Wickham paled, he had always been a coward, especially when it came to the sight of blood. It had only been desperation that had driven him to take a commission in the volunteers. Many a man had spent their entire career parading about red coated while never seeing a battlefield. The regulars were an entirely different matter. Wars in the Americas and India had cost the lives of many, leaving even more maimed for life. He should have resisted the offer of easy money to ruin Lydia Bennet and stayed where he was. But taken it he had, the thousand pound bribe would have set him up nicely on the continent, far from England.
“I…No... she is not.”
“Then congratulations on your marriage. I suggest we tell your bride.”
“N…now?”
“Yes now, I am not letting either of you out of my sight until it is done.”
******
By the end of the evening, Darcy found himself finally taking a bit of rest. With a large brandy cradled between his fingers, he relayed the events to Colonel Fitzwilliam. Having take a short leave from the regiment, he had arrived during Darcy’s absence and thought to bring two members of the military police along to ensure Wickham’s cooperation. Now, the offending character was imprisoned in a guest chamber down the hall. Armed guards stood sentry outside the door and balcony.
“Shoot him if he tries to escape.” Fitzwilliam had ordered, but did not expect any particular trouble. Wickham was a pest, and one that would soon be gone.
“I thank you for all your assistance. It would have been rather difficult to remain within the law without you and Mr. Gardiner. It took a great amount of reserve to keep from throttling him. Especially when we returned to the lodging. Lydia answered the door in nothing but a negligee. The little trollop even dared to embrace me, dressed as she was, but the smile on her face was worth it. I truly think that she believed Wickham intended to marry her all along. At least, it had not been difficult to convince her that it was best she stays at her uncle’s home until the ceremony. I don’t know how Gardiner managed to procure the license, but the wedding will take place in two days’ time. Until then, Wickham remains under lock and key. As for Lydia, she is happily oblivious. I insisted upon paying for her trousseau as a wedding gift. The hundred pounds was a small price to keep her quiet about my involvement.
“Whatever did you say to achieve that?”
“I told her it was inappropriate for married ladies to make their unmarried sisters jealous. It would be enough to return home married. I am glad that Forster managed to arrange a commission considering Wickham’s desertion. He must have lied on the papers. All I know is that it is costing me dearly, but worth it.”
“What of Elizabeth? I assume this is all to protect her. A ruined sister taints the entire family, but should she not know who is the benefactor?”
“Heavens no! You know what a strong head she has. I plan to marry her, but not because she feels beholden in any way.”
“Well good luck, but eventually things like this come out. Tell me something… it is a dilemma that has puzzled me from the start.”
“What? You have been privy from the beginning.”
“It is nothing on your part… it is Wickham. I can understand his desertion, but how did he manage to support Lydia in London for so long? During his stay in Meryton, the man ran up unpaid accounts with nearly every merchant. The Army only pays its volunteers quarterly. Where did he get the money? Someone had to have been helping.”
“Agreed, but who? Who would give Wickham money?”
“I believe the real question is, who would want to pay to see the Bennets ruined?”
Darcy frowned at the prospect. To his knowledge, no single person harbored that much ill will towards the family. Was it someone trying to prevent the marriage between Charles and Jane? If so, they wasted their money. Charles was so besotted, he would not care if Jane were a scullery maid working in a brothel. As for his own intentions, aside from Fitzwilliam and his cousin Anne, no one else knew of his failed proposal. And neither of them wished him ill. His love for Elizabeth was his own well-guarded secret.
