March 1, 1812 – April 30, 1812
Netherfield opened its doors once more to Mr. Wilder, this time his wife as its proper mistress. Edith, a plump young woman blessed with homely features and honey brown hair, always made time to visit the tenants every three days of the week. The other three she dutifully visited her neighbors – the Bennets, Lucass, Boulangers, and the Morriss. On Sunday, they attended service and returned home to spend their time with each other. Mr. Darcy, who accompanied them back to Netherfield, used the majority of his time courting Miss Elizabeth Bennet, assisting Mr. Bennet in allocating funds to improve tenant infrastructure, and visiting Meryton often enough that the shopkeepers were on familiar ground with him.
Gideon happily forgot about his sister until Edith warned him if he didn't write her a letter that she'd write a four page letter complaining, and that would prompt a letter of questioning from Clara. So Gideon did as she asked, finding his separation anxiety smoothing away under the gentle but loving firmness of his wife.
Out of respect for Mr. Darcy and the Bennets, Edith invited all the Bennets to dine with them once a week, save for Mr. Wickham, who spent most of his days with the officers because Mr. Bennet refused to house him at Longbourn. Lydia, therefore called upon Edith alone, and dined without her husband often. Mr. Darcy shared with Elizabeth the truth of his past, including how Mr. Wickham could've had a living in Kymptom if his interest in the church were sincere, and how he could have succeeded in law if only he didn't squander the 1,000 pounds of inheritance from Old Mr. Darcy. His dreaded secret involving Georgiana worked itself out after Lydia proudly told everyone how he favored Miss King first, but then she was sent away so Mr. Wickham liked her best after all.
Elizabeth could only gape at him in true horror, and then quickly inquired as to if he intended to break off the courtship now that George Wickham married Lydia. Fitzwilliam assured her he did not. " On the contrary, Miss Eliza, I will not give your mother the victory she so desires. I only ask that you do not share this with anyone else," He especially nodded emphatically toward Lydia. " Would you dance with me Miss Mary played a folk song? Your sister Jane is no longer ill,"
The honorable request and impish reference set Elizabeth's heart fluttering. " Most certainly, sir, for how could I say no?" Mary required no conjoling and soon the drawing room boasted a lively country song. Mr. Bennet watched as Darcy and Elizabeth captured the attentions of Mrs. Bennet and worked an unspoken spell over her weaker senses, effectively shutting her up the rest of the evening. Kitty played with Mary the rest of the evening as Edith remarked on Kitty's improved behavior.
" I believe Captain Carter has taken a sincere interest in her, and if she continues to behave as she does, she might very well be happily settled elsewhere in the country. Captain Carter comes from a respectable family after all. Have you heard of the Carters in London, Lydia? They specialize in trade and manufacturing. They're a small clan but a growing one. The eldest has been disowned for his drunkard and gambling ways, and the clan pools their wealth into a trust. It is very ingenious as it provides for all of them,"
" Oh?" Lydia listened, her thoughts constantly wondering.
Edith repositioned herself so that she could sit back further. " Captain Carter reaps almost 800 per annum. My father invested the Boulanger wealth into trade and still does – he says the Carters are a reliable return on the coin,"
Lydia, with half the mind, finally replied. " So he is to offer his hand to Kitty?"
" It appears that he may do so before going to Brighton, from what the shopkeepers say. He and Mr. Wickham speak much on the subject of wealth, and he tried to convince your Wickham to invest your dowry so that it may grow in size,"
" And how do you know this?" Lydia demanded suspiciously. Was her Wickham bedding other women? Surely he wouldn't bed Edith Wilder – the lady was the size of…well, the size of Mrs. Hill.
