Chapter 25 Our heroes catch a cur and finally bring him to justice. #2
“Let us go to Darcy House and discuss our reaction to this situation,” Darcy said, trying to placate his agitated friend. “Perhaps we can devise a plan to coerce him into reducing his demands.”
Bennet expressed his misgivings. “You cannot allow him to force your hand. You know that any payment in response to his bribery would give it legitimacy, and he would only come back for more. I do not want him to have any opportunity to gain from my tenuous situation.”
“We can more easily obtain his silence by getting him on the next ship to the Americas, but I am convinced we may still have to negotiate a pecuniary settlement with him.”
“Without doubt, with his surfeit of crimes, he is a candidate for hanging, but I cannot countenance such a severe punishment. It would be a hollow victory. But I do not see how else to get myself out of this coil.”
“Let me see what I can do to ease your mind,” Darcy said, gesturing for Bennet to go along with him to his carriage.
“I do not like this, Darcy. He holds all the cards and has considerable resentment towards both of us. He may speak just to spite us, no matter what we do.”
Thomas Bennet was once again pacing a study that was not his own while he waited for Darcy to complete his task.
The expectation of not being recognized had caused him to jeopardize potential exposure while assisting in emancipating Elizabeth from Wickham.
However, Wickham proved to be the sly fox and relished the opportunity to not only get away with his crimes but also walk away with a pretty sum of money.
If Wickham made his accusations public, the risk was all Bennet’s.
At the park, Darcy had taken Bennet’s side and evaded any specifics that would constitute outright lying. He was grateful for Darcy’s vehement defence of his character and indebted to him for using his contacts to make quick work of Wickham’s sentence.
“I am sending two notes,” Darcy said when he finished writing.
“The first is to Richard Ford of the Bow Street Runners. I advised him that Wickham is continuing his efforts to tarnish my reputation. Wickham is known by Bow Street for his past string of crimes, and he tried unsuccessfully to inveigle Mr. Ford to side against me on the subject of the living at Kympton. Mr. Ford will likely be delighted to have him in custody. I included in the note that I have purchased Wickham’s debts from tradesmen in several towns and can have him sent to debtor’s prison at any time.
“I asked him to pay no attention to Wickham’s slander regarding Lord Shelton—that it is a trick he is using to distract from his crimes—and to instruct his associates to use discretion in their dealings to ensure that Mr. Bennet’s reputation is not sullied by Wickham’s claims. Mr. Ford will put Wickham into an area where he will not able to spread word about your situation.
I hope my words have the intended effect; I have taken care in my expression of the circumstances to avoid any blatant deceit.
“The second note is to my uncle the judge. I have no doubts about using this connection because of the number of charges to be laid upon Wickham. My uncle trusts me enough to use his influence to ensure that Wickham is taken care of with great expediency before he says anything to hurt your family.”
“There is no certainty,” said Bennet.
“I am afraid not. However, I have great confidence that the repugnance of these two men for Wickham will seal his fate. In addition, the wretched fool knows we could press for the worst punishment.”
“But it is possible that I must be prepared for the worst case.” Bennet sighed. “It is well that Mrs. Bennet and I have already discussed this. At least we know what to expect should everything become known.”
“Before that happens, do I have your permission to buy Wickham’s silence?”
“As much as my pride protests, I would not deny it.”
Thankful that the family was keeping city hours and none of the others had yet risen for the day, Bennet stormed into the house, wild to see his wife.
He barely slowed in midstride to divest his outer garments before ascending the stairs, two at a time.
When he found her in their chamber, she was sound asleep with a tear-stained face.
He sat gently upon the bed so as not to alarm her.
“Fanny my darling,” he whispered, gently shaking her awake. “I am home. Are you well?”
“Oh, Thomas!” she cried as she threw her arms around him, her tears starting anew. “Please, please, do not do that again! I was so worried for you and Lizzy!”
“Shhh, Fan, I am well, can you not see?” he said into her hair as she sobbed.
He held her for some time until she pulled away abruptly, wiped the tears from her face, and released all the tension she had amassed that morning by pummelling her fists on his chest. Her hair, already mussed from her pillow, escaped its pins, accentuating her distress.
He could only imagine the turmoil she was feeling.
“How dare you, Thomas! How dare you leave me alone, wondering whether you were dead!”
“I had to do it, my love. I had to see that Elizabeth was unharmed.” Bennet gently steadied her hands.
“But she was not unharmed! She was cut, and I have never seen her so upset!”
