Chapter 13:
"What is this I read in the paper, Lizzy?" Said her father with a twinkle in his eye. "Out of all people, out of all the gentlemen in the world, you have chosen Mr. Darcy—Mr. Darcy?!""
"Hello papa" said Lizzy timidly, walking into his study as soon she had arrived at Longbourn. "Mr. Darcy insisted on coming to speak with you first but I felt it was better for me to speak with you. We had to announce the engagement and I knew you would not disagree when you knew the particulars".
"Come child for I am most intrigued" he said, motioning for her to sit down.
"Mr Darcy proposed while I was staying by Charlotte, I mean Mrs. Collins. I was surprised but not unaffected after better understanding Mrs. Collins' decision, I realized this would most likely be the best offer I would ever get. Instead of declining which would have been my gut reaction, we discussed many misunderstandings. We decided to get to know each better, postponing my response until my heart was engaged" explained Elizabeth.
"And is your heart engaged now?" he asked, peering through his glasses.
"He is a good man papa, we have all misunderstood him. He does not perform well among strangers but his core is good. I am not in love yet but I do care for him, more than I dare to admit" she said, speaking honestly.
"You might still be wondering why he did not come before publishing the announcement" she continued, "His aunt, Lady Catherine who I am sure you remember Mr. Collins speak very fondly of, is against the match and humiliated me in Hunsford, it could have damaged my reputation had he not acted swiftly. He would have come straight to Longbourn if I had let him but I knew your surprise would be great and I wanted you to hear it from me."
"I would not have refused such a man" Mr. Bennet answered simply.
"I know that you would have not, for practical reasons, but you might have hinged it upon my happiness which now I know, I believe , depends on him" said Lizzy.
"I am glad he is worthy of your regard—I shall greatly miss you"
"He has sent me this letter to give to you. He will ask you in person in two weeks time where he plans on joining us for Jane's wedding, but he wanted to send you a formal apology and request" said Elizabeth, handing her father the letter.
"He is all that is proper", teased Mr. Bennet, taking the letter from Lizzy and glancing at its contents.
"Yes, in the best possible way" she answered, debating whether it would not be a good time to discuss her younger sisters. She had spoken with Jane about the importance of reigning them in and she was not sure how her father would take the conversation.
"Will I continue to have such outstanding sons in law?" he teased, sitting back on his head, looking quite a leisure.
"That will depend father" said Lizzy solemnly.
"Oh you look quite serious, my dear" he commented, sitting back and looking earnestly at his favorite daughter.
"I am worried about Lydia and Kitty" said Lizzy.
"Oh dearest Lizzy, they are the silliest girls in all of England! No need to worry on that score!" he said, clearly relaxed and not sharing in her concern. "Indeed, Lydia received an invitation to go to Brighton with the militia" added Mr. Bennet, as if it was something humorous and worth sharing.
"Oh papa, you cannot be serious! I beg your pardon, I think it would be unwise to let her go" said Lizzy.
"Ah she will not desist until she makes a fool of herself. Fear not. You and Jane will always make a good impression wherever you go, my dear. Let her have her fun—she will outgrow it soon enough" he said, laughing as he spoke.
Elizabeth could feel anger rising inside of her—how could her father be so irresponsible and dismissive of his responsibility?! He must have noticed her deep thoughts for her continued:
"My dearest Lizzy, are you really so worried? What is the worst that could happen? She will be under the care of Colonel Foster" said Mr. Bennet, looking at his Lizzy with disbelief. They were silly girls-he did not think they were capable of much more.
"Father, Lydia openly flirts with the soldiers and acts in a way that is not becoming of a gentlewoman. If you do not guide her now, you might forever lose the chance" said Lizzy firmly, fearing this might be her last chance to do so.
"I am afraid, dearest Lizzy, that I will not get peace until she goes. Do not fret, it shalll work out" he said, patting her hand. Elizabeth felt herself dismissed and left her father's study with a dreadful feeling inside.
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The preparation for Jane's wedding had Longbourn in uproar. Mrs. Bennet could not stop speaking about Lady Jane, as she looked forward to call her such when she would be married. She was honored to have Lord and Lady Grantham stay with them and would have renovated the entire house had Mr. Bennet not put his foot down. Lydia was likewise just as boisterous but for another reason, she was eager to go to Brighton, feeling that every possibility of happiness awaited her there.
It was with one week left to the wedding that Lizzy ran into Mr. Wickham in Meryton. She had been there looking for some ribbon, on her mother's behalf, when she noticed him across the way. He instantaneously smiled and began to walk over, looking every bit the gentleman.
"Miss Elizabeth" he said, a charming smile on his face. "I believe congratulations are in order"
"Thank you" she said, not knowing if he meant for her or for Jane, but knew he meant to be ambiguous, for now that she thought about it...he always was.
"How was your trip to Rosings? Was Lady Catherine up to your expectations?" he asked, walking alongside her.
