Chapter 11. Mr Darcy’s Letter from a Scoundrel #2
Elizabeth frowned for just a moment but then drank some tea to hide her mouth. She was not at home and her opinion was not asked or needed.
‘I would want to know all,’ she decided. ‘Just because I am a woman, does not mean that I cannot deal with the world and the failings of other people.’
Lifting her eyes from the table in front of her, Elizabeth caught Mrs Annesley’s expression–one of admonition to protect Miss Darcy. Inclining her head in acceptance, Elizabeth turned to Georgiana and asked, “What is your choice for the next Mr Shakespeare’s works to read and discuss?”
“I should like to read the sonnets,” the young lady replied.
“I do not have a copy of the sonnets here in London. I shall have to visit the bookseller to find a copy.”
“Would you rather read another of the plays?” Georgiana asked.
Now Elizabeth grinned. “Indeed not. This will be an excuse to attend the bookseller and find any new books in addition to a copy of the sonnets.”
~~}{~~
When it was time to depart, Elizabeth hugged Georgiana and exchanged curtsies with Mrs Annesley.
She made her way to the front door to find the door to Mr Darcy’s office standing open and the gentleman giving final instructions to his secretary before going out.
His coat and hat were in the hands of the footman following him around and Elizabeth grinned.
‘If he takes one step backwards, he will land a top the footman and mash his hat.’
Mr Jones stood with Elizabeth’s pelisse and bonnet. She took the bonnet and after slipping it over her hair, she tied the ribbon under her chin.
“Miss Bennet, I see you are ready to depart,” said Mr Darcy as he approached with his coat on by this time.
“Yes Mr Darcy. Georgiana and I completed the duet to Mrs Annesley’s satisfaction this afternoon. We can perform for you at any time in the future.”
Standing at her side, Darcy took the pelisse from Mr Roberts and helped Elizabeth into the garment.
Then he put his hat upon his head and offered his arm.
Surprised, Elizabeth took the proffered limb, and they stepped through the front door, down the steps and up to a single Darcy carriage.
An unknown maid sat in the carriage to provide the chaperone for the two to travel together.
“Mr Darcy, it is not necessary for you to escort me home,” she whispered as they approached the carriage.
He answered quietly, “I needed to see your uncle concerning business matters this afternoon. I shall visit with him at his warehouse after delivering you to your door.”
“That is very kind of you, sir,” she replied. “Thank you.”
~~}{~~
Immediately upon her return to Grace Church Street, Elizabeth was drafted to help Emily with a rip in her small gown while Mrs Gardiner and Nanny were dealing with the baby who was colicky.
“Lizzy, my gown tore!” Emily cried and her older cousin immediately comforted her and then led the little girl into the parlour where she pulled out the mending basket. She solicited Emily’s help to match the thread to the material of the small garment.
By the time Emily was engrossed watching Elizabeth thread the needle with blue thread, the tears were forgotten, and the rip was soon repaired with Emily helping to pull the needle through some of the stitches.
“We must always be careful with the needle Emily,” Elizabeth repeatedly told the child. “It sticks little girls just as easily as it sticks into cloth.”
As she finished the mending and put the basket with needles and thread away, Elizabeth heard the front door open and the voices of her uncle and Mr Darcy filled the foyer.
“I must interview Elizabeth and advise my wife,” Uncle Gardiner said. “They must know of the contents of the letter.”
Taking Emily by the hand, Elizabeth walked to the parlour door where her cousin shouted excitedly, “Papa! Papa!”
The little girl slipped from Elizabeth’s grasp and hugged her father around the leg. Mr Gardiner bent over and picked up his daughter to hug her.
“Emily, where is your mother this afternoon?”
“Mamma is upstairs with Nanny and baby. Henry not feeling good.”
Mr Gardiner glanced at his niece who expanded upon her cousin’s explanation. “Henry is colicky this afternoon. Aunt Gardiner is seeing to him with Nanny’s assistance while Emily and I mended a tear in her gown.”
“I believe my daughter takes after you Elizabeth with this tendency to scrape her knees and tear her dresses,” Mr Gardiner told his niece. He turned to his guest and further embarrassed Elizabeth by telling of torn dresses and scuffed shoes as recently as the previous summer.
“Of course, Elizabeth was only trying to teach Edward how to climb the tree faster but they both ended up with dirty clothes and displeased Mammas.”
Mr Darcy smiled. “Just this past summer?”
“It was a beautiful day and Edward was not...” Elizabeth refused to say more when she saw that Mr Darcy was only grinning wider with each statement.