Kitty and Mary laughed over something at the pianoforte as the dance ended and Mr. Darcy properly lead Elizabeth to a nearby chair and he took his own seat near Gideon and Mr. Bennet. " I know it because Colonel Forster's wife visits when she has time enough to spare. I don't know why she told me – what am I to do about your sister's future marital bliss? But she did say that Kitty is most certainly the lady of his interest, and as you are her sister, I felt you should know. It should be a blessed day indeed when they marry, as you will be able to travel together,"
" Until Captain Carter retires,"
" I suspect the man to be a career man by the way Mrs. Forster talks, and I admit. What a romantic couple, officers have always captured the hearts of ladies. Their red coats-"
Mrs. Bennet said not a word, although her ear stayed on the conversation.
"-it is something about the red coats." Edith finished happily. " I'd place five shillings he makes an offer before the regiment moves to Brighton,"
Lydia pouted, and then consoled herself that she married an officer first. " I'd place five shillings that he does not,"
" Now you're being contrary only because Captain Carter is of greater consequence than your Mr. Wickham," Edith teased her most loudly before sighing and taking Gideon's hand. " I would be happy, Lydia, not jealous," Taking their turn on the floor to Mary and Kitty's amusement, they showed no further interest in Lydia Wickham.
Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Wickham remained silent the rest of the visit, and upon returning home, Lydia accused Kitty of being petty and jealous. It turned into an argument that upset Longbourn, Mary putting an end to it by declaring that they were both being childish, and that Lydia knew better. " As a married woman, you ought to have better control of yourself and be less like our mother. Kitty can marry whoever she likes, you are not her mother or father, Lydia," Mary then lead Kitty off to their shared bedroom where they retired. Elizabeth walked right past Lydia to her own room, leaving the pouting married woman to her own misery.
Mr. Bennet eventually heard her retire to her bedchamber and the next morning she disappeared to Meryton to see her beloved. Lydia never liked accepting defeat or being bested in what she considered 'hers'. Repairing to Mrs. Forster every day, Lydia prevailed and worked upon the impressionable young woman only half a decade older than her till Mrs. Forster insisted Lydia and Wickham be taken into her home wherever they be stationed next. Colonel Forster rejected her insisting however and informed his wife that no officer would share his home with him unless they were the spouse of his sister, a sister he did not have.
Captain Carter visited Longbourn three times a week, often spending half the visit with Mr. Bennet and Mr. Darcy, if Mr. Darcy visited at the same time. Kitty, so certain of her own happiness and heart, confided in Elizabeth that she did not envy Lydia, or even their mother. " I at least understand Charlotte's position. Lydia chose her disgrace, and Mama never cared to learn to be a gentlewoman. Captain Carter speaks so highly of his family and their connections, and I've a feeling them far more respectable even if they only do come from trade,"
" Do you love the man, Kitty?" Elizabeth asked of her as they picked flowers.
Kitty styled one behind her ear most playfully. " I do not know what I feel, only that I wish his company when he not here and when he is here, I am jealous of Papa. Captain Carter speaks well of Papa, and he says that we stand a good chance of possibly falling in grace if Lydia were introduced to wider society,"
" And yet he still marks his attentions on you," Elizabeth returned the favor and placed a flower behind Kitty's ear. " Mrs. Wilder predicts an engagement soon,"
" Has Mr. Darcy not proposed to you yet?"
" He is near, I believe. Just yesterday he hinted that I will soon meet his sister, and I am most happy to know that Mama fears him. Trust me when I say that Mama and Aunt Phillips vex him. He was most kind to Charlotte when he called upon her to give her his sympathies. She thanked and told him bluntly that I was the jewel of Hertfordshire, ready to adorned. Or was it Sir Lucas? I remember not,"
Kitty leaned on her older sister's arm. " Perhaps we might all be married then before the end of this year,"
" I would wish it so, but we can not all expect good fortune," They carried their baskets of flowers into the house so that they could make wreathes and bouquets and flower arrangements. " At least you will not be poor, as Lydia will be,"
" But I will not be wealthy either,"
" Better to be middle than poor, Kitty," Elizabeth rationalized as they thought back on their previous future outlooks. All in all, it improved dramatically. " At the very least Mama will not try to live with you. She will insist on living with Jane or I because of who our husbands would be,"
Mary descended the steps to join the two. " Mama is with Lydia discussing buying her new clothes if Papa will allow it," She warned the girls. Both avoided the upstairs instead choosing the breakfast parlor where they happily passed away their time in comfortable silence.
