Wickham's Wife

by C. J. Hill

  "And what have you planned in the interim, Miss Darcy? What entertainments will you attend in London before you leave us all for the salty delights of Ramsgate, pray?"

  Georgiana laughed delightedly at this. "Oh, I have no particular plans - we are so busy organising for the journey, you know, and, of course, Mrs. Younge has yet to consider what she is to do about her business affairs while we are away."

  Julia started uncomfortably, not expecting in the least that she would be included as a subject of discussion in this way. Jardine looked puzzled for a moment and then remembered, bringing a wry smile to his face.

  "Ah, yes! Your gaming house in Cambridge, Mrs. Younge. But why will it become a greater problem in Ramsgate than in London, pray? There are excellent mails to and from Kent you know; you will not be any worse off there than you are here, I assure you."

  "No, sir, it is not that business about which I have reservations. I have another, newer business; a housekeeping staffing agency which I set up in St. Clements parish and left under the auspices of a woman whom, I have recently learnt, has not taken care of it as I hoped. In short, sir, I must find another a capable and honest person to oversee the business, otherwise, as I have informed Miss Darcy, I shall be unable to accompany her to Ramsgate next week."

  "Indeed? How enterprising of you, Mrs. Younge. I wonder - is it your agency where Wickham has procured several of our staff this year? I believe he had great success with them all. I have a great deal of admiration for women of your kind who better their situation through hard work and good sense. But surely it cannot be of great difficulty to find another person to take charge in your absence? Miss Darcy would be forlorn if you left her to her own devices in Ramsgate, would you not now, Miss Darcy?"

  Georgiana agreed that it would be so and repeated her petition of earlier that day.

  "Nay, but we must not importune Mrs. Younge unfairly, Miss Darcy. I know the headaches that business can cause even when we are in a position to oversee them directly; it is a constant concern and I cannot imagine what would happen should I not keep a vigilant eye upon mine at every turn.

  "Of course, I, too, shall be seeking a new assistant shortly, with Mr. Wickham intending to leave my employ at the end of the month. I shall miss his style and company but I have decided that he has fulfilled his obligation to me and he insists he must move on; I cannot stand in his way for he wants to get on in the world, you know. He is still a good friend of yours I hope, Mrs. Younge? I know he fell from your favour a year ago, but I believe he has redeemed himself in your eyes too? I do not think he meant any real harm by his actions then, you know, it was a lapse in judgment rather than any vicious intent. I have become quite attached to him and he is a hard worker when he has to be, I can vouch for that."

  Julia felt the blood rise in her face as she listened to Wickham being discussed in so friendly and respectful a manner by the man whom Wickham had tried to trick; the man who had been confronted by Mr. Brown and forced to give up his claim on her property. And now he had not one bad thing to say about Wickham. How kind and forgiving a gentleman Mr. Jardine was to be sure.

  "Oh! I did not know that you and Mr. Wickham were already acquainted, Mrs. Younge?" Georgiana interposed. "How is it that you have never mentioned it to me before? No wonder, then, that you were always so pleased to walk with him on our outings and talk with him at our gatherings. Well! Here is something I am surprised about, indeed. But I shall continue to claim his friendship first as I have known him the longest!"

  Julia smiled. "Oh, I am quite happy for you to claim that distinction, Miss Darcy. I have only known Mr. Wickham for a few years but we have been great friends in that time; you, of course, can claim a childhood of memories. But I am surprised at what you say, Mr. Jardine, about his wishing to leave your employ; he seemed very happy with you and I had thought he might wish to prolong it. Do you know what it is that he has in mind for his future?"

  "Upon that I cannot enlighten you, Mrs. Younge. You will have to ask him yourself on that matter; he has been quite reluctant to discuss his plans with me, I am disappointed to say. I only hope he will not return to his previous profession; it did not suit him at all."

  "And what was Mr. Wickham's previous profession, pray, that you so much disapprove of?" eagerly asked Georgiana, leaning forward in the hopes of catching something of interest about her old friend.

  Jardine looked at Julia and she shook her head minutely. "Oh, business of some sort, I believe, but he always said it did not suit his temperament and he much preferred the work he was learning with me. I do not know why he does not stay on as my assistant, but he will do as he pleases, he does not belong to me, you know." Jardine laughed loudly as if to deflect any further questions, suavely turning the conversation around to that evening and what entertainments were on offer, and whether he would be permitted to escort Miss Darcy to any, or all of them?

  Julia sat mulling over the information and wondered just what Wickham planned to do, and more importantly, why he had not mentioned those plans to her when they had met on recent evenings. Georgiana had been so entranced with Bingley that even Wickham’s attentions were unnecessary. She was aroused from her reverie by Georgiana's laughing acceptance of Jardine's offer to escort her to a friend's party that night.

  "And who will be there, Mr. Jardine? Will there be anybody new to speak with, I wonder? That is why I am forced to go away to Ramsgate, you know, because everybody in London is the same. Imagine! Having to leave London to meet new and interesting people! One would have thought London to be so much more varied but perhaps it is the confined circles I move in. Perhaps I shall be just as dull there as I am here. But at least I shall have sea-bathing to amuse me. Have you ever been sea-bathing, Mr. Jardine? I would imagine that you have, have not you?"