“Allow me to bring my wife into the parlour,” Mr Gardiner told his guest. “Elizabeth, escort Mr Darcy into the parlour.”
“Yes, Uncle,” Elizabeth replied. As Uncle Gardiner carried Emily up the stairs, she guided the dark-haired man into the now familiar parlour.
“Would you care for some tea Mr Darcy? Or some port?”
“A small glass of port would be much appreciated, Miss Bennet.”
~~}{~~
When Mr and Mrs Gardiner joined them in the parlour, only a few minutes had passed, and the parlour door had remained open with the footman outside at the door.
“Mrs Gardiner, Elizabeth; I asked Mr Darcy to come to the house and share the contents of this letter with all three of us at the same time. When he explained today’s events and their possible relationship to past events, I wanted you both to hear all and give me your impressions.”
“What events, Mr Gardiner?” asked Mrs Gardiner quickly taking Elizabeth in hand and turning her around as though to inspect her niece for wear and tear.
“Now, my dear,” Mr Gardiner said, taking his wife’s hand. “Let us hear what the man has to tell us.”
“Very well,” replied Mrs Gardiner. Elizabeth remained silent and Darcy’s mouth was a thin line as he began speaking.
“This morning upon arrival at Darcy House, a woman dressed in widow’s garb and veil, approached Miss Bennet on the street and gave her a letter to deliver to me along with a cryptic message that someone named ‘George’ was to be hung if I did not assist him.”
Mr and Mrs Gardiner looked to Elizabeth who nodded in agreement with Mr Darcy’s words.
Then Mr Darcy continued, “I spoke at length with my footman and coachman, Miss Bennet, my housekeeper and butler. I believe that the woman dressed as a widow was Mrs Young, my sister’s former companion.
She approached Miss Bennet and gave her a letter that is an attempt to solicit my aide for George Wickham who has been arrested for poisoning his wife. ”
“Poisoning his wife?” asked Elizabeth, shocked to hear such a charge made against any man.
“According to the letter written by Mr Wickham’s own hand, he married a widow–Dora Harris–who died a mere thirty days after the wedding. And a few days ago, according to the letter, he married Mrs Young though I doubt there will be proof from any clergyman in London.”
“Is this the same George Wickham from Derbyshire?” Mrs Gardiner asked.
Mr Darcy nodded his head once. “Two months previous, I had heard of the death of a ‘Mrs Wickham’ and the subsequent demand for an inquest by the woman’s cousin–a man who lived in Bath.
I made a few inquiries and prepared to go to Bath to meet with the cousin but before I leave London, the man vanished.
It seems that Mr Wickham reappeared in London and eloped with Mrs Young the day she deserted my sister in the park. ”
“Why would he come to you for aid now?” Mr Gardiner asked.
“According to the letter, he has been unjustly arrested and expects my assistance for the sake of my father’s memory.”
“And will you aid him?” asked Mrs Gardiner.
Darcy shook his head and said, “I shall go to visit Wickham in Newgate Prison with a reputable witness to all things that are said between us, but I will not assist him. My fervent hope is that the court hangs him the same day he is sentenced.”
“I appreciate you sharing this information with us Mr Darcy–for my wife’s sake if for no other reason–but why have you told us?”
“Because the woman knew Miss Bennet by name,” he explained.
“I believe one of the maids from my household is meeting and telling Mrs Young of the activities within my household. I fear Mrs Young was in league with Mr Wickham when I brought her into my household, and I have avoided some scheme that the man wanted to inflect upon me and my family.”
“Does Mr Wickham harbour resentments against you?” Mrs Gardiner asked.
Darcy sighed. “As I explained before, my father thought very highly of Mr Wickham and intended a valuable family living to go to him. The rectory of Kympton is a Darcy endowment and the parish serves the village and surrounding farms. But I knew George was unsuitable to be the pastor of a church and certainly not one within my estate. After my father’s death five years ago, Wickham came to me for his inheritance–a thousand pounds from my father’s estate and we discussed the bequest of the living at Kympton.
He expressed disinterest in taking orders–to my great relief–and suggested the sum of three thousand pounds in lieu of the living. ”
“Three thousand pounds?” asked Mrs Gardiner. “None of the shopkeepers in Lambton profit more than three hundred a year!”
Darcy nodded. “I was willing to pay Wickham four thousand to save the living at Kympton for a more deserving man–someone who would shepherd and guide his flock–not prey upon the young women. With my agreement for the requested sum, Wickham signed away all rights to the living in legal documents witnessed by a clergyman from Lambton and was compensated with a cheque for four thousand pounds.”