Janet Aylmer - Darcy’s Story

This mention of Elizabeth Bennet’s name unsettled Darcy more than he would wish. On several occasions during his discussions with her uncle about Wickham’s marriage, Darcy had been tempted to ask after her well-being. Just a little news of how she was would have been sufficient. But he knew full well that he might not be able to maintain his composure at the mention of her name, indeed probably could not. He was close to certain that the Gardiners could be relied upon to be discreet, but he was not willing to risk embarrassing their niece or disclosing his own agony of mind in that respect.

On the Monday morning, Darcy was punctual in his attendance at Wickham’s lodgings.

The bridegroom was, as ever, easy in his manners, and in no way disconcerted at the situation that had brought about the need for him to marry a woman for whom, Darcy was certain, he was unlikely to have an abiding affection.

Little was said between them as they were driven to the church. Darcy, however, had some comfort in the thought that it was probably the last occasion when he would ever see his boyhood acquaintance. Whatever the disadvantages of the marriage to the youngest Miss Bennet, the nuptials would at least prevent Wickham seeking any favours from her sister Miss Elizabeth, as Darcy suspected might have happened in the past.

It was therefore with more cheerfulness than might have been expected that Darcy waited beside Wickham.

The bride was delayed, in the event, for ten minutes by her uncle having some final business with his attorney. But by thirty minutes past eleven of the o’clock, the marriage was solemnised, and the new Mrs. Wickham, as unabashed and noisy as Darcy recalled her being at Netherfield, set off with her husband in a chaise for Hertfordshire.

Darcy parted from her uncle and aunt at the church, as he had business to attend to elsewhere in town. His thoughts were often in Hertfordshire during the hours that followed. He could imagine the raptures with which the bride would be met by her mother. How he wished that he could at least see Elizabeth Bennet, to assure himself that the achievement of the marriage might have lifted some of the burden which had fallen upon her at their last meeting in Derbyshire.

Also on his mind was the need to make a decision about Bingley.

He had had the justice to admit to himself that the affection which he had for the second sister could only endorse the right of his friend to have tender feelings for the eldest. More than ever, he regretted that Caroline Bingley and Mrs. Hurst were at that moment at Pemberley. Some way must be found to detach his friend from them, if a visit was to be achieved to Hertfordshire before too long.

In retrospect, for Darcy the most pleasant recollection of his stay in town was dining at Gracechurch Street on the Tuesday.

The family kept a good table and, whilst their home was neither pretentious nor grand, it was furnished with taste, and the company was more than agreeable. From time to time, the names of the two elder nieces were referred to as being regular and valued correspondents with their aunt. Clearly, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner held both in great affection. The conversation indicated that Jane and Elizabeth Bennet were regular visitors to Gracechurch Street, and the Gar-diners and their young family to Longbourn. The names of the other three Bennet sisters, Darcy noted, were little mentioned by comparison.

The Gardiners asked after his sister’s health, and gladdened his heart by saying, if only in passing, how pleasant Miss Elizabeth had found Georgiana’s company in Derbyshire. That led on to Mrs. Gardiner to comment on the lively and agreeable disposition of her niece, her pleasure in the scenery at Pemberley, and her wish to return in more auspicious circumstances. All this was to Darcy a much happier subject than the idle chatter of Caroline Bingley or Mrs. Hurst, to which he must shortly return.

The following day, Darcy left for Derbyshire, reaching Pemberley late on the Thursday evening.

“Mr. Darcy, how we have missed you!” said Miss Bingley, archly, when they met at breakfast the next morning. “Dear Georgiana has been such a gracious hostess to us all, but...”

“I am sure,” said Bingley quickly, “that none of us could have wished for better, Darcy. I hope that your business in town was concluded successfully on this visit?”

Darcy for once was grateful for his friend’s easy manners.

“Yes, thank you.”

And he changed the subject quickly, before Miss Bingley or Mrs. Hurst could make further inquiries about what had detained him in London. “Georgiana and I have a plan to take a drive out this morning, as the weather is fine. We can  not rely on the rain keeping away for the rest of the week before you leave, so why do we not venture out today while we can?”

Miss Bingley looked disappointed. In view of Darcy’s unexpected absence twice in town, she had been hoping for an invitation to extend their stay for a few more days. However, her brother either did not see, or chose to overlook, her less than enthusiastic response to the suggestion, as he warmly endorsed the plan.

By these and other means, Darcy kept the party occupied until the day came for their removal to Scarborough. He maintained in company his normal manner as far as he could, although from time to time his mind was very far away from Derbyshire.

Darcy took the opportunity to have a private word with his friend on the morning when the ladies and Mr. Hurst were busy with last-minute arrangements for the journey.

“Bingley, do you have any plans to return to Netherfield in the next few months? It seems such a long time since we were there. This is a good time of the year to be in that part of the country to shoot for a few weeks.”

His friend looked very surprised, as he obviously recalled too well that it had been Darcy, in concert with his sisters, who only last November had persuaded him that he should not visit the house in Hertfordshire again.

