Chapter 14
An hour after the entertainment Miss Bingley provided—it was mistimed, as April Fool’s day was, after all, only on the morrow—Maddie, Jane, Lilly, and May travelled back to Gracechurch Street.
Jane discovered a missive from Elizabeth waiting for her.
She wondered how Lizzy accepted the remonstrations in the previous letter she had posted to her younger sister.
It was likely that Lizzy was surprised that Jane’s eyes had been opened and at the change in her older sister’s character.
Jane did not regret what she had written, but she did hope their relationship had not been irreparably damaged.
There was only one way to discover what the truth was.
“Aunt Maddie, will you please excuse me while I go read this new letter from Lizzy?” Jane requested.
“Go, Jane. I know you have been waiting for a reply,” Maddie allowed.
Jane made her way up to the bedchamber which was hers while she resided with the Gardiners.
She did not want Aunt Maddie to see her reaction if Lizzy’s letter upset her.
The last thing she wanted to do was come between their aunt and her sister.
She broke the seal and unfolded the paper. She began to read.
30 March 1812
The Parsonage
Hunsford
Kent
Jane, my beloved sister and best friend,
She let out the breath she was holding. Based on the way Lizzy greeted her, it seemed that things were not broken between them. Jane sighed with relief before she continued reading.
Had it not been for the events of the previous evening and the information I uncovered (I cannot write it here, but I promise to tell you all I am allowed to repeat when I see you again), I may have been far more upset at the words in your letter.
‘I have a good idea that there was something between you and Mr Darcy, but is there more to know?’ Jane thought. ‘To what information do you refer?’ She dropped her eyes to Lizzy’s words again.
As it is, I had already been humbled before your epistle arrived and reading it only pointed out what a stubborn, blind, prejudiced, and proud fool I have been.
You have the right of it; I was so determined that I knew best that I ignored your words, substituting my own judgements and what I wanted to be true regardless of what you said.
I must tell you that I wrongly prejudged the three noble Fitzwilliams. They were nothing but gracious and friendly, never making me feel inferior due to their rank.
Please forgive me for my wilful blindness, Dearest. I had no right to attempt to insert my own judgement while ignoring your words to the contrary. What you said to me was far milder than I deserved.
Even without the other events I alluded to, your words would have been enough to force me to re-evaluate my character.
“Who are you? And what have you done with my younger sister?” Jane asked aloud.
She was delighted that not only would there not be uneasiness between Lizzy and her, but her sister had not taken umbrage at the words Jane had written, and more than that, it sounded as if Lizzy were looking within to see what she needed to change.
Now to your news that you are being courted. Janey, I could not be happier for you. Who among us deserves happiness if not you?
I agree with your assessment. Mr Bingley did not love you well enough to fight for you. All I can hope is that Viscount Hadlock is worthy of you. It pleases me that you told me his family do not hold themselves above you and have no airs and graces.
As such, I am very much in anticipation of meeting the man who, dare I hope, I will be able to call ‘brother’ one day.
Please convey my love and best regards to Aunt Maddie, Uncle Edward, Eddy (while he is still home), Lilly, May, and Peter. Tell them I look forward to seeing all of them in a little more than three weeks. I will see Eddy when he is home for the summer.
With much sisterly love,
Lizzy
Jane could not describe the relief she felt that Lizzy had not taken exception to her admonitions in the letter.
Feeling much lighter, Jane took the missive to the drawing room.
“Read this, Aunt Maddie; it will answer your questions regarding how Lizzy reacted to my epistle.” Jane handed the missive to her aunt.
Maddie read in silence but was smiling widely by the end of perusing the letter. “This can only portend well for Lizzy that she is willing to admit to her faults and intends to make changes,” she said happily.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The epistle to Jane was one of three Elizabeth posted.
Mary King’s uncle and guardian received a letter from someone whose writing he did not recognise.
He did not think there could be ill in reading what was contained within, so he broke the seal and looked at the name at the bottom of the page.
Why would Elizabeth Bennet write to him?
There was only one way to answer that question.