~Twenty-three~
The two days before the wedding of Lydia Bennet and George Wickham passed with what seemed like an eternity. But finally, Darcy was able to express a sigh of relief. It had cost him over a thousand pounds in total. The purchase of Wickham’s commission had been shared between himself and Colonel Forster, but there had been considerable debts to be settled before any sort of return to Meryton could be managed. And the newlyweds would return, but only long enough for Lydia to pack what belongings she possessed and say good bye to her parents. Afterwards, there would be a hasty journey to the northern wilds of Newcastle and eventually a long-term posting in India. Darcy indulged in an idle hope that Wickham would perish from some tropical disease, but was eventually satisfied to simply have the man miles away. The ceremony had also been blissfully short, with only himself, Colonel Fitzwilliam and the Gardiners in attendance. The great fortune of having Lydia’s uncle and aunt present dispelled any rumors that may have surfaced. Procuring the license had been easy enough when the prospective groom had papers to set sail on behalf of the army. In all, the arrangements went without a flaw. The bride, resplendent in a pale blue velvet, smiled and blushed accordingly, completely oblivious to the coercive nature of the wedding itself. Having spent every cent of hundred pounds Darcy had gifted her, Lydia was just as poor as ever, but blissful in having achieved the possession of a husband. Waving the small gold circlet upon her left hand before any who neared, it was the one thing that Wickham had actually purchased himself, much to his own irritation.
“I have seen to every detail, but I demand you buy the ring. Even if it means a garnishment of future wages,” Darcy demanded in a tone that brook no refusal.
In the forty-eight hours that Wickham had lived under his roof, the man had made endless demands of not only his servants, but also Fitzwilliam’s two guards. Much had fallen upon deaf ears, prisoners were not in a position to make requests. And now, Wickham was a prisoner of another sort entirely, he was irrevocably married to Lydia. In Darcy’s opinion, there were never two people more deserving of each other. Thiers would be a marriage of utter misery, but in saving Lydia’s reputation, it left him free to pursue Elizabeth. He would provide for a carriage the entire way to Meryton, then on to Newcastle. There would be no reason to delay their departure.
*****
While Darcy was filled with a relief not to be matched, his closest friend, Charles Bingley was filled with a happiness of his own. Miss Jane Bennet had agreed to become his wife. Amid much fuss and merriment, the Bennet family, being made aware of Lydia’s wedding, now focused all their attentions upon the eldest daughter. It was to be a marriage capable of saving them all.
“Oh Jane! Now your father may die as he pleases. Mr. Bingley has enough money to see us cared for when Mr. Collins casts us into the street. I always knew you were so beautiful for a reason!” Mrs. Bennet gushed repeatedly until the embarrassment of her speech finally resulted in harsh words from her still very much alive, husband.
“Indeed, my dear, it gives me great peace, but is it necessary to announce my future demise to the entire world?”
“Mr. Bennet! Nothing you say can curtail my joy. Mr. Bingley will be the best of son-in-law’s!”
It was a stroke of pure luck that Mr. Bingley found his new family’s ways to be a source of entertainment, and he indulged every whim of his prospective mother-in-law. But the same could not be said for his sister. Miss Caroline Bingley, having returned in a sour disposition from her visit to Lord Atherton’s family estate, shared no such pleasure in her brother’s choice of bride. It was bad enough that her charms had not been enough to entice the newly widowed peer or any of his aquaintances, nor had her absence been met with any semblance of longing by anyone. Every attempt to make Darcy jealous had been for naught. He had seemed to be pleased by her interest in old Atherton. If that was not bad enough, Charles was to now marry into the wor
st sort of family. To make matters even more terrible, he had purchased an estate within walking distance. She would be forced to tolerate their company regularly. It was not to be borne. With Lord Atherton no longer a diversion, she must convince Darcy that marriage to her was his best option. Time was running swiftly out and her handsome appearance would give way to the ravages of time. She would not be called spinster by anyone! But her well laid plans had met with one disaster after another. Fortunately, no one knew that it was she who had bribed Wickham into taking Lydia away to London. It had only been logical to presume that no one would want to associate with a family embroiled in scandal. After all, the Darcys had the highest of standards, and as close friends, so did the Bingleys. At first, Charles had been terribly dismayed by the news of Lydia’s running away, but it had been out of concern for the little twit, not his own connections. The discussion between them had been rather heated, resulting in a near break of relations. Never before had Caroline seen her brother look upon her with an emotion only to be aptly called disgust. The memory of their argument still stung her pride. How could he choose some lowbred girl over his own sister?
