At last! Sorry it has taken me so long to get another chapter to you. The writing of this book is not going as smoothly as I had hoped, and I am already more than a month off from when I'd hope to have it ready for publication. But my mental and physical health has just not cooperated with me lately.
Anyhoo, here is chapter 18 for you. I hope you enjoy it. And as always, my deepest thanks to all you readers out there favoriting, following, and commenting. You are awesome.
Chapter Eighteen
"Wickham!" cried Theodore with fury.
He pushed to his feet and whirled on Darcy. "Will, you ought to have let me kill that blackguard last summer when he—"
Darcy scowled. "Theo!"
"So you do know him," said Lady Amelia. "If he is such a person as to incite one to murder, whyever would you have recommended him, Mr. Darcy?"
Darcy turned his gaze to the young lady, who was but three years Georgiana's senior, yet so much more composed and worldly—perhaps due to her upbringing as the daughter of a duke.
"I can assure you I did not, if he is the same person we know," said he.
"Lady Amelia," said Philip, "how did Mr. Wickham come to be in His Grace's employ? What did he do for him?"
"Mr. Wickham took the position of steward at one of my father's properties in Norfolk, Lord Rowarth," Lady Amelia replied. "After I had overheard his distress, I confronted my father and asked him what was wrong, and though he was reluctant to speak of it, he told me the whole story. Late last summer, our steward at Lionsgate chose to retire. Father advertised for a replacement, and Mr. Wickham was interviewed. He brought with him a letter of recommendation signed by Mr. Darcy—the glowing report of his skill in the position is why my father hired him."
"Not to mention my cousin's connection to Lord Disley likely impressed His Grace enough to take him on," Philip observed.
"That letter, my lady, was a forgery," Darcy said. "George Wickham and I have not been on good terms for many years. I would not give him any recommendation whatsoever."
"May I ask what he did that was so grievous as to make Colonel Fitzwilliam wish him dead?" the lady pressed.
Theodore, who had begun to pace, paused and looked to Darcy; the viscount did also. What was he to tell her? He did not think he could bring himself to share the full story—he would not risk injuring his sister for the world—but how then to make Lady Amelia understand why his cousin would want to kill a man?
"I think we can trust the lady's discretion, Will," said Theodore then, as though he had sensed the direction of Darcy's thoughts. "She has been open and honest with us."
"Colonel Fitzwilliam is correct, sir," said Lady Amelia. "Whatever information you choose to impart, I give you my word it shall never be repeated."
Darcy closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as he drew a breath and sighed. "Mr. Wickham was the son of my father's steward," he began. "We grew up together, even played together as boys. But as he matured, he came to resent the sphere to which he had been born, and began to entertain the idea of rising above his station."
"I see no real harm in that, Mr. Darcy," his visitor observed.
He glanced at her. "Not in the desire to better one's position in society, perhaps, but the means by which he hoped to achieve it did him no credit. Wickham fell into gambling, at which he has little skill, and he is always borrowing money from his friends given the number of debts of honor he tends to leave in his wake.
"We had not spoken since the death of my father near six years ago, when he took the legacy my father bequeathed him and an additional sum given him by me in lieu of the living my father had promised him if Wickham should take orders. But as I knew his dissolute habits meant he should not make the church his profession, and Wickham readily owned to having no intention of taking orders, I agreed to his request of a payment of the value of the living. After he received the money, I neither saw nor heard from him until last summer."
"What did he do, Mr. Darcy?" Lady Amelia asked again.
"That libertine forced his notice upon Darcy's sister," Theodore spat.
Lady Amelia frowned. "You mean that sweet young girl who accompanied him to our box at the theatre?"
Darcy nodded. "Indeed. The companion I had hired for Georgiana was, unknown to us at the time, an associate of Mr. Wickham, who had applied for the position on his inducement. We were to holiday together at Ramsgate last summer, but estate business delayed my departure for a fortnight; I allowed my sister to go ahead with her companion. Wickham and Mrs. Young took advantage of the opportunity, for he soon went thither and met them there. Georgiana was not aware of the true nature of his character, so her memories of him were pleasant, and he is blessed with such happy manners as assures him of making friends easily."
