Different characters in this chapter - we'll be back to your familiar faces soon. This may in fact also be the penultimate chapter, depending on how it works out. I'm not going to drag the story out too far I don't think.
As always, thank you all so much for reading and reviewing and your general support. :)
Lydia couldn't entirely hide her discontent as she recognised her mother walking out towards them. The officers had been so willing to attend to them, and yet it hardly took them the sight of their mother and the unknown man who walked beside her – and it was strange really that he was unknown, for she was sure she knew everyone in regimentals who dwelt in Meryton now (at least by sight, anyway) – and the officers were evidently thinking of departing. She had already heard one mutter something about the possibility of oncoming return of bad weather.
Even Mr Denny looked as though he was contemplating leaving. And that would mean he would have to drag himself away from staring at Kitty – an action which Kitty of course seemed utterly oblivious to.
Her mother was almost upon them and started introducing the officers and herself and Kitty to her companion – a Colonel Fitzwilliam apparently. He seemed amiable enough but nothing compared to Mr Wickham and, certainly, his looks didn't measure up in the slightest. Still his very presence had the militia scurrying away – although very politely and dignifiedly as though they thought that would hide the fact that they were leaving as soon as they weren't merely in the company of herself and Kitty.
"Would you like to take a turn about the garden, Miss Lydia?" She turned in surprise at the sudden address and found herself having to accept before she had the sense to think of any way to make any other reply.
Her mother and Kitty began whispering immediately, and Lydia was almost certain she knew what they were speaking of. It was silly really, Colonel Fitzwilliam was evidently a rich man – hadn't her mother said something about him being Mr Darcy's cousin? And yet he was a soldier. So he had to be a younger brother of someone important, and so he would never deign to marry someone like her. She didn't have anywhere near a large enough dowry to encourage such a man. He would likely be disowned before he even thought of marrying her. And anyway – although he was perhaps not so old, he was older than her by enough that she wouldn't think of him. Not when there were handsome, true gentlemen like Mr Wickham around.
.
Richard had been surprised by the girl's reticence. Mr Darcy had made it very clear that she was the most unruly of the family, followed closely by her mother – Darcy had been attempting to prepare Richard for meeting them, no doubt – and yet more than anything she seemed to have been lost in serious thought instead of speaking to him. That of course meant that he would have to find a way to begin a conversation.
"Do you often find yourself associating with the militia, Miss Lydia?" She had seemed very familiar around them, but Richard didn't want to make assumptions. Anyway, he had always found that it was easiest to get other people to talk by talking about the things that they gained amusement from.
"Quite often." The girl smiled. Richard couldn't even tell whether she was older or younger than Georgiana, but they were so very different. "They are not half so high and mighty as some of our acquaintances."
Richard had a suspicion that she might have been speaking of his cousin, but didn't want to push that too far. If she disliked him it was likely that he wouldn't be able to say anything of use to her at all – and it would make his service to his cousins remarkably more difficult.
"I do wonder at such a choice of companions though." The words had slipped from his mouth without a thought – in a way Miss Lydia reminded him more of his youngest sister than of Georgiana. Still, Miss Bennet looked as though she were on the verge of complaining. "Not all the militia are honourable men, nor do I think many would make a suitable husband."
"Why ever not?!" Richard had a suspicion that he might have offended her in his attempts to be honest. "They are kind and attentive and good men, who are giving up their lives for their country."
"And almost penniless." He hadn't intended to snap, and yet that was the way his words had flown out. "You are a gentleman's daughter, and almost every one of them has no claims to being a gentleman or even a well respected tradesman." His family would have been surprised to see him now no doubt – they were much too accustomed to him being amiable. His soldiers would have known not to be so thoughtless around him.
She seemed on the verge of rolling her eyes at him, but that couldn't help him stop his own tirade. That this girl looked to be one of the biggest obstacles Darcy would have for his happiness? The idea was almost insupportable. Perhaps Darcy was too stuck upon ideals, but Richard felt he could understand the reservations if it concerned her.
"Your eldest sister is, if I am not correct, on the verge of forming an engagement to Mr Bingley – and you must realise how much that will inherently raise your own prospects?" He didn't dare look at her as he spoke. He didn't want to be provoked too much more; he didn't think it would make her any more inclined to listen. "But that comes with a responsibility. Could you imagine Miss Bingley or Mrs Hurst acting as thoughtlessly as you do? Could you imagine the scandal were Miss Darcy to be found encouraging on officers as you do?"
That seemed to stop her for a second or two. "But would that truly have any effect?" Her voice was quiet and strained – the Colonel couldn't tell if it was from guilt, or a simmering anger. "Why would anyone care how I act? Lizzy and Jane are the only ones who anyone ever pays attention to like that."