Scene Break
Netherfield witnessed a most welcoming scene as Miss Georgiana Darcy stepped down from the coach. She bore no smile however as she handed a letter to her brother. " Lady de Bourg visited while you were away, brother," Then she burst into tears again and hugged her brother. Gideon lead Edith back inside so that the siblings could share a moment of privacy.
Fitzwilliam took the letter, one arm still wrapped around her shoulders. Unfolding it most carefully with three fingers, he began to silently read the many lines that flowed onto the next page. " Georgie, please join Mr. And Mrs. Wilder. I will join you shortly," Georgiana ran up the steps and into the house. Gideon ordered Edith to see her to the drawing room while he lingered on the landing outside the main entrance waiting for Darcy to explain himself.
When Darcy folded the letter back up and placed it inside his vest, he only nodded to Gideon. No explanation passed between the gentlemen, and only Georgiana shed any light on the matter between tea and biscuits and the evening meal. " The mean old woman – why must she care who he marries?"
Edith had no idea who Georgiana spoke of and therefore understood no better than Gideon.
Fitzwilliam spent half a day wrapping up business in Meryton, and then the other half assuring his sister that all is well. He repaired straight away to Mr. Bennet the following day, taking Elizabeth on a long walk toward Meryton and finally making his offer of marriage. " My Aunt forces my hand, Elizabeth. She has gone to the Bishop of Canterbury, presenting papers that insist I am in a marriage contract with her daughter. The Bishop will most likely contact me, but I am going to respond to this deception before it spirals out of control. Will you accept the honor of becoming my wife?"
Elizabeth allowed herself a smile, a nod, and then latched herself onto his arm. " I will wait as long as you need me to,"
" It may take months,"
" Mr. Darcy, I have enduring my family one and twenty years. Another few months is not a burden," She laughed it and then sobered immediately. " Truly, do what you must and do not worry about me,"
Reassured of her goodwill, Darcy proceeded to London. On April 30th, he departed Netherfield with his sister to go to London to consult with the Darcy family lawyer.
April 28, 1812 – May 20, 1812
Kitty did not need to wait long for her officer to propose. On the first of May when he was informed of the official move to Brighton, Captain James Carter repaired to Longbourn. He asked for Mr. Bennet's permission to marry Kitty, and then encountered Lydia trying to spirit Kitty away to visit Charlotte, soon to be in half-mourning. " Mrs. Wickham, Miss Catherine," He bowed. " Miss Catherine, would you join me in the wild garden?" Lydia made to follow. " Alone,"
Mrs. Bennet exited the house, calling after Lydia. Lydia lingered, even as Kitty accepted his arm and followed him to the wild garden. " Miss Bennet, you are looking very pretty this morning,"
" Thank you, Captain," She said, cheeks turning red. " And you very handsome,"
" I will miss you when I am stationed in Brighton and will think of you often,"
Mr. Bennet shut the breakfast parlor off from the nebby Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Wickham, their cries of protests unheard by Captain Carter. " I am certain you will find other ladies to catch your fancy, sir,"
" But none who are as lively and happy as you, Catherine. You have been the light of my life in Meryton, and I wish I could take you with me,"
" If you could, sir, we would need to be married,"
" I am a man of less means but no means poor, Miss Catherine. I earn 800 pounds per annum as you well know and could easily support you and a family. If you would part from Longbourn and become my wife, I would most cheerfully go to Brighton,"
" As your wife?" She asked in disbelief. While she and Lydia always preferred officers, she never imagined marrying one. " Did I hear you correctly, sir?"
