by Wynne Mabry
“I understand that she liked him much better than me. They had a great deal in common apparently, and after a time she came to feel some affection for him, which changed her perspective on those things.”
“She would have been better off trying to feel affection for you, but I suppose you were never really her type of person.”
“I am very glad that I was not. It seems that she is attracted to a petty type of person.”
“Was he somebody we know?”
“Yes, it was Mr. Upton. Her drawing master.”
“What? That sour-faced man? And with all her notions of superiority? I would have thought she would not commit adultery with anybody less than a viscount.”
“In the end she was guided by feelings apparently. Not by notions of superiority.”
“I did not think Anne had any feelings. Aunt Catherine is going to be horrified.”
“She is indeed. And it is quite possible that she will find out from the newspapers, which will infuriate her further, but I do not mean to give her any advance information, and I doubt that Anne will be inclined to.”
“It will be in the newspapers?”
“It will indeed. Scandal sells many copies. That is the notoriety I was talking about. All the details of the crim. con. case will be reported in the papers.”
“Crim. con. case?”
“It is a civil trial in which a husband sues another man for interfering with his wife. Crim. con. is an abbreviation for criminal conversation, which is a euphemism for other things.”
“So not exactly about talking then.”
“I suppose it began with talking. Probably talking about other people.”
“And their lack of drawing skills.” Georgiana said this seriously, but then she began to laugh. “Oh, I should not,” she cried after a moment, “but it is so ironic considering that Anne was always talking about keeping up standards.”
“It is ironic,” Mr. Darcy agreed, giving way to a smile. “I cannot entirely take it seriously either. It is quite dreadful though. I do feel sorry for Anne, who will have to face the consequences of her actions, but she has brought that upon herself by not adhering to sound principles.”
“You are kinder than I am. I cannot feel sorry for her after she made us so miserable.”
“To be honest, I am feeling relieved as well. I resigned myself to making the best of my marriage, but I really longed to be free. Now I might be able to have my freedom after all. I do not deserve it though. It was my decision to marry Anne which put her into a situation that was not agreeable to her. I should have considered that she might not want to be married to me.”
“She could have refused you.”
“Our aunt would never have permitted it.”
“She is the one who is to blame. It was her idea in the first place. You would not have thought of marrying Anne if Aunt Catherine had not kept pressing you to. She is very much at fault. And so is Anne. If she was capable of committing adultery, which she must have known that her mother would not like, besides being terribly wrong, then she should have been just as capable of saying no to marrying you in the first place. You cannot hold yourself responsible for other people’s choices, especially since you had a sense of duty while she did not. You tried to make things better, and now you deserve to be happy.”
“In time, I hope. First I get to be notorious.” He gave her a rueful smile. “This trial is only the first step. After that, I shall have to bring a case before an ecclesiastical court for a divorce a mensa et thoro. That is only a separation though. I will have to petition parliament for a full divorce. With each step, all the details will be reported in the newspapers and there will be a great deal of gossip.”
“I suppose you will hate that, but I am quite willing to endure anything for you to get a divorce.”
“I may not in the end. The two trials are very likely to be decided in my favour, but the parliamentary divorce may present a problem. It occurs to me that our uncle may choose to block my divorce bill.”
“I expect he would,” Georgiana said. “If Aunt Catherine wanted him to, then he would oblige her. So you probably will not get a divorce.”
“We shall see. That is the final step, dependent on everything else succeeding first. If I get that far, then I shall find out how strong his opposition is, and if there is anything to be done about it. The important thing is that I do not anticipate any difficulties in being able to obtain the separation. I shall not have to live with Anne anymore. If I cannot get the parliamentary divorce, then remarriage will not be possible, but I am not doing this just to remarry.”
“It would be nice though,” Georgiana said. “I hope you will not be opposed to the idea of marrying again just because Anne was not a pleasant wife.”
“I am open to possibilities,” Mr. Darcy conceded. “But I shall accept whatever the future holds for me.”
After gaining his sister’s support for his plan, he explained the situation to the Bingleys and Mrs. Annesley, who was by now more friend than retainer. The three of them reiterated their loyalty to Mr. Darcy.
“Real friends stand together in the worst of times,” Mr. Bingley said.
Mr. Darcy wondered if Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst would feel the same about their friendship with Anne. He doubted that they would be so loyal or so willing to disregard the risk to their own reputations.
He was not intending to return to his London home while his wife was still living there, so it was decided that Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley would go to Netherfield with the Bingleys and stay there for the winter.
“I shall take lodgings somewhere,” Mr. Darcy said. “With any luck my aunt will not succeed in finding me.”
“You should come to Netherfield as well,” Mr. Bingley urged.
Mr. Darcy shook his head. “It cannot be done. Not while Elizabeth is with you, and I understand that she is to live at Netherfield for some time in order to be of use to her sister. She and I cannot take the chance of staying under the same roof. We must not do anything which might renew Anne’s suspicion of us.”