30 March 1812
The Parsonage
Hunsford
Kent
Mr King:
Please, Sir, pardon the liberty I take in writing to you. If I did not believe that your ward, Mary, was at risk of being taken in by a silver-tongued devil, I would not have done so.
It has come to my notice that the man who is courting your niece is a gamester, a libertine, seducer, and a profligate.
Those are his good traits! Yes, I know; I counted him as a friend.
He was never my friend. He told me a story, severely defaming Mr Darcy, a story which he told far and wide after said gentleman had left the area.
I now know that none of it is true. Due to dishonourable behaviour while at Oxford, the late Mr Darcy withdrew his backing as his godfather.
Then, when Mr Wickham was sent down from Oxford, Mr Darcy’s patronage was withdrawn as well.
Contrary to his tale of woe, he was not bequeathed a single penny by the late Mr Darcy.
If you require proof, apply to the Earl of Matlock, who is an executor of the late Mr Darcy’s estate.
Think, Sir. Before it was made known that your niece had inherited a significant fortune, did Mr Wickham ever so much as greet her?
I urge you to protect your niece and take her far away from Mr Wickham and his dishonourable, mercenary ways.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Bennet
Mr Brently King did not disbelieve Miss Elizabeth for the smallest measure of time. Just before he was to summon his niece, Mary entered his study.
“Uncle Brently, may I go out and spend time with Mr Wickham? We will remain in public,” Mary requested.
“No, Mary, you will not see that man again. Now go pack your things. We are for Liverpool. We will depart as soon as may be.” Seeing the devastated look on his niece’s countenance, King decided he must explain at least some of his reasoning. “Mary, you know how dear you are to me, do you not?”
Mary gave a watery nod.
“I will not say how or from whom I learnt what I did, but it has come to my notice that among other even worse things not fit for your ears, Mr Wickham is interested in nothing but your fortune. Before the bequest became known, how many times did Mr Wickham pay attention to you?” King questioned.
As much as she did not want to admit it, Mary knew the truth.
“Never,” she responded quietly. “I tried to ignore that because I felt important and pretty when Mr Wickham paid attention to me instead of to lively and pretty Lydia Bennet. I did not know he was so very bad. I will have my maid pack.” After kissing her uncle’s cheek, Mary left the study.
With Mary gone, King rang for his butler. He informed the retainer they would be departing and only return once the militia had moved on to Brighton. He also instructed that Mr Wickham was not to be admitted and he was to be told to never return.
Said man sauntered up to Mr King’s house, as confident as he ever was.
Mary King was, as Miss Lydia said, an ugly, freckled creature, but he needed her ten thousand pounds desperately.
He swaggered to the front door and used the knocker.
He gave one of his best charming smiles when the butler opened the door. “I am here to see…”
“Mr Wickham, my master instructed me to tell you that your courtship is over and you are no longer welcome in this house,” the butler drawled.
“If I may just speak to Mr King,” Wickham begged.
“My master has no desire to see you. Good day, Sir.” With that, the butler closed and locked the door before Lieutenant Wickham could respond.
Wickham was in a daze. What just happened?
He had charmed the Kings and spun his yarn about Darcy to gain their sympathy; they had believed his story completely.
Was this because of damned Darcy? No, it could not be.
Darcy had been gone for months, and he had no way of knowing about his courtship of Miss King.
As he walked back to his rooms, his mood became far darker.
Wickham knew not how he would gain the funds he needed.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Another to receive an epistle was Sir William Lucas.
He was greatly surprised that Eliza would write to him, but being a curious man, he was very interested in what was written.
30 March 1812
The Parsonage
Hunsford
Kent
Sir William,
I know this missive is not something you would expect from me, but I have discovered information which could not wait until I return, as the damage to our neighbourhood is ongoing.
If I believed my father would react to the information I am scribing here and bestir himself from his study rather than think this is a big joke, I would have posted this letter to him.
I know that speaking this way about a parent is disrespectful, but you have known my father almost the whole of your life, so you will understand better than most that what I said is accurate.