Page 49 of A Different Impression

Colonel Forster summoned the recruiting officer who had been waiting in the adjoining room.

Wickham signed a letter resigning his militia commission and then signed the attestation with an unsteady hand. Only once the recruiting officer had witnessed Wickham’s signature did Darcy fold the writ and return it to his coat.

Richard stepped forward. “The commanding officer is a friend of mine and will be certain to keep an eye on you, Wickless. You will be guarded every step of the way to ensure that you do not disappear. If you desert, you will be pursued, returned to your regiment, and court-martialled. In wartime, desertion may carry a sentence of death, and I cannot pretend that I would mourn such an outcome.” His mouth curved into another cold smile. “Joining the militia was your best decision yet. I shall be most interested to learn your eventual fate.”

Colonel Forster ordered that Wickham remain under guard until he could depart with the recruiting party. He was not to be left alone, and any attempt to desert was to be reported immediately.

As the soldiers led Wickham away, Richard watched his departure with grim satisfaction, but Darcy felt no inclination to rejoice. There was little pleasure in witnessing the final degradation of someone he had once regarded as a friend. He felt only relief that Wickham would soon be removed from Elizabeth, Georgiana, and everyone else he might seek to injure.

CHAPTER 21

A Misguided Scheme

While William was in Meryton dealing with his father’s godson, Elizabeth and Jane worked together in the stillroom at Longbourn. They had been discussing Elizabeth’s approaching wedding when she noticed that Jane had grown unusually quiet.

“Is everything well, Jane?”

Jane lowered her gaze to the linen in her hands. “Yes, Lizzy. I am well.”

Unconvinced, Elizabeth moved behind her and embraced her. “I shall miss you, Jane.”

Jane turned and returned the embrace. “I shall miss you too. I do not know what I shall do without you here.”

Elizabeth drew back and studied her sister. “We have not spoken of Mr Bingley in some time. Have your feelings towards him changed?”

“I like him, but I know very little of him. Our conversations rarely concern anything of consequence, and I do not know how to encourage him to speak more seriously. Sometimes I wonder whether he is truly interested in me or merely seeking pleasant company while he remains at Netherfield.”

“What do you imagine William and I discuss?” Elizabeth asked teasingly.

“I do not know precisely, but he smiles when he speaks with you in a way he does not smile at anyone else. Mr Bingley smiles at everyone. He seems nearly as pleased to speak with—with Papa as he does with me.”

Elizabeth suppressed a smile at that comparison. “His frequent visits and his request for your hand for the first set at the ball are certain to attract notice. Would you object if I asked William merely to remind his friend that such marked attention may raise expectations?”

“I would rather you did not ask Mr Darcy to question him about his feelings.”

“I shall not. William need only caution him to consider how his behaviour might appear. Nothing more.”

After a moment, Jane nodded. “Very well. I should be grateful for that.”

The sisters returned to their work. Soon afterwards, they washed their hands and went to join the rest of the family.

When Mrs Bennet and her companion joined the family for tea, Elizabeth was surprised to see her mother downstairs. Her confinement had evidently grown intolerable, and Papa had reluctantly permitted her to receive their visitors. Whether Mama intended to abide by the conditions he had surely imposed remained to be seen.

Elizabeth discovered her purpose soon enough. Almost immediately, Mama began praising Jane while directing nearly every remark towards William.

Elizabeth had little difficulty guessing at the reasoning behind it. Her mother considered Jane deserving of the wealthiest suitor available and had never understood why any man of consequence might prefer her second daughter. No doubt she would have considered Mr Collins—whose intention of choosing a wife from among the Bennet daughters had reached her through the servants—a perfectly suitable husband for Elizabeth, while Jane received all the consequence and comfort of becoming Mrs Darcy.

Her mother’s gaze moved inquisitively over Georgiana, Mrs Annesley, and Colonel Fitzwilliam. The gentlemen stood, and Papa supplied the necessary introductions.

“Mrs Bennet, allow me to introduce Miss Georgiana Darcy, Mr Darcy’s sister, and Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam, Mr Darcy’s cousin and Miss Darcy’s other guardian. The lady seated near Mary is Miss Darcy’s companion, Mrs Annesley.”

Greetings were exchanged, and everyone returned to their seats. Mrs Bennet smoothed her skirts and began fanning herself.

“Oh, Miss Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, it is such a pleasure to meet you both,” she exclaimed, batting her eyelashes. “Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley, we have already had the pleasure of meeting you, and it is always a joy to see you again. I see my dear Jane has been doing an excellent job of taking care of you all. She is such a perfect hostess, and I have trained her so well. She will do a wonderful job of running a grand estate and will be the perfect wife for a truly great man. I dare say any gentleman would feel it a great privilege to have her upon his arm.”

William merely nodded as Mrs Bennet continued in the same vein, speaking loudly enough to bring every other conversation in the room to an end.

“I must say, Miss Darcy, you are quite lovely. And Colonel Fitzwilliam, you cut such a dashing figure.”