Wedding at Pemberley

by Florence Gold

  What they suspected was that Wickham never intended to go to Gretna Green but had stopped in London, in God knows what Inn.

  This was little information; London was full of inns for travellers or visitors, but many of them had a horrible reputation.

  Jane looked at Elizabeth, her beautiful eyes full of tears.

  They just had the time to whisper their news in haste, they were both engaged precisely at the most unfavourable moment their family had ever experienced.

  “One month after our marriage she could have done anything,” Elizabeth said with considerable reproach in her tone. “I only hope she has not ruined our lives! I am sorry for being selfish and speaking in such a manner, but this is what I feel!”

  ∞∞∞

  At least in the Vicarage, they spent a quarter of an hour of peace and rapprochement. The Vicar was an old friend of their family and was happy for them.

  “Well, Mrs Bennet,” he said in a benevolent tone, “Marrying two daughters in the same month is a joy!”

  Mrs Bennet began to cry; it was apparent that news about Lydia’s elopement had not yet arrived at the Vicarage, so the Vicar thought they were tears of joy.

  They did not speak on the way home, as there was nothing to be said. As long as Lydia was a fugitive, Mrs Bennet had not much hope for the other girls. It was so unfair to arrive at such a beautiful moment just to find life was playing a horrible trick. For once she did not speak her trouble − a solid proof the situation was disastrous.

  The Gardiners, Elizabeth and Darcy departed for London in a sombre atmosphere, Lydia’s reckless deed more present than ever with every mile as they approached Town. They hardly spoke, incapable of finding a subject that could help them forget their sorrow.

  Chapter 13

  Darcy hurried to his house − mentioning he would talk to Bingley – while the Gardiners and Elizabeth continued their journey to Gracechurch Street. They found a Mr Bennet hard to recognise − devastated, hurt, pale, thinner, trying to drown his distress in a glass of brandy.

  He looked so relieved at seeing them, that Elizabeth’s heart melted with sorrow. Indeed her father needed them.

  Later on, at dinner, they struggled to eat with heavy hearts − their appetites utterly lost.

  “We achieved nothing. We searched, but they are not to be found. We traced them as far as London, but not further. Tomorrow, we have to start all over again. But where to look for a couple that does not wish to be found?” Mr Bennet complained.

  “We will go together. You are not alone anymore,” Mr Gardiner assured him.

  “I was not alone. This Bingley fellow is quite a man. He was very helpful – but there is not so much one can do,” Mr Bennet said.

  “We might have some additional information. Mr Darcy came with us, and he seems to know Wickham very well, including his inclinations, his friends, his preferred whereabouts...”

  “Darcy?” Mr Bennet was astonished. “What on earth is he doing here?”

  The Gardiners glanced at each other, then at Elizabeth.

  “He invited us to stay at Pemberley while we were in Derbyshire. A very kind and generous man, indeed. He has a spectacular library and some wonderful fishing places. In truth, I had a delightful time,” Mr Gardiner replied.

  “Darcy?” Mr Bennet was beyond astonishment. “The one who refused to dance with Lizzy and barely spoke to anyone in three months while staying in Hertfordshire?”

  “Papa!” Elizabeth said with a happy face as she put her hand on Mr Bennet’s hand. “We have some more news… happy news!” she added in haste as Mr Bennet’s face was darkening again.

  “I can use some happy news now!” he said, trying to smile for his daughter’s benefit.

  “Darcy is so different from the image we had of him!”

  “Darcy?” Mr Bennet asked. “Are you calling him Darcy?”

  “Yes, papa! Only a day before we found out about Lydia − from Jane’s letter − Darcy asked me to marry him!” she spoke with so much pride that Mr Bennet looked at her in surprise.

  “Are we talking about the same Mr Darcy that you, all of us, could not stand?”

  Elizabeth smiled at her father.

  “Yes, and I am the first to say how sorry I am for so badly and so wrongfully judging him.”

