Chapter 5 #2
How after signing away any claim to the living, he came back and asked for more and for the living that he had resigned all claim to.
He explained how when refused Wickham had sworn revenge.
He then relayed to them how the blackguard seducer had left a string of ruined girls and natural children in his wake across the country, and many debts to unsuspecting tradesmen who had allowed him credit.
Darcy added that he held Wickham’s vowels for debts worth well over three thousand pounds. Bingley was aghast now he finally understood why his friend had been in such a dark mood. Darcy finished the outpouring with a full recounting of what had happened, and what had almost happened in Ramsgate.
The two men in the study with him were the first people outside of the Fitzwilliams that he had been so open with about his private matters.
His doing so here, was truly unlike him.
From the moment he had been admonished by this man, Darcy had known sharing his burdens would be good for him, a catharsis.
It was rare he found someone who so obviously took the same level of care in his estate, stables, and those who were dependent on him.
At the end of the recitation, Bennet ruminated and then again met that anguished stare.
“Son, I understand why you blame yourself, but you have no true share in the blame. Both you and Richard were fooled by the dishonest Mrs. Younge, and if you had not arrived earlier than you planned, think of the disaster that would have ensued,” Bennet pointed out with much empathy.
“This Wickham is a despoiler of maidens, a debaucher, a profligate, a blackguard and by the sounds of things an accomplished manipulator and liar. Your father, unadvisedly, gave him every advantage, and he chose to waste every one of his chances then blamed his misdeeds on everyone except himself.”
“You have his measure, Sir!” Darcy exclaimed with a slight upturn of his mouth. It felt good to discuss this with an objective party for the first time since the near disaster in Ramsgate.
Darcy felt he was ready to accept that this was not all his fault.
A man who Darcy knew loved his family, was reminding him what that meant, and it was time to forgive himself and start living again.
He felt the catharsis he had sorely needed begin to lift the self-imposed weight he had placed on his shoulders.
After a moment Darcy looked at the two gentlemen and for the first time in too long, smiled at his own thoughts. “I have an idea which will put Miss Bingley in her place once and for all, if Bingley agrees,” Darcy stated as he looked to his friend.
“Whatever needs to be done to finally show Caroline her own insignificance is something I will hear,” Bingley allowed.
“When I last saw them, the Fitzwilliams were getting ready to leave Town. They planned to depart by this coming weekend. Bingley told me Tuesday next there is an assembly in Meryton. I suggest you invite my aunt and uncle to arrive on Friday and to come to the assembly with you and your family.
“As much as Miss Bingley has always desired it, and lies about meeting them, she has never been introduced to any of them other than Richard. With them in attendance, she will either behave or be the author of her own demise in society.” He settled back into the comfortable chair he was sitting in and then looked at Bingley.
“Bingley, if you truly want her to learn, I suggest you do not inform anyone at Netherfield Park about what we learned today, and let things play out as they will.”
Bingley agreed to the scheme and so did Bennet, who rang for Hill and asked if he would call his wife. On her entry, Mrs. Bennet was introduced to the young men. When meeting Mr. Darcy, she walked up to him and hugged him quickly as she captured his face in her hands.
“We have been hoping to meet you all your life, young man.” She kissed the top of his head and pulled back, asking about Georgiana. Darcy, initially caught off guard, had to wonder how much more happiness in his and Georgiana’s life there could have been had he met the Bennets sooner.
“She is well, Mrs. Bennet, thank you for asking.” Darcy bowed his head in her direction.
“And as much as I would be happy to continue talking about Georgie, we have a more immediate matter to address, if that is acceptable,” he asked, smiling at the silent communication between her and Bennet that ended with Mrs. Bennet nodding.
Fanny was apprised of the plan, agreed, and returned to the drawing room. After the door closed once his wife exited, Bennet wrote the express inviting the Fitzwilliams to join them at Longbourn.
