by Janet Aylmer
“Yes,” said Darcy, “but I should not be there long.”
“Can I not come with you?” said Georgiana.
He looked at her with some surprise, for she usually preferred being in Derbyshire above all else. Since he had observed that Elizabeth Bennet also enjoyed country pursuits, he had wished so much that they could have had more time to become acquainted.
“It is better not. Besides, Bingley and his sisters are here as our guests, and they will be company for you.”
He hesitated, and then added, “It would be of help to me if you would entertain them in my absence. I will return directly.”
“Mr. Bingley is always very pleasant...,” his sister said slowly.
Darcy recalled their conversation in London a few months ago about Caroline Bingley and Mrs. Hurst. “I will ask him to take particular care of you. Do you wish me to speak to Mrs. Annesley also?”
Georgiana replied in the negative.
“Bingley and his sisters are to go on to Scarborough in a couple of weeks’ time. If my return from town has to be delayed, I promise that I will let you know directly.”
His sister smiled at him. “Thank you. But were not Miss Bennet, her uncle and aunt to join us for dinner tomorrow?”
Darcy had been debating on the journey from Lambton whether to tell his sister about Elizabeth Bennet’s urgent return south. It could be concealed without any need to tell a falsehood.
However, he knew that he could rely on his sister to keep a secret.
“Miss Bennet had news from home, so that she must return to Hertfordshire, and is leaving today. It is a private matter, and something that she would not want mentioned abroad. As I must myself be away from here tomorrow, there is no need to tell Bingley or his sisters.”
Georgiana looked at him quietly for a moment, and seemed almost to intend a question.
But she only said, “I remember that you once told me in London that Miss Bennet was one of the few people you could rely on to keep a secret of yours. You can be sure that I will not tell the Bingleys, or anyone else. But I shall be very sorry not to see her tomorrow. Shall we meet her again at another time?”
That was a question to which Darcy would dearly have liked to have known the answer himself.
He contented himself with the reply that “Miss Bennet is someone whose acquaintance I value, as you know. I do very much hope that we shall both have the opportunity to see her again.”
And with that, Darcy went away to speak to Bingley. His friend, whilst as surprised as Georgiana that business would require him back in town so soon, gladly undertook to take good care of her in his absence. Then Darcy went to his study. He penned a short note to his cousin Fitzwilliam, which was sent immediately to Lambton to catch the express.
The rest of the day was spent pleasantly enough. Miss Bingley and her sister expressed regret that Darcy must leave them on the following morning, but little curiosity and no sorrow that, as a result, Miss Bennet and her relations from the city would not be coming to dine.
Darcy left in his coach at first light the following morning for London.
Without any company to distract him on the journey, his mind alternated between the events of the past few days and the task that might lie ahead.
What irony of fate was it that Wickham seemed to continue to have the power to injure him in those matters most dear to his heart!
Last year, it had been the attempt to elope with Georgiana from Ramsgate, which had so nearly succeeded. Only a few months ago, he had thought that the first and only person that he had ever wished to marry preferred Wickham to himself and had, as he subsequently discovered, been nearly deceived as to his true character. Certainly, Elizabeth Bennet’s opinion of himself had, from her remarks at Hunsford Parsonage, been damaged by Wickham’s recital of the history of their acquaintance.
And now, just as a most lucky chance had given him the opportunity to redeem her opinion of him, Wickham had been the reason for Miss Bennet returning to Hertfordshire because of her sister’s elopement.
The only remedy must be to find some way of making sure that Wickham married Lydia Bennet, and as soon as possible.
That would doubtless require parting with a significant sum of money. In itself, that concerned Darcy not at all, beyond regret that it should need to be expended on persons for whom he had no regard or respect, and who had no claim on his sympathy or generosity.
There was pain in the thought that he would most probably, if the matter were to be concealed from the world at large, need to locate the fugitives himself and negotiate directly with Wickham in order to achieve a satisfactory outcome to the affair.
At this point, Darcy allowed his mind to stray to Miss Elizabeth Bennet and their recent acquaintance. She had been quiet, so very reserved, compared to their meetings in Kent, that had ended in that most painful encounter when she had rejected his proposal. But earlier, one evening at Rosings, she had conversed with both himself and Fitzwilliam in the lively manner that he had remembered from Hertfordshire.
“Shall we ask him why a man of sense and education, and who has lived in the world, is ill qualified to recommend himself to strangers?”
How such a remark from her with a smile could so touch his heart! He had long come to realise that her lively disposition would be of great advantage in balancing his own tendency to introspection. Her love of the country, her interest in reading, would match his own. And just a little hint of a compliment from Elizabeth Bennet gave him such comfort. And that, he thought, must be sufficient to sustain him until he should ever see her again.
What could the outcome have been if they had only had a little more time together in Derbyshire, perhaps on a drive out into the park at Pemberley? Likewise, the dinner that he had planned would have been another opportunity to try to remove the unfavourable impression she had formed of him.
