Chapter 21 ~ Making Plans

17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:17-20, ESV)

The men who had gathered to watch the game now followed Darcy as he entered his cousin's carriage with jeers of disdain and roars of outrage.

"Serves 'a toff roight. Fer all 'is fine manners e's nawt but a cheatin' sod!"

"Swindlin' a good curate of all he had, well 'e's fixed 'imself proper."

Wickham had wanted to leave all but his vowel on the table but with a look from Colonel Fitzwilliam he gathered everything together. The signet ring he placed in his pocket. Mr. Douglass joined him at the table and as soon as the task was completed they made their way upstairs. The lawyer's resonant voice was now a low rumble barely distinguishable in the dinn as they ascended the steps to Wickham's room, one he would share with another guest.

"Mr. Wickham, I understand your conscience is troubled by the way this occurred. I fear Mr. Darcy has not learned his lesson and I know you are aware that sometimes a man must be brought low to find true repentance. There will be time for charity later. You can work out a compromise with a lawyer at the time of transfer if you wish, but it is my advice and it is the good Colonel's hope, that you will claim your property. Keep it for a time, a year perhaps. If Darcy truly changes his ways you can sell it back to him for a farthing if you wish, but do not let him escape unpunished."

They arrived in the room and Wickham sighed. "You are making a very convincing argument, but forgive me if I say that it also feels like I'm being tempted. It would be easy to become comfortable and never do what I now believe to be right."

Incredulous, his companion smiled and put a hand to his brow. "The man intended to rob you of your inheritance, you know he is a blackguard of the first order. Consider a moment: What sort of landlord and master do you suppose he makes? Think of the good you can accomplish. We will hire a first rate steward for the place. Let us make an arrangement we will set aside a part of any increased profits. You can take that away with you after you return it to him, the labourer deserves his wages and all that. We will put it all in writing and I shall visit you in a year. His own cousin will also have a copy of it. We will not tell Darcy or he will only pretend to improve. I will have it all written up two hours after we arrive in London tomorrow – "

"I do not go to London tomorrow, I will visit my aunt." At the look of shock on the other man's face Wickham conceded, "I will be in London by noon on the following day. You have made excellent points. I will consider them. In the meantime you may proceed as you think best. It will give him a day to fret, it may be enough."

"If it is any comfort the Colonel thinks – " He stopped, it was not something to spring on a man and said something else, "you will make a difference at the place. Do you remember it at all?"

An image of his mother running with the other boy. The boy she kissed and smiled at, the one whose nursery room complaints were attended to. It was for that other boy's misbehaviour that he was often scolded or punished. It was better with his father but it still hurt to see her walking in the garden, hoping for one of her rare smiles and then watch her turn away from him.

A pained smile crossed his face and he said, "Yes, it's a beautiful property. I saw little of the house I think but I recall it was very grand."

"It is grand but it is not a house for show. Unless Darcy changed it a great deal theselast five years it has a restrained elegance that makes it very welcoming. I was there when I was a lad still studying at Cambridge. I think you will like it. So, here is my card Wickham, do come to my office as soon as may be. I will work things out with Darcy and visit the Judge. It may only require a signature to turn over the properties into your keeping. I will have the other papers ready as well, those will require only your own signature and two witnesses. Colonel Fitzwilliam will be one if you allow it and is there anyone else to stand for you?"

"I do not know, perhaps Bingley will do it. Will you send him an express from London? I will write it."

Lowering his voice the lawyer said, "With all of this and everyone knowing you have it you should take Darcy's room, Davis is removing his belongings now.

"Davis?"

"Darcy's valet."

"I shall sleep with it all tucked in my clothes. This is too much all at once."

"Very well, Davis will be glad, I suppose." Douglass sat to wait for the note.

They parted once the it had been written and Wickham retired only to find sleep elusive. His bedfellow snored and his mind whirled with so much change happening so quickly. One thing was sure he could marry much sooner, and for a time at least provide his bride with a home worthy of her. This thought brought him a little more joy. If Elizabeth was amenable they might marry in little more than a week.

He arose early, broke his fast, paid his bill and travelled south. In Motesbridge Village he slowed his horse to greet old friends and soon found himself in front Aunt Susan's cottage. She fussed over her boy, brushing the dust from his clothes before he went inside she fetched tea while he washed his face and hands in the kitchen all the while talking over necessary commonplaces. Soon he was seated by the fire, a plate of his favourite biscuits in front of him telling his aunt about Elizabeth Bennet. She was thrilled for him of course and though she did not wish to say anything unkind she hoped the young lady was good enough for him.

