I had an uncomfortable moment when she said that he deserved to be publicly disgraced, for if my lies came out, then Darcy would not hesitate to refute them, but I recovered quickly and said that I should never breathe a word of it, out of respect for his father.
Although quick-witted enough in other respects, Miss Elizabeth believed me, without it ever occurring to her that I had just breathed a word of it, indeed many words of it, to her. I wonder what he has done to her, to give her such an immoveable dislike of him? Insulted her, no doubt. Not deliberately, but in that superior way he has of making everyone else feel that they are beneath his notice.
So now I am firmly established in her good opinion, and in the good opinion of the rest of the town. A handsome face and a charming manner will always win friends for the man who puts himself out to win them. A bit of flattery thrown into the mix and it is soon done. Whether or not I will stay here I do not know. Much depends on Darcy. I do not know at present how long he intends to stay here. If it is only for a few weeks, then it will be worth my while to stay, but if he intends to stay here for months, then things might become uncomfortable. I am still undecided. But I must live somewhere, and until anything better offers, in Meryton I must stay.
George
Mrs Younge to Mr Wickham
London, November 21
Ah, Georgy, you don’t fool me, it’s your Belle you’re talking to. You’ve been charming the young ladies of Meryton and you’ve singled out Miss Elizabeth as your flirt. She must be pretty, then, and lively, and witty, for you wouldn’t waste your time on her otherwise. You’ll leave a mountain of debts and a string of broken hearts behind you when you leave the neighbourhood, I dare say.
Fancy you seeing Darcy there, of all places. That was a piece of bad luck, but I don’t suppose he will be there for long; he will be wanting to see his sister again soon and he will be riding back to town.
Hurry up and find an heiress. We’ve had a lot of good times, you and me, and will have some more before we’re done, but we need money to do it with.
Belle
Mr Darcy to Colonel Fitzwilliam
Netherfield Park, Hertfordshire,
November 22
My dear Henry,
You will be relieved to hear that Philip has been to see Georgiana and that he has found nothing to alarm him. I mentioned that Georgiana’s last companion allowed her to mix with unsuitable people and, being a brother himself, he understood my concern and made minute enquiries. He found out what letters were received and sent from the house and they were all unexceptionable. He spoke at length with Mrs Annesley and found her to be as reliable and trustworthy as I had found her, and he spoke to Georgiana and found her happy and intent on painting Ullswater. He then spoke to the groom and discovered that Georgiana never spoke to anyone in the park who could be considered undesirable and that she was attended at all times.
So my worst fears were ungrounded.
Indeed, it seems now certain that Wickham’s presence in the neighbourhood is pure chance. I dined with the officers again and discovered that Wickham came here at the invitation of Mr Denny. The two were already acquainted and Denny persuaded Wickham that a life in the militia would suit him. Wickham, as always, has pockets to let, and so he is to purchase a lieutenant’s commission. Where he will find the money I do not know, nor do I care, as long as he does not ask me for it, and after our unfriendly greeting I have no fear of it.
If not for the fact that I will have to accustom myself to seeing him from time to time, I would not think of him again. Unfortunately, Bingley has invited him to a ball at Netherfield—not him especially, but as one of the officers. I could not very well ask Bingley to make an exception of Wickham, at least not without arousing curiosity, and so I said nothing. Caroline, though, suspects something, but I believe she has put my aversion down to pride, and thinks that I do not wish to mix with the son of my father’s steward. It is better than her discovering my real reason for hating him—and hate him I still do. My good opinion, once lost, is lost forever.
Your cousin,
Darcy
Miss Charlotte Lucas to Miss Susan Sotherton
Lucas Lodge, Hertfordshire,
November 22
Dearest Susan,
We have two new additions to Meryton society. The Bennets have a cousin staying with them, a Mr Collins, and there is a new officer—or soon-to-be officer—Mr Wickham. My brothers and sisters are all hoping that one or other of the gentlemen will make me an offer, but I think it unlikely. It is a pity, for I would certainly accept. My feelings on this matter have brought home to me what a very great difference there is between twenty-seven and one and twenty. Jane is the object of Mr Bingley’s attentions, but she does nothing to encourage him. Such reticence is very sweet at her age, but if she does not have a care, she might find herself having to encourage someone far less agreeable in another five years’ time.
Elizabeth is meanwhile the object of her cousin’s attentions. I think she has only just begun to suspect it and is mortified. To be sure, he is not a sensible man, and has nothing in the way of personal virtues to recommend him, but he has a good living, a comfortable establishment and the patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. His wife will be respectable and respected, and I must confess that if such a man were to appear interested in me, I would encourage him in every way available to me. But Elizabeth is yet young enough and romantic enough to think that true love still awaits her. As for myself, I have never been romantic. I have no belief in love, true or otherwise, but I would be glad of my own home and my own life, away from my family, no matter how much I love them.
I am invited to a ball at Netherfield and there I will no doubt dance with all the officers, make myself agreeable, and hope that one of them will be as unromantic as I am and decide that he needs a sensible wife.
But what of you? Are you still liking Bath? Is your father any better? Is your mother any happier? Have you any prospects?
Write to me soon,
Charlotte
Mr Wickham to Mrs Younge
Meryton, Hertfordshire,
November 22
Ah, Belle, how strange a thing is life, one minute up, one minute down, and then up again! After my recent holiday in debtors’ prison it was balm to my spirit to find myself invited to a ball at Netherfield Park. That is an arena in which I can shine. I am not asked there for my own sake, but that is not important; I have an invitation and that is all that counts. As Mr Bingley did not make an exception of me when he invited all the officers, he evidently does not know what happened in Ramsgate last summer. Darcy must have been too proud to tell him, for which I am grateful. Bingley will be useful to me as long as he stays in ignorance. He can give me an entrée into the best society here and, better yet, he has a wealthy sister. The gossip is that Caroline Bingley has her sights set on Darcy, but I know him too well to think that he will ever marry her, for she has no pedigree and her money comes from trade. Sooner or later she will realise that she is wasting her time and then she will be vulnerable to a handsome charmer and there might be a chance for me.