1812 How It All Began- Part 2

by Deborah E Pearson

  "Whatever my plans for marriage are they do not concern you! I am asking you for the sake of your family and your friends to come away from this despicable situation. Your whole family is upset and has been damaged by this affair." Darcy said very sharply.

  "No, I will not leave my dear Wickham!” Upon that, Wickham entered the room. "Have you managed to talk her into leaving me?" He asked wrapping his arms around her and sitting down on the sofa next to her. Darcy growled again and muttered under his breath – ‘Now the negotiations begin’. "How much are you in debt?"

  "Well, I'm in debt in Brighton, here in town, Meryton, and Norwich."

  "What were you doing in Norwich?"

  "Oh, trying to find a woman of fortune."

  "So, how much do your debts come to?"

  "Well, it's a thousand pounds in Meryton, two thousand in Norwich – I was nearly run out of town there. A thousand here in town, and only five hundred in Brighton, but the debts of honour include more than money."

  "Girls?"

  "Two of them."

  "Did you learn nothing at university?"

  "Yeah, you were an easy touch to buy them off."

  "My father is not around anymore, and you are testing my patience."

  "Ah, but you want to preserve Miss Elizabeth's good name, that must be worth something to you."

  "I won't buy the girls off, but your debts I will cover. As you know, the Bennet girls get a thousand pounds each on the death of their mother. I will settle on Miss Lydia four thousand pounds extra. So, she will have a total of five thousand pounds in the settlement. I will also buy you a commission in the regulars. All this on condition that you marry the girl."

  "Make her settlement to twenty thousand, and it's done."

  "Seven."

  "Fifteen" Wickham was beginning to look desperate. As desperate as his finances were, something in his air that told Darcy that Wickham wanted Lydia also.

  "Ten and that's my final offer." Darcy smiled inwardly, this is what I had intended to do anyway –- not for her sake, but Elizabeth's.

  "Done." The two men shook hands.

  "Come to my club tomorrow, with all the information on your debts, and we'll sort the details out." Thereupon, Darcy left the house.

  The next morning, he went to Bond Street to visit the milliners. Where he would commission the three fans, he intended to buy.

  Darcy smiled to himself as he entered the milliners on Bond Street. He didn't know how he would present two of the three fans, he was aware that he would find a way. Casting his eye over the fans that were on show, his eye finally came to rest on a lovely seashell pink fan. They had three on display. Seeing how beautiful they looked, he pointed them out. He told the milliner he wanted the names engraved on them. One would say, Elizabeth, one would say Jane and one would say, Georgiana. The fans cost less than he had expected, and so Darcy smiled, paid, and said he expected them at the end of the week.

  "Duty is the great business of a sea officer; all private considerations must give way to it, however painful it may be."

  - Horatio Nelson

  When Darcy’s mother had died there had seemed to be an emptiness around Pemberley and the townhouse. Darcy hardly noticed it because of his father and sister. After his father’s death the townhouse had become Darcy’s refuge. He had hidden away from the world, yet, it had never seemed to be so empty and lonely as it did now. He did not understand how it was that he felt the emptiness now. The only thing that he knew was that the busier he kept the less he noticed the emptiness. Keeping busy also meant he thought less about Elizabeth. The flurry of activity surrounding finding Wickham and Miss Lydia was over. Things would now settle down to a more normal pace. Darcy found the emptiness of the house oppressive. One evening noticing the emptiness and overwhelming loneliness was enough for Darcy. Thus, the next morning when he awoke he was impatient to leave for Bond Street. That errand being a success he could not wait at home until his meeting with Wickham at one o’clock. so, from Bond Street, Darcy made his way to his attorney’s offices.

  “Mr Darcy! Whatever brings you here today?” Mr Watkins gave a confused an apologetic smile. The Watkins family firm had served the Darcy family for several generations. They knew the workings of Pemberley almost as well as Darcy’s steward. It was not Darcy’s habit to visit his attorney’s offices, which left Mr Watkins confused. Mr Watkins feared that he had forgotten an important meeting with Darcy.

