Chapter Forty-Six
M rs. Reynolds, I play to distribute the midsummer wage packets on Wednesday,” Elizabeth said.
The housekeeper looked surprised, saying, “Lady Anne has not done so for some years now.”
“I understand, but I believe that to be not only my right, but my obligation.”
“You need not, Mrs. Darcy; I know you have much to do around the house and the estate.”
“But I wish to do so, and I believe the staff will appreciate that I choose to do so.”
Recognising the now-familiar stubborn tilt of Mrs. Darcy’s head, Mrs. Reynolds acquiesced with no further objection. “Mr. Darcy generally gives me an envelope of money, and I divide it up into the various envelopes, one for each servant. The staff line up outside my office door, a dozen or so at a time, and they file in, one by one.”
“If you would prepare the envelopes, I would be grateful; I will come to your office and we will distribute the envelopes together. Does that suit?’
“It does, of course.”
***
The first servant to enter Mrs. Reynolds’ office was Mrs. Thurston; her eyes widened upon seeing Elizabeth. “Mrs. Darcy!” she exclaimed.
“Good morning, Mrs. Thurston,” Elizabeth replied, taking the envelope with the Cook’s name written in Mrs. Reynolds’ perfect hand and proffering it. “We are grateful to you for the delicious meals the family enjoys every day.”
The woman curtsied hastily as she took the envelope from Elizabeth’s hand. “I see those blueberry tarts are still a favorite with the Master.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Yes, the tart plate is always empty when it returns to the kitchen!”
As Mrs. Thurston went back into the hall, Elizabeth heard her say in a loud whisper, “The Mistress is there as well!”
The process took the entire day, with but short breaks for meals, but Elizabeth felt it had been a day well spent. When the last servant left the housekeeper’s office at the end of the day, Elizabeth sat down with a sigh.
Then she straightened up. “Oh, Mrs. Reynolds, please forgive me; here is yours.” She reached into her skirt pocket and gave the housekeeper her own envelope, bearing Mrs. Reynolds’ name in Elizabeth’s hand.
“I thank you, Mrs. Darcy,” she replied, tucking the envelope into a skirt pocket.
“Mrs. Reynolds, whatever would we do without you?”
Embarrassed by praise, the older woman just shook her head. Then she said, “That companion of Miss Darcy’s is doing well, is she not?”
“She is; I am so grateful she is here.”
***
The next day, Mrs. Annesley came to Elizabeth with a grave face. “Mrs. Darcy, I believe I must speak with you on a matter of some urgency.”
“Mrs. Annesley, whatever can be the matter? Please, sit and tell me what troubles you.”
“Miss Darcy is spending time with a young man.”
“She is – what? But who? How is it possible?”
“I do not know who. For the past two days, I have found that when she is supposed to be resting, she is actually quietly leaving her room, making her way out into the garden, and sitting on a bench with a young man. At first, I thought perhaps he was just a gardener and she was asking for flowers, but her demeanor is that of a young lady with an admirer.”
Elizabeth was speechless.
Mrs. Annesley continued, “I think you may trust me on this; I have shepherded many young ladies into society, and I know the signs of romance very well.”
Gathering her thoughts and her skirts, Elizabeth said, “Let us speak with Mr. Darcy; he will know what to do.”
***
“She is WHAT ?” Mr. Darcy was outraged.
“Who could it possibly be?” Elizabeth asked.
“Describe the man, if you would, Mrs. Annesley,” Mr. Darcy asked, voice tight.
“Well-featured, blond-haired, no beard or mustache. They seem quite well-known to one another. She made a creditable sketch of him this morning, though she thought I did not notice her pencil at work; I can show you her sketchbook, if you like.”
“Yes, please, Mrs. Annesley.”
Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth stared at one another with worried looks as Mrs. Annesley left the room. She returned just a few minutes later, sketchbook in hand.
Mr. Darcy had only to glance at the sketch to have his worst fears confirmed. “It is George Wickham.”
“Who?” Elizabeth asked. “I have never heard the name mentioned.”
“No, and if it were up to me, it would never be mentioned!” He ran his hands over his face, sighing. “He is the son of my father’s steward; he grew up here on the estate and yes, he has known my sister since she was born.”
“Might they not just be friends?” Elizabeth asked.
“But then why does she sneak out to see him?” Mrs. Annesley asked. “No, there is more to it than that, I promise you.”
