Chapter 20
Sir William Lucas was happy; the party he had organized with so much care was successful. Most of the important families were there, as well as the most prominent officers of the regiment that was stationed at Meryton.
But no one could be happier than Lydia Bennet. She was surrounded by officers and could laugh and flirt with all of them. Although they were all very friendly and handsome, Lydia's favorite officer was young Lieutenant Robert Carter. Although he was not as handsome as his older brother, he was charming and had an excellent sense of humor. Furthermore, her friend Harriet had told her that he and his brother were highly respected among the officers because they had participated in important battles.
"My dear Officer Carter, you look very handsome in your uniform. I hope Mary plays joyful music so you and I can dance," Lydia flirtatiously said as she looked at Robert Carter.
"It will be an honor to dance with you and your sister, Miss Lydia," Robert replied, not very happy. He intensely disliked that spoiled, vulgar girl. Still, he tolerated her because she always knew the latest gossip, and he wanted to stay informed about the activities of the other officers, especially Wickham.
Lydia only smiled because she did not like the young Carter's response. She did not wish to share any officer's attention with her sister.
Across the room, Mary was playing the latest piano piece she had learned. The score was not easy to read, and she wanted to exhibit her talent to the few hearing her. Mary was aware that very soon, she would have to play more joyful rhythms so that people could dance. She was so used to being ignored that she did not notice Captain John Carter watching her with unusual interest.
"Miss Mary Bennet, is that your name?" John asked. He decided to approach her to see if he could start a conversation with her.
"Yes, sir, that is my name," Mary replied. She knew very well why that man had approached her. The officer probably wanted to ask her to play music to dance to.
"Do you remember we met a few days ago? Are you playing the music you bought that day at the bookstore?" John asked.
"I am sorry sir, but I cannot talk right now. Can you wait a few minutes?" Mary asked. That man distracted her, and she had not played the right note in two parts.
"Of course, I am sorry, Miss Mary," John replied, unable to help but smile. He was not used to ladies ignoring him. John was not vain, much less a scoundrel, his parents had raised him with principles and values. But he knew that he caught women's attention, especially when he wore his dress uniform and the medal of valor he had won in combat.
When Mary finally finished playing the piece and heard the applause of a few people, she felt satisfied and pleased. Then she looked to her right and saw that the man speaking to her was the officer she had met a few days before. "Do not worry, sir. I have one more move, and I shall play something so you can dance."
"I am sorry, Miss Mary, but I do not want to dance," John replied, smiling.
"Well, if you do not like to dance, I suggest you sit in that corner. Otherwise, my mother or some other lady will force you to dance with one of the young ladies present," said Mary as she arranged the score for the next piece she would play.
"I think I did not express myself correctly. Miss Mary, I do like to dance. The thing is, tonight, I do not think I want to dance," John replied, amused.
Mary looked up again to look at the officer. He was probably one of the most handsome officers at the party, but without a doubt, he was not very intelligent, so the ladies ignored him. "If you are injured, I suggest you sit in the chair in that corner. Believe me when I tell you that my mother and other ladies will not care if you cannot dance; they will force you to dance," Mary said to help the poor man who did not seem to comprehend what he was saying.
John laughed and amusedly replied, "Miss Mary, I am not injured, and I do not understand why you assumed that."
Mary had lost patience with the officer. She abode Kitty and Lydia's nonsense all day and did not want to continue wasting her time. "Sir, I shall start playing my last piece for tonight. After that, I shall play music to dance, and you can decide whether you want to dance. Now, if you will excuse me," Mary said. She was ready to start playing.
"I understand; if you do not mind, I can help you with the pages while you play," John said and sat beside Mary.
"Sir, it is not that easy…"
"Miss Mary, my mother was an excellent pianist, and I can read music," John explained.
Mary did not want to continue wasting time and began playing the piano while John turned the pages. She was so focused on trying to sound her best that she did not notice that John observed her with great interest. He wondered why that young lady was so different from her sisters. He even thought that Mary Bennet was much more attractive than her younger sisters but that she seemed to have no interest in attracting attention, and that undoubtedly made her look much more attractive in his eyes.
