Elizabeth gave Mr. Wickham a knowing look, and she could tell he understood her perfectly. Not many weeks ago he had vowed to never say a negative word of Darcy unless he could forget the good of his father.
Having heard the officers from his library, Mr. Bennet came and sat with them. Elizabeth cast worried looks to him, and soon he pointedly engaged in monopolizing Wickham’s time exclusively for the remainder of the call. Lydia seemed displeased, but was easily consoled with attention from others.
When they had left, Elizabeth followed her father into the library.
“In light of Mr. Darcy’s information on Mr. Wickham, what do you plan to do?” He did not look up from his book.
“Plan to do?”
“He is a rake and a gamester, surely a threat to our community.”
At his silence, she persevered. “Please, Papa. I was so mistaken in Mr. Darcy’s character and so willingly spoke against him even more so in the last week. Please, some redress is the least I can do.”
Mr. Bennet sighed and finally focused on his daughter. “What would you have me do? Mr. Darcy did not authorize us, or I should say you, to say anything about Wickham –if he even meant to send that letter at all. He left the area without concern for us, surely he must consider Wickham no great threat to us.”
“Perhaps…but he also had no connections in the area. It would be quite impertinent for him to tell the area’s residents how to protect themselves from such an unworthy man. Nor could he say anything on Mr. Wickham’s dalliances without risking too much about his sister. The whole area is very prejudiced towards him. It would be the death of half the good people of Meryton to find out that Wickham is a cad from Mr. Darcy’s own mouth. Yet, you they may believe.”
Her father groaned, and Elizabeth hastily spoke. “You need not be direct, after all you have no information of your own, but you are clever and well-respected. You can plant the seeds of doubt. How much is he spending, and how much does he earn? Is he known to treat the ladies respectably? Use his words against him. Why, only a moment ago I found many holes in his story about Mr. Darcy denying him the living with only a few simple questions!”
“Did you now?” he asked with pride.
Elizabeth smiled, “Indeed! I cannot think of how foolish I was to fall for it in the first place. If he were prepared for ordination then he would have done the necessary studies and been able to find work somewhere. If he did not study then what did he do between his godfather’s death and the time when the living fell vacant, and how could he expect Mr. Darcy to give him the living unqualified?”
“Quite right.”
“After a friend gave him away he declared that he realized upon graduation from university that Mr. Darcy never intended to give him the living, and so he chose to study law instead.”
Mr. Bennet’s eyebrows shot up in silent query, and his daughter continued. “Of course, how could a penniless steward’s son afford that in the first place? He confessed to receiving a bequest of one thousand pounds, which ought to have been sufficient to study. I did not bait him further by asking him why he was not a lawyer, or telling him I knew of the additional three thousand pounds Mr. Darcy gave him, but I did subtly remind him of his declaration to me weeks ago, that he would not besmirch the Darcy name out of loving memory for his godfather.
“So you see, we just need to make some statements like so, and he will lose all credibility. Hopefully the merchants will not extend him so much credit that they are hurt when he leaves the area, and when others know he is not to be entirely honourable, they will hopefully defend their daughters.”
“You might be correct.” He paused for a minute. “And we have a special advocate amongst us.”
Understanding him, Elizabeth suppressed a chuckle. “Do you think Mamma would like to visit my Aunt Phillips?”
Mr. Bennet laughed heartily.
“What is so amusing?”
“I certainly do know she desires to visit your aunt and tell her all about your supposed engagement as she saw your letter.”
Elizabeth gasped.
“She only saw the opening declaration and then skipped to find the name of the author before shrieking in hysterics. She knows nothing of his other words.” Elizabeth’s cheeks burned scarlet. “I am uncertain we can hope she will not spread it abroad, but perhaps if we distract her with discounting Wickham in an effort to raise the community’s opinion of Mr. Darcy that will work for the afternoon. After all, he may be as ‘good as a Lord’ as she put it, but she would certainly want you to be the envy of the county and not just for his riches.”
