Chapter 25
On the arrival back at Longbourn, Bennet left the supervision of his children to Miss Firth. After he had washed and changed from the road, he made for his study to see how much correspondence awaited him. Once that was sorted through, he would go over his ledgers.
Among other epistles, Bennet found a note from his brother-in-law, Phillips.
He knew it could not be urgent because had it been, it would have been sent to him at Hilldale.
As a missive from Phillips was a rare occurrence, Bennet’s inquisitiveness got the better of him, so he broke the seal on that one before looking at his business letters.
Bennet,
Netherfield Park is let once again. That in and of itself is not news. However, the lessee is none other than Hurst’s brother-in-law, one Charles Bingley.
I followed Hurst’s instructions and did, or said, nothing to influence Mr Bingley towards renting the estate.
I understand why he adjured me from influencing Mr Bingley.
As Hurst is not only the owner of the estate but also one of the executors of the late Mr Bingley’s final wishes, if it became known he encouraged his brother-in-law, it could look like he was trying to profit from his late father-in-law’s estate.
That he is taking such care to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest speaks very well to his character.
We always knew he had an upstanding character; this is further proof thereof.
If this was all I had to report, I would not have written to you.
Mr Bingley was not alone; he was accompanied by a good friend with much experience evaluating estates.
Yes, this is not anything out of the ordinary except for the abject disappointment on Mr Darcy’s face when told that none of you were home to call on.
Having heard Hattie and Fanny speak of his dancing the supper set with Lizzy at the prewedding ball and before that at Lady Matlock’s ball, I would guess that there was one particular Bennet he was disappointed was not home, and I do not believe it was you or your namesake.
Bennet had detected interest in Lizzy from Darcy.
Thankfully, like Hilldale had, Darcy had been content to wait until his second daughter was at least twenty.
He admitted that although even now he would be loath to part with Lizzy, he would not have countenanced it when she was younger.
He wondered when Darcy would be in the neighbourhood again.
There was more on the page so Bennet returned to the words Phillips had written.
It just so happens that Mr Darcy will be in residence at Netherfield Park. His stated intention is to teach his friend the art of estate management, but I have to believe that part of his aim is to renew his friendship with Lizzy.
Hurst and his family will be in residence as well. I heard mention that the youngest Bingley, a sister, will need to be watched closely.
I believe that Jane, Lizzy, and possibly, Mary have met Miss Bingley; is that not so?
Let me know when you return to Longbourn.
Phillips
Without meaning to, Phillips had answered the question Bennet had asked himself. He wondered how long after arriving in the area it would take Darcy before he requested a courtship.
He began to read the other correspondence, but the image of losing a second daughter to the protection of another man was not easy to dispel.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The months he had been in King’s Bench debtor’s prison had been the longest and hardest of George Wickham’s life. He was Robert Darcy’s godson; he was not supposed to live in squalor like this.
When he was not being forced to work to pay off his debt or lying on the straw which was supposed to be his mattress, Wickham was cursing Darcy, Fitzwilliam, and the system which permitted one in debt to be locked away like a common criminal.
At the same time, he was decrying his country for allowing men like him to be gaoled, he could not think of any way to extricate himself from the hell he was living.
Never once in all of Wickham’s dark thoughts did he own that it was his own actions which had forced Darcy to act.
He was filthy with a matted beard—bathing or shaving was not a luxury he was afforded—his clothes were hanging off him in tatters, and he was aware that his odour was foul. Just as he began to resign himself to his lot in life, he was pulled out of his cell and led up to the governor’s office.
Seated across from the governor was a man Wickham had never seen before.
He was dressed like a gentleman, but from the cut of his clothes, his ring, the rather large jewel set in the head of his cane, and the thick gold chain attached to his fob watch, Wickham could smell the money on him; this was a man of means.
Questions began to run through Wickham’s head.
‘Why was he here? Why was the man present when he was?’ The answers were unknown to Wickham.
“It is your lucky day, Wickham,” the governor drawled. “Mr St Claire has paid your debts, and as such, you are free to go.”
