Chapter 23
Vestibule
Boarding House
Meryton
An Hour Later
Mrs. Judith Vernon was of some fifty years of age, a widow for the past three years, and generally of a phlegmatic disposition. Her husband had been solicitor in a village some twenty miles away and after his death, she had taken her available funds, purchased this large house in Meryton, and transformed it into a boarding house, the better to live within easy distance of her brother, Mr. Milton, the blacksmith.
Meryton was a small village and generally her boarders were quiet enough; when she did have trouble with them, one visit from her brawny nephews was always sufficient to calm them down. This particular situation was more unpleasant than usual, and, to make matters worse, entirely unexpected.
"I thought that militia officers would be well behaved," she said in an aggrieved tone.
Sir William Lucas, who had arrived fifteen minutes earlier, shook his head and said, "I quite agree, Mrs. Vernon; one would hope that our Majesty's soldiers would behave in an upright and godly way. In this case, however, they most definitely did not."
"Oh, I know, I know!" Mrs. Vernon replied, casting her eyes heavenward. "My nephew Tom is a good boy and would not punch that officer without reason."
"I quite agree," Sir William said, and then turned as the door opened to reveal Mr. Bennet and an unknown gentleman.
"Sir William, Mrs. Vernon, good morning," Bennet said.
"It is not a particularly good morning, I fear," Mrs. Vernon replied, and glanced at the unknown man.
"No, it is not," Bennet agreed. "May I please introduce you to Mr. Darcy, currently staying with Mr. Bingley, who is leasing Netherfield Hall? Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Vernon and Sir William Lucas."
There were the requisite bows and curtsies and Darcy said, "Where is Wickham?"
This provoked a startled look from Sir William and Mrs. Vernon, and Mr. Bennet explained, "Mr. Darcy has a long history with the miscreant."
"Have you indeed?" Sir William said, his round face creased with concentration. "He has caused trouble in the past for you, then?"
"A great deal of trouble," Darcy replied, his jaw clenched. "He was my own father's godson, and my father was very good to him, but Wickham has repaid him by running up debts and maligning my family's good name, not to mention ruining young women of all classes. He is most despicable."
"I do not want him or the other officers in this house, then," Mrs. Vernon said decidedly. "My daughters and their families are visiting in a week, and I do not want men like that in their vicinity."
"I intend to take Wickham away to Town," Darcy said. "He has a great many debts and I hold the receipts; it is time to deal with him once and for all."
"What of the other officers?" Sir William demanded. "I am not pleased to have any men here in Meryton who would eagerly defame the character of a local woman."
"Is that what happened?" Mrs. Vernon demanded, her eyes alight with curiosity. "Mr. Wickham said something vile about one of our local ladies?"
"He did, but it is best if you do not know details," Sir William said, and Darcy, watching him, felt a mild misgiving give way to gratitude. Bennet had told him that Sir William was formerly a tradesman, but the master of Longbourn had praised Sir William for his kindness and diligence toward his position as magistrate; moreover, it appeared he was not desirous of spreading gossip.
"May I see Wickham?" Darcy asked, and his fists clenched involuntarily.
"Let me show you gentlemen into the dining room where the men are being treated by the local apothecary," Mrs. Vernon offered.
/
The Dining Room
Boarding House
Mrs. Vernon generally kept her dining room scrupulously clean. The floors were swept and polished, the candlesticks sat in regimented rows on their shelves, the wicks of the candles neatly trimmed, the silver was lined up with meticulous precision in their drawers. The curtains had been drawn back to let in light; lovely sturdy cobalt ones, to match the tablecloth now folded carefully onto the corner buffet to reveal the plain oak table beneath. Several of the chairs had been shifted from their places, simple oak ones that would stay sturdy and serviceable for many years.
Four of the chairs were occupied. Smythe held a handkerchief beneath his nose, the white linen heavily stained red. Denny listed sideways, looking weary and sullen and a little shamefaced. Carter stared out the window, sitting perfectly still. Wickham's boot nudged gently at the white towel beneath his own chair, placed to catch any stray drops of blood and keep them from staining the wooden floor.
"If you will tilt your head and open your mouth, Mr. Wickham?" Mr. Jones asked.
