1812 How It All Began- Part 2

by Deborah E Pearson

  "You mean with Mr Wickham?"

  "Yes, I do" at this Georgiana blanched. She thought that now her brother intended to chastise her weakness and foolishness. "It's alright, he used you abominably ill." Darcy knew that he needed to reassure her. He also needed her to understand why he was going to London now. "Now he has done the same thing to another young lady with greater success."

  "What are you going to do?" She asked. She was trembling. He feared that he had hurt his sister. Would she be able to survive this hurt that was being inflicted on her?

  "I am going to London tomorrow to find him out and negotiate a marriage for her. Georgiana, this young lady is Miss Elizabeth's youngest sister. No matter what it costs me I have to do this – can you understand that?"

  Darcy watched as his sister transformed in front of him. She took a deep breath before she answered. "Yes, I can. How long are you going to let that man manipulate you into giving him more and more money? After what you've told me and everything I remember that is all he's doing. He calculates everything he does and is mean with it. He must have gotten the idea that you are in love with Miss Bennet."

  "Yes," sighed Darcy "I know he must have done so. The likelihood is that someone at Meryton noticed my admiration when I was there. I know that there were many speculations about Bingley and Miss Elizabeth's eldest sister. There are many gossips in Meryton. Also, if he found out about the intimacy that I had with Miss Bennet at Rosings he might have guessed something. He always took delight in ferreting out which woman it was that took my fancy. Thankfully, I wasn't in the habit of falling in and out of love much, so he never had much to hold over me." Instead of answering Georgiana stepped over and hugged her brother. "One last thing. Please tell everyone that Mr Gardiner has gone home on urgent business. Do not mention George Wickham or Miss Lydia."

  "You know I never talk about him, and I do not know Miss Lydia. As for Miss Elizabeth's absence, I will leave it to you to explain it. I'll go along with whatever you say."

  "Georgiana, I must ask are you alright. This news must have been a shock to you. I wish I could have delivered it in a better way." Darcy had seen how she had withered when miss Bingley had come close to mentioning Wickham. Now he worried about the woman who sat before him.

  Georgiana smiled at her brother. His care and concern had brought her through this awful time and restored her faith in men. "I am alright, Fitzwilliam. Somehow knowing that I am not alone in my foolishness has helped. I am angry for her and hurt for her. I am not grieving over him. I know now that he never loved me. He could not have done so."

  Darcy was surprised to hear such strength and conviction come from his sister. Nothing had prepared him to see his sister so grown up. His pleasure in finding out how strong she had become was immense. He knew now that he was doing exactly the right thing. With nothing more to say, brother and sister left the library, both lost in their own thoughts of how one man could ruin the happiness of an entire family, and the expectations of women, who by all accounts had so little chance of marrying well...

  When they entered the parlour, it was Bingley who asked about the Gardiners and Elizabeth. Darcy evaded the truth. He mentioned only the arrival of a letter necessitating their early return. It was not was not an untruth but did not reveal the truth either. Bingley seemed satisfied. Darcy was reminded all through dinner of Elizabeth's departure. He had forgotten to have the extra place settings removed. Something in him ached as he remembered that fact. It hurt inside for he wanted so much to bring her to Pemberley as its mistress. Something that now unless he put into effect a desperate measure, might never come to pass. For the first time since his illness, he wondered if he would ever have the joy and the happiness that he had once had. He knew that he would go on, but whether life held any joy for him, he was not aware.

  Whether there had been any conversation at dinner, Darcy did not know. He barely remembered eating anything. His focus was on the task ahead. He remembered that small squeeze of the hand as she left him on Wednesday morning. Absentmindedly did he join the ladies in the salon for the evening entertainment.

  "You are very quiet this evening Mr Darcy. Not mourning the loss of Miss Eliza Bennet, I hope," asked Miss Bingley. The woman was a constant thorn in his side, disrupting his solitary pursuits.

