by Robin Helm
Fitzwilliam was right to warn me. I shall put an end to this stupidity. She strode from the shop, heading for the merry group. “Kitty, Lydia, you are needed indoors. Come.”
Kitty tossed her head but did as she was told, stomping by Elizabeth on her way to the milliner’s door.
Lydia assumed a mulish expression and held her ground. “Since I have done all I need to do for the weddings, I feel certain I am not wanted by Mama.”
Wickham turned to look at Elizabeth, raising a brow. “Weddings? More than one?”
His eyes are unnaturally bright. The man frightens me, she thought.
“Jane is to marry Mr. Bingley, and Lizzy is to marry Mr. Darcy – in a fortnight,” Lydia replied. “Our house is all in uproar, for we found out only today.”
Elizabeth groaned inwardly And now he knows Mr. Darcy shall be your brother. You have made yourself a target with your foolish tendency to tell everything you hear. Indeed, Wickham could have some plan for any or all of us spinning in his head as we speak. He knows ’tis a perfect opportunity to seek revenge on my fiancé.
Wickham beheld her with open curiosity, his eyes glittering as he dropped Lydia’s hand to pull his sleeves down over his thick gloves. “I have known Mr. Darcy all my life. I am quite surprised the gentleman lowered himself to an alliance with a country gentleman’s daughter, however lovely you may be, for he moves in the highest circles of society. Your father must be well-connected and wealthy. The proud man of my acquaintance would never marry for less than a fortune, unless the lady descended from a titled family.”
Lydia guffawed. “Heavens, no! We have very little in the way of dowries, and our father is not of noble birth.”
“Then he made a love match?” He grimaced. “I had no idea he was capable of such tender feelings.”
“I can hardly believe it myself,” Lydia said, chortling. “He seems so severe. I cannot recall ever seeing Mr. Darcy smile until today.”
“You shall cease discussing my betrothed in the public streets,” Elizabeth replied with spirit, glaring at her sister, her eyes fiery. “He is the most honourable man of my acquaintance. You hardly know him, though I am certain you will be ready enough to enjoy the benefits of being related to him by marriage.”
“Ah, Miss Elizabeth, but I have been acquainted with your betrothed for more than twenty-five years, and he has treated me most abominably,” said Wickham, laughing unpleasantly as his gaze raked her up and down.
“Dear Wickham was just telling Kitty and me how Mr. Darcy cheated him out of his inheritance when you joined us, Lizzy,” added Lydia, pointing at her. “You are the one who has no understanding of the man.”
Wickham’s smug grin further angered Elizabeth. He is unbalanced. Why can Lydia not see it?
“Mr. Wickham told you his version of the story,” she said, her face red, “but Mr. Darcy enlightened me as to the true events before he left Longbourn earlier today. In fact, at Mr. Wickham’s request, Mr. Darcy gave him £3000 in lieu of the living at Kympton, for he had no desire to be a parson.”
Lydia stared at him, covering her mouth with her hand. “Is that true, Mr. Wickham? Did Mr. Darcy pay you?”
His face flushed, betraying his foul temper. “I should have had more than that. Darcy has far more money than he needs,” he said angrily.
“But he gave you the amount you asked, did he not?” asked Elizabeth, narrowing her eyes. “He could have given you nothing, but he honoured his father’s request.”
“I shall not stand here and bear your insults!” he declared with menace, glaring at her. “You shall pay dearly for this.” He clenched his fists in their thick leather gloves, then turned on his heel and strode away without a backward glance.
Lydia sighed dramatically. “Such a shame, for he is fearful handsome.”
“I do not find him so,” Elizabeth answered shortly. “I think he is frightening.”
Lydia’s wheedling voice grated on her sister’s nerves. “He is not so very bad, is he? I can understand that he wished for more money. I would like a fortune, too.”
“He lied to all of us,” replied Elizabeth in a hard tone. “You know not what a blackguard he is, and I am not at liberty to enlighten you. However, you will stay away from the man, for he would ruin our family without a second thought. You heard him threaten me. He is evil.”
