Pemberley

by Kirsten Bij't Vuur

  'I don't mind your sister's presence that much, my love, she has grown a lot.

  Or maybe I have grown a lot.'

  'My mother's absence makes a difference, too, you know. She and Lydia bring out the worst in each other. But Lydia has undoubtedly grown, I think you are as admirable as you always were, meaning very. Oh, all right, maybe you have gained a little sense of humour.'

  'And lost a load of arrogance and presumption, dearest Elizabeth. You know I used to be rather annoying, you told me at length.'

  'So I did, as I remember all too well. No doubt we have all grown, including George Wickham. I am going to visit him right after breakfast to get it over with as quickly as possible. Then we can take a little breather until the next unexpected visitor is announced. Maybe that stable boy from Newcastle, looking for a job after all?'

  'Oh, I'd hire him in a second, a horseman born that one, whatever colour he wears.'

  'Mr Hugo would either strangle him within a week, or adore him instantly.

  I'm afraid it would be the first, that boy did have a head on his shoulders.'

  'I suppose a true horseman always has a streak of wilfulness, it comes with

  laying one's will on a creature the size of a horse. Think of Mrs Norman. Bob really is the exception, and I suppose that is only at first glance, and towards us. I'm hungry, let's go have a bite to eat. You will take your father along, won't you? I still don't trust Wickham altogether, and who better to ascertain his good behaviour than his father-in-law?'

  'I will bring papa but not Lydia, though she'll want to come along. We cannot talk freely with Lydia there, so I'm afraid you will be stuck with her for the duration of our visit. I'm not even planning to tell her where we're going, she is probably aching to see her adored husband, she won't understand.

  Wickham wouldn't even welcome her, I guess, I suppose he has places to visit and people to see, from his past.'

  'He was here more often than I used to be in our late teens and early twenties, in hindsight I guess making friends with Georgiana was a powerful motive to sometimes forgo on the pleasures of town. Though neither London nor Cambridge would have had much entertainment to offer without sufficient funds to pay for it. I suppose a man like Wickham would know where to find amusements anywhere, and his connection to Pemberley gained him credit here, a privilege he abused right up to our final falling out. Since I still didn't publicly discredit him, not even after his failed elopement with Georgie, I suppose I may have to take care of some bills as soon as he is off to Kent.'

  That merely added another item to Elizabeth's list of things to discuss with Wickham, she'd make sure he paid his own expenses or she would see to the public denouncement herself. Without mentioning Georgiana. His past debts were public knowledge, few people would give him credit in the first place, the rumours circulating about the younger Wickham were as dubious as his father's reputation had been free of blemish.

  'You think I should send someone to warn him we're coming?'

  'Frankly, I like the thought of your visit being a big surprise. The look on his face will be worth the risk of finding him out of the house. What could he be doing just after breakfast? All the land is mine for miles, his friend is allowed to hunt because he was a valued help to my father but that privilege does not extend to his house guests and everyone knows that. And on a Wednesday other people have work to do.'

  'I like the idea of surprising him, too. No warning then. Papa will prefer that as well.'

  After a pleasant breakfast Elizabeth escaped from the house with her father

  under the pretence of going for a ride. Which they did, Mr Bennet on a borrowed horse and Elizabeth on her own faithful Barley. They brought halters and lead ropes for the horses instead of an attendant, this was to be a private visit, they'd picket the horses if the old hunt master didn't have a paddock to put them up for an hour or so.

  Elizabeth knew where to find the old hunt master's house, and she was planning to make a nice detour to show her father some of the countryside on their way over. She could tell her father was impressed by the beautiful grounds, but when he finally spoke up it turned out not just by the wealth his daughter had married into.

  'Remember how you never wanted to ride a horse when you were still a girl?

  I thought they frightened you, but seeing you sitting that beautiful creature I realise you were meant to be a horsewoman, just not as society tried to force you. Though you rode that lady's saddle well enough, my dear Lizzy, this is quite another thing. A real hunter, with more than a little Arab in him, and yet together you seem like a centaur out of the old Greek mythology, not a mere horse and rider at all. I am so incredibly proud of you.'

