Elizabeth couldn't help but smile as she watched her mother giggling with some of the other matrons the following night at her aunt's card party. More than one woman shot her mother jealous looks as she described the carriage ride, and the "recourtship" her husband had requested of her. The family played it off as her parents wanting to reconnect after many years of marriage, and only her parents, Mr Darcy, and herself knew this to truly be their first courtship.
Glancing across the room she saw her father getting a good natured ribbing from more than one husband in the area, the confident grin he wore showed he was pleased with his conduct. She also noticed more than one husband lean in and speak quietly to him, and was fairly certain there would be more "recourtships" coming about in the area. She couldn't help but feel pleased when she remembered her father's smile when he told her of how her parents had stopped on Mount Oakham, and read together. He had told her that her choice of reading material had been superb, and had thanked her for suggesting it to her mother. Then, later in the evening she had been called to her mother's room to listen to her sing the praises of the carriage ride, and how much she had enjoyed sitting together under the large tree there reading. The blush that rose to her mother's cheeks as she spoke of the feelings having Mr Bennet's attentions focused solely on her gave her hope for the future.
Her gaze naturally drifted to her own beau, and she couldn't, nor wanted to, stop the fluttering in her heart as she watched him laugh with the three youngest girls currently residing in Longbourn, while playing cards with them. "Why Eliza, I don't think I've ever seen that smile on your face before, is it new?" She turned to look at her grinning friend, and she could feel herself beaming.
"I confess Charlotte, I have never been this happy, not thought it possible to be so." She spoke as her friend sat next to her on the settee. As she turned to look at her, she caught sight of her older sister, and couldn't help but feel for her. "I just wish it hadn't come at Jane's expense."
"Has there been no word at all from Mr Bingley?" Charlotte asked, glancing over that the smiling Bennet sister, taking in how the smile didn't match the forlorn look in the blond's eyes.
"He came to call shortly after Mama removed us from Netherfield, but he was not permitted entrance. I know Mr Darcy spoke to him, but I do not know what was said, nor do I wish to intrude on their privacy." She couldn't help but feel the guilt for how her joy with her courtship must hurt Jane whose own budding romance came to such an abrupt end. What was worse was that Jane had been nothing but loving and supportive of her and Mr Darcy, making Elizabeth's guilt rise more and more each day.
"The servants have heard word that the family has removed to town, but no one knows the duration of the removal, for none of the staff has been let go." Elizabeth spoke.
"Then there is still hope for your sister." Charlotte spoke, reaching out and taking Elizabeth's hand in a show of comforting.
Before any more could be said, Elizabeth glanced at the table where her beau and sisters had been playing cards, and noticed one of the officers had taken Lydia's place. Glancing around the room, she caught a glimpse of Lydia's back as she slipped out the front door. Exchanging Confused looks with Mr Darcy, Elizabeth excused herself, and went to collect hers and Lydia's shawls, having noticed her sister had stepped outside without it.
Her surprise could not have been more pronounced, for when she stepped outside she heard a male's voice. "I wanted to thank you for coming to see me. I do not always receive a ready welcome from friends of Mr Darcy."
"You told me there was some bad blood between you when we walked this morning, I am glad you have decided to give me the opportunity to learn more of the details." Lydia spoke, obviously hanging off the man's words.
"I am sure her sister and myself are eager to hear what you have to say. Considering the man himself, as well as his sister are guests in my home." Her father's voice came from just over her shoulder, and she was glad she was able to refrain from physically startling. "Come now Sir, if what you had to say was acceptable for you youngest daughter's ears, surly her older sister and myself would not be too scandalized to hear it." As he spoke, he gestured for Elizabeth to proceed him as they moved to join the other two young people.
"I apologize Mr Bennet, it was never my intent to involve you in my business with Darcy..." Mr Wickham began, and her father was obviously losing his patience with the man.
"But it was your intent to involve my daughter." Her father spoke as she wrapped Lydia's shawl around her. "Now, if my family is in danger of being poorly used by a guest in our home, I should like to know." She would later have to commend her father for his acting, however, that thought vanished when she saw Mr Darcy's crestfallen face on her aunts doorway, mostly hidden in the shadows. Thankfully, the man could not retreat without being seen so was forced to stay and bear witness to her fathers scheme.
