Chapter Two – A Cunning Plan

I had to wait until the evening was nearly over before I could contrive a few moment's private speech with Mr. Wickham. Lydia really should not be out, I thought yet again. In fact, she ought to be muzzled and tied up in the yard like the blacksmith's dog is kept during the day. She had demanded Mr. Wickham's attention and then flirted outrageously with him for most of the evening. I would have been far too obvious if I had tried to call him away. Perhaps laudanum in Lydia's tea is not such a bad idea. I shall have to think on that one.

Mr. Wickham seemed both flattered and curious as I pulled him slightly aside from the company. I am not sure what he expected me to say. I had a feeling he would be surprised when he found out.

"That was an interesting tale you told my sister about Mr. Darcy. Why do I suspect you left out some very important information?" I asked him. His eyes briefly narrowed in surprise and suspicion before he schooled his features back into a pleasant smile. He was not quite as practiced as I was, but he was still very good.

"Miss Bennet," he said in a mildly shocked tone, "whatever can you mean by that?"

"Do not worry, I have no intention of giving you away. It is only that you contradicted yourself a few times and my slight acquaintance with Mr. Darcy convinces me he would never ignore a bequest by his father no matter how vague the terms."

He looked at me with a hint of surprise. "Have you set your cap at Darcy, then? I understood you were destined for Mr. Bingley."

"I have hopes of Mr. Bingley, it is true, but Mr. Darcy may stand in my way. I have studied him well and want to know what you really hold against him. I saw the manner of your meeting just as Lizzy did, but she is blinded by her resentment of the man who chose to publicly insult her at their first meeting. I am not. It was clear you were nervous and he was very angry. That does not match the circumstances of the tale you have been spinning."

His smile became more charming, but I could see the interest and other things in his eyes. He looked me up and down before responding.

"What is the information worth to you?" he asked.

"Not what you may be implying by that look. I think it depends on what you ask for and what your goals here might be. I suspect Mr. Darcy could make life very uncomfortable for you if he wished. I also suspect you would welcome a chance to take his pride down a few pegs. I have a plan that will do that latter for you, but I cannot accomplish it alone."

I had him hooked. I could tell by his expression. He was weighing the possibilities, but he did not yet have my measure. That was how I wanted to keep the situation.

"Now is not the time..." he began.

"I agree," I interrupted. "The other officers visit our home often. Join them tomorrow morning. Perhaps you can convince one or two of them to distract Lydia, so you can sit by me instead. I will move far enough away from the group so we can talk quietly. Do not speak of this in front of Lizzy, though. I want her to keep believing exactly what you told her earlier."

"A dangerous game," he said with a wink. "I like it already."

"Perhaps there is danger," I said. "Perhaps we can both find some security."

With a smile, he bowed and kissed my hand. My own serene smile was still firmly in place. No one else would know a plan was in action.

0o0o0

I did dose Mama to prevent her interference the next day. While she had her morning tea in her room, I came to visit and tipped a few drops into her cup. Once she drank, I was not at all surprised when she said she felt sleepy and returned to her bed. I simply tucked her in and later made her excuses to my sisters when I went down to breakfast.

Mr. Wickham arrived a little while later with a small group of the liveliest officers, as I hoped he would. Three immediately moved to pay court to Kitty and Lydia. Captain Denny settled in next to Lizzy and quickly engaged her in conversation. Since Mary was in the other room torturing the pianoforte, that left Mr. Wickham to make a show of sitting beside me as a sort of last resort. I asked him about the ride from the camp in my normal voice. He answered with some gallant nonsense. We talked back and forth, slowly lowering the volume of our conversation until the others were all engaged enough in their own conversations to ignore us.

"My sister retold your tale to me last night," I said. "She believes you implicitly, even when I made a token effort to suggest there might be some kind of misunderstanding. If your intent was to have her spread your gossip, however, it will not work. She would only speak with me because she trusts I will not tell tales. If you want your story to spread, Lydia is a better choice."

I saw Mr. Wickham grimace a bit. I understood. Lydia might be fun for a man to flirt with briefly, but she was also overbearing and rather boring company since her main topics were herself and fashion.

"On that subject," I added with a warning look, "no matter how flirtatious my younger sisters might be, you will not take advantage and you will pass the warning to your fellow officers. The ruin of my family is not really in my plan."

Wickham looked over to where Lydia sat giggling while exposing a little too much decolletage. I hoped I would not have to interrupt our talk to take her in hand.

