Chapter 17 #2
I need to beg your forgiveness. I will humble myself before Matlock and my nephews when I have the opportunity.
I was wilfully blind when it came to George Wickham.
Even his father tried to tell me that I was erring in the way I blindly believed my former godson, but I acted as if I knew better than all of you. I was very wrong.
I have not informed him that the bequest of money (it was only ?1,000) and my recommendation that he be preferred to one of the livings in our advowson have been removed from my latest executed Last Will and Testament.
My decision not to tell him was to allow him to prove himself worthy of the last chance I have given him.
If he does, I may add something to my will for him.
Based on what I now know of George, two Sundays will come together[4] before that happens.
I do not think this opinion reflects severity; rather, it is the reality of who George has become.
I know you will be a good master of Pemberley, and our other estates, as I can see you care for our people who depend on us as much as I do.
I have no doubt you will do your duty in caring for the estates and all of those who make them what they are.
As long as you are always honest and of good character, you will not go wrong.
If I ever need to, I will promote Chalmers to be the new steward because he is a man in Lucas Wickham’s mould.
I tell you this in case, when you are the master, you need a new steward.
Wickham has trained Chalmers as an under-steward for some years now so I am confident, when the time comes, as long as he has not taken a position elsewhere, he will be a good choice to work at Pemberley.
I of course hope that it will be many years before you are the one to manage the steward and the estate, but in case that is not the reality, I wanted you to know that if you need a new steward, Chalmers has my full confidence and trust.
There is something I must make clear in case I have not while I lived.
You and Gigi have been the reason that made my life worth living after your mother was taken from us.
My Anne knew me well, which was why she made me vow what she did.
She was right, had I retreated into my grief I would have missed the wonders of watching you two grow.
As much as I miss your mother, you, William, and Gigi have been a balm to my soul.
A father could not love his children more than I love you two.
I charge you to judge by character and not wealth and rank. I know that your mother and I may have erred in having you think too well of yourself. However, I believe that with your character you will move past that and become the best of men.
William, before I close this letter, I need to clarify something. I realise you may misconstrue what I mean when I say that I want you to make a ‘brilliant’ match.
I do not refer to status, rank, connections, and or wealth. I am talking of a match like your mother and I had. A felicitous one built on respect and love. You need the former to truly have the latter.
Your mother and I did not come together because of the things I list above, even though they were present on both sides.
There were intangibles which led to us marrying.
It all began with mutual respect. The love soon followed.
I can tell you that for both of us, had I been a lowly country squire or your mother the daughter of such a squire without any dowry, we would have still married.
On that subject, your mother never promised you in marriage to your cousin, Anne de Bourgh, and more importantly, I never agreed. Unless you choose to marry Anne, you have no obligation to marry my niece.
In addition, it is my belief that first cousins should not marry.
Be the man your mother and I hoped you would be.
Father
9 November 1803
I am adding to this letter because Mr Lucas Wickham passed away on the 5th of this month.
Our local physician opines that Mr Wickham was poisoned, although there is no proof thereof. The Wickham’s cottage was searched when George was at the interment, and no bitter almonds were found.
Because of this I am contacting Kincaid in Lambton to add to my will.
I had thought that I had until after your majority to show you the place in the wall where the letter regarding the line of succession of Rosings Park, those from your mother, and some from me are.
Just in case the worst happens to me, the new clause will tell you how to find the secret compartment.
For his own reason, your great-great-grandfather Darcy had it added to the wood panelling near the sideboard.
Of course, I hope that I will see you when you turn one and twenty and be able to show you the compartment myself. It is not like I am ill, that I know of.
We do not have to concern ourselves that Chalmers will leave, I have made him my new steward.
William, a father could not be prouder of a son than I am of you, your improper pride and all.
Father
What he read about the suspicion Wickham had had a hand in his own father’s death confirmed what the doctor told him at the time.
Once they found the cut-open sack near where his father had met his end, Darcy and Richard had been sure it was Wickham who was responsible.
Unfortunately, with no proof, there was little they could do about it.
This reminder of what the bastard had taken from him angered him all over again.
It took some minutes before he calmed enough to think on his father’s words.
Like his mother, his father had seen improper pride in him, yet neither of them had corrected him.
