"As a child, I was taught what was right; but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles but left to follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately, an only son (for many years an only child), I was spoilt by my parents, who, though good themselves (my father particularly, all that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing, to think meanly of all the rest of the world, to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared to my own."
- Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 59 excerpt
Chapter 1
"But, father!" Fitzwilliam Darcy complained, "I do not see the point of such an exercise. Why can we not skip me this time and I will certainly put it to task with my sons? As you have said, it should have been done when I was one and twenty and I am already three and twenty, father. I know all there is to know already and I will make a fine master someday. I am kind to the servants and Mrs. Reynolds has never heard a cross word from me in all of the years she has been here. I do not need to venture to Cheapside for this family tradition of ours, will you not agree, father?"
The elder Mr. Darcy shook his head and softly smiled. He walked back and forth in thought before answering his son. "Fitzwilliam, the fact that you are detracting the importance of our tradition which has been in place since the time of William the Conqueror shows me that it is absolutely necessary that you take the challenge of residing in town for six months." He sighed, "I am sorry that you were not able to go on your grand tour when you were one and twenty, Will. Usually, Darcys go to town for six months and are rewarded with the grand tour for a year but due to your mother's passing, you were not able to take your trip. Georgiana was only eight at the time and she will most likely never clearly remember your mother, but I know you do and I hope you remember how kind and generous she was." He cleared his throat and calmed his emotions.
He spoke several minutes later, "I am ill, Will." Seeing his son's shocked face, he sat and continued gently, "I wish to do this for you. I have some time with you but the doctors tell me it is my heart and there does not appear to be a cure. I am on several draughts which have helped greatly but I fear I may only have a few years and I wish to teach you what I had learned from my experience."
He looked at his son who was still staring into space in shock. "Will, my greatest lesson during my time at one and twenty was to think kindly of the rest of the world, to understand the sense and worth of those who are less fortunate than I, and I wish for you to learn the same. I want you to recognise the good principles in the world as well as how to sympathise with those of a humbler origin. Your mother thought it brilliant and would have encouraged you if she were here with us now. Son, there is no way to learn compassion in the world unless one experiences it first hand, and it will be a valuable education, I promise."
Fitzwilliam quickly wiped his moist eyes. "Is there no hope? Could we not look for better doctors and find something that might work? I do not know if I can leave you if you are ill; if time is short… how could I go away? How can I leave you?"
"We have time, Will. The new doctor in Lambton just arrived last week and is very intelligent and progressive. He has been educated by the best in the field and even though he is only five and twenty years old, Mr. de Cobo is wise and showing potential to be an amazing doctor. I know he is interested in travelling to the continent but since I paid for his education, he is committed to staying in England for the next ten years to increase his skills and serve the people here as originally agreed." Mr. Darcy took several deep breaths.
"It will be good for me to spend some time with Georgiana as well. Since you have exposed Wickham for his malicious deeds, I have taken him out of my will for the Kympton position but I will still bequeath him the £1,000, as originally intended, in honour of his father's memory. I have not said anything to Georgiana about Wickham but she has been asking why George was yelling at me the last time he was here. I had wished to do right by his father but it is most unfortunate that George thought himself above his station due to my generosity. I have learned my lesson in that as well and I am glad I was not too late to listen to you, son. George Wickham may have considered himself a Darcy but he is not my son, you are, Will. You are my one and only son and I wish for the best for you."
Mr. Darcy stood now and walked in front of the fireplace. "Instead of six months, I will reduce the time in town to four; I think it sufficient for your lessons. Do not worry, Will, having only £20 to your name will still be an abundance and you will not be in need. The man that I will send you to, Edward Gardiner, is a sensible and kind man. He will ensure your safety and comfort to the best of his ability and will send word to me should you be in any real danger. As long as you are frugal and work hard, you will earn a fair wage as his clerk. Once your education is completed, you will return to Pemberley and we will have a grand ball. Perhaps you will find a woman to marry and I will see you wed before I return to your mother's side," he smiled, "but not for many more years, I promise."
Fitzwilliam stood and embraced his father, "I understand, father. I will do as you say. I will make you proud, sir. I hope… I wish for everything to be well for you and please, if there is anything I can do to help, to make you happy, I will do everything I can."
"Thank you, son. I am already prodigiously proud of you and I know you will be a good master of Pemberley one day. Discover all there is to learn about the good people of the working class and gain wisdom through your experience. You will be even a better man. You will leave in a fortnight and will use a pseudonym, William Pembers. This will be the third generation of Pembers that the Gardiner family will have hired as their clerks in their business." George Darcy laughed. "I was George Pembers and my father was Archibald Pembers. The Darcy name is too well-known and unfortunately, so is Fitzwilliam. We named you after your mother's surname in her honour but it is a very unique given name. Let us go over the details if you are ready and I will call for some tea. I hate the taste of willow bark but it helps with my chest and the young doctor insisted on a daily intake. Come, son. Make note of what you will need and what you will be allowed to take with you. You will be a poor clerk for the next four months and must appear so. Even your haircut is far above the working class and I know you will dearly miss your valet."
Fitzwilliam paled at the thought, "Good lord, I did not think that far ahead, father. No valet, no money, no horse," he gulped, "no fine brandy! How do people live like so?"
His father laughed, "That is exactly the point I am trying to make. People live on so little and your yearly income from Claystone Manor is a sum that most will never see in their entire life put together. It will be eye-opening, my son, but it will be worth the investment of your time."
"I am beginning to understand, sir. Without walking in their shoes, I cannot imagine what one must go through and how our tenants see the world. It will be challenging but I do see the importance of it." Fitzwilliam replied.
"Fine words, Mr. Pembers, fine words." His father beamed, "Why do we not continue our conversation and let Georgiana in on why you will be gone for four months? I know she is only eleven years old but I do not wish to keep her in the dark. I wish to tell her about my health as well, Will. She is a bright young woman and I will also prepare her the best to my capabilities. I will not make the mistake of spoiling her or leaving her vulnerable to the trials of life."
After a little more discussion of the upcoming trip, Mr. Darcy called for his daughter and the small family of three spent the next hour in pleasant conversation.
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Georgiana cried as she held her brother's torso. "I will miss you so much, Will, I hope you will be well. I do not know how you will survive without Wilkins to help you dress and your clothing is quite awful." She stood tall and straightened his cravat, "You still cannot tie this right, Will. You will look so unkempt." She laughed as he smiled and kissed her cheek. "I hope you will get enough food to eat and take care of yourself. Write often if you can. We will see you in July and we will have a celebration with your favourite foods and father promised to you a ball. I will miss you, big brother!"
The elder Mr. Darcy also embraced his son. "Learn much, be kind, and keep safe, Fitzwilliam."
"Mr. Pembers. I am Mr. Pembers now." Darcy grinned, although his eyes were misty with the farewell. "I will make you proud, father. Goodbye, Mr. Darcy; Goodbye, Miss Darcy."
He bowed gallantly and boarded the Darcy carriage. He would take the luxurious coach for only half of the way to London and purchase a ticket at the post station where no one would recognise him. His identity would be concealed for the next four months.