Chapter 27: Brewing
How could I feel this way? She thought as she paced around her room in the middle of the night.
He is so kind to me. I have never felt this way before. I feel so happy and secure when I am with him.
He saved me from danger. He is such an honorable man.
She remembered the way he had held her hand that day and blushed. Will he accept me as his equal? She pondered. How could he love me? I am in no way his equal, in status or wealth. And if he knows the truth about the incident at the ball, he will think I would do anything for money. But I feel the compelling need to tell him the truth. I cannot bear it any longer. I cannot live in fear and mortification of being part of such an act. She met him the next day. He smiled at her in a way that warmed her heart.
"Good morning, Dorothy."
"Good morning, Mr Wickham."
Wickham smiled at her handsomely. It was not new to him to secure a woman's heart with his impeccable manners and flattery.
A few weeks ago, Mrs Younge had come home late. Wickham was better, and his leg had healed. Mrs Younge was getting tired of his presence, and he knew he had to find a source of money to stay there.
"George, where did you say your regiment stationed before you came here?" She asked him as she entered the house.
"Why do you ask? Hertfordshire."
"Oh! Then it must be the same place."
"What do you mean?"
"There is a maid who recently joined the household I work in. Her name is Dorothy. We enjoyed a spare bottle of wine in the kitchen tonight. As she kept drinking, she got distressed and started to cry. At first, I thought she was delusional. Then she said something about fearing for her life. She mentioned that she ran away from her previous position in the middle of the night. She mentioned something about a ball and compromising someone."
Wickham straightened up in curiosity.
"She said some name of the estate in Hertfordshire. She said something like, "Nether...""
"Netherfield?" Wickham yelled
"Yes, Netherfield. So, she is telling the truth."
Wickham could not believe his ears. She must be the maid who was involved in Darcy's compromise. I wonder who orchestrated it?
"Where does she live?"
"She lives in the servant's quarters. She said that her mother lives on the other side of town."
"Listen, we may be able to make a lot of money here."
"What? Not again. George, nothing came out of Ramsgate. I will not be a part of any of your schemes."
Wickham quickly explained how Darcy had married out of a compromise.
"If we find the person responsible for it. We may be able to blackmail them for a lot of money."
Mrs Younge looked doubtful. "How do you think she will tell you the truth. Today she was drunk and blabbered some details. I cannot make her drink every day."
"Leave it to me, my darling. Just let me know where I can find her. I have a better plan to make her divulge the details."
He had formed a plan to trap Dorothy. He arranged for a few men to follow her in a park and assault her. He had intervened and saved her. She was impressed with his charm and status as an officer. From what he saw, she was lonely and in need of support. He had met her almost every day at the park and gained her trust.
In two weeks, he had accomplished his task. He was sure that she was falling in love with him. This morning, he was going to take matters forward.
"Why do you pain me so much by addressing me formally, my dear? Call me George."
"But, how can I? I cannot."
"You must. I want to hear my name from your beautiful lips."
"George, I feel so happy when I am with you."
"I feel the same way, and that is why I am going to ask you this. Will you marry me?"
Dorothy was shocked beyond measure.
"But I am not your equal. I am just a maid."
"I do not care about your status. I love you. You are the most beautiful, charming woman I have ever met. You can leave your employment as soon as we are married."
"Will your family accept me?"
"They will. My mother will adore you. Will you marry me?"
"Yes! Yes." She yelled with joy.
Wickham pulled her and kissed her passionately. She felt as if she was about to swoon.
"Now, my dear, as much as I would like to, we cannot marry immediately. I have some things to disclose to you. Let us sit down."
"What is it?"
"I have a few debts. I cannot marry you until I clear them. I want to take you to my home and give you a comfortable living. I do not want to hide anything from you. I love you. Please do not think I accumulated debts by gambling, I had to borrow some money to support my mother."
Dorothy admired his honesty and integrity. She felt guilty about her secret.
"You are so honest. I do not care about your debts. I love you. I do not deserve you." She said in distress.
"Why do you say that?"
"I am scared that you may not love me after my revelation."
"I will love you no matter what. You are to be my wife. Don't you trust me?" He asked most sincerely.
"I do. I do. I cannot bear holding this inside me any longer."
She told him about her employment at the Bingley household and the money she had borrowed from Miss Bingley. She revealed the details about the compromise her mistress had planned during the ball and how she had messed it up. By the end of her story, she was sobbing. Wickham wrapped his arm around her.
"I have lived in fear. I do not know if Miss Bingley is back in town. She will hunt me down. I do not even visit my mother these days."
"You did nothing wrong, my dear. Does anybody else know about this?"
"No, only Miss Bingley, and me. She wanted to marry than man so badly, she was so sure about her plan. But I do not know how Miss Bennet got trapped. I ran as soon as I saw the crowd gathering around them. I am scared, George."
"As long as I am with you, nobody can hurt you. I will take care of everything." He smiled at her assuringly.
Miss Bingley, be ready to empty your purse. He thought.
Miss Bingley was traveling to town that very moment. Jane and Mr Bingley had left for their honeymoon. Miss Bingley was returning to town with the Hursts.
Finally, I am out of that dreadful place. What a horrible bunch of idiots I had to endure in my time there? She thought.
