Chapter VIII #2
Darcy looked up enough to see Hurst considering Bingley, coupled with a small measure of what Darcy took for exasperation.
“Bingley, you know my opinion of your sister. Caroline has many fine qualities, but those qualities are sometimes overruled by those that are not so benign. I cannot say for certain what Caroline might do, but my experience with your sister has taught me to expect the worst. Caroline might accept her attempts to get Darcy’s attention are at an end, but it is only prudent to expect otherwise. ”
Darcy finished his letter and sanded it, but he could see Bingley’s contemplative expression. “You are correct to take care, unless Darcy intends to marry my sister because she has compromised him.”
The two men grinned at him, but Darcy ignored them for the moment, instead folding the paper and sealing it with wax.
The letter completed, he went to the door and summoned the housekeeper, instructing her to send the letter at once via express.
Then Darcy turned back to his two grinning companions and shook his head.
“I apologize if this seems harsh, but I will not marry Miss Bingley under any circumstances.”
Hurst eyed him and offered a slow nod. “That is not harsh, Darcy. It may be the best way to induce Caroline to desist. Any attempt to coerce you would damage her far more than it would you—especially if you refused to reward her scheming by yielding to her designs.”
“Exactly,” replied Darcy. “While I would regret the damage it would do to you both, I have no interest in having Miss Bingley as a wife.”
“Then it is best that we prevent her,” said Bingley, sounding far firmer than Darcy had ever heard from his friend.
“Aye, that it is,” agreed Hurst.
“Do you suppose Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley will remain in London?”
Bingley shrugged. “At present, they have no notion of where we are, and that should keep them from any adventures. If Miss Darcy can retreat from London without Caroline discovering where she is bound, there should be no trouble from my sisters.”
“What will your housekeeper tell Caroline should she visit your house?” asked Hurst.
“With the doorknocker removed, that should be no problem,” replied Darcy. “If she insists, I’ve instructed Georgiana to let the staff say we’ve ‘gone north’ should anyone inquire.”
“Sneaky,” said Bingley with an approving grin. “It is a misdirection, but it is not a lie.”
“That was the general idea,” replied Darcy.
“Then we should be free of Caroline for the moment,” said Hurst. “If you are fortunate, perhaps you will convince Miss Elizabeth to accept an engagement before Caroline learns the truth.”
“That is my hope.”
At that moment, the housekeeper entered the room, leading the colonel of the regiment.
Colonel Forster was a man of average height and dark hair, his bearing unlike that of Darcy’s cousin Colonel Anthony Fitzwilliam of the regulars.
For all that, Darcy’s opinion of Colonel Forster was favorable, for he was not a man to mince words and seemed to take care of the regiment’s reputation.
The reason for the visit was not hidden.
“Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Hurst,” said the colonel in greeting. “Thank you for receiving me.”
Darcy nodded, noting at the same time that Hurst and Bingley remained silent, allowing Darcy to respond. As it was nothing less than he expected, Darcy welcomed the colonel to the estate and offered him a seat. The colonel accepted, but he did not waste any time before coming to the point.
“When several of my officers returned from Longbourn, they came bearing unexpected tales of what occurred there.” The colonel paused and shrugged.
“To own the truth, I had suspected no harm of Wickham. I shall not scruple to suggest that he is among the most diligent of my officers, but militia men in general are not eager to complete the work of the regiment, and many consider it nothing more than a lark, an opportunity to partake in society and flirt with the local ladies. In that, Wickham is no better or worse than any of his fellows.”
The colonel grew serious again. “The stories the men told me, however, are a cause for serious concern. Thus, I resolved to ask you for whatever details you are willing and able to impart, since you appear to have some knowledge of him.”
Darcy regarded the colonel for a moment before responding. “I am not unwilling, Colonel Forster, but I am curious. Were you unaware of the connection between Wickham and me before today?”
Colonel Forster grimaced, confirming Darcy’s suspicions.
