Hello! Here we are with chapter ten and with our whole misunderstanding. I thought the chapter was a bit sad, Jen thought it funny so it's up to you what you think. Jen is of course awesome beta, all mistakes there are mine because I tweaked it a bit after I got it back from her ;)
Thank you all for your kind reviews, you made me very happy. As for my anonymous reviewer, if you want an answer to all your questions, log in, I can't reply to anonymous messages.
Chapter 10
Elizabeth
Elizabeth was hiding. One more week of that ruckus. Being weary,she put her forehead to the window glass. Her mother was running around, preparing for the ball, Lydia and Kitty on her heels, all of them chirping excitedly. Mrs Bennet decided to outfit all of her daughters in new gowns for she was sure that they would outshine all other ladies. Lydia and Kitty joined her mission with enthusiasm, Mary, the silent martyr, with a roll of her eyes, Jane with her usual serenity a soft smile, only Elizabeth was rebelling. As far as she was concerned, her gown was ready and she would not let Mrs Bennet put more lace to it. It was perfect as it was. Besides, Mr Darcy prefers simplicity, he said so himself.
"Lizzy, Lizzy, where are you, child? She will be the death of me, always running off..." She heard her mother exclaim in the corridor.
Elizabeth smiled softly. In all of her twenty years, Mrs Bennet had never found out her secret place. She was sitting comfortably on the window sill behind curtain in her father's study, looking out in the garden and reading. She heard her father chuckle—he obviously had the same thought.
"One would think that she would try looking in my study once." He said to his daughter quietly, putting a finger to his book not to lose his part. "I think she even tried the gardener's cottage while looking for your dress."
"Shh, Papa." Elizabeth laughed quietly. "She will hear you."
Their chuckling was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Now you have done it!" Elizabeth exclaimed humorously, pretending horror.
Mr Bennet let out one last laugh and called. "Come in!"
"Mr Bennet, may I have a little of your time?" Fortunately for Elizabeth, it was not Mrs Bennet but her cousin.
"What can I do for you, young man?" Mr Bennet sat back in his chair, the squeaking noise signalling to Elizabeth that he would not move anywhere soon. She was trapped and could not come out now. She would only embarrass herself by her unladylike behaviour. However, she was also not keen on listening in on other people's conversations. Well, I suppose it is not eaves dropping when Papa knows I am here. Besides, he always consults his investments with Mr Collins with me. She shrugged her shoulders and prepared herself for business conversation.
Therefore, she was very surprised when Mr Collins started with something completely different. "Mr Bennet, you must suspect why I am here today. I have come to ask for your daughter's hand."
What? Elizabeth had to stuff her fist into mouth to muffle her sound of surprise.
"Hmm, I have been expecting you, although I thought that we would see each other after the Netherfield ball." To Elizabeth's astonishment, Mr Bennet's voice did not suggest even the smallest surprise.
"Oh, of course, I..." Unexpectedly, the ever eloquent Mr Collins stumbled over his words. "That is – uh – good."
Elizabeth still fought her embarrassment at eavesdropping on a discussion like this, but she had to smile at her father's enjoyment. He just could not help himself and had to tease poor Mr Collins.
"Hmm. And what prompted you to decide so suddenly?" The chair protested again when Mr Bennet leaned back in it comfortably. "I thought that this was a family visit, not a bride-choosing one."
"Mr Bennet, I am of marrying age." Mr Collins seemed to find his voice. "My business is going very nicely, my parish blooms, it is a time for me to settle down and start thinking about family."
"Do go on." Mr Bennet prompted the young man succinctly.
"I need somebody to share my life with, a companionship, somebody to help with household matters and support in dealing with my patroness. I believe a woman would be more adept at relationships." As he added the last sentence almost inaudibly, Elizabeth had to strain to hear him.
"Why here? Why my daughter? Are there not any young, eager ladies in your parish? Why travel so far?" Mr Bennet started firing rapidly.
"It is all quite clear. I cannot take wife from my parish, it is better to come with somebody neutral, best not to start fights and jealousy over which family is a favourite of the vicar." Mr Collins replied while he paced around the room. Poor man, he must be terrified of Papa. "I do not want a spoiled society wife from London or Bath and the only other place where I could have stay longer without suspicions is Meryton."
Mr Bennet stayed quiet so Mr Collins swallowed nervously and continued. "Your daughters are family; they are well-behaved and educated, with a decent dowry. It was a logical choice."
"And which of my daughters would you like to take from me." Mr Bennet let out a bark of laugh. "And finally, do sit down, Mr Collins. You are too distracting, stepping there over your feet."
"Thank you." Mr Collins replied meekly. "I was talking about Ma-, ah, Miss Mary."
"Mary?"Mr Bennet sounded incredulous. "One would think you would start with the eldest daughters. You know that some gentleman refuse to give away their younger daughters with their older sisters still unwed." Elizabeth could practically see her father's raised eyebrow in her mind.
"Oh. I meant no offence to your elder daughters but – may I speak frankly, Mr Bennet? Miss Bennet is a very sweet lady, but I fear she is far too nice to fulfil one of my main goals, and that is – uh – dealing with my patroness. She is a very strong woman and I find myself often at my wits end, I need a clever and understanding wife for that."
