Chapter 20
THIS PARTICULAR MATTER
Darcy had just quit a shop on a crowded Mayfair street and was about to ascend his waiting carriage when the tiny hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
He shook his head. Where have I seen that gentleman before?
Then he remembered. This was the same gentleman he had seen at Mrs. Younge’s establishment some weeks ago.
Then a more harrowing remembrance flashed in his mind.
That is the same gentleman I saw at Rosings!
At the time, he had thought it unfathomable that his aunt had condescended to admit such a person into her home. Upon his questioning her, she had responded, “Until you and Anne are united in holy matrimony, you must not concern yourself with the comings and goings in my home, Nephew.”
What were the odds that the same person who called on his aunt weeks ago was also one of Mrs. Younge’s patrons?
Mrs. Younge—the very same woman who had been involved in the Wickham affair when she made it possible for my sister to be taken in by him. What was Lady Catherine’s purpose in receiving such a man?
It dawned on him that if this man knew Mrs. Younge, chances were he also knew George Wickham.
He racked his brain, silently deliberating how any of this might tie in with his aunt.
She knew Wickham, of course, as a consequence of his having been reared at Pemberley where she often visited when Darcy’s mother, Lady Anne, was alive.
Lady Catherine also knew that Wickham was a favorite of Elizabeth’s.
In fact, she had gone so far as to warn Elizabeth against the man.
A sickening feeling crept over him. He could not believe the thoughts he was thinking.
He would not believe them. My aunt likes to have her own way well enough, but surely she could not be so evil, so determined, that she would put forth a scheme that might ruin an entire family’s reputation just so she could put Elizabeth out of my reach.
As doubt gave away to certainty, rage etched across his countenance. How dare she?
Hours later, Darcy sat in his study, the tumult in his mind a striking contrast to his stately surroundings.
Just when he thought he had rid himself of his old friend, seeing that stranger earlier that morning brought the events of the past weeks crashing back to the forefront of his mind.
The appalling spectacle of George Wickham kowtowing to the Gardiners after the wedding ceremony combined with the open manner in which they seemingly embraced that scoundrel haunted Darcy still.
His disgust was increased by every review of it.
Upon his last consideration of the troubling events, however, he realized he should not have been surprised.
From what he had surmised of Elizabeth’s London relations over the short span of their mutual acquaintance, such behavior was exactly what was to be expected of them.
For better or worse, Wickham was forever and irrevocably connected to them.
He was family. They were simply making the best of the situation.
Seeing Elizabeth engaged in such civil discourse with Wickham was another thing altogether. Darcy did not like it one bit. That he had been the principal person who had provided the means of putting Wickham once again in Elizabeth’s path only made matters worse.
I suppose I might have remained in the church a while longer—long enough to secure a private audience with Elizabeth to apologize for employing such measures to save her family’s reputation from ruin. In time, she will understand. I will see to it that she does.
Even though Darcy had been in frequent contact with Mr. Gardiner over the course of the past weeks, rarely had he had an opportunity to do anything other than exchange brief pleasantries with Elizabeth during such times.
Since he made arrangements with her relations to bring Lydia to their Cheapside home to stay until the marriage took place, Lydia was always by Elizabeth’s side.
Darcy could not tolerate that silly girl, and he certainly did not intend to expose his sister to her.
At least Georgiana was sensible enough to regret her conduct where Wickham was concerned.
Lydia proved wholly incapable of such feelings of remorse.
It is one thing to say that I did not intend for Georgiana to be exposed to Elizabeth’s youngest sister before, but what of the future?
Having overcome all the scruples that would argue against connecting himself with a family so decidedly beneath his own had not been easy, but he had done it.
Now that I have decided that Elizabeth is the only woman I will ever love—the only woman with whom I wish to spend my life—I do not dare throw away the future that ought to be mine because of the Wickhams. I cannot and I shall not.
As his own master, Darcy answered to no one other than himself. As Georgiana’s co-guardian, he was the one who ultimately decided what was best for her, with or without the consent of his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam—his young sister’s other guardian.
