The Gentlemen Are Detained, page 1
THE GENTLEMEN ARE DETAINED
A PRIDE AND PREJUDICE SHORT STORY
HEATHER MOLL
Copyright © 2020 by Heather Moll
Excessively Diverted Press
ISBN: 978-1-7351866-0-3
All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Proofread by Regency Proofreading, LLC
Cover image: The Piano Lesson, Edmund Blair Leighton
To my mother
for all of her clever and creative ideas, including the one for this book
CONTENTS
The Gentlemen Are Detained
Newsletter
About the Author
Also by Heather Moll
“Mrs. Bennet had designed to keep the two Netherfield gentlemen to supper; but their carriage was, unluckily, ordered before any of the others, and she had no opportunity of detaining them.”
Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 54
Darcy exhaled a trembling breath as Bingley handed his card to Longbourn’s butler. The moment was now before him, the moment he had been envisioning since he left Elizabeth at the inn in Lambton. He would see her for the first time since the disastrous affair with Wickham and her poor sister.
Will Elizabeth welcome the renewal of our acquaintance or will she draw back from me?
In Derbyshire, she had seemed to pardon his previous ungentlemanly behavior enough to forgive him, but had he lessened her ill opinion sufficiently to earn him the chance for something more? His heart pounded and every muscle in his body was tensed. He felt that flow of anxiety and fears that must be felt in such a situation as this. Not knowing how Elizabeth thought of him was a helpless agony since his heart was still fervently hers.
Bingley shifted his feet and appeared embarrassed at the idea of seeing Miss Bennet, and Darcy gave him a reassuring nod that he did not feel. Darcy gestured toward the door, “After you, Bingley.”
And now I shall learn if I have any reason to hope.
When he had seen Elizabeth in Derbyshire, he had thought that she might regard him with an interest, perhaps even a tender interest. His affections and wishes remained unshaken, but he could not be certain, after all that had happened with Wickham and Lydia Bennet, that Elizabeth would not hate the sight of him.
“My dear Mr. Bingley, we are glad, very glad indeed, to welcome you back to Longbourn!” Mrs. Bennet cried as soon as his friend’s foot crossed the threshold.
“Thank you, madam. I hope—”
“It has been a very long time since you went away.”
“Yes, above nine—”
“You have been missed by everyone in the neighborhood, of course, but you were particularly missed by this family.” She continued in this enthusiastic mood, and Darcy watched Bingley open and close his mouth several times in a vain attempt to reply. “Now that you are back, I hope you shall be quite settled here.” Mrs. Bennet’s smile fell as she turned from Bingley to finally acknowledge him, which she did with a quick curtsey and a terse, “Good day to you, Mr. Darcy.”
“Good day, ma—”
“Jane, dear! Jane come here and welcome Mr. Bingley.”
Darcy accepted the slight with good grace while Miss Bennet blushed and did as her mother demanded. While his real reason for coming to Longbourn was to see Elizabeth, he had resolved on coming here to observe Miss Bennet’s behavior and confirm if she was still partial to his friend.
He watched as Miss Bennet received Bingley without resentment and without any excessive agreeableness, but Elizabeth greeted both gentlemen with only what civility required, and then immediately picked up her needlework. Darcy stood in indecision on whether or not to sit near her, but she did not raise her eyes to him. If only I could have some reassurance that Elizabeth is not indifferent to me. With a soft sigh, he crossed the room to sit farther away on the sofa near the fireplace.
While Mrs. Bennet effused praise upon Bingley that bordered on vulgar, Darcy glanced again at Elizabeth. He saw her cheeks were pink, and he felt for her. While he had previously observed Elizabeth’s quiet embarrassment at her family’s behavior, he knew his ungentlemanly reproaches against them must naturally come to mind now and mortify her anew.
I wish I had never spoken a word against their behavior. It was little wonder she said that he was the last man in the world she could be prevailed on to marry. He had to make some effort at conversation, to show her that he admired her and that, despite what he had cruelly said at Hunsford, he respected her family.
“Miss Elizabeth, may I ask if Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner are in good health? Are they now restored to their home with their children?”
He knew the answer perfectly well since he had dined with the Gardiners in Gracechurch Street after the conclusion of the affair with Wickham, but Elizabeth did not know that. He had assumed that her expression would brighten at hearing their name, but she hardly knew where to look and suddenly paled.
“Yes, perfectly well. I suppose you—they are well. I have had a letter from my aunt—thank you, yes, they are in good health.”
Darcy looked at her expectantly, hoping she would say more—although her answer was all confusion—but she appeared unwilling to talk with him. He had thought he could do no wrong by talking about the Gardiners, but Elizabeth stared absorbedly at her needlework and did not speak again.
Perhaps speaking about the Gardiners brings to mind our meeting in Derbyshire, and it is not as fond a memory for her as it is for me.
Since Elizabeth was silent, and Mrs. Bennet refused to speak to him beyond the barest civility, he watched Bingley interact with Miss Bennet. She was as beautiful as he remembered her being, and Bingley gave her more of his attention as the call progressed. Miss Bennet was good-natured, unaffected, and entirely attentive to his friend.
