Chapter 12

It may well be supposed how anxiously Elizabeth awaited the colonel the morning following her confrontation with Mr. Darcy. She had been steadfastly persuaded that he could have no explanation to give.

When Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived, he suggested an outing to a park he was particularly fond of. As they set out, his friendly open demeanor did not fade away until he was beside Elizabeth and some distance from the others. Feeling a sufficient distance had been put between anybody who might over hear their conversation, he turned gravely to her and spoke.

"Miss Bennet, I know not under what form of falsehood Mr. Wickham has imposed himself on you but I hope you will acquit my cousin henceforth of cruelty towards Mr. Wickham."

"Pray, speak your piece, Sir." She had spoken rather coldly and immediately regretted her tone and silently berated herself. With a strong prejudice against everything he might say, she silently prepared to hear all he might have to say with patience. They began walking once more and his account of the history that existed between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham began.

""Mr. Wickham was the son of a very respectable man, who for many years had the management of all the Pemberley estates. His steady faithful services as steward naturally inclined Mr. Darcy's father to be of service to him and his family. My uncle became George Wickham's godfather. He supported George at school, and afterwards at Cambridge. An education he would not have received otherwise, as his parents were left nearly destitute by the extravagance of Mrs. Wickham. My uncle was not only fond of his society, whose manners were always engaging; he had also the highest opinion of him, and hoped the church would be his profession. He intended to provide for him in it."

Thus far everything he said supported the facts that were known, and she told him so.

"He informed me of all this himself, Colonel."

"Well then, this may be where our stories diverge. Though my uncle thought well of Mr. Wickham till the day he died, for myself, it is many, many years since I first began to think of him in a very different manner. The vicious propensities—the want of principle, which he was careful to guard from the knowledge of his patron, could not escape the observation of two young men of nearly the same age with himself, and who had opportunities of seeing him in unguarded moments."

"As a boy I spent many of my summer months at Pemberley with my cousins. George was often our companion. We all passed many hours together in the manner that young boys are accustomed to do; riding, fishing, swimming, that sort of thing. As we grew older, his careless arrogant behavior grew more pronounced. His manners displayed a conceited total want of propriety and a selfish disregard for the feelings of others. He was often in the company of the maids, causing them to giggle and blush. I know of more than one that had to leave Pemberley because of his actions. He frequently stole port from my uncle's study. He ran up debts in Lambton and laid them to his mothers blame. At school he relied on deceit and his charms to persuade professors and others to help him. Every exception and excuse was made for him."

She wished to discredit it entirely, repeatedly exclaiming in her head, "This must be false! This cannot be! This must be the grossest falsehood!" but she kept silent. Though she remained quiet and had not interrupted, he could see the obstinate look of disbelief in her features.

Colonel Fitzwilliam pulled a thick stack of, what appeared to be, different sizes of old wrinkled paper. Handing them to her, he continued speaking, "Not wishing to disillusion his father, my cousin always resolved Wickham's debts and rescued him from whatever trouble he had created for himself. I have with me documents and receipts of the amounts paid to clear Mr. Wickham's past debts. All of them paid by Mr. Darcy. Tradesmen from all over the country hear George Wickham's name and become red in the face with anger. In many cases the cause is not only fiscal debts. Included as well there, is a report made to the magistrate of his most recent despicable conduct."

Feeling he had spoken enough for the present, he allowed her time to digest his words.

Still unwilling to admit her error, the papers remained folded and clenched in her hand. She looked away from the Colonel observing the bustle of life going on around her. Mr. Gardener was keeping his sister's attention fully occupied at the front, leading the group through the park. Mrs. Gardener and Jane were ahead of them, having a job of it, getting the children to stay on the path. Just now, little James had spotted a squirrel and ran off to chase it. She imagined the scene Colonel Fitzwilliam described of the three of them fishing in the summer at Pemberley and wondered at their present relationship.