  “I find, Watkins that I am once more in need of your services. There is a young lady.” Watkins gave Darcy a sharp sideways look as if to say ‘I never expected this of you’ “Who has run away with George Wickham. I am negotiating a marriage between the two of them. I am expecting George Wickham to visit me at my club at 1 o’clock this afternoon. I would appreciate it if you would attend also.”

  “Who is this young lady, and why are you so involved in this affair? I know that it is not pure altruism, nor is it any regard for the worthless scoundrel. I know that your father loved the boy, but I had understood you to have washed your hands of him many years ago. So, I must question why your involvement. What about the young lady’s parents? Why are they not doing this?”

  Darcy ran his hands through his hair. He had not expected his, ever faithful, solicitor to question his motives. What could he say that would not make him sound ridiculous and arrogant? “The young Lady’s family lives in Hertfordshire and are also looking for the couple. As for my involvement. Are you aware, Watkins, that Wickham has made a habit of spinning a tale that I defrauded him of the living?” he began.

  “No, I was not aware of that. Yet I fail to see” Darcy held up his hand to stop the solicitor.

  “I first heard it from my sister’s lips last year, and I heard it again from the lips of the young lady in question. He used this tale to work my sister into feelings of tenderness and pity. She mistakenly believed herself to be in love. That she held tender feelings for the reprobate I do not doubt. Yet he used those tender feelings to his own advantage in convincing my sister to elope with him. It was a matter of luck that I arrived in Ramsgate a couple of days before the elopement. I was able to prevent it from happening. That convinced me that no young lady was safe in his company.

  Last Autumn, my friend Bingley took a house in Hertfordshire. The surrounding villages and town were charming, but the society not high society. Bingley’s sisters and I gave offence the moment we arrived. For my part, it was accidentally done. Because of this offence, Wickham found willing ears for his tale of woe. I should have warned the area of his character, but I failed to do so. I feared that I would expose my sister. It was a fateful mistake. One that I am correcting today. The young lady in question is the youngest daughter of a family of five girls. I do not know very much of the family situation. I understand the father’s estate is entailed away from the female line. Thus, leaving only the mother’s dowry to divide between the girls.” Darcy paused and shifted uncomfortably. Watkins gave him a knowing look that Darcy found to be disconcerting. Watkins' face had until this point remained impassive.

  “As I stated before, the young lady in question is the youngest of the five sisters. Her name is Miss Lydia Bennet. I am not very well acquainted with the family. My acquaintance is with her sister Miss Elizabeth Bennet” Darcy again shifted. “I proposed to her in Kent in April, but Miss Elizabeth rejected my suit. I saw Miss Elizabeth again when she visited Derbyshire a few days ago. We renewed our acquaintance. Miss Elizabeth informed me that Miss Lydia had accompanied the Militia to Brighton at the end of May. It was also her who told me of the elopement of Lydia and Wickham. I found the couple through the auspices of Mrs Younge. I will be visiting with Mr Gardiner, their uncle, to inform the family of all that I have managed to complete so far. I will also enlist their aid.”

  “I see.” Mr Watkins drawled. “So, you feel responsible for the poor choices of that young couple.”

  “No, responsible for not having done more to expose the character of that man.”

&nbs
p; “Amounts to the same thing Mr Darcy. Unfortunately, I have a meeting at that time I cannot rearrange. My associate Mr Haggerstone will be along to your meeting. I know for a fact that he will be able to make the time.” Darcy was confused but left it at that. Watkins had never sent an associate to a meeting that Darcy had arranged. It crossed Darcy’s mind to wonder if the business was too distasteful for his ageing attorney. He dismissed the idea as being preposterous. Darcy thanked Watkins and left. He then made his way to his club, where he would pass the rest of the time before Wickham would arrive.

  Mr Haggerstone turned out to be a rather portly gentleman who knew his business well. He did, in fact, arrive ten minutes early and spent the time chatting with Darcy in a very relaxed manner. Wickham arrived at Darcy's club ten minutes late. His insolence seemed to have grown overnight.