Wickham groaned but obediently opened his mouth. The local apothecary seemed a decent sort, but he was no physician; given that Wickham was the godson of George Darcy, he deserved the very best in medical care. Unfortunately, he was not likely to receive it in this backwater.
The door opened at this point and Wickham watched as the landlady walked in with two unknown men at her heels. A moment later, he jolted in alarm as Fitzwilliam Darcy marched in behind the threesome, his admittedly handsome face twisted into a fearsome scowl.
"Mrs. Vernon, will you not introduce me to these – I will not call them gentlemen – these officers," the thinner of the unknowns said.
"Mr. Wickham, Mr. Denny, Mr. Smythe, and Mr. Carter," the landlady said shortly, pointing as she spoke. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have a meal to prepare. I want these men out of my house by dinner, is that clear, Sir William?"
"As you wish, Madame," Sir William replied.
Mr. Bennet waited until the woman had left the room and shut it behind her before stalking forward to glare at George Wickham, whose own attention was on Darcy, who remained some distance away.
"Mr. Wickham," Bennet said, "I understand that you are the young man who made scurrilous and false accusations about my daughter Elizabeth in a public place this morning?"
Wickham turned a startled glance on the gentleman, his mind working as quickly as was possible with a throbbing mouth, a black eye, and several bruised ribs. The expression on Mr. Bennet's face was not propitiating and with Darcy looming as well, it behooved him to tread carefully.
"Mr. Bennet," he said, leaning forward and then groaning at the jarring of his ribs. "I assure you, this was all a most unfortunate mistake…"
"You threatened Elizabeth last night at my brother Phillips house," Bennet said icily. "She was aware of your despicable behavior in Ramsgate, and suggested that you leave Meryton immediately. You responded by threatening to lie about her and damage her reputation."
Bennet spun on his heels at this juncture and allowed his gaze to rove over the remaining militia officers. "And you, sirs, spoke loudly and openly in a public establishment, in a reprehensible way, about my daughter and then, when one of our local young men championed her reputation, you engaged in a fight. I will have you know that while such aberrant behavior might be tolerated in London, it is not permitted here."
The three other officers shuffled nervously, interspersed with a few moans from aching limbs and heads, and Pratt said sullenly, "We meant no harm, sir."
"Whether you meant it or not, you are no longer welcome in Meryton," Sir William declared. "Mrs. Vernon will no longer house you, and as magistrate of the area, I will not permit you to stay here."
Captain Denny, who was nominally the leader of the group, swallowed hard and nodded. "As you wish, sir. Mr. Bennet, we do apologize…"
"Your apology is accepted," Bennet interrupted crisply. "I suggest you make arrangements to leave for Town immediately."
"Of course," Wickham mumbled, rising painfully to his feet, only to stop in place as Darcy relinquished his position and strode forward to push the man back down into his chair, provoking another cry of pain from the steward's son.
"Not you, Wickham," Darcy said coldly. "Not you. I have put up with your behavior for years. I paid your debts at Cambridge. I paid your debts in Lambton. I paid for the care of your bastard children and their mothers. But you took it a step too far by attempting to run off with an heiress this summer, and now you come here, to this little town, and try to ruin Miss Elizabeth Bennet because she stopped your vile plans at Ramsgate? How dare you?"
Wickham had known Fitzwilliam Darcy since they were boys in short coats. He had seen him exasperated. He had seen him disapproving. He had seen him angry. But he had never seen him murderous. He opened his mouth and found himself gobbling in fear, any thoughts of trying to screw more money out of his old playmate replaced by genuine, unadulterated terror.
"Darcy," he finally whispered. "Darcy, I was your father's godson. I…"
"He never knew who you were," Darcy said, his voice rigidly controlled. "He saw only the charming exterior, not the rotten interior. Sir," and here he turned to the apothecary, "I assume that Wickham is well enough to be put on a carriage for London?"
Mr. Jones, who had been quietly watching the unfolding confrontation, said, "Yes, he is; he obviously lost a few teeth and may have some cracked ribs, but he was not badly injured."
Darcy nodded and reached out to grab Wickham's arm, pulled him to his feet, and yanked him toward the door. Bennet opened it with a flourish, nodded gratefully to Darcy, and then shut it behind him.