Mr. Wickham had learned that Mary King would receive an inheritance of ten thousand pounds, and he had done everything possible to get her attention. Still, like the other girls in the town, she only talked about the brave Captain John Carter and his handsome brother, Lieutenant Robert Carter. He had always been envious and knew that the Carters were much more than him, and he wished he could punish them for it. Deep down, he knew that he could not compare or compete with hard-working, honest, and talented officers, so he wanted to get them out of town.
'I shall not let those idiots take away the ladies' attention in this place. I shall think of something to make everyone hate them,' thought Mr. Wickham as he listened to Harriet Forster and Lydia Bennet talk about how wonderful Lieutenant Carter was.
P&P
Mr. Bingley heard everything his friend told him but did not know if he could believe it. Although, he knew that his friend would never jest about something so serious. "Let me see if I understood correctly. You and Miss Elizabeth married in Gretna Green over two months ago?"
"Yes," Mr. Darcy replied, amused.
"But how…why?" asked Mr. Bingley.
"I already explained it to you. Mr. Collins asked Elizabeth to marry him, and she rejected him. Since her parents did not support her, she preferred to leave Longbourn. Then, we met again, I confessed that I had always admired her, and we decided to get married immediately. She did not want to confront her family, and since she needed my protection, the best way to do it was to get married. I have already explained it to you more than three times.
"Well, yes, but it is so hard to believe your story. And what have you done these almost three months? Why did you wait so long to announce such important news? Miss Bennet told me Miss Elizabeth was employed, and I offered my support."
"We planned to communicate the news of our marriage immediately. But a few days after arriving in Pemberley, Georgiana became seriously ill, and… Bingley, I thought my sister would die. So, she became our priority. Elizabeth and I have spent all these weeks caring for Georgiana," Mr. Darcy explained.
"I am very sorry, Darcy, and I understand your reasons for keeping this information hidden. But I cannot help but tell you that I would never have imagined that you could do something like this. You, so attached to formalities and social norms, elope to get married. None of this makes sense," said Mr. Bingley.
"Believe me, Bingley, if I could have married Elizabeth as she deserved, I would have done so. But this is already in the past... Bingley, please do not tell anyone about Georgiana's illness. I do not want her to be exposed to rumors," Mr. Darcy said emphatically.
"Of course, I shall not tell anyone, dear friend. I know what ill-intentioned people can be," said Mr. Bingley. He knew it was common for some to evade those who were ill for fear of becoming infected."
"Now, you understand why I need to know your intentions with Miss Bennet. But before you answer my question, I imagine you have realized that I have drastically changed my opinion of her. I still think Mrs. Bennet and her youngest daughters have horrible manners, but instead of judging and despising them for that, I want to assist them to improve their behavior."
"I see that love has changed you much, Darcy. It is amusing that you fell in love with the only woman who has dared to put you in your place. I still remember when she told you to your face that you were vain and proud," said Mr. Bingley, laughing.
"Bingley, you still have not answered my question," Mr. Darcy replied.
"Darcy, I already spoke to Mr. Gardiner about it. I love Miss Bennet and am doing everything I can to win her heart," Mr. Bingley replied.
"Do you know your sisters are filling Miss Bennet's head with lies? Your sisters asked me for help convincing you to stay away from Miss Bennet and told her you were courting another lady until recently."
"Indeed?"
"Yes, and I believe she is not sure about the strength of your affection and the integrity of your character. Perhaps she does trust you because you abandoned her without even saying goodbye. Logically, after that experience, it is difficult for her to trust you."
"I know, and that is why I am fighting to earn her respect and trust. As for my sisters, I do not know what to do. I know my Angel will not tell me anything to avoid conflicts, and I do not want to pressure her. But I believe my Aunt Amanda can help me," said Mr. Bingley.
The friends continued talking for a few more minutes. Then, Mr. Darcy invited Mr. Bingley into the drawing room, where Elizabeth and Georgiana conversed.
Mr. Bingley greeted them with his usual good humor and congratulated Elizabeth greatly on her marriage to Mr. Darcy.
"Thank you very much for your congratulations, and it is a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Bingley," Elizabeth said sincerely.
"The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Darcy. I imagine your sister must be delighted to know you are in London," said Mr. Bingley. Then, he greeted Georgiana and chatted with the ladies for a few minutes.
Finally, he left and went directly to his aunt's house. He had to think very carefully about what to do.
Unfortunately, when he arrived at the Lewis house, he was surprised to find his brother-in-law waiting for him.
