Sudden Awakenings (The Other Paths Collection)

Chapter 20

Elizabeth felt nervous about hosting her first dinner at Pemberley. She had seen her mother host many dinners at Longbourn, but she wondered whether she would be equal to the task. As per Darcy’s suggestion, they had invited their nearest neighbors, the Wilson family, along with the curate, Mr. Kirby. The clergymen were the first ones to arrive.

“It has been an age since I last saw you, Mr. Wickham!” Georgiana greeted him. “How have you been?”

“Well enough, Miss Darcy, thank you for asking.” He inquired about her time in London and her schooling there, and expressed his gratitude at her return to Pemberley, claiming the neighborhood had been sorely deprived of her.

Elizabeth found Mr. Wickham’s manners to be utterly charming. His wit and sense of humor were equal to her own, and his appearance altogether pleasant. She found nothing wanting in his behavior or address. Perhaps Mr. Darcy’s hope had been fulfilled, that the pastoral life of a clergyman had helped Mr. Wickham to settle down from whatever previous troubles the young man had been in and to accept his lot in life.

Mrs. Younge was chatty with Mr. Wickham; it was plain the two were old friends from the time that Mr. Younge had been alive .

Elizabeth nurtured a private thought that perhaps Mrs. Younge might find a comfortable life as the wife of a clergyman, if she could find it in her heart to open herself up to the possibility.

Mr. Kirby was a pleasant fellow, whose thin, scruffy beard did not manage to hide his pimples and youthful appearance. Elizabeth learned he had only recently been ordained and taken up residence in the spare room at the parsonage. He hailed from a small town in Kent, not far from Rosings Park. Lady Catherine had been the one to recommend him. It seemed Lady Catherine loved to be of use to eager young clergymen. At least this one appears to be worthy of the position , Elizabeth mused.

Mr. Kirby spoke fondly of his ten brothers and sisters, and of a mother who encouraged them to be charitable, despite their limited means. He mentioned his plans to form a school, a project he hoped Mr. Wickham would assist him with, and of his visits to the local poor and a convalescent home for soldiers.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were also pleasant; they had two young boys, and lived a mere six miles away, not far from the village of Lambton. They had known the Darcy family since settling in that part of the country. Mr. Wilson had made his fortune through his innovations in iron mining methods, which enabled him to purchase his estate and marry the bride of his choosing about ten years prior.

“We always wondered who would ever be good enough for Mr. Darcy,” Mrs. Wilson remarked. “It seemed nobody I ever put forth as a contender could spark his interest, nor could any of the ladies of the ton . But I see now he was holding out for a more excellent creature.” She grinned.

“I thank you for your compliment,” Elizabeth said with a blush.

“How did you meet your lovely bride?” Mr. Wilson inquired.

“At my friend’s residence in Hertfordshire, where I was staying as a guest,” Mr. Darcy replied. “Mrs. Darcy’s family lives in that vicinity, so our parties were often thrown together in company. ”

“And that is how you fell in love with her,” Mrs. Wilson surmised with a smile.

“It is,” Mr. Darcy said.

A rush of warmth filled Elizabeth’s heart when he said this. It was the first time, in her recollection, that he had admitted any feelings for her. Such an honest admission could not be merely a pretense, could it? Then again, he could hardly admit they were forced into a marriage due to being compromised!

All in all, the evening was a success. The guests remained after dinner to play cards, and then they all took a stroll along the lake’s edge at sunset.

“You are fortunate, Mrs. Darcy,” Mrs. Wilson told her as they walked along behind the menfolk. “Mr. Darcy is the kindest, gentlest man I have ever had occasion to meet, except my own Mr. W, of course.” Seeing Elizabeth’s curious look, she continued. “Of course, I need not tell you all this. I am certain you have observed it, being in his company. He is known throughout these parts as a generous man, and a good master, like his father before him. Whenever there is some family in need, he can always be counted on to do whatever he can to assist them, and no tenant of his has ever had cause to complain of unjust treatment.”

Elizabeth soaked in Mrs. Wilson’s words. Her account of Mr. Darcy varied so greatly from her perception of him in Hertfordshire.

“How did you meet your husband, Mrs. Wilson?” she asked.

A mischievous grin formed on the lady’s lips. “You will think me forward, but it was through a classified advertisement.”

“No! Truly?” A laugh escaped Elizabeth.

Mrs. Wilson nodded. “Placed in The London Chronicle : A Lady, of good upbringing from County Cornwall, with a dowry of two-thousand pounds, seeks a respectable gentleman willing to pursue courtship, provided he be between the ages of twenty-four and forty, having property or employment in some profession above a thousand pounds per annum, and in possession of all his teeth and limbs. Applicants may apply to Mrs. Blake in Lincoln Street.”

“My goodness!” Elizabeth exclaimed.

“Indeed! Needless to say, my chaperone was surprised when we began receiving callers by the dozen the next day. However, only Mr.Wilson stood out. I was taken with him at once, and he invited me to partake of refreshments with him at a tea shop in Mayfair– under supervision, of course. But Mrs. Blake was all too happy to sit at a respectable distance from us,” she winked.

“She had grown tired– as I had– of my rejecting potential suitors, and wished for me to settle down amicably before my time in London expired. The trouble was that none of the usual gentlemen held any appeal for me. They were all gamesters, or excessively proud, or dull, or lacking any ambition.

“Mr. Wilson intrigued me, for he was unlike any of the others. He was driven to excel in his business, and did not depend on my fortune for his success. He was learned, for a tradesman, and well-read, like myself. His business interests have often allowed us to pursue our dreams of traveling– although the Tyrant has sadly put the Continent off limits for the time being,” she quipped.

“It sounds like an excellent match!” Elizabeth said.

“The very best,” Mrs. Wilson smiled. “I knew at once that we would be happy together, that our situations and temperaments were exactly suited for a felicitous union.”

Elizabeth asked, “Do you think that is often the case then– that when one finds one’s life partner, they are keenly aware of it from the start?”

“Not always. Sometimes it takes time before one can recognize the treasure standing before them, and some never find their ideal match and are forced to settle. I consider myself particularly blessed to have found my match, before circumstances persuaded me to accept a mediocre situation. Women with modest dowries have less opportunity than those with dazzling fortunes, you know.”

“Yes, that does seem to be the case,” Elizabeth agreed.

“There were precious few opportunities in Cornwall, and my mother was desperate to see me wed– hence she sent me to London to stay with her former schoolmate. I came from a family of all daughters, the same as you, Mrs. Darcy. My mother bore no sons, as did her mother, and her mother’s mother– the horror of it all, as she liked to say!”

Elizabeth giggled. “Your mother does sound quite like my own, in that regard.”

They were nearing the house again. Elizabeth said, “You know, I think I shall quite enjoy having you as my neighbor, and I have a feeling we are going to become great friends.”

“I am counting on it, Mrs. Darcy!” Mrs. Wilson replied, with a gentle elbowing. “You must call on me at Kenshire soon. I shall be expecting you!”

“And I shall look forward to it with pleasure,” Elizabeth beamed.