  “Miss Bingley, I am actually forming a plan. Bingley, Hurst and myself should form a shooting party in Hertfordshire. It will have to be after I return from Town, as urgent business takes me there at first light." Enough of your bitterness and jealousy. I know that you only want my fortune, and Pemberley House thought Darcy, with no patience for her games.

  "Oh, but then you'll have to socialise with the Miss Bennets, and Miss Lucas's and all the other misses down there!" Caroline Bingley was horrified at the thought. She held no love for Hertfordshire and feared that her brother would marry Jane Bennet anyway.

  "And why should we not? They are young ladies who are out in society, are they not?" Asked Darcy, "Can we not choose who we socialise with? Are we not free to do as we like?"

  "Yes, but their connections are so low and vulgar." said Miss Bingley, realising that any influence she had in the past was now completely gone. "I am sure that you do not wish to socialise with such people."

  "Miss Bingley, if I wish to associate with vulgar people, why would you care? And why should I not go with your brother? Remember that they are no lower than your own connections madam." Darcy knew that she could not answer him. To answer would expose the true reason she had declared Miss Bennet to be indifferent to her brother.

  "Oh...well...why don't we all go then?"

  "I thought that you and Mrs Hurst had planned to go to Scarborough to see some of your friends. There's no need for you ladies to change your plans. Besides you would find a shooting party to be very dull, given that you do not hunt."

  "Well...yes... I suppose you are right, Mr Darcy."

  "Good, that's settled then," Bingley interjected. He had already sent word to Hertfordshire to expect the shooting party.

  Darcy then informed the party that he would not see any of them before he left in the morning. So, he bade them all farewell and then left the party to go to an early bed. He knew that he would not sleep until he was on the road. He took a book from his library and made his way up to his chamber. In two days, he would once more be negotiating with that ungrateful wretch. Once more Wickham would rob him of money that should go to his children one day.

  "Desperate affairs require desperate measures."

  - Horatio Nelson

  Darcy passed a restless night in his chamber. He had fallen into a light, restless sleep. His uneasy dreams disturbed him. In his dreams, he was arranging a wedding between Miss Elizabeth and Wickham. This was the future that he feared likely, had he not opened her eyes to Wickham's true character. This made him feel sick, and not want to do the task at hand, but just before dawn as promised in came his valet and woke him. Darcy left his bed and washed and dressed in a hurry. Very soon he was on the road. With a sinking feeling, he realised that he would have to hire post horses, as he had not had time to send his own on ahead. Shrugging his shoulders, he carried on and breakfasted at the first inn where he had to change horses. He bought a cold dinner that he could eat on the way. He had no wish to stop for longer than the time to change the horses, at any of the other inns. Ever in front of his face was Elizabeth's face as she pleaded to know what could be done for her sister. Over and over he relieved her crying in distress. The more he thought about it, the more Darcy felt that he had been to blame and that he had to remedy the situation. Blame. That was the one thing he was good at. Blaming himself and taking responsibility. Even when things were nothing to do with him. The roads were dry and the weather hot, but none of this was heeded as the carriage hurtled on toward town. The short stops at the inns to change horses were a welcome relief. They meant cold drinks and comfort breaks for both him and his servants.

  As the night drew on, he told his driver to drive through the nig
ht, and then he went to sleep in his carriage. Darcy felt haunted. Haunted by his memories. A childhood friendship lost and flights of fancy who preferred Wickham to himself. Haunted by the faults and failings of this past year. How much more had he judged wrong and dealt with unjustly? Was he even half as good and as generous a man as he thought himself to be? The ball at Meryton, came back and once again he saw the pain in Elizabeth's eyes. That pain that he had inflicted time and time again. No matter how much she covered it with witticisms and laughter, it was there torturing him. Repeatedly he heard Elizabeth’s words from the parsonage. "Had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner?" Oh, how he longed to take back those cruel words he had uttered at the parsonage. She was infinitely better than so many of the fashionable ladies of his acquaintance. They had the advantage of connections and fortune, but for what? Most of them never picked up a book in their lives. It is certain that they did not know the difference between a folly and an inconsistency. He contrasted that night when his own character had been under the microscope. When Elizabeth had been looking for a way to tease him. It was he who had said about his temper not being yielding enough, and that he didn't forgive easily. It was she who had been wise to comment that she could not laugh at it. Oh how her sensible wit and teasing contrasted with Miss Bingley's constant mean wit. No, Elizabeth was infinitely better than all the Miss Bingleys, in the world. It was at that point Darcy realised whether he found Wickham or not did not matter. He already knew that life without Elizabeth Bennet would be miserable and impossible. Scandal or no scandal, it made no difference his love for her was all that mattered. If she would have him, then his wife she would be. There was no one else for him.