"It's already had an effect." Richard felt almost ashamed for the deep frowned that etched itself onto her features. "My cousin – Mr Darcy – most likely has been acting so distantly from your family due to that very thing. In fact I wouldn't have been surprised were he to have encouraged Mr Bingley away from your eldest sister – and I'm sure you could imagine that that would bear some weight with Bingley."
"But..."
The colonel waited for her to go on, but no words seemed forthcoming. The silence grew on so much that he couldn't help but remark. "And perhaps your eldest sisters would not be the only ones to garner such attention, were they not the only ones to act as they do – they are treated as highborn ladies, because that is how they act."
It took Lydia only a few minutes longer of silence before she made quick apologies and left. Richard couldn't help but wonder why she wanted her solitude – but one thing was certain – she hadn't seemed half so forward as Darcy had presented her.
He happily allowed himself to be pulled back into conversation with Mrs Bennet and Miss Catherine – Darcy had asked that he would try to give him some time to relate what information needed to be passed on to the eldest Miss Bennets and he was more than happy to help.
Indeed, the pair were not inherently bad – perhaps the mother had too much of a tendency to voice every thought that flitted through her brain, but couldn't that be thought to make her honest? Certainly, it was possibly to keep her away from most unsuitable conversation with only a little thought – for Mrs Bennet seemed keen to show him the utmost deference. The Colonel could well imagine how tedious such behaviour would be though, were it to be multiplied into countless women – perhaps his cousin had a good reason for disliking town as much as he did after all.
Miss Catherine was a quieter sort – by which of course Richard would have to note that she spoke less. By and large though, when she could be prevailed upon to speak rather than giggle, she seemed personable enough. Certainly she was a good deal less dull than a great many young women who his mother had attempted to set him with throughout the years, but that, of course, did not say too much.
.
Lydia sat motionlessly hidden from almost all angles by the bushes that surrounded her. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotion and contradicting one another and each striving to come out top. Could it be true? Could her behaviour affect Jane? Could it affect Lizzy?
Mr Bingley had never seemed to be made uncomfortable by any of her actions certainly. Her mother had her moments of course – sometimes at her words even he was taken aback – but that was all more of a laugh was it not? She hadn't done anything. Had she?
Mr Darcy had never looked favourably at her – but then, he looked down on everyone. And why should she care for his opinion in any case? After all he had done to Wickham, why did he deserve anyone's care at all? It was strange really that a man so good natured as Mr Bingley should be friends with him. And surely Mr Bingley would know to make his own decisions and not be swayed by Mr Darcy's constant disapproval?
His sisters disliked her too, of course. They only ever saw fit to pay attention to Jane and be kind to her – and who could blame them for that? It would be hard for anyone to wish Jane ill, she was sure. Jane was so sweet and kind and good to the world in general for people to even have a modicum of the jealousy for her that any other woman of her looks would garner.
But they had always ignored her. Lydia had thought that meant that they didn't notice what she did. But could her behaviour have offended them? Jane obviously tried so hard to gain the approval of her future sisters (for Lydia could hardly suppose that that marriage would not occur), could she be ruining that? Or at least, the combined efforts of her mother, Kitty and herself?
It all seemed so bizarre, what was wrong with the fact that she liked to laugh and dance and have fun? Who could blame her for that?
Lizzy had sometimes reproached her for her behaviour of course – but Lizzy had always been so very rigid in her views. But then, at least Lizzy could laugh and talk to people – Lydia didn't think that Mr Bingley's superior sisters could manage that.
Why should she have to change for them though? Who were they to her?
She wouldn't have minded so much if it were only for Jane – perhaps that was how she should think of it. She was sure that she could strive to be more... serious? – like Jane and Lizzy anyway – when she was surrounded by them.
She could do it – and perhaps help Kitty and her mother to act similarly – she would just remind herself that it was for Jane's sake and not for them. She didn't think she could stomach it otherwise.
But she would. What was the worst that could happen?
.
Mr Bennet was amused - or at least he chose to be.
After all, it was far easier to be amused by the peculiarity of Mr Darcy, than it was to be alarmed by the tale which he had told. He did not doubt the veracity of the man's remarks of course. Mr Darcy was not a man to be easily dismissed – and he had spoken with such a solemn seriousness that it was hard to believe anything other than the tale.
Especially when Lizzy had obviously believed him, and she had had such a strong dislike of the man before. Lizzy never had been one to change her mind quickly – in a way, Mr Bennet couldn't help but wonder how her estimation of the man had increased so soon this time. He was sure she would tell him eventually; she always did, sooner or later.
