Chapter 12 #2
Darcy did not miss the jest and he was not in the slightest amused. “Yes. During that proposal, I discovered what you have already told me: that my behaviour, which I thought to be clearly in her favour, was interpreted as cold and disdainful.”
“Well, young man, perhaps you have to adjust your manners.”
“I hope you do not intend to educate me, sir,” Darcy responded coldly.
“Not at all, I assure you. However, you must admit that something was wrong in your approach since you made such a poor general impression. We have been talking for only a short while, and I can safely say that the negative accounts I heard about you are not true.”
“I cannot deny that my manners need improvement. I do not possess the talent of making myself agreeable with strangers. I try to behave honourably, and I speak the truth—but nothing more.”
“Darcy, you do not take the trouble of making yourself likeable because you have never needed to do so. I would bet that young ladies compete to gain your attention, no matter how haughty you behave. They are interested more in your situation as a future husband than in your character. I would also bet that you never imagined you might propose to a lady and be rejected.”
Darcy glared at him then moved to the window. “This conversation has become awkward. It is appalling that I should discuss such a delicate matter with anyone, even less with a complete stranger.”
“I agree. But should we not clarify this once and for all? I am in possession of a secret that I never should have discovered. Since I have, would it be best to ignore it or to settle it?”
“What is there to settle? Miss Elizabeth would surely be angry if she were aware of this discussion. But she cannot be angrier with me than she already is, nor can she have a lower opinion on me than she already has—so there is not much danger from that quarter.”
“Of that, I cannot testify since she did not say a word about you.”
“Well, what could she have said in the presence of her sister and friend?”
“Did I understand correctly that you wrote her a letter? I know I am not allowed to inquire further, but we have already passed the edge of decorum in this discussion. And my only excuse is that I am concerned for both Miss Elizabeth’s well-being and your own.”
“Speaking about the letter is the least improper thing that we have discussed,” Darcy admitted.
“I wrote it because I wished to provide enough information to avoid having the Darcy name polluted. I thought I deserved to at least defend myself and offer an explanation for my behaviour, just as Miss Elizabeth deserved to know the truth about a matter in which she had been deceived.”
“I hope you succeeded. I heard there was a friend of yours, a fellow named Bingley, who made a positive impression on the Bennets. Do you have news of him?”
Darcy readily caught the true meaning of the question.
“Bingley has been out of Town for several months, but I expect him to return soon.” Darcy hesitated a moment then continued, looking at his guest. “I hope he will return before Miss Bennet and Miss Elizabeth depart for Hertfordshire. He would be pleased to meet them again, I am sure.”
“I also hope he returns. I invited them to stay in Town for the rest of the season. Mr Bennet will join us too.”
Distress wrapped Darcy one more time. Would Elizabeth stay in Town for another month? Only a street away from him? He planned to return to Pemberley as soon as possible, but how could he embrace such a plan under the circumstances?
Wilson set down his coffee cup. “I should leave now; it is quite late. I trust we shall see each other often from now on. There is one more issue I need to clarify while I am here. About your father’s will and your decision to ignore it: I am, of course, in no position to demand an explanation or to judge you without knowing all the details.
But I was quite disturbed by the news that George Darcy’s wish remained unfulfilled after his death. ”
Wilson pretended it was not a demand or a judgement, but Darcy felt both of them keenly. The man in front of him assumed he was at fault. He should have called him out without delay.
Instead, he breathed deeply and poured himself another cup of coffee.
“I know not what falsehoods Wickham has spread about me, but I am not ignorant of the fact that people in Meryton believed him—including Miss Elizabeth. To her, I hope things are clearer now that she has read my letter. I would never disregard my father’s will, and I never did. ”
Wilson said nothing, only sipped his coffee while Darcy continued to speak until his entire history with Wickham was revealed to a man he had known only a few hours. With each word, he felt more and relieved, as though a heavy burden was rising from his chest.
“Last year, I crossed paths with him again when he attempted to deceive and hurt someone in my family. The matter is too painful and private to be discussed, but the harm he did, despite my timely intervention, will be hard to overcome. I told him that, if he dared to trouble me ever again, he would have to bear the most severe consequences. So he disappeared for several months—until I discovered him in Meryton, enrolled in the militia. The rest of the story you know.”
When he finished, he felt more heart-lighted than he had in a long while. He filled his glass again then offered to do the same for his guest. But Wilson’s face was dark, his eyes blurred with unrestrained ire.
“So, this pathetic wretch betrayed George’s affection and trust. He deceived his godfather and took advantage of his generosity.
Then he demanded a compensation that he received, returned to ask for more, and when you refused it, he attempted to take revenge against you by slandering your name and character. Do I understand you correctly?”
Darcy smiled bitterly. “Yes, that is an accurate summary, indeed. I confess I would have given him more if I had proof he wished to change his life and study a profession. I wanted him to be successful in memory of my father’s affection. But his behaviour proved otherwise.”
“But, Darcy, why did you not say anything before now?”
“I believed I had no business sharing something so private with the public. I thought his conduct would speak for itself. Besides, I could not risk a disagreement that could have jeopardised my family and my name.”
“So you granted him the freedom to ruin your reputation!” Wilson concluded furiously.
“Perhaps I should have warned people in Meryton about his character, but it is too late now. Besides, who would have believed me over him? Everybody liked Wickham, and—as you said—the general opinion of me was so low that my word was little valued,” Darcy admitted.
“That was your fault! You should have fought more to expose Wickham,” Wilson said with increasing rage.
“You may be right, but it is all in the past now. I am not certain I shall ever return to Meryton.”
“And you intend to peacefully allow Wickham to continue his deceptions?”
“Not quite. I shall think on this matter further. I was disturbed to see how easily even a bright young woman such as Miss Elizabeth fell for his lies. So I must do something to avoid that ever happening again.”
“Yes...we should discuss this more, but not now. It is very late; I shall leave now. I thank you for trusting me with this private information. I can imagine how difficult it must have been for you, and I suspect that tomorrow, when you wake up rested without brandy influencing your mind, you will be outraged by our conversation. But know that there is nobody you can trust more than me. All the loyalty I owed to your father I shall bestow on you.”
“This has been a strange night—a most astonishing one, certainly. I wonder what will happen tomorrow. For now, I realise that I told you everything, and you, sir, told me nothing. You succeeded in discovering all my secrets and betrayed none of your own. You possess dangerous skills to make me speak so openly, Mr Wilson.”