Best to get on with it. He took a fortifying breath and met the curious gazes of Elizabeth and her uncle. “Forgive me for requesting this time, as I know you are fatigued, Elizabeth, but I believe there is an important matter to address which concerns your entire family.” Mr. Gardiner and Elizabeth looked at Darcy with no little alarm.
Darcy did nothing to assuage their fears but began benignly enough. “Mr. Gardiner, I believe you travelled to Longbourn over Christmastime?” Mr. Gardiner allowed it to be so.
Darcy subtly nodded, then locked his hands behind his back and began pacing. “You undoubtedly became acquainted with a man by the name of George Wickham.” Again, Mr. Gardiner agreed. Darcy forced himself to quit pacing and settled in front of the mantle, fixing his eyes on a certain spot in the room. His disquiet was obvious.
He looked towards his boots and twisted his signet ring. “My history with Mr. Wickham is not a particularly happy one. He was the son of my father’s steward. His father was a very respectable man who served my father very well. George and I played together very often as boys. I was quite a shy lad and found it difficult to make friends or know how to be sociable in Society. George was all ease and amiability and made the way for me.
“As we grew, my father paid for George’s schooling, partly out of devotion to George’s father and partly for my sake. As we aged, I began to see a want of principle in my companion, even a vicious propensity. George Wickham cared only for his pleasure, with no regard for its effects on others. He hid this well from my father, who found Wickham’s manners engaging. My father had the highest opinion of my former playmate and intended to provide for him a living. Father particularly recommended in his will that I assist Wickham in his profession and, if he took orders, a valuable family living be given to him as soon as it was vacant.
“Wickham’s father did not long outlive my own, and Wickham soon wrote to me that he had decided against taking orders and instead requested some immediate monetary assistance, as he intended to study the law. I knew he ought not to be a clergyman and hoped, rather than believed, him sincere on the subject. He resigned all claims on the living or requesting any aid in entering the Church, and received three thousand pounds. This was in addition to the one thousand my father left him.”
Darcy intentionally paused to allow his words to settle. Elizabeth gasped, and Darcy squeezed his eyes shut. I had believed as much. Wickham undoubtedly had told her that the will was disregarded, and if the man acknowledged payment received of any sort, he would certainly never admit to receiving so much.
“All connection between us seemed now dissolved, and in Town, I believe he mostly lived free of all restraint, as studying the law was merely pretence. Three years later, after the living fell open, Wickham contacted me anew. He claimed he was now resolved to take orders and had found studying the law most unprofitable. He assured me his circumstances were exceedingly bad, and I had no difficulty in believing that. He reminded me of my father’s intentions, but when I declined to aid him further, he abused me violently to myself and others.”
Darcy glanced at Elizabeth. Her cheeks had tinged pink, and her eyes were downcast. The poor dear really must not censure herself so.
“All acquaintance was dropped until last summer. I am now to mention an event that the present circumstances induce me to share, for it demonstrates why I am certain of his hatred for me.”
Elizabeth and Mr. Gardiner watched Darcy pace again for a few moments, his eyes focused on his feet. He abruptly stopped and looked upon them with a pained expression before fixing his gaze on the wall. “My sister is more than ten years my junior and has been left in the guardianship of my cousin and myself. About a year ago, an establishment was formed for her in London. She later travelled to Ramsgate for a holiday. Wickham also went by design, as Georgiana’s companion proved to be his accomplice in his most recent plot.
“Georgiana has a very affectionate heart and recalled Wickham’s kindness to her as a child. I did not foresee that he would take his desire to harm me so far. I had believed disabusing Georgiana of her misconceptions of Wickham might harm her opinion of my father. I could not ruin her sensibilities, and between my protection and hired chaperonage, I believed she would be safe from exposure to such men. I allowed her to remain in ignorance of his true nature. I blame myself for the near success in his depraved plan.”
