Chapter 15 To Strain at Gnats and Swallow Camels
A rider had been sent to Longbourn, a carpetbag with the necessary garments had returned with a note from her father imploring her to stay at Netherfield for a few days until the ruckus at Longbourn had exhausted itself. It would seem her father supported her decision to spur Mr Collins overtures., making Elizabeth feel excessively stupid to have run away...
Miss Bingley was not pleased when Elizabeth prolonged stay was announced during dinner but did not deny Georgiana's request to add a guest to their party. She was more concerned about being Georgiana's accommodating friend than spending a few days in partially disagreeable company.
Elizabeth felt alleviated through supper. Escaping an unwanted suitor, reconciling with Georgiana and experiencing a close encounter with the man she loved. Although she was savouring the latter for a private moment to relish.
Mr Darcy was contemplative and silent. Paying him as much attention as she did, albeit clandestinely, she noticed his focus was on Mr Wickham rather than his sister this evening. Miss Bingley kept up her hunt and addressed him persistently, getting monosyllabic answers in return until she uttered something so outrageous that even Darcy reacted. How the conversation had turned to Scotland, she had no idea but she heard Miss Bingley put her foot in her mouth.
"The most scenic view in Scotland is the road to England," then snickered at her own jest.
Wallowing in her ignorance, the table grew quiet. She obviously did not know that Mr Darcy owned a Scottish estate nor that his sister had married over the anvil in Gretna Green. Miss Bingley had assumed that the wedding had been held in London while she had been up north in Scarborough, visiting relations.
"Have you ever been to Scotland, Miss Bingley?" Mr Wickham inquired.
"No, thank you. I have no need for travelling when London has everything I desire. I will never tire of it."
Miss Bingley was clueless about how little she had just recommended herself to Mr Darcy.
To her knowledge, Mr Darcy spent the better part of the year in London, drawing the wrongful conclusion that he must prefer town to all other locations. She lacked the understanding that Mr Darcy was in town because of his obligations, not necessarily by his own inclinations. Captain Wickham knew him better and was not opposed to letting Miss Bingley dig her own grave. He rather thought of it as the evening's amusement.
"I thought your heart was settled on Derbyshire."
"Of course, Derbyshire is lovely, so cultivated. Nothing can compare to Pemberley. I wish my brother had found an estate more like Mr Darcy's magnificent home. Are you sure you are not willing to sell, Mr Darcy?"
Mr Darcy glared at her without making a reply. Miss Bingley coloured and touched her amethyst necklace, repositioning it to dip between her cleavage. The lady was relentless in her pursuit if not particularly clever about it.
Captain Wickham was his usual charming self but Elizabeth was sceptical and cautious. During her first thoughts upon introduction to the man, she had been taken in. What followed made her grateful she had not acted upon her inclination. She would not have relished life as Mrs Wickham, following the drum from town to town. She needed the anchorage of a home. It needed not to be grand but a dwelling to call her own. It dawned on her that her ruminations were shallow and superficial. Her heart must not have been touched or she would surely have felt some sentiments towards losing the man himself. She could honestly pronounce there were no regrets.
Unbeknownst to her, she smiled.
When the meal had been consumed, she opted for a stroll in the garden. Georgiana wanted to refresh herself and Miss Bingley had more ladylike pursuits in mind. Elizabeth ventured out on her own, a moment of solitude to reflect on the happenings of the day was welcome.
An old swing hung from a tree in the back garden. Concealed from the windows were the gentlemen were having their port or so she thought and let her mind wander to the most pleasant ride she had ever experienced.
Her fear of horses had lessened considerably the moment she felt an arm encompass her waist and a broad chest against her back. Mr Darcy radiated heat, even through his greatcoat. Closing her eyes she let her recollection of the feeling wash over her. It was a dangerous game, the injury to her heart when he left would be profound which was a sobering thought...
"Have I not told you not to come here?"
The voice was near but she could not determine from which direction. Perhaps the hedge behind her?
"It is an emergency. The bank has ordered a foreclosure, I need funds quickly."
"What do you want from me, Ruth?"
"Surely you can think of something? Georgiana must have some jewellery..."