"Why should we not take what appears to be freely offered?" he asked me with a slight leer.

"Enlightened self-interest," I explained. "You may not know it yet, but my mother is a very generous hostess. Your fellow officers usually visit later in the day knowing she will readily invite them to join us for dinner and she sets a good table. It does not cost any coin to gain a fine meal, the only price is engaging in inane conversation with a few silly women. My mother's approval of these gentlemen opens doors for them to other houses as well, and more free meals. If we are ruined, all those doors close to you. In addition, I will spread word that you have been lying about Mr. Darcy, trying to gain pity for yourself at the expense of a good man."

"Ah, but if your family is ruined, who will believe you?" he asked. He thought he had scored a point, but I corrected him.

"Again, you have not been here long enough to know it, but MY reputation is secure. I am sweet, kind Jane, known to one and all for my good temper and strong sense of propriety. No matter what my family does, I would be believed and any attempt to discredit me would rebound on you." I said this in a quietly conversational tone, but he could see the truth of it as clearly as if I had stated it loudly or sworn it on the Bible.

"And what is it you want from me, sweet, kind Jane?" he asked after a moment of thought.

"It is Miss Bennet to you, and do not forget it," I said tartly, although without the least crack in my serene facade. "I want to know about you and Mr. Darcy and I will need your help to bend him to my plan."

"Darcy did refuse me the living his father intended for me," he said a little defensively.

"Was that because it was not properly written into the will? Or because you failed to fulfill conditions attached to the bequest, like completing your studies and becoming ordained?" As his expression shifted more guiltily I tried another suggestion. "Or did he pay you a sum in lieu of the living?"

I knew the last dart had hit the mark when surprise flitted across his face. He schooled his features quickly, but it had been there all the same.

"There might have been some money exchanged after old Mr. Darcy died, and I might have failed to meet some conditions, but Darcy did deny me." Mr. Wickham looked at me with something I took for admiration as he continued, "Your face may be as vacant and peaceful as a porcelain doll, Miss Bennet, but you are as calculating and sharp a wench as I have ever met."

His idea of a compliment surprised me. It was not the sort of thing I was accustomed to hearing. At the same time, he was seeing my true nature in a way I had shown no one since I was a very small child. I liked the feeling, but he was still not going to turn my head or distract me from my purpose.

"So, you took payment in place of the living, but when it became vacant you asked for it again. Now you want revenge because you were denied." I suggested.

"When you say it like that, it sounds so petty," he replied, having to work to keep up his charming smile for appearances.

"I have grown up in a house full of petty women, Mr. Wickham. I am unlikely to be surprised by a petty man." He took a moment to digest that statement and then looked around.

"Where is your mother?" he asked.

"Indisposed," I said simply. "Now, how do you think Mr. Darcy would react if he were accidentally compromised by my sister Lizzy?"

"Wait," he asked, "I thought you said she dislikes him because he insulted her."

"She does. But he likes her, as I am certain you noticed when you last saw him. That is why you targeted my sister for your comments, is it not?"

"Too sharp by half," he muttered before saying more loudly, "What did you have in mind?"

"Mr. Bingley is to hold a ball soon. He was making plans while we were at Netherfield a few days ago and I expect the invitations to come out at any time. His sisters, however, were discussing removing with him to town immediately after the ball. Does Mr. Bingley know of the disagreement between you and Mr. Darcy?"

Mr. Wickham considered for a moment. "He might know something of it, but not the whole. Darcy can be very secretive and there are parts of my interactions with him he would keep very quiet indeed."

I raised an eyebrow at him in a manner reminiscent of Lizzy. It was not a gesture I employed often, but it seemed right for the moment. He took the hint.

"I might have been too much in company with Darcy's younger sister for his comfort while she visited Ramsgate last summer. He turned up before I thought he would and spoiled my plans."

"Ah, the highly accomplished Miss Darcy, who Miss Bingley refers to as her dear Georgiana. Is she as lovely and talented as Miss Bingley makes her out to be?" I asked with genuine curiosity.

He laughed. "She is only fifteen, although she does have the figure of a slightly older girl. Miss Darcy is highly accomplished on the pianoforte because she spends hours practicing. I doubt I would call her accomplished at very much else."

"The same age as Lydia, then. Hmm. Is she out in society?"

"Miss Lydia is only fifteen? What is your mother thinking?"