“You shall not prevent us from talking to Mr. Wickham. He is an officer in the militia, and Mama will allow us to be friends with him,” said Lydia, flouncing away in the direction of the milliner’s.
Elizabeth hurried back to the dressmaker’s shop.
She opened the door and was greatly relieved to see that Jane was finished.
Mrs. Bennet gestured for her second eldest to come to her, fluttering her hands. “Where have you been, Lizzy? ’Tis late in the afternoon. You must hurry to order your dress, for Mrs. Simpson shall soon close her shop, and we must return to Longbourn. I invited the gentlemen to dinner, you know.”
Elizabeth nodded, forcing herself to smile. I shall have to tell Mr. Darcy of Mr. Wickham’s intentions.
“Mama, Lydia and Kitty have gone to select bonnets and ribbons. I feel certain they would benefit from your advice and, and Jane must select hers. You two go join them at the millinery, for they need your help in choosing appropriately. I shall be along directly to select mine.”
“Well, you must be quick, then,” her mother replied, bustling from the shop, chattering. “We shall be having your fiancé as well as Jane’s at Longbourn for dinner this evening, and I need to hurry home to supervise the preparations. Mr. Darcy once complimented me on my skills as a hostess, you know, and I would not have him or Mr. Bingley disappointed. Everything must be perfect for the gentlemen.”
Mrs. Simpson greeted Elizabeth. “I am so happy to be entrusted with your wedding gown, my dear. I already have your measurements. Shall I help you choose your fabric and pattern?”
“Thank you, yes,” she answered, following the woman to the rear of the building.
Within an hour, the Bennet carriage was travelling the road back to Longbourn.
Darcy and Bingley arrived at Longbourn just before the carriage, so they waved away the footman and helped the ladies themselves.
Once everyone had been assisted in leaving the conveyance, the party approached the front door.
Elizabeth, escorted by Darcy, whispered, “We must talk before you go this evening. I must speak with you on a most serious matter which cannot be delayed until your return.”
He nodded. “After dinner then,” he replied, inclining his head to speak into her ear.
They soon assembled in the dining room, but it seemed an eternity to Elizabeth before they finished eating and left the room for the parlour.
After an interminable half hour of polite conversation, Darcy caught Bingley’s eye.
“We really must take our leave, Mrs. Bennet, for we intend to be off to London before the sun rises,” Darcy said.
Mr. Bennet acquiesced. “’Tis growing late. I wish you a pleasant journey.”
Shortly afterwards, the two gentlemen expressed their wishes to walk a few moments in the gardens with their fiancées.
Mrs. Bennet smiled and directed a footman to light the torches. “I quite understand your desire for private goodbyes.”
Once they were safely away from listening ears, Elizabeth relayed her fears to her betrothed.
Darcy’s dark eyes flashed in anger. “The blackguard had the audacity to threaten you and your family? I shall handle this while I am in London. Tell your father about Wickham, for he must insist that your younger sisters remain at home tomorrow. Take care that none of you go anywhere by yourselves. Bingley and I will be gone only a day, for I now comprehend we cannot be away any longer. I will protect what is mine.”
He called to Bingley, and the younger man began to walk toward them, smiling at Jane as he escorted her.
“We shall depart earlier than we originally planned in order to be in London by eight o’clock. Therefore
, we cannot linger,” said Darcy, pulling Elizabeth to him, kissing her gently on her forehead. “I shall write a letter to your father and have it delivered in the morning. Do not be anxious, my love.”
She smiled, turning her face up to his. “I shall not worry, for I have confidence in you. Take care. My heart travels with you.”
The gentlemen, though expressing their reluctance to leave, escorted their brides safely back to Longbourn before they mounted their horses and rode away.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Philippians 4:8
Darcy and Bingley left for London before the sun rose, intent on completing their business and returning to Netherfield in time to sleep for a few hours and meet their fiancées at daybreak the following morning.
