The Parson's Rescue by Colin Rowland

Author:Colin Rowland [Rowland, Colin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781989212257
Publisher: One Good Sonnet Publishing
Published: 2020-02-09T05:00:00+00:00

Darcy rode slowly, his thoughts revolving around the conversation just concluded with Colonel Forster. His horse picked its way along the lane in the direction of Netherfield, guidance from its rider neither given nor necessary, as the animal knew its destination.

Central to his musing was the occurrence in the Meryton lane on the day previous. As his journey progressed, his moods alternated, from anger toward Miss Elizabeth for allowing an attack upon Miss Lydia, to relief neither Miss Elizabeth nor her sister were harmed. Remembrance of the episode brought to the fore his surprise at witnessing Mr. Collins’s facility in dispatching Mr. Wickham, the latter unable to lay so much as a hand upon the parson.

Self-defense is not a skill I would associate with a man of the cloth, thought he in reviewing what he had witnessed of the battle upon entering the lane. The facility with which Mr. Collins managed to turn his opponent’s aggression against himself was entertaining. It would appear there is more to this man than I at first assumed. But why did he not intervene when Lydia and her sister first set off on their own?

Darcy’s annoyance at the seemingly effortless escape of the two girls was tempered with the recognition of his lack of pity in sympathizing with Elizabeth. Her difficulties in exerting control over two young girls, whose every waking moment was occupied with thoughts of members of the opposite sex, was unknown to him and would remain so for many years if he could manage to make it so.

Darcy’s reverie was ended when his mount stopped; he looked around to see the Netherfield manor before him, the stable boy approaching to take the animal and tend to its needs. Dismounting, he handed the reins to the boy and made his way into the house to find Bingley waiting to greet him.

“Your countenance suggests you are troubled,” said Bingley when both had taken chairs in the sitting-room. “Was your time with the colonel not productive?”

“Colonel Forster and I spent the afternoon in discussion regarding the incident you and I witnessed in Meryton,” said Darcy in reply. “The colonel expanded my understanding of the circumstances surrounding Mr. Wickham’s contemptible actions in accosting Miss Lydia. He maintains his innocence, claiming he was set upon by Mr. Collins as he attempted to give aid to Miss Lydia and offers as his excuse a simple misunderstanding of his honest intent to help her.

“Miss Lydia is emphatic in her rejection of his statement and insists it was Mr. Wickham who forced himself upon her. I informed the colonel of Mr. Wickham’s past and, as proof of what I claimed, suggested he canvass the town merchants concerning the debts he has undoubtedly accumulated since his arrival in Meryton.”

Bingley listened to Darcy’s account, his attention never wavering. When his friend paused in his recitation, Bingley posed a question: “Your description of the time spent in Meryton suggests it was enlightening, but I sense you are unsatisfied. May I ask the cause of this discontent?”

Darcy was unsure of how best to respond.

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