“I am so sorry it happened. It was Wickham. He tried to abduct her, but we outwitted him. He is off to gaol now.” He used his most soothing tone, but his wife would not be comforted by his words. She pushed him away.
“How could you go to a man who has sworn to hurt you? You should have left Darcy to handle the problem or asked my brother Gardiner!” Fanny retorted.
Having overcome her fear and upset, she was no longer crying.
The state of her mood was unmistakable as she crossed her arms and glared at him. He tried to appease her.
“There was no threat to me. Darcy and his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam were there, as well as Jenkins and Roberts.”
“You exposed yourself to a chance of being recognised!” she said reproachfully.
“To my advantage, the park was empty due to the early hour. Except for Wickham, all the others who attended the capture are dedicated to Darcy and may be counted on to maintain my secrecy.” He hoped she would leave it at that. He was not successful.
“What about Wickham?”
“I cannot lie to you, my love, he recognised me from his youth in Derbyshire.”
“Thomas, this is everything I warned you about when you came to town,” she retorted indignantly.
“You assured me you would take no chances, and yet now, your worst enemy knows our secret. You have given him new fodder for revenge. Without a doubt, it will be broadcast, and by the morrow, our worst fears will be realized. What can we do now?”
“Neither Darcy nor I gave him any credit for his accusations.” He touched her shoulder, but she shrugged him off. She would not be mollified.
“But others will. The connection to Jane and Lizzy’s recent fame makes it unambiguous to anyone who knew you before. There are implications should Wickham be believed. I do not have to remind you of them.”
“Darcy feels this situation is reparable, and he is using his resources and connections to ensure that Wickham is dealt with quickly. He feels confident that any claims Wickham makes will fall on deaf ears.” Bennet spoke with as much equanimity as he could muster.
It was false confidence, but he did not want her to share in his misgivings.
He looked at his hands sitting uselessly in his lap, desperately wanting to touch her but afraid of being shunned once again.
“I thought I had lost you,” she scolded. “I thought I had lost you and Lizzy.”
“I am sorry, Fanny,” he said softly. “I thought I had lost her too. I felt powerless when I saw the fear in her eyes. As much as I censure myself over allowing Wickham to recognize me, and as vigilant as I wanted to be in protecting our secret, I cannot regret being there to save her.”
He raised his head and continued, “But I realize that your warnings were well-founded, and I promise I shall be more guarded next time.”
“Can I believe you?” Her eyes searched his face.
He looked back at her earnestly in hope that she would see he meant everything he said—that she would understand his need for her faith in his decisions and his need for her strength.
“What can I say? You must trust me.”
A protracted silence followed where she seemed to be mulling it over.
At length, her breathing became relaxed once again.
When she had regained self-control, she looked up at him and sighed.
He took the opportunity to take her hand and squeeze it in assurance that all would be well, but he was aware that she could see the vulnerability in his eyes.
“Fanny, I am just a man doing my best to provide love and protection to his family.” She leaned towards him, and he took her into his arms.
“You were there to protect Lizzy, and for that I am very thankful. Although she seemed angry and upset, she is strong. She told me how you and Darcy cared for her safety. I left her asleep, but I doubt that any of my protestations will stop her from attending the ball tonight. She even tried to make light of the situation.”
“I am glad to hear of it. You have raised her well. Under the circumstances, she was very level-headed, and she helped us manage Wickham. Her poise was admirable, even under such a great deal of distress.”
“But I was not so composed. Before you came back to me, I was distraught. I was so afraid that it would happen to Lizzy too. It brought back all the memories.” He knew what she was referring to.
“But it did not happen to her,” he said, “and I am so sorry you had that worry.”
“I worried that I would go into hysterics without you here to calm me,” she said into his shoulder. He stroked her hair and said words of gentle encouragement.
“You do not need my assistance, my love. Look at your life. You are wise, strong, and resilient despite the pain you have suffered. You have overcome obstacles with a grace that puts you above all other women.”
“You are very kind, but it was difficult to maintain a placid demeanour in front of the servants. I nearly broke down several times.”
“But look at the strength you showed under such trying circumstances and how you supported Lizzy when she came home. I was also very frightened, and you were here to deal with it all alone. I could never find a better woman to manage under such difficult conditions.”
“I was offered salts! Can you imagine?” she said, looking up at him with a grin. “Of course, I declined them.”
He threw back his head and laughed heartily at the idea of his wife having an attack of the vapours.