The Portrait of Elizabeth

by Jane Angwin

  It had only been because of an inexplicable feeling Darcy had while visiting his good friend Foxworth in Maidstone that made him leave two days early and ride on to Ramsgate to surprise Georgiana and discover the dreadful deception.

  Darcy had attended Cambridge with Duncan Foxworth as young men, and they had taken their Grand Tour together before he had been called back home. They had remained as friends, although Foxworth had married and settled in Maidstone in his family estate, and Darcy's visits were rare. Foxworth and his wife Clare had invited Darcy to meet Clare's cousin Emily who, according to Foxworth, was the most beautiful girl he could hope to meet. Darcy was not of the mind to be introduced to a sister, niece or cousin of friends since it usually did not end well, and it could cause great embarrassment and possible estrangement between friends. He feared that this was probably one such occasion, but Foxworth was quite adamant that Darcy would be most delighted with Emily. As he had assumed, Emily was indeed a very pretty girl, but she giggled and agreed with everything Darcy said during his entire stay. He attempted to discuss books with her, and she claimed not to be a good reader. He tried conversing about the theater and museums in London, and she told him her trips to Town were for purchasing current fashion and attending balls. He mentioned his family home in Derbyshire, and she said she didn't particularly care for the country and much preferred the city.

  After three days, Foxworth knew enough about Darcy that he took him aside and said he was deeply sorry to have thought Emily would be a good match for him. "She is quite beautiful, Darcy, but I know you require more from a companion than a pretty face and talk of fashion and dancing. I heartily apologize and have explained as much to Clare. We will allow you to depart early if you so desire and will make excuses to Emily that you have an urgent need to return to Pemberley. She is looking forward to her season in Town shopping for new gowns, dancing at assemblies, and ladies' teas, so I do not think she will be terribly disappointed."

  "Thank you Foxworth. I am probably destined to be an old man with no wife or children, shuffling around Pemberley in my bedclothes, mumbling to myself. If I should ever find that elusive creature that doesn't agree with everything I say, who reads books of substance, enjoys the theater and museums in Town, yet prefers the beauty of Derbyshire and the solitude of Pemberley, you will be the very first to know."

  He left the following morning, making his apologies to Clare and Emily, and promising a return visit to Duncan. As he rode away from Maidstone to return to London and then on to Pemberley, he had a strong and nagging feeling that perhaps he should instead head toward Ramsgate to see his sister.

  He arrived mid-afternoon and went to the house he had leased for his sister and her companion, Mrs. Young. After knocking on the door and finding no one at home, he rode through the town and hoped he might see them strolling or visiting the shops. Not seeing her there, he decided to try the promenade overlooking the sandy beach, and at last, there it was, the Darcy coach with his driver sitting on top, his eyes closed, and the horses standing quite well behaved as they waited for their next assignment. He happily rode toward it, fully anticipating a surprise reunion with Georgiana after two calendar months apart from one another. As he approached the promenade walkway, he was shocked to see Mrs. Young not far from the coach, sitting alone on a bench with her needlework, her back to him. "Mrs. Young!" he yelled out. "Where is my sister?"

  The woman heard his voice and yanked her body around to face him. Obviously shocked to see him, she sputtered, "Oh, Mr. Darcy, what a pleasant surprise! Miss Georgiana will be so pleased to see you!"

  "Mrs. Young", Darcy exclaimed, "I have inquired about my sister! Where is she and why are you not accompanying her?" He jumped from his horse and stood in front of her in a menacing manner. "You must tell me now!"

  "Please, Mr. Darcy, there is no need to be concerned. She is very fine indeed. A friend of your family has arrived in Ramsgate, and they are presently walking along the beach together."

  "Who is this friend of my family that she is with?" Darcy darted across the walk and looked down over the rail, and he spotted his sister below walking arm in arm with a gentleman near the water's edge. He immediately recognized the man and spun around to Mrs. Young. "Good Lord, woman. That is George Wickham she walks with! What on earth is going on here?" With that, he quickly handed his horse to the now wide eyed coach driver, and he yelled to Mrs. Young. "Stay seated madam, and do not leave here until I return." He furiously ran to a nearby stairway to the beach below and took the steps two at a time. He awkwardly navigated the soft sand in his stiff boots that slowed his pursuit, but he finally caught up with the unaware couple. He yelled to be heard over the sound of squawking seagulls and the waves, "Georgiana, remove your hand from that man NOW!" Georgiana turned and immediately dropped Wickham's arm, as if she had been caught in some evil deed.

