Darcy's Match

by Philippa J Rosen

  Again, Mrs Collins expressed her surprise at their early hour of departure.

  “It’s for the best, Mrs Collins. It’s Sunday after all, which means I’ll have longer to prepare my sermon.”

  A few hours later the late summer dew had been burned away by the fierce sun. Darcy looked out of the window of his bed chamber with some satisfaction. He now had a purpose built cricket pitch near the great house and he was determined he would use it on a regular basis.

  “What do you think of having a cricket match every year, Lizzy?” he said, turning to his wife.

  “Hmm, what?” she said, still in the midst of slumber.

  A cricket match each year. We could invite teams from all over the country to play.”

  Lizzy rubbed her eyes and looked drowsily at her husband in his silk robe.

  “Not a bad idea, I suppose. Assuming we could get enough players to take part.”

  “Leave that to me. Next time we won’t need to borrow players from our opponent.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Just after seven.”

  She groaned.

  “That means mother will want her breakfast soon.”

  At breakfast, there was much discussion about leaving Pemberley. Some people were disappointed to be returning home, some were relieved. One or two were surprised that Mr and Mrs Collins had not appeared for breakfast.

  “Why, Lizzy,” said Mrs Bennet, “where are Mr Collins and his wife?”

  “I’m afraid they had to leave early this morning,” said Darcy.

  “I see,” said Mrs Bennet. “Does this mean what I think it means?”

  Darcy, Lizzy and Jonny looked at each other nervously. They were the only ones who knew the real reason for the Collins’ early departure after what had happened last night. They had no intention of discussing the matter with anybody else. They wondered if Mrs Bennet was privy to the details of yesterday’s events. Perhaps she had overheard or perhaps Mr Collins had said something to her. Or perhaps she just had an almost magical way of knowing almost everything about almost everybody.

  “And what do you think it means, mother?” said Lizzy tentatively.

  “It means that he will miss his breakfast. It would be a pity to let it go to waste. After all, it may be some time before luncheon is served.”

  Darcy grinned at his wife.

  “Of course, Mrs Bennet. I will arrange for his breakfast to be brought out.”

  “And what of Mrs Collins’ breakfast?” said Lydia.

  “Oh, Lydia,” said Mrs Bennet without a hint of irony, “how can you be such a glutton.”

  “Because, mother, I intend to leave Pemberley before luncheon. I want to get home as quickly as possible. For I miss my George.”

  Darcy wondered if George Wickham were so bad after all. If his wife missed him so much, could he really be a man without merit, a man never to be trusted, a man to be excluded forever? A brief glance at his dear sister Georgiana assured him that he could.

  After her second breakfast, Lydia went to her bed chamber and packed a trunk. She spoke to Darcy and Lizzy who arranged for a coach to take her and her maid to her home directly. Lydia said farewell to her mother and father and her sisters and set off for home. It was a long and arduous journey, but she didn’t care. When she arrived home, she flung herself into Wickham’s arms and told him how much she had missed him. And for all his customary show of carelessness and indifference, it was clear that he had missed her too.

  “I am glad you’re back, Lydia, my pet. For I have missed you more than I realised. I thought it possible that you would not return. For, I know I am a casual sort of fellow. I know that Darcy detests me and perhaps I am a disappointing son in law to your mother and father. But I do love you, Lydia.”

  “Not return? Why, George Wickham, have you been moping while I have been away? Have you been indulging in self pity?”

  “Perhaps a little.”

  “Oh, George. It doesn’t matter what they all think. You’re my husband. I made vows to you, George, and I intend to keep them. Because, my feckless, careless darling, I love you too.”

  Mr and Mrs Bennet left after luncheon.

  Mary and Jonny had a few brief moments of farewell. He promised that he would visit soon, if Mr and Mrs Bennet would have him.

  As their coach drove off, he waved at Mary with his handkerchief and she waved fondly back. He spent the rest of the afternoon talking to Darcy and William, seeking their advice, trying to determine how he could alter his life, become a better man and be worthy of Miss Bennet’s hand.

  “I think the first thing would be to leave London,” said William.

  “Agreed,” said Darcy. “For, I know it is an exciting and vibrant place, but I believe it has made you jaded. If your whole existence is based on chasing the next drink, the next game of whist, the next woman, then it doesn’t take long before you have worn yourself out. Spiritually I mean. I’ve seen it happen. A man sets off and thinks he’s enjoying everything that life has to offer. But it becomes clear very quickly that he is running faster and faster, just to stay in the same place.”

