Chapter 73

Upon receiving word from Loungbourn the household sprung into almost immediate action at their aunt's insistence - rumors contrary to maintaining respectability had not spread; nor would anyone under her roof give rise to gossip by behaving other than three recently engaged women ought. The young ladies at Gracechurch street commenced almost immediately with trousseau shopping and receiving callers. Frivolous though it seemed to the most sensible of the party they all understood that it was by no means a frivolity to give every appearance of normalcy for the purpose of avoiding gossip and speculation - indeed, why would three engaged young ladies go to London and not return home with purchases and stories of town social occasions to submit to the neighborhood's review?

Loathed though he was to reward Lydia's behavior, Mr. Bennet understood her protests at being treated unfairly could well be all his daughter's undoing - therefore funds for her trousseau were readily agreed upon via the same letter that declared their reputations were intact. It would hardly do to skirt around the matter as surely his brother-inlaw would write to say he had covered the expense if he did not readily provide funds.

The ladies, therefore, immediately following a call from the gentleman, went about procuring linens, shoe roses, bonnets, ball gowns, morning and evening dresses, and everything else a lady ought in order to acquit herself properly when facing impending nuptials. Lydia was as excited as any of them, showing no guilt whatsoever at readily accepting funds spurred by an engagement of necessity brought on by her eloping in the most scandalous manner with her last suitor - she seemed, to the others, simply happy to shop; little connecting the excursion to the nefarious activities that necessitated their current occupation in her case, behaving completely in a manner which implied she was as deserving as her sisters, who had come across their husbands by far more acceptable means.

The gentleman retired to Mr. Garinder's study following their morning call to discuss the marriage settlements prior to the drafting of contracts - it was hardly a benign or unimportant business and was, therefore, best left with Mr. Gardiner, with little or no input from his brother in law as what was agreed upon would determine whether the next generation should end in the same predicament as the last. Matters progressed smoothly, however, as Mr. Gardiner was already well informed on the generosity of the gentleman he stood to negotiate with. His primary occupation in these arrangements was using his business expertise to ensure the gentleman's objectives were achieved to their best advantage and ensuring (as the gentlemen themselves wished) that his nieces would not be left in untenable situations due to loopholes that allowed their more infamous relations to exercise their own objectives upon the death of any of the men. His experience, therefore, proved invaluable to ensuring matters were fully seen to and said negotiations went rather pleasantly.

All believing they had the necessary understanding between themselves and Mr. Gardiner to have the legal documents drawn up (unique to each of their circumstances), the gentleman parted company after a brief repast. Darcy was himself eager to return home, he intended to use the afternoon to call upon his solicitor, as did the other gentleman. He wished the business of marriage to be finished, the banns to be read and his wife to be finally his; they may have met only a short while ago, and come to an understanding rather recently - however, he was in such a state that he could hardly now imagine his life without her and wished to proceed with the business as succinctly as it could still be done adeptly -he simply was not well suited to this business of waiting, once his purpose was clear.

As he entered his own establishment, however, he knew the visit to the solicitor was not to be, at least not that afternoon. He was immediately informed Colonel Fitzwilliam was waiting in his study and that his business seemed urgent; as he would neither be seated nor take tea, but choose instead to pace the floors and inquire after the master's return every quarter of an hour or so.

"Wickham?" queried Darcy as he entered. He would have it at once, whatever the news; everything else, though not ideal, was certainly manageable -Wickham remained to sole loose thread. He was rather certain the man would not go quietly, nor cheaply once the engagement was made public; he must be dealt with swiftly and certainly before he had more leverage with which to pry money from Darcy's coffers. If he could be handed over to the military swiftly enough, he may be shipped to the continent before the news could escape of Darcy's engagement. By the time his former friend returned, if he indeed returned, he could cause little in the way of scandal, as Lydia would have been married for several years and perhaps even Georgianna could possibly find her match by then as well. If Wickham were to remain ignorant of the cards he held, long enough that they could be of no use, it would be best for everyone.

"Indeed," replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. "My men have him. We found him holed up in the most disreputable of establishments, as you can well imagine. He has been taken to a boarding house and is guarded by my men, it remains only to determine what is to be done with him? Have you thought more on our previous conversation?"

"I have, I wish him out of the country as soon as possible. Though I know I may add to my trouble, I can hardly think it right to wish him hung," replied Darcy, as a matter of factly as possible, though he still felt himself uncertain when dealing with Wickham. "I shall, however, not endeavor on this occasion to use my consequence to cry for mercy. His actions are his alone and I shall no longer endeavor to alleviate or influence the natural and just consequences of decisions that were his; it has in the past, as you well know, it has benefited no one, least of all himself, and has only served to cause more victims of his depravities. I share in the guilt of that for all the years I attempted to undo the wrongs he has done."

The Colonel did not reply, he only looked at his cousin and nodded. He did not wish for his cousin to bask in his guilt, for truly he took on more than he ought, but nor did he wish him to waiver from his current course of action. Wickham had become such that his course was now quite clear, no amount of mercy would cause him to repent, the only chance for his rehabilitation were indeed the harsh consequences he had always been denied.

For Darcy's part, he reflected on the ease his exasperation now afforded him; for so many years he had been fraught with turmoil on how to deal with Wickham. Now that the decision was finally made (and in such a manner that was final), he felt the relief of all that he had unjustly taken on (and for so many years) which was rightly Wickham's to bear. He couldn't keep his mind from all of the shopkeepers and young ladies, both those he knew of, and those he did not, who now suffered needlessly for the internal strife that he could not overcome for so many years. He thought of his father's admonishment, for being jealous of those beneath him when he had tried to bring Wickham's behavior to his attention - and let it go. It was truly finished, he could not rightly know if his father would be proud of him, but with his conviction that this was the right decision for those under his protection, nor could he any longer rightly care. This was his decision; he had made it, and more so, he knew it to be just. The army could have Wickham; if he were sent to the front lines, his cousin would ensure it was with a regiment his gossip could not matter to. He was now free and so were those that depended upon him. He could not fail in his duty to those he was beholden to now in order to seek affirmation from a father who was no longer with them.

Darcy determined not to see Wickham one last time as it would only increase the man's ire and grant him notice that he was in no way deserving of. As he parted ways with his cousin, he sighed at how anticlimactic the end had been and realized most of the strife had been brought on by himself; the previous turmoil was brought on by all his previous indecisiveness about the man, granting him a power that he did not rightfully possess - he had expected equal (if not more) turmoil with the finality of this decision, but found there to be none, only a peace that had long eluded him with the matter of Wickham. He realized then that with his engagement to Elizabeth his allegiances had shifted, he was no longer loyal to the past and that which he had vainly hoped to make right there, he was loyal to his future with Elizabeth, what he owned her, and their sisters.

Merry Christmas Everyone! After a great deal of contemplation, I've decided to publish. I've found a very talented but inexpensive (thankfully) person who can help with spelling and grammar but I'm hoping a few of you would be willing to volunteer to go back and point out any inconsistencies that I may not catch. For example, when I went back and reread before I started posting again I noticed that I need to correct Wickham taking Lydia to a disreputable inn as it's inconsistent with where they are found. I'd also welcome you to point out anything else you'd like through comments - both likes and dislikes, questions etc. any takers? I'd be so very grateful and hope you enjoy the reread. You have time. I still have three chapters to write and I mean to go back and correct as much as I'm able before I send it to the editor, so I would say, at the very least, you have a month or so. I can't wait to share the epilogue with you - it was one of the first things I wrote. I hope you laugh as much as I did, it's almost as good as Caroline's proposal.