Thank goodness Wickham had not been invited. Still, her eyes fell on Lieutenant Denny across from them, who scowled at Darcy. Miss Elizabeth offered him a smile, and Denny relaxed.
“Do you often walk into Meryton?” Darcy asked her as he sipped the inferior wine. He tried not to show the distaste on his face, but the grimace was too pronounced, and she pursed her lips.
“Why, yes,” she said. “The other day you caught us as we made a new acquaintance.”
“MrWickham has the happy manners to make friends easily; keeping them is the difficulty.”
“He has been unfortunate to lose your friendship,” she snapped. “The fact that he may suffer all his life is not distressing to you?”
“You take an eager interest in that man’s concerns!” hissed Darcy, making Miss Elizabeth shrink back. No further words were exchanged.
When the ladies withdrew to the drawing room, Miss Elizabeth’s face mirrored his own displeasure. How could a woman of her discernment be so thoroughly deceived by a man like Wickham?Father was not a dullard, yethe was also taken in.
Knowing he must escape her charms for fear of committing himself to one so below the standards he had for himself, Darcy left Hertfordshire the following morning unsatisfied. The season had just started, so he was kept busy by attending the important events.
The day after a particularly tedious ball, Darcy read a missive from his cousin. Wessington sent astonishing news: that not only was he engaged to Miss Jane Bennet, but also Miss Elizabeth Bennet had become an heiress—a distant Aunt Fanshaw had heard of her intelligent great-niece and, after investigation and consideration, decided, of all her great-nieces, Miss Elizabeth should be her heir. Now Elizabeth had an estate and a dowry of thirty thousand pounds.
Once news of her inheritance made the rounds in Meryton, Elizabeth Bennet, much to her and her younger sisters’ chagrin, became a favourite of all the officers. It was so laughable to her. MrWickham was the only one to show her any respect, and for that, she had warm feelings for the man. He had even played the gallant, breaking up a few skirmishes between men who suddenly vied for her hand.
Meanwhile, Longbourn’s heir presumptive arrived, willing to offer for one of the Bennet girls. After being soundly rejected by Miss Elizabeth, he engaged himself to Miss Charlotte Lucas, Miss Elizabeth’s best friend.
Three days before her wedding, Charlotte turned nervously to her friend and begged her attendance: “My father and Maria are coming to visit by the end of winter. I wish you were one of the party to accompany them. Your presence would give me something to look forward to. I am told that Rosings has many walks and would be glorious in the spring. Say you will come?”
“If it means that much to you, then I shall. I look forward to travelling and seeing more of the world.”
No one repined MrDarcy’s leaving Netherfield.Good riddance, some had said. Who wanted MrDarcy, who needed him when his handsome and charming cousin was near. Much to the chagrin of many a mother, the Viscount Wessington had courted Jane assiduously to the rapturous delight of MrsBennet, who knew Jane could not be so beautiful for nothing. Two days after Charlotte’s wedding, Longbourn rang with the violently delightful cries of Jane becoming acountess. It took all of Elizabeth’s patience to explain that Jane would notbe acountessby marrying aviscount…. But her mother saw only the title, understanding nothing more.
“Cyril is everyone’s idea of a gentleman, is he not?” Jane enthused later that night, her eyes shining with adoration for her betrothed.
“You might benefit if you stand firm to your principles, not simply your sweetness. Jane, you will be a part of theton. Can you manage the hounds that will sniff out new blood?”
Jane giggled. “Oh, Lizzy, you must not speak so, else you will make me afraid to marry the viscount.”
Elizabeth kissed her sister on the top of her rose-scented head. “Just be sure to remind Cyril your spinster sister will teach your ten children to play the pianoforte ill indeed.”
“Oh, I do not think you will be. MrWickham likes you a great deal.”
Jane’s comment did nothing to ease the worry in Elizabeth’s breast. Wickham was well-mannered, but she was certain she felt no love for him. It was strange that, as she thought of her future husband, intense eyes and a noble mien appeared before her. How odd that her heart raced only when she recalled MrDarcy to mind! But never would she allow such a proud, disagreeable man to hold any dominion over her. She would rather be an old maid.
Jane and Elizabeth went to London to purchase Jane’s trousseau and meet her future husband’s family. Jane’s gentility and beauty won over the gruff earl. The countess adored Jane, but, as Elizabeth noticed, she dropped hints that she had another son, Richard, a colonel in the Regulars, who would do well for her, as they had a similar cheerful disposition.
Time flew, and soon it was February.
Lizzy sat on the windowsill of their bedchamber at Longbourn, hugging her legs to her chest as she rested her cheek on her knees, contemplating her sister’s serenity one last time.It was Jane’s last morning waking up as a maiden, and Lizzy wanted to soak up all she could of her best friend and. confidante before Jane married the viscount.
The hint of spring could be felt in the blue sky, and the sun shone on the crocuses and snowdrops scattered amongst the emerging grass. It promised to be a beautiful day for Elizabeth’s favourite sister to wed.
The bride blushed as she walked down the aisle on her papa’s arm. MrsBennet cried, and her father teased how he wished for some lawful impediment to halt the nuptials. No one protested, and after the pronouncement that they were man and wife, Viscount and Viscountess Wessington signed the church register along with their witnesses Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam.
Only four members of the family refrained from attending the Viscount’s wedding. MrDarcy, Miss Darcy, Lady Catherine De Bourgh and her daughter Anne were all conspicuous by their absence.
“I think it is marvellously unfair that Lizzy should get thirty thousand pounds and an estate,” Lydia pouted. “Now all the officers are frightfully in love with her, and none of them look at me at all!”
“Nor me,” Kitty whined.
“You may intervene any time you wish, Lydia, for I have no desire for their attention,” Lizzy remarked.
MrsHill entered the room: “Lieutenant Denny, Lieutenant Wickham, and Captain Carter to see you.”