“No, I suppose not. But perhaps you can occasionally ride out for the day. You should not be alone too much. Do remember that you are always welcome, Darcy. No matter what happens.”
For All the World To See
“So it begins,” Mr. Darcy said to himself. His name in print for all the world to see. He had been scouring the papers every morning and here was the article he had been anticipating.
Upcoming Crim. Con Case – An action will soon be tried in the Court of King’s Bench, brought by Mr. Darcy, the well-known nephew of Lord Matlock, against Mr. Upton, a drawing master who had been employed to give Mrs. Darcy instruction in that art. The lady was the only child of the late Sir Lewis de Bourgh and a very wealthy heiress. The adultery is alleged to have taken place at Mr. Darcy’s London home while he was away at his country estate. Several servants will be called to give evidence. The lead counsel for the plaintiff is the very capable Mr. Drummond, who lately represented Mr. Morrison in his successful suit. Damages are laid at 15,000 pounds.
In some other publications, Mr. Darcy read several similar accounts and a few less inhibited ones. One rather risqué paper made some distasteful insinuations about the instruction given in those alleged drawing lessons. Such was to be expected, but he hastily put down the offending paper and did his best to cast those words from memory.
He was reading these articles in the lodgings which he had taken in London. After leaving Pemberley in September, he had delivered Georgiana and Mrs. Annesley to Netherfield, but he had not spent even one night.
Mr. Bingley had understood the wisdom of this precaution. “You must come for Christmas though,” he had said. “Elizabeth is planning to return to Longbourn at that time, so there is no reason why you cannot stay with us.”
“I suppose she does this just for me. She should not have to deprive herself to accommodate me. I can find somewhere else to go for Christmas.”
“Y
ou must come here. She was insistent that you and Georgiana should be together over the festive season. Anyway, she is looking forward to being at Longbourn since her aunt and uncle will be staying there. Do come, Darcy. Everybody wants you to.”
“Then I shall. Unless things go very badly, of course. If that is the case, I really should stay away.”
“No, if that happens, then there is even more reason for you to come here and have the support and comfort of your friends.”
Mr. Darcy could agree that he might be badly in need of those things by Christmas time, so he agreed to visit, but only after asking Elizabeth if she was certain about leaving her sister for those few weeks.
“Absolutely certain,” she had replied. “Jane will not be in any need with Mrs. Annesley and Georgiana to spoil her, not to mention the assistance of the extra staff that Charles has hired. In fact, I shall go to Longbourn whether you come here or not, so there is no reason for you to think of staying away.”
“Except for fearing that my presence might humiliate my friends,” he had said. “For all that they tell me not to worry about it, I still cannot feel completely unconcerned. But I shall come and be grateful for the company.”
“We shall be glad of yours as well, and nobody is going to be humiliated,” she had assured him.
After returning to London, he had gone back to his own home in order to collect some clothes and books. He had also had a conversation with his wife, who came into his study while he was packing up some books. She was surprised to realise that he intended to live elsewhere instead of carrying on as though nothing had happened.
“I do not see why you are making such a fuss about this,” she had said. “Plenty of fashionable ladies have arrangements with their husbands to allow their own preferences.”
“I allow you your preference in a great many things, but this is going too far. You seem to have formed some very liberal notions, which I do not share. Even if I did, you have forgotten to consider that such arrangements are generally made after the provision of an heir and a spare. Do you intend for me to accept another man’s child as the heir to my property?”
“You do have the freedom to leave your property as you choose. The heir can be anybody you like. But if it matters so much to you, we could come to an agreement about having a child together.”
“No, thank you. I find your offer repulsive.”
“Then you cannot complain.”
“I certainly can. Do you not realise that I would be obligated to give my name and my support to any child of yours? I will not do that. And to be quite clear on the matter, I will not condone your relationship with Mr. Upton either. My servants will be given orders that he is not to be admitted to this house.”
“I shall countermand your orders.”
“You may try, but I do not believe they will take their instructions from you.”
“I am mistress of this house.”
“Not a respected mistress, and not for long either.”
“I have no intention of leaving.”
“There will come a time when you have no choice. I am going to sue for a divorce.”
“You must not! Mother will hear of it.”
“I recommend that you tell her yourself instead of waiting for her to read it in the papers.”
“The papers?” She looked at him with shock. “Then everybody will know.”
“They will. Perhaps you should have thought of that sooner.”
“I never thought you would be so unreasonable. You cannot do this to me, Darcy. Our personal affairs are meant to be private.”
“You have done this to yourself. I am sorry that you will be much talked about, but that is a consequence of your own wrongful actions. You have set our marriage asunder, and I am going to avail myself of the legal recourse that is available to men whose wives are unfaithful. Nothing will persuade me to continue our marriage. For now, this is your home, and you may live in it as you choose, except for having your lover to visit, but on the day when my divorce is granted, I will turn you out. Now that is all I have to say on the subject.”