"But he is a practiced liar, my lady," said Theodore with bitterness. "He visited my cousin and her companion every day, spent hours in their company—enough to convince dearest Georgiana that he was in love with her."
Realization dawned on the lady's face and she gasped softly. "And she was induced to believe herself in love with him."
Darcy inclined his head again. "In only two weeks, he had my sister so convinced they were meant to be together that she agreed to an elopement," said he. "But as fortune would have it, I was able to conclude the affairs which had detained me at Pemberley earlier than expected, and so I was able to arrive at Ramsgate before their planned departure for Scotland. Unable to countenance grieving a brother she looked up to almost as a father, Georgiana confessed the whole scheme. Mrs. Younge was dismissed, and I informed Wickham that I had authority to withhold my sister's fortune if she made a match of which I disapproved. Understanding that he would see nothing of her thirty thousand pounds if he should continue his mercenary suit, he departed Ramsgate immediately, leaving me to explain the whole affair to a heartbroken girl of only fifteen years."
"Good gracious, what an evil scheme," said Lady Amelia. "To go to such extremes in order to acquire a fortune… I am happy that you were able to prevent him. I can only imagine how miserable your poor sister would have been with such a man as her husband."
"Had he succeeded, his revenge against Darcy—whom he blames for all his misfortunes—would have been complete," said Philip.
Lady Amelia stood and moved toward the fire again. "Oh, what a deplorable human being—a disgrace to all mankind. And to think my good father trusted him with the management of an entire estate!"
"From which he was probably stealing, I do not doubt," muttered Theodore. "In any case, I pray you would not distress yourself further, madam. I will hunt that villain down for you."
She turned back with a small smile about her lips. "And how am I to compensate one of His Majesty's finest spies? With my hand or my life?"
Theodore stepped toward her and held out his hand, and after only a moment's hesitation, Lady Amelia placed hers into it.
"I never said I was a spy," he reminded her. "Though if I were, I could never have followed through on silencing you by death—beauty and grace such as yours should never be denied to the world. To silence you by marriage, on the other hand… Well, I would not be disinclined to that. As it is, my lady, I assure you I need no compensation for this service. My satisfaction will be in ridding the world of a predator."
Philip then sidled up to Darcy and leaned over to whisper, "Quite the romantic for a 'gruff old soldier,' wouldn't you say?"
Darcy chuckled softly. "Your brother certainly does have a way with words."
-...-
When Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner returned home on Saturday, Elizabeth and Jane were quick to acquaint them with the particulars of their evening. They were both of them surprised by Elizabeth's having invited the gentlemen to stay to dinner, and more so by their accepting. The emotion quickly turned to astonishment when they heard that the viscount and his cousin had proposed assisting their Bennet relations in acquiring better manners, as well as Lord Rowarth's determination to have Jane and Elizabeth at his sisters' come-out ball on Friday next.
"Oh! Upon my word," said Mrs. Gardiner with her hand to her lips. She moved quickly to a chair to seat herself. "My nieces at a grand ball in a duke's home! Oh, my dears, what an unexpected honor this is!"
"Indeed, my love, should Lord Rowarth be successful in securing an invitation for them," noted Mr. Gardiner.
"Of course he will!" cried his wife. "Do you really think he would mention it to the girls, and get their hopes up, if he had no idea of being successful?"
"In all honesty, Aunt, it makes no difference to me if we should not go," said Elizabeth.
"Lizzy!" cried Jane. "Do you really mean that? I thought you would want to dance with Mr. Darcy?"
Elizabeth looked down at her lap so that the small smile she felt turning her lips would go unobserved. "I… I certainly would not mind it if he should ask me, Jane."
Looking up again, she allowed the smile to bloom. "But it makes no difference to me because our going will be all for your benefit. I rather do hope that His Lordship is successful, if only to bear witness as that mother of his is forced to eat a little humble pie after she sees what an angel you are."
"Lizzy, I do hope you hold that sharp tongue of yours in the countess's presence," cautioned Mr. Gardiner.
"I promise you, sir, that I will do my best to remain civil even if she proves not to be, for Jane and Philip's sake."