  'Why thank you, papa, that is quite a compliment coming from you. I thought you were merely rendered silent by the overwhelming wealth of my husband.'

  'The one I advised you not to marry. Well, that, too. But one large property is much like the other, it looks much as I had imagined, just on a larger scale and more prosperous than I expected this far north. Whereas I only have one favourite daughter, and I'm glad you had the excellent sense to marry a man who wants you to just be yourself. Who is proud of you riding a hunter astride, and rightfully so. Have you already partaken in a real hunt?'

  'Certainly, a fox hunt. It was very exciting, very fast with several challenging jumps. Barley took them without hesitation, Mrs Norman trained him well, Fitzwilliam would never risk my neck having me ride a badly trained horse.

  Barley looks very temperamental but he is in fact very obedient. And I've had plenty of lessons myself, I do think I am a good rider by now, though I've seen better horsemen near Newcastle and Mrs Norman here makes me look like a beginner.'

  'Well, I'm glad your husband lets you risk your neck in a safe way. You were never meant to sit indoors all day, dear Lizzy, though you like sewing well enough, I guess. You'll have plenty of opportunity to do that the coming fall and winter, better make the most of this spring and summer. And don't stop doing these things once your baby is born, just leave the little thing with

  someone you trust and get back on your horse as soon as the midwife says you can. Or better, as soon as it feels right to you, some midwives would prefer to swaddle the mother as well as the child.'

  'Thank you for the suggestion, papa, I'll ask Mrs Norman how she got started again after giving birth. There is something else she might be pleased to know, I don't think she wants a brood of children either, she loves her work too much.'

  'You did change, Lizzy, for I suppose this Mrs Norman is someone who works in your stables?'

  'Not exactly, her father is the only farmer hereabouts who is not Fitzwilliam's tenant and she is very independent indeed. Her husband does work in our stables, but she trains the hunters her father breeds.'

  'Still, she is a farmer's daughter and yet you take advice from her. And give some as well, I take it you have somehow discovered a way to keep from bearing child after child? If you hadn't, I would have had to tell you, Mrs Annesley's orders. She found out too late, she says, and she sometimes informs others, people she knows would welcome the knowledge. She instructed me to tell you, as you are thinking of telling this Mrs Norman.'

  That was so kind of her, and such an embarrassing task for Elizabeth's father.

  Before Elizabeth could ask how they had resolved their possible misunderstanding, something she felt she should do but didn't really want to, they had reached their destination, and Elizabeth decided she'd take a man's stance and just not mention the subject until her father brought it up.

  She considered trying the door before tying up the horses but decided against it, she was Mrs Darcy, she could make free with a patch of grass to let the horses graze whilst they talked to Wickham, she did not need permission to do so, and if Wickham was out, they would just take a break to let the horses graze, then tighten their cinches and exchange halters for bridles once more and they would return at another time.

  Ten minutes later, they knocke
d on the modest door of a modest cottage, freshly painted in a modest leaf green.

  An elderly woman dressed in a very practical apron and cap opened the door, and nearly fainted when she saw a lady and a gentleman standing before her, both dressed smartly, though they had obviously adapted their dress for riding. The woman curtsied surprisingly elegantly for her age and size, but didn't say a word.

  'Good morning, ma'am, I'm Mrs Darcy and this is my father, Mr Bennet. Is

  Lieutenant Wickham in? We would like to talk to him for a few moments. He is my brother-in-law, you see.'

  The look of awe on the woman's face deepened, then made way for obvious affection. This elderly woman liked George Wickham a lot, it would be interesting to hear what his connection was to the old hunt master's wife.