"I am glad you have finally arrived, Bingley. I have some things to tell you that will interest you very much," said Mr. Hurst.
"Do you have financial problems?" asked Mr. Bingley. His brother-in-law usually asked him for money, and he lent it so his sister would not have economic difficulties.
"No, Bingley, this time it is not money. I want to tell you what your sisters are doing behind your back."
"Is it related to Miss Bennet?"
"Indeed, Charles. Your sisters are designing a plan to separate you both. Do you want me to tell you more?" Mr. Hurst asked.
"Of course, but first, I want you to tell me why you decided to inform me of this," Mr. Bingley asked. He knew that his brother-in-law did nothing without seeking something in return.
"I am doing it because I want you to help me separate Louisa from Caroline. Bingley, I want to have the possibility of having a normal life and starting a family with Louisa. I shall never be able to achieve that if Caroline is constantly interfering in our lives."
"I understand. Let us go to the library to talk more privately," said Mr. Bingley.
They talked for over an hour and planned to stop Louisa and Caroline's evil intentions.
P&P
"Are you nervous, William?" Elizabeth asked. Her husband was very serious looking out the window towards the garden.
As soon as Mr. Darcy heard Elizabeth's voice, he was happy. He liked that she spoke to him with such familiarity; it gave him hope for the future. "No, dear, I am not nervous but a little concerned. But do not worry, my uncle may be a little difficult, but he is reasonable."
"Well, I hope you do not have problems with your family," Elizabeth said nervously. After seeing Pemberley and Darcy House, she realized their significant social differences. She understood that her husband's family might not be happy with his choice of wife.
Mr. Darcy approached Elizabeth and said in a sweet voice. "Elizabeth, from the moment you accepted me as your husband, I promised to protect you. You must know I shall not allow anyone, including my family, to disrespect you. They will have to accept you or not be part of my life."
"I would not want that to happen; I believe you should be patient and give them time," Elizabeth replied.
"I promise I shall be patient, but that does not mean I am willing to accept that my family interferes with my life."
"I understand, William. My family will also come to visit me, and I hope they do not judge me so harshly for eloping and… well, you know."
"Of course, I understand, and although your uncle was very surprised when I spoke to him, I think he has had enough time to process the information. You will see how everything will be fine, and also, you will be able to talk to your sister."
"Yes, I am excited to see her again, but…" Elizabeth did not know how to explain her sentiments to her husband.
He took Elizabeth's hand and asked her to sit so they could talk more calmly. "Please tell me how I can help you. Remember that I am your husband and that I wish to be your support for whatever you need."
Elizabeth could not help but get excited. She had always felt alone and had to protect herself and her sisters. But now, for the first time she felt someone's protection, which made her feel special and safe. "Thank you, William… it is just that. I know I should not care, but I would like my parents not to learn from others about our wedding."
"Do not worry, Elizabeth. I plan to travel to Hertfordshire in two more days to speak with your father. If you want, you can accompany me."
"No, I prefer to stay here. Maybe in a few more months, when I have forgiven my parents, I shall be able to face them."
"As you wish, my dear. While we wait for our families, let me tell you about my plans to help your sisters. When I met with Miss Bennet, I took the opportunity to tell her my plans. I thought you would never forgive me, and I wanted her to help me convince you."
"William, I shall not deny that I can be a little stubborn sometimes…"
"A little?" Mr. Darcy asked, smiling.
"That is not the point of this conversation... Regarding my sisters' future, I shall always do what is reasonable. They need someone who can support them, since our parents do not know how or do not want to."
"I know, and I understand you because I would also do anything to protect my sister." Mr. Darcy explained to Elizabeth his plans to hire a governess and sponsor the younger sisters' entry into society once they were ready. Elizabeth listened as her husband had everything arranged and she felt that her sisters, for the first time, would have a chance to have a better life.
"You have supported my sister with love, and she has never felt judged by you, quite the opposite that I did. You were a true sister to Georgiana and I want to be a brother to your sisters because… I, I love you, Elizabeth," Mr. Darcy said, his voice breaking with emotion.
Elizabeth took his hand and kissed it, and then without knowing what to do or say, she kissed his cheek in a gesture of genuine affection. "Thank you."
Mr. Darcy could not stop looking at Elizabeth and wanted to say many things, but just at that moment, the butler announced the arrival of Lord Matlock. Mr. Darcy apologized to his wife, went to meet his uncle, and invited his uncle to the study. He preferred to talk to him there.