At least, he might have been able to establish the foundations to take forward their acquaintance. Her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, had appeared cultivated people with whom he would have been happy to spend more time. With Miss Bennet, they had been most pleasant to Georgiana. He had noted that they had not been overborne by Miss Bingley’s manner, and had been courteous to his servants, a habit that lady did not favour. All in all, he was sorry not to have been able to see more of Elizabeth Bennet with her uncle and aunt. Especially in view of his comments to her about her family in April, he would have liked very much for her to have been certain of that.
That thought led him on to speculate about what was at that moment occurring at Longbourn, a house he had never seen. He was sure that Jane Bennet would be grateful for her sister’s return home.
Less pleasing were thoughts of the reception that Elizabeth Bennet might get from her mother; the vulgarity and lack of discretion that Mrs. Bennet had displayed so often in company, and on visiting her daughter Jane at Netherfield. Some months ago, the thought of that lady’s defects would have been enough for him to think no further of Elizabeth Bennet. Now, they were but an irritation, to be regretted, but ignored.
Thoughts of Netherfield brought his mind to Bingley. His delight in encountering Jane Bennet’s sister in Derbyshire had been very evident. If there was to be a successful outcome to the flight of Wickham and the youngest Miss Bennet, then Darcy must address the issue of his friend’s affections, which he had himself disrupted. He now tended to accept Miss Elizabeth’s judgement of the matter, and therefore that Jane Bennet had reciprocated his friend’s affections.
That brought Darcy’s thoughts back to his own affections and wishes.
If Elizabeth Bennet was ever to become the wife of a man of consequence and be able to move with ease in his own circle, without any reproach, the union between Lydia Bennet and Wickham must be accomplished. Otherwise, it would be a source of pain and embarrassment that Darcy would not have Elizabeth Bennet bear. At least he had the means, and perhaps Fitzwilliam had the knowledge, to accomplish a satisfactory outcome to that elopement.<
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What an irony it was that Wickham had pressed his attentions on such different characters as his sister Georgiana and Lydia Bennet, with equal success. Thus Darcy continued as the miles passed, his mind teasing away both at the problem of the moment, and the affections of many months. He might not relish the task ahead, but it must be done.
As night drew on, the coach reached the next town, and he took accommodation for the night.
Darcy left early the following morning and, by late afternoon, he was in his house in town.
He had no intention of contacting Mr. Bennet until some positive outcome seemed likely, so the next day he made various inquiries as to the whereabouts of Wickham and Miss Lydia Bennet, but to no avail. He concluded that he must await the reply to the letter he had addressed to his cousin. That came by the express two days later.
It was brief:
Dear Darcy,
I have received your note, and send my reply by express as you request.
When I paid Mrs. Younge last year the wages which you said should be given to her (which, as you will recall, I did not agree were due), she had taken a large house in Edward Street, and was then letting to visitors.
I have had no contact with her since. But I have no reason to believe that she should have moved from there.
Whatever the reason for you contacting her, I hope that it has nothing to do with Georgiana.
Yours,
James Fitzwilliam.
Darcy lost no time in calling for his coach, and setting off for Edward Street.
He located the house in question. Mrs. Younge was at home, but she was clearly not pleased to see him. Rather, she was defiant and, to begin with, disclaimed any knowledge of Wickham or where he was to be found.
It took Darcy several visits over the next two days before he could get from her what he wanted. It eventually became clear that she would not reveal where Wickham was without the assistance of a particular sum of money. But she did know where he was to be found, and that the youngest Miss Bennet was with him. Her friend had indeed gone to Mrs. Younge on his first arrival in London, with the intention of staying there, but the house was full. So Wickham had gone to another lodging, only a few streets away.
When he had ascertained what bribe would persuade her to tell him what he sought, and had passed it over, Darcy obtained the address. He went there straightway, and saw Wickham. Their conversation informed Darcy that marriage had never been his design. Wickham told him that he was obliged to leave the regiment, on account of pressing debts of honour but, despite Miss Bennet’s youth, he had no scruples about laying all the ill-consequences of her flight on her own folly.
After their interview, Darcy insisted on speaking to the lady alone. His first object was to discover whether she would quit her present disgraceful situation, and return to her friends and family, offering his assistance in accomplishing this.
But he found Lydia Bennet resolved on remaining where she was. She cared nothing for the peace of mind of her sisters or any of her family at Longbourn, or for the good opinion of any of her friends. She wanted no help from Darcy and would not entertain the possibility of leaving Wickham. She was sure they should be married some time or other, and it did not seem to much signify when.
Darcy therefore resolved to do what was necessary to secure and expedite a marriage. Wickham had told Darcy that he meant to resign his commission immediately. However, it became clear that he had no firm plans for his future; all he knew was that he should have nothing to live on.
Darcy reminded him that, although Mr. Bennet might not be very rich, he would have been able to do something for him.
“I still hope to achieve a much better fortune elsewhere,” Wickham replied. “As you know, I have been unfortunate in my friends and shall not be happily settled without the marriage portion of some wealthy lady to maintain myself.”
Darcy did not answer this point directly, but said instead, “I imagine that you will have left behind you debts in both Meryton and Brighton?”
Wickham had to acknowledge that this was so but said that he was sure that, if he were able to achieve a modest fortune by marriage elsewhere, they could be discharged.