Wickham stared at the governor in disbelief. “How? Why?” he blurted out.
“Because I saw an injustice being done and could not allow it to stand,” St Claire stated.
The man spoke excellent English with only the hint of another accent Wickham could not identify. Suddenly, it struck him that one did not look a gift horse in the mouth, especially when being allowed to go free from the purgatory he had been in.
“I assume you have nowhere to call home at the moment, so I invite you to come to my house where you will bathe and be shaved, and then we will worry about suitable clothing for you,” St Claire offered.
“Thank you, Sir. I accept your generous offer,” Wickham responded keenly.
Why the man was doing this, Wickham cared not. He was free, and so far the man had not indicated he had merely purchased the markers to hold over his head or if he was going to allow Wickham freedom from his debts. Either way, he had paid the debt in full.
Soon enough, as filthy as he was, Wickham was riding in the most comfortable coach he had been in since riding in a Darcy conveyance some years past. After about a quarter of an hour, they arrived at a house.
It was not as large as Darcy House, but like the clothes this St Claire wore, it spoke of wealth.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Charlotte, who was heavy with child, and Richard Fitzwilliam were seated in the drawing room of Fitzwilliam House, the former de Bourgh House, on Berkeley Square when their butler showed their cousin, William Darcy, into the room.
As Ian Ashby had his own house in London, Anne had gifted the house to Charlotte and Richard when they married. She had refused to take no for an answer.
“William, sit,” Fitzwilliam suggested. “What is it? You look rather perturbed. What has overset your equanimity so?”
“Bloody Wickham…please pardon me for my indelicate word, Charlotte,” Darcy stated contritely. When his cousin nodded that she was well, he continued. “He is free! Someone paid what he owed a few days previously. I just received the funds due to me after the fee the prison deducts.”
“As far as we were aware, the parasite did not have any connections who would pay well over a thousand pounds for him.” Fitzwilliam paused. “Were you told who the benefactor was?”
“No, it was a writ saying Wicky had been set free once his debt had been paid in full. I should go to King’s Bench…” Darcy stopped speaking.
“Do not do that,” Fitzwilliam interjected. “Just leave it with me.”
Thanks to Richard sharing what his true vocation was with her as they rode towards Seaview House after their wedding, Charlotte understood why her husband was so calm. The men and women he employed would soon discover what they needed.
“We cannot do nothing!” Darcy exclaimed.
“William, do you trust me?” Fitzwilliam queried.
“With my life,” Darcy declared. “What has that to do with that bas…miscreant escaping paying the price for his planned actions?”
“Everything,” Fitzwilliam shot back. “Believe me that I will discover what this is about.”
“But...”
“No, William, I cannot tell you more. All I will tell you is that if this is some nefarious scheme, it will be uncovered.”
Darcy knew that look. He raised his hands in surrender.
“William, I am sure you were notified that Jane and Andy were blessed with a son, were you not?” Charlotte asked to change the subject. She did not miss the look of thanks Richard flashed at her.
“Yes. Gigi and I received a letter from Aunt Elaine. We were both very pleased that little Robert and Jane are both healthy,” Darcy responded.
Knowing that Richard never said things he did not mean, Darcy soon took his leave.
As much as he did not like being kept in the dark, he knew he needed to step back and allow Richard to do what he needed to do.
As he rode the less than half mile back to Darcy House, he wondered if Richard’s reticence about his position was connected to Hurst not being able to tell Darcy more than he had.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
After a week at St Claire House, Wickham was feeling much more like himself again. He was clean and well-groomed, and his benefactor’s valet had found him clothing that fit rather well.
When he looked in the mirror, he saw the old George Wickham staring back at him, a little thinner, but otherwise the same.
Thanks to the bountiful meals, he was quickly regaining all of the bulk he had lost while subsisting on gruel, bread, and water.
So far, Mr St Claire had not bothered him, and Wickham was not inclined to leave the man’s house as long as he was living in the lap of luxury, just like he believed was his due.
Darcy and Fitzwilliam had failed. They had left him to rot in that hellhole for many years. Instead, here he was, free and thriving.