Elizabeth did not have time to be nervous about the presence of that important gentleman because a few minutes later, the Gardiners arrived accompanied by Jane. Elizabeth showed them into a small room overlooking the garden so they could talk more quietly and avoid interruptions.
P&P
"Are you out of your senses, Darcy? I hope this is not jesting like your cousin usually does," the Earl said, displeased.
"You know very well, uncle, that I would never jest with something as serious as this. I wanted you to learn from me and not from rumors. Also, today, I sent a letter to Lady Catherine, so tomorrow she will know that I got married three months ago."
"Darcy, why did you do something so out of your character? What kind of woman have you married? Did she force you in some way to..."
"I married the most beautiful, generous, and intelligent woman I have ever met, but I doubt that will interest you. If you worry that she is not my social class, you can rest assured. Elizabeth's father is a gentleman who owns an estate in Hertfordshire. My wife is a gentleman's daughter, but part of her maternal family is trade."
"Darcy, I cannot believe what you are telling me. I thought you knew better how our world works. Also, if the lady is such a remarkable person, why did you get married secretly? I do not know any Bennet, so I assume her father must have a rather small estate," said the Earl, suspecting that there was something strange about the situation.
"Mr. Bennet wanted Elizabeth to marry the heir to the estate to keep it in the family. My wife is not yet one and twenty, and I could only protect her, marrying her in Gretna Green. And as I already explained, Georgiana's illness forced us to postpone all our plans."
Mr. Darcy hoped he had been convincing enough and that his uncle would not continue enquiring. For his part, the Earl was not entirely convinced, but he knew that his nephew would not continue answering his questions.
"I hope Georgiana is well, although I think my doctor should check her to confirm that she is recovered," said Lord Matlock. He wanted to know what occurred to his niece and knew he could not force his nephew to tell him.
"It is unnecessary; you know very well, uncle, that the doctors who treat my family are some of the best in the country." Mr. Darcy did not want his uncle to continue meddling in his affairs.
"And what do you plan to do now? I suppose you will not provide more information and do not care much if I am angry or offended. You know very well that I promised your parents that I would always take care of you, and I keep my promises," said Theodore Fitzwilliam, very upset. "Although I must confess, I never expected you to behave in such a reckless manner."
"I am sorry if I have disappointed you, but I do not regret anything I have done. Elizabeth is the best that could have happened to me, but not just to me, to Georgiana, too," Mr. Darcy concluded.
"A friend of mine says that there is nothing more stupid than a man in love. Well, for the moment, I shall ask you not to do anything; let me talk to Esther; she will know how to handle this situation and prevent the rumors that will begin to circulate very soon."
"I can talk to Aunt Esther, but whatever we decide must be soon. I do not want to be locked in my house. My wife and I deserve to have a normal life."
"I understand; I shall talk to her today. As soon as your aunt learns what you have done, she will be in this house telling you everything you deserve. Now, I want to meet your wife," the Earl said, ending the conversation.
P&P
"Lizzy, you do not know how worried we were not knowing where you were," the Gardiners and Jane said as they hugged Elizabeth.
"You do not have to be worried about me. My husband and I managed to settle our differences, and we are optimistic about our future," said Elizabeth, excited.
Jane sat next to her dear sister and held her hand as Elizabeth told them about Pemberley and her beautiful friendship with her dear sister-in-law. But the pleasant conversation was interrupted when Mr. Darcy entered the room accompanied by a man who looked very similar to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Elizabeth stood and approached her husband, trying to mask her nervousness as best she could.
"My dear, allow me to introduce you to my uncle, Theodore Fitzwilliam, Lord Matlock," Mr. Darcy said without a muscle moving in his face. "Lord Matlock, this is my dear wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Darcy."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, my Lord," Elizabeth said, looking at the gentleman before her.
P&P
Thank you very much to everyone who enthusiastically follows the story and leaves comments.
I want to remind you that when I finish the story, I will leave it for two or three days and remove it. So, check the site frequently! There are about six or seven more chapters left so that this story will be complete in less than two.
In the next chapter, Elizabeth will begin to take on Mrs. Darcy's responsibilities. Meanwhile, not everyone will like the news about Mr. Darcy's wedding.
See you soon!
Saludos,
Yo
