Chapter 9. Mr Darcy’s Visits #2
“The need for money last summer was part of a scheme by a relative and it was revealed by my attorneys–former attorneys, now. My aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, forged my father’s signature on mortgage documents for properties she owned in Gravesend, a town in Kent.”
“For five years, she made none of the payments and allowed the mortgages to go into foreclosure. The bankers and lawyers conspired with her to devalue the properties.”
Mr Gardiner nodded, “They forced you to pay the debt in good coin rather than seize the properties.”
“Fortunately, I had some funds available and your business connexions through the warehouses helped me to raise the balance. The bankers were surprized when my secretary and new attorney appeared at their establishment before Christmas with the balance in full. And they were forced to hand over the deeds to the properties as well. My aunt has written several letters ‘demanding the return of her property’ but my new attorneys have addressed her concerns.”
Darcy glanced at Miss Bennet and said, “But there are good members of my family.”
Elizabeth nodded, “Mr Darcy, every family has good and…questionable people in them.”
They were silent for a moment and then Elizabeth asked, “How is Miss Darcy this winter?”
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On Mr Darcy’s fourth visit to Gracechurch Street in two weeks, the subject of the conversation with Charles and Caroline Bingley at Mr Darcy’s home arose.
Mrs Gardiner sat with her needlework near the door where she could hear the servants, Nanny or Cook while Elizabeth sat at the pianoforte while she played a new piece of music as Mr Darcy stood beside the instrument to listen while they continued to talk.
“My hands are not quite large enough for this fingering,” she complained.
“Where mine are entirely too large for a keyboard,” Darcy answered.
She smiled and began playing a simple tune as a background before saying, “I saw an article in the newspaper that stated you are building a mill with Lord Hastings in Kent.”
He nodded and replied, “The flour mill will be complete this summer, and it will grind different grains into flour for bakeries in Kent. The only mill in the area burned last year and the owner did not have funds to rebuild.”
“Why are you building it with Lord Hastings instead of just building it yourself?”
Darcy nodded, “An interesting question Miss Bennet.”
She waited patiently and he explained, “Sharing the risk reduces my exposure if the mill fails as a business. And Lord Hastings seeks additional sources of revenue. His estate in Kent produces many different fruits that are sold here in London but if the growing season is dry, his income is decreased.”
Elizabeth nodded and added, “My uncle always seeks partners in different ships that sail for the different markets. His company holds shares in ships bringing spices from India and silks from China. And there are other ships that sail to the Spanish colonies with goods for sale.”
This reply began an animated discussion of trade, investment and ship schedules that left Mrs Gardiner smirking; Mr Darcy would not force her niece to retreat from a discussion of real matters.
“Miss Bennet, I am impressed with your knowledge once again,” the man stated.
“Will you permit me an indulgence Mr Darcy?” she asked.
“Certainly…if possible,” he quickly qualified the guarantee, and she smiled.
“The same article mentioned that your usual business partner, Charles Bingley, was not included in this business venture. May I ask why?”
Darcy stood straight and placed both hands behind his back before he answered.
“While at university, I met Charles Bingley, and we became friends. Afterwards, we worked together on some business deals, and I made an effort to introduce him to people in my circle of acquaintance. But last fall, his behaviour toward your sister revealed an unpleasant flaw in his character.”
“And he is not in your company now?”
“Not often and only at our club where we are both members. He abandoned Netherfield and that will cost him for two more years,” Darcy explained.
“I dread the day I meet with the man or his sister in London.”
Mr Darcy’s face reflected his surprize at the young woman’s words and he said plainly, “I did not imagine that you feared the Bingleys.”
“It is not fear but anger and resentment, sir. The man’s careless behaviour ruined my beloved sister’s life and reputation,” Elizabeth explained. “And worse still, my sister truly loved that man…she loves him still.”
Darcy moved to sit beside Elizabeth at the pianoforte and said, “Charles Bingley is a foolish man to have walked away from such a love, Miss Elizabeth.”
Aunt Madeline cleared her throat, and the young couple rose from the pianoforte to return to the sofa beside their chaperone.
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Earlier in the year, Elizabeth’s occasional exchange of letters with ‘Charlotte Lucas’ ended after Mr Collins sent a letter filled with denunciation and condemnation to Uncle Edward.
In his letter, Mr Collins explained that he had already ended all communication with Thomas Bennet for allowing his eldest daughter to prove that women were weak creatures.
‘If Mr and Mrs Bennet had been diligent chaperones; if they had provided appropriate tutelage for your nieces, their eldest daughter would not have fallen in the pits of lust and sin,’ wrote Mr Collins, demanding an end to the friendly relationship between his new wife, Mrs Charlotte Collins, and Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
In a final letter to Elizabeth, Charlotte wrote that her father, Sir William Lucas, was very uncomfortable with the break between the Bennets and Collins; he had been friends with Thomas Bennet for almost thirty years.
However, her mother, Lady Lucas, apparently relished her new role in the community by supplanting Mrs Francis Bennet as the leader of the gentry in Meryton.
Charlotte asked for Elizabeth’s forgiveness, but Lady Lucas had written that Elizabeth carried her fallen sister off to London after spitting on Sir William and herself.