“Papa, he may not offer for me and there may be no need otherwise…”
“Fine, fine. Have it your way, but I find it excessively amusing that we may rid the county of Wickham and save your Mr. Darcy’s reputation through the silliness of your mother.”
He meant it as a jest, but Elizabeth could not help but recall Darcy’s rather just accusations of the impropriety of her family and blushed again. “As useful as that trait will be in this case, you must see it is not always so. My mother means well but can do material harm to our credit, especially as my youngest sisters are allowed to go unchecked. I cannot but think that if he had not so despised our family’s behaviour he might not have counselled Mr. Bingley on leaving the area. Even if they both believed Jane indifferent, her affections might have been won or even deemed bearable if not accompanied by such vulgar relations. No, it was not her modesty which is to blame, but the actions of her own family, myself included.”
“Such squeamish youths.”
“Squeamish! Men of sense do not want to be connected to a family prone to disaster. Were we not just speaking of the misfortunes that could befall a lady who accepts Mr. Wickham’s attentions? Do you really believe your daughters somehow immune from such charms? And not just him, but any man willing enough to give them the attention and affection they find lacking elsewhere?”
Suddenly realizing what she implied, she quit speaking. She expected to see her father angry, but instead saw sad acknowledgement, resignation and guilt on his face.
“Forgive me.”
“No, no. I have at last seen that I must be cautious. I will speak with your mother, and we will begin a course of improvement.”
Humbled that he could take her opinion so readily, Elizabeth gazed at her hands. “Thank you.”
“Now, I am certain you will wish to accompany your mother, so round up your sisters while I go and explain to her why we must save your young man’s reputation.”
“Papa, please. No more teasing. You read his letter. His senses were addled. If we can prevent the gossip, then there is no reason for him to marry me. I do this only because it is required of my honour.”
She left the room and did not hear her father mumble, “I recall perfectly well being in love against my will five and twenty years ago, my dear. Make no mistake about it, he does love you and will come and take you away from me.”
*****
Shaking his head from his reverie, Mr. Bennet ascended the stairs to his wife’s chambers. He had barely entered them in the last ten years at least, but it was time to face what he could not change. He knocked on the door and was surprised when she opened it directly.
“Mr. Bennet!” she peered down the hallway as though she expected someone else.
“Fanny, may I come in? We must discuss very serious matters.”
Her eyes widened at his words, and she allowed him to enter. He led her to the sofa in her dressing room before beginning.
“Fanny, I apologize for sending you away earlier when you found Lizzy’s letter.”
“As well you should! This is just the time she needs her mother, to set everything up for her. She can have no use for you at all until Mr. Darcy comes to get your blessing.”
For the first time in years, Mr. Bennet paid attention to his wife’s words. He would address that matter later, but for now he must speak with her on his daughter’s erstwhile lover.
&nb
sp; “Fanny, it is Mr. Darcy coming to ask for my blessing I must speak on.” He paused, feeling the guilt of his trespasses against his family. “You did not read more of the letter, did you?”
Mrs. Bennet shook her head, and he continued. “Mr. Darcy was not proposing.”
“Not proposing!” she shrieked. “Not proposing! Why, he has written Lizzy a love letter! The postman will have seen it, and you know Mrs. Long hovers nearby all day to hear gossip. And the servants! What does he want with her then? Oh, we are ruined! That headstrong, foolish girl! Nobody will believe that we were used so ill by him. He must think he can do whatever he pleases, he is so high and mighty!”
Taking her hand in his, Mr. Bennet spoke calmly. “Mr. Darcy has since written that he will arrive, and I will ask why he sent the first letter. I do believe it was quite some mistake though. You see, gentlemen may be in love and it not always lead to matrimony.”
Her shrieks turned to wails. “Yes, as we know with Mr. Bingley!”
“My dear, listen to me. A prudent man, one who would be worthy of our daughters and to whom I would give my consent, must think seriously about things. Our daughters have little money.”
