A/N
Chapter 2 of LTGHW. Hope you enjoy!
Thank you so much for the engagement. I truly treasure your feedback and wait for it eagerly. Please do remember it motivates me write faster 😉
Cheers
N
Like the Gentleman He WasChapter 2Elizabeth woke up next morning feeling out of sorts and grew progressively unhappy as she recollected the events of the previous day. Mama's diatribe on the follies and selfishness of her most stubborn daughter began as soon as Mr Darcy left and continued unabated until the arrival of the apothecary, Mr Jones. All of Mama's grievances with her, both past and present, had come tumbling out. Papa's attempts to placate Mama or divert her attention did not prove very effective. It was only after Mr Jones advised that she–Elizabeth–be allowed to rest without disturbance, that Papa put his foot down and everyone but Jane was banished from her room.
Elizabeth sighed disconsolately at the remembrance, then tried to cheer herself up by listing what she believed were blessings from yesterday. Mr Darcy's quick arrival at the site of the accident and his presence of mind in wrapping her in his great coat had prevented her from catching a chill. She had it straight from Mr Jones. Then what they had feared as a sprain in her left foot had turned out to be only a painful wrench. After the application of a special poultice suggested by Mr Jones, twice since yesterday, her foot felt as good as new... well... almost.
She stood up to assess the improvement to her foot once again. It was still tender but she would be able to walk, especially with assistance. She glanced at the clock on the side table and grimaced. It was later than the time she usually got up, but early enough for her sisters and mother to still be asleep. Intent on spending some time in the garden and getting back her equilibrium, she rang for her maid, Sarah. Some time spent with nature was necessary if she was to deal with Mama's continued lamentations with any degree of equanimity.
When Sarah came, Elizabeth requested her help to get dressed. Once she was ready, she went down for breakfast with Sarah's assistance. As Elizabeth had expected, only her father was there in the breakfast parlour.
"Good morning, my dear. It is heartening to see you back on your own two feet," Mr Bennet greeted her as she went to take her seat. "I hope you are feeling better?" he asked solicitously.
"Yes, Papa. I feel much better," Elizabeth replied with a quick smile. For a while there was silence in the room as both father and daughter applied themselves to their meals. Mr Bennet was never very talkative at the breakfast table and usually kept himself immersed in the newspaper. However, today the newspaper sat neatly folded by his side and although he did not say anything much after the pleasantries, Elizabeth found his eyes straying to her often with a troubled look in them.
"Papa... is something the matter?" she asked when she encountered his eyes for the third time in less than ten minutes.
"No... no... Nothing is the matter, Lizzy. I am just trying to assure myself that you are not suffering any ill effects from your accident."
Elizabeth noticed that although her father spoke lightly, his smile did not reach his eyes. It was obvious that he was troubled but was not willing to share its cause with her, at least at present.
She nodded and pushed her plate away. "I will be in the garden if you need me, Papa," she said with a sigh as she signaled to Sarah to help her out to the garden. She was confident that she would be able to walk unaided, especially for short durations, but she still sought help as she did not want to give Mama any additional reason for irritation to her already exacerbated nerves.
Mr Bennet watched Elizabeth and her maid walk out of the French windows and murmured unhappily, "Oh Lizzy, stay strong, my child."
~§§§~
Nearly an hour after the breakfast, Mr Bennet was in his study listening to a worrying report from his butler, Hill, when there was a knock at the door.
A footman came in and announced, "Lieutenant Wickham has come to call on the ladies, sir."
"Tell him that we are not receiving at the moment," Mr Bennet replied shortly and the footman bowed out to convey the message to the visitor. The intelligence Hill had shared just now made the Bennet patriarch very reluctant to entertain anyone from the village at present unless he was very sure of their intentions. That Wickham had come calling at such an unreasonably early hour made Mr Bennet wary of the Lieutenant's and hence the summary treatment to the man.
Mr Bennet was glad that yesterday's disturbing events had made most members his family to sleep in later than usual, and no one was available to receive the soldier. Luckily, Lizzy was still out in the gardens and remained oblivious of the visit. But Mr Wickham's arrival had made him realize that he could not delay speaking to Elizabeth much longer. He sighed unhappily at the thought.
