Late on a Saturday afternoon near the end of his second month, Will received his first letter from his uncle, which had additional letters from Alex, Richard and Georgiana tucked inside. Although he desperately wanted to know what they said, he held off on opening them until the next day, when he would have the afternoon to himself after church. He could then read them at his leisure and write out his replies to send with Monday's post.
He kept his curiousity in check through the church service and the walk home. As soon as he could, however, he returned to his room. Settling into his armchair, which was currently situated where it could catch the best sunlight for reading, Will opened Georgiana's letter first. He hoped she had received his last letter from Cambridge and understood his decision. Her letter immediately confirmed both things.
Dear Will,
I received the letter you sent to me through Mrs. Reynolds. Cousin Alex visited to tell me you are safe and that our uncle will forward any letters for you I send to him. I, too, am sorry you could not come home for at least a visit, and even sorrier you had to leave at all. I wish Father understood how unfair he is being to all of us.
I remember your warnings about George and I will continue to be careful around him. Thankfully, he ignores me for now. You would be angry if you could see him here. He acts like he owns Pemberley, at least when Father is not around, although he still has to sleep in Mr. Wickham's house at night. One day he threatened to have Mrs. Reynolds sacked when she refused to do something he demanded of her. She has always disliked him, but now she glowers whenever his name comes up. It is strange to see her with such an expression on her face.
Aunt Miranda and her husband came to visit last week. It still seems strange to call him Uncle Joseph since I have only met him once when they married last year. Our aunt had a big row with Father, although I do not know exactly what they discussed. He told her to leave. She told me I can come visit her if do not feel comfortable at home. She sends you her love. I told her she can write to you in care of Uncle Alexander and she said she would.
I miss you, Will. I hope one day Father will realize that you have always been a better man than George and will apologize so you can come home. I know you want to keep your location secret for now, but please tell me about the boy you are teaching and some of the things you do. I want to know everything I can about your new life.
Your loving sister – Georgiana
Will smiled at his sister's expectation that a simple apology was all that would be needed for him to come home. After all the insults, the anger and the years of disbelief, his father would have to do far more than simply apologize. Actions were needed, not words. Will supposed if he was careful to avoid names he could tell her about the riding lessons and a little bit about his life here. At least, he could assure her he was happy. He truly was.
The mention of George bothered him, of course. He hoped Alex could give him more details on the subject and as it turned out, he did, a little.
To my cousin, the tutor,
I hope this idea of working for a living does not spoil you for the life of a landowner. In my opinion, George will never inherit Pemberley, although he seems to think he will. My father tried to sow some doubt with Uncle George about that forged letter and several other items that have come up. I think he will have to keep trying, and Grandfather and I will help as well. Your father finds the whole situation confusing, which is actuallly a good sign as opposed to straight out doubt. There is more hope, because George is now over-confident. He plays his part before your father almost by habit, but elsewhere he acts as though you have been disowned and he has been acknowledged the heir. It is not true, though, and I do not think your father would approve of the behavior if he saw it. We just have to find a way to make him see it.
While I visited with Georgiana a few weeks ago, I had a talk with Mr. Wickham. He has been concerned by his son's presumption for some time, but was afraid to bring up his concerns with your father. Mr. Wickham was more concerned by the things I told him about George's debts and the other activities he got up to at Cambridge. I still do not know if he will talk to your father, but I suspect he might.
In all seriousness, I hope you are doing well and have gotten in with a good family. You know Father will be glad to help you out if you need it at any time. If your pride will not let you go to Father, come to me. Take care, and let us know how you get on.
Alex
While his current situation was good, Will appreciated knowing he could turn to his family if he ran into trouble. He hoped Alex was correct and Mr. Wickham would finally step forward and do something about George. Although Will considered him a good steward in all other respects, Mr. Wickham had not played the part of George's father with the same diligence he gave to the estate and Will had always wondered at it. After thinking over the situation for a few moments he moved on to Richard's letter.
Will,
Alex wrote that you have carried on that teaching habit you picked up at Cambridge and I also received the letter you sent to confirm it. Welcome to the ranks of those who must earn their way in the world. Although I know you picked up the odd coin here and there helping fellow students cram for their exams, that is different from the daily struggle to follow someone else's orders with honor and live off only what you can earn by it. Some would say you have stepped down in the world, turning your back on your heritage or running away from your problems. Not me. I know what you were facing and respect you more for taking your future into your own hands now rather than waiting until you were forced to it by your shadow.
I expect my father and brother have already told you to turn to them if you need help. Count me in on that offer as well. We Fitzwilliams need to stick together, and you know you carry that name, even if you are not using it right now.