"I agree that my eldest is probably too nice for your patroness if even the half what I heard is true. What about Lizzy?"
Papa! Elizabeth shouted at least mentally at him. Do not dare to offer me like this! Even though she knew he was just trying to get a rise out of Mr Collins, it still ruffled her feathers that her father could speak so carelessly about her marriage prospects.
"Mr Bennet, we both know that I would not be able to handle your second daughter. And then I would have two problems on my hands instead of getting rid of the first one." Mr Collins suddenly stopped, as if afraid that he said too much.
Mr Bennet let out a deep laugh. "Oh my dear boy, I believe, I would quite like you for a son. But tell me, you spoke to me of companionship, dowry, and a partner. I expected you to ramble on your love and Mary's blue eyes. And what does my daughter think about it?"
"Mr Bennet, I would not lie to you and embarrass myself by proclaiming love after a mere week. We have mutual interests and purpose in life. We both agree we can build on that."
"Well then. If Mary agreed, who am I to stand in her way to happiness? Go to your fiancée and try to prepare her, we will announce your engagement at dinner."
"Thank you, Mr Bennet, I promise I will make her happy." Mr Collins sounded relieved to have this over.
"You will be here tomorrow right after breakfast to discuss the settlement and other formalities, though." Mr Bennet added in his stern voice.
"Of course, I will."
Elizabeth waited a moment after both men left before she ventured out of her hiding place. Mary. Getting married to Mr Collins. Without love? She was a woman in love and could not understand how anybody else could not want this. If her sister was happy, she would be happy for her but she still did not understand. She decided to find Jane to discuss this surprising turn of events with her.
Elizabeth found Jane sitting in her room, looking out of the window dreamily.
"Do you think he will call on us today, Lizzy?" She asked softly.
"Who?" A confused Elizabeth asked, her mind still reeling from former events.
"Mr Bingley, silly!" Jane giggled merrily.
"Well, I am not sure, you know he has a lot of preparations to make for the ball." Elizabeth tried to be diplomatic so her sister wouldn't be too disappointed in case Mr Bingley didn't come.
"Of course, the ball." Jane sighed dreamily again. "I am opening the dance with Mr Bingley, we make quite a beautiful couple, do we not?"
"Yes," Elizabeth replied impatiently, she wanted to talk about Mary, not Mr Bingley.
"He is so handsome. And charming. And with the balls he would take me on were we to marry, I would feel like a princess." Jane smiled softly.
Elizabeth forgot all about Mary and looked at Jane astonished. "But Jane, this is not what is important in marriage, the balls and money. We vowed to marry only for the deepest love."
"Oh, I am in love." Jane looked affronted that Elizabeth would think otherwise. "Mr Bingley is my prince, like in that fairytale Mama always told us when we were little." She was again lost in her thoughts.
Resignedly, Elizabeth shook her head. There was no use trying to talk to Jane. She would not listen. She decided to go for a walk to clear her thoughts. She could imagine down-to-earth Mary entering union of mutual respect and being happy. On the other hand, she started to doubt Jane and her judgement.
Elizabeth was wandering around the edge of the wood, kicking old leaves and deep in thought. Mary, Jane, Mr Darcy, all of them were troubling her. She felt she came to the point in her life where everything started changing.
She was interrupted by raucous laughter. When she noticed a flesh of red uniform, she quickly hid behind a large oak, hoping it would shield her from whoever it was. She did not want to meet anybody alone from military after the stories she had heard.
Unfortunately, the men decided that the fallen tree just few paces from her own hiding spot was ideal for what they did have in mind. Once again, she was trapped, unwillingly eavesdropping. Her dismay at the situation worsened, when they started to talk.
"I say, Wickham, you are the best company here, they all are so stuffy and boring." The man laughed while he sat down, fishing for a bottle in his bag.
Wickham! Why? Just when I thought this day could not get any worse. Elizabeth slumped against the trunk and put her head in her hands resignedly.
"Give me that." Wickham leaned forward to take the bottle from his companion. "You are not so bad yourself, Denny."
Denny. That is the name of the officer whom Kitty talks about so much. And he is keeping company with that scoundrel. Elizabeth's curiosity got the better of her when she leaned forward and tried to observe the men unseen. She did not have to try too much, there were both obviously in their cups and nothing short of gunfire could disrupt them.
Denny took another swing off the bottle and leaned back, observing rooks flying against the grey sky. "I want to be as rich as you are, Wickham. How could you have so much money on an officer's salary? Tell me your secret."
Wickham smirked. "Oh no, my friend. I will not tell you anything. This is my goldmine and my invention, go find something for yourself."
"Please." Denny turned to face Wickham. "We could be partners, I would help you with anything. Are you borrowing the funds from anyone?" He slurred.
"No, no." Wickham shoved him away. "No partners. This is mine. And I am not stealing, it is too messy, I found something much more profitable."
"You are no friend!" Denny drunkenly exclaimed. "Why would you not share with me?"
