The next day, Jane and Elizabeth walked arm in arm behind Mr. Collins and Mary while Kitty and Lydia skipped along ahead of their party on the road to Meryton.
The evening before, Mary followed her sisters’ advice to attract their cousin’s favor. She listened dutifully as he carried on about his good fortune at serving the de Bourgh family and to Elizabeth’s delight, he had forgotten everyone in the room while preferring Mary’s painfully amateur attempts at flirting.
When they set off that morning for Meryton, Mr. Collins offered his arm to Elizabeth but she declined and made the excuse of wishing to speak privately with Jane. “Cousin Collins, walk with Mary please. Jane and I must discuss delicate matters pertaining to her wedding.”
Mr. Collins moved in haste to Mary’s side at the drop in Elizabeth’s voice as she whispered about delicate matters. Jane poked her sister gently in the ribs. “Lizzy, how terrible to tease the man so! I must remember your tricks in the future when Miss Bingley has tried my nerves.”
Elizabeth giggled and bent her dark head close to Jane’s fair one. “If only Miss Bingley were as easily offended as our cousin, you should not have to worry.”
Jane allowed a bit of merriment at her future sister’s expense before schooling her expression. “Now Lizzy, it is fine to make sport of Miss Bingley when we are alone but we must not become accustomed to abusing her in such an easy manner.”
Elizabeth could not help but abuse Miss Bingley though her sister was correct. She must take care when visiting Jane at Netherfield after the wedding. It would not do to draw Miss Bingley’s ire and sow contention in Jane’s household.
“I give you my word that I shall be all that is pleasant when in the company of Miss Bingley though it shall pain me greatly,” Elizabeth said trying to maintain a serious face.
The sisters shared much laughter but slowly grew silent as they walked along. The conversation between their middle sister and the parson drifted to them. Mary’s voice rose prettily as she fawned over their cousin. “Mr. Collins, it must be wonderful to tend the souls of Hunsford! How I long to be so useful.”
Elizabeth bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing aloud, for Mary did wish such a life for herself. Any tease from her sisters would only serve to cause her embarrassment and cast her new and wobbly self-esteem into jeopardy of wilting before it might blossom.
Jane slowed their pace to allow the couple their privacy and avoid the boisterous enthusiasm of their cousin as he regaled Mary with his many tales of tending his flock in Hunsford.
As the party entered Meryton, the younger sisters were distracted by the red coats that waved to them across the road. Jane called to her younger sisters as the pair stepped into the road and hesitated before a pair of gentlemen on horseback. It was Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy!
Jane smoothed her skirts and hurried to join Lydia and Kitty before they might run to meet the soldiers who were now crossing the road. Linking her arms with her sisters, Jane gave them a gentle admonishment. “Young ladies do not run after gentlemen even if they are handsome soldiers.”
Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy halted their progress and the soldiers were introduced along with Mr. Collins. The parson seemed perturbed by the attention his younger cousins paid the men and made his apologies to Mr. Darcy. “Sir, I assure you that with my guidance the young ladies shall behave in an appropriate fashion.”
Mr. Darcy seemed irritated at being singled out by the parson but soon learned the reason for the man’s familiarity. “I serve your aunt in Hunsford and am most humbled to make your acquaintance, sir.”
Mr. Bingley made haste to dismount. Offering his arm to Jane, the man happily surveyed the party. “Shall we take a turn about the town?”
Delighted by the opportunity to be escorted by red coats, Lydia and Kitty accepted the gallantly proffered arms of the lieutenants they’d met several times before in Meryton.
Mr. Collins glanced to Elizabeth but Mary pulled him forward. “Cousin Collins, you were just about to tell me of that poor widow Mrs. Bancroft.”
Happy that Mary had Mr. Collins in her grasp, Elizabeth turned to Mr. Darcy. “Good morning, sir. Have you come to town with Mr. Bingley in search of wedding clothes?”
The gentleman gave the lady a genuine smile and shook his head. “We were out for a ride across Netherfield with the steward this morning and thought we might pass through Meryton in hopes of meeting your family.”
Elizabeth could not believe her ears. Mr. Darcy was not entirely fond of the Bennets and she could not blame the man. Her mother had been terribly rude to him at the Assembly and again at Netherfield whilst Jane was recovering from her illness. “I suspect that hope lies with Mr. Bingley, sir, and not with yourself.”
Mr. Darcy gave a low chuckle and held out his arm for Elizabeth’s consideration. “I admit it was Bingley’s idea but I am most pleased to find you on my arm this morning, Miss Elizabeth.”
