Yet Wickham could not but own that the best course of action would be to flee at once as Denny had suggested and leave England forever as the chit Anne de Bourgh had mocked. It galled Wickham to think that such people’s words could prove prophetic. There was nothing he wished for more than to take it out on them, to show them and the world that one did not trifle with George Wickham and escape intact.
Such actions, however, were fraught with danger, and Wickham suspected he had already used all his luck. The greater consideration was his continued freedom. If he remained free, he could try his hand in alternative places where he was unknown. The New World was a land that was ripe with opportunity for an enterprising man. Wickham had always been resourceful—perhaps he could take the ashes of his current plans and create a more prosperous future for himself.
Regardless, he could not stay here, for he had no friends, and the number of his enemies was swelling by the minute. It was time to do something, for it was clear there was nothing further to be gained in waiting for a miracle.
Chapter XV
Once Mr. Bennet had settled Lydia, his sternness removing any notion of continuing the argument, harmony returned to the room. Elizabeth sat beside Anne, keeping her company for Jane and herself, while the others arrayed themselves around the room. While the conversation proceeded among the company, Elizabeth noted Lydia did not participate much, and she and Anne said little to each other. This suited Elizabeth’s feelings, for so long as Lydia was not rude, she was tolerable.
Mr. Bennet, it seemed, had some interest in Anne, for he addressed several comments to her, questions about her estate in Kent, and others about her family. Anne did not seem to take his interest as intrusive, for she answered readily, though Elizabeth noted she spoke of her mother but little. That, also, was just as well, for the lady was not a subject anyone present other than the woman’s daughter would find interesting. Given Anne’s lack of mention of her mother, which Elizabeth noted the longer the afternoon continued, she wondered if there was some matter currently between mother and daughter. If there was, Elizabeth could not blame her, knowing that she could not endure the woman for above half an hour, let alone live with her for a lifetime.
As the hour lengthened, the dinner hour approached, such that it was nearly time to go in, they heard an approaching carriage. The custom when they had a visitor was for one of the ladies to approach the window and report on what they saw. On this occasion, it was Kitty who did so, her report much as Elizabeth expected given the hour and the events of the day.
“It is a large chaise and four,” said she, pulling the curtainsaside so she could see more clearly. “It is Mr. Darcy, and two other men, one of whom is Mr. Bingley! And a lady a little older than Mama.”
The sound of Mr. Bingley’s name on Kitty’s lips shocked Elizabeth, for while Mr. Darcy was expected, Mr. Bingley arriving with him was not an event Elizabeth had contemplated. A glance at Jane showed her cheeks had pinked a little, but she maintained her composure with only a little strain. Jane, however, was not the member of the party about whom they should be concerned.
“Mr. Bingley!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet, as shocked as the rest. Then a smile of utter delight and satisfaction settled on her features. “Oh, Jane, he has finally come for you! Go change into your lilac dress—”
“They are coming to the door,” announced Kitty.
“That will never do,” muttered Mrs. Bennet. “Sit up straight, Jane, and ensure Mr. Bingley sees you the moment he enters.”
Mrs. Bennet clucked about Jane, though what she was trying to accomplish Elizabeth could not say. Jane was not certain how to act, nor did she appear to wish to hope, though Elizabeth thought her mother was not incorrect about Mr. Bingley’s presence. A smile and a nod appeared to firm Jane’s resolve, though she remained nervous. What Anne thought of it all she did not say, though she watched with an amused smile, one that suggested she did not suspect the Bennet matron of anything out of the ordinary. Anne noted Elizabeth regarding her and nodded, turning her attention to the door.
Mr. Bennet stepped out into the hall to welcome their guests, and they heard the sounds of voices through the door he had left open. The first to enter, however, was not Mr. Bennet leading the visitors within, but Lady Catherine, who appeared determined to reach her daughter at once.
“Anne!” cried the woman at once upon catching sight of her.
Wisely, the Bennet sisters all hurried to remove themselves from her path to Anne, for it was not beyond the realm of possibility that Lady Catherine would trample them if they were not quick enough. The way Lady Catherine fussed over her daughter suggested she thought the Bennets were highwaymen and had set upon her daughter, leaving her beaten and alone. It was not unlike Mrs. Bennet’s earlier fussing, though absent was the motherly concern; there was something manic in Lady Catherine’s ministrations, such that it was no wonder Anne had left Rosings as she had.
“As you can see, Mother,” said Anne after a few moments of this, finally making herself heard over her mother’s exclamations, “I am well.”
“Yet you put yourself in the power of George Wickham, of all men!” scolded Lady Catherine. “Whatever were you thinking?”
“That is what I would like to know,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam as he stepped into the room with Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bingley, and Mr. Darcy.
Belying his words, the colonel approached Anne and knelt beside her on one knee as if inspecting her for damage. “It appears you are little the worst for wear, Cousin. I hope you will favor us with an explanation of what has happened today.”
“Of course, Cousin,” said Anne, accompanied by the sound of her mother’s huff of annoyance. “For the moment, however, I believe you are ignoring an important social custom.”
With a nod and a grin, Colonel Fitzwilliam rose and turned his attention to Elizabeth, bowing over her hand. “Miss Elizabeth. It is a pleasure to be in your company again. Will you not do the honor of introducing us to your family?”
“Of course, Colonel,” returned Elizabeth with a smile.
As Elizabeth did so, she noted Kitty and Lydia’s interest at the news he was a colonel, though they would undoubtedly clamor for him to don his regimentals. Mrs. Bennet eyed the man as ifwondering if he might do for one of her other daughters, while Mary and Jane looked on with polite interest. While Colonel Fitzwilliam’s entrance had captured the attention of the room, Mr. Bingley had positioned himself by Jane’s side and appeared determined to remain there—perhaps forever. Lady Catherine looked at them all as if she could not wait to retreat from so unfashionable a place. Elizabeth suspected that was the least of the lady’s thoughts at that moment.
“Well met, Mr. Bennet,” said the colonel; as the one of the visiting family naturally more genial than the rest, it seemed right that he should take the lead. “While I am eager to hear the explanation of all that has happened this day, I cannot express enough gratitude for the succor you offered my cousin. Should you ever find yourself in need, know that you have a friend in the Fitzwilliam family.”
“And the Darcys,” added Mr. Darcy quietly.
The man did not look at Elizabeth, a relief as it happened, for she did not know how she would react if he did. In some undefinable way, Elizabeth was certain that his words were for her more than the rest of her family. The notion that he might still interest himself in her person seemed ridiculous, so Elizabeth suspected it was because he had heard something of her actions to help Anne escape Mr. Wickham in Meryton.
“Andthe de Bourghs,” said Anne when her mother did not speak. There was a note of defiance that Lady Catherine did not appear to like, though for the moment the lady did not deign to reply.
“Yes, well, all appears to have ended well,” said Mr. Bennet, bemused by such statements of friendship from three influential families. “Though to my mind, we owe Lizzy more of the credit than anyone else. She was the one who set it all in motion, after all.”
“Do not make light of your part in the affair, Mr. Bennet,” saidAnne. “Did you not confront Mr. Wickham outside the walls of this very house and provoke him to turn tail and run?”
