“If it is remuneration you wish to have the I should think that 500 pounds would be a good offer, after all, you are signing away your rights to the preferment, not actually benefitting from the living.”
“Nine thousand.”
“One Thousand”
“Seven Thousand”
“One Thousand five hundred.”
“Six Thousand”
“One Thousand six hundred. Don’t push me, Wickham.”
“Five thousand.”
“Two thousand.”
“Four thousand.”
“Two thousand five hundred” You’ll waste whatever it is that I give you. I’d rather you not have anything.
“Fine, three thousand then.”
“Done, but you sign away all rights to the living.”
“If I must.”
“I won’t pay a penny out on this unless you do” I doubt I should be paying anything out anyway.
“Fine, I shall see you in three days to sign the paperwork.” The two shook hands and Wickham left. Three days later with the sum of four thousand pounds, Wickham was on his way to London, not to return to Derbyshire again in a very long time.
Chapter 5
O, What a goodly outside falsehood hath! - Shakespeare (The Merchant of Venice)
15th June 1811
The next morning brought only one letter from his sister. The minute he saw it, he knew that something wasn't right. Her writing, usually bold and firm, looked shaky. Darcy snatched up the letter and nearly ripped it in his haste. The contents themselves were unremarkable. Georgiana wrote about the delights that she had expected, and how she spent most mornings sketching on the cliffs and the sea shore. She had made the acquaintance of some other young girls, some of whom were out and those who weren't. She was enjoying Ramsgate. However, her postscript was like a knife through his heart.
P.S. Do not worry about me dear Fitzwilliam, but I would like to ask you what happened between you and Mr Wickham that you no longer see each other? He's here and says that I shouldn't tell you so, why? Please tell me, my dear brother.
Darcy read that simple postscript several times before he could comprehend exactly why that bothered him. Georgiana had always been fond of Mr Wickham, and he had always been good to her so he wouldn't have worried about them seeing each other, except for George Wickham's way of treating any lady.
It was the secrecy that bothered him. What was going on in Ramsgate? All he knew was that something in Ramsgate was wrong. Abandoning his morning plans, Darcy called for his trunk to be packed and for the carriage to be ready to leave in half an hour. He desperately wanted to see Georgiana and make sure everything was all right. All kinds of scenarios went through Darcy's head, as he dealt with his remaining business and busied himself while he waited for his carriage. The wait seemed to be unreasonably long, as the possibilities of what was happening and how Georgiana could be in trouble buzzed around his head like hornets stinging him out of any sense of quiet.
Half an hour later he was leaving Town, and by nightfall, he arrived in Ramsgate. His anxiety was at such a pitch that he had not stopped for food or drink throughout the whole trip. The mere thought of food sat in his stomach like a stone. He arrived at the house he had hired for his sister shortly before dinner. Instead of going straight to his rooms to freshen up, he chose to see Georgiana first.
Nothing could have prepared him for the scene that met his eyes as he walked through the parlour door. There were no sketches and none of the usual work of young ladies, however, Mrs Younge was sitting in a chair to one side of the fireplace and on the sofa in a compromising situation sat Mr Wickham and Georgiana.
“Good God. What is going on?!" Darcy did not quite comprehend the scene that was in front of him
"Fitzwilliam!" said Georgiana, jumping up and running over to him
"Mr Darcy." Mrs Younge stood up. She paled and dropped a quick curtsy. Wickham just looked smug and self-satisfied on the sofa. For some reason, the idea of a pouncing tiger that he had seen in books now crossed Darcy's mind.
"Wickham, leave this place," said Darcy with an icy calm that covered his anger. He did not trust himself near Wickham who stood up, bowed and left the area. Georgiana stood, shocked. "Mrs Younge, I am disappointed and angry that you allowed my sister's honour to be impugned in this way. Please leave me to talk with my sister." Mrs Younge stood up and went into her room.
"Oh Fitzwilliam, I'm so sorry," cried Georgiana, trembling and not comprehending what she had done wrong. Darcy sat next to her and pulled her into a hug, and held her there.
"Georgiana, what has he done? How far has this gone?" he asked, barely controlling the anger he felt.
"When I arrived at Ramsgate he was already here. He told me that he was on holiday. We met him the second day here. Fitzwilliam, I think I'm in love with him. He says that he loves me and wants to marry me. We planned to leave for Gretna Green tomorrow."
"You will do no such thing, Georgiana." growled Darcy.
"Why not? I love him, and he loves me" pleaded Georgiana.
"No Georgiana, you are young to the ways of the world, so I will explain how things work. When an honourable man thinks he wants to marry a woman of fortune, like you, he will apply to her father or guardians for permission to court and to marry her. Then so as to protect the girl's fortune for herself and her children the father will settle an amount on her in the form of shares etc., That way she can use the interest for her needs and comfort, while the capital is kept safe so she can leave it to her children in whatever way she feels fit.
