Page 37 of Regrets

I received your message; I shall see you in a few days at Netherfield. Safe travels.

Darcy

Dorothy sat very still for several minutes, reading the note again and again, digesting its contents. Netherfield…was that not the name of the estate the master was leasing? But he was going there alone, was he not?

Evidently not, she realised. Mr. Darcy, the master’s great good friend and the man Miss Bingley had her eye on, was to meet the master there.

There could be no doubt that if Miss Bingley had known that, all her objections to the dirt of the countryside would have vanished at once, and she would have been as eager as a little puppy to join her brother there! The image of proud Miss Bingley as a little pup, tongue hanging out, made her chuckle. The entire staff knew of Miss Bingley’s obsession with Mr. Darcy, and also knew that he would never look twice at her.

This was a very valuable piece of information, Dorothy thought. What could be done with it that would benefit her? She tucked the note into her pocket and decided to give it some thought.

Chapter Thirty-One

The day was unexpectedly warm; so when Georgiana came to visit, everyone agreed to go to Meryton. Kitty and Lydia were particularly eager to go, as it was known that the militia had indeed arrived and had marched down the main street of Meryton in all their red-coated glory. Alas, Kitty and Lydia had not been allowed to go to watch it! Instead, they had been forced to listen to Maria’s very dramatic recounting of the event, and suffer through her feeling of superiority at having actually witnessed it.

But now, with the supervision of the older girls in addition to Georgiana, who Mrs. Bennet considered “sensible,” they would be permitted to walk to Meryton.

Kitty and Lydia skipped ahead, laughing with glee and anticipation. Georgiana, watching them, turned to Elizabeth with a puzzled expression. “Why such excitement? What is it that they think awaits them?”

Elizabeth smiled. “Well may you ask, dear Georgiana. Honestly, I believe both of them have concocted some sort of fantasy in which one of the soldiers – or preferably several – fall in love with them at first sight. It is nonsense, but they are very young.”

“But no one can marry a soldier, can they?” Georgiana asked. “They are not well paid, and there is a good deal of moving from place to place, even if it is just the militia.”

“Yours is the voice of reason, Georgiana,” Mary put in. “They rarely listen to that particular voice. But no matter, we are all here to make certain that they do not embroil themselves in any sort of trouble.”

Georgiana nodded. “I shall certainly be watchful!”

When they arrived in Meryton, the streets were indeed full of men in smart red uniforms. Kitty clasped her hands under her chin in excitement, and Lydia hopped up and down. Elizabeth hurried to catch up with them, and grasped each one by the arm. “Listen, you two…”

Lydia pulled her arm out of her sister’s grasp, impatiently. “I know, Lizzy, I know. I will behave!”

“As will I,” Kitty echoed, but her eyes were already drawn to a large group of uniformed soldiers on the street ahead of her.

Elizabeth could not deny that it was an impressive sight indeed. There was, she thought, no display more likely to gladden a true Englishwoman’s heart than that of brave men who stood ready to defend their shores. For a moment, she understood her younger sisters’ fascination; but reason promptly asserted itself and she shook it off.

The girls visited a few shops, though the wares were of little interest just now in comparison with the men on the pavement. Suddenly, Georgiana’s eyes widened as she stared into the bakery window. “George?” she whispered.

Without a word or a backward glance, she ran into the bakery; Elizabeth, concerned, went in after her, leaving everyone else outside.

Elizabeth froze in the doorway, watching Georgiana run toward a man in a red coat; stopping just in front of him, she cried, “George! Why, I can scarce believe it!”

The man was grinning enormously. “Georgiana! No, I must say Miss Darcy, must I not? I certainly never expected to see you here!” He picked her up and whirled her around, right there in the shop.

“Nor I you!” Georgiana laughed, gaily. She turned then to Elizabeth, who had hurried up behind her and taken her hand. “No, no, do not lead me away!” She went on, “George – no, I must say Captain Wickham! It is Captain, is it not?”

“No, it is Lieutenant, but I will always be George to you, Miss Darcy!” He took a step closer and lowered his voice, speaking almost as if to an intimate.

“No, no, if I am to call you George, then you are to call me Georgiana, as you always did! In any case, George, this is my friend, Miss Elizabeth Bennet.” Georgiana’s voice was breathless.

Elizabeth could certainly understand why her friend had been so entranced by this gentleman. He was very handsome and well-spoken, and when he smiled, his cheeks dimpled most attractively. Still, she was not at all certain that Mr. Darcy would approve of his sister being so familiar with a soldier.

“Are you two lovely young ladies visiting here in Meryton?” he asked, his dimples winking at them.

Georgiana replied, “Miss Elizabeth lives here, but I am visiting Mr. Bingley at Netherfield Park.”

“Dare I hope that you will be here long?” he went on, tilting his head to one side and opening his eyes wide.

“Until Christmas, I believe,” Georgiana replied.