Chapter Fourteen #2
“Your family is concerned for you, Miss Lydia. A person would turn to the Devil for assistance in order to bring a loved one home. Even in your sister’s estimation, I am far from the Devil. My connection to Mr. Wickham made me a logical choice for this task.”
Fortunately, Lydia Bennet’s shallowness kept her from seeing through this deceit, but her shallowness also made her immovable.
No matter what Darcy offered as a logical reason for her leaving, the girl’s loyalties remained with Wickham.
She wanted nothing to do with “boring old Longbourn” or with “sisters who never wanted to do anything that was entertaining.” She believed Mr. Wickham planned to marry her as quickly as his “luck” changed.
She wanted nothing to do with any of her “so-called” friends.
Lydia Bennet could not be persuaded. That meant Darcy must break Mr. Wickham’s resolve.
When Wickham returned to the table, he helped himself to another drink before he addressed Darcy’s demand. “So, the girl prefers me to you, it seems,” he started. “I won this battle.”
“The girl expects you to marry her,” Darcy’s voice had not changed since he began his negotiations. He had learned the hard way not to present Wickham the upper hand. “I realize you must be in dire straits or else you would not be among such refined company, Mr. Wickham.”
“I do not know where Lydia came up with the idea we would marry,” he protested. “I promise I never made such overtures.”
“Your promises are well known, Mr. Wickham.” Darcy wished to throttle the man physically, but he continued what he had started.
“I am not the betting man you are known to be, but I would think it to be a certainty that you departed Brighton because your debts were coming due. Miss Lydia likely had some ready cash. At least enough to carry you this far. Am I close to the truth?”
“It was Lydia’s choice to come along. I offered her no encouragement,” Wickham swore. “I will admit to having shallow pockets, however.”
“As I suspected.” Darcy explained, “Mr. Bennet is not a rich man, but I am confident he would bestow something suitable on Lydia upon her marriage.”
“I would prefer a woman with a larger purse, if you do not mind,” Wickham said tersely.
“It is not as if an heiress is likely to encounter you in this fine establishment. At my count, you have lost the last two with whom you attempted an alliance. A man should seriously consider his options.”
“If Lydia Bennet is my only option, then I am in more misery than I first imagined.”
Darcy stood. He had all of George Wickham he could tolerate for one day. “I will permit you some time to think about my suggestion. I will call again tomorrow.”
“I may no longer be here.” Wickham appeared agitated.
“I would not attempt to leave if I were you,” Darcy said calmly.
“I found you easily, and the law would not be so kind as to purchase a bottle of brandy. I understand debtors’ prison is worse than this establishment, if one can imagine such a place.
” Thus said, Darcy left the tavern, but before he departed the area, he paid a street urchin to keep his eye on Wickham.
He told the boy he would pay him daily to keep tabs on Wickham’s comings and goings.
He presented the child his card, though he knew the boy could not read it, and instructed the boy to send word to Darcy if Wickham attempted to leave. He would pay the necessary expenses.
Later, sitting in his study at Darcy House, Darcy planned how far he would go to secure Lydia Bennet’s marriage to George Wickham.
He must bribe the man—that much was evident.
Wickham would ask for more than he should receive, but Darcy carefully determined a reasonable figure for his outlay of funds, one he would expend on two frivolously worthless individuals.
The thoughts were repugnant, and only images of Elizabeth on the grounds of Pemberley sustained him through the night.
The following day, Wickham again seated himself at the same table upon Darcy’s arrival.
A fresh bottle of brandy sat on the table.
Darcy removed his gloves and sat. “I hope you do not mind, Darcy,” Wickham smiled.
“But I told the proprietor you would pay for the brandy when you arrived.” Darcy tossed a coin on the table, and the tavern owner hurried over to claim it.
“I have pressing business today, Mr. Wickham. I have no time for games. Have you thought more upon performing your duty and marrying Miss Lydia?”
Ignoring Darcy’s remark regarding duty, Wickham launched into the deliberations, “How much do you believe Mr. Bennet will bestow on Lydia?”
“I cannot say with any assurances. I have not discussed settlements with him directly. I would be willing to contact him on your behalf if you so desire.” Darcy hoped Wickham would not call him on this.