She still could not believe how the events had turned out. The position of Mrs Darcy was stolen from her by a country nobody. She hated losing in anything, and she felt like a failure.
Only if that idiot had carried out my plan correctly. Dorothy! I will kill you if I find you. As the carriage sped to town, she imagined Elizabeth and Darcy enjoying the bliss of married life and winced inwardly. She wanted to separate them but did not know the means.
"You will find wealthy suitors in town. Cheer up, Caroline." Mrs Hurst tried to lift her mood. Miss Bingley was not convinced. She had nothing to look forward to in town.
The next day after Lady Catherine's visit, Elizabeth longed for a walk. I have been indoors for too long. She thought.
As she was about to leave, Georgiana wanted to join her.
"Lizzy, I do not have to take lessons in the morning. Shall I accompany you?"
"Of course!"
Just then, they saw Emma and her nanny on the landing above the stairs.
"Shall we take Emma too?"
"Sure." Elizabeth said, smiling at the excited girl.
Georgiana was very excited about the outing, and she almost ran up the stairs. She dragged Emma down hurriedly. To her horror, Emma missed her footing and toppled down the bottom stairs.
"Emma!" Elizabeth cried, and ran to the child. Darcy who was standing close by, witnessed the whole thing. He was horrified.
"Emma, are you all right?" Elizabeth asked with concern as she lifted the crying child. She was uninjured but was crying because of the shock. Mrs Thomson examined her.
Georgiana was shaking with fear, unable to look at her brother's face. After a few minutes, the child calmed down.
"Georgiana, what has gotten into you? Why did you pull her down the stairs?" Darcy asked in anger.
Elizabeth was well aware of that look.
"I am so sorry. She slipped."
"Of course she did. She is a child. I have told you many times not to encourage her to play on the stairs."
"She did not play on the stairs. It was an accident." Elizabeth intervened.
Darcy stared at her with cold eyes.
"She could have got seriously injured. I will not have this behavior, Georgiana."
"I am telling you, it is not her fault. It was an accident." Elizabeth cried seeing that her sister was nearly in tears from Darcy's reprimands.
Darcy stared at Elizabeth. Her constant interventions angered him.
"Madam, I know what happened exactly. I do not need your advice." He said in a stern, formal tone.
"You cannot blame Georgiana for this." She said, staring back bravely at him. Mrs Thomson felt uncomfortable by the situation.
"Mr Darcy, I will take Emma to the nursery now. She may sleep." She said in a low voice and carried the child away.
Darcy was angry beyond measure.
"Georgiana, I do not want this to happen again." He said with displeasure. He turned towards his wife and said, "Can I have a word with you?"
Elizabeth followed him into the library. She knew he was displeased with her. I guess he is unaccustomed to any sort of disagreement or questioning.
Darcy paced the library, trying to calm himself. He was agitated and did not want to throw words at her in anger.
Elizabeth watched him calmly.
He finally spoke. "Do not dare to belittle me again in front of my family or staff."
"I did not belittle you. I was merely stating a fact. It was an accident."
"Enough. You think I cannot make judgments for myself. I saw what happened. She could have got hurt."
"But, she is fine. Children are bound to fall and get hurt as they grow. It is a part of their childhood."
"I cannot allow her to get hurt in any way. You do not seem to understand the responsibility on my shoulders." He said with animosity.
"I do. I do understand. You have promised Anne to keep her safe. But you were too critical of Georgiana."
Darcy stared at her in disbelief.
"Are you going to teach me how to treat my sister? How long have you known her? How do you think she would respect my words if you belittle me in front of her?"
"And how do you think your sister would have felt to be reprimanded in front of me? You could have called her to your study and discussed your concerns. As much as Emma is a child, Georgiana is an adult, do not forget that. You were blinded by your love for Emma, that you could not even see the tears in your sister's eyes." She said with resolve.
Darcy was shocked. He could not remember anyone except his parents, who had spoken to him thus.
Elizabeth stared at him fiercely. She expected him to bring up the compromise and point out her flaws. But he just stared at her, unable to digest her accusation.
"Was Georgiana crying?" He asked guiltily.
"Yes, she was. If you would excuse me, I shall leave now."
Darcy stood alone in the library. He had felt that Georgiana was getting distant from him after the incident at Ramsgate. But things were better when she was back to Pemberley.
Elizabeth's words echoed in his mind. He realised that he had shamed her in front of everyone. She is right. I have acted out of anger.
He immediately went upstairs to find his sister.
She was alone in her room. Darcy could see that she had been crying.
"Georgi, I am so sorry. I should not have scolded you."
"I made a mistake. I always make mistakes, Fitzwilliam. I am so sorry."
"All of us make mistakes. I was worried that Emma got hurt, but it was an accident. It was not your fault."
"You are not angry at me?"
"I am not. I can never be."
"Lizzy told me the same. I am so relieved now."
"I am always proud of you. You have been there for Emma when I was in town. You are growing up to be a responsible woman." Darcy noticed how his sister beamed at his praise.
Elizabeth is right. I may have overlooked Georgiana in my concerns about Emma. The way she had stood up for Georgiana warmed his heart. She was not scared of him, his status, or wealth. She had stood for what was right.
Day by day, he was feeling a strong attraction and admiration for her. But he carefully avoided the name of the feelings that brewed in his heart. It was nothing but love.