  "William! What a lovely surprise! I am so happy to see you here!" She ran to embrace Darcy, and then turned to look back at George and nervously said, "Look who is here in Ramsgate, Brother! Isn't this a happy coincidence?" She stood awkwardly between the two men, and Darcy could readily observe her obvious uneasiness and Wickham's grave look at being discovered alone and unaccompanied with his sister.

  "What in blazes are you doing here, Wickham? What is the meaning of this?" Darcy moved to stand directly in front of Georgiana and Wickham, so close he could see the slight quiver of Georgiana's lower lip and a slight smirk starting on Wickham's face.

  Wickham backed away and nonchalantly laughed, dismissing Darcy's inquiry. "I have done nothing wrong, Darcy. I am merely getting reacquainted with your most charming sister, who has incidentally grown to be quite a lovely woman!" He glanced over at Georgiana and gave her an alluring smile and a wink. "She is no longer the little girl I used to frighten with toads and snakes!"

  "Enough of your deceitful banter, Wickham. Tell me now what your intentions are! Why are you in Ramsgate of all places?" He moved closer to him, and Wickham backed up. "Were you here to woo my sister to attempt to seek revenge against me? Or was it her dowry that you desire? Which one is it, Wickham?"

  Georgiana cried out, "William, what are you saying? You do not understand! George has professed his deep affection for me, and he has asked me to marry him!"

  Darcy turned to address his sister, "Were you planning to tell me first, Georgiana? Or did George try to convince you to elope to Gretna Green with him? What lies has he told you?"

  "No, no, brother! He would never lie to me! George explained to me that you have had a feud with him for some time, but it was all a misunderstanding, and he felt that after we were married, you would see that we are well suited and that you would come around in time and wish us joy."

  Wickham turned around and started to walk away, but Darcy grabbed his arm and spun him around. "What is it Wickham? Which one is it? Your hatred of me or her dowry?"

  "You always think you know what I am about, Darcy. But congratulation, you have found me out. Both are correct," he spit out. "You robbed me of what was rightfully mine, and I found a way to get back what I deserve. Your father promised me a living when he died, and you have not provided it to me! Your sister was easily persuaded, and it almost worked, didn't it? We were to leave tomorrow, weren't we Georgiana?" He laughed out loud, taunting the brother and sister. "Tell your brother about our grand plan!"

  Georgiana backed away, putting her gloved hand to her mouth. "But you told me you loved me, George! We were to be married!" With that she began sobbing.

  "I'm sorry, Georgiana," George laughed. "Let this be a lesson to you to not believe every gentleman who professes his affections. Your dowry is quite substantial, and I am not the only man who will find you attractive for that reason. You are beautiful to be sure, but you could never truly satisfy a man of my taste."

  Darcy clenched his fist and started toward him, but he heard Georgiana's gasp. "George! What are you saying? Have you deceived me? Is my brother correct with these accusations? Was this only a wicked
ruse to obtain my dowry?"

  "Get away from my sister, George. Get away now. Leave this town and do not show yourself near us again. If you ever dare to come near my sister again, I will run you through!" Georgiana gasped again at the horrible threat of a duel, and Darcy reached to embrace her for comfort.

  Wickham turned around and half walked, half ran across the sand toward Mrs. Young who was now standing at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the promenade. Wickham reached for her, clearly showing their complicity, and she started up the stairs with him, but Darcy yelled, "I forbid you to leave, Mrs. Young," and she stood frozen in place while Wickham continued on without her. Darcy yelled. "I will have words with you."

  He assisted Georgiana across the sand, holding her upright as she sobbed while she walked, not even noticing that she had lost her shoe and continued on without it. "You have lost your shoe, Poppet. Stand right here, my sweet girl," he said as he let go and took two steps back and bent down to retrieve her shoe. She appeared to sway and started to sink down, but Darcy caught her and held her tight. "All will be well, Georgie. I promise you, all will be well." Unfortunately, as he spoke those words, he was not at all sure he could keep that promise.