I suppose it possible that Miss Bennet’s heart was touched after all. If so, he would have to confess to Bingley that Miss Bennet was never indifferent and, far worse, confess how he concealed from him Miss Bennet’s presence in town last winter. His closest friend would be justly offended by what he had done. I dearly hope my interference, however well-meant, does not cost me our friendship.
“Mr. Darcy?” He looked up from contemplating the ground at the sound of Elizabeth’s voice. “How is Miss Darcy? Is she in good health?”
“She is well, thank you.”
Darcy held her gaze from across the room, desperately eager for her to continue the conversation, but she only gave a small smile, nodded, and then looked away. Bingley might eventually forgive him for his interference, but he now doubted that Elizabeth could.
The rest of the call continued with more mortification as Mrs. Bennet leveled hints of unjust injunctions against him as she spoke of Wickham’s lack of friends, as well as of her joy in having a daughter married. When this trial had passed, she then gave more officious attention to Bingley, who could hardly keep his countenance. When Darcy dared to look at Elizabeth—when he was certain her eyes were elsewhere—he could see her mortification. He caught Bingley’s notice and looked toward the door, and they both rose to leave. He had to spare Elizabeth and Miss Bennet further humiliation.
His efforts were in vain because on their way out, Mrs. Bennet invited them to dine on Tuesday.
“You are quite a visit in my debt, Mr. Bingley,” she added, “for when you went to town last winter you promised to take a family dinner with us as soon as you returned. I have not forgot, you see; and, I assure you, I was disappointed that you did not come back and keep your engagement.”
This reflection brought winces and pink cheeks to both Miss Bennet and Elizabeth, and Darcy regretted anew ever mentioning her family in terms of such mortifying reproach, however true it might have been. His sense of shame was severe and he dared not look at her.
Bingley looked completely befuddled and struggled with how to reply. “I … forgive me for disappointing you, ma’am. I …” he looked to Darcy briefly and then toward Miss Bennet. “I was unexpectedly … prevented by business … but …”
“Thank you for a delightful visit, ladies,” Darcy said pointedly. He bowed, and his friend did the same with a relieved sigh. He would save Bingley from spending the next five minutes in flustered confusion.
Darcy looked at Elizabeth while he put on his hat, hoping to catch her eye to see what she thought of spending Tuesday evening with him, but she was pointedly watching her sister part from Bingley. He lingered while he slowly put on his gloves, trying to gain her notice one last time. Elizabeth looked at him, and he gave her a gentle smile, but she swiftly looked down in what could only be painful confusion, and he followed Bingley through the door.
The idea of an evening at Longbourn now brought him little pleasure. Mrs. Bennet disliked him, he might have ruined Miss Bennet and Bingley’s happiness, and Elizabeth could scarcely bring herself to so much as look at him.
The best I could say for her opinion of me is that after our time together in Derbyshire, Elizabeth realized she previously undervalued my merit and now thinks better of me as a
But he had little reason to hope she could ever love him.
On Tuesday, there was a large party assembled at Longbourn. Elizabeth restlessly paced the drawing room while she awaited the gentlemen from Netherfield. She had spent the intervening days since Darcy’s call dwelling on that gentleman’s vexing behavior. He had been silent, grave, and seemingly indifferent. Why had he come at all if not to speak with her? Why was he so uneasy around her? Her Aunt Gardiner wrote that he had been amiable with them during the resolution of Lydia’s sad affair.
How shall I find a way to tell Darcy that I am delighted with him, that I would give anything to hear a renewal of his addresses?
She certainly had not loved him at first sight, but what she felt for Darcy now was a genuine, ardent affection. After all of their contrarieties and misunderstandings, this was not an idle love of romantic nonsense. I am certain that what I feel for Darcy is that sincere emotion, but do I have any reason to hope that he could regard me as unalterably his?
She knew that Darcy had no concern that she was neither rich nor grand, but would her family’s behavior remind him anew of his previous reservations? With the Gardiners he could be at ease, but perhaps not with her nearer relations. And what if he can never care for me again since I now have a sister married to George Wickham?
She started at the sound of gentlemen’s voices in the hall, and she did her best to compose her mind. Perhaps she could have a private word with him before dinner, just enough to hint to him that she thought well of him. Then he might not be as reticent with her as he was when he last called with Mr. Bingley.
Elizabeth knew that her mother and sisters’ attention was fixed on the arrival of Mr. Bingley, but her eyes lingered possessively over Darcy’s tall form as they entered. He certainly was a handsome man and, although he would always be reserved, she had thought in Derbyshire there had been a new openness in his manner that was highly prepossessing. Civilities were exchanged, furtive and shy glances were given, but she did not have the chance to have a word with Darcy before they repaired to the dining room.
Elizabeth sighed sadly, and her father heard her. “What is the matter, Lizzy? You look conscious.” He glanced to where she was still watching Darcy walk down the corridor ahead of her. Mr. Bennet raised an eyebrow and lowered his voice to speak into her ear. “Fear not, Lizzy, you need not speak to a man for whom you have such a dislike. I shall do what I can to spare you his company.”