"She was very hospitable and the trip was very enjoyable. You may not heard but I am engaged to be married to Mr. Darcy" she said, waiting to see his response. She saw a flash of recognition on his face but it was easily pushed away by that easy laughter that he always had. How had she not noticed before?
"Congratulations, I am glad to hear that Mr. Darcy improves on acquaintance" he added with a smirk.
"He does—and he also shared with me particulars of your story that you decided to leave out" said Lizzy, now looking at him with very telling eyes.
"I am not sure of what you mean" he said innocently, though looking nervous. "Oh dear, look at the time, I must be going"
"I believe, Mr. Wickham, that we shall not see you again till your departure. I hope you make a good career of the military and not continue to wish for Mr. Darcy's intervention for it will not come" she said menacingly.
"Good day, Miss Elizabeth" he said curtly, visible anger in his eyes.
Lizzy did not what had come over her but she felt suddenly nervous for her family. She needed to write to Mr. Darcy. He had to speak with Colonel Foster. As soon as she got home and was able to evade Mrs. Bennet, she went to her room and wrote him a letter. She described in detail her conversation, her concern, and pleaded for him to write a letter to the Colonel to let him know the type of man that was in his regiment. Feeling a burden lifted from her, she freshened up and joined her family downstairs.
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"Mama!" screamed Lydia, two days after this incident. "You will not believe what has happened!" she said, laughing and screaming at the same time. Mrs. Bennet was busy working on the girls' dresses for the wedding and looked flustered at being interrupted.
"What is it, my dear?" she said impatiently, taking a needle out and weaving it back in.
"Mr. Wickham has run away with Miss King!" she said, throwing her hands in the air.
"What?!" exclaimed Mrs. Bennet, loud enough to get the attention of the other Bennets, who all came in rushing into the drawing room. "What is this that you speak of?"
"Miss King left a note that she was going to Gretna Green with Mr. Wickham to elope!" exclaimed Lydia, very excited about the subject.
"Did she not recently inherit ten thousand pounds?" asked Mary, looking up from her book, her glasses slipping slightly.
"Precisely" muttered Lizzy, shaking her head. This was typical Wickham, at least the Wickham that Darcy knew. Her father entered into the room shortly after, asking what all the noise was about.
"La! What fun that would have been!" she said wistfully, "And how romantic! Imagine if he had asked me to elope—I would have been married before all of you!" The entire room went silent. Mr. Bennet was shocked. He locked eyes with Lizzy who seemed to be warning him—I told you—she would have said, if it were not improper to rebuke her own father.
"How can you say that, Lydia?" said Jane, calmly, gently rebuking her sister.
"From what I hear" continued Lyida, smiling broadly, "They have even lived together! Pity she is so ugly and freckled!" cackled Lydia, slumping into the sofa.
"How dare you say something so improper!" screamed Mr. Bennet, recovering his voice after enduring shock, "That would have been a humiliation and the downfall of this family! If you do not know how to behave like a gentlewoman then you are not able to be out in society! Upstairs to your room!"
"Papa! What do you speak of?" said Lydia shocked, why was her father such a bore?
"Mr. Bennet—Lydia did not mean—" interceded Mrs. Bennet.
"Silence!" said Mr. Bennet, "I have been remiss in disciplining you Lydia and it has caused a disservice. To think that I was going to allow you to go to Brighton. To hear you speak of something so horrible as if it were fun. You would have humiliated us!"
"Papa—I...I have been looking forward to going to Brighton with Mrs. Foster!" screamed Lydia, as if her favorite toy had just been taken away from her.
"You do not have the maturity to understand that a woman running away with a man and living with him before marriage would have destroyed her and her family—how could I have been so blind?!" he said, catching his breath. "Upstairs. No more discussion on this topic" he added finally. Lydia stormed out of the drawing room, not bothering to look back at the aghast faces of her sisters. All but Kitty looked shocked, who had a slight smile, for she also wanted to go to Brighton and now felt it was fair that Lydia would stay behind as well.
Mr. Bennet looked at Elizabeth who was shocked at Lydia's comment but also proud that her father had finally woken up. He apologized with his eyes and slightly shook his head—you were right, he seemed to say.
"Lydia and Kitty will not longer join society until they prove that they are no longer the silliest girls in England!" he exclaimed, "I will be in my study" he added, leaving the room abruptly.
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The Bennets endured a lot of whaling and screaming from Lydia's room, who refused to partake in family rooms as a form of rebellion. She did not realize that she was further convincing her father that she was not old enough to be out in society.
Mr. Bennet did not speak of the subject to Elizabeth, mainly out of embarrassment. But he hoped that he would do better for them now.
To the great misfortune of Mary King, Mr. Wickham deserted her once her uncle made it clear that she would nor inherit the money if she married such a scoundrel. Her reputation was tarnished. Mr. Wickham disappeared.
The Bennets were quite busy with the final preparation for Jane's wedding. Mrs. Bennet was putting her best effort to display their nonexistent wealth and to prepare a wedding breakfast fitting of a Lady. The Bennets were thankfully saved from any misfortune...for now.
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