Darcy knew that as an adult, he was responsible for his actions. It was his fault, not that of his parents. He was well pleased he had punched the wood where he had. Without it, he would not have been able to read his parents’ words, and he would not have been able to hand Anna her first letter.
He was well aware his sister would be so very pleased, as she had never received anything from Mother that had been especially meant for her.
Anna’s missive was in his valise along with the one which would identify the family of Eloise de Bourgh and lead to the discovery of the heir to Rosings Park.
Darcy was on his way to Kent, where he would hand the epistle to his uncle.
As he had not heard anything to the contrary, he believed that Anne yet lived, so he would be able to see her and say a proper goodbye.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Anne de Bourgh had lived for longer than anyone had expected her to, the London physician included. Hence, as Darcy’s coach turned into the estate when he arrived at Rosings Park, he saw that there was no black fabric on the doorposts or, when he reached the mansion, on the front doors.
The butler informed him that the mistress was sitting with Miss Anne, and the Fitzwilliams were in the earl’s and countess’s sitting room. Before washing and changing, Darcy made for the sitting room.
“Have you come back so Miss Bennet can flay you some more?” Hilldale drawled when his cousin unexpectedly entered the sitting room.
“How could you, William!” Lady Elaine admonished.
“You are not a good representative of our family when you behave in such a way. I know you apologised to her, but to insult Elizabeth in that fashion. At least, your interference in the matters of the heart between Miss Bennet and your friend has had a positive effect insofar as she is being courted by Jamey.”
“When I was in London, I begged, and Miss Bennet granted her pardon.” He looked around at his family. “How do you know all this?”
“Elizabeth sought out Richard to discuss your letter, and he brought her to us. Even if she had no interest in marrying you, she could have claimed compromise a few times. You were rather intemperate with her,” Matlock chastised.
“I could not believe that a little slip of a thing without meaningful connections—well she had none then—and no fortune turned you down flat. Although what self-respecting lady, other than that Miss Bingley, who is quite ruined even if she does not know it yet, would accept you after such a proposal? We did see your letter. Thereafter, Elizabeth consigned it to the fire. She really has no inclination to claim compromise or use that letter as leverage to extract money from you. She is the least mercenary person I know.”
“If Miss Elizabeth had not flayed you the way she did, I would have to thrash you. It is just as well that Miss Elizabeth put you in your place so effectively.” Fitzwilliam’s eyebrows knit together. “What brings you back? Is all well with Anna?”
“I saw Anna in London before I departed for Pemberley, and she was well. While at Pemberley, I made a discovery…” Darcy went on to tell the four Fitzwilliams about the way he had discovered the compartment and what had been within.
He told them how he had read two letters addressed to him during his journey to the south.
“Uncle Reggie, do you remember asking me if I knew of a letter my late Uncle Lewis wrote to Father about Rosings Park’s line of succession?
” Darcy carefully extracted said letter from the valise he had carried with him and handed it to his uncle.
Matlock read the letter. “Well, this is very interesting!” he exclaimed. He passed it on to his wife and sons.
“Oh, my,” Lady Elaine said.
“That changes much,” Fitzwilliam opined.
“You have the right of it. What will you do, Father?” Hilldale enquired.
“As soon as possible, we must visit the heir apparent. If Anne passes in the next day or two, it will be after her interment.” Matlock looked at Darcy. “Do you want to see Anne? I know she would like to see you.”
Darcy walked to his cousin’s suite at the other end of the hall. Mrs Jenkinson admitted him.
“If you had married Anne like your mother and I…” Lady Catherine began but stopped when her nephew held up his hand. “How dare you treat me with so much disrespect!”
“Aunt Catherine, firstly, nothing I or anyone else did would have changed the outcome for Anne. Secondly, I discovered letters my parents left for me. Would you like to know what they said about the so-called engagement? The missives from both of my late parents roundly refuted your claims about a ‘cradle’ or any other engagement between Anne and me,” Darcy revealed.
Lady Catherine huffed and left the room.
Anne looked skeletal to him, but her eyes were watching him. Darcy sat next to his extremely frail cousin.
“Heir?” Anne managed to croak out.
He nodded and leant forward. Darcy whispered the information to Anne. When he sat back, she had a satisfied look on her countenance.
Knowing that her father’s estate would remain in the family and not revert back to the crown, Anne de Bourgh was able to feel at peace. She closed her eyes and breathed her last, a smile on her lips.