Although I cannot tell you exactly where I am stationed, as usual, my unit is near the fighting. I have had to do some teaching of my own to get the men under my command in shape to face the enemy. I think this batch will do, and I will make every effort to help them survive in addition to achieving whatever objectives we are given. It is not easy, but this is the life I have chosen. I may not always enjoy it, but I do find it satisfying. I expect you will find something of the same in the life you have chosen.
I hope the day is not too far off that we can sit together in some pub, share a drink and tell each other stories about the tasks we have taken on. Maybe we can even tell a few stories that are true. Keep up your courage and remember, George cannot win forever. Every shadow is eventually dispelled by the sunlight. I will celebrate with you when the time comes.
Richard
Of course, Richard would approve of Will's actions. He had always been supportive and being closest in age, he knew more of what Will faced. It still felt good to know most of his family was behind him. Now he had only to see what his uncle had written.
Nephew,
I am sorry things reached the point where you felt you had to take this step. I do understand, as does your aunt. What we do not understand is your father. I know he has always loved you. I saw both the joy and the pride when you were born and during your early years. How that joy and pride were transformed and turned into his unreasonable belief in young George Wickham is beyond me. Every member of your family has attempted to reason with him and every member of your family has failed, even your mother. It is like a sickness in his mind that only affects this subject.
Right after you left, I tried to speak with your father. He had your letter in his hand and he could not make heads or tails of it. I was disgusted when he had the nerve to liken your leaving to a small child who runs away after being denied his supper in punishment for some misdeed. He was certain you would come crawling back to apologize in a week or two. Do not. The fault is not yours.
I know you are a capable and good man. I see in you all the things your father should prize – would prize if he could only see clearly with eyes freed from the shadow cast upon them by George Wickham. You have done our family proud at school and beyond. I honor your determination to make your own way and hope your employers are treating you with the courtesy and respect you deserve.
Your aunts and I will keep watch over Georgiana. I have spoken with her, as has Alex, and we have told her how to get help if she ever feels threatened by George. Her governess knows to keep watch, and Mrs. Reynolds has promised to see your sister to safety even if it is at the expense of her position at Pemberley. Do not worry. She is well looked after.
Your grandfather, your aunt and I all send our love and our good wishes. Please keep in touch.
A. F.
The additional assurance of Georgiana's safety was most welcome. Although he had not expected much different, Will was still insulted by his uncle's description of his father's reaction. It was clear his father had no respect for him and did not even consider him a man if he could describe Will's actions as comparable to a petulant child running away after a scolding. The lecture from his father was coincidental to Will's plans, which had already been made before the school year ended. His letter could have been worded differently, but Will had needed to try to set the record straight. He wondered how long it would be before his father realized Will would not return, hat in hand, to beg for his old life back.
He read over his letters again, planning out the responses. Georgiana's would actually be the hardest. He wanted to give her details, but he would have to be careful not to say too much. After all, Will would not put it past George to search her belongings for clues to his location as a way of making trouble. After some thought, he drafted his reply.
My dear sister,
Be assured I am well. I have comfortable rooms in a very nice house and plenty of good food to eat. The family I work for are excellent people. They have a daughter who is about your age, and I often wish the two of you could meet. I think you might become friends. My charge is a good boy who loves the family estate and wants to be a credit to it. He may not always like his studies, but he is determined to learn just as I am determined to teach him.
I will tell you a little bit about my days. Each morning, I rise early so I can exercise my horse. After a good run, I brush him down and then go in to clean myself up before joining the young master for breakfast. We cover a variety of lessons together until the early afternoon, including mathematics, writing, literature, history and basic Latin. Then we meet up with his sister at the stables for a riding lesson. I am teaching them both to ride the ponies their father has provided for them. Soon they will be good enough that we can all three go out for rides on the estate together, although I will probably continue to exercise my horse in the early mornings as well. Both of them have the afternoons free to play as they wish. I use that time to plan the assignments for the next day and then spend time reading or just walking around the grounds until it is time to join my charge for dinner. On Sunday, I have the day to myself, although I still share breakfast and dinner with the young master and walk with him to and from church.
I am happy here and they treat me well. I do miss you and our home, but if I must be somewhere else, this is a good place to be. I hope you will continue to write to me and let me know how your own studies go, along with any special happenings. You always have my love and best wishes.
Your brother, Will
Will wrote out a final copy and drafted his letters to his uncle and cousins as well as one for his uncle to forward on to Aunt Miranda. At least he could keep in touch with his family even if it would be some time before he saw any of them again.
