Page 6 of Compromise & Consequence
“How strange he would not provide at least a pecuniary value to what his father promised yours.”
Elizabeth posed the question aloud, but Mr. Wickham’s answer was never supplied as the whist party showed signs of breaking up, and Mr. Collins and Miss Lucas joined them. With a rueful smile, Charlotte relayed she and Mr. Collins had not won very many hands.
“I am aware, Miss Lucas, that when people sit down at a card table, they must take their chance with these things. Happily, thanks to the benevolence of my patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, I am well able to lose one or two shillings without muchworry whether I can afford another side of beef in my larder.”
Elizabeth, glancing around to check on Lydia and Kitty, chanced to see Mr. Wickham’s attention had been caught.
“Is your family intimately acquainted with the family of de Bourgh?” he asked Jane.
“Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” Jane replied, “has very lately given our cousin a living. I hardly know how Mr. Collins was first introduced to her notice, but he certainly has not known her long.”
“You know Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady Anne Darcy were sisters, and consequently, she is aunt to the present Mr. Darcy.”
“We did not know, sir,” Elizabeth said. “We knew nothing at all of Lady Catherine’s connections. In fact, we never heard of her existence till the day before yesterday.”
Mr. Wickham lowered his voice and said, “Her daughter, Miss de Bourgh, is heiress to a considerable fortune, and it is believed she and her cousin Darcy will unite the two estates.”
Elizabeth shot a quick look at Jane, and could not stop the grin. Poor Miss Bingley, the haughty lady they had met only six weeks prior. She doted on Mr. Darcy and practically draped herself on his arm at every conceivable opportunity. All her vanities and useless affection for Mr. Darcy’s sister, and her praise of the man and his vast estate were all for naught. He was already self-destined to another.
Their small group naturally disintegrated as they found others to chat with and more games to partake in. A few times, she or Jane had to step in and temper Lydia’s enthusiasm, and when they finally made their way home, she talked incessantly of lottery tickets, of the fish she had lost and the fish she had won. Elizabeth did not care. Her mind was filled with the successof Mr. Collins and Charlotte, as well as the information Mr. Wickham had dumped on them without invitation.
Portions of what he said rang true, but there were too many inconsistencies for her to believe all of his tales. Yes, Mr. Darcy was proud. Yes, Mr. Darcy could be quite disagreeable, but was he dishonest? Would he not do his very best to honor his father’s wishes? She shook her head mentally. Why did she care? The gentleman from Derbyshire had no time for her. She was barely tolerable in his eyes.
The next day, she and Jane spoke about the conversation they’d had with Mr. Wickham.
“What think you, Jane? I cannot make out why Mr. Wickham chose to air his grievances about Mr. Darcy with us. To what benefit?”
“I refuse to believe Mr. Darcy would be so callous. He is a great friend to Mr. Bingley, whom we all know is not of the first circles. If Mr. Darcy were as proud and conceited as Mr. Wickham would like us to believe, why would he stay as a guest for months on end?”
“Thank you for saying that. I am of the same mind. I wonder if we should caution Uncle about Mr. Wickham. He is far too smooth-talking for my liking, and Lydia seems to favor him the most of all the officers. Her behavior at times has been almost scandalous.”
The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery where this conversation passed, by the arrival of Mr. Bingley and his sisters, come to give a personal invitation for the anticipated ball at Netherfield, which was fixed for the following Tuesday. Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were delighted to seedearJane again, calling it an age since they had last met, and repeatedly asked what she had been doing with herself since their separation.
Not missing you, came the caustic thought to Elizabeth, and she hid a smile behind her teacup. Jane saw the smirk and, with a barely perceptible shake of her head, chastised her impertinent cousin.
To the rest of the family, the sisters paid little attention, avoiding Mrs. Bennet as much as possible, saying not much to Elizabeth and nothing at all to the others. They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with such rapidity their action took their brother by surprise, but not Elizabeth.
“Oh, Jane,” Mrs. Bennet enthused as soon as their carriage departed. “I am in raptures over the fact Mr. Bingley has singled you out for his attention. By soliciting your attendance to his ball in person rather than sending a ceremonious card, it is an honor we shall not take lightly.”
At Jane’s resultant dreamy look, Elizabeth knew she envisioned a happy evening in the society of Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth, herself, thought with pleasure about the number of dance partners she could elicit for the evening. The happiness anticipated by Catherine and Lydia depended less on the event itself but on a particular person. Elizabeth knew, beyond doubt given their excited exclamations, that they both meant to dance half the evening with Mr. Wickham. Fortunately, he would by no means be the only partner who could satisfy them. Even Mary became a little caught up in the excitement and assured her family she had no disinclination for it.
They all resumed drinking their tea, and Mr. Collins took a seat by Elizabeth.
“Would you take offense if I asked Miss Lucas for the first set at Mr. Bingley’s ball? A preference which I trust my cousin Jane or you, Cousin Elizabeth, will attribute to the right cause and not to any disrespect to the both of you.”
A wave of relief washed over Elizabeth. Her careful planning and not-so-subtle nudges had worked. She need not worry about rebuffing an offer of marriage from Mr. Collins.
“We are not offended, Mr. Collins. Your solicitous regard for our feelings shows us what a warm and humble man you are. Miss Lucas will be pleased with your attention and give us, your cousins, great joy.” Elizabeth looked at Jane and winked. “Let us all attend Lucas Lodge and have a visit. At that time, you may ask Miss Lucas for her hand… for the first dance, that is.”
“You would come with me to Lucas Lodge?”
“Of course. As ladies, we need to plan our dresses and various accessories, and will not be affronted if you happen to take our friend aside for a few minutes to make your request.”
At his happy nod, Elizabeth spoke a little louder and addressed Mrs. Bennet.
“Jane and I, along with Mr. Collins, are going for a walk. We might stop by Lucas Lodge and visit with Charlotte.”
Mrs. Bennet, pleased as punch Elizabeth had thought to include Mr. Collins in her venture, readily agreed, and so it was, a half-hour later, the party of three made their way to Lucas Lodge. Later that week, after five consecutive days of rain, Elizabeth was glad they’d gone when they did. If they had waited until the next day, her plans of Mr. Collins securing Charlotte for the first dance would have been foiled, and her aunt might have directed his request toward her. As it was, when Mrs. Bennet queried Elizabeth about Mr. Collins and his plans for the first dance, she had answered with complete truth.
