He could not even go to their estate to ingratiate himself with them. Only the Colonel was welcomed there. Any others who had wanted to had already paid their respects at the funeral.
The only option was Miss Bingley and her twenty thousand pounds. As soon as he married her, he would have the funds to purchase an early release from the militia. If only Denny had explained the restrictions with a free commission. Never mind, he could not go back and change the past, so he had to work on his plan.
Much to his delight, Wickham had discovered the woman was a resident of the inn. There was talk of a falling out with her brother. He had not bothered to ask about any of the other residents of Netherfield Park. In furtherance of his plan, he made sure he was present this evening for dinner. For a few pennies, a serving wench had shared the woman ate in the dining area with the rest of the guests.
He watched her as she ate her dinner, her nose in the air, a pinched look on her face which looked for all the world as if she smelt a bad odour in the room. She was not the most comely woman he had ever seen, and she was older than he preferred, in fact he guessed she was in her middle twenties like Karen. He suffered bedding the latter, so this one and her twenty thousand pounds would not be a problem for him. Even though she had attempted to cover the angry red and purple handprint on her one cheek with powder, it was still visible.
It would have been nice to meet the spitfire who had left her mark on Miss Bingley’s cheek. There was no possibility of that as it was one of the Miss Bennets who were in mourning. What a pity, a woman with that kind of spirit would have been interesting to tame.
His thoughts returned to his quarry. If he could not charm Miss Bingley into his bed, then Wickham would compromise her in the most public way so there was no choice. He wondered if the brother would add another ten thousand to make sure there would be no scandal. Could he gain thirty thousand pounds while causing Darcy pain as he had intended to do when he had targeted little Georgiana? He smiled. Yes,Darcy would pay as he would not want word of his being thrown over for another man to be spread in society. That would be the sweetest outcome of all.
He would observe her for another day and then make his approach. Wickham could smell the money in which he would soon be rolling.
Chapter 14
As difficult as it had been for him to be seen in public thanks to the growing anger reflected in the looks of the parishioners, Bennet attended church on the final Sunday of October. He did not sit with his four daughters who were seated in the family pew; he took the seat on the aisle right behind them. His wife had not exited her chambers as of yet, so she had been absent.
Bennet ignored the looks and cuts he received from his neighbours. He was there to pray, and he would not behave like his wife and make it about himself.
Elizabeth and her three younger sisters had felt solace from Mr Pierce’s sermon which spoke about God’s Kingdom and life everlasting at His side. Elizabeth could swear she felt Janey’s presence next to her in the pew. That went further than anything else, since her sister’s passing, to let her know Janey was at peace, and would always be watching over her sisters who were left in the mortal world. Accepting that did not change her determination to speak to her parents. It would not be on the sabbath though, but rather on the morrow.
Bingley, Darcy, and the Hursts, the former two had returned from London on Friday afternoon past, attended the Longbourn Village church instead of St Alfred’s in Meryton where those from Netherfield Park normally worshipped.
Elizabeth had noticed when the Netherfield Park party arrived in the church. She appreciated their attendance, and she had no resentment against Mrs Hurst. Mr Bingley had explained his older sister had attempted to mitigate her younger, more forceful, sister’s actions that night, but she hadbeen ignored and overridden. Recalling how Kitty in the past had been led by Lydia assisted in Elizabeth’s understanding of the former dynamic between the Bingley sisters.
Darcy sat with Bingley and the Hursts a few rows behind the Bennets, but on the opposite side of the aisle. When Miss Bennet had noticed them, Darcy had inclined his head in greeting, a moment before she had turned to face the altar once again. Even in her mourning clothes, she looked extremely handsome. As much as Darcy wished it would have been his right to comfort her in all ways, it was not, and only time would tell if he would ever be granted that privilege.
At the end of the service, Bennet stood and made his way out of the church without delay. Not waiting to greet anyone after the service as had been his wont in the past, he walked the less than a half mile to the manor house.