With obvious disgust in his voice and on his face, Darcy explained, “Wickham, with the aid of her companion, was able to persuade Georgiana that she was in love and to consent to an elopement.” He heard sharp intakes of breath, and he resumed pacing. “I thwarted the plan by unexpectedly joining them a day before their intended departure, and Georgiana could not bear to grieve or offend me and acknowledged the whole to me.”
Darcy could scarcely bear the pain of his next confession. It is entirely my fault; I failed to protect her! “Wickham’s motive was unquestionably my sister’s fortune of thirty thousand pounds, but I believe he operated under an inducement to exact revenge as well.”
He stopped pacing and looked at his companions. Mr. Gardiner appeared quite distressed at the news, and Elizabeth was silently crying. He crossed towards her and offered his handkerchief. He desired to comfort her in his arms but was sensible to Mr. Gardiner’s presence.
“I share this not to alarm or criticise either of you. Detection would not be within your power, and suspicion is not in your nature. I worry about his desire for revenge, not only on myself but also on those I care for. I understand Elizabeth has been a favourite of his as well. At the very least, he could see an opportunity for financial gain through our marriage and perhaps very much more.”
Elizabeth looked up at Darcy, her face showing puzzlement as to his meaning. He smiled at her innocence. Though she was a clever woman, she was not inclined to think too meanly of the world and assign scheming motives to anyone. He expected no less from this lady who was so tender-hearted as to walk three miles in mud to nurse her sister, ill with a mere cold, all whilst knowing she would only gain censure from several of her hosts.
He looked tenderly at her. “Elizabeth, you have younger sisters who are…ah…more outgoing than Georgiana and …generally uninhibited, whose natures are even less likely to form distrust than you are. Wickham could attempt another elopement or marriage, with the expectation of profit, or he might even tarnish one of their reputations, and hence your whole family name, for the sheer satisfaction of revenge against me.”
Darcy sighed. He felt he had no one to blame but himself. “I should have made his character more generally known, but I was loath to lay my private affairs open to the public. As no woman in Hertfordshire had great income, I believed the ladies were safe. You mentioned he is paying considerable attention to a local lady. Has the lady recently inherited a fortune?”
Understanding dawned on Elizabeth. “Yes, Mary King just inherited ten thousand pounds. She can have no idea of his true character!” she cried in alarm.
“If my fears are correct, then he shall soon bestow his attentions on another, in hopes of an even more profitable enterprise.”
“Are you certain he hates you so much?” Mr. Gardiner broke in. “He hates you enough to design against a girl who is by no means unprotected and friendless just for revenge, with little hope for profit?”
Darcy tried to veil his exasperation. “Undoubtedly, he would hope for money; however, revenge will do nicely for him. Elizabeth, ask yourself how he first approached you.”
Elizabeth furrowed her brow in confusion. “It was at my Aunt Phillips’ card party, the day after we met him.”
“And he sought you out? Did he bestow such attention on any other lady?”
She nodded. “Yes, he sought me out. He was amiable to everyone but conversed most unguardedly with me, and for a longer length of time.”
“Is this where he first defamed my honour?” In hopes of not implying condemnation, he used a gentle tone.
Elizabeth blushed and bent her head in sham
e. “Yes.”
“You had little time to be very encouraging during your first meeting,” he continued with his softened tone. “I saw you observe my notice of Wickham on the street, and I am certain you were curious. How fortunate that he should have answers to all the questions you wished to ask but, of course, were too proper to do so.”
Elizabeth sharply raised her head. “You believe he applied to my goodwill by design?”
“Yes, he saw my admiration for you. He knows me too well.”
“And he sought me out just to destroy any good opinion I might have of you?” Elizabeth asked with indignation.
“I believe so.”
Darcy saw the very moment Elizabeth’s thoughts turned from self-censure to concern for her family. “But what is to be done? How can we work on such a man? I have little hope of my father taking the trouble to check my sisters’ exuberant spirits. As dear as he is to me, I recognise he is indolent and gives little attention to what is going on in the family. He is content to laugh at their wild giddiness, and my mother is entirely insensible of the evil. My sisters have never been taught to think on serious subjects and have been allowed to dispose of their time in amusement and vanity. Ever since the militia arrived, nothing but love, flirtation, and officers have been in their heads!”
