The two watched the soldiers parade about with Kitty and Lydia, and it was not long before Maria joined them.
“Your sisters are not a good influence on mine, I fear.”
“You are right, Charlotte. And if I had any influence at all on my sisters, I would correct it at once, but I have none.”
“No more have I with Maria. Her feeling is that if I have not managed to get myself married at seven and twenty, I must know nothing at all. Tell me, though, has Mr. Bingley yet told Miss Bingley that she must live elsewhere before he can be wed to Jane? I find it extraordinary that your father insisted on that caveat and equally extraordinary that Mr. Bingley agreed to it!”
Elizabeth shook her head. “As far as I know, Miss Bingley is still in the dark as to her future.”
“How I wish I could be a silent witness to that conversation when it occurs!” Charlotte smirked.
“As do I,” Elizabeth laughed with her friend.
The party from Netherfield then entered the room. Elizabeth and Charlotte rose and made their way to the front door to greet them as Lady Lucas began the introductions again. “Mrs. Hurst, Miss Bingley, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Hurst, Mr. Bingley, please allow me to present Mrs. Forster, Colonel Forster, Captain Carter, Lieutenant Denny, Lieutenant Wickham – Mr. Darcy?” Her voice rose sharply, as well it might, as Mr. Darcy had suddenly turned on his heel and left the room.
“Why, whatever – ?” Lady Lucas was baffled. She turned to Lieutenant Wickham with a question in her eyes.
He responded at once. “Alas, Lady Lucas, my old friend Mr. Darcy still bears a grudge from a childhood injury and, as you see, refuses to recognise me.” He was smiling broadly.
“You know Mr. Darcy? How is that possible?” Sir Lucas joined the group.
“I would prefer not to make the particulars known to all,” he said, motioning to the large group that had now gathered around.
“Quite so, quite so,” Sir Lucas said. “Do go on, my dear.”
Lady Lucas took a deep breath and continued with the introductions, though her voice was now uncertain and confused. She threw a desperate glance at Charlotte, who responded immediately by saying, loudly, “Shall we not dance?”
The room, which had been abuzz with consternation, now brightened considerably; furniture was moved, rugs were rolled up, and Elizabeth found herself stationed at the instrument. She played a Scotch Reel, then Miss Moore’s Rant, and finally Sir Roger de Coverly. At the conclusion of the third piece, she turned around and caught Mary’s eye; Mary immediately took Elizabeth’s place at the instrument.
Free from her entertainment obligations, Elizabeth searched the room for Mr. Darcy, but he was nowhere to be found.
“May I have this dance, Miss Elizabeth?”
Elizabeth turned quickly. It was – of all people! – Lieutenant Wickham, who was holding out his arm to her. He was a very handsome man, with blond hair, blue eyes, and dimples that popped out on both cheeks when he smiled. Perhaps she could learn why Mr. Darcy had refused to acknowledge him; she felt that she would have to be very clever with her questions. “Certainly, Lieutenant,” she said, smiling, and he led her to the floor.
As it turned out, no cleverness was required, for he was bursting to give her the information she sought. He explained that Mr. Darcy had been jealous of his father’s affection for Lieutenant Wickham and had withheld a valuable legacy as a result. This,Lieutenant Wickham said, smiling sadly, was why he had been relegated to so low a place as the militia.
Elizabeth believed not a word of it; it was, she thought, entirely improbable.
But why would Mr. Darcy behave so in a public place, leaving the room without a word and thus leaving himself open to speculation of every sort? It made no sense at all. Knowing that it would not do to start an argument, she simply nodded and murmured sounds that might have been mistaken for assent, until the dance was done.
He bowed, told her what a pleasure it had been, dimpling beautifully, and then he went to find his next partner.
Mr. Collins then sidled up to Elizabeth, causing her considerable anxiety, until he said, “I had hoped to dance with Miss Mary. It has been impressed on me from more than one source that she is the lady most likely to ensure my future happiness, but I see that she is occupied at the piano.”
“Yes, she is in much demand for her considerable musical abilities,” Elizabeth said, happy to praise her sister. “But never fear, for I shall take her place and you may have your dance with her.”
She was promptly told that she was everything good and amiable, and these assurances made it some minutes before she was able to leave him to in order to make good on her promise.
“Go on, Mary,” she whispered. “Mr. Collins wants to dance with you.”
“Withme?”
“Yes; I told him I would take your place at the piano.”
Mary required no further encouragement, and Elizabeth sat back down at the instrument, happy that Mr. Collins was finallyshowing some inclination toward the only sister who would accept him, but still quite concerned for Mr. Darcy.
Lady Lucas finally announced that it was time for supper and cards; the furniture and rugs were soon restored and the gathering grew more sedate. Elizabeth saw Lieutenant Wickham flit from one small group to another, and she was not surprised to learn that by the end of the evening, everyone had heard his story about Mr. Darcy’s perfidy, this despite Lieutenant Wickham’s earlier statement that he did not wish the particulars to become known to all.