Darcy was, for the first time in too long, looking forward to something with the expectation of pleasure, not only seeing his closest relations himself, but his knowledge of how much his family loved the Bennets and the way acceptance was extended to him made him very grateful to now be included in the warmth he felt at Longbourn.
Once the missive was completed, Bennet rang for Hill and asked him to send one of his grooms to Matlock house in Town, then to await any reply. After the door closed, Bennet told the friends he was going to collect his sons from Eton on Thursday as the school year was ending.
He would be departing that afternoon and returning on Friday morning. He knew his boys would be overjoyed if the Fitzwilliams responded in the affirmative, especially with Richard in residence at Netherfield Park.
It was hard to believe in the next school year come August that his little boys, both already taller than him, would then begin their studies at Cambridge. Bennet suggested that they adjourn to the drawing room to meet the rest of the family that was in residence.
The two men agreed, and they all made for the drawing room. Bennet grinned to himself when he noted the same look on the faces of the two gentlemen, he had seen many times before when others beheld the sight of his daughters.
The two friends were frozen before they had fully stepped in.
Darcy knew he, and he was certain he could speak for Bingley, had never before seen so much beauty and genuine gentility before.
They had heard from the other callers the Bennet daughters were beauties, but the vision before them was far and away above what they had expected.
Bingley saw a blonde, blue-eyed beauty who was standing and waiting for the introductions and was transfixed by her.
She appeared as if she was serene, but he could see a steely resolve in her countenance as she assessed him, and Darcy suspected anyone trifling with her or any of her sisters would do so at their peril.
Darcy was struck dumb by a raven-haired beauty with sparkling hazel eyes that even from this distance he could spy flecks of gold and green; her amused smile exuding wit and intelligence.
He, who had on many occasions derided those talking of love at first sight, was mesmerised and shocked to understand it would not take very long before he would be well on his way to his heart being irrevocably lost.
Lizzy, who until now had never been seriously attracted to any particular man, was frozen when the most handsome man she had ever before seen was now in front of her in her own home.
A quick appraisal meant she could surmise he had recently lost too much weight too fast, and instinctively felt he had been, or was now, troubled and knew she wanted to help him ease his cares away, was in fact, determined to.
Jolted back to reality, she rebuked herself for getting carried away until she again met his eyes and saw his perfect deep blue eyes looking at her with what could only be described as esteem.
‘He is so much more than tolerable, and more than handsome enough to tempt me,’ she admitted, if only to herself.
The ladies had all risen from their seats, so Bennet took pity on the thunderstruck men, and equally amusing two awed daughters and made the introductions.
“My wife Fanny Bennet, who you just saw in the study, my eldest daughter, Miss Jane Bennet, followed by Elizabeth, Mary, and last but not at all least, Catherine Bennet, who we call Kitty and is not yet out.”
As he named them, each lady gave a curtsey and the gentlemen bowed.
“The lady you see standing behind Kitty is her companion, Mrs. Henrietta Chandler.” The lady stood and curtsied as she was introduced.
“Ladies, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Mr. Charles Bingley of Scarborough, who is our tenant at Netherfield, and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire.”
On seeing the looks from his daughters, he chuckled and nodded. “Yes, he is Reggie and Elaine’s nephew, the one we always miss seeing by a day or even hours. Kitty, you especially will be happy to hear his sister will arrive on Monday. She is almost the same age as you and also not yet out.”
Kitty’s brilliant smile brightened her face and she looked truly delighted.
“Oh, how nice it will be to have another in the area besides myself and Maria Lucas that is close to our age,” she professed with affection and Darcy was taken aback, wondering if this band of beauties was the answer to almost all of his prayers.
Darcy knew, just as he had with Bennet earlier, that his sister’s cares would lighten when she met the friends, who had been part of their family for far too long to consider new. He was positive the Bennets would be very good for her and assist Georgie to recover her confidence.
He knew she would love to have a friend her own age, the elder sisters to guide her and help her with questions she probably would never ask him, and if it had the added benefit of keeping her away from the cloying and fake Caroline Bingley, so much the better.