“Well, well. No, I had myself not thought of going.”

Darcy thought it best to wait for him to continue.

“But,” said Bingley after a long pause, “that would be a capital idea. Shall I mention it to Caroline and Louisa now?”

That was not what Darcy had in mind.

In as disinterested a tone as he could muster, he said, “I have no particular reason to suggest it. But if we were to go, it might be better for just a shooting party. There is no need to tell...to trouble your sisters about it. After all, they can stay in Scarborough with Mr. Hurst for the next month as they have already planned. You can just join me in town, for a week or more, as you often do.”

Darcy paused, to see the effect of these words, and then concluded, “If you then decide that a few days in Hertfordshire would suit you, then no harm would be done. You need not bother your sisters about it.”

Bingley, whose brow had been troubled, brightened, and said, “A capital idea! I can settle them in at Scarborough, and then slip away to join you as you suggest.”

And on that basis the matter was left.

After Bingley’s party had gone, Darcy joined Georgiana in her sitting room. If Bingley were to go south, as now seemed likely, he would have to leave his sister again to go to Hertfordshire.

Georgiana was seated by the window and looked up as he entered the room.

Before he could speak, she surprised him by saying, “You want to return south, do you not? Is it to see Miss Elizabeth Bennet? Is she likely to become someone you...more than value? I would happily stay here with Mrs. Annesley, if that was so.”

Darcy was taken aback. He had thought that the reason for his confusion of mind had been better concealed over the past few days. He had no certainty in any case that he would, or could, see Elizabeth Bennet at Longbourn. However, his sister’s question did give him an opportunity to share his hopes with her, without revealing why he had lately been in town.

“I do not know, Georgiana. I do so wish that I did. But it is a possibility. Would you wish me well in that direction?”

At first she made no reply, but instead came across the room and took his hand. She held it for several moments, and then said, softly, “There is nothing I would like better. But do not worry, I shall keep your secret, whatever happens.”

Darcy looked down at her, and for once he had no words to say.

He tried to be patient over the next week. There was much to do on the estate, the library needed his attention, as well as many matters of business. In all such things, and in his sister’s company, he tried to take as much pleasure as he did normally. But at the back of his mind, there was the ballroom at Netherfield, a lady dancing gracefully, and a conversation between them.

“I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly....if I do not take your likeness now, I may never have another opportunity.”

A few days later, a letter arrived from Scarborough. Bingley, in confirming that he planned to travel south at the beginning of the next week, inquired whether Darcy would be in town so that he might stay with him.

Darcy sent back a reply in the affirmative.

He stayed a few more days in Derbyshire, and the subject of Miss Elizabeth Bennet was not mentioned between the brother and sister again. Instead, Darcy spent most of his time with Georgiana, and he was able, at least for some of the time, to forget the possible encounters that lay ahead. On the Friday, Darcy bade farewell to his sister, gave her to Mrs. Annesley’s charge, and left for town.

Where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will always be under good regulation.

When Bingley arrived, he told Darcy that he had already sent word to open up Netherfield House ready to receive them, at least for the next few weeks, and servants were sent on ahead to prepare for the shooting party. By the Wednesday, the two friends were ready to leave town for the journey to Hertfordshire.

As they reached the outskirts of Meryton, Darcy’s thoughts were full of the last time he had been there. The chaise passed the assembly rooms where he had disdained to dance with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, past the place in the main street where he had encountered her walking with Mr. Collins and Mr. Wickham. It seemed so long ago, and as though a different person from himself had been there.

Bingley had been quieter than usual on the journey. However, the now familiar landmarks led him to remark on local acquaintances.

Darcy decided that this was the time to broach the possibility of a visit to Longbourn after they had settled in.

“I know that you may wish to shoot as soon as may be. But I would suppose,” he said, more casually than was his wont, “that we might encounter the Misses Bennet during our stay here? I have heard that the youngest is now married, to an officer, but her elder sisters may be at home.”

“That,” said his friend quickly, “would be a capital idea. I have arranged for shooting for the next two days, but perhaps after that...”

At dinner, Bingley called back memories of the ball at Netherfield the previous November. By comparison, the house seemed to Darcy to be very empty, although he was far from regretting the absence of Mrs. Hurst and her sister. He was, however, anxious about the reception they might receive at Longbourn, in particular because Miss Elizabeth was aware of his part in separating her sister Jane from Bingley. Whatever her relief at the outcome of her youngest sister’s elopement, and her recent knowledge of Wickham’s character and behaviour, that might remain between them.

However, his heart would not allow him to forego a visit to the Bennets’ house. So, on the third morning after their arrival in Hertfordshire, Bingley and Darcy rode out from Netherfield.

On entering the house at Longbourn, they were met with that unfortunate combination of excessive politeness and vulgarity which Darcy had always found so distasteful in Mrs. Bennet. They found the four eldest daughters together at their work. As he entered the room, Darcy glanced quickly at Miss Elizabeth, who did not seem to lift up her eyes.