The three sat in silence for several minutes before Darcy addressed Mr. Gardiner. “Sir, I have some ideas on how to protect your—our—family, but I fear I might not be the best to address Mr. Bennet. I hope you can assist me.”
“Certainly, sir. It is growing late. Might we discuss your plans on the morrow, before you depart for Hertfordshire? Is Lizzy to go with you?”
Darcy looked towards Elizabeth, who was obviously pleased at his display of deference. She answered, “Yes, I think it shall be best. Although Mrs. Collins’ maid is to remain with her family in London, Jane has agreed to travel with us.”
Mr. Gardiner nodded. “Very well.” He narrowed his eyes and gave them both a discerning look. “We shall be more than happy to have you return for another visit before your wedding, Lizzy. But what am I thinking? Courting in Hertfordshire should be delightful with my sister and other nieces as most attentive chaperones.”
His tease made Elizabeth blush, but Darcy looked rather alarmed. Winking at Darcy, Mr. Gardiner laughed and added, “I quite like your young man.”
After glancing at the clock, the party agreed it best to part for the evening. Mr. Gardiner and Mr. Darcy agreed on a time to meet again in the morning to conduct their business; then the older gentleman left the couple alone in the hall as he lingered just inside his study doorway.
Darcy glanced over his shoulder to ensure their privacy before he addressed Elizabeth. “Perhaps we should consider your uncle’s generosity. I had not mentioned it earlier, but I intend to write Bingley as soon as I return home tonight and ask him to open up Netherfield for my use and suggest he return as well. He may not receive it, however, for I am uncertain if he is even in Town. Even if he can return to Netherfield, I cannot stay in Hertfordshire for long. As much as I love your company, I cannot neglect my affairs in Town, or my sister. Additionally, I would need to return to London to meet with my solicitor. If it is possible, I should like you to return to London for some of our courtship.”
Elizabeth merely nodded.
Darcy reached for her hands. “It has been an exhausting day that has brought many changes, but I must tell you again how happy I am at our betrothal.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but Darcy interrupted, “It is well, darling. I realise my actions must have confused you greatly. You certainly were not expecting my addresses, but I believe we have a good foundation for now, and we shall build upon it.”
His affectionate gaze never left her tired and slightly swollen eyes, which he still found irresistibly beautiful. “Sleep well, my love.” He raised her hands to his lips and gave them a gentle kiss. Upon hearing her gasp, he tore his eyes from hers, entranced by her perfectly pink lips. Finally noticing her blush, he gave her a shy but pleased smile and released her hands. After a quick bow, he turned and departed for his home.
Chapter Four
Monday, March 30, 1812 continued
London
Elizabeth sat at the desk in her room at the Gardiner residence. She had lain awake in bed and tried to sleep for hours. Her body was exhausted from the tension of the day, but her mind refused to allow her to rest. Repeatedly, she told herself that she was too tired to think clearly and that it was unnecessary to find all the answers tonight, but to no avail.
Finally, she had decided to light a candle and write down the facts as she now knew them. As was her habit when attempting to solve a puzzle, she soon found herself speaking her thoughts aloud.
“My primary complaints have been removed: Mr. Wickham is a scoundrel of the first order, and Mr. Darcy desired to help Mr. Bingley. He is now attempting to correct that wrong.”
She paused and thought of the beginning of their acquaintance, then coloured in recollection of her obvious prejudice. “Just yesterday, I believed him arrogant, conceited, and selfishly disdainful of the feelings of others.”
Elizabeth muttered to herself while forming columns and scribbling notes. “Arrogant...he presumed to know Jane’s heart and what was best for Mr. Bingley. Conceited...he refused to even dance at the first assembly he attended in Meryton. Selfish disdain...he cares not that others are uncomfortable in his silence and apparent disapproval.”
