Chapter 15
As the Darcy's made their way to Longbourn, George Darcy began to learn what he could about his father's godson and his own former friend, George Wickham. He had been rather surprised to see the man at the ball and wondered how he had even gained entry to the house, as he had not gone through the receiving line, and the butler did not recall admitting him. He called his cousin Richard to help him in this endeavour.
"Richard, I have yet to discover how George Wickham managed to enter Darcy House the night of the wedding ball. He was most definitely not invited, nor does anyone recall seeing him enter. It seems he just appeared. There were so many people coming in and out of the servant's entrances during and leading up to the ball that it is possible he was able to gain entry through one of those, but I hesitate to think how long he may have been in my home before he was discovered. Nor do I want to consider what he was attempting with Elizabeth," George said upon seeing his cousin enter his study.
Richard scowled. "I had thought you and that profligate were still friends, so I was pleased to learn that is no longer the case. Might I ask what finally set you against him?"
"He and I were far too friendly before my father died, and I knew my brother did not care for him. I think that fact made me spend even more time with him, as I always thought Fitz to be too much of a prude to be bothered with. I was the eldest son, and I would inherit Pemberley, and I resented that Father included my brother in the lessons about estate matters since there did not seem to be any good reason for him to be included. Obviously, now I know the reason he did so and why your father did the same with you." Richard nodded his agreement, as he had often wondered the same.
"You know the family history, so I will not waste time explaining that. When Father died, he did leave him a small inheritance, which I gave him, and recommended he receive the living at Kympton when it came vacant. Wickham had accompanied me on many too many trips to the gambling dens and the brothels for me to believe that to be prudent, so when he asked for the value of the living, I gave him an additional £5,000, in addition to the £1,000 my father left him outright. That was only two years ago, and when he came asking for more six months ago, I denied his request. He was angry, of course, but he left willingly enough, or so I thought. I discovered shortly after that he had taken a rather valuable piece of Mother's jewellery that had been sitting on my desk. I was angry about that and called the magistrate, but without proof, I could do little about it. I have had a man checking in the pawn shops to see if it can be recovered and have managed to reacquire the piece but could not pin it on Wickham.
"However, when those funds ran out, it seems that Wickham thought he would begin running up debts in my name. When I returned from Pemberley for Fitz's wedding, I discovered a number of bills on my desk for items Wickham purchased and had the bills sent to me. I have had my man going around to settle the debts and inform the traders that Wickham has no connection to me whatsoever and have made it known around London as best I could that I will pay no debts not acquired by me. I will not pay bills from shops I do not have accounts with, regardless of who asks for credit in my name. I spent yesterday with a magistrate, and they have issued a warrant on my behalf, and if he is caught, he will immediately be taken to debtors' prison. My problem is, he is such a slippery fellow, it may be difficult to catch him. I have set Bow Street Runners after him, but still …" He paused, unable to go on.
"Was anything taken the night of the ball? Do you think he intended to try to demand payment for not ruining Elizabeth's reputation? Or to kidnap and ransom her? You need to do something to protect Lady Anne and Georgiana from anything he might do," Richard demanded.
"Already done, Cousin," George replied. "I have informed Lady Anne of the threat and have informed Georgiana she is not to leave the house without at least one footman, if not two, accompanying her. Mother wants to speak to Georgiana to tell her about Wickham's misdeeds, but then again, Mother has never allowed Wickham anywhere near her daughter. I doubt Georgiana will leave the house without Mother accompanying her."
"Your mother is formidable, as is mine. I would hate to get on the bad side of either lady as they might be more frightening than a camp full of Little Boney's soldiers. In fact, I dare say that if the ladies of the ton were the ones planning the campaigns against the Corsican fiend, the war would have long ago been won," Richard retorted. "Now, what do you need from me?"
The two men began to make their plans, which included a meeting with both of their mothers as they attempted to put an end to the havoc wreaked upon them by Wickham.
After boarding the carriage, it departed and headed into Meryton, as neither Darcy was capable of issuing any further instructions at that moment. Instead, for the first several minutes, they merely held each other. Finally, Elizabeth broke the silence. "William, after that scene, I know you will likely desire to begin our journey as quickly as possible. However, I would like to visit Charlotte at Lucas Lodge for a short time, as she will be of use to counter any gossip my mother and sister might try to spread. I have already written her of our courtship and marriage, and she is aware of your inheritance. However, if we visit there, her mother, Lady Lucas, will help ensure the correct story is shared and not whatever nonsense Mama will spew. I have little doubt that she will be too upset to leave the house today, and Lady Lucas will already have begun to spread our version by then."
Fitzwilliam laughed lightly. "It almost sounds as if you are weaponizing gossip, my dear," he teased, then sighed. "Part of me dreads another visit after what we just endured, but I am willing to cede to your wisdom in this matter. When it comes to gossip, I know that most ladies are far more knowledgeable than I."
Elizabeth gave him a wary look. "Really, Fitzwilliam, you intend to mock me when what I am doing is attempting to limit the gossip that could darken your name, the name that I have only recently claimed as my own?"
Fitzwilliam tickled her in response. "It was not mocking, my dear, but I am aware of how much my mother and aunt have employed gossip over the years for various purposes. I am also aware of how others, such as Miss Bingley, have used it to belittle and injure those she viewed as competition or who stood in her way. Women are entirely different creatures than men, and I am merely noting some of those differences come in the use of gossip rather than foils to express displeasure with a person."