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With great surprize, Elizabeth received a second letter from Charlotte in April. The letter reported events in Hertfordshire and Hunsford that severely damaged the authority of Mr Collins, Lady Lucas, and Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
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Dearest Eliza, I put pen to paper to communicate news to you of import and tragedy that no one else dares to share.
Mr Collins collapsed for a day upon receipt of this news and even Lady Catherine de Bourgh has fallen silent.
I never thought to see such a day! In a letter from my father, I have learned that my younger sister, Maria, left my father’s house to live without benefit of marriage with Lt.
George Wickham, an officer in the Royal Militia that is based there in Meryton.
Maria was held up as virtuous and well-behaved until her fall.
Even more terrible, George Wickham named Lady Catherine as his patron who bought the militia commission for the man.
My father threatens to sue the woman for enabling the man to prey on his daughter.
We know all this because when questioned by Colonel Foster, the commanding officer of the militia, Wickham provided letters from Lady Catherine giving him money and directing him to go to Hertfordshire and cause mischief because her wayward nephew, Fitzwilliam Darcy, was there.
Colonel Foster arrested Lt. Wickham and returned Maria to my parent’s house.
The irony of the situation with their previous denunciation of your sister’s fall caused my mother to collapse and die.
Maria has been sent to live with my mother’s sister in Portsmouth and my father mourns my mother’s passing.
I am unable to journey to Meryton to grieve with my father and Mr Collins fears my father’s presence either in Hunsford or Lucas Lodge.
To relive my stress and unhappiness, Mr Collins agrees that we may correspond–if you will read my letters and respond.
I remain your hopeful friend, Charlotte Collins
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When shared, the letter and its news so affected Jane, that she took to her bed and refused to rise for a day. When Aunt Madeline and Elizabeth pressed her, Jane confessed confusion at the details of the letter.
“It was my sister Lydia who chased Mr Wickham about Meryton. The night of the ball at Netherfield, Lydia continually slipped from the ballroom with Wickham and was gone for many minutes each time. Our father acted unaware, and our mother brushed away Mary and Kitty’s concerns.”
Jane blushed when she added, “I could not chastise Lydia for I was doing the same or more with Charles whenever we could slip from the room.”
“But Maria Lucas…” Aunt Madeline began saying, confused by the narrative of events.
“Our father may have locked our sisters in the house since Jane, and I left in December. Lydia’s absence from Meryton meant that Wickham turned his attentions to another young woman and the victim this time was Maria Lucas,” Elizabeth said. “But there is no one I can write to for confirmation.”
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On Monday following the arrival of the letter from Mrs Collins, Elizabeth shared the letter with Mr Darcy when he called. Mrs Gardiner watched the man’s face turn thunderously dark when he read the letter.
“I must speak with Mr Gardiner,” Darcy announced, tightening his hold on the paper. “My aunt’s interference…I have a cousin who is a colonel in the regulars; he can take custody of Wickham and get to the bottom of the matter.”
“Mr Gardiner is at the warehouses this afternoon,” Mrs Gardiner said.
“Miss Bennet, forgive me for not staying longer,” Mr Darcy said. “My visits with you are the highlight of my week but I must take steps.”
“I look forward to your visits as well, Mr Darcy. But the letter from Mrs Collins left me full of questions. If you can find any answers, I shall anticipate your forthcoming visits.”
“May I keep the letter for now? I shall return it if at all possible.”
Mr Darcy left for the warehouses and later Mr Gardiner sent a message that he would be late returning home that evening.
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That evening, in their rooms on the third floor, Jane and Elizabeth were quiet after discussing Mr Darcy’s reaction to the news from Hertfordshire.
In typical Jane fashion, she stated that Mr Darcy would resolve the matter with the help of his cousin.
Then she asked, “Lizzy, do you think Mr Darcy is in love with you?”
“I…I hold him in high regard,” Elizabeth replied, and Jane snickered.
“Really? High regard? Is that all, Miss Elizabeth Bennet!” the older sister asked from her chair in a teasing manner.
Rather than joining in her sister’s teasing, Elizabeth took Jane’s hands in her own and asked, “Jane…if I am…if he does love me…will you forgive me?”
Now Jane’s face expressed her surprize but then she smiled; the wonderful, graceful smile that caused smiles on the faces of everyone who saw such.
“Lizzy, oh my dear Lizzy,” Jane said with a single tear falling down her cheek. “If he loves you and you love him, nothing will make me happier. Your happiness cannot be affected by my situation.”
“But Jane,” Elizabeth mourned. “How can I be happy if you are not?”
Jane took Lizzy’s hand and guided it to her growing belly where despite the gown, she could feel the baby moving.
“He’s dancing this evening,” Jane said. “The midwife said that every babe is different, but it seems that my son is very healthy and will love to run.”
“A son?”
Jane nodded, “I dreamed that it will be a boy with my blonde locks and his father’s personality. I shall name him Charles and love him… Lizzy, I love my babe already.”
Mrs Gardiner entered the room with her four children at that moment, and the two sisters were swept up in boisterous play for many minutes. Nanny followed behind and pulled out her mending while the children played with their cousins and mother.
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