  “You’re right, Darcy,” said Jonny. “I know you are, of course. But it won’t be easy.”

  “Of course. Nothing worth having, truly worth having, ever is. But wouldn’t you give it up if it meant you could win the heart of a certain lady?”

  “In an instant.”

  “And despite your assurances, Lizzy is still unsure of you. If she suspected you were to continue your life as a rake, then she would speak to her father and do anything in her power to prevent this match. For her sister’s sake.”

  “But my debts? Some of them are gambling debts, and you know what sort of fellows they are?”

  “I have discussed it with Mr Darcy,” said William, “and we may have a solution. Stay here in Derbyshire with myself and Tess. You can work in my business to start with and I will deduct a portion of your wages each week.”

  “William and I will seek out your creditors in London and make them an offer. They would be foolish to refuse. Believe me, we would find a way to persuade them.”

  “In a couple of years,” went on William, “your debts will have been settled. And if you work hard, there is no reason why you should not become partner. Imagine it, Jonny. Hammond and Hammond, or Hammond Brothers.”

  “Think how proud mother and father would have been, Will,” said Jonny.

  “Do that, Jonny,” said Darcy, “and it will be concrete proof that you are worthy and ready to ask for Miss Bennet’s hand.”

  “Then I accept.”

  The three of them stood and shook hands solemnly.

  Jonny, William and Tess said farewell to Darcy and Lizzy as they prepared to set out for the short journey back to William’s cottage.

  “Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs Darcy,” said Jonny.

  “It has been a real pleasure. My husband has told me of your plans. I wish you all the luck you deserve.”

  “Thank you. And thank you, Fitzwilliam.”

  “No. Thank you, Jonny.”

  “For what?”

  “For coming here and playing cricket. Why, if it hadn’t been for you, we would never have won the match.”

  “Really?” said Jonny with mock surprise. “Have you forgotten Mr Collins’ contribution?”

  “Heaven forfend,” said Darcy with a laugh.

  “And I will do my best to prove myself worthy of Miss Bennet.”

  “I know you will. And it won’t be long, God willing, before we are brothers in law, of sorts.”

  “What a horrible thought,” said Jonny with a warm laugh.

  William and Tess got into the coach.

  Darcy and Jonny shook hands warmly.

  “Strange isn’t it/” said Jonny. “I arrived at Pemberley with just an old rogue with an old cricket bat. And I’m leaving as a different man. A man with hope in his heart, and his soul restored.”

  “You had better go now,” said Darcy, “befor
e your words make me bilious.”

  Jonny climbed into the coach and leant out of the window to make his final farewell.

  “Remember what we discussed won’t you?” said Lizzy.

  “I will. I will repay you for everything. Including that episode at Cambridge, Fitzwilliam.”

  Darcy looked puzzled for a moment and then he remembered. He smiled at Jonny and gave him a little nod. He put his arm around Lizzy’s waist and they both waved as the coach pulled away. They walked slowly back to the house, hand in hand.

  “So, what happened at Cambridge, my love?” she said.

  “Oh, it was nothing really. I’ll tell you all about it sometime.”

  “It’s funny, you’ve never really told me about your time at Cambridge?”

  “No? Well, next time we have a pic-nic at The Tower, I’ll regale you with stories of a young, awkward undergraduate. Truly, Lizzy, there is little to tell.”

  Exhausted yet exhilarated from the events of the weekend they sought a still, quiet place to sit alone for a while. They went to the library and sat together at a large oak table. Darcy ordered refreshments and they read in silence for a time. Darcy finished his book and replaced it on the shelf. He perused the rows of leather- bound books, looking for something else.

  “Hullo,” he said. “There’s a gap here.”

  He tried to think which volume had been removed. Then he remembered.

  “I think somebody has taken my Laws of Cricket.”

  “Perhaps it was Mr Hammond. After all you did say you’d let him borrow it sometime.”

  “So I did, so I did.”

  “It’s been a momentous few days hasn’t it? Not just for us, but for Mr Hammond too. And Mary, perhaps.”

  Darcy nodded in agreement. Then he looked up and smiled at Lizzy.

  “It occurs to me, my love, that in all the excitement with the match and Jonny and Mary and Mr Collins, that we haven’t yet wished each other happy anniversary properly.”

  “Why, I believe you’re right.”

  Darcy moved his chair closer and took Lizzy’s hand in his. He kissed her, tenderly yet passionately.

  “Happy anniversary, Mrs Darcy,” he whispered.

  “Happy anniversary, Mr Darcy.”