~§§§~
Wickham pursed his lips in frustration as he turned away from the front door of Longbourn. He had come here in the hope of ferreting out information on the very scandalous gossip he had heard at Mrs Goulding's card party yesterday. At first, he had found it difficult to credit the whispers doing the rounds of their hostess's drawing-room. For he had never known the straitlaced Darcy to act in a manner that would give rise to salacious gossip. However, he knew that he was onto something when he learned that Mrs Goulding had herself witnessed Darcy accompanying Miss Elizabeth to Longbourn. Not only was Darcy carrying the young lady in his arms but they both appeared in a state of dishevelment. There was some talk of some sort of accident but, Mrs Goulding was of the opinion that a mishap was not all that seemed to have occurred.
'Well... well... who would have thought that the cold-blooded Darcy would let his passions rule him in this uncharacteristic manner? And then run away like a scared rabbit... because if the gossip was to be trusted, then the Netherfield party had already decamped from the estate.' Wickham's lips twitched at the thought as he walked away. To him, it was baffling that Darcy had run away immediately after causing a scandal. It was something he would have done under the circumstances. But then... he could also not believe that his erstwhile friend would ever contemplate lowering himself to marry the penniless daughter of a lowly country squire!
The news of the Netherfield party's departure had prompted Wickham to visit Longbourn. If he could blacken Darcy's already maligned character just a little bit more, then why not? He owed it to Darcy for the thirty thousand pounds his friend had snatched away from him.
It was therefore frustrating to be turned away from the front door when he had come here with such great anticipation. Wickham sighed resignedly and looked around as he walked past a small flower garden. He was overjoyed to see Miss Elizabeth seated there on a stone bench. 'It seems my visit has not been in vain after all.' He thought happily as he changed directions.
"Miss Elizabeth! I hope you are well?" he enquired as he came to stand before her.
Elizabeth started at the sudden intrusion. "Oh... Mr Wickham! Good morning, sir. I am very well, I thank you."
"Well... I am glad to know that, Miss Elizabeth. I was at the Gouldings' card party yestereve when I heard about your accident. The intelligence had me worried."
Elizabeth was perturbed to learn that the news of her accident had been a matter of discussion among the neighbours. Yesterday, she had been too distracted by Mama's lamentations and her own miserable condition to take much note of anything. But now that she thought about it, she could recollect that a few of the neighbourhood matrons, including Mrs Goulding, were present when Mr Darcy had brought her back to Longbourn.
"There is no cause for worry, Mr Wickham. I feel as fit as a fiddle. Thankfully, what we initially suspected as a sprain, was declared only to be a wrench in my foot by Mr Jones."
"That is excellent news, Miss Elizabeth. I am happy to know that the events of yesterday have not had any ill effects on your health," Wickham expressed his satisfaction even as he decided to go for the kill. "If only..." he added with a faux diffident expression.
"If only...?" Elizabeth prompted when Mr Wickham did not say anything else for a long moment.
"Ah... I do not know how to say this... Perhaps I should not be distressing you with this at all... but I consider you as my dear friend... and..."
"Mr Wickham, please!" Elizabeth interrupted him a little impatiently, then gentled her voice. "I know that you are a well-wisher and so... I insist that you do not hesitate to tell me what it is that is troubling you."
"Oh... Miss Elizabeth, this is so awkward... but... I believe it is my duty to tell you that yesterday there was a lot of talk and speculation about... about you and Darcy being alone together for an unspecified period in the woods... and... ah... there was some talk of... of clothes in a state of disarray... and..." Wickham stopped abruptly as he heard Elizabeth's sharply indrawn breath. She paled as she realized the extremely vulgar and dangerous turn the gossip seemed to have taken.
"I do not know what Darcy was even thinking..." Wickham began sanctimoniously, but Elizabeth interrupted him brusquely. "When Mr Darcy came across me yesterday, I had already twisted my foot and was not in a position to walk on my own. So, if I were to take a guess, I would say that he was thinking only of my wellbeing."
"Ah... of course. I understand that, Miss Elizabeth... but... Darcy is a man of the world and he very well knows the importance of keeping up appearances. The least he could have done was to ensure that he returned you to your home undetected without making a spectacle of his generous deed!"
Even as a shocked Elizabeth noticed the slightly malicious twist to Mr Wickham's mouth, she recollected how careful Mr Darcy had been to ask her the way to her home through the deserted path running behind their home. The truth remained that he had made every attempt to return her to Longbourn unobserved. It was the presence of guests at their home which put paid to all his efforts. She might have informed Mr Wickham of the fact had she not seen a faint look of ghoulish anticipation on his face. It was almost as if he wanted her and especially Mr Darcy to be pilloried for something which was clearly vulgar gossip.
