Chapter 18
UNYIELDING TEMPER
Darcy looked about the well maintained establishment in stunned incredulity.
He could hardly believe his ears when told that he would find his former friend, George Wickham, staying in such a place as this with Elizabeth’s youngest sister.
Darcy had expected to discover the wayward couple holed up in some dilapidated dwelling barely fit for human habitation—mired in filth, stench, and infestations of every kind.
Climbing the stairs leading to the designated apartment, he ran his gloved fingers along the railings for a second or two before holding them up for inspection.
As well-kept as every aspect of his surroundings was, he should not have been surprised to find no evidence of neglect.
He arched his brow. How on Earth can Wickham afford to secure such lodgings?
The last time he saw that gentleman in Ramsgate, he looked more like a poverty-stricken dandy who had wasted his last shilling foolishly pretending to be wealthy, no doubt for Miss Darcy’s benefit.
Learning that Wickham had joined the militia shortly after that further confirmed Darcy’s view that his former friend had squandered every other opportunity for respectability—because Wickham did not possess a shred of honorability that would otherwise compel him to serve his king and country.
Were such not the case, I surely would not be standing here, Darcy silently considered. By now, he had reached the door. He gave it a series of sharp raps.
Within moments, Wickham threw open the door. The stench from his breath took Darcy aback.
“Where have you been?” Wickham bellowed.
By his manner, it appeared he had expected to find someone else standing in his doorway.
Dumbfounded by the presence of his old friend, he spat, “What are you doing here—of all places, Darcy? You are the last person in the world I ever expected to find at my door.”
“This is not a social call, Wickham,” Darcy said, forcing his way inside. He stole a quick glance about the room. It was in total disarray—a striking contrast to the public areas of the establishment. “Where is she?” he demanded.
“I do not have a clue what you are talking about.”
“After everything I had to endure to find you, I am not in the mood to be trifled with. Where is Miss Bennet?”
“Miss Bennet! I am afraid I do not know anyone by that name. Tell me more about this young woman.”
“You are a liar!” Darcy shouted. “I know it all. I know you persuaded the youngest Bennet daughter to run away with you under the guise of an elopement.”
“How absurd! Where did you hear something as preposterous as that?”
Not wanting to say anything that would betray Elizabeth’s confidence, Darcy said, “It turns out that your Mrs. Younge is no better than you are—easily bought off. Now stop lying, and tell me where Miss Bennet is.”
Giving up all pretenses, Wickham said, “As you can see, that silly chit is not here.”
“Did you abandon her on the streets of London after you had your way with her?”
Shrugging, Wickham huffed sardonically. “Were that only the case, but no. I put all of my trust in her, and she absconded early this morning. Taking with her all of my money.”
“Stop making yourself out to be the victim in all this.”
“Indeed, I am the victim. A common whore would not have used me as ill as that so-called gentleman’s daughter did.”
“Why would you have me believe your nonsense about Miss Bennet making off with all your money? Knowing you as I do, any money she might have taken from you would get her no farther than across the street.”
“That is where you are mistaken, my old friend. I recently came into a rather large sum of money, and I was foolish enough to let that silly Bennet girl in on my secret.”
“Why should I believe such a lame explanation?”
“Why should I lie? Even more importantly, why should you even care? Unless—”
“—Unless what, you idiot?” Darcy demanded.
Finally, I am beginning to comprehend Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s motives, Wickham thought to himself. She used me in her scheme to save Darcy for her sickly daughter, Anne.
“To own the truth,” Wickham said, “I am aware that the second eldest Bennet daughter, Miss Elizabeth, has been a guest of your aunt Lady Catherine’s vicar—that ridiculous Mr. Collins.
” Wickham smiled in remembrance of his time spent in company with Elizabeth.
He went on to say, “Miss Elizabeth is a charming woman, dare I say a tease as well, although she hides her motives better than her silly sister. I am also aware of you being in Kent. Perhaps you became caught up in Miss Elizabeth’s spell.
As it was with your own sister, you now feel compelled to rescue her sister. ”
Wickham knew his former friend too well not to know how affected he was by this assertion.
“That is it, isn’t it, Darcy? You fancy yourself in love with Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
Well, I wish you better luck with that one than I enjoyed.
On the other hand, you do find yourself in possession of a rather large fortune, which must surely eliminate any objections she might have in giving herself to you.
As a point of fact, I believe you ought to be thanking me for what I have done in sullying her sister.
Indeed, I have spared you the burden of marrying Elizabeth Bennet.
What with her family’s disgrace, you can claim her as your mistress.
Just think of all the money you will save.
No doubt, such an arrangement will suit your cousin Anne perfectly well.
That is to say nothing of the vast holdings that will be firmly under your control once you marry her.
She might even allow you to move your lovely mistress into one of your homes along with all your little bastards. ”
Darcy’s unyielding temper, which Wickham also knew all too well from firsthand experience, flared.
He marched to where Wickham stood and grabbed him by the throat.
When Darcy drew back his tight fist, Wickham covered his face with both hands.
The last thing he needed was a sharp blow that might mar his good looks.
“What are you doing to my Wickham? Take your hands off of him!”
Both gentlemen looked around and saw a young woman strut into the room. Darcy had not expected to see a stout, well-grown girl adorned from head to toes in the finest riches money could buy. Could this be Miss Lydia Bennet?
