Wild Goose Chase

by Sophie Lynbrook

  “And she is packing already,” Mr. Bingley said with approval. “I have always admired her sisterly devotion. Do you remember how attentive she was when Miss Bennet was ill at Netherfield?”

  “I do indeed.” How could he forget that time when it had taken a great effort to hide his own rapidly-growing feelings? He had been less than polite to her because he had been trying to deny them to himself.

  “The affection between them is charming. I am sure that Miss Bennet will feel better once she has Miss Elizabeth to comfort her.”

  “Unfortunately, Miss Elizabeth is probably not going home just yet. There is something else which she feels requires her attention first. She and I have discussed this situation, and we are in agreement that the gentleman is not likely to marry her sister.”

  “Not marry her! Why would you think that?”

  “Because he is Mr. Wickham. Knowing him so well, I have excellent reasons for doubting his intentions.”

  “But then why on earth has he eloped with her?”

  “I do not know. It might have suited his purposes in some way. What I do know is that Mr. Wickham desires to marry for money. To tell the truth, he once made an effort to gain Georgiana’s affections for that reason.”

  “Did he? But she is so young. That does not give me any good idea of his character.”

  “There is nothing good about his character in my opinion. Mr. Wickham has been selfish all his life, and now he will drag the Bennets down with him.”

  “This is dastardly,” Mr. Bingley said angrily. “Quite despicable. The whole family will be ruined by his actions. It is most unfair.” His voice trailed off.

  Mr. Darcy glanced at him and saw that he was pale. “Very unfair,” he agreed.

  Mr. Bingley was quiet for a moment, and then he said, “Of course, Miss Lydia is just as much to blame for her reprehensible part in this. I never gave enough credit to your opinion about the younger sisters’ behaviour. This proves that you were right to be concerned about the damage they could do to their family’s reputation.”

  “Apparently I was.” Mr. Darcy’s tone was bitter. He could not feel any triumph in having been proven correct.

  “And your advice to me last autumn was certainly astute.”

  “I suppose it was,” Mr. Darcy agreed languidly. He was not feeling certain about anything.

  There was another moment of silence, and then Mr. Bingley said,” Yet I cannot help feeling that if I had married Miss Bennet, this would not have made me regret it. In a way, I wish that I had married her. Then I could be comforting her right now. Indeed, I feel as though I let her down.” After a little pause, he added, “But I am forgetting that her feelings were not the same as mine.”

  Mr. Darcy could not let this comment pass. He had not yet revealed the truth, but failure to do so now would be no better than a lie. He would rather be honest and accept the consequences. “I believe I was incorrect in giving you that impression. Indeed, I know that I was. Completely wrong in fact. Something which Miss Elizabeth said has made it clear to me that Miss Bennet really had the greatest affection for you.”

  “She did?” Bingley’s face lit up for a moment, and then he looked downcast again. “If that was the case, she must have been deeply hurt when I did not return to Netherfield. She probably thought that I did not care for her. Perhaps even that I was toying with her all along.”

  Mr. Darcy did not know what to say to this. Elizabeth had already told him that he had ruined her sister’s happiness. That guilt had been on his mind since the spring, yet he had not done anything about it.

  “I did care a great deal for her,” Bingley said. “I believed that we could be very happy together despite her connections. That was never as important to me as it was to you and my sisters.”

  “No, it was not.”

  “I understand that such a connection would be impossible for somebody like you, but I have not the same standing to uphold as you do.”

  These words were like a knife in Mr. Darcy’s heart.

  “I really do wish that I had not been swayed by your advice. I do not blame you for giving it. Your reasons were sound, and you were motived by concern for me. It is just that I have never stopped loving her, nor do I think that I ever will.”

  “I rather thought you had not.”

  They had reached the stables now. While Mr. Darcy gave his instructions, his friend stood looking at the assortment of carriages which were stored there.

  “Where is Miss Elizabeth intending to go if not to Longbourn?” he asked when Mr. Darcy joined him.

  “To Gretna Green. She hopes to discover her sister and Mr. Wickham for the purpose of ensuring that a marriage does take place, and I have promised to pay him off.”

  “That is decent of you.”

  “It is what I ought to do.”

  “So the family may not be ruined.”

  “Perhaps not. I do not know what her chances are of finding them. It is possible that the couple have gone elsewhere, but I do think the effort worthwhile.”

  “It does make sense to try, but Miss Bennet will be disappointed by the delay in her sister’s return. I suppose Miss Elizabeth will send her a letter to explain.”

  “I expect so. We did not discuss that subject.”

  Mr. Bingley was again quiet. Then he suddenly said, “Would you be willing to lend me your curricle? I know you will not approve, but I want to go to Longbourn. I can deliver Miss Elizabeth’s letter for her, and at the same time, my visit will show Miss Bennet that all her friends will not repudiate her because of this affair.”

  Mr. Darcy stopped walking and turned to face his friend. “You must realize that there is a good chance Miss Elizabeth will not be successful in this quest.”

  “I do, but I really do not care. I did not care what Miss Bennet’s circumstances were before, but I allowed myself to be talked out of following my own heart. Your advice is well-meant, but I cannot follow it any more. You need not lend me the curricle if this goes so strongly against your principles, but I will get to Longbourn one way or another.”