"I find it strange that given the promise, along with your desire for the living your godfather spoke of, you are not currently making use of your education. Surly, you attained an education for that profession, as well as received orders." She changed a look back to see her beau's widen in shock at her father's words, and gave him a knowing smirk.
"Well, no, I'm afraid my godfather passed before I could complete my education." Mr Wickham spoke looking decidedly uncomfortable.
"Then I would imagine his will laid out provisions for you to finish attaining the the life he desired for you." Her father continued, "Indeed, I cannot imagine you being too far off of completing your studies. I know for a fact Mr Darcy completed his prior to the passing of his father, surly you could not have been far behind." He spoke, and when Wickham looked away to compose himself, her father turned to wink at Mr Darcy, causing a slight grin to appear on his face.
"I had not...that is..." Mr Wickham stammered, and her father just nodded knowingly.
"I see, so you did not finish your studies, even though you are of an age with Mr Darcy, or perhaps a bit older." Her father continued. "What of the will, surely your godfather laid out provisions for you?" Seeing Mr Wickham ready to take the bait her father continued, "If that is the case, and he has denied you your rightful inheritance, I shall be happy to apply to my brother Phillips inside. He would be happy to see him brought to justice for such a despicable act."
"There was...the will was such..." Wickham began stammering again.
"I see, and what slight would you like to lay at his feet next? Did he perhaps make his sister jilt you?" Her father asked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm sure you went through all the proper channels where she was concerned. You probably waited till she was off an appropriate age before asking for a courtship. Then you of course respected her and her brother enough to seek his permission. You supplied him proof that you had a home and could support her financially. Naturally you prodigiously safeguarded her reputation, always having a proper chaperone when in her company. Yet still, after all this, he encouraged her to jilt you."
This time Mr Wickham didn't even try to argue with her father. "I would imagine you would happily tell all and sundry that he is the reason the merchants here will extend you little to no credit, but in that I would happily tell you that you are wrong. You see, it is my brother Phillips and I, along with Sir William Lucas who urged the merchants not to extend more than a percentage of the officer's wages as credit, to ensure they were not out overly much of tabs were not settled when the militia decamped come summer." Elizabeth knew that the three men involved had be urged to do so by her Uncle Gardiner, upon hearing of the Militia quartering there.
"So was there anything else you wished to inform my daughters and myself? No? Then I think it best we return to the house." With that, he offered Elizabeth and Lydia each an arm, and led that back to the house, stopping only long enough to allow Elizabeth to transfer to Mr Darcy's arm.
The night ended with Elizabeth, Jane, Mary, and Kitty all seated with Georgiana and Mr Darcy in the Darcy carriage as they all returned to Longbourn. Their parents had returned home with Lydia earlier in the evening, to discuss her poor decision of leaving their aunt's house alone to meet with Mr Wickham. At least Elizabeth hoped it was just a poor decision on her sister's part, and that Mr Wickham hadn't already started to spread his poison to her young and silly sister.
Once the carriage stopped in front of Longbourn Mr Collins scrambled down from the seat where he sat next to the driver, eager to hand the ladies down. Elizabeth would later commend Mr Darcy and his foot men for how they managed to intervene and not allow him the chance. The foot man had stepped forward in just a way that when he opened the door, Mr Collins was forced to move behind it to keep from being hit by it. Mr Darcy himself then quickly exited the carriage and handed the ladies down himself.
Upon entering the house they were all surprised by the quiet of it, and wondered if everyone had gone to bed. Therefore they were pleasantly surprised to find their mother and father in the family sitting room, their mother sitting ip and reading aloud to their father who was laying across the sofa with his head in her lap. Neither one seemed to notice that Mrs Bennet's fingers were gently running through us hear, and both looked content as any of their children had ever seen them.
Quietly, Elizabeth motioned for her sisters and the gentleman to retreat upstairs, so as not to disturb the scene before them.