His Good Opinion: A Mr. Darcy Novel

by Nancy Kelley

  Wickham stood up and shook his head. "You know as well as I that nothing but your money could convince me to marry that girl."

  "I will share the news with her family," Darcy said after a long pause. "I believe they will want her to come stay with them for the duration of your engagement, but I will leave that up to them."

  Wickham smiled sardonically. "Your rigid moral code again. What does it matter? She has been in my bed this last week."

  Darcy frowned. "If you care for your financial security, you will not utter those words to anyone else."

  The smug expression on Wickham's face made Darcy want to hit something, but he controlled his anger. "Very well, if you would have it be that way."

  "And I need not tell you that if her uncle arrives this evening to find Lydia missing, you will never see another penny of Darcy money."

  Wickham smiled at Darcy, some of his self-assuredness returning now that financial gain was at hand. "So we are clear then."

  "I believe we are." Darcy eyed the man for a long moment and then held out his hand. "Though it goes against everything in me to do business with you, I am glad nonetheless that you could be persuaded to do the right thing--even if it was only for your own sake."

  Wickham took his hand and shook it. "And I am glad you could be persuaded to support me, as has always been your duty. A pleasure doing business, Darcy."

  Darcy rose from his seat, but before he reached the door, he turned back and gave Wickham a hard look. "There is one thing we have not discussed, Wickham."

  "What is that, Darcy?"

  "You will not receive a penny of this money, nor the benefit of your commission, until I see you married to Lydia Bennet. That will happen within the next two weeks by a special license I will provide. If you choose to decamp before the wedding, you will never gain another farthing from me. Do I make myself clear?"

  A pettish, mulish expression crossed Wickham's face, and Darcy knew he had been right to demand this condition. "I should have known you would have the last word," he muttered.

  "Yes, you should have. Well, Wickham, what will it be--marriage to Lydia Bennet and comparative easy living, or poverty by yourself? And I warn you, if you choose the latter, I will ruin your good name so thoroughly that you will not be able to deceive any other young lady into taking you."

  Wickham stared at him for a long moment and then nodded curtly. "Very well then. Buy the license, and we will meet with a clergyman."

  "A wise choice. Felicitations on your upcoming marriage, George."

  The gesture Wickham gave in reply left no doubt as to his true sentiments, but nonetheless Darcy was satisfied when he left the lodgings. Wickham valued his own livelihood too much to back out now.

  Chapter Thirty-four

  With this happy news to report, Darcy finally felt comfortable informing Mr. Gardiner of his niece's location. "Gracechurch Street," he ordered Broderick, and then chuckled to himself. It is lucky I heard Miss Bingley mention the Gardiner's address so often.

  Wickham's lodgings in Southwark were not four miles from the City, but they were leagues separated in fashion. The Gardiners' house was large and handsome, and Darcy felt another aspect of his pride fall by the wayside. He climbed the stairs and knocked on the door, which was opened by a liveried servant.

  "Yes, sir?"

  "Is Mr. Gardiner available?"

  "No, sir--he and Mr. Bennet are out for the day."

  Darcy wondered that he had not considered Lydia's father would still be in London. "I do not wish to disturb him while he has company. Tell me, will Mr. Bennet be long in town?"

  "I believe he is to return home on the morrow."

  "Very well. I shall call again then. Inform Mr. Gardiner that a gentleman came by on business and will inquire around tomorrow afternoon."

  The next morning he went back to Gracechurch Street directly after breakfast. His card guaranteed him entrance into the house, and he was shown straightaway into Mr. Gardiner's study.

  "Mr. Darcy, to what do I owe this honor? I take it you were the gentleman who called yesterday?"

  "I am." Darcy took the seat indicated. "I am not unaware of the task that kept you from home yesterday, sir. Did your niece tell you I happened upon her shortly after she received Miss Bennet's letters?"

  Mr. Gardiner's expression darkened. "Indeed she did. I understand you have had some unpleasant dealings of your own with Mr. Wickham. Though I do not know their nature, having spent the last week searching for the scoundrel, you have my full sympathies, Mr. Darcy. We had no idea of his true character."

  "That is the point of my visit," Darcy cut in, glad of the segue. "Even while I was still with Miss Elizabeth, it rapidly became clear to me that this whole affair was partly my own fault, however indirectly." Mr. Gardiner opened his mouth to object, and Darcy held his hand up. "Had I made you aware of what Wickham really is, or had I given your niece leave to do so, this could never have happened."

  Mr. Gardiner leaned back in his chair, a frown on his face. "You cannot have known he would behave so infamously."

  Darcy shifted in his seat and his gaze dropped to the floor for an instant. He knew exactly how Wickham behaved when left alone with a vulnerable fifteen-year-old girl; he knew, and he had not taken steps to ensure that no other young lady would be treated as his sister had been.

  "I assure you, I knew enough. But as I was saying, while I was still talking with Miss Elizabeth, I realized that I had a distinct advantage over yourself and Mr. Bennet. Neither of you knew where they might go on entering London. I still had the last forwarding address of a friend of his. I resolved to come to London and seek them out, and I have done so."