Her sense of justice finally winning out over her natural desire to resist correction, she slowly unfolded the pages and examined each of them. Such perusal proved most mortifying. When she reached the report mentioned by the colonel, a sharp gasp escaped. He thought he heard her say under her breath, "the rogue", but he could not be sure. It contained written statements from the servants at Darcy house describing the attempt that had been made by Wickham to abduct Miss Darcy.

"I do believe this is enough to discredit anything he might have told you attempting to discredit my cousins character, do I surmise correctly?"

Unable to meet his eyes, Elizabeth merely nodded.

"But I have not done yet. There is still more to explain. When my uncle died about five years ago he designated that a living might be given to Mr. Wickham upon his taking orders and it becoming vacant. Knowing what I have just shared with you, Miss Bennet, Mr. Darcy and I knew that Mr. Wickham ought not to be a clergyman. Therefore, we were gratefully relieved when Wickham declared his resolution of never taking orders. He requested, instead, more immediate pecuniary imbursement, in lieu of the living. This, my cousin readily agreed to, and it was granted in the sum of three thousand pounds. He expressed an intention to study the law, but neither myself nor my cousin believed is should be accomplished. He left to live in London and it seemed that all connection between them was at an end. I wish more than anything that it had been."

Colonel Fitzwilliam now paused. Elizabeth chanced a look at him and was grateful his view was fixed on some point in the distance. She watched as his features transformed and hardened into stone.

"Last summer, he persuaded Miss Darcy to elope with him. Thankfully, Darcy came upon them the day before they intended to leave. Darcy sent Wickham away immediately. Had I been the one to have found him with her, I would not have acted to generously. Had I been there, he would not have left in one piece. It was nearly impossible for me to credit that he had attempted to abduct her once again. He most certainly will not walk away from our next encounter."

She heard each declaration with surprise and shock. Eagerness and impatience of knowing what the next sentence might bring, hardly left her power of comprehension, and was barely capable of attending to the meaning of the one being spoken. Colonel Fitzwilliam's eyes had grown black; she did not doubt his sincerity. The truth overthrew every cherished opinion of Mr. Wickham's worth. Astonishment, apprehension, and even horror, oppressed her.

All she could manage to say was, "Oh, poor Miss Darcy."

"Miss Bennet, Georgiana is yet unaware of the attempt that was made lately in London; we do not wish to worry her. It is also not known beyond my cousins, myself, and now you of the elopement that almost took place. I would ask that you not reveal what I have shared with you to anyone."

Now feeling the necessity of looking him in the eye, she boldly raised her head and replied in the firmest tone she could muster, "Of course. You have my word, I shall tell no one."

She had not noticed when they had stopped walking, but now perceived that they had lost sight of her family. In an attempt to catch up, they began walking at a brisk pace. Upon rounding the bend, they came upon the group conversing with an unmistakable couple.

They were within five yards of each other, and so abrupt was his appearance, that it was impossible to avoid his sight. Their eyes instantly met, and the cheeks of both were overspread with the deepest blush. She absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immovable from surprise; but shortly recovering herself, advanced towards the party, and spoke to Mr. Darcy, if not in terms of perfect composure, at least of perfect civility. She was able to address Miss Darcy and express her regrets personally of not being able to attend dinner the previous evening. Georgiana accepted them graciously. And with more courage than she knew she possessed, extended an invitation for them all to accompany herself and Mr. Darcy back to Darcy House to partake of luncheon with them. Having not attended the dinner, Elizabeth could not easily reject this offer. She along with Miss Darcy looked to Mr. Darcy, desirous of knowing how he approved of the scheme. Elizabeth felt sure that if he had not hated her before, he most certainly would now. She was utterly ashamed of the abominable way she had abused him. How he must despise her for assuming in him the defects of character he most scorned in the scoundrel Mr. Wickham.