  Principles? Mr. Darcy really could not make a case that standing in the way of love was a matter of principle. And his friend was obviously very much in love, with his heart firmly set upon one lady regardless of her situation. A bit like his own heart really.

  “Of course you may have the curricle,” he said, turning back toward the stables. “I shall have it readied for you immediately. And Bingley, for what it is worth, I admire your principles. A man who will stand by his friends in a time of trouble is a man whom I am proud to know.”

  “To be honest, I am not just thinking of friendship. I expect you will think me a complete fool if I offer for Miss Bennet now, with her situation being so much worse than it ever was, but that is what I want to do.”

  “No, I do not think you a fool,” he said. “Reckless perhaps, but I admire you for being bolder than I am.”

  “Bold,” Mr. Bingley said dubiously. “I am not sure about that. I dread telling Caroline and Louisa where I am going.”

  “Then do not. Leave it for me to explain after you have left.” It was the least he could do after having caused so much damage in the past.

  “And you called me bold,” Mr. Bingley said with a laugh.

  CHAPTER 9

  Elizabeth had gone up the stairs rather slowly, thinking of the effect her news must have had on Mr. Darcy. She had not been surprised to see distaste in his expression. He had been kind and quite helpful, but she had known that at the same time he was forming fresh disgust for her family.

  The past three days had made her think that he was becoming more capable of tolerance, but this was too much for him to overlook. Nor could she blame him for being horrified by Lydia’s behaviour. She shared that feeling, only it was combined with bitter humiliation.

  He would certainly never make her another offer now. She almost wished they had not come to Pemberley. If they had not developed this recent friendship, she would not have g
iven much, if any, thought to his reaction to her family’s disgrace. But now, that was the worst of the business. In the moment when she had seen him blanch, she had known that her own feelings were far from what they used to be.

  Still, she could not regret having had the opportunity to know him better. Their paths would diverge from this point, which was cause for sorrow, but she would be happy to remember him as gracious and affable.

  There was no chance that Mr. Bingley would renew his attentions to Jane either. Since yesterday, Elizabeth had been feeling that it was a distinct possibility. His feelings had been obvious in his frequent references to her sister, and Mr. Darcy had witnessed these without any sign of objection, which had increased her confidence.

  But now that was all gone. Whatever he might have been thinking yesterday, now he would feel the necessity of warning his friend away even more strongly than he had done before. Even if he did not, Mr. Bingley’s sisters would certainly do so.

  By the time she reached the top of the stairs, Elizabeth was feeling angry with Lydia for being so selfish, with her mother for having encouraged foolishness, and even with her father for having disregarded her own advice that Lydia could not be trusted in Brighton.

  “Being there may teach her of her own insignificance,” he had said.

  Elizabeth had doubted that. Lydia was too much inclined to think of herself. Even now, when her family was facing disgrace, she was no doubt extremely pleased with herself for having caught a husband, and probably thinking the whole affair a great joke. Having ruined Jane’s chances would not give her a moment’s concern.

  Elizabeth went directly to Mrs. Gardiner’s room, where the joint effort at packing had already produced results. In the time which she had taken to speak to Mr. Darcy, the cases, which had been taken away after being unpacked yesterday, had been fetched, and they were very nearly full.

  On seeing her niece, Mrs. Gardiner left the room at once, and they went into Elizabeth’s room, where she saw that her own cases were sitting ready. The servants had been quick, presumably on the instructions of Miss Darcy, or perhaps Mrs. Annesley, who had already struck her as an efficient lady.

  “I am sorry to have kept you in suspense,” she said. “I met Mr. Darcy in the hall, and I wanted to explain things to him while there was an opportunity, or else I would not have left you wondering.”

  “I had the comfort of having heard you say that your news was not dire,” her aunt replied, “but I must admit that I was greatly desiring to know what news necessitated an express letter.”

  “It is quite dreadful news actually. Lydia, in all her foolishness, has gone and eloped.”

  “Oh, the stupid girl,” Mrs. Gardiner said. “Whatever possessed her to do something so ridiculous? There was no need for it. Your father would not have denied her any reasonable offer.”

  “No, I do not think he would have done.”

  “She is so heedless of the effect this will have upon her family.”

  “Lydia has never been much inclined to think of consequences, and she has no proper comprehension of the world.”

  “No, I suppose she does not, but the gentleman in the case must be very foolish.

  “Apparently so, and he is equally selfish. She has run off with Mr. Wickham, who has no means to support a wife, as you will recall.”

  “Mr. Wickham? I would not have thought him so foolish. They will have almost nothing to live on, or worse if his actions have destroyed his standing in the regiment. What could he have been thinking?”

  “That is a very good question.”

  “It is not at all logical. I know you disliked my use of the word mercenary last spring, but his sudden pursuit of Miss King after learning of her inheritance was evidence that he cares more about money than affection.”

  “I might have protested the word at the time,” Elizabeth said, “but now I think it a very apt choice. I happen to know that Mr. Wickham’s interest lies in marrying for financial advantage. His efforts in that direction have not been successful, but I do not think he would give up so easily or settle for somebody with so little as Lydia has. For that reason, I am greatly concerned that he does not really intend to marry her.”