However, persistence on Darcy’s part confirmed that, provided that an adequate provision could be made for his debts, that an opportunity should be found for him as an officer in the regulars, and a further amount were to be available to settle on Lydia, Wickham was prepared to contemplate a marriage with the youngest Miss Bennet.
After further meetings, Wickham was persuaded that, although Darcy might have the means to make greater provision for their future, his aversion to at least one of the recipients would not allow him to do more than what was absolutely necessary. At length, Wickham settled for that.
26
The next day was Friday, and Darcy travelled to Gracechurch Street, and left his carriage a short distance away. An inquiry there established that Mr. Gardiner had arrived from Hertfordshire last Sunday, but was not at that moment at home. Mr. Bennet was there, but the servant said that he was to leave early the following morning.
Darcy decided not to leave his name but, after breakfast on the Saturday, he called again hoping to see Mr. Gardiner. He was greeted pleasantly, although with considerable surprise.
Darcy told him that, having some private intelligence not known to others, he had determined to travel to town from Derbyshire. This information had enabled him to find out where Wickham and Lydia were staying.
He went on, “My motive has been that it is my own fault that Wickham’s worthlessness had not been so well known, as to make it impossible for any young woman of character, to love or confide in him. My mistaken pride prevented me from laying my private actions open to the world. It is therefore my duty now to endeavour to remedy the evil I have myself brought on.”
Mr. Gardiner appeared to be surprised at this, but did not intervene, so Darcy continued. “I had been some days in town, before I was able to discover them.”
And he went on to explain the course of his discussions with Wickham, and that matters might be concluded if Mr. Gardiner was willing to agree to them. Wickham’s debts in Meryton and in Brighton were to be paid, amounting to considerably more than a thousand pounds, another thousand in addition to her own settled upon Lydia, and his commission purchased in the regulars. The discussion continued for several hours.
They met again on Sunday, Mr. Gardiner seeking this time to persuade Darcy that the cost of the arrangements should fall only on him. But Darcy was adamant that he would bear the expense, with the credit to go to Mr. Gar-diner despite his wishes to the contrary.
Finally it was agreed that the attorney should be called upon the following day to draft the necessary papers. At the end of their discussion, Mr. Gardiner told Darcy that Mrs. Gardiner had returned from Longbourn with their children. He had no secrets from his wife, and could rely on her discretion. He therefore would like Darcy to tell her what had transpired. He indicated his agreement, and his host took Darcy into the drawing room.
There, Mrs. Gardiner was sitting with their two little girls, aged about eight and six years.
“My dear,” said Mr. Gardiner, “here is a pleasant surprise! Mr. Darcy has come to assist us in this wretched business about Lydia. He will tell you about it.”
And Darcy related the progress of his search and his discussions with Wickham.
Mrs. Gardiner’s discourse and deportment endorsed Darcy’s impression of her as an amiable, intelligent woman. Indeed, the discussion confirmed Darcy’s opinion that both the Gardiners were as pleasant as he had found them in Derbyshire only a few days before.
When he had finished his account, Mrs. Gardiner said to him, “Mr. Darcy, we are so very obliged to you for all the trouble you have taken. It would seem best for Lydia to come here for the two weeks until the wedding, especially as her father may not be willing to receive them at Longbourn after the marriage.”
And Mrs. Gardiner added, “And may I sugg
est that the priest at St. Clements may be willing to marry them, as Wickham is living in that parish?”
Darcy told them that he was happy to agree to this plan, and would communicate it to Lydia and Wickham the very next day.
“I will undertake to bring Wickham to the church if the arrangements are made as you suggest. Tomorrow, I will ask my attorney, Stone, to discuss the financial settlement with your man. Did you say that his name is Mr. Haggerston?”
Mr. Gardiner confirmed this. At that moment, the young daughters, who had been playing quietly in a corner of the room, came over to their mother. She smiled at them, and said, “This is Mr. Darcy, who we met in Derbyshire last week with your cousin.”
The elder girl, who reminded Darcy a little of Jane Bennet, said to him shyly, “Do you like Elizabeth? She is always very kind and reads so many books to us.”
Darcy was conscious that her mother was observing him carefully as he replied, “Miss Elizabeth is a very thoughtful person. She is someone on whom I know I can rely. I too like reading, and hope you do also.”
The little girl smiled at him, as her father said to their guest, “Mr. Darcy, we have detained you for a long time on our affairs. Forgive our discourtesy. May we offer you any refreshments?”
“There is no cause for you to apologise, Mr. Gardiner— as I said earlier, this matter is my responsibility rather than yours. I have no particular demands on my time at present. I am on my own in town, and am happy to be of assistance. I must not, however, intrude further into your day of rest. May I call again tomorrow?”
This having been agreed, Darcy went on his way.
27
The following morning, on Monday, Darcy saw Wickham again, and it was arranged that Lydia should go to Gracechurch Street later that day.
Having received their instructions, the two attorneys met, and agreed the principles of the agreements to be drawn up: as soon as that was done, an express was sent off to Mr. Bennet at Longbourn. Darcy took leave of the Gardiners, and promised to be in town again in advance of the wedding in two weeks’ time.