  “Wickham, this gentleman is Mr Haggerstone.” Darcy introduced the solicitor without bothering to greet Wickham properly. Wickham and Haggerstone exchanged polite greetings. Then the gentlemen sat down to the real business. Darcy was pleased to see that Wickham had indeed brought all the paperwork about his debts. Wickham had decided to try and negotiate a higher settlement for Lydia. Darcy’s anger rose as he listened to Wickham’s excuses about why he thought that the couple should get more money.

  “Mr Wickham.” Darcy growled through gritted teeth, “you are lucky that I am doing anything for you. I am not going to pay out even a ha’penny more! You have robbed the Pemberley coffers for the last time with this sham! Even my Father would have washed his hands of you by now, and we both know how fond he was of you.” That had the desired effect on Wickham. The man blanched, then kept opening and closing his mouth so much that Darcy wondered if he had in fact gone too far. It felt good that for once the smooth-talking bastard was lost for words. It was a shame that it would not last.

  “You are right, of course.” The slippery man began. “but I don’t think he would have left me penniless.”

  It was too much for Darcy, who threw his head back and laughed. This was turning out to be the most humorous situation that Darcy had found himself in for years. The lengths that Wickham seemed willing to go to get more money out of Darcy was hilarious. “Is that what you think I’ve done? I have provided more money than I was obligated to. I have covered your tracks and paid your debts. How many new starts of yours have I paid for? And now I am once again paying for another new start. A new commission, in the regulars. You deserted your post in the Militia, do you think I am leaving you penniless? No, if you are frugal, then between your wife’s dowry and your pay you could lead comfortable lives.”

  “Not as comfortable as yours! Nor even what she has left.” Wickham grumbled. “We’re destitute in comparison.”

  “Whose fault is that? Not mine, nor my father’s. You forget that you are the son of my father’s steward, not a Darcy. If it had not been for Darcy money you would be stuck in Derbyshire without an education. Your best chances would have been to become a footman or work the land. My father gave you everything! It is your poor choices that have left you in the position that you are in! Have you forgotten that your mother was a drunkard and spendthrift? Or that she could barely look after herself, let alone you?!”

  Wickham hated being reminded of his low upbringing. He had removed his mother from his tales of woe. Wickham looked to Haggerstone for support. He found only the cold and impassive features of an attorney. He had gambled and lost. He knew that he needed to stop before he lost the support that Darcy had promised. Lydia Bennet had been undoing. All the others, he had run when guardians had found the couples and the girls had lost their lustre. Lydia was different. She understood him, and his rakish ways. She enjoyed the chase as much as he did. It was for Lydia why he had not disappeared after Darcy found them yesterday. Now it would be for Lydia that he would tie himself into the marital state, and he was scared. He briefly wondered what it was about the Bennet girls that had that effect on young men. Darcy was smitten with Miss Elizabeth and that Bingley chap was smitten with Jane Bennet. How had the three of them been undone by the charms of such poor young women?

  “Alright, Darcy. I take your terms. Arrange this thing. Here are the debts I have.” Wickham handed over bills the attorney. Haggerstone pocketed the paperwork. He set to the task of drafting Miss Lydia's settlement. The three gentlemen met together every day for the rest of the week. It was not until Friday evening, that Darcy made his way over to Gracechurch Street. Mr Bennet was still visiting his brother but seemed to have given up on the search for his daughter. Darcy wondered how a man could give up so easily on their child. The maid had told him that Mr Bennet would be leaving the next morning. In Darcy’s mind that would make things go better. It was the choice of but a moment to withhold his name when the maid asked who it was that was calling. It was a choice that he would never regret. How Mr Bennet would react to Darcy’s interference he was not sure. The one thing Darcy knew was that he did not wish to find out. The last thing he needed was Mr Bennet to turn his anger and disappointment on him. He refused to admit it, but Darcy was still heartbroken over Elizabeth’s rejection. Explaining why he was interfering in the Bennet's private business did not sit well with him.