A scuffle could be heard, twigs broke and the lady yelped. Elizabeth clutched her heart and wondered what she should do? Mrs Young had come to Netherfield and was currently having a liaison with Mr Wickham in the garden. She rose from the swing, intent on escaping before the melee escalated. It would probably be wise to alert Mr Darcy. He would know what to do but she had to remove stealthily lest she was discovered. She was loathed to be caught eavesdropping.
"Was it you who stole Georgiana's necklace in Ramsgate?" Mr Wickham's voice had an accusatory note that belied his involvement in the theft if there had been one.
"Let go of my arm, you can prove nothing."
"I am sure there is pawnshop between Ramsgate and London with an identical necklace and a description of you as the peddler."
The lady harrumphed, at loss for words but not spirit.
"I aided you to get in contact with Georgiana, you owe me!"
"I owe you nothing. I asked for none of the services you claim to have rendered."
"What about my son?"
"You and I both know there is no son, Miss Perranuthnoe died in childbed with her son. The late Mr Darcy thought it important to inform me of her passing. Despite claiming him as my own back then, I was not the father. Another man paid me handsomely for naming him my own and Miss Perranuthnoe was married off. You have no idea what the late Mr Darcy put me through for the perceived misconduct. I had never felt a leather belt to my back before that. My father was a lenient man but not that merciful."
"The other man, could you not admit it was Mr Darcy? He is tall, dark and handsome as Miss Perranuthnoe described him to me. He called himself Fitzwilliam which is Mr Darcy's Christian name. I was certain Mr Darcy was the father until after I was hired as Georgiana's companion. Imagine my disappointment when it turned out to be difficult to prove..."
"I know. Fitzwilliam is his mother's family name. There are more relations with Fitzwilliam as their surname."
"It was not the Colonel, I met him at Ramsgate. He looked nothing like Miss Perranuthnoe's young beau. He is shorter and has fair hair."
"There is an elder brother, the Viscount and heir to the earldom. He wanted to avoid the scandal because he was already in his father's bad books due to his penchant for gambling. The Earl had threatened to revoke his allowance which is why he paid me to take the blame. I can see your mind delighting in the possibilities but I urge you to give them up. No one would believe you. I claimed him as my own and that cannot be undone."
Elizabeth heard sobbing behind the hedgerow.
"You should sell the boarding house, pay off your debts and go back to your parents."
The sobbing stopped abruptly, making Elizabeth believe the crying had been a ruse to garner sympathy.
"They live in poverty, for crying out loud."
Mrs Young could transform rapidly between aggrieved and angry it would seem.
"You should have caught Mr Darcy when you had the chance then. He is the only one I know with a solvent estate."
"Which says more about you and your friends than the state of gentry's finances."
"True..."
"You are determined not to help me?"
"I have nothing, Ruth and what I may acquire will go to my wife. You must understand that she is my priority?"
Mr Wickham's patience was running out judging by the exasperation in his voice but Elizabeth had made it almost around the corner when she bumped into something solid. The oomph they both exonerated alerted the opponents of the company. Elizabeth put her finger to her lips and grabbed Mr Darcy by the hand to pull him away.
He was having none of it and strode in the direction of the adversaries. Elizabeth had no choice but to follow as her hand was still caught in Mr Darcy's.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Mr Darcy's voice boomed when he rounded the hedge. He got no reply so Elizabeth quickly filled in the particulars. Mr Wickham excused himself to tend his wife. Sending a couple of footmen to escort Mrs Young off the premises.
"There was a child," Elizabeth reminded him gently.
"Right... He would have been thirteen years of age if he had lived. Unfortunately, both mother and child perished. I have investigated Mrs Young claims of having a child but I found no evidence of the child's existence. I did, however, discover that Mrs Young was once a friend of a certain Miss Perranuthnoe which once claimed me as the father of her child. A futile attempt to extort money but it turned out the child was none other than Mr Wickham's."
"It was not. I accidentally overheard Captain Wickham admit he was paid to claim the child by Colonel Fitzwilliam's brother, the Viscount."
"I always knew there was something murky about the whole ordeal. That certainly explains a lot of my misgivings at the time."
"You are the most discerning man I know, Mr Darcy."
Elizabeth coloured as soon as the words were spoken but once said they could not be taken back.
"It feels like I have strained the gnats and swallowed a camel," Mr Darcy muttered.
"How does one swallow a camel?" Elizabeth inquired.
"With the fur, not against it..."