  They arrived at the stairs where Mrs. Young stood trembling, and Darcy instructed her to ascend back up to the Promenade where his horse and coach were waiting. "Get in," he barked at her. The confused driver sat atop the coach having observed Wickham's fast escape on foot, but said nothing. He could see that some drama had occurred when Darcy nearly pushed the older woman into the coach and then tied his horse to the back of the coach so he could ride inside with his sister. "Take us back to our house now," he ordered. With that, the coach lurched forward and the three inhabitants returned home with no conversation, only the sound of Georgiana's wretched sobs.

  Once inside, Darcy made Mrs. Young sit while he stood in front of her, questioning her at length, and she finally admitted her arrangement with Wickham. She claimed that she did not know him when they encountered him, but his charming personality and his claim to be a close family friend had convinced her that he meant no harm to Georgiana. She said that he had convinced her of his honorable intention to court her and propose, and he paid her a fair sum to look away and allow him to walk alone with Georgiana daily. She also claimed that he promised her a position in their home as Georgiana's Abigail when they were married, and that they would live in a magnificent estate in Derbyshire. She attempted to stutter her words for effect and alleged to have no funds to support herself since her husband's death, and this had been her only way to make her way as a poor widow.

  "I am highly doubtful of your denial of knowing Mr. Wickham, Mrs. Young. I saw his earnest attempt to grab your arm to take you with him when he left, and that does not at all seem to be what someone would do if they were not previously acquainted."

  "No, Sir. I swear we were never known to each other before. It was a coincidence that Mr. Wickham was here in Ramsgate when we met him on King Street."

  "That is not true, Mrs. Young," Georgiana finally spoke out. "I saw you talking with a man resembling Mr. Wickham in the park across from our house just the day before we encountered him on King Street. I now realize it was him that you were speaking to. You have betrayed me too, Mrs. Young!" With that, she began sobbing again, and Darcy moved to sit with her on the small settee. "Oh, William. I have disappointed you so much! How will you ever forgive me?"

  "There, there Georgie. You have done nothing wrong. You were duped by two malevolent conspirators and you are not to blame." With that, he turned to Mrs. Young and said "Please collect your things, Mrs. Young. You will be leaving this very afternoon. I will arrange for your final pay and a coach to take you back to London. You will, however, never receive a reference from me, and if I ever hear that you are attempting to work for anyone of my acquaintance, I will tell them of your scheming and larcenous nature."

  "You would not want anyone to know about your sister's near elopement, would you Mr. Darcy? Surely you wouldn't want me to tell anyone about that." She raised her head and looked up at him through her eyelashes, slyly smiling at him as if she had won the war of threats, but Darcy spat back at her.

  "Do you think anyone would believe you, Mrs. Young? I think not. A woman of your low standing accusing the Darcy name of such an implausible story would merely implicate yourself even more. You have much more to lose than we do madam, and you will not breathe a word of this!"

  Realizing that he was speaking the truth, she nodded her head and stood to leave the room. "Where will I go?" she quietly asked.

  "I care not, Mrs. Young. Just be gone." With that, she fled the room and in a matter of less than a quarter of an hour, she was at the door to request her transportation. Darcy had gone to the nearest station, and booked her journey to London on a post coach. He escorted her there himself to insure she boarded the coach, and he watched as it pulled away from Ramsgate. "I have a feeling I have not seen the last of her," he thought to himself, and he returned to begin the process of leaving Ramsgate with Georgiana.

  After a diligent search and many unsuccessful interviews, Darcy had finally hired a new companion for Georgiana. Meredith Annesley was an intelligent woman from Portsmouth whose husband had died several years earlier of consumption, and in order to earn a living, it was necessary for her to take the position of governess in a small estate in Portsmouth. When that assignment had ended, she went to work for Lord Wattingly, a close friend of Darcy's Uncle Alexander, Richard's father, the Earl of Matlock. She was employed there as his daughter's companion for two years, but Wattingly's daughter had recently married, and Mrs. Annesley's services were no longer required. Wattingly highly recommended her, so somewhat reluctantly, Darcy met with her, but he still had bad memories of his experience with Mrs. Young, and he was guarded, to say the least.