Elizabeth moved away from his hands while she laughed at his words. "Fine, now, do you not think we should give the coachman directions to Lucas Lodge? Although, perhaps a bit of shopping in town would not go amiss in helping counter anything Mama or Jane may say about us."
"Is there a bookshop in town?" Fitzwilliam asked. "If there is, then I would be very happy spending a half hour in town. We might depart from our carriage at the end furthest from the shop and stroll for all to see until we reach it."
"You will be required to be introduced to quite a few people in that case," Elizabeth teased him. "Can you stand it?"
"As long as you are with me, my dear, I will have no objections to being introduced to as many people as you wish," he replied. "Now, about those directions?" He used his walking stick to bang on the roof, signalling to the coachman to stop. Elizabeth gave directions to Lucas Lodge, and they were soon back on their way.
The Darcys were greeted eagerly at Lucas Lodge. Sir William was especially pleased to meet the man who had married "the jewel of the county", and the conversation centred upon the couple's courtship and wedding. While Fitzwilliam was normally reluctant to share so much of his personal business with strangers, with Elizabeth's encouragement, he spoke of his family's estate, the legacy from the old Earl, and his connections to the nobility in the form of his uncle, the Earl of Matlock. Charlotte grinned at her friend throughout this conversation, knowing that Elizabeth was only subjecting herself to such nosy questions in an effort to counter anything her own mother might say about the marriage. Charlotte was very aware of the neglect Elizabeth had suffered from her parents and was far more aware of the true nature of Jane than Elizabeth had been. The realisation Elizabeth had come to about her sister while in town had been discussed between the two in letters and was only further cemented by the letter Jane had sent in reply to the wedding and her accusations that morning. Once tea had been brought and everyone had drunk their fill, Charlotte decided it was time to change the direction of the conversation.
"I am afraid, Father and Mother, that Eliza's family is not as pleased by her marriage as one might have hoped," Charlotte said finally. "You are aware of how the Bennets have always treated our dear Eliza, especially in the first years of her life, when she was all but banished to the dower house to live with her grandmother. Over the years, you have seen and frequently commented on the poor treatment of Eliza by her mother, from merely ignoring her to outright abuse. I have heard all that you have had to say about that, and while we might have hoped her marriage might do much to restore the relationship, it has not. If anything, I think it has made Jane finally show her true colours as she has outright accused her sister of forcing Mr Darcy to marry her and alluded to a child born too early. You know Eliza too well to believe that to be the case, especially as I have shared my letters with you as she described her courtship with the gentleman. In fact, I feel I know Mr Darcy quite well from reading Eliza's letters about him, but I will not embarrass her by sharing all of what she wrote of the gentleman."
Her words did, in fact, cause Elizabeth to blush, and Fitzwilliam leaned down to whisper in her ear, "I would be very interested in reading these letters, my dear. What could you have said about me to make you blush so brightly?"
"Hush, Fitz," she retorted, digging an elbow into his side as she spoke.
This aside was noted by the occupants of the room, who smiled at the obvious affection between the couple. Lady Lucas was the first to speak. "Then we will simply counter any gossip the Bennets may choose to attempt to spread about their daughter. I know you must be on your way, and I will begin a campaign to speak of your good fortune to all I meet this very afternoon. If your mother and sister do share anything negative, I will immediately contradict it and remind our neighbours of how they have always treated you. Your neighbours in Meryton will not believe anything so terrible of you as they know you too well to believe you could compromise a gentleman to force a marriage."
"Thank you, Lady Lucas," Elizabeth said. "I am grateful for your help. I know it is unlikely we will visit here very often, but I would not want my husband's name to be darkened anywhere if I can prevent it, and Meryton is close enough to London that some of the gossip could easily make its way there if we do not counter it quickly. I appreciate your willingness to act on our behalf."
Fitzwilliam spoke as well. "I also appreciate your willingness to aid my wife and myself in this. You do not know me, but your belief in my wife's goodness and the care she holds for you makes you a friend in my eyes. If you are in London when we are, I hope you will visit. I am sure Elizabeth will write to Miss Lucas frequently."
The Lucases all smiled at the grave tone he adopted as he spoke, but they had noted the frequent touches between them as well. Soon, the Darcys took their leave as they intended to visit the bookshop before they left town. Sir William had praised this idea, as had Lady Lucas, who volunteered to accompany them to town so she might begin to carry out her campaign. Elizabeth happily accepted her offer, and the three boarded the Darcy carriage as soon as they could don their outerwear.
It was a quiet group who disembarked from the carriage in Meryton. All three had been lost in their own thoughts during the short ride, but as soon as Lady Lucas and Elizabeth stepped down with Fitzwilliam's assistance, they began a lively conversation about London and, particularly, Elizabeth's wedding. Fitzwilliam walked quietly beside his wife, her hand on his elbow, and listened to the topics that had just been shared were rehashed. It occurred to him they were speaking rather more loudly than usual, and it slowly dawned on him that this was intentionally done. He noticed the many eyes on their group as they walked down the street and pasted a grin on his face as was befitting for a newly-married man. It was not that difficult to do because all he had to do was think about his wife beside him, and he immediately smiled. He was unaware that he looked besotted, but since it was true, it should not have bothered them.
They did visit the bookshop, and Fitzwilliam found himself dragged into the milliner's shop as well. In both stores, Lady Lucas spoke in glowing terms of Elizabeth and her new husband and how thrilled they all were with the marriage. Having done what she intended to do, Lady Lucas left the Darcys back at their carriage and made her way around town, quickly spreading the news of the visit from the happily married couple and their good fortune in finding each other.