“That entail! The dreadful Collins and now Charlotte Lucas to come and usurp our place!”
Ignoring her outburst, he continued. “And we have neglected their education. They have little but their charms to recommend them.”
“Neglected their education? Why, they are some of the most accomplished young ladies in our community! And all so fair! Charms indeed!”
“This pales in comparison to what men of Society may often find elsewhere.”
“Jane paling in comparison to someone! Impossible.”
“These new gentlemen we have met also associate with families of rank and circumstance.”
“Ah! So Mr. Darcy is too full of pride. He claims to love our Lizzy, but not enough to overlook an uncle in trade. And he took Mr. Bingley with him?”
“It is more than that. He worries about the behaviour of our family.”
Mr. Bennet knew this would be the most painful news of all to tell his wife. She prided herself on becoming a gentleman’s wife and on being a good mistress of one of the larger estates in the area. She was excessively defensive about her family’s origins, but to be told that they lacked in decorum was almost too much, he was certain. She was entirely speechless, her lip quivering and her face showing confusion.
“We have indulged our younger daughters too much as we were distracted by our own troubles. We ought to have hired a governess or been stricter with them. We have allowed them to be overrun with sensibility.”
“What do you mean to say, Mr. Bennet?”
“Mr. Darcy is coming to meet with me. I do not know if he will offer for Lizzy, whether or not the letters are known. I do not know if she will accept him if they are unknown.”
“She would not dream of refusing him!”
“I am rather sure she would.”
“Does she hate him so much? He loves her! How can she refuse a man who can offer her so much?”
“Lizzy has never cared for wealth and splendour.”
“But she does want esteem and love! I could not… Well, what is it you are asking of me?”
“I might persuade Mr. Darcy to stay in the area, until we are certain no gossip arises. During that time, perhaps we can improve his impression of our family, which I believe both Lizzy and Mr. Darcy consider an obstacle. Lydia and Kitty are not to be so flirtatious. Mr. Darcy’s letter also contained information about a new acquaintance of ours. It transpires that Wickham is a wild young man, a gamester and a seducer. He will not be welcome in my home again, and if I hear of my daughters speaking with him above the barest of civilities they will be harshly punished.”
Mrs. Bennet gasped. “He is such a charming young man! No, it must be some dreadful misunderstanding between him and Mr. Darcy.”
“You must pick your champion, madam. Either you desire Mr. Darcy to marry Lizzy or you will stand beside Wickham. He has abused the Darcys terribly and I fear if we stand beside him Mr. Darcy will never align himself with our family. You were in the room during Wickham’s call. He could barely keep his lies together.”
“There is that…”
“It is not just Wickham. Any of the officers may be wearing a facade of gentlemanly character. I will not entirely revoke Kitty and Lydia’s ability to enjoy amusements with their sisters, but there is to be no hopes of serious courtships and marriage for them.”
“But, the entail! How can you not think of us!”
“If Mr. Darcy marries Lizzy, I daresay you will be set up nicely after I am gone. Even more so if Mr. Bingley returns with him and offers for Jane. I would rather my daughters have to be taken-in by family than be pushed into unhappy alliances, and if any are seduced by scoundrels because they are out too young without the proper attention of their parents, then we are all ruined.”
The marriage of her five daughters had been Mrs. Bennet’s dearest wish since Jane was fifteen. She was now thrown into a state of shock and hardly knew what to do with herself, with two on the verge of matrimony and another two she could not fuss over.
“Now, you said earlier that an engagement is a time when a daughter needs her mother.”
“Yes, but I have nothing to plan, do I?”
“No, but we can improve our younger daughters and, if not these men, in time other suitors will arise. More than that, there is a task for you today.”