"In cases such as yours where the gentleman wishes to elope, any money which the girl inherits or already has in her own right immediately becomes his. If he is a wastrel and a scoundrel, then she will have nothing to give her children." At this point Georgiana started crying "I fear that all Wickham wants from you is your fortune, and by eloping with you the man gets full control of your wealth – it becomes his. If he actually loved you, then he would ask your cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam or me for your hand in marriage, and we would have a chance to draw up a proper settlement on you so that your fortune is safe.
“There’s more Georgiana. You probably know how father loved him and wanted him to make the church his profession. What you don't know is that you are not the first young lady Wickham has put into such a position. There were several when we were at Cambridge. When our father died Wickham declined all interest in the church as a career and tried to get an unreasonable amount of money in return. Eventually, he took three thousand pounds instead of the living, and when he left Derbyshire he was very much in debt, and I had to pay a lot of money out to cover his debts."
"Oh dear," said Georgina quietly "I didn't know anything about that. I only knew that there was bad feeling between you. He said I shouldn't tell you because you would stop us. I see now why he wanted to elope. He said he loved me, and I believed him."
"He was right about that Georgiana, I will stop it, because he would ruin you, and damage me, in that scheme. He has been trying to do harm to me for years. Our Father spoilt him, and he came to expect too much of our patronage and goodwill. Had anyone else walked into your parlour but me, your reputation would be gone immediately, and I would be ruined as well. We would be excluded from all respectable drawing rooms, and even my ten thousand a year and your thirty thousand pound fortune wouldn't save us. I'm afraid that if he does feel anything for you, it probably is not the right sort of love that would last for the rest of your life."
Georgiana was crying harder now. "I've upset you, and hurt you haven't I?"
"No, not you! Never you. I must ask though how much of this plan did Mrs Younge know? And has he taken any liberties?"
"All of it, I think Wickham told her his lies," replied Georgiana, blushing furiously. "He…he kissed me" Georgiana looked as if she was holding something back, but Darcy let it go at that.
"Shhh it's all right,” he said gently and just held her while she cried a little more. Then he calle
d Mrs Younge back into the room, but barely gave her time to take a seat before saying "Mrs Younge I will be staying here for a little bit with my sister. Your services are no longer required. You will leave this place immediately. I will send your wages and your trunk on to you. Do not apply to me for a reference."
"Mr Darcy, please give me time to pack my trunk and take that with me," she pleaded. She knew that it would not yield any results and feared that if she was to argue further that Darcy would actually expose her character to the world.
“No, I will not have your presence with my sister any longer. Goodbye, Mrs Younge." Mrs Younge took one further look at Darcy's face and realised that it would be futile to argue. He was so angry at that moment that his face was completely drained of all colour. Right then it seemed that despite everything that George Wickham had done, nothing could have prepared him for this moment.
After Mrs Younge left, Darcy called for his writing tablet, and when it was brought, he wrote to Mr Wickham telling him that if he did not leave Ramsgate at this moment that Wickham's character would be exposed to the world. That ungrateful wretch! To think I was thinking of how I could help him further. Well, no more! That man will not have even one ha'penny more of the Darcy fortune.
With Georgiana still crying, Darcy sealed the letter and commissioned a servant to take it around to Mr Wickham, who left Ramsgate immediately and once more Darcy found himself discharging debts that Wickham left behind him. Darcy then wrote to Colonel Fitzwilliam informing him of every particular of what had happened and assuring him that the situation was contained and that none of them was ruined. This letter was then sent express, for Colonel Fitzwilliam was needed to immediately find another companion for Georgiana.
A few days later a reply arrived from the Colonel.
Darcy,
The information in your letter has shocked me to my core. I did not know whatsoever to do. However, I have just found out that one Mrs Annesley is coming to the end of her term with my cousins. I have met Mrs Annesley on numerous occasions and believe she will be suitable for Georgiana. Further, my uncle has agreed to release her from her contract and she has decided to travel to Ramsgate to meet you there immediately upon your agreement. Please send back your answer.
Yours Etc...
Fitzwilliam
This news pleased Darcy so much that he immediately replied and asked for Mrs Annesley to come down to Ramsgate. Two days later Mrs Annesley arrived. Darcy finished out the month of August with his sister in Ramsgate, visiting the local places of interest. Georgiana was by no means recovered by the time that he returned to town to meet Mr Bingley, although she was beginning to show signs of recovery.
Chapter 6
What we need is not the will to believe, but the wish to find out. William Wordsworth.
2nd September 1811
"So this house that you've had recommended. What is it like?" asked Darcy as he and Charles Bingley travelled into Hertfordshire.
"Well, it has its own estate, and I understand that the park is delightful. It is approximately two miles away from a charming little village called Meryton. I've heard that the society is fascinating and that at least two of the principal families have several girls. I also understand that the game on the estate is plentiful," answered Bingley.
"But you know nothing of how many bedrooms the house has, what income you'll get from the estate, in short, you don't know anything useful about this estate at all."
"Well, I know that if I eventually buy the house, then it will make my family one of the principal families of the area. I understand that the next principal family in the area is called Bennet. They live three miles away and that there is a small village around their estate. The rent I know is a very reasonable rent for the house, and that I will get a percentage of the income from the property."