“No, Mr. Darcy, I cannot say I was unaware, only that I did not know what the truth was. Wickham was eager to share his tale of woe at the hands of his supposed oppressor—you, of course—but I’ve lived long enough to know his perception colors his charges at the very least. Some of the men believed him, but as many were skeptical.
To own the truth, I thought it a grudge bearing some measure of truth, told from Wickham’s perspective, and not germane to the regiment. ”
“That is true,” acknowledged Darcy. “What happened between Wickham and me can have no bearing on your regiment.”
“Thus, you see my point. I allowed Wickham to say what he wished, for I did not suppose you would concern yourself with what an estranged acquaintance said about you.”
“Wickham’s opinion has not concerned me for many a year. The unfortunate fact, however, is that truth and Wickham are only distant acquaintances. The only reason he speaks any truth at all is to give his lies more legitimacy.”
Colonel Forster responded with a slow nod.
“With that, we return to the original reason for my imposition upon you today. The men informed me of the accusations and what you told them after. The event concerning Miss Elizabeth Bennet at Lucas Lodge was also known to me, but as Wickham wove a credible tale of too much punch, I reprimanded him and allowed it to rest. Now I wonder if I was not mistaken in doing so.”
“That is your business, and I shall not attempt to intervene. What I can say is that there are not enough adjectives to describe the true measure of Wickham’s vices.
He is prone to gaming, incurring debt, womanizing, debauchery, and all manner of other misbehavior.
If you canvass the merchants in Meryton, you will almost certainly discover that he is already indebted, no doubt hoping to put them off until the regiment departs for summer quarters and leaving without paying.
If that did not work, he would have no qualms about decamping whenever the mood struck. ”
“The debts and the womanizing are of most concern to me,” said the colonel.
“If the men gamble away their winnings, that only concerns me when they affect their ability to support themselves. If he has seduced any of the local ladies, that is a serious issue for the regiment, and the debts he leaves behind are little better.”
“For the debts,” replied Darcy, “I have pledged myself, and it is not the first time.”
At the colonel’s interested nod, Darcy explained: “I have settled Wickham’s debts in both Cambridge and the market town near my home. There are enough debt receipts to see him in the Marshalsea with no chance of ever leaving it.”
“If I may be blunt,” said Colonel Forster, “I wonder at your patience, sir. Most other men would have used the markers they hold against someone of Wickham’s ilk long before his sins became this extensive.”
It was a valid question, and one which Darcy had asked himself many times over the years.
The excuse he had always used, that of respect for his father’s attachment, was now so thin as to be wearing holes in the fabric, though it had been true for a time.
Now, however, the honest man in Darcy could only confess that he had become so accustomed to distancing himself from Wickham and pretending he did not exist that he’d grown comfortable in it.
Even if he hadn’t acted after settling Wickham’s debts elsewhere, he should have consigned him to hell after Ramsgate—Georgiana’s tears had earned him that much.
“If you ask my opinion,” said Hurst, “I think it is past time you acted against him. He has grown emboldened because you declined to make him face the consequences, Darcy. That is not sustainable and puts other neighborhoods like Meryton at risk.”
Uncomfortable though it was, Darcy had to acknowledge that Hurst had a point. A new resolve filling him, Darcy turned back to the colonel.
“What will you do now?”
“Now I will speak to the merchants to learn the extent of Wickham’s debts.
I do not suppose the matter of his ways with the ladies bears investigation—if he has compromised anyone in the neighborhood, the family’s best response is to keep it a secret so the woman in question does not suffer public humiliation. ”
“You are correct. As he has only been here for a month, let us hope the damage is minimal.”
Darcy paused, a thought coming to him. “Wickham is not one I thought would accept even the more relaxed discipline of the militia. How did it come about?”
“Wickham had a slight acquaintance with Denny, who recommended him, knowing that one of our lieutenancies was vacant.” Colonel Forster shrugged.
“I do not blame Denny, for the acquaintance was not substantial. To own the truth, Denny is one of my better officers, though he enjoys the society of certain ladies far more than he ought.”