He turned his thoughts back to the man before him. Mr Darcy was a proud, serious man to be sure. It entertained Mr Bennet to no end to realise that the younger man was so deeply affected by Lizzy – why Darcy had hardly kept her eyes from her, the entire time she had been in the room. And now that she had decided that she no longer hated him –
"Mr Bennet, Sir?" Mr Bennet snapped his eyes away from the young man in his room to the servant by the door. He couldn't help but notice with some amusement how Darcy almost appeared relieved to be freed from the scrutiny. "Colonel Fitzwilliam is here as you bid."
Richard entered the room a little warily. He had still been walking with Mrs Bennet when the servant had come to fetch him – Miss Catherine had dashed off for some purpose which she hadn't adequately explained – and he still was not entirely sure what he had done to gain such a invitation.
His worries were settled somewhat as he recognised his cousin sat in the library too.
"You must be Mr Bennet, sir." The colonel greeted easily. "Having met the rest of your charming family, I'm glad to have the full set of acquaintances."
"Indeed." Mr Bennet didn't sound entirely serious as he spoke, but Richard wasn't sure if that was his manner or not. "Charming is certainly one word for my family..."
A quick glance at Darcy was necessary to check that that was, in fact, sarcasm. Richard was finding himself more and more uncomfortable the more Mr Bennet peered at him with his moderately amused features. He felt, most strangely, as though he were being torn to pieces and analysed.
"Mr Darcy has been kind enough to relate to me his worries about Mr Wickham's continued presence here in Meryton." The older gentleman's voice suddenly became more thoughtful. "He thought that you might help us come up with some method of making sure he cannot impose upon innocent families again – without ruining anyone's privacy or dignity."
They came to a good solution, if Mr Bennet could think such of a plan he had made himself. Soon enough Mr Wickham, had he obtained as many debts here as his previous behaviour would suggest, would likely find himself in debtors prison or on a ship bound away from England never to return.
Still, as they closed their business, Mr Bennet couldn't help but compare the cousins. The two were as unalike in temperaments as in looks it seemed. Colonel Fitzwilliam was full of openness and easy manners and Mr Darcy was so reserved and withdrawn.
Still, Elizabeth had given the latter such a warm smile that Mr Bennet feared for the future. Mr Darcy certainly seemed to want to take Lizzy away from him, just as much as Mr Bingley was enamoured of Jane. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness as he realised that both might leave him so soon. Still it was strange - the man was so proud.
Mr Bennet wouldn't let him hurt Lizzy. He couldn't.
"Mr Darcy." He called, as the men rose as if to leave. "A word?"
Colonel Fitzwilliam gave them a respectful nod and walked out into the corridor alone.
"What are your intentions towards my daughter?"
"I..." Darcy stumbled, caught unaware by the question. What were his intentions? His heart already knew the answer even as his brain fought against it. There was no logic behind his reaction, but he couldn't help it.
"Are they perfectly honourable?" Mr Bennet had never sounded so cold before, or so serious. Darcy found himself with more reason to re-evaluate the man than ever before. Perhaps Mr Bennet did value the ridiculous slightly too much, but he was not a negligent father it seemed, nor lacking as wits as their recent discussion had proved.
"Indeed Sir." A vision of Elizabeth – Miss Elizabeth – in Pemberley flashed before his eyes. "I hope to marry her." The words were no sooner out of his mouth than he realised they were true. He hardly knew when he had begun to feel about her with such strength but the feelings were there. "However, since I doubt she would yet commit so much as to a courtship, you'll forgive me for having not yet asked for your permission."
There was a sternness to Mr Bennet that unnerved Darcy –which made him fear that he might be turned away before he even had a chance to make his suit to Elizabeth.
"And what of our family and connections?" Mr Bennet's words were sharp. "What of her dowry? Are you willing to overlook such things? And will your family?"
"Yes." Georgiana loved her already. No one else should really matter – Darcy knew he could live with their disapproval. Aunt Catherine would never forgive him for not marrying Anne, but Darcy had never had any intention of doing so anyway. Hopefully the Fitzwilliams would all welcome her as the wonder she was – if Elizabeth was to accept him anyway.
Not that he had any ability to ask her soon. She had only just stopped hating him – or, at least, he hoped she no longer hated him.
"If you hurt her, I will make you suffer for it." Mr Bennet had walked across to the door and was pulling it open; still, the threat seemed to be entirely serious. "Now, should we not return to the ladies?"
Mr Darcy could only nod mutely and follow the elder man's instruction.