  “Oh, my God!” Mr Bennet exclaimed as Lydia’s acts − for a short moment lost – were again on his shoulders, thousands of times more awful as he realised that not only her future was jeopardised but also Elizabeth’s marriage was in danger. Bingley had firmly expressed his intention to marry Jane no matter what the disgrace would bring, so in that direction, he was rather calm but how Mr Darcy might react in front of such a scandal… He was by far more connected than Bingley, and for him, such a deed could bring more harm.

  “Papa!” Elizabeth said, “we went yesterday to the Vicarage to announce our engagement!”

  However, Mr Bennet’s heart still did not calm down. ‘It takes more than some bans at a Vicarage to marry someone’ − Mr Bennet thought with much pain.

  “He is a rare gentleman.” Mr Gardiner confirmed. “And he offered his help in finding Wickham. He has serious feelings of guilt; he insists it was his fault for not exposing Wickham’s character sooner, so no other young lady fell for his charms.”

  “Darcy?” Mr Bennet repeated to his brother-in-law.

  “Mr Darcy himself,” Mr Gardiner replied.

  “Well, this is a time of complete astonishment,” Mr Bennet answered. “I feel more brandy is needed. And if we are to speak of guilt, I believe we all share the guilt − with Mrs Bennet − not that lad!” Mr Bennet spoke bitterly. He looked at his daughter and his heart broke with another kind of pain; he could hardly believe his Lizzy was engaged to Mr Darcy. In the end, it was her decision yet he wanted to discuss it with her, but that evening nothing could be done.

  “Go to sleep, my dear Lizzy!” he said with all the love in his heart

  Elizabeth looked with much gratitude to her father; she could not take that bitterness, sadness and despair anymore. It was so unfair her engagement should overlap on such a horrible event; she excused herself and retired to her chamber in tears. She would not feel guilty for being happy while Lydia’s destiny was at stake. Neither her father nor Mrs Bennet were, in the end, the guilty ones… but Lydia herself who made the decision to run away.

  ∞∞∞

  The following morning did not bring any peace, as everyone seemed more tired than on the previous evening. Elizabeth received a note from Darcy, asking them to remain home until they received more news. He shared his plans of looking for Wickham together with Bingley and assured Elizabeth he would inform them without delay. Elizabeth tried not to smile while she read the letter as at the end Darcy had written: My love, I cannot live without you!

  But again, the news astounded them – especially Mr Bennet. That Darcy took it upon himself to look for Wickham was beyond understanding.

  With not much to do, they decided to listen to Darcy’s suggestion; therefore, they remained home, the gentlemen in the library and Elizabeth with her aunt in the drawing-room while Mrs Gardiner engaged her niece in a private conversation.

  “Lizzy dearest, you know you were like a child to me, but lately I began to see you more as a friend and I hope it is the way you see me too!”

  It was a strange beginning. Elizabeth nodded, for it was true she could speak to her aunt more freely than she did with her mother. Still, she suspected the discussion they might have was not to be a pleasant one.

  “I am sorry for Lydia, but my worries are mostly for you two, my favourite nieces. My dear, I want you to keep a reasonable hope to marry Mr Darcy.”

  Elizabeth looked in despair at her aunt as that was her most secret anguish. Despite all the preparation and his determination, Elizabeth feared his family would succeed in breaking up their engagement.

  Elizabeth could not hold her tears any longer. “I misjudged him so completely, after all the unkind things I said about h
im – he is so kind and generous to me… to us… and yes… I want to be his wife… but Lydia’s elopement has changed everything. I only pray that Mr Bingley will not be deterred from his intentions towards Jane. I am frightened that he might leave Netherfield for good this time.”

  “Oh, I do not fear about Mr Bingley; you heard yesterday night from your father, Mr Bingley is determined to marry Jane… he has not such a decided opposition from his family as Darcy might have. He will not leave Netherfield – quite the opposite.

  “I hope you are right, aunt.”

  “I am – do not doubt that. As for Mr Darcy, I believe there are many reasons to hope, Lizzy, but please do not lose your head and… heart. Just keep a clear head and please do not dream… for a while!”

  “Aunt, it is not only the elopement. It is about the man who caused all this. Mr Darcy’s family would never consider bonding with a family where Wickham is a member. He has deeply hurt both Mr and Miss Darcy by his lack of gratitude, his harmful offences and his shallow behaviour. Mr Darcy will never consider him a relative.”

