Page 74 of Bitterness of Spirit & The Painting

“Why?” Lady Matlock asked. “Since you happen to be in Town and such an opportunity has arisen, considering we all shall be there, why should Anne not attend?”

“But you never dance in public!” Lady Catherine cried. “And you do not have ball gowns! Neither do I. And…and…”

“Come, Catherine, the problem of gowns can be solved tomorrow; I shall take you to my modiste. If Anne wishes to attend, she should. Besides, she is of an age now that she does not need your approval. She is allowed to do what amuses her,” Lady Matlock said, gently touching Anne’s arm.

“I do wish to attend, and I am not sure when I shall be in Town again. I am sure it will be entertaining even if I do not dance.”

“You may dance if you like, Anne. All three of us are at your disposal,” the colonel declared, and Darcy and the viscount quickly nodded in approval.

“We shall see about dancing. But if all of you attend, I should like to be presented too,” Anne concluded.

Lady Catherine continued to introduce further arguments in an attempt to change her daughter’s mind, but Miss de Bourgh kept decidedly to her unexpected decision, astonishing all her relatives.

Chapter 18

Once dinner was finished, the Matlocks returned home while Darcy invited his male cousins to his home for drinks.

They spent another two hours chatting, and when the two Fitzwilliams left, Darcy kept them company on their way home. He was in no disposition to sleep and pretended to take advantage of the pleasant chilly evening. The viscount’s residence was closest, and after bidding him good night, Darcy and the colonel continued on.

“After the corner is Mr Wilson’s house. I wonder whether they are asleep or whether Bingley is still there, keeping them all awake,” Darcy said. He attempted to conceal his tension with mocking laughter, but he could not restrain himself from glancing at the house, trying to imagine which chamber might be Elizabeth’s. The entire house was dark and silent.

“Bingley is one lucky fellow,” the colonel admitted. “But he must be long asleep, just as the Bennets are. I wonder what Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst are saying about his marriage.”

“Nothing kind or polite, for sure,” Darcy responded.

They walked on the opposite side of the road. The sound of their footsteps was lost in the noise of carriages and horses along the street. The night was dimly lit by the moon and occasional torches. Although they were a distance away, Darcy turned his head once more towards the place he knew Elizabeth slept.

To his astonishment, he noticed a man’s silhouette at their gate. He had not been there minutes earlier, and Darcy wondered about his identity and intent. He nodded to the colonel, and they silently returned. They were not close enough to recognise the stranger. He appeared to look around, worried, but he was clearly oblivious to them. A few more careful steps and the gate of Wilson’s house opened, allowing a smaller silhouette to leave. The two embraced briefly and departed arm in arm, followed closely by Darcy and the colonel. Around the corner, a carriage was waiting, and the cousins dashed towards it.

The couple entered the carriage, which was about to leave, when Darcy grabbed the horses’ reins to halt them. The coachman yelled at him to stand aside, but Darcy held fast while the colonel pulled open the door of the carriage.

He immediately thundered with fury, “Wickham, what the hell are you doing here? And Miss Lydia!”

Darcy was in shock for a moment; then he grabbed the coachman and pulled him down.

“Do not dare move,” he demanded while the man looked at him fearfully.

“I have done nothing wrong! I am paid for a carriage ride—that is all!”

“Do not dare move,” Darcy repeated then moved to his cousin and stared inside.

Wickham was on the seat, and hanging onto his arm was the young Lydia Bennet with a small piece of luggage.

Without a word, Darcy pulled Wickham out. Lydia almost fell when she refused to let go of his arm, but the colonel supported her then picked up her luggage.

“What are you doing?” Lydia shouted. “Are you crazy? Let me go—you have no right to stop me!”

“Miss Lydia, stop yelling before you make a complete fool of yourself and ruin your family name. We are going back—all four of us. I am sure Mr Bennet and Mr Wilson will be happy to see us, even in the middle of the night.”

Lydia objected, and Wickham attempted to provide an explanation, but Darcy dismissed the coachman, and together with the colonel, they forced Wickham to accompany them.

“I am very close to killing you this time. You cannot poison my life this many times without retribution,” Darcy whispered to Wickham as he pushed him into the yard and knocked on the heavy door.

“Darcy, what is your business in this? What has your life to do with my intention to marry Miss Lydia?” Wickham answered impertinently. “You are in no way connected with the Bennets. How dare you threaten me? We decided to marry. How does that affect you except to hurt your arrogant pride that refuses to see me happy?”

“He is absolutely right, Darcy. You have no business in this. Let Mr Bennet kill him. Or Mr Wilson,” the colonel said with apparent calmness as several candles were lit inside and the door finally opened.

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