Chapter 14 #2
I will not sport with your intelligence but address the reason directly.
It has come to my notice that the man who is thought to be the best of men by those in Meryton is actually the worst kind of man.
Mr Wickham is a gamester, seducer, libertine, and profligate.
Those are his good traits! I have it on good authority, from one who holds thousands in markers for debts he left behind unpaid, that Mr Wickham never pays his debts to either the merchants or those he owes debts of honour.
Yes, I know I counted him as a friend; I even championed his cause.
I was a gullible fool and now know that he was never my friend.
He told me a story severely defaming Mr Darcy, one he said he would never repeat.
However, once said gentleman left the area, he began to tell his tale of woe far and wide.
I feel that I have been a silly girl, as I now know that none of it is true.
Due to dishonourable behaviour while at Oxford, the late Mr Darcy withdrew as his godfather.
Then, after being warned to behave, Mr Wickham was sent down from Oxford.
It was at that time Mr Darcy withdrew his patronage 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.
I suggest you have the merchants in Meryton speak to their daughters. I believe that Mr Wickham promises marriage and then urges the girls, and I emphasise girls (usually 15 or younger) to anticipate their vows, vows he never intends to say to them.
I write to you because as the former mayor and the current magistrate, I know how much you care for Meryton and its environs.
My suggestion is not to make it about Mr Wickham only, but about all of the officers. He tends to seek retribution when he thinks himself wronged. If all men in the militia have demands to pay their debts he will not be able to assume someone has knowledge about his way of doing things.
On a happier note, Charlotte and Maria are very well, and I am enjoying my time with them.
With respect,
Elizabeth (Eliza) Bennet
Being a former tradesman himself, Sir William knew only too well the ruin unpaid accounts could cause to Meryton’s merchants. He would do what he could to protect the tradesmen in the town. He was soon on his gelding, riding into Meryton.
He did as Eliza suggested and asked at every shop for a tally of outstanding money owed by members of the militia by soldier or officer.
He also hinted that some officers were known to promise marriage as a way to take young maidens’ virtues.
The total owed was rather staggering, but the vast majority of it was owed by one officer: Lieutenant Wickham.
Sir William made his way to the Derbyshire Militia’s offices and asked to see Colonel Forster. He was shown into the office where the jovial colonel stood and extended his hand.
“How may I be of service?” Forster asked as he indicated a seat for his visitor, and then he too sat.
“Colonel, you know that many towns refuse to welcome the militia or allow them to encamp near said towns, do you not?” Sir William began. “You have been welcomed here by all of us, is that not so?”
“To the first, I know it only too well, and as to the second, yes, we have been accepted here without reservation. Why do you ask?” Forster asked suspiciously.
“I have here a list of unpaid debts to merchants in Meryton, which total in the hundreds of pounds. I was a shopkeeper in this town, which prompted me to check this before your regiment departs. I am sorry to say that a great majority of the money is owed by one officer,” Sir William reported sadly.
“If your regiment departs, leaving any debts with the merchants, that will cause irreparable hardships for them, and no militia regiment will ever be allowed in Meryton again. Further, we will have no choice but to report the goings-on to your headquarters.” Sir William held up the list.
“May I?” Forster leaned over and took the paper. His face took on a purple hue of anger when he saw the same name over and over again. “Carter!” he yelled for his adjutant. The captain entered and saluted. “Bring Wickham to me now!”
It took about fifteen minutes before said lieutenant was shown into his commanding officer’s office. Wickham gave what passed for a salute. “You called for me, Colonel?”
“Wickham, explain how you will pay your debts to the shopkeepers in Meryton before we depart?” Forster demanded.
Wickham ignored the buffoonish Sir William. He would tell the unintelligent colonel what he wanted to hear. “As soon as I am paid in a week, I will pay all of my debts,” he claimed.
“Pray tell, how will you do that with the five pounds you are to receive?” Forster knew the man was lying and wanted to see how far he would go.
“My debts are insignificant, so I will have most of my wages left afterward,” Wickham prevaricated.
Forster slammed his fist on his desk. “Wickham, do you take me for a simpleton? You owe more than two hundred and fifty pounds, and I would wager that will pale in insignificance to your debts of honour.”
Before Wickham could try escaping, Colonel Forster summoned his adjutant and some soldiers.
“First, damned Darcy cheats me out of my inheritance, and then he does this to me,” Wickham spat when he saw he was unable to escape. “If he had paid me what he owed me, then I would not have to gain credit.”
“What has Mr Darcy to do with this?” Sir William enquired.
“The last I saw or heard from him was at the ball at Netherfield Park in November of last year. As the magistrate, former mayor, and a former merchant, I suggested my fellow citizens check what they are owed before the regiment moves on to Brighton. I had no idea one man could have the amount or the number of debts you do, Lieutenant Wickham.”
Hearing that this had nothing to do with Darcy and that he had not been the reason for checking the debts, mollified Wickham to a certain extent. That still left the problem of his debts being known and having no way to pay them. Damn those Kings! “As I said had Darcy not…”
“Mr Wickham, how many years ago were you denied this inheritance you speak of?” Sir William interrogated.
“Seven or eight years,” Wickham admitted.
“I am afraid I may be too simple, but I do not understand how that pertains to your debts of today?” Sir William queried.
“How would you have paid them before you departed Meryton for Brighton? Do you know that unpaid debts like the ones you owe, if unpaid, can beggar tradesmen and ruin them? Surely a man of integrity would not be willing to cause such harm?”
“The regiment will pay, but former lieutenant Wickham will be held in debtor’s prison until he can repay the regiment,” Colonel Forster decided. “Captain Carter, ascertain the debts of honour this man owes.”
As he had been securely tied up, Wickham had no way to escape.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Bennet scratched his head. A bank draft in the amount of one hundred and nine pounds from Mr Darcy on behalf of Mr Bingley had arrived for him.
He never expected to see a return of the money which Jane and Lizzy had urged him to pay out. This was because he was convinced that Bingley had crossed Jane in love and would never be heard from again.
The question was why did he not send the draft himself. How was it that the arrogant Mr Darcy, who had slighted Lizzy, did so? According to Lizzy, Mr Darcy had nothing but disdain for all things Bennet. This did not make sense, and Bennet hated puzzles he could not solve.
However, he was well pleased to have his money back. He had taken the funds from those he had set aside for books and port. Now, he would no longer have to deny himself.