Over the next few minutes, Mr Darcy explained their history and Mr Wickham’s dissolute behaviour, claiming he was a danger to young women—high and low born—and that he always accumulated a great deal of debt, both of business and honour. Mr Darcy’s serious mien and his offer to supply proof assured Bennet that he spoke the truth.
“Thank you for warning me,” he said. “I do not see why he would be interested in my girls. They have no fortune or connexions, as I assume you are aware, gossip being what it is.” He wanted to ensure Mr Darcy knew, because that would mean that his friend did too; it would not come as a shock should Mr Bingley eventually decide he wanted to marry Jane.
Mr Darcy nodded and said, “Unfortunately, Wickham’s jealousy or hatred towards me—whatever emotion is strongest in him at the moment—means that all he needs to know is that I am on friendly terms with your family. He has already sought to injure me by using my sister. If he would do that, seek to harm a girl he has known since she was an infant, he would not hesitate to use one of the Miss Bennets.”
Bennet pressed his fingertips to his forehead and rubbed it vigorously. He did not want this added complication to a life that was already keeping him away from his usual pleasures more than he liked. Although, upon reflection, he could not say hedislikedspending time with his ladies at present. His efforts with them were yielding the results he had hoped for,which was satisfying and the encouragement he needed to persist.
“That is most disturbing, as you must realise, not being a fool. Lizzy would tell you to take that as a compliment. I often think ninety percent of the people about me are fools.” He shook himself. “Forgive me. I am aware I currently sound like a fool myself. I shall certainly ensure this Mr Wickham never enters Longbourn, and we must find a way to inform my wife and daughters and neighbours. Do you agree?”
Mr Darcy nodded. “Though I would prefer to keep my sister’s part in it quiet.”
Bennet was quick to agree. “I would not dream of telling anyone. Miss Darcy has surely suffered enough for her youthful indiscretion. Having five daughters, I have seen how easy it would be to flatter them into doing what they should not. That your sister’s companion encouraged the connexion— Well, I am heartily sorry you and she had to experience such a plot against you, and I thank you for confiding in me. It has given me a clear understanding of his character and what we must do. It has lately come to my attention just how close an eye a man must keep on his family.”
“I know that I am part of the reason,” Mr Darcy interjected. “I genuinely regret my own behaviour in October, and I assure you, I have learnt a valuable lesson from it and hope that I shall never forget it.”
If the gentleman made a similar pretty speech to Elizabeth, Bennet wondered, would his dearest girl see beneath Mr Darcy’s reticence to what he suspected was a rather honourable, caring, undoubtedly intelligentyoung man? Setting aside such reveries, he said, “Now, what shall we—or I, if you prefer—do about this?”
They spent the next minutes determining the steps they would take. Their plan involved speaking to Colonel Forster and several men who would pass on the message to others. Their aim was to ensure people knew to be cautious but not ostracise Mr Wickham. Bennet wanted him to have the opportunity to make a success of his new position, so long as he did it honestly and left the neighbourhood and all of its inhabitants no worse than they had been when he arrived. Had he not recently discovered that a mancouldchange, given sufficient motivation? Perhaps Mr Wickham had experienced something of late that had encouraged him to want to amend his manner. His charity would not extend to admitting him into his or his family’s company, however.
Once that was decided, Mr Darcy cleared his throat and awkwardly said, “I would like to ask your permission to dance with Miss Elizabeth at the ball. I am not generally fond of the exercise, which I suppose I did not need to say, but I would like to dance with her. If-if nothing else, it would show everyone in attendance that I do not think she is unworthy of my attention.”
Bennet sat back in his chair and sipped his wine.And is thereanotherreason you would like to spend more time with my girl?“As you are aware, I made Lizzy promise to avoid you. This was when the whole unfortunate business first occurred.” Mr Darcy nodded and blushed, which Bennet found diverting, though he managed not to smile or laugh.
“I am, sir, and I have come to appreciate that you told me how reprehensibly I acted. I have been attempting to be a gentleman that my family, including my late parents, would be proud of.”
Bennet experienced an odd feeling in the region of his heart. He was not exactly sure what it was, but it struck him that his opinion of Mr Darcy had improved a great deal—far more than he had realised. If he showed this aspect of himself to Elizabeth, she would find herself liking him—and perhaps more. “I am sure they would be. You may ask Lizzy to dance with you.” He took a large mouthful of wine and attempted to banish the notion of his daughter living so far away as Derbyshire; it was much too soon to worry about it. “Enough of that. Tell me, you are five- or six-and-twenty?”