"Not much, I am afraid. Is Miss Darcy out yet?"

Mr. Wickham shook his head slightly, clearing his thoughts. "Miss Darcy, no. That was part of my appeal to her. She fears being out in society and if she had married me she could have avoided the process."

This time my raised eyebrow was involuntary. Still, I should not have been surprised he had tried to elope with an heiress. I recovered my usual expression and said, "Then she will not be as likely a candidate for Mr. Bingley as his sister tries to make out."

"Certainly not! She has a dowry of thirty thousand pounds. Darcy is not going to marry her off to the son of a tradesman even if Bingley is his best friend. He would gain nothing socially by it. That is also probably why he has not expressed his interest in your sister, although you are correct that I saw it in the short time I saw them together."

"How would he react to an accidental compromise?"

"Honorably," Wickham said, as if the word left a bad taste in his mouth. "But why would you do that to your sister? And why would I help you make that happen?"

"Perhaps I think she deserves to have her own pride cut down by being tied to a prideful man she dislikes. And you will help because it will be satisfying to see him forced into marriage with a woman who dislikes him so intensely. In addition, if you have her sympathy you may be able to use her new position to your advantage."

He smiled at the thought. "And what do you get out of it?"

"Leverage with Mr. Bingley, of course. My family's consequence will not be so low if we are connected to the Darcys of Pemberley, now will it?"

"So, you want to force some kind of compromise at this ball? Will the officers be invited, do you think?" He had a satisfied look, like a cat with the cream.

"I expect they will," I told him. "In fact, I think we might be about to find out." I had caught a glimpse of Mr. Bingley's carriage through the window. "Would you be so kind as to attend one of my other sisters in order to leave that seat free?" I asked him.

He listened and heard voices at the front door. Rising, he bowed slightly and went to pull up a chair near Lizzy and Captain Denny, quickly joining in with their conversation only to be interrupted as Mrs. Hill announced Mr. Bingley and his sisters.

We all rose and greeted one another. Mr. Bingley was his usual affable self even when I explained that our mother was indisposed. He expressed a wish that she would be well and then returned to smiling at me. He was very handsome, in a puppyish sort of way. I thought I would enjoy being married to him even aside from his malleability. 0f course, it did not hurt that he had been managed by his sisters for so long he would probably not even notice my gentler manipulations of him.

Miss Bingley looked around like there was a bad smell in the room, although she was trying to keep her expression to what passed as pleasant for her. I had been hard pressed to keep from laughing at the beginning of our acquaintance when Lizzy had felt the need to warn me Miss Bingley might not be as friendly as she appeared. I was aware both of Mr. Bingley's sisters were supercilious social climbers. I also knew that for all their airs and money, my sisters and I were of higher social status. I might not be a member of the Ton, but Mr. Bingley would still be stepping up in social ranking when he married me.

To my satisfaction, Mr. Bingley immediately moved to the seat at my side once he had greeted the others in the room. The time for being demure and coy had passed, especially now that Mama was not in the room to cause problems. Without going too far out of the character I had built, I made certain he knew by my expression how happy I was to see him.

"Good day, Miss Bennet," he said eagerly. "You are looking well."

"It is pleasure at your visit, I assure you," I said. You are always most welcome at Longbourn, you know," I said, using a phrase my mother would have employed, but without the histrionics and shrillness of voice.

He smiled winningly. "I am happy to hear it. In fact, we come with an invitation. Caroline? Will you do the honors?" His last comment was made loud enough for all to hear.

"Oh, but Charles, the Bennets have guests," she protested, probably hoping to get away without delivering her invitation at all.

"It is of no matter," he said. "The officers are invited as well. I am certain they will understand why we delivered this invitation in person." He looked longingly at me and I did my best to encourage him.

"Oh, very well," she said grudgingly. "We are to have a ball on the twenty-sixth of November and all the Bennet family are invited." Her voice clearly indicated the disgust she felt at inviting members of my family into her home. What a shock she would receive when it was my home and she was the one who was no longer welcome.

"I hope you will honor me with the first dance, Miss Bennet," Mr. Bingley said almost before she had finished speaking. I nodded joyfully even as the room erupted with the noise of my two younger sisters as they exclaimed their love of balls in general and their excitement over this one in particular.

"Are all the officers invited, Mr. Bingley?" Captain Denny asked at a look from Mr. Wickham.

"Every one of them," my suitor said. "The more, the merrier."