  Julia hoped fervently that Wickham would be in attendance that evening in order to explain how his plans could be so changed from just a week ago; just seven days from when he had declared himself quite happy in Jardine's employ and not wishing for anything more.

  Chapter 11

  As Julia followed Georgiana into the party that evening, she scanned the room no less anxiously than her charge. Georgiana glanced about to see if Bingley was returned: Julia's eyes sought Wickham. Neither had the slightest interest in the person who had invited them in the first place, but he appeared anyway and delightedly led Georgiana away to meet some new people, whispering that he understood that to be her greatest desire.

  Georgiana found herself introduced to a great many new people and enjoyed the novelty of them, but she was not entirely at ease; she worried that every person in attendance suspected her heart and mind were still enwrapped around the one person who was absolutely not there and, therefore, had decided amongst themselves that not one whiff of discussion about him was to be made in deference to her loss. The militia was mentioned; details of forthcoming holidays discussed; latest scandals whispered and laughed about behind shocked and fluttering fans, but the name of 'Bingley' appeared to be quite unknown to everybody present.

  They knew her name, of course, and her brother’s very well; everybody was most delighted to make her acquaintance. They enquired how she was enjoying London and its pleasures; assured her that Ramsgate would be delightful at this time of year but not as fashionable as Brighton; and then, having exhausted all common interests, moved away to those with whom they were better acquainted in order to discuss the charming young Miss Darcy. So Georgiana spent the better part of the evening in the company of Jardine, who was delighted to be so incommoded and took every opportunity to impress.

  Julia, on the other hand, had immediately spied the gentleman in whom she was most interested and had lost no time in accosting him unawares whilst filling his glass at the punch bowl.

  "George! How do you do this evening?" she smiled as he turned, started, and almost upset the drink down his starched shirt front.

  "Julia, my dear," he murmured, extremely relieved to see her. "I am so glad that you ar
e here. I thought you had left London - it has been such a while since you and Miss Darcy have been out in company; I even called upon the office thinking you had returned there, only to find your message on the door. I did not know where you were until Jardine said he had met you in the park this morning. What has been happening, pray? Come, let us sit and talk. I also have some news which can now be related directly to you rather than being written in a letter." He guided her gently through the throng and found them a quiet corner where the noise was not so great.

  Julia sat with him, happy to be the object of his friendly concern, and related everything that had happened, including Georgiana’s misunderstanding about Bingley and her own problems with Mrs. Granley.

  "And so you see, I am in rather a desperate situation, George. I do not know what to do for the best: my head tells me that I must stay in London and resurrect the business before too much time passes, but my heart says I must remain with Miss Darcy in her time of need. What do you think, George?"

  "Georgiana Darcy will survive without you, Julia, believe me, and if she does not, her brother will send a carriage to relieve her suffering in Ramsgate and return her to Pemberley without delay. You must do what is most sensible for your own security - is not that always your paramount concern - your determination to remain independent? Well, then: what you must do is clear and what your heart says does not matter, as you have quite happily demonstrated to me in the past," he finished broodingly.

  Julia smiled at his petulance. "And how would my businesses be right now George, if I had married you three years ago and thereby given you full access to that security? Would we be in a better or worse situation than we are right now?”

  Wickham shifted uncomfortably in his chair, unable to meet her gaze.

  “Ah! You see! You know the answer to that question, do not you? You have impressed me by working for Jardine this year and thought you to have settled into a new career, and I was, therefore, more than a little surprised when he told me you intended leaving him soon."

  Wickham looked startled at her information, but nodded.

  "It is true; I have decided to leave his employ. He informed me that my time has expired and although he wished for me to stay on, I cannot. I do not wish only to be an assistant, not even for Jardine who is a most agreeable employer. I thought I might try some other business here in London; something where I can be the one to make the decisions and finally be independent. Oh! Do not worry, my dear," he laughed as he saw Julia's doubtful look, "I do not intend resuming my habits of old. I certainly do not have credit enough for that, I assure you, but with the legacy and a letter of recommendation from Jardine, I feel confident that I will be able to convince somebody to give me a business loan just as soon as I discover a suitable venture."

  "But have you nothing specific in mind, George? Surely you cannot be seriously thinking of leaving a secure position without some notion of how you will live until this suitable venture appears?" Julia asked incredulously as she searched his face for some sign of a joke.

  There was none: he was in earnest.

  "Oh, I can live quite humbly on my income until something satisfactory makes itself known." he responded airily. "I know of several people who may be able to help me and I shall begin my enquiries with them. Jardine, of course, knows many businessmen to whom he has already mentioned my name. It will not be long I assure you, my dear, until I can impress you with my sensible nature and good business sense - I have learnt a great deal this past year, you know. Do not worry about me; all will be well."