  From the beginning of his meeting with Mrs. Annesley, it was evident that she was of a higher status than what he had expected. His expectation was to find a companion for Georgiana who could instruct her on the proper ladylike behavior necessary for her first season in London, but he learned that in addition, she was well versed in French, music, drawing, and she also proposed to teach her a bit of history and geography. She told him that she was aware that there had been a previous governess that did not work out for some reason, and she understood his hesitation in hiring her. She also shared with him that she was also aware that as a single man attempting to raise a sister alone, she could be of great help to him, and she assured him that she would come on a temporary basis for six months to see if he approved of her. This arrangement appealed to Darcy, so he brought her to Pemberley to meet Georgiana, and while it didn't happen overnight, Darcy was relieved to see that they slowly developed a trusting and close bond.

  Georgiana, however, was greatly affected by her near tragic mistake, and she was deeply depressed. She chose to stay in her chambers, only coming out for her meals and to practice the pianoforte in the music room. Mrs. Annesley was not given the reason for Georgiana's malaise, but she was smart enough to know that it was obviously a young girl's heartbreak, and she treated her with much patience and compassion. In time, Georgiana bravely told Mrs. Annesley what had happened to her, and when the woman did not chastise her for her foolishness, and when she instead provided understanding and comfort, it helped to lift Georgiana's melancholy.

  Chapter Eleven

  Houseguests

  A fortnight had passed with no word from Charron. Georgiana kept asking her brother "What do you think is taking them so long? It is only a three day journey to London and three days back and today is the fourteenth day!"

  "Be still Georgie. I am sure there were many things to accomplish in order to close Charron's studio and to collect items to bring along for what could be a lengthy stay. You must realize that Mr. Charron's father is quite ill and that requires a slower journey. They are also bringing their friend, Miss DuPree and our maid, Hannah from Darcy House, and it is only proper to stop more f
requently and provide for their particular needs. But taking all that into consideration, I would venture a guess that they should arrive as early as this afternoon or tomorrow."

  "But not even a letter has arrived!" she complained, and almost at that exact moment, a knock was heard on the door to Darcy's study.

  "Enter", he said to whomever was knocking. His Butler opened the door and bowed to Darcy. "Sir, the Gate Keeper has sent a message that two carriages have passed his gate at the border of the property, and they should arrive here shortly."

  Darcy nodded his head. "Thank you, James. That will be all." His loyal butler James quickly turned and left. "Well, there you have, it Poppet! Right on time." He laughed, and stood to pull the bell cord to summon Mrs. Reynolds to ready the rooms for their guests.

  Georgiana ran to the tall windows to peer out, watching for the carriage to pull into their driveway. "I am delighted to finally have some diverting company, brother. I find it entirely too quiet here with only you and Mrs. Annesley to talk to."

  "Yes, Georgie. It will be good for you to have another woman here in the house, and I am sure that Miss DuPree will also appreciate having other females to talk to! Now, step away from the window and let us go to the foyer to greet our guests."

  The carriages pulled up to the front of the estate, and James and Darcy went to went to greet the visitors. The first carriage was pulled by two horses, and the second was pulled by four. "That is odd", Darcy thought. Darcy opened the door to the first, and greeted Charron with a handshake as he stepped down from the carriage. He looked inside and saw another gentleman slouched in the corner, his legs covered with a blanket. "Hello, William. I apologize, but my father is sleeping, and even the carriage wheels on the cobblestones of your driveway didn't awaken him. Let me introduce you to Angelique before we attempt to take Father inside."

  With that, they moved to the second carriage that was pulled by four horses. Frederick opened the door, holding out his hand to the gloved hand of an extremely pretty young woman, who smiled broadly at him as she stepped down. "Merci, Francois," she said softly so that those standing nearby would not hear her using his true name. She curtsied and laughed, "It is so good to be here at last! Je suis très fatigué!" She turned to see Darcy approaching, and once again curtsied to him. "Bonjour Monsieur Darcy! It is such a pleasure to finally meet you!"