Wickham, rightly observing that his partner would try to start a fight soon, decided to change his tactic. "I could give you a little advice. What do you say?" He patted Denny's shoulder.
"What do I say? I have to hear it first." Denny excitedly hit the trunk with his fist. "Tell me, what do you have for me? Is it dangerous?"
Wickham smirked. Elizabeth shuddered when she noticed his evil smirk. "Oh, it is all quite simple. The fastest way to the money is to marry well."
"That is no advice!" Denny was starting to get agitated. "Where shall I find a willing wealthy bride? I am only a poor officer. There is no use in trying, the rich will keep to themselves." He waved his hand resignedly.
"You have so much to learn about society my friend." Wickham's grin turned to downright menacing. "Who said that the bride has to be willing? You only need to be seen with her. Her father would gladly pay you twice her dowry to get rid of her compromised daughter and the scandal it brings."
"Oh." Denny's eyes lightened. "Wickham," he patted him on his back but did not regulate his strength in his drunkenness and hit him quite hard, "you really are very clever. No wonder the money comes to you so easily." Then he turned thoughtful. "Hmm, however where shall I find such a bird?"
"This is the easiest part." Wickham was slowly but steadily catching up with his friend in his state of altered mind. He opened another bottle. "The chit that hangs on every your word, Miss Kitty, she would be perfect." He licked his lips with lust. "You have her almost where you want her, you just need to deliver a poem or two, hint at the romance of elopement and ten thousand pounds are yours. She is not very bright, she would be easily to lead. And if she only grows up getting half looks that her elder sister has, she will be still a pretty wench to bed."
Elizabeth wanted out. She could not listen to them anymore. She fought a wave of nausea at their vile thoughts. She wanted to run to her father to warn him, but unfortunately both men looked like they were only getting started. She would not be going anywhere soon.
"Why do you not do it?" Denny asked suddenly suspicious.
"Why should I?" Wickham laughed. "I receive a pretty sum every month from D-, oh, nothing." He calmly met Denny's eager face at the slip up and continued undisturbed. "I do not need to be bothered with a bird. I have a wealthy sponsor who gives me an adequate sum every month for my silence. I have just received my last payment yesterday, this is on them." He waved the bottle in the air.
After an hour, they drunk more and talked less. Elizabeth hoped that they would fall asleep soon and she would be set free.
"Huh, Wickham?" Denny poked his dozing off friend. "Now when I have my own plan, tell me of that one of yours."
Wickham, very inebriated and less alert, seemed to forget his earlier hesitation. "Oh, just leave me alone. W-will you let me sleep if I tell you?" At Denny's eager nod, he continued. "Shhh, you have to keep it quiet." He lowered his voice, Elizabeth had difficulty hearing him. "I-I-shhh worked for a gentry family – I hic cannot tell you their name – shhh – but they trusted me so they let me close. A mistake!" He giggled. "Hic". He hiccupped again which send them both into peals of laughter.
Oh. They are talking about Mr Darcy's family. He told me he was blackmailed but hearing it again from the tongue of this villain is somehow more real.
When they calmed down, Wickham continued. "Went to school with the young master hic got privy to his secrets. But shhh." He put his finger over his lips. "He liked – shhhh – not ladies, you know. Hihi."
Denny was looking confused so Wickham explained. "You like bru-brunettes. I like all of them with big-" he made a crude gesture with his hands. "Aaaand young hic ma-master, liked them blonde. And male." He added like an afterthought.
Elizabeth gasped. No. It cannot be true! That man is sullying Mr Darcy's good name!
Fortunately for Elizabeth, her gasp was masked by Denny's shout of disbelief. "What do you say? Oh, you really found yourself a gold mine there."
"Yes." Wickham seemed to be on roll at the moment. "He hic never wanted any lady, spending all of his time with that friend of his. Fitz-something. Hihi." Wickham waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Always studying together. But shhh. Cannot tell anyone."
"Do tell me more." Denny was very eager listener.
"Nononono. Hic. Cannot tell." Wickham was resisting the questioning.
However, Denny knew how to help him to be more talkative and offered him another swing of the bottle.
"Like father, like son. His father was the same." Wickham blurted out.
"Hm, interesting." Denny sounded thoughtful. He probably realized that this information was worthless for him as he had no proof like Wickham. But he still liked a bit of gossip.
"That is how you got rid of that little chit with child in the spring? Your sponsor paid her off?"
"Shhh." Wickham was apparently much more drunk than his friend. Elizabeth suspected that Denny was acting earlier to get the information from Wickham. "Oh yes. I got letter, exchanged it for the problems with the chit and this is hic my life. So perfect." He leaned back, his hands crossed under his head carelessly.
I cannot believe it. Oh, this is too much. He has to be lying. But no, it all fits. Mr Darcy told me he was blackmailing him. And the vicar's daughter. Please G-d, do not let it be true. However, if it were not true, why would Mr Darcy pay?
Elizabeth was no longer trying to get away. She was leaning on the tree, her face in her hands, her attempts at holding back tears futile.
Who wants to hug the poor girl? Please tell me in your comments. It makes me smile and smiley writer equals happy writing.
See you in two weeks!
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