“And I will escort my fair cousins,” Collins stated. The fact no one had asked him to walk with them did not seem to enter into his consciousness.
“That is a good idea, Mr Collins,” Fanny agreed.
So it was, after everyone donned warm outerwear, including winter gloves, six walkers set off for the one mile ramble into Meryton. As he had since his conversation with Mrs Bennet, Collins remained close to Cousin Mary.
No sooner had they reached the main street in Meryton did Lydia call out in a loud, rather uncouth voice, “Denny!” Without waiting for their sisters’ say so, the two youngest Bennets ran across the street and stopped before the lieutenant and the other officer with him. He was unknown to the sisters, but how handsome he was. He looked very good in his regimentals. “Denny will you not introduce us to this officer?” Lydia requested as Kitty nodded her agreement.
Before Mr Denny could perform the office, the three eldest Bennets and Mr Collins arrived.
“Lady Catherine would never approve of such uncouth, unladylike behaviour,” Collins asserted. “She is greatly attentive to all those things. Now come away Cousins Catherine and Lydia.”
“La, Mr Collins you are not our father…” Lydia tried to state rudely.
“Lydia! Control your tongue. Mr Collins has the right of it. A lady of gentle birth does not run in the street yelling like an Irish banshee,” Elizabeth chastised. She looked to the two grinning officers; one, with a most pleasing countenance, she had not met. “Mr Denny, please introduce your friend.”
“Misses Bennet, it is my pleasure to present Lieutenant George Wickham of Derbyshire to you. Wickham, Miss Jane Bennet, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Mary, Miss Kitty, and Miss Lydia,”Denny introduced. “I beg your pardon but I know not who the gentleman is.”
“Cousin Collins, Lieutenants Denny and Wickham, Lieutenants, our cousin, Mr William Collins of the parish of Hunsford in Kent.” Jane did the honours.
“Hunsford. Does that mean when you mentioned Lady Catherine you referred to Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” Wickham drawled. “I visited Rosings Park a lifetime past, many years ago.” Wickham affected a mournful look.
“You had the honour of meeting my noble patroness,” Collins enthused.
Before the Lieutenant could reply, he noted two riders approaching them. His blood went cold. What the hell was Darcy doing here. All colour drained from his face when he remembered Darcy’s promise of retribution if they met again.
For his part, as soon as he saw the miscreant standing near the Bennet sisters, an officer he had previously met, and some unknown man, he almost kicked Zeus into a gallop to run the man over and rid the world of him for once and for all. He stopped himself. If Wickham thought there would be retribution, he would run and become someone else’s problem. Darcy simply wheeled his horse and began to turn back the way they had come when he saw Bingley dismount. His decision not to have Gigi join him seemed that much wiser given the profligate wastrel was present.
Seeing Darcy was leaving, Wickham’s colour returned to his face and he gave Darcy an insouciant, derisive salute to his enemy’s retreating back. It was then he noticed the one named Miss Elizabeth had observed all which passed between him and Darcy. At his first opportunity he would have to spin a tale to explain what she had seen. As soon as the lady looked away, Wickham waggled his eyebrows at Denny while ever so slightly cocking his head towards Miss Lydia. Denny gave an almost imperceptible nod.
“Miss Bennet,” Bingley bowed over his angel’s hand. “Ladies,” he greeted the other four sisters. Jane made the introduction to their cousin.
“It isvery goodto seeyouhave returned to us,” Jane said with meaning. Bingley did not miss the emphasis. “I trust your business was completed satisfactorily and yourgoodsweresentoff as planned?”
“Yes, indeed, all that needed to be was accomplished before we departed London,” Bingley replied letting Miss Bennet know Caroline had been accepted and escorted to her new home. “It is gratifying to see you looking so well. Darcy and I were on our way to Longbourn to verify you are hale and healthy once again.”
“It seems Mr Darcy hasdecidedto return to Netherfield Park,” Elizabeth pointed out as she inclined her head towards the retreating back of the insufferable man. ‘Mr Bingley must have forced him to lower himself to call on Longbourn,’ she thought. ‘Now he rides away because he is too proud to join us like Mr Bingley did. I wonder what is between the pleasant Mr Wickham and the arrogant Mr Darcy?’ She knew she could not ask the officer who exuded honesty in all of his looks. All she could hope was the wronged man—she was convinced the Lieutenant was in the right—would enlighten her.
Wickham was watching Miss Elizabeth’s reaction to his nemesis. ‘She hates him! This will make my task of blackening his name so much easier,’ he told himself silently.
Bingley said his reluctant farewell to Miss Bennet and the rest of her sisters, remounted his horse, and rode off after his friend. Before anyone could speak, the Bennet sisters were hailed by their aunt, Hattie Phillips, their mother’s older, and childless sister. It was the work of moments to introduce her to Mr Collins and the handsome Lieutenant.
“It is fortuitous I saw you, Nieces,” Hattie crowed. “I was on my way to Longbourn to issue an invitation to my cardparty this evening. You will inform your parents will you not?”
“Denny and Mr Wickham you must come,” Lydia enthused while the three eldest Bennets prepared to chastise her for her forwardness.
“We could not, Miss Lydia,” Wickham stated. It was a chance to impress the ladies with his manners. “We have not been invited by the young lady who is the mistress of the house.”
Hattie Phillips blushed and preened at the compliment. “Colonel Forster will attend, as will some of his officers, so you two are invited as well.”
“We thank you for your most generous invitation to two humble lieutenants,” Wickham bowed over the lady’s hand and bestowed a brief kiss on her glove. Hattie Phillips twittered and blushed like a school girl.
“Away with you now,” Hattie managed. She turned to her nieces, “Your uncle and I will see you this evening, and your cousin is welcome as well.”
“May Denny and I escort you home?” Wickham volunteered gallantly.
Before Lydia could accept, Elizabeth spoke. “We appreciate your offer to protect us from the dangers between here and Longbourn, but we still need to call at some stores.”
Wickham and Denny bowed to the ladies and took off walking towards the militia encampment. As soon as they were out of earshot of the Bennets and their bumbling cousin, Denny spoke. “Five pounds I will relieve Miss Lydia of her virtue before you are able to do so.”