She forced a reluctant smile while her heart dropped to her stomach. How shall I ever learn if he still cares for me if we do not speak tonight?
Her attention was turned away from Darcy for a short time as Elizabeth watched to see whether Mr. Bingley would take the place that, in all their former parties, had belonged to him, by Jane. It was decided when Jane smiled at him; Mr. Bingley swiftly placed himself by her.
She saw how little notice Darcy appeared to give to the arrangement. I suppose Darcy has given his friend his sanction to be happy, or at least he feels certain that Jane could return Mr. Bingley’s affections after all.
“Lizzy,” her father said in a louder voice, “why do you not sit next to me? You can bore your father with all your chat about muslin and lace.”
“I shall do no such thing, but I will happily sit by you.”
“Very well, then I suppose I shall need Kitty or Mrs. Long near me if I am to learn if lace is needed or if ribbon will do.”
Elizabeth took her place at that end of the table and looked to see where Darcy was. He is walking this way. She could not mention Lydia to him during dinner, of course, but she could try to show him how partial she now was to his company.
“Mr. Darcy, may I invite you to sit by me?” Mrs. Bennet asked with brisk formality.
Oh no! The downside to her mother forbearing to invite Mr. Bingley to sit next to her meant this preferred seat by their hostess was offered to Darcy. He immediately bowed to her mother and took his place at the other end of the table.
Elizabeth watched Jane and Mr. Bingley’s mutual admiration grow during dinnertime, and Elizabeth was persuaded that their happiness would be speedily secured. This brought her pleasure, but her own spirits were in no cheerful humor. Darcy was as far from her as the table could divide them and, far worse, he was on one side of her mother.
She was not near enough to hear any of their discourse, but she could see how seldom they spoke to each other and how formal and cold was their manner whenever they did. He had been courteous and agreeable in Derbyshire, and her mother’s ungraciousness was painful to Elizabeth’s mind. She longed to tell Darcy that his kindness to her family was both known and felt strongly by her.
If I could speak to him alone, I would tell Darcy ever so much more than that. Elizabeth did not know how it could be brought about—it was a gentleman’s prerogative to speak first—but somehow she had to show him that she had come to value him, admire him, and love him.
“Oh, it is, Mrs. Long! So very hard to have Lydia far away from me. At least he has gone into the regulars. I am glad at least that Wickham has some friends.” Mrs. Bennet turned to Darcy and said, more coldly, “Would you please pass the stewed tongue?”
He did as he was bid, and held back any speech on what Mrs. Bennet might do with her own unreserved tongue.
“Did you not see her ring!” she soon cried to another neighbor farther down the table. “How did you not come to see Mrs. Wickham’s ring, my dear Mrs. Goulding?” Mrs. Bennet paused to look at him since she was addressing the woman beside him and was speaking loudly to do it. “My daughter now wears a fine wedding band, Mr. Darcy.”
He bowed silently. I know, because I bought that ring for her myself after I had to meet, reason, persuade, and finally bribe Wickham to marry her.
After the remove, Mrs. Long asked their hostess if she had heard from Mrs. Wickham since she went away. “No, I have not had a letter yet, but you know how busy a newly married woman is. Such a shame that her husband’s regiment is so far off.”
Darcy exhaled and shrugged his shoulders. Newcastle was not far enough to the extent he was concerned.
“Do you not agree, Mr. Darcy?”
This was said to him with significantly less warmth than Mrs. Bennet had spoken to Mrs. Long.
“I am certain you must miss your youngest daughter very much, madam.”
“I do, and my new son-in-law, too. Lydia’s husband is a charming man!”
He could scarcely bring himself to nod, and Mrs. Bennet then sniffed and directed her attention to a more interested party. Darcy could not show more attentiveness even for politeness’ sake. I had hoped to show Elizabeth my willingness to get to know her family, but Mrs. Bennet’s constant talk of Wickham is too much of a punishment.
The only comfort he had was in watching his friend show more and more admiration for Miss Bennet. Her attention was equally as engaged, although he thought she was not quite as chatty as she had been in the autumn. Regardless, there was no mistaking how both of them were neglectful of those around them, and how bright their countenances were when the other smiled at them.
He had yet to see such a smile for him from Elizabeth.
Bingley’s affection for Miss Bennet is as strong as it was last year, and she appears to return his sentiments in equal measure. She may be all gentleness and good-humored to everyone, but it was not impossible that Miss Bennet loved Bingley. My judgment was entirely mistaken. Elizabeth was right about her sister, and Darcy sighed quietly. Elizabeth would naturally be more willing to forgive his interference if Bingley and Miss Bennet reestablished their attachment, but it hardly meant that Elizabeth might ever look on him as fondly as her sister was now looking at his friend.
Dinner was finally over and Mrs. Bennet rose to lead the ladies into the drawing room. All hope was not lost; he had the rest of the evening to draw Elizabeth aside from the other ladies and speak with her.
“Come along, ladies; we can leave the gentlemen to their port and conversation,” Mrs. Bennet said. When Miss Bennet rose, her mother then said to her, “You need not worry my dear, I am sure that some gentlemen will not stay at the table long.”