"I trust," Sir William said to the other officers, "this unfortunate incident will teach all three of you to speak with respect about young ladies?"
"Yes, sir," the men chorused meekly.
/
Drawing Room
Netherfield Hall
Sunshine slanted in through the high banks of windows to glow golden along the wooden floorboards and colorful carpet in the drawing room. A small fire had been lit, as much for illumination and coziness as for heat, and Elizabeth and Georgiana sat side by side on a plush olive settee drawn up close to the hearth, their hands demurely on their muslin-covered laps. Mrs. Annesley sat in a wingback chair only a little ways removed, smiling contentedly over industriously clicking needles and deep blue yarn as she listened to the two young ladies.
"I am most grateful that you came back here to Netherfield with me, Elizabeth," Georgiana said softly.
"It was my pleasure, of course," Elizabeth replied with a smile, "I have missed our conversations these last weeks."
"I have too!" Georgiana said softly, and glanced toward the door. "I hope that Fitzwilliam will be all right..."
"He will be well, I promise you," Elizabeth said confidently. "My father and Sir William are with him, you know."
She lowered her voice to a whisper and continued, "Wickham will never be permitted to bother you again, I am certain of it."
Georgiana nodded gratefully just as the door opened and Mr. Bingley entered with two ladies and a gentleman in his wake, all dressed in expensive traveling clothes.
"Oh!" Georgiana exclaimed in surprise, hopping to her feet, just as the younger of the ladies surged forward, her face wreathed with smiles, and said, "My dear Miss Darcy, how delightful to see you again! I hope you are well?"
"Yes, Miss Bingley," Georgiana said, her eyes lowering to the floor shyly. "I am very well. How was your journey from London?"
"Dreary but quick," the lady replied, casting her blue eyes heavenward. Elizabeth, who had also risen at the entrance of the party, could see that both ladies resembled Mr. Bingley but while the gentleman wore an expression of cheeriness, the ladies looked both proud and ill tempered.
"Sisters, Brother," Mr. Bingley said, stepping forward, "may I please introduce you to Mrs. Annesley, Miss Darcy's companion, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet? Ladies, my sisters Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst and my brother by marriage, Mr. Hurst."
Elizabeth bobbed a curtsey and rose to find both ladies regarding her critically.
"It is charming to meet you, Miss Elizabeth," Miss Bingley remarked, eying Elizabeth's simple morning gown with obvious disdain. "I had not realized that Charles had already met any young ladies here in Hertfordshire."
"Elizabeth is my very dear friend," Georgiana said with surprising boldness. "We met in Ramsgate a few months ago and have been corresponding ever since we returned to our respective homes. Indeed, it was Elizabeth's recommendation of Netherfield which resulted in Mr. Bingley finding this estate, I believe."
"That is quite right!" Mr. Bingley agreed cheerfully. "But please, shall we not sit down?"
The ladies took their seats, followed by the gentlemen, and Miss Bingley made rather a point of looking around the room before saying, "Where is your brother, Miss Darcy? I had expected to see him here."
"Darcy had some kind of family emergency which necessitated a hasty journey to Town this afternoon," Bingley explained.
Miss Bingley's face promptly drooped with disappointment. "Gone to London! Oh, what a pity!"
"It is," Bingley said sunnily, "but he will be back within a day or two. I am glad that you are all here now, since it is quite in order for Miss Darcy and her companion to stay so long as you are willing to act as hostess at Netherfield Park."
Miss Bingley's gloom quickly shifted to one of smiling delight. "Oh, of course I am most pleased to act as hostess and friend, Miss Darcy. Indeed, now that we are here, well, no doubt you wish to return to, erm…"
"Longbourn," Elizabeth said, "my father's estate which lies to the east of Netherfield Park. And yes, I believe my father's carriage will arrive shortly to bear me home."
"How wonderful," Miss Bingley said, and promptly turned her attention onto Georgiana by saying, "My dear Miss Darcy, what music have you been learning on the pianoforte?"
/
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Author Note: I heard from some of you that you still couldn't find 'Ramsgate Rescue' on Amazon. I think they have REALLY fixed it this time - they are such a pain to work with. Grrrr!
Anyway, thanks for reading and commenting, I appreciate it! :-)