  “Oh my dear, I am tired of how many times you used the word never. Let us wait and see. Now you should sleep a little and so will I.”

  Dismissed by her aunt, Elizabeth hurried to her room, bringing all her torment with her. Her aunt told her not to have high hopes for her marriage, yet it was she again, who said, in the end, to approach the future with confidence.

  Hours passed painfully slowly, and no news arrived. Finally, in the evening, Darcy and Bingley appeared. Both were invited in, with equal consideration and eagerness.

  “Did you discover anything?” Mr Gardiner asked, expressing everyone’s despair.

  “Not yet,” Darcy replied hesitantly. “I do have some information that might be useful. But I would rather not give you hope unless I am certain of the result.”

  “But… do you think you can find them? Might you now allow us to search for them too? We might split the Town into several parts and look together even the streets not so…,” Elizabeth said emotionally.

  Darcy stared at her with a frown. He wanted to comfort her and tell her words of love which came so naturally in her presence, yet there was no time for love, only for anguish.

  “Miss Bennet, I understand your worry, but you cannot even consider searching in such places. For your own safety I beg you not to do something dangerous,” he said in earnest.

  The brief exchange – although perfectly proper – was so intense it drew even Mr Bennet’s attention. He was so worried about Lizzy’s so-called engagement; it had been done in haste and with no preparation. How could his Lizzy change in such a way? He was even afraid that she might consider marrying for her family’s benefit, but the glances they had shared made Mr Bennet consider that it might be more. The man obviously loved her while his proud daughter seemed to respond to his sentiments. It was a discussion that they would eventually have in the future as the present was utterly overshadowed by the foolish little Lydia.

  “But is there nothing we can do to help?” Elizabeth continued.

  “For the time being, if something can be done, Bingley and I will accomplish it. And I will inform Mr Bennet and Mr Gardiner in what way their involvement is needed.”

  “But I cannot stay home and rest while you are taking the trouble of fixing the consequences of my poor parenting,” Mr Bennet uttered.

  Darcy frowned even more. “Mr Bennet, I apologise if you consider my intervention an intrusion. I did not mean to be disrespectful and to ignore your decisions regarding your daughter. It is just that I do have some insights that will be helpful to discover them sooner.”

  Mr Bennet frowned too. “Oh, please do not take my words as a complaint. I did not mean them this way – not by far. I cannot express my gratitude for your involvement in this horrible affair.”

  “Do not mention it, sir,” Darcy answered with apparent relief and another glance at Elizabeth. Wickham is my responsibility − one that I failed in.”

  Mr Bennet shook his head. “Not at all. How could you have forbidden the entire Meryton village from being deceived by his charming manners? We all behaved like silly fifteen-year olds – grinning foolishly at his stupid jokes. And even if I wondered about his character several times, I chose to make sport of it and to tease my daughters. No measures, no rules.”

  “Wickham is a master of deception when it is to his benefit. My father held him in high esteem until the last days of his life,” Darcy said, bitterly.

  “But still, as a father of five daughters, of which three are quite silly, I should have been more careful. I am ashamed to admit what deficient parenting I provided to my daughters. Everything is my fault only. My poor girl is not even sixteen yet. I should have known better than allow her to go to Brighton with such loose supervision. Lizzy tried to convince me, but I did what was easier for my comfort, as usual.”

  He was pale and tired, and his torment was apparent. Darcy looked at Elizabeth again, then back at her father.

  “Mr Bennet, please do not distress yourself; the past is gone – let us try to do what is best for your family. What do you consider to be the desirable ending of this situation? Should Miss Lydia return home? Would you rather she marry him? It is unlikely that Wickham will ever turn into a worthy, caring husband,” Darcy added.

  “I cannot even think of that… I suspect Lydia will want to marry him. Otherwise, she would not have eloped in the first place. But I doubt very much he will want to marry her. Why would he? She has nothing, and he would gain nothing from such a union.”