"I have to agree with you that the timing of our return was unfortunate... as there were so many witnesses to it," Elizabeth responded shortly.
"Very true, Miss Elizabeth, very true..." Wickham shook his head and tried to appear suitably mournful. "But now that his careless actions have resulted in so much damage to your reputation... not that I believe any of the gossip even for a moment... it was his duty to offer you the protection of his name..." The thought of the supercilious Darcy leg shackled to a penniless country nobody tickled Wickham very much, and he controlled his amusement with difficulty.
Although the smirk on his lips disappeared as quickly as it had made an appearance, Elizabeth noticed it and wondered bemusedly, 'How did I ever consider this man charming and good natured?' And for the very first time she wondered whether all that he had told her about his past dealings with Mr Darcy, hours after meeting her, was true?
Oblivious to her angry fulminations, Wickham continued, "But that coward has already run away. I heard that the Netherfield party left Meryton yesterday itself!"
'And thank the Lord for that!' Elizabeth thought with a shudder. 'For all the kindness he demonstrated yesterday, the very thought of being tied for life to the haughty and disdainful Mr Darcy was horrifying! And... it was rather cruel to expect the man to be repaid thusly for being a good Samaritan. After all, he barely finds me tolerable!'
"Yes... I am aware of that, Mr Wickham. Miss Bingley sent us a farewell note the day before the last. Their departure was already planned for yesterday. Mr Darcy was hardly to know that his generous deed would cause such a furore in our neighbourhood," Elizabeth said dismissively.
Wickham stared at Miss Elizabeth for a long moment. It was frustrating to see her deflect each of his poison laced barbs against Darcy so effortlessly. But as he observed her guileless demeanour, he was forced to conclude that despite Mrs Goulding's salacious insinuations, all Darcy seemed to have done yesterday was to help an injured Miss Elizabeth to her home. It had been foolish of him to even expect anything else from that dry stick-in-the-mud. Wickham sighed at the lost opportunity to finally collect some dirt on Darcy but could not give up before trying one last bit of mischief.
"Ah... yes... I understand Miss Elizabeth, but you are too innocent about the ways of the world. Darcy certainly is not. He should have at least stuck around long enough to find out the repercussions of his actions."
He saw Elizabeth's impatient shrug and added maliciously, "In think you are not realizing the gravity of the situation, Miss Elizabeth. All that I heard yestereve is quite detrimental to your reputation. If he was any sort of gentleman, Darcy should have offered you restitution... but he has run off... " Wickham paused to make an effect and once again Elizabeth wondered how she could have considered this snake as a friend!
"Would to God, I could offer myself as a substitute but... I know my station, and I could not in good conscience ask a gentleman's daughter to lower herself to accept a penniless soldier."
Elizabeth easily understood Mr Wickham's words to be the sanctimonious platitudes they were. Although panic was building up inside her due to all the supposed rumour-mongering in the neighbourhood, just for a moment she could not resist contemplating the effect of pretending to take up Mr Wickham on his spurious offer. Then she shook herself impatiently. 'Why am I wasting time with this charlatan when I should be apprising Papa of the disaster in making.'
"That is very kind of you, Mr Wickham, but in all fairness I cannot ask it of you," she said neutrally then added with a nonchalance she was far from feeling. "And I do believe you are making a mountain out of a molehill. All this will soon blow over, my friends and neighbours know me since my childhood."
"I will pray that it is so."
"Thank you, Mr Wickham. I am sorry I must take your leave now as suddenly I am feeling the aftereffects of yesterday's accident."
"Of course...I..." But before he could complete his thoughts Elizabeth stood up and with a stiff courtesy to Wickham, walked away from him – her back ramrod straight!
~§§§~
After leaving the garden, Elizabeth went straight to her father's study. In her hurry to get away from Wickham she had not even waited to call out to Sarah who was collecting herbs in a nearby garden dedicated to cultivating all the herbs needed by the Longbourn housekeeper, Mrs Hill.
"Papa, can we talk?"
"Of course, Lizzy, come and have a seat."
Once seated Elizabeth found herself quite at a loss at how to broach the matter with her father. Her cheeks burned with mortification as she recollected Mr Wickham's vulgar insinuations.
"Lizzy? What is the matter, my dear?"
"Ah... Papa... actually... I met Mr Wickham in the garden ju..."
"What! How dare he? He was told we are not at home to visitors and still he had the temerity to accost you," Mr Bennet exclaimed angrily.