"We will go on Monday morning to your uncle's warehouse," said Mrs. Gardiner with a nod. "We may not, perhaps, be able to sew whole new dresses for you both, but there is certain to be such there as can make over one of the evening gowns you've brought very well."
Mr. Gardiner chuckled. "It is true, my dears—there are more than enough bolts of fabric and ribbons and beads and the like for you to choose from. And should Lord Rowarth's request to have you girls invited to his sisters' ball be denied by Lord Disley, you will still have the most beautiful gowns at the next public assembly you attend. Your aunt and I will be sure to take you to one as soon as may be, that your efforts to put together a proper ensemble do not go to waste."
The sisters smiled and laughed, and agreed that their uncle was too kind. After a very light supper of soup and bread, they all retired for the night. Sunday was spent attending services and caring for the Gardiner children, but Lord Rowarth's man appeared, as expected, about an hour after the family returned from church with the viscount's daily note to Jane.
Elizabeth, sitting in a chair by the front window to read, overheard this exchange through the open drawing room door between her sister and the valet as they stood in the hall:
"Mr. Oliver, I do not know that I have ever thanked you for your kindness to Lord Rowarth and I, nor for your discretion. I am sure it must strike you as highly improper that he and I correspond in secret."
Elizabeth imagined the valet gazing at Jane with a raised eyebrow as he replied, "Miss Bennet, it is not my place to concern myself with my master's private affairs, only to do as he asks of me—and that includes keeping what confidences he places in me. However, if I were to offer my opinion on the matter, I might be inclined to say that I have observed a level of happiness in my master this last week which heretofore I had never seen. Oh, he's always been a cheerful lad, to be sure, but for some years—about eight, I calculate—Lord Rowarth has had a pall about him that only those who know him most intimately would take notice of. It's as though he carried the weight of the world upon his shoulders, and now the burden of that weight has been lifted. If you have not a maid of your own, madam, let me assure you that any lady's maid or valet worth their salt wishes to see their mistress or master in good spirits as often as can be. You have given His Lordship reason to be happy, and for that alone I honor you."
There was a brief pause in which Elizabeth imagined the valet to be bowing.
"So… You do not perceive any wrong in his choice of me?"
Mr. Oliver scoffed lightly. "Lord Rowarth is wealthy enough that he need not be entirely scrupulous in his choice of wife, madam—she need not come with a large dowry, or any at all as the case may be. Only the nobility believe a titled man must marry a girl from a titled or extremely wealthy family. You may not have a fortune, Miss Bennet, but at least you are a respectable gentleman's daughter, and a well-mannered, lovely one at that."
Sure that the compliment made Jane blush, Elizabeth smiled.
"Thank you very much for so kind a compliment, sir. And now I have kept you from your tea and biscuits long enough. Cook will have them ready for you in the kitchen, and I shall have my reply to Lord Rowarth ready when you are finished."
"Of course, Miss Bennet," was the valet's reply, and then he was heard to move off.
Seconds later, Jane stepped into the drawing room, holding the letter to her heart as she moved to the other window seat and sat opposite her sister.
"Forgive me the observation," said Elizabeth, "but that was an interesting conversation you had with Lord Rowarth's valet just now."
"Oh, I do hope it was not inappropriate to speak to him so," said Jane. "I only wished to thank him for—"
"For his discretion," said Elizabeth, looking up from her novel with a smile. "And I daresay his approval, even if he is only a servant."
Jane frowned. "Lizzy, that was unkind."
"Now dearest, you know I did not mean it as a belittlement of his station—I have a great deal of respect for the working class, as at least they have the chance of earning their fortunes. You and I cannot even do that, if we hope to retain our respectability. But a servant who does not disdain his master's choices is a servant who is less likely to gossip and bring shame or scandal to his house."
Elizabeth chuckled then. "At least earning a fortune is something you shan't have to concern yourself with. You are to marry a wealthy viscount sometime this year."
Jane grinned. "Nor shall you, I daresay."
Feeling the heat of a blush in her cheeks, Elizabeth turned her gaze to the window. "Perhaps," said she. "If Mr. Darcy continues to be as agreeable as he was last night, I shall begin to admire him very much, I think."
Looking to her sister again, she asked, "Was it not astonishing that he and Lord Rowarth—instead of being as embarrassed as are we regarding Mamma and our sisters—instead offered to assist in providing them proper direction?"