As Darcy recalled, Lieutenant Denny was a favorite of the youngest Bennet sisters, accounting for the colonel’s comment.
Darcy could not agree more. Denny must be six- or seven-and-twenty, while Miss Lydia was only fifteen—the age difference problematic precisely because she was so very young.
Given this eye-opening experience with Wickham, Darcy suspected the officers of the regiment were about to get a lecture about proper behavior with the locals, especially the young ladies not yet of age.
“Very well,” said Darcy. “I shall leave the investigations to you, though I will pledge my support for any debts you discover. When we have a full accounting, I can purchase those debts and use them to see Wickham in prison. If necessary, I can bring the other debt receipts to bear—or send him to the New World without the means of returning.”
“That is not advisable,” said Hurst. “This Wickham has avoided consequences for so long that it is time he enjoyed the fruits of his labor.”
“I cannot disagree,” said the colonel, while Darcy sighed and nodded along.
“Then it is debtors’ prison for Wickham.” Darcy eyed the colonel and added: “It would be best to ensure that Wickham cannot escape; if he even suspects you are looking into his finances, he will run.”
“I thank you, but I have already thought of that,” said Colonel Forster. “A pair of men are watching him; when I speak to the merchants, I shall have him put into the stockade.”
“Excellent,” said Darcy, standing and shaking Colonel Forster’s hand. “Let me know when you have discovered the extent of Wickham’s activities.”
“I shall,” agreed the colonel, who then bid them farewell and left.
“I hope you will not blame me for saying it, Darcy,” said Hurst, “but you have not handled this business with your former friend as you ought.
“Do not suppose that I blame you.” Hurst flashed him a commiserating smile. “It cannot be easy to know that one you esteemed when you were young has become a man lacking all common decency.”
“That is true,” agreed Darcy. “But I have known for many years what Wickham is. Your comment is not ill-judged—I should have done something about him years ago.”
“It is well that you are committed now,” said Bingley. “Miss Bennet’s younger sisters are far too enamored with the officers as it is; removing such a man will only benefit them.”
“Their father should also take a hand,” said Darcy. “Those girls are pretty enough to be a target for any man, and lively enough that they will not know the danger until it is too late.”
“With that, I do not disagree,” said Hurst. “I think you will find that Mr. Bennet will not be so complacent as he used to be. The business with Wickham has awakened him to potential dangers—the prospect of marriage for his eldest daughters will make reforming them imperative.”
“They cannot be seen in society as they are,” said Bingley, “that much is certain.”
“Perhaps I should introduce them to my aunt,” mused Darcy.
“From what I have heard of Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” replied Hurst, laughter in his tone, “such an introduction would not be pleasant on either side.”
Darcy shuddered. “No, an introduction to Lady Catherine would not be at all wise, and for more reasons than the girls’ less-than-proper behavior.
My other aunt, Lady Susan Fitzwilliam, is much more temperate and will not abide poor behavior, which must be why she and Lady Catherine do not get on at all. ”
Both his companions chortled at this. They did not know the half of it; no one unacquainted with Lady Catherine could have anything more than an imprecise notion of the reality of the woman.
“I shall leave that to you, Darcy,” said Bingley. “Perhaps if Mr. Bennet does not act, a little subtle prompting about the realities of his daughters’ behavior and your interest in Miss Elizabeth will provoke him.”
“I would advise against it,” replied Hurst. “Rarely have I met such an observant man. Bennet would understand any such attempt at once—he might view it with amusement, but it may also offend him.”
“The best option may be to take the girls into our homes once we marry,” said Darcy, nodding to Bingley. “Once the girls understand the benefits of learning proper behavior, I cannot imagine they will resist.”
“I would agree with you if one of those girls were not Lydia Bennet,” said Hurst. “That girl is as determined a flirt as I have ever seen.”
Bingley inserted himself into the conversation again. “For now, we’re putting the cart before the horse. When the time comes, we may discuss it then.”
They all agreed and dropped the subject.