  'It's miss, actually, my lady. I'm old Jacob's housekeeper, not his wife. People often make that mistake but I tell you, if he'd married me I'd have set him straight quite a few years ago, that ne'er-do-good. Oh, he's got a handsome pension from your Mr Darcy's father, and he may hunt for his own larder, but if young George hadn't stepped in and painted that door and the shutters with his own hands, and during his leave as well since he has to go and fight the French, well, you'd know that of course since you say he is your brother-in-law. Well, anyway, if young George hadn't done the painting for lazy old Jacob, that door and those shutters would still be peeling old paint and looking like a disgrace and with you standing right in front of them. That would never have happened if he'd married me years back, as he should have.

  But he never did ask so I married another, I never had a lack of suitors, you know, but my Bill died and with the children gone off to town I thought, why not keep house for Jacob, seeing as two is a lot less lonely than one. But still he won't marry me.

  Now please come in, George will be pleased to have the attention from the big house, he used to be the late Mr Darcy's favourite, God rest his soul, such a good man that was. I suppose George'd rather have stayed at the house with his little wife but we're mighty glad to have him to ourselves for a few days.

  It's been years, you see, and he always was a special boy to Jacob as well.'

  Elizabeth didn't mind the elderly woman's rambling and of course papa was tickled, so they merely wiped their feet on a decent floor mat and entered the little cottage. Excepting the scale, it looked like Earl Compton's London house: the furniture was at least fifteen years out of date and old-to-ancient weapons were the preferred ornaments. Hunting blades, old muskets and even a convoluted-looking large bow adorned the walls, though old Jacob also seemed to like his taxidermy. If he'd done those foxes, hares and several beautiful birds of prey himself, he was an artist as much as Mrs Annesley or Mrs Brewer, for they looked as if they could run or fly away at any moment.

  And whereas the house was a little shabby, except for the freshly painted door, there was not a speck of dust on either furniture, ornamental weaponry or stuffed wildlife. A spotted fawn standing behind an old-fashioned but

  comfortable chair now drew her attention, she could have sworn it would soon see her and hide, but of course it was also stuffed.

  'It was a late fawn, born in fall instead of spring, Jacob shot the mother and only then noticed the little kid. It wouldn't have had a chance to survive winter anyway, nature can be cruel even to the beautiful and the helpless, so he took its life and decided to have its innocent beauty preserved to remind him to always be respectful of his fellow creatures.'

  It was Wickham, of course, coming towards them with a mixture of delight and pain written all over his face.

  'Mrs Darcy, you honour me with your presence!'

  Elizabeth would have shaken his hand, but he took hers and kissed it gallantly. He did release her hand quickly enough and kept a proper distance.

  'I never thought you'd visit me here, frankly I thought you'd avoid seeing me altogether, and rightfully so. I'm sorry to have repaid your kindness so shabbily, Mrs Darcy.'

  George Wickham, taking responsibility for something he did? Was this really happening?

  'We're brother and sister, Lieutenant Wickham, why should I not wish to visit you when you are in the neighbourhood? I'm ready to leave the past behind us and I hope you are, too.'

  'Thank you so much. I will not disappoint you again, I assure you.'

  Now he looked at Elizabeth's father and some of his usual charm returned.

  'Mr Bennet, so good to see you, and such a long way from home. Have you checked out the library, yet?'

  'Oh, yes, I have. Nearly got lost, too. Fortunately I had a guide, for my son-in-law was too busy with his guests to rescue me.'

  Now Wickham gained even more animation and observed, 'I can imagine!

  I've heard one of them is a very important man from the west, a Lord Chester.'

  Papa was almost as smart as Lord Chester, he knew his daughter and son-in-law would be curious whether the staff had kept their silence about him actually being Prince George, and it seemed they had.

  'Now tell me how you are, Wickham, and be honest about it. You seem a bit out of sorts.'

  'Let us sit down, then, please. Deirdre will make us tea, she is so glad to have me back for a few days, she has always adored me. Most people hereabouts have heard things about Mr Darcy and myself and they tend to mistrust me

  because of it. I was so afraid Deirdre and Jacob wouldn't want me either, but they said they knew I'd changed my ways since I was an important man in the army now. I'm afraid they have no idea how insignificant even a lieutenant of the rifles is. And that is what is bothering me, Mr Bennet, I love what I do but I am starting to realise the danger I will be in. Being part of the Rifle Corps is a very dangerous occupation, our new colonel in Newcastle made that very clear. He did not tell the privates, nor even the sergeants. Just the officers.