The agitation of her mind caused her penmanship to suffer; her paper contained several uncharacteristic blots, which resulted in an ink-stained hand. Elizabeth laid her pen to rest, leant back against the chair, and rubbed her forehead with her clean hand while squeezing her eyes shut. She had recited it all in her mind dozens of times before, but instantly, his defence of her against his aunt echoed in her ears. “He declared us equals; he said my connections did not concern him. He demanded his aunt respect me.”
She compared her lineage with his. Her father was a rather indolent country squire, her mother had connections in trade, albeit a respectable business, and her maternal grandfather was only a country lawyer. Her father’s estate was sufficiently profitable, but would go to a distant cousin. Additionally, she had a meagre dowry. Mr. Darcy was the grandson of an earl, nephew to one of the most well-respected and wealthy peers, and his reported wealth was enormous. Equals?
“Can he be so arrogant if he desires a union with me?”
Next, his words of apology when he learned of Jane’s love for Mr. Bingley flooded her memory. “I must allow he was almost unbearably honest. I have already conceded his concerns were reasonable, if ill-founded, and that Jane did not openly display her attachment. The way he accepted my opinion and apologised, moreover, had no conceit in it.”
Making the note on her page, she thought again on Darcy’s behaviour the night of the assembly. Only last night at Rosings, though it seemed a lifetime ago, he claimed to find it difficult to speak with strangers. At the time, she interpreted that to mean he simply did not care enough to take notice of others’ concerns and be amiable, and she had charged him to practice. Now she realised that he was shy and reserved. His mother had died young and left him with a father who, no matter how upstanding, must have been of little help to a boy of such a nature.
“He might have judged better and danced at the first assembly in Meryton. Certainly, he should have not said the very words that created my dislike for him, but I do not know of him being truly uncivil.” While lacking warmth and animation, he was never uncivil. He asked for her hand for a set at Lucas Lodge when prompted by Sir William. Her mother blatantly insulted him upon her visit at Netherfield during Jane’s convalescence, and he did not return the treatment.
“Even during all of my mocking words and thinly veiled attacks on his character, he remained civil. And he was rather attentive to my aunt and uncle this evening.”
Remembrances of the evening, particularly the enlightening conversation ab
out Mr. Wickham, invaded her consciousness. Recalling Darcy’s expressions during the conversation, she realised what he truly sought was preserving her tranquillity of mind. Had he been as arrogant or hateful as she previously believed, he would have only cared to protect his name or avenge himself. Of neither Darcy nor Wickham could she think without feeling she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, and absurd, and she grew thoroughly ashamed anew.
“How despicably I have acted!” she cried;, “I say Jane is too trusting and yet I believed Wickham on nothing more than fine words. How vain I have been! Convinced as I was of my powers of discernment, I drove all reason away to support my prejudices. Till this moment, I never knew myself.”
What had seemed like high-handedness earlier in the day now shone in a new light. Mr. Darcy had great foresight and was not afraid to undertake any task necessary to accomplish his goals. He bore all the traits an experienced leader must harbour. He knew his weaknesses and was unafraid to ask for help, nor was he too proud to accept assistance from a man in trade. She marvelled at his abilities, and at such a young age. While most young men were still enjoying Society, he had raised, nearly on his own, a much younger sister and presided over a vast estate. Undoubtedly, there were smaller holdings and investments, and there was a house in Town to manage as well.
Elizabeth recollected the ingratiating deference Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst showed towards Darcy, the obsequious behaviour of Mr. Collins, the obvious scheming of her own mother, the clear machinations of his own aunt, and the outrageous abuse of benevolence and friendship by Mr. Wickham. Not one of them showed him any attention but for their own devices. And that was only some of the behaviour she had witnessed. Elizabeth could easily imagine even more shocking treatment by Society at large.
Compromising Mr. Darcy Page 5