"Well, that's something at least." They lapsed into silence and Darcy worried about Georgiana, who he had left still crying over what happened with George Wickham. However, she had gone back to playing her harp before he went to Hertfordshire and her pianoforte was also coming along very nicely. Colonel Fitzwilliam was due to meet her in town when she returned. Darcy knew that she would be in good hands and, since she was already recovering, he knew that she would soon be happy again. However, he still worried about her. The men stopped in Watford and Darcy took rooms for them. Tomorrow they would ride out to see the house at Netherfield Park.
Netherfield Park was nothing that Darcy had expected it to be. The park was about a quarter the size of Pemberley, but was still elegant and well-kept and would do for exercise on dull days where there was nothing else to do. The house though from the exterior looked small was, in fact, a decent size and would hold a fair number of guests. It had some history, though not as much Pemberley. This impressed Darcy, and as they walked around, fires had been lit in the fireplaces. Walking through the rooms none of them was smoky, showing the chimneys were well maintained and well built. The house was conservatively decorated, and the rent was reasonable. Within half an hour Mr Bingley had signed the documents and taken the house. The plan was then to hire the servants and take possession by Michaelmas.
Darcy made the trip back to London as quickly as he could as he had to call on Mrs Younge to deliver her trunk and wages. He was still angry about what happened and didn't know if he could trust himself not to be rude.
It was, in fact, four weeks before Mr Bingley visited Darcy in town, full of excitement for his new house and the surrounding society. "So tell me, Bingley, is society as awful as it usually is in country neighbourhoods?" asked Darcy
"Within the week Mr Bennet, Sir William Lucas, Mr Long, and others of the area fathers have all visited. All the families have unmarried daughters," answered Mr Bingley.
"Yes, just as I expected. You know at the end of July I heard something rather vulgar but something that explains all those visits," said Darcy, a little agitated.
"Upon my word Darcy, tell me what it was."
"It seems that the women appear to think it a settled fact that a single gentleman in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." Mr Bingley laughed at that one.
"Come now Darcy, why would we want a wife when we can just pay to have anything we want?!" cried Mr Bingley
"I really do not know. I just thought that a very common thing for the women to say, and just thought that I didn't want a wife."
"I'm sure you did Darcy. That's so typical of you. You take offence so quickly. Let people think what they will; we will make our choices when we choose to. In the meantime, we may as well enjoy the company of those sweet girls who throw themselves in our way."
"Have you no shame, Bingley? Do you not realise that each time you pay particular notice to one girl more than the others you create expectations?"
"If the girls are silly enough to think that our attentions mean more than we mean them to, how can we help that? I never pay too much attention if I don't like the girl," said Mr Bingley. "Anyway, I came back to London to get together a group of friends. You know how I love a good dance, and there's one on Saturday night at the assembly rooms in Meryton."
"Really Bingley, you always say you 'like' the girls and then just as quickly you forget them. It will make a very uncomfortable living for you if you do that to one of those country girls. They're not like your London hussies, you know. Besides, I will never understand how you can enjoy physically exerting yourself, and making conversation with silly empty headed women, whom you don't even know. Besides, you know that you cannot hope to meet anyone in a ball, for you are aware that any introductions don't count outside the ballroom.” Darcy was exasperated with Bingley’s constant desire for the company of strangers.
“And I will never understand why it is that you will never exert yourself to get to know people, " Bingley challenged.
"Bingley I do exert myself, but when I do I seem to give offence because I cannot catch the tone of their conversation. I am not like you. Conversation and getting to know s
trangers is a strain for me, and something that I tend not to do very well – especially if the ones I'm talking to are either clingy or empty-headed."
"Darcy! Please say that you will come to stay with me and go to the Meryton Assembly with me. The Hursts and Caroline are coming, and I'm going to ask some of our other friends to come as well."
"None of your fashionable friends will come you know."
"I know, but it's worth a try" replied Bingley cheerfully.
Chapter 7
I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal. Jane Austen, Letter to Cassandra Austen Dec 24, 1798.
Extract from the Journal of Fitzwilliam Darcy 5th October 1811:
Good morning! G’s joining me for breakfast. Therefore, I’ll leave half an hour later than planned for Hertfordshire. I am worried about G. Her eyes are so sad; she's heartbroken over W's perfidy. I could strangle that bloody bastard! G’s not the same.
Fitzwilliam and I are both responsible for G going to Ramsgate with that woman! Were the truth known G & I would be social pariahs, I guess I won't marry. Should I contemplate such, the truth about G must be made known to my future wife, and then she will turn away from me. Surely such a failure shows that I won’t be able to bring up my own children, right?! Besides how many young women want to become responsible for a man's younger sister? I've heard how difficult it is for men whose first wife has died to find a woman who will treat his first wife's children properly.
I am on my way to Netherfield right now.
Have I not suffered enough? First Jeremy, then mother followed swiftly by our father. Then I nearly lost G.
1811-1812 How It All Began- Part 1 Page 4