“Caroline, you are the worst of snobs. Have you forgotten that our own father earned his money, just as grandfather before him? Often working alongside his employees? Jane is the sweetest, most kindhearted person on Earth, and I am fortunate that she deems me worthy of her affections. I shall not let anything or anyone come between us again. Not even you. Perhaps it is time that you found a home of your own? A house cannot have two mistresses, and Jane will preside at Netherfield once we marry. What happened to your friend Lord Atherton?”
Caroline’s face burned as she recalled the encounter. It had taken nearly three days of solitude before she swallowed her pride and forced herself to apologize. It was then that she discovered Darcy’s part in saving Lydia Bennet. What had possessed him to do such a thing? Surely, he did not care for that hoyden Eliza Bennet? What was polite society coming to? It was time to take more drastic measures. Sitting down to the small desk that stood abandoned in a corner of her chamber, Caroline took up a pen and began to furiously write. Darcy may not take the advice of many, but there was still one person whose attentions he dare not ignore. It was time that Lady Catherine de Bourgh learned of her nephew’s inclinations. Surely, Lady Catherine would be most appreciative of this news. Once the old lady realized that Darcy would never marry his cousin, Caroline would be a most acceptable alternative. Smiling to herself as she wrote, it was only after placing the sealing wax, that Caroline realized she had signed the letter Caroline Darcy. Quickly tearing up the mistake and tossing it into the fire, she swore softly and wrote anew. Such carelessness would not happen again.
~Twenty-four~
While Darcy felt satisfied with the outcome of current events, he remained in London for another week while the newlywed Mr. and Mrs. Wickham returned to Longbourn for a short visit before making their way to Newcastle. Although he wanted to desperately see Elizabeth Bennet, it would have to wait until the Wickham’s were gone. There was only so much that he could tolerate. As it was, he had been more than generous. However, despite the relative ease in arranging the wedding, one thing still puzzled him. It was still a mystery as to where Wickham had acquired the funds to stay in London. He had left substantial debts in both Meryton and Brighton. And due to his unapproved absence from the volunteer regiment, no pay had been issued. So, how had he managed to live for nearly three weeks with Lydia Bennet? Someone must have supported them, but who? To his knowledge, Wickham had no particular friends with that kind of money to lend. Yet when inquiries had been made, all stated that Mr. Wickham had paid in cash.
“I should like to have all my tenants be so generous. They made a handsome couple don’t you think?” the owner of the rooming house had stated. Not only had Wickham paid for the entire stay in advance, he had included an extra sovereign to ensure privacy.
“Had they any visitors?” Darcy asked.
“No…. not that I can remember. They usually kept to themselves… oh wait a moment! There was one, but she did not stay long. A dark-haired lady, very handsome. She wore a red cloak that my wife admired. Insisted I find her one just like it.”
“Did she give a name?”
“Mr. Wickham said she were his sister, but I knew better. She was well above his station, but the lady had one of those faces that brook no inquiry, so I did not ask. After all, it wasn’t none of my business, but I should remember her if I were to ever see her again.”
Darcy thanked the man and left, but not before ensuring his cooperation later if needed. It appeared that someone had helped orchestrate the entire escapade. He wondered if the accomplice knew that it had ended in marriage? Was this woman a suitor of Wickham’s? When he had abducted Georgiana, it had been with the assistance of her former governess, but that lady was long gone and had been fair haired and rather plain. No, this was someone else entirely. Someone with the means and desire to see the Bennet family ruined.
******
While Darcy pondered this mystery, the new Mrs. Wickham enjoyed all the fuss and bother that a mother could bestow upon a newly married daughter. It was only her husband and eldest daughters that watched curiously, ignorant as to how it had been accomplished. When the news of Uncle Gardiner’s arrangements had come, it was met with a mixture of relief and worry.