  Darcy arrived in London in the early hours of Sunday morning. He forced himself to sleep a little before setting out later in the day for Mrs Younge's house on Edward Street.

  This area of London was one that Darcy did not frequent by choice. Men like him were no safe on the streets of Shoreditch. The stifling heat and the smells on the street were bad enough in the mayfair area currently of year. In Shoreditch they were overpowering. The smell was worse because of the number of poor and unwashed that lined the streets. He could not help covering his nose with his handkerchief, as he made his way through the streets. Fortunately, Edward street was a small side street. He knew that a week's rent at Mrs Younge's house was worth one sovereign, but she charged two. So, he had set out with ten sovereigns in his pocket with the express intent of using them to bribe Mrs Younge. He was determined to find the location of Wickham by the end of the day. He hoped it would not take all the coins as he wished to buy Elizabeth and Georgiana fans for the next season. Mrs Younge, he found to be resistant at first to give him the details of Wickham's whereabouts. The lure of the money was too great for her. She was surprisingly quick to abandon her principles and friend for four sovereigns. Elizabeth and Georgiana would have their fans. He included Jane in the plan, as he was aware that Bingley was still in love with Jane. He knew it was likely that Jane was still loved Bingley. That was another situation where he had made a gross mistake, and something else he would have to rectify.

  On his way from Edward street to Wickham's lodgings, anger surged through Darcy's veins. The location of Wickham’s Lodgings was in Pudding Lane. Darcy passed the front door of the Gardiners, on his way to the lodgings of the errant couple. The amount of disrespect and sheer audacity in this young couple disgusted Darcy. How dare they? More importantly, how could Wickham afford to stay in this area? The lodgings were comfortable but small. It was obvious that they had no servants or anything else to give comfort. Mr Wickham's situation was desperate. Entering Darcy found himself face to face with the man he hated most in the world. Wickham seemed parade his wanton, offensive behaviour, and Darcy found his hatred increasing. However, he would help Miss Lydia the best way he could. As always it was Elizabeth that kept him going.

  "So, you came at last," Wickham said, lounging in his chair, "I've been expecting you." In answer Darcy only growled.

  Smiling Mr Wickham continued, "I knew you had an interest in Miss Elizabeth. Let me guess, you prefer her to that pale-faced cousin of yours, Miss Anne deBourg. I do pity you Darcy. You will either end up with your aunt being furious at you, or you will end up with that pale-faced little squib."

  "I assure you that I am not going to marry anyone at this moment in time," Darcy countered. Only because Elizabeth said no, whispered a quiet voice in his head.

  "Oh, come now, we both know that you are in love with Miss Elizabeth. I knew it from the way you reacted when you saw it was me talking to her at Meryton. She confirmed it, you know. She told me that knowing you better had improved her opinion of you." Wickham's impertinence annoyed Mr Darcy, but Darcy’s heart was soaring.

  Her opinion of me has improved, maybe I will get the woman I have chosen after all. “Enough of this idle chatter, Wickham. I am here for one reason and one reason only Miss Lydia Bennet.” Not true, Elizabeth is my reason. You will never know that, though.

  "Oh, you can have her if you like, I've done with her, she's served her purpose well. The silly little thing never ever realised that she was only a tool to get what I wanted." Said Mr Wickham.

  "In other words, you never intended to marry the girl."

