“You received a gentleman’s education at Cambridge?” Saunderson verified.
“Indeed, I was at Trinity College. I was meant for the church, but my late patron’s son ignored his father’s wishes and denied me my due.” Wickham laid the foundation for his tale of woe. “That is why I find myself ready to make a career in the militia. Did you say that the commission is free? If not, I will purchase it.”
“There is no need,” Denny stated. “It is free. We are camped just outside of Reading in Berkshire. On Monday, I am riding with Colonel Forster and two other officers to look for the encampment we will use in Hertfordshire. The regiment isscheduled to arrive there on the fifth day of November. We will remain near the town of Meryton until early April, when we will decamp for our summer quarters in Brighton.”
“You need to be here at sunup on the morrow when we depart for the encampment,” Saunderson added.
“I must warn you a lieutenant’s wages are a paltry four pounds a month. The regiment does provide board and lodging,” Denny revealed. “Most of us junior officers receive an allowance from our fathers, so the amount of the wages is not a concern for us.”
“The amount of the remuneration is not a problem for me,” Wickham claimed. ‘Because I will get what I need from gullible merchants—and their daughters,’ he thought. Also, with his coin rapidly being depleted, four pounds a month, a place to rest his head, and food were not such bad things. That was as long as there was not too much work in the militia. It would allow him to hide away from bloody Darcy and Fitzwilliam, so it suited his needs…for now. “I will be ready to depart with you.”
That night, Wickham took a room at the Cock & Bull Inn. He had hoped the landlord would allow him the room on the promise to pay when he left. It was not to be; he had to pay in advance. That expenditure left him with a shilling and tuppence.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The next morning while Wickham was departing for Berkshire with the two lieutenants, Darcy’s spare carriage, which was kept at his house in London, stopped in front of Matlock House. Zeus was attached to the back with a long tether, and a groom was seated on the box with the coachman in case his services were needed.
Trunks for the two ladies and one colonel were strappedto the conveyance.
While the footmen were securing the trunks, Fitzwilliam added his stallion, Invictus, to be led behind next to his cousin’s horse. He handed Mrs Annesley in, and he took a seat in one corner of the rear-facing bench.
Darcy handed Anna in and followed her into the cabin. She sat next to her companion on the forward-facing bench, and he joined his cousin on the rear-facing bench, sitting opposite Anna. As soon as the door was closed, Darcy used the head of his cane to strike the ceiling twice and they were off.
The further they travelled, the more the anticipation of seeing Miss Elizabeth built within Darcy’s chest. If he noticed his cousin’s questioning looks, Darcy did not show it.
He chatted with Anna until she fell asleep, as she was wont to do in a carriage. Darcy then feigned sleep as well which soon became real.
Chapter 22
Bennet could no longer deny he felt an attraction to Miss Louisa Bingley; however, his first marriage hung over his head like an unwelcome spectre.
Every time he resolved to move forward with Miss Louisa Bingley, an image of his hellish first marriage entered his head. As soon as he decided that for the present they would only be friends, he was able to relax, and the worrying images were banished from his mind.
While Darcy had been away, until Bingley had to leave to escort his younger sister to her permanent home, there had been frequent contact between the residents of Longbourn and Netherfield Park.
During those days, Jane and Mr Bingley had grown closer. Although they would not ignore the company they were with, they spent much time in close conversation.
For his part, Bingley did not want to explore a relationship with Miss Bennet until he had dealt with his younger sister. In his mind, while Caroline was still locked up at Netherfield Park, he would not be able to give Miss Bennet his full attention. The lady was intelligent and compassionate to go along with her outward beauty. Bingley found himself attracted to the first two attributes far more than her looks. Hence, when he had returned to Netherfield Park one afternoon after some very pleasant hours at Longbourn and the letter telling him to convey Caroline to London arrived, he had felt a sense of relief. They had departed the very nextmorning. Aunt Hildebrand and Lulu had seen him off at first light. Caroline had been administered laudanum with her tea, so she was asleep.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Louisa was a little confused. There were times she sensed that Mr Bennet relaxed in her company and was possibly feeling what she had begun to feel—very tender feelings—but then as soon as he relaxed in that way, he seemed to don a mask and withdraw. He was always polite and pleasant, but at those times, it seemed like rather than lower the wall he had constructed around his heart after his first wife, he was adding bricks to the top of it.
The sound of a carriage in the drive snapped Louisa out of her cogitation. Thanks to the express a Darcy courier had delivered the previous evening, Louisa was sure that Mr Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Miss Darcy were arriving.
“Come, Lulu, let us go greet our guests,” Hildebrand said as she stood.
Thanks to the cold weather, the two Bingley ladies waited in the entrance hall to receive those arriving. They did not wait long before the four entered the hall. Mr Nichols and two of his footmen were on hand to relieve them of their warm outerwear.
“Welcome to Netherfield Park,” Hildebrand stated as she dipped into a curtsy. “Let us make for the warmth of the drawing room before introductions are made.”
“That is a good suggestion, Miss Bingley,” Darcy responded. He looked at Anna, who was looking down, her shyness on full display. He was pleased to see that Mrs Annesley touched his sister’s shoulder, which resulted in Anna raising her eyes.
“Our footmen will show your personal servants to yourbedchambers,” Hildebrand stated as she led the guests up the stairs to the main drawing room on the first floor. “I placed your cousin in the second bedchamber of your suite, Mr Darcy. Miss Darcy and her companion are in the double bedchamber suite next to yours.”
“Thank you, Miss Bingley, that is perfect,” Darcy replied gratefully.
As she had met Miss Darcy at Pemberley, Louisa already knew the young lady would not stare at her birthmark. She was pleased to note that the cousin and companion never gave it a second look. If it was because Mr Darcy prepared them or their own good sense and manners, she cared not. She was happy she would not be seen as an object of pity by the new arrivals.