“Lizzy has convinced me that it is unfair for Mr. Darcy to return to the area with everyone hating him due to our own prejudice and Wickham’s lies, and for the town to be a victim to Wickham’s ways. She hopes you and your sister Phillips will be beneficial in turning our Society’s opinion of both men. Indeed, between you and I, such a change may improve Mr. Darcy’s opinion of us as well!”
A twinkle emerged in Mrs. Bennet’s eyes. “Oh! I would like that. Well, certainly it shall only be the work of a moment! Hill!”
Mr. Bennet laughed at her enthusiasm. “One more thing, my dear. Have you felt…lonely? Useless? Since our girls have grown up? Is that one of the reasons you have been so excited by the prospect of their marriages? A girl does need her mother at such times.”
A tear slid down Mrs. Bennet’s cheek. “Oh! You have been locked away in your library and refused to see how they have grown up. And … and since I was unable to give you more children and an heir, I have been so melancholy seeing them grow. So nervous over our futures. And I thought I was doing the right thing hoping they would marry well. Is that not what a good mother does?”
He drew her close, wiped her tear, and then kissed her forehead. “You are a very affectionate mother. I have wronged you by staying away from you, from the girls, but I could not bear my weakness.”
“Your weakness? All these years I thought you were disappointed in me! That I could not give you a son nor was I clever enough for you.”
“No, dearest. You might not be very clever, but you were my happy wife for many years. I saw how your anxieties grew but knew no way to ease them. Instead of talking with you plainly, I chose to hide until the storm passed, but it never did.”
“I have been very silly; caring more for gossip and the opinions of women in an effort to ignore the opinion of my own husband. You must regret your moment of infatuation which led to our marriage.”
She hung her head low, and Mr. Bennet raised her chin. “I can never regret our marriage—look at our girls! I regret some of my actions, or inaction, during our marriage. I regret that I did not listen to you better, that I did not respect you enough to understand your concerns and cares. I still know you by heart. Let us show our girls a better way now.”
“Truly, Thomas?”
He smiled at the name she had not called him in years. “Yes, Fanny. Now, get dressed for you are to call on your sister with the girls, and we can begin to mend our errors.”
Chapter Five
Longbourn
1:30 pm
Jane Bennet saw her father and dearest sister leave the library. Curiously, her father went upstairs, and she heard him stop at the door she knew to be her mother’s. Before she could ponder what that could be about, Elizabeth approached her, clearly discomfited.
“Lizzy, are you well?” She looked as though she had not slept much lately. Few would guess from Jane’s countenance but the same was true for her.
“I hope to be, I hope to be,” was the only muttered reply she received.
Jane allowed Elizabeth a moment, knowing that in time whatever discouraged her sister she would overcome, if given a moment’s reflection.
Elizabeth’s confusion and unease cleared, and she drew herself up. “Jane, help me gather our sisters. We are to go to town to visit our aunt. We have important news to share.”
“News?” How unlike Elizabeth to wish to gossip!
“We were fooled by Mr. Wickham, I more than anyone else. He is a liar and a rake. Papa and I have determined to tell the area the truth of him and defend poor Mr. Darcy’s name.”
“Poor Mr. Darcy? Mr. Wickham so awful?” She put her hand to Elizabeth’s forehead. Surely she must be ill.
Elizabeth swatted Jane’s hand away. “Help me, please.”
“I can hardly help if I do not understand. What has happened? How can you know this of Mr. Wickham and why are you now protecting Mr. Darcy?”
Elizabeth let out a frustrated sigh. “Mr. Darcy wrote a letter…detailing the truth of Wickham. Such things as Wickham has done, Mr. Darcy would have no reason to lie about.”
“That is why you were speaking to him so! I was surprised we had not noticed the error in his story before, but then he must not want to admit how difficult he found studying the law to be.”
“He spent the money he received from his godfather and was compensated three thousand pounds for giving up the promised living by his own request. Even if he were a poor student and felt he must make his income elsewhere, he should have had plenty left over to buy a very nice commission. Instead, he must have gambled it all away!”
Seven Days With Mr Darcy Page 12