  At Longbourn, Mr and Mrs Bennet relaxed after their long journey from Pemberley. Their usual means of relaxation was for Mrs Bennet to talk and for Mr Bennet to listen, or at the very least to feign to listen, and this was no exception.

  “Well, well, Mr Bennet. It is quite possible that we will be announcing an engagement in a few weeks’ time. Maybe sooner.”

  “I think not, Mrs Bennet.”

  “Why? What has happened? Has Mr Hammond cooled towards Mary? Has she cooled towards him? Has some skeleton in his wardrobe emerged?”

  Mr Bennet chuckled.

  “No, no, it’s nothing like that. But I had a good talk with Mr Hammond, and his brother too. They both understand my misgivings due to his reputation. Therefore, he has assured me that he will find a way to show that he can reform his character. He asked me to give him time to prove himself worthy, that’s the right phrase isn’t it? One ‘proves oneself worthy’, doesn’t one?”

  “Oh, Mr Bennet, do stop prattling and come to the point.”

  “My point is simply that there will be no announcement for a year at least, perhaps two. I have spoken to Mary and she is happy to wait.”

  “Well, I don’t think I am. A lot may happen in two years. He may meet somebody else.”

  “It’s their choice, my dear. And I think it’s a sensible one.”

  “You do? We’ll see. I suppose I’ll need to show my customary patience and forbearance. Did you raise an eyebrow, Mr Bennet?”

  “I don’t think so, Mrs Bennet.”

  A few weeks later Mrs Bennet was talking about Mr Hammond and Mary.

  “How long has it been, Mr Bennet?”

  He put down his newspaper and looked at her over his spectacles.

  “How long has what been?”

  “Since Mr Hammond began to reform himself.”

  Mr Bennet experienced a strange mixture of bemusement, amusement and slight irritation.

  “It’s only been a few weeks, Mrs Bennet. I did say it could take a year. Maybe two. However, I have been in correspondence recently with Darcy who says Mr Hammond is working for his brother and making good progress.”

  “I certainly hope so. I don’t want to wait too long before we have four of our daughters married.”

  Mr Bennet smiled. It may be sooner than that, he thought to himself. For once, he was privy to information which was as yet undisclosed to his wife.

  He had been in Kitty’s room where she was in the midst of writing another letter to a certain Mr Ward, the fast bowler from Kent.

  Kitty read to her father his last letter (or parts of it at least!), in which he wrote that he would happily move from Kent if he could find a cricket team with which to play.

  And Mr Bennet had spoken to a friend of his recently. He was the captain of the Hertfordshire cricket club and told Mr Bennet that their fast bowler had announced his retirement from the game. As a result, they were seeking a new fast bowler to replace him…

  Notes

  1) Hambledon is a small village in Hampshire, about ten miles from Portsmouth. The village is reputed as the ‘cradle of cricket’, the Hambledon Cricket Club having been formed in 1750. It is one of the oldest cricket clubs known to have existed. It was the most famous cricket club for most of the eighteenth century, until the formation of the Marylebone Cricket Club (the world famous MCC).

  2) Round arm bowling has been attributed to Christiana Willes, sister of Kent cricketer John Willes. When bowling to her brother, early in the nineteenth century, her wide skirted dress made it difficult to bowl with an underarm action. She raised her arm to waist level and was able to bowl unencumbered by her dress.

  This method was found to be more effective and was widely adopted in cricket until it was superseded by over arm bowling which continues today.

  In the modern era Latif Malinga, Sri Lankan pace bowler, bowls with a genuine round arm action.

  3) An over consists of six legal deliveries, bowled from one end by (usually) the same bowler.

  In England, until 1888 the number of deliveries per over was four. From 1889 until 1899 this was increased to five. Thereafter, the number was increased to six and remains at this number today.

  In Australia, the number was increased to eight, and was only reduced to six in 1979.

  4) In 1771, in a match against Hambledon, Chertsey batsman, Thomas White, used a bat so wide that it covered the width of the stumps. As a result, it was almost impossible to bowl him out. This led to protests and in the same year, the Laws of Cricket were changed, and the maximum width of a cricket bat was fixed at four and a quarter inches. This is still the maximum width today. In that infamous match against Hambledon, Chertsey lost by a single run.

  After Dennis Lillee experimented with an aluminium bat in 1979, The Laws of Cricket were changed, stating that the blade of a cricket bat must be made entirely of wood.

  5) Ernest “Barberton” Halliwell was a South African wicketkeeper, and reputed to be one of the first to put raw steaks in his wicketkeeping gloves to absorb the blows from fast bowlers.