  Mr. Gardiner leapt to his feet. "Am I to understand, sir, that you know where my niece and this blackguard have been concealing themselves?"

  "I do."

  "Then let us go at once." When Darcy did not move, Mr. Gardiner sat back down. "I do not understand. Is there any reason we cannot retrieve Lydia this instant?"

  "May I be frank with you, sir?" Mr. Gardiner nodded. "Your niece has already been alone in his company for almost a week. Another few minutes will do no further harm, and the extra time will give me a chance to explain the arrangements I have made with Wickham."

  "The arrangements you have made?"

  Darcy nodded. "I will explain more fully in a minute, but first allow me to tell you how I found them." Mr. Gardiner nodded and settled back in his chair, and Darcy took a deep breath.

  "It took me several days to discover them, and when I did, I easily learned he had never had any intention of marrying her. He found it expedient to leave Brighton, which I am sure you can understand, and when he told Lydia of his intentions, she insisted on going with him. She assumed his plan was then to go to Scotland, but he never promised anything of the kind."

  Darcy pinched the bridge of his nose. "My first thought, I admit, was to find your niece and bring her home, hoping the matter could be hushed up well enough if she returned in good time. However, she would have none of it. She was content with his vague promises that they would eventually marry. When I pointed out the certain evils to her reputation, she brushed them off."

  Mr. Gardiner sighed heavily. "Yes, that sounds like Lydia. I am afraid my sister has spoiled her, as we are all liable to do with children who remind us too much of ourselves."

  Darcy kept his own counsel on that point and moved on. "That discovered, I then determined that the only thing was for them to marry."

  "Agreed."

  "I know Wickham, however; the grudge between us is longstanding and bitter. If he suspected I had any true interest in the matter, there would be no way to accomplish the feat."

  Mr. Gardiner smiled knowingly, but like the gentleman he was, he did not ask what Darcy's true interest was. "It took me two days to work around to it, but I finally was able to settle on exactly how much money it would take to convince him to marry Miss Lydia."

  "Tell me the sum and I will have my solicitor draw up pa
pers this afternoon."

  "You do not take my meaning, sir. It is all arranged between us; I shall provide Miss Lydia's dowry. In addition, I shall buy his commission and take care of his debts, as well as provide one thousand pounds to settle on your niece."

  "This is too much!" Mr. Gardiner cried. "Am I to accept such charity from a gentleman I hardly know?"

  Darcy stood and used his imposing height to full advantage. "I assure you, sir, there is no arguing with me. As I said, this could not have happened if I had been more open regarding my dealings with Mr. Wickham. I am determined to take care of the matter myself."

  "We will return to this point shortly, I assure you. Is there anything else you have arranged with the gentleman?"

  "In addition to the funds already mentioned, they will receive an amount to live on until his first paycheck arrives from the army. I will pay for the wedding, and I will be there myself to make sure he follows through. I do not need to tell you that he is not the most dependable of men."

  "No, you most certainly do not. Ah, Lydia." Her uncle sighed and shook his head in resignation. "Could you not have chosen a better man to elope with?"

  Darcy had to hide a smile at the sentiment. "As to their location, I will gladly give you the direction now. I am sure you and Mrs. Gardiner will want to bring Lydia into your house for the fortnight preceding the wedding. That will at least give the affair a veneer of respectability, however thin it might be."

  "Indeed." Mr. Gardiner rose and shook Darcy's hand. "May I attempt once more to change your mind? If you will not allow me to pay for my niece's wedding, at least allow me to settle Wickham's debts in Brighton."

  A frown furrowed Darcy's brow for a moment as he considered the request. Perhaps I am once again being inconsiderate to the feelings of others, he realized. I cannot assume Mr. Gardiner is any more willing to sit idly by while others handle his affairs than I would be.

  "Very well," he agreed. "I will give you the complete list of his debts, both in Brighton and in Meryton, and allow you to divide the responsibility with Mr. Bennet as you see fit."

  "Thank you, Mr. Darcy. When my brother hears how generous--"

  "No!" Darcy exclaimed, then drew in his breath. "I apologize, Mr. Gardiner. However, I must insist you do not tell the Bennets of my involvement on any account."

  Mr. Gardiner gaped at him. "Then what am I to say? They will never believe Wickham to be so easily tempted into matrimony."

  "I leave that to you, sir, but I must remain anonymous." The thought of Elizabeth receiving him simply out of gratitude made Darcy ill. I will have her love, or not at all. "I go back to Pemberley on Monday. Perhaps we may visit my solicitor together that morning before I leave to finalize the arrangements."

  "Yes, I believe that would be satisfactory. May Mrs. Gardiner and I have the pleasure of your company tomorrow afternoon for dinner?"

  Darcy hesitated, and understanding his concern, Mr. Gardiner added, "You may be assured, Wickham will not be present. As to Lydia, I cannot promise..."

  "Have Mrs. Gardiner send an invitation in the morning. If I have discharged all my responsibilities, I will gladly accept."