As soon as the light was sufficient to write a schedule, the gentlemen wisely used their time in the carriage to plan their day.
“I must post a letter to Georgiana. She may wish to attend the wedding with my aunt, if they are able to come on such short notice. Then, I have to visit my lawyer to draw up the settlement papers and make changes to my will. I shall provide for Elizabeth as my wife, and for her family in the event that her father should precede her mother in death,” said Darcy.
Bingley nodded. “We can do that together, for we use the same man. I must update my will, as well. My sisters shall get what my father promised, but no more. Jane will take precedence now. I plan to do my part to help her mother and younger sisters, too, so you and I can decide on what is fair, especially in the event that the younger sisters do not marry men of good fortune.”
“The dower house at Pemberley will do very well for Mrs. Bennet and any unmarried daughters, if the worst happens, but they shall need also an allowance for their expenses.” Darcy wrote in his journal with a pencil he brought along, determined to forget nothing.
He frowned at the page, dissatisfied with his scrawl. “My handwriting looks fully as bad as yours, Bingley.”
“Only because of the jolting carriage,” Bingley replied, chuckling. “Once we handle the settlements, I shall retrieve the ring my mother left for my wife. My father left it with our banker for safekeeping, for Caroline has had her eye on it for many years now.”
Darcy shook his head. “I shall note the visit to the banker, as I have business there, as well. We must stop in at Darcy House, too. Perhaps we might break our fast there while I speak with the housekeeper and butler. I wish for everything to be perfect when Elizabeth and I arrive after the wedding.”
“Excellent. While you instruct your staff, I shall do the same with mine. Very fortunate that our houses are so close together.”
Darcy bent his head to continue the list. “One of the footmen travelling with the coachman on the carriage can deliver a note to Darcy House concerning our meal while we see the solicitor and banker. I also plan to arrange our wedding trip. Elizabeth has long wanted to travel, and I look forward to making that dream of hers a reality.”
“I need to do that, as well. I shall go with you,” answered Bingley. His statement was met with Darcy’s raised eyebrow.
The younger man laughed. “Have no worries, my friend. I do not wish to share my new wife with you and her sister. We shall not travel with you and Miss Elizabeth.”
Darcy smiled, glancing out the window. “She shall no longer be ‘Miss Elizabeth,’ and as you will be both Mrs. Darcy’s brother and mine, you may call her by her given name after we marry. You have reminded me of something else, though. Each sister will need a lady’s maid to travel with her. Since all the Bennet sisters share one maid, we must handle that when we go to our London houses.”
“I just now realized my sisters will be your sisters in two short weeks. Perhaps Caroline will stop her pursuit of you, since you shall be a married man,” Bingley smirked, “though I feel sure she shall be most happy to drop your name into multitudes of conversations with her society friends. At any rate, she is gaining a longed-for relationship with your family, and she must be content with that.”
“You are likely right, but be aware that I have no intentions of allowing anyone to disparage my wife, neither to her face nor behind her back. We will not receive anyone who does so. You should relay that information to Caroline and Louisa.”
Both men were silent while Darcy continued to write.
“I think you may be forgetting something on that list,” said Bingley, once his friend glanced up.
The dark-haired gentleman read back through what he had written. “Ah! You are right. Our premier order of business will be to secure an audience with the Archbishop of Canterbury for our special licenses. We shall stop in Doctors Commons first, for he may have a full morning. ’Tis possible he cannot receive us until the afternoon, and that would affect the remainder of our short time in London.”
“Indeed, I hope His Excellency is well and willing to see us today.”
“I have no doubt he will grant us an audience,” replied Darcy.
“How so?”
“Archbishop Manners-Sutton and my father attended Cambridge together, and they maintained a close friendship until my father passed away. I have heard that he eloped with his wife, though my father and I never spoke of it. I met his son several times, first at Eton and later at Cambridge, though he is three years older than I. Quite an intelligent man. It appears he may achieve an important career in politics, for he is already a member of Parliament.”