Captain Carter produced a letter of promise detailing what the family trust owed him annually as well the value of his savings invested among other traders. " I know you are of the age to need your father's permission and he has granted it. You only need to say no and I will never make the offer again, but if you say yes, I must repair to the Parson for the beginning of the banns to be read, and to inform the Colonel of my impending nuptials,"
All Kitty could do was stare at him, and after several minutes passed, she handed the letter back to him. " I will say yes, Captain Carter, only if you agree to a year's engagement. We will both know our heart's desire at the end of the period, and then if you still wish, we will marry and I will follow you wherever the regiment leads you," James Carter swept her into his arms, and then placed a most chaste kiss on her gloved hand.
" I must return to Meryton, I trust you will give your father the good news,"
" Of course, Captain," Kitty stared after him and waited till he was out of sight and hearing before running into the house, tearing open the door of his study, not able to find him, then the breakfast parlor where she found him most genuinely happy with a book on his lap. " Papa! Haven't you told us it not nice to eavesdrop?"
" I did, child, indeed I did. Are your mother and sister still out in the hall? Or have they sought out another way to hear your answer?"
Kitty stood stupidly in the middle of the room. " Did I do the wrong thing by asking for a long engagement? I do not wish to be like Lydia, Papa, and I do not want to be a burden," Her father just kept smiling and then began to hum to himself. " So I did right?" Her nerves started to itch, and she could not stand still any longer.
Finally Mr. Bennet put her out of her misery. " You did right, child. Now, as I understand, your mother will be most pleased you are marrying an officer, even if it is a year away. You should give her the good news and she might want you to purchase wedding clothes before your officer is even present for the wedding,"
" No, Papa. I do not want wedding clothes. What if he is killed in combat? Even though we are always on edge because of the French, we ourselves are not in a war,"
Mr. Bennet announced to the household later that night that Mrs. Bennet would receive her pin money again now that the regiment soon would be away. Lydia asked about pin money, only to be told that she no longer was his responsibility to provide for. " If you wish pin money, Lydia, ask Mr. Wickham. He is your husband and you are his responsibility now. Or better yet, write your sister Jane as she will have more than enough pin money to send to you and still be able to afford her comforts,"
" Oh Mr. Bennet! Mr. Bingley earns 5,000 a year,"
" Indeed, Mrs. Bennet, and as Lydia most willfully chose George Wickham, she is to live with her consequences. Kitty, by comparison, will never have to worry as her man is twice or three times the consequence of Mr. Wickham,"
" Papa, I wish you would not say it that way," Kitty protested over her sister's jealous eruptions and bitter remarks. Mary kept her head down and ate her food in silence, wanting no part in the talk of officers, marriage, or leaving Longbourn. Now that Mrs. Bennet could shop again, she'd no doubt see the emergence of silliness in the household.
Elizabeth cleared her throat. " Papa, Mr. Darcy has written to tell me that the Bishop dismissed Lady de Bourg's claims. The special license has been issued to him, and he returns to wed me even as I speak. He insists that we marry in the same church that Jane married, and that the family be present, including Mr. Wickham. Will you consent to this?"
Lydia continued the heavy stream of commentary under breath as she ate the food, knowing once they left she'd likely never be able to hire a cook to prepare her meals.
" Most heartily and send you off to Pemberley too. Mary, Kitty, you'll have your own rooms, soon," Mr. Bennet exclaimed and then leveled a most happy smile at Mrs. Bennet, who long stopped caring about Lydia's complaining.
Three happy weeks Catherine Bennet and James Carter spent together when his duties permitted, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy marrying on the 18th of May. They stayed the first night at Netherfield, and with Georgiana Darcy as company departed for Pemberley. Lydia Wickham followed her husband to Brighton on the 20th, where they expected to be stationed for several months more. With only Mary and Kitty at home, Mr. Bennet predicted his household to be less silly, more profitable, and less tiring.
Mr. Wilder in his bookroom on the same day his youngest daughter left ensured that he still had the company of some reason.