  Julia sat quietly listening to his assurances, not believing them in the slightest. She knew George Wickham, and a sensible business life was not something she could envisage for him for long. The lure and excitement of the gaming tables and clubs, and the company of amusing people would always attract him in the end whatever he promised. But, it suddenly occurred to her, he might just do something for her in the interim while searching for his own business, and she broached her idea without further delay.

  "My dear! I wonder if, while you are investigating your various business avenues here in Town, you would consider overseeing my business for the weeks I am in Ramsgate? I am aware that it will interfere a little with your new plans which you have just outlined, but it would make me so happy to know that someone who cares about me and my success is in charge in my absence, and it would enable you to utilise your newly acquired managerial skills. You were such a help to me in Cambridge; I know I can trust you to do the same again here, if you will do it?"

  Wickham looked surprised at the request, and then pleased at the word used.

  "You would trust me again, Julia, after what I did to you? Oh! You do not know what this means to me, to have your trust again. It is such a relief. I have suffered terribly knowing your low opinion of me, and now to know it is no longer so, gives me great happiness. Of course I would be honoured to re-open and promote your business, starting tomorrow. I am not unknown in London now and have many contacts that may be in need of your service. You and I shall go to your office first thing tomorrow morning where I will receive my instructions, and when you return from Ramsgate, it shall be booming!"

  He noticed Julia's sceptical smile and amended, "Well perhaps not quite booming, as you will only be away for a few weeks, but certainly it will be better off than it is now, or has been under the lack of care given to it by Mrs. Granley. I give you my word on that."

  Julia's heart soared and her spirits lifted at his genuine delight at such a chance to prove himself to her once again.

  "But George, of course you will hire and oversee some reliable person to manage it; you will have enough to concern you while investigating your own business. I shall be content knowing that you are watching over things, just as I should have been doing more diligently these past months. Oh! You also have made me very happy, George, and relieved, indeed you have."

  "And now I shall have an excuse to visit you in Ramsgate, my dear!" he murmured discreetly in her ear, making her blush and hide her smile behind her fan. "It is, after all, a professional requirement for a manager to report, in person, about the success of your business, is it not now?

  “Ah, I see we are noticed, Julia. Jardine is bringing Georgiana over here.

  "Miss Darcy! How delightful to see you so well recovered from your illness and returned to our company; you have been sorely missed, I assure you. I understand from Mrs. Younge that you are leaving for Ramsgate in a week?"

  Julia watched, absurdly happier than she had been for quite some time, as Wickham flirted shamelessly with Georgiana. He would help her in her time of greatest need. He apparently wished for nothing more than to have her forgiveness, respect and trust, which she believed she could bestow upon him without too much concern. His behaviour whilst in Jardine's employ, although enforced, had been exemplary and now he was considering and planning for his own future. Not that she ever expected the old Wickham to be completely erased, indeed, she thought it would rather reduce his attraction if that should be the case, but the fact that he had recognised that changes must be made was proof enough that he meant well. She listened quietly to the conversation until her name was mentioned by Georgiana, forcing her to rejoin it.

  "Mr. Wickham! What a good friend you are. Indeed, to both of us. Now Mrs. Younge can rest assured that her business will be secure under your kind auspices and I shall rest assured of having Mrs. Younge as my companion for the duration of my holiday. We are both most grateful to you, Mr. Wickham!"

  "Well, I am sure I do not need such thanks, Miss Darcy, I only wish to help where I can, and if it is for two ladies of whom I think very highly, then I can ask for no greater honour than being allowed to be of service. When do you intend leaving London, Miss Darcy? And where has your brother arranged for your accommodation?"

  "He mentioned Albion Place, Mr. Wickham. I believe it is quite elegant and near enough to the piers and amusements. Do you know Ramsgate at all?"

  "A little, but not the area you
speak of. I look forward to seeing you there when I visit; Mrs. Younge expects me to report about her business during her stay and so I anticipate becoming a little more familiar with the town then. And, of course, I hope that you will be kind enough to show me about and introduce me to all of your new acquaintance."

  Georgiana blushed delightedly and agreed that she would be very pleased to introduce him to any society she had met and show him any of the attractions she thought he might enjoy.

  Julia watched as her charge fell quite under Wickham's spell; Georgiana's recent misunderstanding of Bingley's similar attentions had clearly not had any warning effect upon her memory of how easy it was to succumb to an attractive man's empty kindness.

  The days following were a whirl of happy activity and growing excitement for both Julia and Georgiana.

  Julia had received good news from Mr. Brown, assuring her that her businesses were safe and doing well in Cambridge, and her continued proximity to George during their time together discussing business matters was found to be utterly irresistible.

  Georgiana also found Wickham's increased visits and concerned interest in her forthcoming trip to be most gratifying. He might only be her father's estate manager's son but now he was becoming so much more in her eyes. In every other thing he was the most charming gentleman, next to Bingley, she had ever met: elegant, worldly, witty and extremely handsome. All he lacked was a fortune but, she had heard from Mrs. Younge, he fully intended going into business for himself just as soon as he found something suitable, and she had no doubt that whatever he attempted could only be a success and a credit to whoever was lucky enough to be associated with him.