  Mrs. Gardiner heard this opinion with horror. This ruination of her least favourite niece was distressing enough to contemplate, but the effect that it would have on her two favourite ones was her primary concern. Things had been looking so hopeful for both of them. A little observation had convinced her that Mr. Darcy was in love with Elizabeth, and that she was not disinterested in his attentions.

  She had also seen, through his conversation and the animated expression which had accompanied it, that Mr. Bingley was very much in love with Jane. His reaction to learning of her visit to London had been most interesting. She had heard the regret in his voice.

  Feeling very indignant about his sisters’ deception, she had only just refrained from revealing that they had known. It was not her desire to cause strife between siblings, and if his feelings were strong enough, then exposing Miss Bingley’s duplicity should not be necessary. It would have given her some satisfaction, however. Jane had spent months believing that he knew of her presence in town and still chose not to visit.

  Last night it had seemed likely that her disappointment might yet come to a happy end. Was that prospect now to be destroyed by the foolishness of a reckless sister?

  There was only one hope to hold on to. “It does seem strange that he would have run away with Lydia if he did not want to marry her,” she said.

  “It does,” her niece conceded, “but I do have very good reasons for my doubts, and Mr. Darcy is inclined to agree that they are not unfounded.”

  “Mr. Darcy?” Even though Mrs. Gardiner had observed the pair of them getting along extremely well, she was still surprised to learn that her niece had taken him into her confidence. “You have told him what was in your letter?”

  “His discretion can be trusted,” Elizabeth said without explaining how she had come to engage in such a personal conversation, “and I found it useful to hear his opinion. He thinks that there might be a chance of catching them if my uncle is willing to make the pursuit.”

  “I am sure Mr. Gardiner is willing to do anything which may benefit your family, but what do you hope to accomplish? Have you considered that if you are wrong about Mr. Wickham’s intentions, we might do more harm than good by preventing a marriage at this point.”

  “I quite agree, which is why I do not mean to prevent it, much as I wish that were possible. I wish to ensure that it does take place, and if I am correct about him, then we may find ourselves in the position of having to compel him to marry her. It is a degrading prospect, and I very much dislike asking you and my uncle to play any part in it, but as you say, a marriage is necessary at this point.”

  “I would like to hope that he will not have to be compelled, but if it comes to that, we may find him uncooperative."

  “We may indeed, but there is one thing we might use to our advantage. Mr. Darcy believes that Mr. Wickham is likely to have some substantial debts. He could be hoping that my father will give him some assistance in paying them.”

  “How reprehensible of him. Both to incur such debts and to expect somebody else to cover them.”

  “I am afraid that he is a reprehensible person. Mr. Darcy, however, is quite the opposite. He insists upon covering Mr. Wickham’s debts as long as he marries Lydia.”

  “Does he? That is good of him.”

  “Yes, it is. I am afraid that I have never done him justice until now. I do greatly regret having believed everything that Mr. Wickham told me about him, especially that story about the living which I related to you.”

  “I suppose you are now going to tell me that it was not all true.”

  “No, it was not. When I was in Kent, Mr. Darcy explained to me that Mr. Wickham did not want the living and requested a generous settlement instead. He had no grounds for complaint.”

  Mrs. Gardiner recalled
how she had once feared that Elizabeth would fall in love with Mr. Wickham. While she was relieved that had not happened, she never would have guessed that Mr. Darcy could have anything to do with that outcome. And this showed that he had also taken Elizabeth into his confidence as long ago as the spring. It was all very interesting.

  “I now feel quite ashamed of having liked Mr. Wickham when I met him at Christmas,” she said.

  “Never mind,” Elizabeth said. “You cannot be even half as ashamed as I felt for having believed everything he said when it was all a lie. He encouraged me to think ill of Mr. Darcy, who has turned out to be a much better man than I comprehended, and now he apparently thinks nothing of dragging my family down with him.”

  “We shall do what we can,” Mrs. Gardiner promised. “I am certain that your uncle will agree.”

  Mr. Gardiner arrived in another moment, and after hearing the story, he did agree that they should go to Gretna Green.

  “We might be able to take them back to London with us and arrange for a proper wedding, albeit a very quiet and hasty one. That will be marginally better than a marriage over the anvil, and I think your father will prefer it.”

  “I am sure he will.”

  “I suppose it will be impossible for Mr. Wickham to return to his regiment, but perhaps I can help him to find some position in London.”

  “And somewhere inexpensive to live,” his wife added practically.

  “Yes, they are not likely to have much money, but we will be able see them respectably settled.

  “That would be nice,” Elizabeth said but in a doubtful voice. She had little confidence that either of the pair would make much effort to be respectable.

  Her uncle patted her on the arm. “We shall do all we can to make the best of a bad business,” he said comfortingly.

  His concern for her was consoling, and she felt the relief of having such sensible and generous relatives. “Unfortunately, this will be spoiling your holiday.” She sighed. “I am sorry that you should have to suffer because Lydia is thoughtless.”