Bingley scratched his chin. “Interesting about the elopement. If that is so, he is likely sympathetic to those who want to marry without waiting for the banns to be read three times.”
Darcy chuckled. “Very true. The sooner I am wed to Elizabeth, the sooner I shall be able to protect her from those who are less scrupulous.”
“You think someone would harm Miss Elizabeth? Bodily? Do you suspect anyone in particular?” Bingley’s pleasant face wore an unaccustomed scowl.
“George Wickham has joined the militia and is stationed in Meryton.”
“Why should Wickham want to hurt any of the Bennets? Surely they are nothing to him.”
Darcy sighed. “He wishes to hurt me, and he knows Elizabeth and I are betrothed. I told you some of our conflicts.”
“Yes, I know he treated you in an abominable manner, but I had no idea he would be spiteful because you were born wealthy and he was not,” answered Bingley. “Your family tried to help him, after all.”
“I would rather not share our whole history with anyone else, for someone very dear to me is involved. Allow it to be sufficient for me to say he is a rogue – a scoundrel who preys on unsuspecting women and tradesmen, running up debts he cannot pay before he leaves an area. I told you a year or so ago that Wickham and I grew up together, and we know each other very well. His attack on me was – quite personal. Nearly devastating. He knew exactly what would wound me the most.”
Bingley nodded. “’Tis clear why you are in such a hurry to return to Netherfield. I thought you wished to spend more time with your betrothed before the wedding, but now I understand you have more than one reason for haste.”
“As do you. He may choose to meddle with Miss Bennet or the younger Bennet sisters rather than risk his very life by making my future wife his target. Both of us must do our best to prevent any attacks against those we love.”
“You would kill him?” asked Bingley, shocked.
Darcy spoke calmly. “No, but I would make certain he could never again take advantage of a respectable woman. I would leave him alive, for he would suffer more that way.”
“Darcy, you cannot mean you would disable him in some way. You are formidable; however, I have never known you to strike a physical blow to anyone.”
The gentleman sighed, stretching his long legs as much as was possible in the confined space. “
I suppose you are right. I might want to duel with him or ensure that he could no longer live in debauchery, but I would more likely have him transported to Australia. He would probably do far less harm in a colony of prisoners with relatively few women among the population. Far worse men than Wickham have been sent to Australia, and they would regulate his behaviour by brute force if necessary.”
“You could do that?”
“Oh, yes. Colonel Fitzwilliam and I have already spoken of it. My cousin and I would have done it already had it not meant exposing a person we both love to the censure of the world. Wickham will not receive such mercy at our hands once more should he betray us in like manner again.”
“Remind me never to cross you or your cousin,” said Bingley. “I would rather keep all my fingers, toes, and other assorted body parts.”
“You have no need to worry, for you are incapable of the types of evil actions which would push us to such extremes.”
Darcy added another item to the list. “I must send a note around to my cousin. He may wish to travel back to Netherfield with us.”
“Why?” asked Bingley. “Do you require his help in preparing for the wedding?”
“No. I am well able to handle those details. He must visit Colonel Forster and advise him to be careful of the viper in his bosom. Wickham should not be allowed to victimize the good people of Meryton.”
Bingley nodded. “His connection with the military would make him the best one to handle that. Shall we go by the newspaper, as well? I should like to announce my engagement to Jane.”
Darcy bent over his paper. “Excellent idea. Let the men of England know that the two elder Bennet sisters are no longer available and, at the same time, give the matchmaking mamas of Society notice that you and I are off the marriage market. We can commission the wedding announcement at the same time and instruct them to print it in a fortnight.”
With that, the gentlemen lapsed into contented silence until they saw the city in the distance.
After completing their errands in London to their satisfaction, Darcy and Bingley – weary, cold, and hungry – returned to Darcy House for steaming baths, dinner, and a few hours of sleep before they boarded the carriage again.