know him better.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Georgiana Darcy waited for her in Sydney Gardens the next day. Her face lit up when she saw Elizabeth.

  “I told my brother I had made a new friend, and that we were to explore together today. He was most pleased,” she said by way of greeting.

  Elizabeth laughed. “I am always happy to provide a service. Now, then. Shall we walk?”

  The Pump Rooms were as crowded as ever. Elizabeth smiled and nodded at several people she had met at parties. Her eyes moved restlessly around the room. There was still no sign of either Mr Wickham, or the mysterious gentleman. They tried the water and as Elizabeth had promised, Georgiana spat it out in disgust. Elizabeth laughed at the shocked expression on her face.

  “I am sorry,” she said. “It seems remarkable to me that people travel so far to be so repulsed. I agree with your brother that it is certainly more likely to cause an illness than prevent it.”

  “I must agree with you both,” said Miss Darcy, wiping her mouth with the back of her glove. “Shall we check the book and see who visited today? I heard rumours that the Princess of Wales is here. I should love to see her.”