Under the noise of my younger sisters as they talked loudly about dancing with officers, I heard Mr. Wickham ask for Lizzy's first set at the ball and Mr. Denny ask for the second. Lizzy accepted them both and then addressed Mr. Bingley herself.

"Sir, my father told us last evening that his cousin, a clergyman, will be visiting us starting next Monday. He had intended to arrive this past week but was delayed. If this cousin, Mr. Collins, is so inclined, might we bring him as one of our party?"

"Of course," said Mr. Bingley, smiling at me although it was Lizzy who had asked. I was happy enough at the result and did my best to monopolize his attention for as long as I could after that. I wanted to, as our friend Charlotte Lucas had suggested a few weeks ago, leave him in no doubt of the strength of my affections, or at least of my desire for a match with him. He appeared to be getting the idea when his sister chose to interrupt our quiet discussion.

"Charles, we really must be leaving. We have several other invitations to deliver if you remember. We do not wish to further interrupt the Bennet ladies in their visit with the officers." I saw Mrs. Hurst nod in agreement. Although she was trying to sound reasonable, I could hear both the whine and the insult in Miss Bingley's voice. I vowed to myself that once I married her brother, she would need to find a home with the Hursts or marry quickly. I certainly did not want her in my household trying to manage my husband. I looked forward to her disappointment if Mr. Wickham and I could get Lizzy engaged to Mr. Darcy. With any good fortune the compromise could be arranged, and I planned to benefit from it. Her loss of Mr. Darcy as a prize would be icing on the cake.

At her words, Mr. Bingley reluctantly rose to leave. The officers seemed to take Miss Bingley's hint that they should not stay so long without our mother present to lend the illusion of propriety to the setting. They also stood, as did my family. Mr. Bingley made an enthusiastic farewell and offered happy effusions over the prospect of us opening the ball together. I did my best to convince him of my equal joy at the thought.

Once the Netherfield party was gone, the officers also made their farewells. Mr. Wickham hung back a little bit as the others listened to Lydia still crowing over all the dancing they would do together at Mr. Bingley's ball. He stood next to me and spoke very quietly.

"I will plan a compromise to happen between your sister and Mr. Darcy during the course of the ball. Do you need to know the details before it takes place?"

"No, I will expect it at some point and act as soon as may be afterwards. Any further communication between us is too dangerous."

"As you wish, Miss Bennet," he said. He turned so the others would not see his expression. He gave me a jaunty smile and winked. Then he turned back to my sisters.

"I look forward to dancing the first with you, Miss Elizabeth," he said loudly to Lizzy. Within moments he and the rest of the officers were gone, leaving me with two over-excited sisters and one who was almost as bad, but trying hard not to show it.

"Mr. Wickham is everything a gentleman ought to be. Do you not agree, Jane?" she asked me after Kitty and Lydia ran up to look over their gowns and decide what they should wear to the ball.

"He is certainly handsome, and he appears very amiable," I replied, measuring my words.

"Mr. Darcy should be ashamed at how poorly he has treated Mr. Wickham. However, I do not suppose his opinion matters." She had that pert look on. There were times I hated that expression, most times she wore it, in fact. Still, I felt a slight twinge of guilt at my plan to marry her off to Mr. Darcy. She would not take to it easily.

"I hope, no matter what you feel, you will remain polite to him, Lizzy? I should hate to have him influence Mr. Bingley against me." I was absolutely sincere in this request. I was too close to success now to have Lizzy mess things up for me with some ill-tempered remark or clever insult.

"Of course, Jane, although I hardly think his friend could drag Mr. Bingley away from you. I have never seen anyone more besotted in my life."

"All the same, please try to remain civil," I asked.

"Of course, Jane. I want you to be happy," she assured me. "I am rather glad Mama chose not to come down today. I know she tries to be helpful, but she spends so much time promoting you with Mr. Bingley he never gets a chance to speak with you directly. Even aside from her inappropriate comments, that cannot be helpful."

"We did have a pleasant conversation today. I think Mama was merely tired after our late night with Aunt Phillips. I am certain she will feel better later," I told her. I wondered if there were any calming herbs I could slip into Mama's tea before the ball. Not enough to make her sleep, just something to tone her down a bit. Perhaps I could find something in Papa's library if he would only leave it for a time. Whether I could or not, I was going to make the most of Mr. Bingley's ball. I fully intended to be Mrs. Bingley before Christmas.