The colonel grinned at her, but did not reply, allowing her to speak. Elizabeth told him of Mr. Darcy’s behavior, the aloofness, the arguments at Netherfield, and Mr. Darcy sitting next to poor Mrs. Long for a half hour without saying a word. Then she recounted the assembly and the comment Mr. Darcy had made to Mr. Bingley, embellishing it to provoke the colonel’s laughter. When she had said all she meant to say, he remained silent for several moments, considering what she said.
“That is Darcy in the smallest degree, Miss Elizabeth,” said he at length. “The slight at the assembly is a little out of character for him, but I have often heard him complain of Bingley’s attempts to induce him to be more sociable, so I shall attribute it to that.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam took her hand and squeezed it with affection. “The truth about Darcy is that he is uncomfortable in company with whom he is not well acquainted, and sometimes he allows his distaste for mingling to overcome his better nature.”
“So he does not look down on his company from his lofty perch?” asked Elizabeth, using a lightness of tone she did not feel.
“No, you know enough about him to understand that Darcy thinksverywell of himself,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam with a chuckle. “But he is notallpride and caprice. In fact, Darcy is an excellent man, for he is steady, capable, the firmest friend when he warms enough to bestow his loyalty, and as conscientious a man as I have ever met.”
Elizabeth considered this for several moments, then nodded. “Now that Mr. Wickham’s tales are revealed as falsehood, I realize that the unchristian tendencies he attributed to Mr. Darcy cannot be true. I never suspected him of true wrongdoing, only of having enough pride for ten men.
“What I cannot reconcile now is this business of Mr. Bingley’s failure to return.” Elizabeth smiled. “While I cannot object to how matters fell out, it still seems to me that Mr. Darcy had something to do with his friend’s departure.”
“Darcy has said nothing to me on the subject, Miss Elizabeth,” replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. “If you ask him, I suspect his answer will be more nuanced than a simple disapproval of your sister.”
“Ah, but I do not know when I shall be in Mr. Darcy’s company again, though I suppose that if you propose to my sister, it is inevitable.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s gaze was unreadable. “That may come about sooner than you suppose, Miss Elizabeth.”
THIS ALL LED TO THEmorning two days after Christmas. Some time contemplating the colonel’s words told Elizabeth that he expected Mr. Darcy to come to Hertfordshire, the supposition proven when the cousins entered Longbourn’s sitting-room together. As Elizabeth was the only member of her family who had an inkling of the gentleman’s coming—she had not shared her suspicions with her family—she was the only one not surprised.
“Mr. Darcy!” exclaimed Mrs. Bennet with more shock than sense. “We had no notion of your presence in Hertfordshire.”
Proving his cousin’s comments correct, Mr. Darcy appeared uncomfortable, though he did not hesitate to respond. “Fitzwilliam called me here to assist with a matter of urgency. I arrived yesterday.”
No one in the room misunderstood the gentleman’s comment. Mrs. Bennet invited them to sit with the family and called for tea. Though one might think her garrulity rendered her the most likely person in the room to speak, another claimed that right.
“Is Mr. Wickham sowhollyunworthy, Mr. Darcy?” asked Lydia.
“Yes, Miss Lydia,” said Mr. Darcy, not hesitating for a moment. “Wickham is the sort of man who takes everything he can and cares little about the pain or hardship he causes by his actions.”
Mr. Darcy paused for a moment, then squared his shoulders as if facing a most unpleasant duty. “I should like to apologize to you all. As my history with Wickham is distasteful, I try to keep my distance from him. That is no excuse, of course—I should have considered better, should have thought of the trouble he might cause in Meryton. For my oversight, I apologize without reservation.”
“I speak for my family in expressing my appreciation, Mr. Darcy,” said Mr. Bennet, all gravity in place of his usual sardonic amusement. “Given what I know of your history with the man, I understand your reticence in this matter. That you have now acted, with the support of your excellent cousin, is a relief, and quite balances the scales, I should think.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bennet,” said Mr. Darcy, appearing appreciative. “As for Wickham, you will no longer need to concern yourself for him—Wickham departed Meryton this morning with an armed detachment escorting him.”
“What will become of him?” asked Elizabeth.
Colonel Fitzwilliam took the opportunity to respond. “As Darcyand I both understand Wickham’s character, we recommended against transferring Wickham to the front lines to fight against the French. There is nothing worse than entering battle beside a man you cannot trust. Though the final decision is yet pending, I suspect Wickham is bound for the penal colony in Botany Bay, where at least he may be of some use.”
“It is a sad ending for a man my father esteemed,” said Mr. Darcy. “But it is not undeserved.”
“No, I dare say it is not,” agreed Mr. Bennet. “If I were to offer my opinion, I suspect it is much less than you might have meted to him had you been of a mind.”
“Had I been of a mind,” murmured Mr. Darcy, “Wickham would have spent the last five years of his life in the Marshalsea.”
“Then that is all that needs to be said about that subject,” said Mr. Bennet. “I think I join with Mrs. Bennet in suggesting we conduct our visit engaged in other, more interesting conversation. George Wickham is now a firm part of the past—let us treat him as such.”
“I cannot agree more, Mr. Bennet,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam.
So saying, the colonel turned to Jane, and they began to speak, though they did not exclude those in proximity to them. It was another contrast with Mr. Bingley’s behavior when in residence, for that gentleman had never had any attention to spare for anyone else when Jane was nearby.
The interesting sight was how Mr. Darcy responded. Having seen Mr. Bingley in Jane’s company for two months and knowing his cousin well, it seemed Mr. Darcy had noted Colonel Fitzwilliam’s position at once, his expression unreadable. Though Elizabeth could not be certain, she thought he had not known of his cousin’s interest—she understood something of Colonel Fitzwilliam’s reasons for not informing him, but that did not tell her how Mr. Darcy would react to it. She did not think he would protest much, for his cousin was a man who would not endure interference.
That brought her suspicion about Mr. Darcy’s influence on Mr. Bingley and that gentleman’s failure to return to Hertfordshire to mind again. While it might be foolish to belabor that point—Elizabeth suspected Mr. Bingley was no longer a consideration for her sister—she thought it worthwhile to obtain the gentleman’s perspective, if only to understand him better.
For some time after the company put aside discussion of Mr. Wickham, Mr. Darcy stood with Mr. Bennet in conversation, though Elizabeth thought she detected his continuing unease. A short timelater, when Mr. Bennet left the room, Mr. Darcy appeared uncertain what he should do. When he spied Elizabeth, he moved to her side, which suited Elizabeth’s purpose. Unfortunately, their conversation did not proceed as she wished.