Darcy released Wickham with force. Recovering himself, Wickham dashed to where the young lady stood. “Lydia! Where on Earth have you been, and what did you do with my money?”
“Oh, Wickham, you cannot possibly have thought that I would get married without a proper wedding trousseau. I spent the best part of the morning with the dressmaker, poring through all the fashion magazines, and when I was not doing that, I was busy picking out satins and linens and ribbons and laces—oh, and bonnets! I must have ordered at least a dozen bonnets. How jealous all my sisters will be when they see all my beautiful things; and the best part is that I’ll be a married woman, and I will not be obliged to share any of it with them.
Just look at this lovely bracelet.” She held out her arm for inspection.
“It is merely a trinket in comparison to some of the other fine jewels I ordered.”
“All of these useless things must have cost me a fortune!”
Lydia giggled. “Oh, more than that I assure you.”
“Where is the rest of my money?”
The young woman smiled. “As luck would have it, an intelligent looking gentleman approached me on the street as I was leaving the dressmaker, and he told me about a grand scheme to earn a fortune. But he impressed upon me that I must act without delay for if I did not the opportunity would pass us by.”
“Lydia, you silly chit! I hope you gave the gentleman no mind and instead went on about your business.”
“Indeed, I did not. The gentleman asked me how much money I had to invest in his scheme, and I told him. He said it was not nearly enough.”
“Thank heavens! Hand over whatever remains of my money this second,” Wickham demanded.
“That I cannot do,” she cried.
“Why ever not?”
“Well, the kind gentleman advised me that he would gladly take whatever sum of money I could give him, and he would make up the difference with his own funds. What is more, he assured me that he would give me every shilling of the proceeds. How could I possibly resist such a promising proposition?”
Wickham’s mouth gaped. “You handed everything over to someone on the street whom you had only just met? How could you be so … so—”
“The gentleman may indeed have been a stranger at first, but look! He handed me his card. Oh, Wickham! Are you not so very proud of me?”
He snatched the card from her hand. Quickly perusing it, he crumpled it in his hand and tossed it across the room. “Do you know what you have done?”
“La! I have done a splendid thing, no doubt.”
His eyes burning with rage, he yelled, “Why did you take all of my money?”
“Silly, Wickham,” she squealed. “Need I remind you again that a lady dare not dream of getting married without a proper wedding trousseau? My mama would be terribly disappointed were she to suppose I went without all the essential things. How was I to know how much money I would need to acquire all the necessary things? I declare it is a very good thing for me that I had so much money at my disposal. Madame St. Claire remarked on what excellent taste I have, and she was most helpful in informing me of all the essentials that I neglected to recall on my own. Mind you, many of my purchases are to be specially made. I told Madame St. Claire that I have not a moment to delay, and she promised me that everything will be ready three days hence.”
“At least there is still a chance to put a stop to things and recover some portion of the money from the bulk of your wasteful spending.” Wickham grabbed the young woman by the arm. “You, young woman, are coming with me to get what is left of my money!”
Darcy, who had watched the unsettling exchange between the two with a disturbing mixture of disgust and dismay, intervened. “You are not going anywhere just yet. Not before I have had a chance to speak with Miss Bennet about what she has done.”
The high-spirited young woman wiggled her arm free from Wickham’s loose grip. “Do I know you, sir?”
“You might consider me an acquaintance of your family’s.
I have spoken with your aunt and uncle Gardiner here in town.
You ought to know how your behavior has been the means of throwing your relations’ lives into utter chaos, threatening to ruin your family’s name, and exposing them all to scorn, derision, and disdain.
You must allow me to bring you to them as the first step towards salvaging whatever is left of your virtue and their respectability. ”
Lydia placed her hand over her lips. “La! I am happier than I have ever been in my life living here with my Wickham. Soon, he and I will be married. It is what my mama has always desired for me—to be married to an officer. Not only will my Wickham and I be exceedingly happy, but we shall also be so very rich. That nice gentleman to whom I handed over all that was left of our money promised me.”
“Lydia, you fool,” Wickham shouted. “Are you too daft to realize all of my money is gone forever?”
Lydia gasped, no doubt taken aback at being spoken to so rudely by her lover.
Darcy felt a tinge of pity for the young girl who stood before him.
It went without saying that she was one of the silliest creatures he had ever met, but, as best he could tell, her intentions had been good.
She really believed she was on the heels of being married and that wealth, happiness, and love were to be her reward for what she had done to her family.
He observed the unmasked disdain that shone on Wickham’s face.
The girl deserved better than what she had bargained for.
“I am afraid it is true, young lady,” he said. “However, you need not be concerned with any of that. You have a family who loves you, and they are hoping and praying for your safe return.”
She did not want to hear a word Darcy said.
His every attempt at reason over the course of nearly a quarter of an hour she rebuffed with vehement protests that she was indeed safe and happy.
All this she continued doing even after Wickham commenced rallying his former friend’s cause by letting Lydia know he wanted her gone.
As much as Darcy wanted to be of service to Elizabeth’s family, the last thing in the world he wanted was to do Wickham’s bidding in the process.
Of course, Wickham wants the young woman to disappear from his life now that she is of no use to him, Darcy surmised.
That way, he will be free to prey on another young woman.
Darcy silently assessed the situation. Wickham was desperate to be rid of a young girl who was determined to cling to his side.
I can make something out of this.