  "Of course not! She has no money, no connections what would tempt a man like me? You should know better than most that she is useless to me. That is unless you are to marry Miss Elizabeth. Then she at least does have one excellent connection.”

  "How about if she had a better dowry?" said Darcy, knowing Mr Wickham would be entirely unreasonable.

  "Sorry Darcy, but she isn't any fun anymore, in fact, she wasn't much fun, to begin with, way too easy. In fact, it was easier than getting your sister to agree to elope with me."

  Wickham’s barb had hit its mark, but Darcy refused to rise to the bait. "You had better marry her, her family is in turmoil, and you are the cause of it."

  "No, I never wanted her to come with me. I had to leave Brighton as I had too many debts of honour outstanding. Silly little thing started on at me that it would be a good joke to go to Gretna Green. Eventually, I found it easier for her to come than it was for her to stay," said Mr Wickham.

  "You've ruined her and her family" stated Darcy.

  "What has that to do with me? You know how stupid her mother is, she's most likely sharing in the joke. She’ll be saying how good it will be when her daughter returns home married" Said, Mr Wickham.

  "I can assure you that is not the case!” Elizabeth kept my secrets, I won't betray hers.

  "What do you know about it?"

  "I have it on good authority that her mother is in hysterics and very upset over all this."

  "She should have taken better care of her daughter then."

  "I cannot disagree with you, but it doesn't change the fact that you are to blame." Having to agree with Mr Wickham on anything made Darcy uneasy. Yet, he couldn't deny the justice of Mr Wickham's remark.

  "What do you want me to do about it?"

  "Marry the girl."

  "I cannot, you know I need a fortune with the woman I marry. Thirty thousand pounds or more."

  "You will marry this girl." Growled Darcy, wanting to get this over with.

  "Will you supply her want of fortune?"

  "I might do something along those lines. This is the last time I will EVER be prevailed upon to help you out of a tight spot. I have to look to the future, and make sure that my children inherit a decent fortune."

  "You need to get married first,” laughed Wickham.

  Darcy ignored that comment. "Let me talk with the girl." Wickham got up and left the room. Shortly afterwards in paraded Miss Lydia Bennet as if she didn't have a care in the world.

  "What are you doing here?" She asked Darcy. Her rudeness made Darcy bristle. Obviously, she had picked up Wickham's lack of respect.

  "I'm here to try and help you, girl." Replied Darcy, more sharply than he meant to. He had been too surprised at
her lack of manners, not to mention the lack of even a proper greeting.

  "Thank you, but I don't need any help."

  "Do you not?" He asked, looking around at the sparse lodgings. "How do you expect a man like that to marry you? Do you not comprehend what you've done to your family? How your father is looking for you, your mother is upset, and so are all your sisters?" Elizabeth's face at the inn rose up before his eyes. He found this whole affair so painful that he wanted to walk out and never return.

  "Oh, Kitty knew all about what I was planning and told me that she thought it would be a good joke too. As for the others, well they never said much to me anyway."

  That's because they had much more sense than you he thought. He contented himself with asking, "Miss Lydia, your sisters love you. They are very upset over what you have done. What do you know about Mr Wickham's history?"

  "Oh, I know that you cheated him out of the promised living. I don't need to know anything else. It doesn't signify since we will get married one of these days."

  "There's less truth in that than in you thinking he will marry you. You are aware that he does not plan to marry you."

  "Oh, I know we will be married, for he doesn't say no when I talk about it."

  Stupid, ignorant and naive girl, yes, you are the usual sort that he preys on. Why did I not warn your father, or Meryton that they had a snake in the grass? “Are you not concerned for the welfare of your family? How materially you have damaged your sister's chances of marrying well?"

  "Wickham says that you plan to marry Lizzy, so I don't think I've damaged their chances."

  "No, you have materially damaged their chances. No man with any standing in the world would marry into a family where one of the girls has done what you have done."

  "That still doesn't worry me, for Wickham says that you'll still marry Lizzy."