  "I hope you may. Again, I thank you, Mr. Darcy, on behalf of our family. This is a debt we can never repay."

  Darcy shook his head. "The debt was mine. Were it not for my... want of consideration, Wickham would never have been received by the neighborhood as he was. Though I cannot undo the wrong my reserve has caused, I can at least seek to temper it by whatever means in my power. I am only glad I was able to discover them."

  "As am I. Until tomorrow I hope, Mr. Darcy," Mr. Gardiner said, and Darcy bowed and left.

  Chapter Thirty-five

  A letter arrived for Darcy the next day, addressed in a fine, feminine hand.

  Mr. Darcy,

  Mr. Gardiner tells me we owe the restoration of our niece to your efforts. Please allow us to show our gratitude by way of dinner this evening.

  M. Gardiner

  Beneath it was a postscript, clearly added by Mr. Gardiner:

  We retrieved Lydia last night. She is presently confined to her room until she learns to express some remorse over the upset she caused the family; this may last until the wedding.

  The note from Mr. Gardiner ended Darcy's only concern with accepting the invitation, as was no doubt the intent. Though he enjoyed the company of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, he had no wish to spend any more time with Lydia Bennet. He quickly penned an acceptance and sent it back with the waiting porter, and then called for both Remington and Vincent.

  The butler and the valet were before him in only a few short minutes. "Remington," he said, addressing the senior servant first, "I will be returning to Pemberley on the morrow. However, I will be back in town on Tuesday fortnight following."

  "Very good; how long will your stay be, Mr. Darcy?"

  "Quite brief: only a matter of days."

  "Very well, sir."

  Darcy nodded, and Remington bowed and left.

  Darcy took a breath and turned to his valet. His business with this man was far less ordinary. "Vincent, you more than proved your worth on this trip. I wondered if there was any way I might compensate you for your help." Vincent's eyes widened, and Darcy smiled. "I do like to acknowledge extraordinary service, Vincent."

  "Yes, Mr. Darcy."

  The valet didn't say anything else, and finally Darcy prodded a bit. "Have you no aspirations, Vincent? Is there anything you have ever wished for?"

  Vincent opened and shut his mouth a few times. "Ah, out with it, Vincent."

  "If it would not inconvenience you in any way, sir, might I stay in London these two weeks?"

  "A holiday of sorts? But your mother lives in Dorset, does she not? That is where the letters I frank for you are sent."

  "Yes, sir, and I visit her every spring in the week you give me. But I have never been able to..." He shrugged.

  "A holiday," Darcy repeated. "Very well. Your last task shall be dressing me tomorrow morn, and then I shall expect you to be waiting when I return to town in a fortnight."

  "Thank you, Mr. Darcy."

  "You are quite welcome, Vincent. As I said, the service you rendered was invaluable. Now, I expect you will want to begin packing for my return home."

  Vincent bowed and left the room, and Darcy mused over what he had said. The thought of rewarding Vincent for his help had only occurred to him when he had read Mr. Gardiner's postscript. It bothered him greatly that for her bad behavior, Miss Lydia was to be rewarded with the fulfillment of her dearest wish. Had it not been for Elizabeth...

  And he had suddenly realized exactly how important it had been to his own future that Lydia and Wickham marry. A scandal involving the Bennet family would have been a very difficult obstacle to overcome. He would have married Elizabeth regardless, but the censure from his family would have been great, and the possible ramifications, even on their children, hard to accept.

  Therefore, when Mr. Gardiner greeted him that evening with, "You must allow me to thank you once again, Mr. Darcy, for all you are doing for my niece," Darcy's answer was instantaneous and heartfelt.

  "You must concern yourself over it no more, sir. I assure you, I could do no less."

  Mr. Gardiner exchanged a look with his wife, and Darcy knew they both understood what he did not say. To her he said, "Mrs. Gardiner, I trust Mr. Gardiner has told you my one condition?"

  "Indeed, Mr. Darcy, though I cannot imagine why you wish for such secrecy."

  "I assure you, I have my reasons," he said. "May I trust that you will not divulge to your nieces the part I played in bringing this event to pass?"

  She inclined her head in an elegant nod. "You may."

  Dinner was a pleasant affair. As promised, Lydia was not seen at all. The Gardiners once again proved themselves to be more truly genteel than some of the members of the Ton, and when Darcy left their house, he satisfied himself that if he were to marry Elizabeth, not all of his new relations would be a burden.
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  The trip back to Pemberley was uneventful, and Thursday evening Darcy was able to share his after-dinner port with Bingley and Mr. Hurst. Hurst soon nodded off in the corner, and Darcy was able to turn the conversation toward more personal matters.

  "I hope your sisters were not upset by my sudden departure?"

  "Not at all!" Bingley assured him. "They understand that a gentleman occasionally has estate issues he must attend to." His face clouded. "In truth, your departure left them another opening to tease me about purchasing a home myself."

  Darcy took a slow sip of port while he considered his next statement. "Bingley, would you like to return to Netherfield Park for the hunting season?"