He did not want Mr. Bennet, whom, in reality, he barely knew, knowing how Darcy had gone beyond good society in this matter.
For if Mr. Bennet knew, Elizabeth would also know the extent of Darcy’s involvement.
“You will require,” he continued, “a fresh start. I would, personally, be willing for old times’ sake, as part of my dear father’s memory, to pay your debts in Meryton and Brighton.
Mrs. Bennet’s brothers have offered to cover me on any such expense, if necessary.
As a lawyer in Meryton, one of Mrs. Bennet’s brothers has been approached by several residents with complaints of your shortcomings. ”
Wickham pondered, “All my debts would be cleared?”
“I am assuming you have a full accounting to whom you owe funds,” Darcy offered. “Do you hold any idea of the extent of your debt?”
“I would be able to determine that information,” Wickham mumbled.
“Then we have an agreement.”
“Wait,” Wickham said with desperation. “I require a means to support my new wife. I can no longer return to the militia.”
“I have considered that. What say you to a commission in the regulars? Miss Lydia has a preference for men in uniform. It would be best if we find you a regiment in another part of the country where your reputation is not so well known. Relocation would assist your fresh beginning. Colonel Fitzwilliam could assist us in finding an appropriate posting.”
“It appears you have planned my life for me, Darcy,” Wickham asserted. “It is so out of character for you to be taking all this on. What is the true nature of your concern?”
“I have told you of my connections to Hertfordshire, but I also admit some shame in how our relationship has deteriorated. Your father served my father most faithfully. Although I still find what you have done to Georgiana and now to Miss Lydia to be abhorrent, I do understand your desperation. For my father’s sake, I wish you another opportunity for success.
Perhaps the military will suit your temperament more so than did the clergy or the law. ”
“That … that is generous of you,” Wickham stammered.
“Permit me to think on your offer. You may purchase a third bottle of brandy tomorrow.” He slugged down the alcohol in his glass, took the bottle with him, and climbed the stairs to his let rooms. Stopping to pay his “spy” before reentering his carriage, Darcy left the tavern.
He knew by tomorrow Wickham would agree, and Elizabeth would be safe.
On the third day of their meetings, Darcy found Wickham made a more presentable appearance.
His former friend had abandoned his previous unkempt look, and Wickham had spent time with his ablutions.
The tavern keeper brought the brandy without being asked, and Darcy dutifully paid him.
To date, Wickham had been too easily persuaded, and Darcy knew him well enough to know that when his former associate took an accounting of his debts, the man would not sell out so quickly.
Therefore, when Mr. Wickham began a renegotiation of the previous terms, surprise did not claim Darcy.
“I have been thinking, Darcy, about what you said of your father and mine. They were good friends, were they not?” He reached for the brandy again.
It seemed to provide him courage, for Darcy noted that although Wickham’s voice and countenance portrayed his calm, the trembling of his hands betrayed the man’s secret.
Darcy simply shot Wickham a complementary look of calm.
“We were great friends, too, Darcy, in our youth.”
“What is your point, Mr. Wickham?” Darcy asked, knowing where the conversation led.
“I was considering the living your father’s promise intended on my having,” Wickham began. “Do you think it might ever be available to me?”
“I can never say never,” Darcy began, hoping to keep Wickham’s plans alive without promising him anything definite, “but I cannot see that as a possibility in the near future. It would be several years at best. Your immediate future would be better spent as we discussed yesterday. The colonel has assisted me in locating an available commission in the North if you are willing to accept it. It appears to be a perfect match for your temperament. You must resign your current position as an officer in the –shire Militia. The repayment of your service in place of another must be part of our agreement. The paperwork for such a transfer can be completed in less than a week according to the colonel.”
Wickham mulled over Darcy’s words. Glimpses of the man’s desperation marked Wickham’s features.
“Mr. Bennet,” Wickham still pressed for more, “will give Lydia her share of her mother’s inheritance, but that may not be enough.
I am afraid my intended bride has expensive tastes. I do not believe I can afford her.”
“How much are you thinking?” Darcy asked, although he knew what to expect.
“If I chose to leave Lydia to find someone else, I could probably use my charms to form a more lucrative match. I was thinking an extra ten thousand pounds might make me more amiable to the Bennet offer.”