Summary: A very short one-shot that takes place at Rosings.
What if Lady Catherine had imparted some very useful information at dinner?
Chapter 31 AU.
Darcy smiled and said, "You are perfectly right. You have employed your time much better. No one admitted to the privilege of hearing you can think anything wanting. We neither of us perform to strangers."
Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine, who called out to know what they were talking of. Elizabeth immediately began playing again. Lady Catherine approached, and, after listening for a few minutes, said to Darcy, "Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss if she practised more, and could have the advantage of a London master. She has a very good notion of fingering, though her taste is not equal to Anne's. Anne would have been a delightful performer, had her health allowed her to learn."
Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see how cordially he assented to his cousin's praise; but neither at that moment nor at any other could she discern any symptom of love; and from the whole of his behaviour to Miss de Bourgh she derived this comfort for Miss Bingley, that he might have been just as likely to marry her, had she been his relation.
Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth's performance, mixing with them many instructions on execution and taste. Elizabeth received them with all the forbearance of civility, and, at the request of the gentlemen, remained at the instrument. However, she was soon distracted. Darcy had moved away to pour the gentlemen some brandy; Lady Catherine, seemingly more interested in maintaining a conversation with him instead of continuing to instruct Elizabeth, turned in his direction.
"Darcy, there is a matter you need to discuss with my coachman at your earliest, once you are done looking over the estate tomorrow."
Darcy looked at Lady Catherine quizzically, but continued with his business. As it happened, Lady Catherine soon had the attention of everyone around her.
"I sent my coachman to Bromley to pick up some deliveries sent from London; he returned earlier today. It seems that once there, the coachman picked up several complaints about that wastrel your father protected for many years…many an unpaid bill it seems, as well as highly unbecoming conduct with several barmaids."
Elizabeth had little interest in the conversation till then, but she saw Darcy freeze momentarily. Even Colonel Fitzwilliam turned away from the piano, and looked at Lady Catherine. Each man was a slight shade of red.
"Are you speaking of that scoundrel George Wickham?" Colonel Fitzwilliam asked, in a tone quite unlike his prior demeanour.
Elizabeth was shocked. Her playing faltered, and she looked Charlotte. Maria, equally familiar with Wickham, also started.
"Of course, who else could it be?" Lady Catherine retorted, and turned to Darcy again. "I always told your father to be careful, and that he wasn't to be trusted. Why, Darcy, didn't you give Mr. Wickham two thousand pounds? How is it that he is running up so much debt already?"
Darcy glanced at Elizabeth briefly, but she was unable to read his expression. Elizabeth's shock and surprise were altogether too much, she abandoned the music altogether to hear Darcy's response.
"It was in fact three thousand pounds," Colonel Fitzwilliam supplied, "though it is considerably more if you add up Wickham's debts from Ramsgate that Darcy settled last summer."
"We must protect the family name of course, as unfortunate as it is that his is entwined with Pemberley. But Darcy, you must do something proper. This is throwing good money after bad," Lady Catherine intoned.
Elizabeth was beside herself. Darcy had given Wickham three thousand pounds? Settled debts in Ramsgate? But…but... if that was true, then…
"My good sir, if I may be of some assistance," Mr. Collins intruded. "I believe my dear wife and my cousin may have some information about this man you speak of. My dear," he said, turning to Charlotte, "wasn't there a George Wickham posted in the -shire at Meryton? I am sure I recall someone of that name who said he was from Derbyshire."
Finally, Darcy spoke. "Thank you, Mr. Collins. I am also aware that Mr. Wickham had obtained a position with the militia there. Aunt, Fitzwilliam and I will deal with this matter tomorrow morning before all else. Now, this is a highly unsuitable subject to be discussed here, and I am sure we are upsetting the ladies; Ms. Bennet has even stopped playing the instrument. Mrs. Collins, do you play? I do not seem to recall seeing you play at Hertfordshire, but perhaps I am mistaken."
With that, Elizabeth was obliged to resume playing, much as she was distracted. Her head was full of disbelief; fortunately, her ladyship's carriage was ready to take them all home soon thereafter.
Charlotte linked her arm with Elizabeth as they walked. "Eliza, I do believe we have much to talk about tomorrow!"