  We're expected to lose most of our men in action before we complete a full tour abroad. How will I live with myself if that happens? Those men trust me.

  And what will happen to Lydia if I fall? To our child?'

  For a few seconds, Elizabeth remembered the soft feelings with which she had once regarded this man, before she found out that his gentle manners were just a mask he could put on or lay aside at will. Then she remembered his gambling, his mercenary attempts at Georgiana, his general lack of principles and the memory fled, but still she was convinced Wickham was not playing a part right now. He was genuinely concerned for his men, for his unborn child and yes, in some manner even for Lydia. But why not give her the support of her trusted maid, then?

  'I take it you have not shared your worries with my daughter?'

  Of course. Papa did care for Lydia and had every right to get involved in her affairs if circumstances warranted his interference. Elizabeth would only intercede if her superior knowledge of her sister's situation was of importance, or the influence she had on Wickham, though she felt slightly guilty over what would be using a lingering preference towards her to her own ends. Well, towards her sister's well-being, which was not in fact her own interest. Was it?

  'Certainly not. I've been pretending everything is fine and so far she seems to believe me. But I think our maid, Abbey, was on the verge of telling her the truth, she was less gullible and of course her life was less sheltered, she must have heard things in church or from her mother or her friends. She asked me about it one day, in private, and I told her what my superior had warned me of and begged her not to tell Lydia because of her delicate state. That was about a fortnight ago, and as far as I know she kept her promise.'

  'But you decided to not bring her along to Kent to make sure she didn't tell?'

  'Yes, that was part of the reason to leave her behind, though I know it hurt Lydia to have to face a new situation without her trusted companion. But I want Lydia to fit in in the south, and Abbey is not very sophisticated, she is

  not going to help Lydia gain polish.'

  'No, that was my responsibility as her father, and I have failed her in that.'

  '
I beg to differ, Mr Bennet, for your eldest two don't seem to lack finer manners. Lydia simply wasn't ready to bow to convention but now she is, and I want her to have every chance to improve herself. I thought having a smart local maid might help her learn the local customs.'

  Here Elizabeth felt obliged to point out some facts about staff.

  'Abbey has principles and she knows her place. Aren't those the most important traits for what a maid is supposed to do? We had to lay off a maid that had been in the family for ten years because she thought she ran the household, she just couldn't accept another woman as her superior. I know papa hired Hill to keep mother in check, but I am sure it took a lot of effort to find someone like her. Other households have had trouble with staff taking more responsibility than desirable, it is hard to find the right balance.’

  Like the stablemaster in Newcastle, and Wickham’s mother’s replacement, the nurse who had browbeat Fitzwilliam's mother during her pregnancy with Georgiana. But she couldn’t specify those cases to Wickham so she merely continued.

  ‘I understand why one might want staff to have influence, especially since you will be away from home a lot, but such a maid is not easily found, she would have to be chosen carefully. Lydia is with child and she needs help and someone to trust right now. She had sophisticated friends in Newcastle, why not let her have Abbey to help her settle and give her the chance to find some good companions of her own rank?'

  'You think officer's wives of a similar calibre and worth might want to be friends with her in Kent? I've heard people in Kent are very much above themselves, and I have no reason to believe that isn't true.'

  'Not everyone in Kent is Lady Catherine de Bourgh, lieutenant,' Elizabeth said, laughing, 'her daughter is in fact one of my very best friends, and Mrs Manners’ maid is a sweet, unassuming girl, and they are both from Kent.

  Besides, won't most of the officers in the Corps be from elsewhere in England, like yourself? I think people like to claim that those from other cities are stuck up. Some of our London staff were terribly stuck up, and others are the best people I know.'