Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
She entered, so preoccupied that she did not answer when Jane spoke to her.
Mrs Hill peered at her. In her calm voice, she asked, “What has happened, Miss Lizzy? Were you importuned by a man?”
Elizabeth turned a troubled face to the housekeeper.
“No…no, I am not sure what has happened. I was just snubbed publicly by Mrs Long and her nieces.” Jane gasped, and Elizabeth continued.
“And Mr Swanson wanted me to leave his shop before I could even look at any embroidery floss.” She looked at Jane and Hill in bewilderment.
“He opened the door and stood there until I left. Then, as I walked along the street to come home, there were some people who turned away.”
Kitty walked in, followed by Mary. “I know what it is, Lizzy. We were just walking with Maria Lucas. She told us that someone is spreading a bad rumour about you.”
Mary added, “Someone is saying that you charmed Mr Goulding using, er…” She blushed deeply. “Improper…ah, arts and allurements so he would leave his estate to you.” She hastened to add, “But Maria said to tell you that no one in their household believes it.”
Jane gasped, her hand fluttering to her chest. “Who would do such a thing? Who would even think of such a thing?”
“You should tell Papa,” Kitty said.
“That will only make him angry, Kitty,” Mary said, glancing sympathetically at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth felt herself tense. Mr Wickham! It had to be! He would be just the person to spread indecent rumours. He had been thwarted from getting money from her twice, but perhaps he was still nearby. He certainly could not return to Brighton.
“I must speak to my uncle,” she said and turned back to the door. Mrs Hill gently took her arm to stop her. “Let us send Davy. You have had enough trouble today.”
Elizabeth penned a note and handed it off to the footman, who hurried away. Within an hour, he was back with a reply, and she read it with relief.
“Uncle will come to take tea with us. He will speak to Mama and Papa about what has happened and help us decide what to do about it.”
Davy spoke up. “Miss Lizzy, while Mr Philips was writing his answer, I ran over to see Marty, the boy who sweeps the floors at the baker’s. He said he heard about it from Mr Wickham.”
“Thank you, Davy. I will inform my parents.” But that could wait until Uncle Philips arrived.
She stepped out into the garden and sat on a bench placed under an overgrown lilac bush. Breathing deeply, she made an effort to calm her mind and think clearly.
Mr Wickham did not get what he wanted and as a result seemed to have declared some sort of war on her and her reputation.
He was doing his best to hurt her by separating her from her community, spreading falsehoods about her and sabotaging her character, just as he had done with Mr Darcy when they were at Cambridge.
And as with Mr Darcy, he had used a tiny seed of truth, that she had in the past often walked alone, and spun lies around it.
The difference was that Mr Darcy felt unable to do anything about Mr Wickham, constricted by his commitments to honour his late father and protect his sister.
She, however, had no such impediments. Elizabeth swore to herself that she would find a way to see Mr Wickham not only punished for his crimes but put away forever.
Later that afternoon, Elizabeth met her uncle at the door and led him to the parlour, where Mrs Bennet was arranging the tea things on a low table as Mrs Hill brought in the cups.
“This looks delightful!” he enthused to her mother’s delight. “Will your husband join us? Lizzy and I have things to discuss with you both.”
Mrs Bennet handed him a plate filled with sandwiches and strawberries. “Must we hear about Mr Goulding’s will again? I do not understand why Lizzy must do so much work when she will not get any money, at least a dowry!”
“Mama, do not forget that we have a house of our own now.”
“Yes, and that is the best thing for you all,” said Mr Philips. “No, I am not here to talk about the will per se. It is a matter connected to Lizzy’s work on Mr Goulding’s behalf, however, and it may prove harmful to her.”
Mrs Bennet’s face fell. “Oh dear! What has happened now?” She leant towards Elizabeth and patted her hand. “Has Mr Wickham returned? Lydia is still quite upset at the terrible things he said about her.”
“I shall tell you when Mr Bennet joins us.”
Minutes later, Elizabeth knocked on the door to her father’s library, then opened it. He looked up.
“Papa, Uncle Philips is here. He wants to speak with you and Mama.”
“If it is anything about Goulding’s wretched will, I do not wish to discuss it.” Mr Bennet turned back to his book.
“It is another issue that requires your presence. He has come to advise us.”
Mr Bennet, heaving the long deep sigh of someone who was continuously imposed upon, set down his book and followed Elizabeth into the parlour.
“What is it now, Philips?” he asked with ill grace as he sat down.
Mr Philips looked askance at him. “We have discovered today that Mr Wickham is still somewhere close by. He, like some others in town, still believes that Lizzy has inherited the estate and the investments. Since he failed in two attempts to extort money from her, he has resorted to impugning her name by spreading salacious gossip about her.”