He had ushered her out of the room, encountering Mrs. Jenkinson in the hall. The companion had looked at him warily. So she should. He really ought to dismiss her for having turned a blind eye to goings on of which she could not have been completely unaware. Or perhaps she really had been that oblivious.
Ignoring her, he had hurried away. Before leaving, he had given instruction for his chamber and the study to be kept locked. The servant looked so sadly at him that he had wanted to console the poor man.
“I shall be back before long,” he had promised.
As he looked at the papers on this October morning, he wondered if Anne had told her mother. It would be just like her to put off the inevitable. As she did not care for reading in any form, she was unlikely to have seen her name in the papers today either; however, Lady Catherine liked to peruse them, and with an eye for society news in particular. He had sometimes seen her happily occupied in reading gossip about her acquaintances.
If she did not know the truth already, she would before long. His aunt might be raging against him at this very moment. She would be furious with her daughter too, but the greater part of the blame would go to him for pursuing a divorce instead of protecting the family image.
Perhaps she was already on her way to London, intent upon remonstrating with him. He looked about the snug little room where he had found ample comfort in the last few weeks. It should provide excellent refuge from Lady Catherine. She would not expect to find him in so simple a dwelling or such an unfashionable part of town.
He was not far from Gracechurch Street, which was convenient for visiting the Gardiners. They knew of his situation and had given their support as loyally as Mr. Bingley.
“Come and see us whenever you like,’ Mr. Gardiner had said after hearing of Mr. Darcy’s intention to live in a solitary way. “You must not be too much alone.”
This had been followed by an invitation to dinner which he had gratefully accepted. It was good to have some company, and these two friends provided just the right sort of companionship. He had been to their home a few times. He was not quite solitary either. Colonel Fitzwilliam often came to keep his company, but he saw nobody else.
He was soon to go to Netherfield though. The Bingleys had insisted that he must stand as godfather to their child.
“I will not hear any refusal,” Mr. Bingley had said. “If you do not show up for the christening when the time comes, then we will not be able to proceed.”
The summons came near the end of the month. Mr. Darcy shed a few tears of joy when he read his friend’s letter announcing the birth of a healthy boy. Moments like this were the ones which counted most in life.
On the appointed day, he travelled to Netherfield very early in the morning and full of eagerness to see the child. He was a boy of angelic appearance which was enhanced by the delicately embroidered christening robes. In church, he behaved himself perfectly to the pride of his adoring parents.
Elizabeth was godmother to this delightful infant, upon whom she smiled with such affection that Mr. Darcy’s heart was greatly stirred. He could not keep himself from hoping to see her look at their child in the same way one day.
He had a little conversation with her at the celebration afterwards.
“Are you comfortable in your lodgings?” she asked.
“I am. More so than I anticipated. I am quite at home in my cosy little rooms.”
“May I ask how the preparation for your case progresses?”
“My solicitors expect that we shall easily win. It is to be heard at the end of next month. But perhaps you have seen some of the accounts in the newspapers.”
“Yes, I have,” she admitted. “You were not represented so badly.”
“No, I was not. Unfortunately for my wife, it seems that a few enterprising gentlemen of the press are set upon making their fortunes from her disgrace.”
“Some of them see
med to treat you with great sympathy.”
“So far. One never knows when that will turn, of course. At least I have not committed adultery, but the defense may try to portray me as a neglectful husband.”
“You were never that.”
“No, I do not think I was, but we really did have little do with each other, and then there were our quarrels. My counsel is not going to pretend that our marriage was contented, but it was sound enough. The defense is probably going to try to demonstrate that I was disinterested though, and that is not untrue.”
“But that will not affect the outcome, will it?”
“No, the evidence is too strong for that. The defence’s purpose will be to reduce the damages by proving that my marriage had little value. They may well succeed, but I do not care about damages. It is not as though Mr. Upton can afford them anyway. Whatever the amount, I have no expectation of ever receiving it, but I do not want his money. Fortunately, I am not dependant upon the receiving the damages in order to finance my divorce, as others might be.”
“I understand that it will be expensive.”
“Yes, but it is worth every penny, and any consequence. I have suffered one already. Last week, I was cut in the street by a lady of my acquaintance. It was a novel experience, which I tried to bear with dignity.”
He saw her hand move toward him as though she were reaching out in comfort, and then she hastily pulled it back. “This lady can only be a very mean-spirited person,” she said instead.
“She is known to have a hard time keeping servants. That gives me a little comfort.”
“It sounds as though her opinion is not worth bothering about. Plenty of people will think differently.”
“I did run into a couple of gentlemen from my club the other day, and they were excessively friendly, as though they wanted me to know that I am not despised. That meant a great deal to me. I shall have to invite them to dinner as soon as I am re-established in my home.”