Mr Darcy’s brow furrowed, showing the change of subject surprised him. “Seven-and-twenty.”
“Have you been fortunate enough to travel abroad? You would have been old enough during the last time it was not inadvisable or, dare I say, foolish to do so.”
Mr Darcy briefly chuckled, which Bennet thought was kind. His quip was not that amusing.
“My father and I did when the Treaty of Amiens was in place. We left in June 1802 and came home early the following year when my uncle sent word that we must return at once, that it might not be safe to remain out of the country much longer.”
“Your uncle the earl? He would have had early intelligence on the matter, I suppose.” Mr Darcy nodded. “Useful to have such connexions—or know someone who does.”And now I know you!Bennet added to himself.
They spoke about travel for a while. He had visited all the usual countries and seen all the usual sights to complete his education as a young man, and it was agreeable to discuss it again with someone who would appreciate it. Elizabeth always liked to hear about his adventures, as she called them, and she often said she hoped to one day explore more of the world herself. Bennet would never play matchmaker—it was a solemn vow he had made to himself—but he could not help but speculate about his dearest girl and the young gentleman sitting across from him.I am afraid they might be exceedingly well matched, and, if anything comes of it, I believe I would be pleased for them both.A little more time to know Mr Darcy would give Bennet added confidence in him, and he determined to take it where he could.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Elizabeth attempted not to let her curiosity show when her father and Mr Darcy entered the drawing room, but she was positive everyone could see that she was burning with it. Why had Mr Darcy asked to speak to her father alone? Was it about her? Perhaps a request that he permit them to spend time together?
A more reasonable assumption was that it had to do with Mr Wickham, which meant it could be of little interest to her. She had already determined that she and her sisters must avoid the man as much as possible—a situation that made her laugh since it had grown from a conversation with a gentleman whom shehadavoided, and no doubt Mr Wickham would tell her she had been right to. How could it not be amusing to think that a gentleman she had once disliked told her another was unworthy of her attention, and she believed him? It had not occurred to her for even a second to question Mr Darcy’s intelligence. She had believed him immediately—known even as she was speaking to Mr Wickham that he was not trustworthy—and that was interesting in and of itself. So much had altered in her connexion with Mr Darcy without her realising it. Would the next days and months bring about yet more changes?
Both men approached her, and she willed herself not to blush and her eyes to remain steady on her father, despite how quickly her heart was beating; she could not look at Mr Darcy.
“I believe Mr Darcy has something to ask you, Lizzy,” Mr Bennet said. “You have my permission to accept. Or not, as you like.” He clapped Mr Darcy on the shoulder and went to sit by her mother. Only once he was across the room did Elizabeth turn to Mr Darcy.
“What did you and my father talk about?” she asked, surprised that the first question was not about what he wanted to say to her.
He lowered himself into the chair beside her, and, watching him, she was struck by what a handsome man he was, far handsomer than any other man she had ever seen. And he wasgood.She had been dreadfully mistaken about him when they first met. It was not without reason, to be sure, but everything she had learnt of him lately made her value knowing him. She liked listening to him speak of things he enjoyed: books, his home, and his family, whom he clearly loved. The situation with his sister and Mr Wickham demonstrated how protective he could be, and that was particularly attractive to her. Glancing towards her father, she supposed it was because she had often felt unprotected by him. Shehad contemplated the matter a fair bit of late. While she had no doubt her father would always have done what he could if confronted with an obvious threat, such as a fire in the house, he would only act if it was absolutely necessary, and for too long he had neglected many more subtle threats, those to her ease and happiness—her mother and younger sisters’ lack of proper decorum, for instance. She gave him credit for his efforts over the past month, but it would take longer for her to believe he would remain resolved to be a better father and husband.
By comparison, what she had seen of Mr Darcy suggested that he had only lost his way for a short while. When confronted with his less-than-gentlemanly behaviour, he had soon admitted it and was doing his best to make up for it. That, in addition to his other characteristics, made him, in a word, admirable.
Keeping his voice quiet enough that no one else would hear, he said, “I wanted to tell your father of my history with Wickham. He needed to know about the man’s less-than-honourable behaviour, and I wanted his advice on how to ensure people in the neighbourhood are not taken in by him. He can easily make friends, but regretfully, I cannot say he ever deserves them.”
“Have you and my father devised a plan?”