"Perhaps he saw me while passing by the flower garden and thought it would be rude not to acknowledge me," Elizabeth suggested, although she was certain that Mr Wickham had indeed accosted her with an intent to convey the lurid gossip and to ferret out whatever information he could.
Mr Bennet did not respond but the satirical manner in which he raised his brows revealed his thoughts. "So, what did he have to say?" he asked instead.
Elizabeth flushed, not really wanting to disclose what she had learnt, but the gossip was not going to disappear on its own. She needed her father's help in quelling the rumours. So, she cleared her throat and plunged right ahead. "From what I could understand he came here to regale me with the vicious gossip being peddled in Meryton about my accident. He also tried to insinuate, not very subtly I am afraid, that I am on the brink of ruin and that I need rescuing by Mr Darcy. But Mr Darcy being the coward he is, has already run away from Netherfield! So, in Mr Wickham's learned opinion, I continue to remain on the brink." Elizabeth tried to be flippant but her attempt fell flat due to the tension easily discernable in her voice.
"What a rogue! He had no business to tell you such things. I am very happy that I refused him entry to our home."
Elizabeth watched unhappily as her father avoided looking at her. He had taken off his spectacles and was polishing the glasses.
"Papa..." she could not resist calling after a few moments of tense silence. Mr Bennet released a deep breath and reluctantly raised his eyes to his daughter.
"Well I do not know if Mr Darcy has left the neighbourhood, but I am sorry, my Lizzy, that rogue was correct on at least two counts. The gossip indeed is quite wild. It would appear Mrs Goulding and her maids, all have been very liberal in talking about yesterday's incident in great detail with all and sundry. And the way things appear at the moment, I might just have to locate Mr Darcy and appeal to him to do the honourable thing!"
"But Papa, that is most unfair! You know nothing untoward happened. Mr Darcy only lent me his help when I needed it most. Can we not tell everyone the truth? I am sure they will be willing to believe us over Mrs Goulding's insinuations. After all they have known me all my life!"
Mr Bennet looked at his daughter sadly. He did not have the heart to tell her that Mrs Goulding and her minions were no longer the only ones spreading the rumours.
Before he could tell her the truth, Elizabeth burst out agitatedly. "And you also know how I feel about Mr Darcy and what he thinks about me. Papa, please do not ask this of me. How will I survive with a man who looks down in contempt at everyone and everything that I hold dear?"
Mr Bennet sighed unhappily at the despair in Elizabeth's voice. "Lizzy, please do not distress yourself in this manner. Let us wait for a while and see how things unfold. But I have to tell you that I am very worried about how your mother will react once she comes to know of all that is being talked about," he said as he got up from his seat to sit in a chair next to his daughter's.
He caught hold of Elizabeth's hand and squeezed it gently between his own. "For what it is worth, Lizzy, when I talked to Mr Darcy yesterday, he was not at all arrogant. In fact, he was rather concerned about your wellbeing." Mr Bennet tried his best to soothe Elizabeth's fears.
"Oh... yes, he was very kind yesterday. Perhaps he acts better in a situation of emergency, Papa, but please do not forget that I have spent days in the same house as him. I found him to be rather unpleasant and arrogant. He acts superior and is forever looking down at you as if to find some deeply hidden fault," Elizabeth protested in a high voice, trying hard not to give in to tears. It felt to her as if the walls of a prison were closing in around her and if she were to get caught, then she would never be free again.
Mr Bennet could see that his daughter was near the end of her tether, so putting aside his own worries, he tried to comfort her. "Very well, Lizzy, I promise you that I will approach Mr Darcy only if I feel that it is necessary to do so. I hope you know that I will consider the necessity only if it's a matter of my family's honour." He patted her hand gently and added, "You must be tired, so, go to you..."
A knock on the door interrupted his words, and Hill peered inside to announce, "Mr Darcy is here to see you, Mr Bennet."
"Well, Mr Wickham was wrong about one thing at least," Mr Bennet said dryly.
"Perhaps he has come here to collect his coat." Elizabeth suggested eagerly, then flushed at the expression on her father's face.
"Or mayhap, he has come to enquire after your health," Mr Bennet said gently. "You go to your room, Lizzy, and take some rest. I will let you know what he wants," he promised.
"Please show Mr Darcy in, Hill, once Lizzy leaves," Mr Bennet said as he went to sit behind his desk.
~§§§~
Like The Gentleman He Was
Copyright © 2023 by S. Neha
All rights reserved.