Mr. Collins turned at these words from Mr. Darcy and gave the pair a stifling look. Mary frowned and sought to advance their position. “Come, Mr. Collins, we must keep up with Lydia and Kitty as they are bound to misbehave. Jane has all her attention on Mr. Bingley.”
The parson turned away from Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy but his sour expression remained fixed upon his face. It was unseemly for his cousin to walk about town with a man promised to another and seek his favor, especially the man promised to Lady Catherine’s daughter. He must speak with her when they returned home and discourage the connection.
Elizabeth pushed aside her cousin’s interference as she laid her hand upon Mr. Darcy’s arm. Certainly Mr. Collins was only thinking of Miss Anne de Bourgh and the promise he spoke of at dinner the night before. Could Mr. Darcy be meant to marry his cousin?
She doubted the supposed engagement as Mr. Darcy carried their conversation. He spoke of Pemberley, his home in Derbyshire, and invited Elizabeth to pay a visit should she find herself in that county. “With my sister in London I find myself eager to return home.”
Elizabeth recalled the plans of her family in London. “My Aunt and Uncle Gardiner wrote of visiting the Lake District come the summer. Aunt Madeline grew up in Lambton.”
Mr. Darcy smiled broadly. “Ah, then you must accompany them. Lambton is not far from Pemberley and I believe my sister would dearly love the company, Miss Elizabeth. Say that you shall come if you find yourself traveling with your family.”
Elizabeth meant to give her word when a handsome, young lieutenant crossed the road ahead of them and called out to the soldiers escorting her sisters. Mr. Darcy ceased their progress and turned his head in the direction of the young red coat.
His demeanor changed drastically in the space of but a few moments. “Have your sisters become acquainted with that lieutenant before today, Miss Elizabeth?”
She stepped forward and peered around Mary’s shoulder as she and Mr. Collins had stopped as well. The spectacle of her younger sisters fawning over the new solider had caused all but Jane and Bingley to interrupt their walk.
“I do not believe so, Mr. Darcy. I have never met him and the younger girls are not allowed into town without me. Do you know him?”
Mr. Darcy’s mouth was set in a grim line and Elizabeth noted the darkening of his eyes. “I do, unfortunately. He is George Wickham. A scandalous cad that seeks to destroy young women for sport. You must speak with your sisters and warn them against him. I must return to Netherfield, my apologies.”
Elizabeth meant to give her thanks for the words of warning but Mr. Darcy turned swiftly on his heel and left her with Mary and Mr. Collins. It was plain he did not wish to make idle conversation with this Mr. Wickham. Watching as he mounted his horse, Elizabeth’s heart gave a tug in her chest and she found herself annoyed with the young lieutenant.
Mr. Collins took the opportunity to chastise Elizabeth. “You must not encourage Mr. Darcy’s attention. He is promised to his cousin and though he is a gentleman, he is a man who might find comfort in the company of a handsome young lady who does not know her place.”
Elizabeth gasped at her cousin’s bold statement and pushed past him to gather her younger sisters and steer them away from Mr. Wickham and the other soldiers. How dare her cousin suggest she might seek a scandalous connection with Mr. Darcy!
In her heart, Elizabeth hoped Miss de Bourgh was not of a mind to marry Mr. Darcy. That hope, when mixed with the words of her cousin, exasperated the lady. She had no business entertaining the idea of a future where she and Mr. Darcy might become more than acquaintances and yet, he had invited her to visit him at Pemberley.
He had walked with her and been most attentive, teasing and laughing with her as they strolled the streets of Meryton. Had Jane been right in the garden when she spoke of Mr. Darcy’s interest? Finding that she was quite thrilled to think so, Elizabeth linked arms with Kitty and Lydia pulling them away from the red coats. “Come, ladies, tis time for our errands.”
George Wickham stepped in front of the ladies as Elizabeth pulled them towards a favorite shop. “And who is this lovely creature?”
The smirk on his face and the smooth way he delivered the question irritated Elizabeth and she stared at him boldly. “I am their older sister, sir. Please allow us to pass.”
Mr. Wickham gave a small salute as his eyes twinkled. “I do love a challenge, Miss. You shall tell me your name when next we meet.”
Lydia began to pull on Elizabeth’s arm now, upset that the man who had paid her the most attention was now eyeing her older sister in much the same manner.
As the lieutenant Mr. Darcy had warned her against stepped aside, Elizabeth moved quickly to shepherd her sisters to the shop where they would spend the better part of an hour fingering the same ribbon they had the week before.