  “We shall see,” Darcy replied vaguely. “But perhaps you are right – we should wait to find them first and will decide at the proper time.”

  “Gentlemen, will you stay for dinner?” Mrs Gardiner inquired.

  “I cannot, thank you for your invitation,” Bingley answered. “There are still things I need to finish tonight.”

  His refusal was entirely understood, and no entreaties followed while his friend decided to remain. He could not choose to leave Elizabeth; just seeing her from a distance made his day better. But he also wanted to discuss their situation with Mr Bennet before dinner. Darcy appreciated Mr Bennet not trying to speak with him, permitting Darcy to declare his decision if his intentions were still to marry Elizabeth.

  Despite the sadness in the room, it was a nice and friendly dinner. Satisfied by the discussion he had with Mr Darcy, Mr Bennet was calmer; he had high hopes Lydia had not ruined Jane’s and Lizzy’s lives and when balanced, Lydia’s elopement became less dramatic. He was sorry for her and wanted to help her, but he was more content that Lizzy and Jane could go on with their lives as planned.

  At the end of dinner, when Darcy finally decided to leave, Mrs Gardiner said, “Please Lizzy, show Mr Darcy the way!”

  It was unconventional; yet around that table every person agreed that in times of distress, the conventions had to change from time to time to allow people to breathe. Elizabeth needed that time together with Darcy, and they wanted to give it to her… like a gift.

  Elizabeth led him to the door holding hands, he kissed her hand and held her in his arms, in silence.

  Elizabeth could only whisper a brief, “Thank you” – and he was gone.

  ∞∞∞

  “Now this is another Mr Darcy,” Mr Bennet said in jest, once they were alone again. “It cannot be the same man we met last year in Hertfordshire.”

  “I believe in essentials he is very much the same, papa. But we failed to see him in the proper light,” Elizabeth responded,” trying to sound light.

  “Yes. We were too charmed by Wickham’s skills in conversation and dance,” Mr Bennet concluded sharply. “Let us rest now, for tomorrow we need all our strength.”

  Chapter 14

  That night was as restless and distressing as the previous; however, Darcy was not near to comfort her. She remembered their kiss and the pleasure it brought. She was angry for letting him be so indiscreet yet how wonderful she suspected intimacy
to be. Darcy was so friendly to her father and showed no restraint in declaring his interest in doing what was best for their family… that she had to forgive him – she thought smiling. He was a man. Unfortunately, she did not know much about what that meant. One moment she felt his hands on her body, the next she shredded the dream only to worry for their future. Would he have the strength to face his family once the scandal became public? She trusted him, not his family, which had unknown means to force him to abandon her.

  And then again, she cried for Lydia and her foolish behaviour – horrified by the dreadful danger that threatened her sister and prayed for her to be found soon. She eventually fell into a deep sleep – her mind more exhausted than her body.

  She was awakened by the noise of the street and startled from the bed. It was almost ten o’clock, so she dressed in haste, hurrying to talk to her aunt. She found Mrs Gardiner in the drawing-room, enjoying a cup of tea.

  “Good morning dear. I am glad you finally slept more,” Mrs Gardiner greeted her.

  “I cannot remember when I last overslept for so long,” Elizabeth answered. “How is papa? Is he in the library?”

  “Your father and uncle left early in the morning. A man arrived – sent by Mr Darcy and…”

  “Left? But where? How? Did they find Lydia? How is she?”

  “I do not know more, my dear. We have to wait…”

  Elizabeth paced the room in a state of significant perturbation. Did he find them already? So early in the morning? Did he spend the night looking for them?

  “Lizzy, please sit. You are making me dizzy, dear. They will not return sooner if you keep walking around.”

  “I know, aunt. Forgive me.” She moved to the window, then back to the settee, then back to the window again.

  Two hours later, a carriage stopped at the gate and Mr Gardiner was the first to descend. Elizabeth ran outside just in time to see Lydia jumping out and crying at her.

  “Lizzy! I am so happy to see you! I will be married soon, do you know? Very soon. What do you say about all this? I am the youngest and the first to marry. And to Mr Wickham of all men! He had been your favourite – I hope you are not jealous!”