This particular matter is entirely different.
After everything that has happened, my sister ought to decide her own fate as regards George Wickham.
Thus resolved, Darcy knew what he must do.
Standing, he stretched his long legs—a welcome relief after sitting in one attitude for so long—and he went in search of his sister.
“Georgiana, I wish to have a word with you,” said Darcy, upon entering her room.
He had crafted and carefully rehearsed his speech all the way up the stairs, but seeing her sitting in the window seat as contented as he had ever recalled seeing her of late, he grew uncertain of what he was about to say.
He sat down for a few moments and then, getting up, walked about the room.
“Brother,” the young lady began, “have I done something to displease you?”
The genuine concern in her voice recalled him to his purpose in being there.
“No, of course not, dearest Georgiana.” He went directly to where she sat.
She made room for him to sit beside her.
After a silence of several moments, he said, “I have a matter I wish to discuss with you, and I am trying to decide where to begin.”
“In such cases as this, it is always best to start at the beginning, do you not agree?”
He smiled a little, but only as a measure of reassurance for his sister’s benefit. There was nothing at all pleasant in what he needed to say. “I will do my best. You know all too well that Miss Elizabeth’s youngest sister ran away with George Wickham.”
“Yes. I am also aware that the young lady has since been reunited with her family, for you told me as much already.”
“Indeed. Indeed,” Darcy repeated. “However, there is more to the story than that. The fact is that, for reasons I do not wish to discuss, the only true solution to that debacle was for Wickham and the young lady to be married. What is more, I am the one who provided the means of bringing the marriage about.”
Georgiana’s astonishment in hearing this was beyond expression. She stared, colored, and was silent.
“It was the only thing I could do to save the Bennet family’s reputation from ruin.”
“I know how much you care for Miss Elizabeth, Brother, but—”
“—I more than care for her. The fact is I love her, and I intend to do everything in my power to make her my wife. As for the Wickhams, what is done is done. I will not allow this to cost me the woman who means so much to me, but I am obliged to see that you have every possible chance to escape such a connection if you so desire.”
The young woman’s countenance paled. “What are you suggesting, Brother? Do you mean to send me away?” she cried.
“No, not send you away. But perhaps you might choose to live with our uncle and aunt, Lord and Lady Matlock. You must know that nothing would bring our aunt greater pleasure. You will be enjoying your first Season in a year or so. You are sure to attract the notice of some of the most eligible gentlemen of the ton. You deserve nothing less.”
“No, I do not want to live with our aunt and uncle. I have always wanted a sister and now, when such a possibility is about to unfold, I do not wish to give it up out of fear of what others may think or say, and I surely will not give it up because of a possible connection with a man whom I have known all my life. Even if he had not committed such a horrendous offense, the connection would always be there. Exiled or not, Mr. Wickham will always be of Pemberley.”
Darcy put his arms around his sister and drew her closer.
The two of them had endured so much hardship throughout the years: first the loss of their mother and, later on, their beloved father.
In ways that only they comprehended, it was solely the two of them.
God willing, all of that would soon change should he and Elizabeth marry.
It meant the world to him that his sister wished for such an outcome too and even more that she wanted to be part of it.
At length, Georgiana said, “When do you plan to see Miss Elizabeth again?”
“I have every intention of going to Hertfordshire and staying there for so long as it takes to win Miss Elizabeth’s hand, but first I must travel to Kent. I shall leave as soon as the necessary arrangements are made.”
“Are you going to speak with Cousin Anne?”
Darcy did not imagine he could escape such a prospect even though it ought not to come as a surprise to Anne as he had already told her that the two of them would never be wed. Speaking to his cousin was the least of his concerns. “In truth, I owe our aunt a visit.”
“Why is visiting our aunt in Kent more urgent than calling on Miss Elizabeth in Hertfordshire?”
“For the sake of family harmony, I pray you never find out.”