“Your uncle must have been very generous. Aside from the settlement of Wickham’s debts to some local merchants, Lydia is only to receive five hundred pounds as dowry from me.”
“But Papa, a commission must cost thousands.” Jane insisted.
“I am aware of that; your Uncle Gardiner must be in a better financial state than I imagined.”
“And the wedding? Lydia has a new wardrobe as well. Surely, he cannot afford so much so easily,” Elizabeth added.
“No, but he refuses to take a cent from me. Not that I have it to give. I fear that I have been remiss in my duties as a parent, both financially and morally. Lydia should never have been permitted to go to Brighton. I have only myself to blame. Please leave me be, I have a terrible headache forming from the sound of your mother’s voice.”
Elizabeth and Jane left their father to his sherry. Since Lydia’s disappearance he had begun to consume more spirits than usual and they were worried. Even with Jane’s own engagement, it had not ceased. The return of Lydia and Wickham that same week had not improved Mr. Bennet’s demeanor. If anything, it had worsened. Just that morning, Lydia had demanded a wedding celebration be held in her honor.
“My wedding was so sudden, it was impossible to invite all my friends. They simply must know that I have married. No one will notice that tiny announcement in the London papers. Mama… tell Papa it must be so.”
“Absolutely not. Your behavior was disgraceful and it will not be repeated.”
“Papa, you cannot order about a married lady.”
“This is still my home and I shall do what I choose. If that is not acceptable to any ‘married lady’, daughter of mine or not, then they may leave.”
To this, all present were silenced as Mr. Bennet took to his library and locked the door. However, once gone, Mrs. Bennet agreed to the celebration.
“Oh, he will come around. He is simply not adjusting to having his daughters marry. At least Jane will be nearby.”
“Jane’s wedding is not for months… she can wait her turn. Besides, I want to wear all my new clothes before leaving,” Lydia demanded and waved the hand bearing her ring so all might admire it again.
“Yes, and so you shall. Just give your father some time. Wherever did you get that lavender silk? Who knew your uncle had such exquisite taste, we never see Aunt Gardiner dressed so fine, but then, wherever would she wear it?”
Mrs. Bennet laughed at her own joke, not realizing the oddity of her own observation.
“Oh, Uncle Gardiner did not choose this, it was a wedding gift from Mr. Darcy. I was so disappointed that the shop did not have matching slippers. I
would have so loved to have them, but had to make do with these,” Lydia bragged as she fussed with a flounce of lace at her hem, exposing her pale pink shoes.
“Mr. Darcy? Whatever was he doing there?” Elizabeth demanded. Why had he given her sister such an expensive gift? Although it had been some time since she had thought ill of the man, it was indeed strange for him to involve himself in their troubles…and Lydia was nothing but trouble. When she had last seen him, at the Lambton inn, he had hurried away so quickly after the announcement of Lydia’s disappearance. Elizabeth, in her distress had believed that he had wished to disassociate himself with a potential scandal. Yet now, he had reappeared in a peculiar place. Prodding Lydia further, Elizabeth had to raise her voice beyond what was proper to receive a reply to her inquiry.
“Lydia! What was Mr. Darcy doing at your wedding?”
Pouting, Lydia waved her hand in dismissal. “It was supposed to be a secret, but since you insist, I may as well tell you…Mr. Darcy arranged everything… paid for everything… even my dear Wickham’s commission. He insisted.”
Elizabeth did not press further, but complimented Lydia’s dress and left the room. The discovery of Darcy’s interference…no, that was not accurate… his saving, of Lydia, and the entire Bennet family from ruin, was too much to contemplate amid the chaos of the family. What would compel him to care so much about what happened to them? Did he really love her as he once professed? Enough to prevent the taint of scandal? How was she to act with such knowledge when she encountered him again? Would she profess her thanks? No, that was impossible. He had wanted it to be a secret… but Lydia was never one to keep anything a secret. With a heavy lump forming in her middle, Elizabeth went to share the news with her father. He should know to whom he was beholden.
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