"Being a gentlewoman you may discover that she is unused to the work a parson's wife will be expected to do, I hope she will not be difficult. What I meant to say is I hope she will not find it too difficult to adjust." She could not help but worry that he would repeat her brother's mistake.

"Well, she is making every effort to learn the skills she will require." This was said with such a glow of pride that his aunt could only be pleased for him. "There is another, very strange story I must share with you." He told her of meeting Darcy in Bromley, fearful that the whole history would be too distressing he said only that Darcy's own Fitzwilliam cousin was convinced he was a dishonourable man. Told of the way he insisted on the bet she clucked her toungue and said,

"You had no business gambling at all and heavens what were you thinking to play with a man who cannot be trusted. I think I should like you to promise me never to play at 'Loo' again. You must have been very excited to risk so much."

Unable to repress his smile he said, "I won. I am not sure what I shall do about it but Colonel Fitzwilliam insists that I take it on for a little while – long enough for Darcy to reform and long enough for me to take care of things he neglected. I think sometimes that I should and then I wish to return it and wash my hands of him."

"You cannot do that. I have wondered if I should tell you but it seems that you must know. Your father told me when you first came to us that he believes you are George Darcy's son."

She grasped his hand as heat rose to his face and his nostrils flared. "My dear boy, this is not your shame. You have no guilt to bear and no one need know of it."

"Why? What evidence did he have for this suspicion?"

"When your mother proposed making Mr. Darcy your godfather he believed it was out of gratitude and he was overjoyed to do it. You were named for him, but as you grew older he could see that you resembled Mr. Darcy. He thinks it is why your mother shaved your head. It was all nonsense about the bugs. Your father believed you reminded your mother of her mistake and her guilt made her cruel. She was a very handsome woman you know, with winning ways and she was very fond of money. It did not surprise him overmuch to think that if she found Mr. Darcy after he drank too much port – Oh, I'm so very sorry Georgy dear. You do not want to hear about that. She was unkind to you. Your father, for so he was in his heart, wanted you here with your grandpa and me because we would love you. He hated to see how her rejection hurt you."

She held her nephew and he cried into her shoulder as he had not done since he was a very small lad. He was able to compose himself and she made him happier by asking questions about Elizabeth. They occupied themselves in this way until they ate luncheon. Sometime afterwards he broached the subject again,

"You think I am his brother? This is why I cannot wash my hands of him?"

"Your father thought so."

It was not discussed again. They conversed instead on more pleasant subjects than betrayal and shame. With a troubled heart he travelled the next morning to London to settle the strange business with Darcy.

Colonel Fitzwilliam met him there with Bingley, Darcy, his witnesses, two lawyers and a judge. Darcy immediately attempted to wheedle and cajole, reminding Wickham of the boy who always had his way in nursery room disputes. He thought of the cuddles Darcy was given for every complaint and how, whenever he refused to give in to the young master's will, he would provoke his mother's ire. Suddenly it seemed a long overdue comeuppance, the bet had, after all, been one of Darcy's own devising.

"Mr. Darcy I, more than once attempted to put an end to it. I offered to take with me only what I brought but you insisted that it was a matter of pride with you. I have since considered that your motive was to rob me of all my inheritance, a sum that would mean very little to you. I will not leave you penniless. I will hand over my three thousand pounds to you. If you can invest it in an honourable business and grow it into thirty thousand pounds I will sell everything back to you for that sum."

Everyone's eyes grew wide at this offer but Wickham remained firm. The terms of the agreement were written out and signed by all concerned parties. Darcy could not be pleased by it but it was considerably better than nothing and it was put in writing that he could purchase it all back for a mere thirty thousand pounds. He knew one honourable business that would give him twenty thousand pounds and he proposed to Caroline Bingley that very day. She knew nothing of his losing Pemberley and believing the whispers about Darcy would eventually pass she was very pleased by the prospect of becoming mistress of the grand house she coveted. They absconded in the night in the Darcy travelling coach along with his handsome bays. Horses he knew would be collected on behalf of the usurper at the first coaching inn but he would leave London in style. His trunks, packed under his cousin's supervision, were strapped to the coach. Richard had not been informed of his plans. Miss Bingley brought only a small bag when she crept out of her sister's home and away they fled looking apprehensively at every carriage lest they were stopped. This they needn't have troubled themselves to do because no one thought to stop them. Once their plans had been discovered it was generally agreed that they deserved one another.