  Darcy awoke early the next morning and returned to Gracechurch street. The Mews was too far away from the Gardiners house. Gracechurch Street had enough shops that Darcy’s presence would go unnoticed. He took up position at the entrance of Leadenhall Market and watched until Mr Bennet left. He knew that not speaking to Mr Bennet was cowardice, but he was unsure of how he would explain his involvement. His guilt about not exposing Wickham and asking Elizabeth's secrecy added discomfort. He knew also that his acquaintance with Mr Bennet was weak. It might seem officious that he should be involved. This did not sit well with Darcy, so he had hidden until Mr Bennet had left.

  Darcy was grateful that Mr Bennet left Gracechurch street early. This allowed for plenty of time and discussion to take place during the rest of the day. When he knocked on the door the maid admitted him into Mr Gardiner’s comfortable sitting room. Uncomfortable, he now explained to Mr Gardiner all that he had done to find the couple. He explained the need to have arranged the wedding subject to the approval of Lydia’s Father.

  “Mr Darcy, I am grateful for all that you have done and relieved to know that my niece is safe. I am a bit confused about why you would think yourself to be responsible for this situation. You have not made the choices for the young couple, have you?” Gardiner was not ignorant of the ways of the world but could not understand Darcy’s thinking.

  “No, I am not responsible for their choices. It is I and I alone who, other than Wickham, knew the man’s true character. When I saw him talking with the young ladies in Meryton. I should have given the warning. Then I should have been alerted at Netherfield when Miss Elizabeth’s asked questions of me about him. I should have exposed him by telling the true story and warning the men of his true nature. I made the choice to stay silent, in the mistaken belief that I was protecting my sister and myself. I left the young ladies of my acquaintance open to his manipulation. Sir I have known Mr Wickham to be dishonourable and morally corrupt for many years. I, like my father, have done nothing to curb him or to warn those of our mutual acquaintance of his true nature. Therefore, I am to blame for this situation. I should have done more to protect all of my acquaintances.” Darcy answered.

  Mr Gardiner laughed “You cannot protect every young lady from a libertine Mr Darcy. Especially if they are my nieces. I love my brother and sister very much, but they have encouraged the girls to be very wilful and determined. Miss Lydia has never known anything other than her mother’s extravagances. She does what she wants and goes in the opposite direction if she is ever told to do anything. I fear that this situation was not a preventable one Mr Darcy, even had you exposed Mr Wickham. I fear that my sister is wrong when she says that my niece would not do such a thing if she had been properly looked after. My Sister and her husband have spoilt Lydia and allowed her to
run wild. It would not matter how well known the character of the gentleman. Whether honourable or not, if my niece had made up her mind to do this then Lydia would have done it. My wife and my elder nieces have feared this outcome for a while now. That she did this thing, while a shock at the timing, is not out of her spoilt character.”

  “Still, I am the one who is responsible. I left the neighbourhood to his mercy, and I must be the one to repair the damage. It is by no means certain that opportunity would have arisen had I exposed him as I ought.”

  “We will not argue about where the true guilt lies, as I fear it would only highlight my family’s failings too much. Allow me once more, to express our gratitude. I am sure that my family would all express their gratitude, if they knew that you had taken on such a heavy mantle. Now on expense, you must give me a full and detailed itinerary of everything that this has cost you and will cost. My family can and will shoulder the expenses.”

  “Out of the question. I absolutely refuse to share this expense. No, do not argue. It is my family that holds this responsibility, and it is I who is to be the one to do this. One final act to honour my father’s love of the man. He has squandered every opportunity that has ever been given to him. I fear that we have done more harm than good in this situation. There is nothing that would change my mind. I must cover all the expenses.” Darcy stated.

  “In that case, it is time for us to consult the attorney’s and for myself and my wife to speak to our recalcitrant niece.” Gardiner responded. “I am expecting my wife to return within the next day or two. In the meantime, I want to talk to my niece.” It was soon arranged between the two men that they would go to talk to Lydia the next day. Exchanging solicitors’ details was quick, they discovered they both used the same office. It now became clear why Watkins had sent Haggerstone to the club after hearing Darcy’s story. Explaining the situation, a second time would not be necessary. Haggerstone was already familiar with the story.