"I own that it was, to some degree," Jane acknowledged. "I will even go so far as to admit fearing Philip will change his mind about me once he has met them. I know our father has said you and I will be respected and valued wherever we go, that we will not appear to less advantage for having a couple of silly sisters…"
Elizabeth scoffed. "Indeed—but what our father refuses to see is that Kitty and Lydia exposing themselves to ridicule exposes us all. He cannot suppose that being censured and despised wherever they are known will also involve their sisters in their disgrace. Who would want to connect himself to such a family? It is no wonder that the viscount and Mr. Darcy have offered to see to our sisters' education."
"Yet, it is just what a gentleman who values the comfort of his lady would do," said Jane. "Lizzy, remember what Mr. Darcy said to you—it is not just about protecting themselves from censure for their choice of us, but also protecting us from the derision of the ton for having such connections."
A sigh escaped her, then Elizabeth nodded her agreement. "That is true. Now, I know it pains you to speak ill of our mother and sisters no matter how much they may deserve it, so you'd best tend to your letter that it may return a smile to your countenance."
Jane grinned and happily broke the seal. Seconds after she began to read, she emitted a soft squeal of delight. "Oh! Oh, Lizzy, he has done it! Philip writes first that he spoke to his father after church, and His Lordship the Earl of Disley has agreed to send a formal invitation by messenger tomorrow. Oh, sister, we are going to the ball on Friday!"
Elizabeth smiled widely at her sister's obvious enthusiasm. "How happy I am for you, Jane! You will no doubt impress the countess from the very first moment, and she will conveniently forget all her reasons for disapproving you."
"Oh, I do hope so, Lizzy. It pains me to be the cause of a rift in Philip's family," said Jane thoughtfully. "No matter how much he says otherwise."
Elizabeth set her book on the table after marking her place with a ribbon. She then reached across it and held out her hand to her sister, and when Jane had taken it, she said, "I happen to agree with your dear Philip, Jane. You are not the cause of their discord, his mother's prejudices are. I think she must be one of those people who are so used to the way things were done all her life that she cannot accept change. She believes only a girl from the very wealthiest families, or from a titled family, will do for her son because that is the way it has always been. But clearly that is not what Philip wanted for himself, or he would not have become attached to you all those years ago."
Jane smiled. "Perhaps you are right, Lizzy. I had better finish reading this that I may pen my reply, so Mr. Oliver is not kept waiting too long."
"Speaking of letters," began Elizabeth, "do you think it would be all right to inform our mother that we have made some…interesting acquaintances?"
"How would you explain the circumstances without revealing everything?" Jane asked. "You know my engagement must be kept secret until the Season is ended."
"I do know that, but I have just been thinking a clever rearranging of the truth might interest her. She might then stop insisting poor Lydia pay courtesy to Mr. Collins—you and I both know that even if she were to begin correcting her behavior, Lydia is still much too young and immature to be a wife."
Jane nodded. "That is true, Lizzy, but then would not Mamma expect one of us to eventually marry one of our rich friends?"
"She would if I told her any of them were male, but I need not share that specific detail—though I know she will insist we make ourselves agreeable to any rich gentlemen we meet, and to think of our sisters," said Elizabeth with a chuckle. "How about I merely say we had the extraordinary chance to make the acquaintance of some relations of a nobleman, and that we have been invited to a ball to be held at the home of a duke?"
Tilting her head as she considered that, Jane soon inclined it in agreement. "Yes, that should make Mamma happy as well as keep either of us from revealing more than we ought."
Elizabeth grinned. "We will ask our aunt and uncle to say nothing as well, in case Mamma should write to either of them. And as you are already promised to Lord Rowarth, that can be Mamma's reward when at last you are free to share your joy."
She jumped up to fetch writing materials for them both as Jane turned her attention back to the letter in her hands. Elizabeth noted a wide smile and a blush on her sister's face as she returned to the little table with paper, ink pot, and pens from the writing desk. She paused as she was about to begin her own letter, wondering if Mr. Darcy were capable of writing letters that would make a woman smile and blush.
With a shake of her head, she dipped her pen and began…