Mr. Darcy looked surprised. The initial blush had gone but the look of surprise had remained. Seeing they had no intention to speak until he had spoken he began, "We should be delighted to have you all for luncheon."

"Then we shall be delighted to accept."

The luncheon was nothing extravagant, when it was over a tour of the house was suggested.

Although he accompanied the party throughout the house, the tour was being conducted by Mrs. Hudson, the housekeeper, rather than Mr. Darcy himself. His excuse was the possibility of his being called away by business and a wish not to disrupt the tour. He dutifully continued at the side of his affianced, but between Elizabeth and Darcy there was a restraint which kept them mutually silent, unwilling to approach any subject.

As the end of the tour approached, the couple unwittingly fell behind the group. The rest of the party filed into the last room and began to move about. Some were admiring the fine details and workmanship; others were estimating the value of the furnishings. Mr. Darcy paused at the doorway barring entrance from Elizabeth. While his courage was still high, he spoke to her.

"This shall be your home, do you approve of it?" Elizabeth could only nod noncommittally, maintaining her focus on a spot in the wall.

"My time is rather equally divided between Pemberley and town. You shall be mistress; it shall be your own establishment. You are at liberty to order any changes to be made in any of the chambers, save mine. Could you not…..Do you not think you could be happy here?"

Still Elizabeth gave no reply.

"You should have an establishment of your own if you wish. As Mrs. Darcy, anything you should wish for would be yours."

Offended by the idea her happiness could be bought, she hotly replied, "Do you think that you could tempt me with establishments?"

He did not answer her immediately, but considered her for a few moments; his gaze reminiscent of the way he had looked at her during her stay at Netherfield when Jane had taken ill and when he had kissed her. His eyes swept over her face, down the length of her body, and returned to her lips for a moment before raising his eyes to meet hers and responded,

"Not with establishments, perhaps."

She lowered her eyes before his bold and passionate gaze. The sensations inspired by his kiss were resurfacing, and she felt sure her face was turning a striking shade of pink. It was all pride and insolence. Her feelings were scarcely to be defined. Embarrassment, anger, and shame all at once flooded her body.

Checking himself, he cleared his throat and apologized.

"Forgive me.

"Miss Elizabeth, I was taken by complete surprise by your presence in the park this morning. Had I known you were to be there with my cousin, I would not have dreamt of imposing myself upon you so soon. I suspect my cousin knows of my habit to walk out with Georgiana there, and specifically chose that location in the hopes of meeting us, and most likely in hopes of an invitation for lunch. I deeply regret the presumption of my cousin.

Shame overcame all else and she exclaimed, "It is I that should be offering my apologies, sir. This half hour my sense of justice has been exhorting me to speak."

"Am I to understand then, that Colonel Fitzwilliam had sufficient time to disclose my entire history, in regards to Mr. Wickham?"

"Yes, and I am most heartily ashamed of myself."

Mr. Darcy could hardly resist saying, 'As well you should be', but he did not. What he did say was,

"His success is not to be wondered at. Ignorant as you previously were of everything concerning either, detection could not be in your power, and suspicion certainly not in your inclination. There have been many who have been taken in by him." As he finished speaking his tone grew somber and his eyes looked sad.

Before she could think of something to say, Miss Darcy signaled the end of the tour, inviting all of them to return to the drawing room for tea.

AN:So obviously I used a lot of text from the novel in this chapter. So,... disclaimer! Also must disclaim a part that I stole from another book. The whole tempt me with establishments thing is something I stole from a book called The Devil on Horseback by Victoria Holt. It is a scene that I have always loved and thought hilarious so I thought I'd throw it in there, hope you all don't mind. I wasn't really sure if i wanted to do the whole thing with him explaining because it is just a lot of info we already know, kinda boring ya know? I was just going to have it be after and her reaction but then I changed my mind because it seemed like lots of reviewers anticipated it. Ok, so let me know what you thought of it, thanks again for all the reviews and support!