“Mr Wickham!” Elizabeth exclaimed,unable to contain her surprise as she, Jane, and Mary rose and curtseyed in greeting. “And Mr Bingley, how lovely to see you both.”
“Good afternoon, Miss Bennet,” Wickham replied, flashing a smile that could have rivalled a full moon in all its brilliance. “Netherfield was rather dull this afternoon, so we thought we might seek some of the best company to be had.”
“You are quite welcome here, but I am afraid we will have to send out for good company.”
Mr Wickham laughed. “I cannot decide whether that is modesty or sarcasm, Miss Elizabeth, but I fancy it regardless. Ah, thank you,” he said when Hill offered to take his hat and coat.
“Please, do be seated,” Jane invited, gesturing for the gentlemen to follow them into the drawing room. “I am afraid Mama, Kitty, and Lydia have gone to town, but may we offer you some tea?”
“We would be grateful, Miss Bennet,” Mr Wickham answered for both of them. “I trust all the Bennets are quite recovered from dancing unto the wee hours last Friday?”
“The thing was simple enough,” Mary replied before Elizabeth could speak. “If one does not dance every set, there is ample time to rest one’s feet.”
Elizabeth caught the curious arch of Mr Wickham’s brow, and she hastened to smooth over what might be perceived as a rather peevish speech. “I am sure what my sister means is that you gentlemen must have been put to some trouble, indeed, seeing that the number of ladies far exceeded the number of gentlemen present. It is to your credit that both your hearts and your feet never faltered in the face of all the ladies awaiting their turns.”
“Ah, Miss Elizabeth, you credit us with valour, but I shall let you in on a little secret,” Wickham replied, leaning forward with a wink. “The pleasure wasentirelyours.”
“Oh, now that is a wondrous thing to hear. I understand you are still finding the town to your liking, Mr Wickham?” Jane asked.
“Very much so. I was particularly impressed by how friendly everyone was. Bingley, do you not agree?”
Mr Bingley blinked—for he had been gazing raptly at Jane—and his grin widened. “Oh, very much so. Why, I have not gone anywhere or met anyone but that I fancied this was the pleasantest part of all England.”
“We are so glad you find it so, Mr Bingley,” Elizabeth answered warmly.
“Indeed! I do hope Meryton’s tolerance for greeting new faces is not yet exhausted, for I had an interesting letter this morning.” He glanced at Mr Wickham, who invited him to continue with a smile and a nod. Bingley cleared his throat. “I have some happy news. My friend Mr Darcy has accepted my… that is,MrWickham’s invitation to come to Netherfield. He should be arriving by tomorrow.”
Elizabeth’s pulse quickened. “Mr Darcy? That is…” She blinked and swallowed. Oh, it would be a false step if she said too much. “Is… this Mr Darcy… is he a particular friend of yours?”
“Yes,” Bingley said, his smile broadening though his gaze flicked uncertainly to her sisters. Good man, he somehow managed to refrain from letting on that she had already met the gentleman! “I… I think you will find him quite interesting.”
“I am certain I shall. Any friend of yours, Mr Bingley, of course.”
“Oh, he is not merelymyfriend. Mr Wickham here has known Darcy for years! You will surely recall my surprise, Miss Bennet, when I mentioned my friend to my host and found we shared the acquaintance. Of course, when we discovered that, we simplyhadto invite him.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “Yes, I do recall, it was a happy coincidence. Is he… ah… an amiable man?” She shot another glance at Mr Bingley, hoping he would keep her little secret, but she found the gentleman blushing at Jane, and entirely ignorant of her look.
“Darcy is a remarkable man,” Mr Wickham supplied. “I am sure you will find him quite... intriguing.”
Elizabeth laughed. “‘Intriguing?’ That sounds like a challenge, Mr Wickham.”
Bingley chuckled. “Darcy can be somewhat reserved. Some might even say ‘aloof.’ But I assure you, he is quite a dignified fellow, and he is as good a man as ever I knew—save, perhaps, for his father.”
She leaned forward, folding her hands over her knee. “I look forward to meeting him, then. Perhaps we can draw the man out of his shell, eh?”
“Be gentle with him, Miss Bennet,” Mr Wickham laughed. “We would not wish to frighten him off before he has a chance to let down his guard.”
“Oh, a recluse. My specialty! I shall have to see if I can find the key to this locked-up fellow. All in good sport, of course! But enough about Mr Darcy, who is not even here. We have hardly done our duty to the two of you, seated in our drawing room. Look, here is Mrs Hill with the tea.”
After the gentlemen had whiled away their quarter of an hour and taken their leave, Elizabeth resorted to pacing the drawing room. Mr Darcy, returning to Meryton! His would be a welcome face this autumn.Exceedinglywelcome if her first impression of him was at all accurate. Was he truly as kind as she recalled? More than likely, he was spoken for by some insipid London heiress.
A pity, really. Such a kind and handsome gentleman, one blessed with that wry turn to his mouth that spoke of deeper understanding than he let on, ought to be the rightful property of a wife who could appreciate his cleverness. Well, Mr Bingley had spoken of no wife coming to Netherfield with Mr Darcy, had he? How very interesting…
Particularly if Mr Wickham made good on his promise to host a ball at Netherfield.
Chapter Eleven
The carriage jolted onthe uneven road, each bump sending a jarring throb through Darcy’s skull. He pressed a hand to his temple, willing the headache to subside. It had begun shortly after leaving London, a relentless pounding that made each mile feel like an eternity. By the time they reached Netherfield, the pain had dulled to a persistent ache, but it was still enough to make his patience thin and his mood irritable… particularly whenthatman met him the moment his carriage drew to a halt.