To show their respect for the Bennet sisters, none of the other congregants entered the aisle until Mr Pierce passed them as he escorted the mourning sisters out of the church. Unlike their father, the sisters remained outside to receive condolences from their friends, neighbours, and tenants.
“Miss Bennet, Miss Mary, Miss Catherine, and Miss Lydia, please, again accept my deepest sympathies for the loss of your sister,” Darcy wished as he bowed before the sisters.
“On behalf of my sisters and myself, I thank you, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth responded. She made sure not to look the devastatingly handsome man in the eye so she would not blush, while at the same time fighting her urge to reach into her pocket. Mr Darcy was followed by Mr Bingley and the Hursts, all of whom expressed their sincere condolences. Elizabeth did not miss the look of relief on Mrs Hurst’s countenance when her wishes were accepted without acrimony, and unlike what happened with her younger sister, no one slapped her.
“Miss Bennet, would you agree to speak to me off to theside?” Mrs Hurst cocked her head to where she meant.
“Certainly, Mrs Hurst,” Elizabeth averred. She looked to her younger sisters. “Will you be well while I have a conversation with Mrs Hurst just over there?” All three nodded.
The two ladies walked a few yards away from the rest of those who were greeting the three other Bennet sisters. “I thank you for your indulgence, Miss Bennet,” Mrs Hurst began. “Please allow me to express my unreserved apologies for not being more forceful with my sister. I should have countermanded her order and had your late sister taken upstairs immediately, and the same with requiring her to attend us downstairs after her bath. Until I saw what my sister gave the late Miss Bennet to wear, I had not imagined Caroline so very cruel. For whatever my not being able to contradict the part my younger sister played in your sister’s demise, I beg your forgiveness.”
“You have met my two youngest sisters, have you not?” Elizabeth enquired seemingly incongruently. With a confused look on her face Mrs Hurst nodded. “Catherine, Kitty as we call her, is two years Lydia’s senior, but until recently, she was the follower and Lydia the leader. That is to say I understand how it was between you and Miss Bingley. I absolve you of any culpability in Jane’s death. Your sister may have made things worse, but it was not her who sent my sister out on horseback.” Elizabeth paused. “I thank you for your apology. Had your younger sister apologised instead of spewing her vile words in Meryton, my reaction to her would have been vastly different.”
“Caroline deserved what you meted out to her, and so much more. I thank you for your forbearance,” Mrs Hurst replied and gave a curtsy before rejoining her party who were waiting next to the Bingley coach. The four entered the conveyance and were soon on their way back to the leased estate.
It was some time before all of those who wanted to greetthe Bennet sisters had done so. It left them standing with Mr and Mrs Pierce. On Sundays, the couple would normally join the Bennets for the after-church meal. “Perhaps today we will take our meal at the parsonage…” Mrs Pierce began to say until Elizabeth held up her hand.
“Your presence with us at Longbourn will be greatly appreciated,” Elizabeth stated. “We,” she inclined her head to her nodding sisters, “very much hope you will join us as you always do.”
“In that case, of course we will,” Mrs Pierce responded as her husband nodded.
With all the other parishioners on the way to their homes, the six began the short walk to the manor house.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
It was vexing to Wickham that Miss Bingley did not attend the church in Meryton as he had intended to begin to charm the woman. But rather than sit next to her, he had to endure the boring service surrounded by his fellow officers. Colonel Forster sat close by so he could not exit before the end as he had wanted. Sitting in the church reminded Wickham about how angry he had been, when all he had been left by old Mr Darcy was a mere one thousand pounds and a recommendation to be granted one of the livings in Pemberley’s advowson.
Him deliver sermons? Never! He was not cut out to earn his money—his present circumstances excepted. His idea it was his due to live as a gentleman of leisure had been part of his motivation to attempt to elope with little Georgiana Darcy. That and the pain having him as a brother-in-law would have caused his enemy. His desire for money he did not need to earn was what drove him now.