Elizabeth flushed. “What have you found out, Uncle?”
“I was able to confirm your young footman’s investigative work.” A slight smile crossed his face. “That young man may have a future as a Bow Street Runner.
“I have also made a few enquiries myself. From what I have learnt, we are gaining ground in correcting the mistaken idea that Haye-Park belongs to Lizzy personally. I can say with confidence that the majority of our neighbours do not believe that any longer. Lizzy has a good reputation and people respect her, but rumours can still be harmful. Now we need to decide what to do about it.”
Mr Bennet spluttered, “What we can do about it? Lizzy must stop this nonsense! After what that cur did to Lydia…and now this? My daughters will be ruined! Goulding must have been addled to think a single young lady should carry out his business!”
He turned to his daughter. “I order you to quit this! Stop it now, today—”
Mr Philips interrupted. “Lizzy has done nothing wrong, Bennet.”
Elizabeth was silent for a moment. She had never defied her father’s orders in her life.
“Papa, it is almost done. We have made enquiries and done research on the type of foundation Mr Goulding wanted, and we are developing a plan and have almost completed the by-laws. We are making our decisions as to how to use the investments and income from the estate in the best manner to advance the fortunes of the community. We have made a list of possible trustees and are in the process of writing letters to them. There is little left to do.”
Her chin rose. “In terms of this most recent problem, perhaps there is a solution already at hand. Uncle, would you say his actions are not only dangerous to me but harmful to the business of the trust? If, in your legal opinion, they are harming our work on the task Mr Goulding asked of us, would it be possible to purchase Mr Wickham’s debts? ”
Her uncle stared at her with raised brows. “Do you mean for funds from the estate to be used for that purpose? Are you suggesting that we put this before the magistrate and have him removed to a debtor’s prison?”
“I am. If you call upon or send enquiries to merchants along the high street, I believe you will find that the sum of his debts will be more than enough to send him to gaol. Mr Goulding wanted his fortune to work for the betterment of the community. I believe that removing that villain from Meryton forever will do just that, but only if that would be within the letter and spirit of the law as regards his will.”
Mrs Bennet gasped. “You would send him to prison?”
Elizabeth took her mother’s hand. “He is charming, Mama, but his charm only serves to conceal the greed and malevolence within him. We were all deceived as to his character, but now we know better, and it is our duty to protect our friends before he ruins someone.”
“He is certainly bad for hurting Lydia and saying all those dreadful things about her!” Mrs Bennet exclaimed, ignoring the fact that some of Mr Wickham’s claims had been true.
Her father rolled his eyes at that, but Elizabeth squeezed her mother’s hand.
“Did I tell you, Mama, that while I was visiting the Collinses at Hunsford, Mr Darcy and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam, who is a son of the Earl of Matlock, were spending Easter with their aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh?
We saw them at Rosings, and they paid visits to the parsonage.
They have both been acquainted with Mr Wickham since they were boys.
“As it happens, the charges he laid at Mr Darcy’s feet were lies.
Mr Darcy did indeed follow the terms of his father’s will.
The elder Mr Darcy left Mr Wickham one thousand pounds.
The younger Mr Darcy also paid Mr Wickham three thousand pounds in lieu of the living, which Mr Wickham told Mr Darcy he did not want.
In fact, Mr Wickham was never ordained. He could not have taken up the living anyway.
“Mr Darcy did not counter these rumours at the time. He did not deign to refute them, believing it would only encourage Mr Wickham. Later, he felt that he had erred in not warning the merchants here about that man’s profligate spending, his gambling, and about his treatment of women.”
Mr Philips leant back in his chair, considering Elizabeth’s suggestion.
“I can understand your reasoning, but it seems to be stretching the definition of harm to the community, and what our charity should be responsible for. I will examine the language of the will closely to see if a case can be made to use estate money to purchase those debts and remove that man. I will also see what I can find in case law.” He smiled sympathetically at his niece.
“Though I regret that it seems rather far-fetched to me.”
He drained his teacup and rose. “I have other business I have been neglecting, so I will not be available to work with you until Wednesday next, when we have another appointment with Mr Hargrove. I shall meet you here at half past the hour of nine in the morning, and we will ride there together. In the interim, it would be good for you to take your mind off the work you have been doing. Put it out of your mind and enjoy your usual pursuits. However, do be careful, and if you go beyond Longbourn’s park, always have someone with you. ”
Mr Philips turned to Mrs Bennet. “Thank you for the tea, Mrs Bennet. Do not worry, we will soon be finished with our work, and the charity can be made public. That should deter any more lies and misconceptions about Goulding’s estate and Lizzy’s work.
” He met his brother-in-law’s eyes. “You should both be proud of your daughter.”