Chapter 13
He had slept surprisingly well after his little adventure, but meeting with a man like Tom Norris, had not only touched his heart, it had also made him see more clearly now in regards to his own situation. He, Fitzwilliam Darcy, was by no means a pawn in the game of life. He had the power, the connections and the means to get everything back under control, and so, having made up his mind that he no longer would be played by Wickham, nor his sister's situation, even before he had reached home, a plan had begun to form.
First of all, he needed to get Georgiana away from London, and fairly quickly before her condition got known, while at the same time it needed to be done in such a way, that it would not rouse too many suspicions. This, of course, was easier said than done, but he would find a way, and if both of them went on a journey. The thought of him not being able to see Miss Elizabeth Bennet for any length of time, however, was a horrible one.
'But perhaps, you do not need to part from her at all...' a soft voice whispered in his head as he fell asleep, exhausted by the long walk through the roughest parts of London.
He woke up several hours later, roused by his valet who had come to see if he was well, for under normal circumstances he never slept in and his recent illness had made the man vigilant.
"Yes, thank you, I am fine," Darcy yawned, slipping out of bed, at last, the dim sunlight filling his chamber and the noise from the street drifting up to him despite the windows being closed.
But the metal wheels of the many chaises on the cobblestones, the chatter of the parties walking by and the occasional neighing of a horse, were quite familiar to him, being the normal background noise of a city hustling and bustling with hundreds and thousands of people, and even though the street he lived in was, at least for London-standards, a quiet one, with visits being paid and tea-gatherings and the like even outside the Season, it was rarely as silent as he liked it. Pemberley was to be much preferred to the busyness of town.
It was, against his fears, well before midday, which was fortunate, for he still needed to sort out a few things in regards to Mr Norris and his family. He could hardly expect the man to make his way to Derbyshire on his own, not with a sick wife and a baby in tow, while at the same time, for exactly that reason, he was bound to make haste to get the destitute family thither and out if the horrible environment they currently lived in.
"Dawson, I am expecting a visitor later today. It is a Mr Norris, could you please make sure he will be received kindly, for I am well aware that his appearance might be a bit raggedy."
"Yes, Sir. Of course," was all his valet's reply, as he tied his master's cravat as neatly as ever.
At that moment, there was a ring at the door and Darcy shook his head slightly. The man was overly punctual, it seemed. All the better!
But when Darcy, at last, had made his way downstairs, he was not met with Tom Norris, but with a man, he had hardly expected to see anytime soon.
"Richard!"
"Ah, I see you have not forgotten about your dear old cousin," Richard Fitzwilliam smiled broadly, getting up from the uncomfortable chair he had sat down in.
"I was not aware that you would return to England just yet."
"Well, I had not expected it myself, but I made a request, due to Anne's health, and it was granted and so here I am."
"And Anne?"
"Oh, she is currently staying at her mother's in Kent."
"How is she?"
"Well considering the circumstances," his cousin replied off-handedly, though his tone of voice showed that he was concerned about his wife's well-being. "And you? You look awfully pale, Darcy."
Sighing he began his tale, and he had not quite finished when at last, his companion from the night before appeared. But dealing with Mr Norris, proved to be a fairly quick business. The man was overjoyed by the prospect of returning back to the country and being provided for. To him, it did not matter that he only earned very little money, as long as he and his family had a roof over their heads and food on their table and that, with the position he had been offered, would certainly be the case and that was that. With a twinge of sadness, Darcy realised, that the man thought himself in no way in any position to negotiate, and again, he felt rather silly for having felt so trapped before, when he had all the means to deal with his family problems.
"Who was that then?" Richard inquired, as soon as the man had left again, some ten minutes after he had arrived, happy to have gained the position and with the prospect of leaving within the week when some of his new master's servants would be going back to Pemberley to prepare for Christmas.
For sure, it was a bit early, but what did it matter? He had to make arrangements somehow, and this was just as good an excuse as any.
"I met him last evening on a rather unwelcome outing," Darcy explained, though in a manner that was bound to raise more questions.
But that actually was his design, for though he had told the colonel about his fight with Wickham and the subsequent wound, he had not as yet gotten as far as Georgiana's predicament and Wickham's blackmail.
"Only you could find an outing unwelcome, Darcy."
"This outing, cousin, even you would have thought to be so. There is more to the tale I have told you, much more. I have told you I was shot by Wickham in a squabble, and that is perfectly true. What I have not yet told you, is how it came about, and I will do so, now."
"Dear me! You do look severe, man. Was it over a woman? - If she could not decide between Wickham and you, then she is not worth pining over."
"It was over a woman, so much is true, but not the way you suspect. The lady in question is Georgiana."
"Good God!"
"You remember, perhaps, that she suffered some respiratory infection last spring and the cough would just not go, so Mrs Younge suggested to send her to the seaside, and I thought it a brilliant idea. However, I am sorry to say, that I was most dreadfully deceived by Mrs Younge, for she permitted Wickham into their society and he then proceeded to pretend to be in love with Georgiana. She, young as she is, was very flattered and quickly accepted his proposal. But Wickham did not want to wait, and so he tried to persuade her to elope – of which Georgiana had none of. She insisted on being married properly and with my sanction, which, of course, I never would have given. Knowing this, Wickham then made sure Georgiana would see no other way out but to do as he thought fit."
Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam stared at him open-mouthed, not quite sure what to make of this last statement, though understanding enough to know that it probably meant the worst.
"Did he...? - Did he dishonour her?" he, at last, spoke, though so quietly it was barely discernible.
Darcy only nodded, pouring a glass of brandy for them both and only when he had downed his, after handing the other one to his cousin, did he continue.
"Two days before I chanced upon them on their way to Gretna, I received a very disturbing letter from Georgiana"
Getting up, he opened the top drawer of his desk and retrieved it, handing it to his cousin, who eagerly read it.
My dearest brother,
Ramsgate at this time of year is most lovely. Mrs Younge was right in suggesting that what I needed, was some fresh, clean sea-air and it already has helped me improve a lot. We have not many acquaintances here, but I have to say I prefer the peace and quiet and the few social obligations that we have, for admittedly I have felt rather weak this past couple of months and so it is very beneficial to my health to be able to idle around a bit, improve my skills on the harp, though I have to say, that I still prefer the pianoforte, for while the harp is a very elegant instrument, a piano is so much more versatile. I draw a lot as well, and I am proud to say, that we will have a couple of new pictures to hang up at Pemberley once we return there. Oh, I miss Pemberley, as nice as it is here, and I miss you, brother. I wish you could be here with me, though I am well aware that business keeps you in London. But, if you find the time, I greatly entreat you to come by and rescue me from complete boredom, for though I like the peace and quiet, on occasion, it can get a little lonely.
I wish I could tell you anything more, but as said, nothing much has happened since last I wrote and I dare doubt you are too interested in the new bonnet I have recently bought. - It is a very plain one anyway, made from straw with nothing but a light pink silk ribbon and a matching flower as a trim, but I think it suits me very well, and so does Mrs Younge. It is nothing, of course, that I could wear in town, but for the country, it is very delightful.
Oh, I have also started to collect seashells and intend to make a picture out of them. I have seen the like around here and I think the idea is charming. I have never seen the like before. But nature is art in itself, is it not? Even now as I am writing, several shells, which I have picked up this morning, are lying on my desk and their intricate patterns, their shimmer, their shape. It is magical! There are heart-shaped ones, and spiral ones, which almost look like a unicorn-horn, and then there are others who are so very oddly shaped, that I can hardly describe them – but perhaps the blade of a butter knife might be best suitable to do so.
The other day Mrs Younge and I went out and along the pier where an old lady sold steamed winkles in a lather of butter with fresh parsley and I tell you, they were delicious. I presume Miss Bingley would be scandalised to hear that I have eaten anything of a street-vendor, but I hope you will not be so, for I know your own inquisitiveness, and upon having my nose filled up with this delicious smell, I just had to try them.
It is getting nice and warm now, at last, but it is still incredibly windy at times. Then again, it is something to see the ships go by with their sails all white and billowing. While I occasionally wish I could go on a voyage and travel across the seas, I am not sure I would like being trapped on board for weeks on end and with so many people there is no escaping them. No, thinking about it, I presume I am better off where I am, dreaming of faraway countries instead of really going there.
For now, I think I have rambled on enough, but you will soon hear from me again and have some more of my nonsense to read, my poor brother, for I am sure you must think me prodigiously silly, and perhaps I am.
Yours, etc.
Georgiana
"Well, disturbing indeed!" cried out Colonel Fitzwilliam, as soon as he had finished the missive.
"But admittedly quite ingenious."
"Yes, I would not have thought my little sister so inventive. No sooner had I read the letter, I was on my way. I met them in -ly, meaning Georgiana and Wickham. Quite by chance, for it was only due to one of my horses having thrown a shoe that I even stopped there. I went inside to get a glass of ale for me and the coachman when I saw them. Wickham engaged in a game of cards and my sister sat by his side, trapped in the corner of the stall they were seated in. Perhaps I have acted a bit rash when I drew my pistol, but I assure you, I had no intention to actually use it. I only wanted to free Georgiana. Well, the rest you already know, and in the end, all that matters is, that Georgiana is safe now. However, there is now another difficulty which has only been confirmed a little more than two weeks ago. - She is with child."
"Damn! This bastard... - This bloody, ruddy son of a bitch! I will show him what happens to a man who messes with my charge! I will have his guts for this, I swear."
"While I completely agree with your sentiment, I think revenge is a dish better served cold – icy cold. And I have just now started to think things over in a more detached way, for, believe me, only yesterday, I was as angry as you are at present, and with no capacity to think straight. - It was actually Mr Norris, my acquaintance from last night, who showed me that one should never stop fighting no matter what life throws at one, and that though my position is in no way enviable it is by no means hopeless."
"So, have you come up with anything yet?"
"No, but considering Georgiana's condition, the first step to take will be to get her out of town and hide her away without raising suspicions, until the baby is born."
"I think with that I can help you, Darcy. And then we will see what to do with that dastard of a man!"