“Bring her here; I will speak with her,” Mr. Darcy ordered.
Mrs. Annesley left to retrieve her charge from the music room, as it was her hour to practice. The two returned some ten minutes later, with Georgiana looking very worried.
“Georgiana, I hear you have been meeting a friend in the garden,” Mr. Darcy began.
“It is only George,” she said, looking down at the carpet.
“Georgiana, he is not a good companion for you.”
“But why is he not?”
Mrs. Annesley said, gently, “Surely you understand, Miss Darcy, that you should not be alone in the company of any man. You are not a child with a playmate; those years are far behind you.”
“But he cannot come calling; he and Brother do not get along!” Georgiana said, her voice tearful.
“Georgiana, it is not that we do not get along –“
“He says you hate him, Brother!”
“Hate him? No, let me be clear. I despise him. I cannot tell you why, Georgiana, you are too young to understand. You are to stay away from him.”
Elizabeth saw the girl’s face; she looked stubborn, but she nodded and said, “Yes, Brother.” And then she walked away, briskly, followed by Mrs. Annesley.
***
But a few days later, Mrs. Annesley came to Elizabeth again, this time looking quite determined. “Despite my refusing permission, Miss Darcy has met with the young man in the garden again.”
“This cannot be allowed to go on.” Elizabeth shook her head. “Come, let us speak with Mr. Darcy again.”
This time, Mr. Darcy’s face filled with rage – and fear. “Bring her here,” he instructed Mrs. Annesley. When she left, he turned to his wife. “I will lock her up if I must.”
“William, you must tell her why she cannot see the man,” Elizabeth advised.
He shook his head. “She is too young to hear the truth.”
“Protecting her in this way is no true protection, William. I have four sisters; I know of what I speak.”
He sighed, as his sister and Mrs. Annesley entered the room.
Georgiana’s chin jutted out. “I know what you will say, but we are in love, Brother.”
“Oh, really?” Mr. Darcy’s tone was mild, but the undercurrent of anger could not be missed.
“Yes; George says you will not approve, but I do not care. I love him and he loves me.”
Mr. Darcy now rose to his full height and turned a hard gaze upon his sister. “I wanted to shield you from knowing the truth about him, but evidently there is no other route.”
“There is nothing you can say –“ she started.
He interrupted her, his voice harsh and hard. “Has he filled your ears with pretty words, Sister? Told you that your curls are spun gold, your eyes the darkest chocolate, your skin like porcelain? These are the words he uses to seduce young women, and he has used them many times. Know you Mrs. Warren, here at Pemberley?”
“She runs the still room, I think,” Georgiana replied, her voice beginning to tremble.
“Yes, and have you seen her little boy, Jason?”
“Oh, he is darling, but –“
“Jason is George Wickham’s son. I support the lad, as Wickham will not. Mrs. Warren, who is not actually married, was just fifteen when he approached her. Hold, I am not yet finished. Do you know Mr. Hatton, in Lambton?”
Georgiana was trembling now. She could not speak; she could only nod.
Mr. Darcy went on. “His daughter, Emily, has a little girl, about four years old, and that little girl is George Wickham’s daughter. Wickham refused to marry the girl, of course, so I arranged a dowry for Emily Hatton so that she might marry and retain her reputation. She was sixteen when she bore his child. There is more; do you want to hear it? All in all, I am supporting six of his bastard children. In addition, I have collected over three thousand pounds of his debts, as I did not want to see Lambton’s merchants suffer when he could not pay for his purchases. Now that you know who he truly is, shall we set the date for your wedding?” His tone was acid.
Georgiana staggered to her feet and lurched toward the door.
“One more thing, Georgiana.”
She stopped, staring at the door.
Mr. Darcy’s voice was now soft, but firm. “I do not blame you in the slightest for falling for his tricks, as he is a practiced seducer. But I will tell the gardeners that he is to be shot on sight for trespassing if he is seen on Pemberley grounds again.”
She nodded without looking back and stumbled out into the hallway. Mrs. Annesley caught up with her immediately and put a supporting arm around the girl as they walked together.
Elizabeth sat back in her chair, eyes wide with shock as she stared at her husband. “My God, I hardly know what to say, William. You were rather harsh, do you not think?”
“He is the worst man I know, Elizabeth, and I am certain that his interest in Georgiana is focused entirely on her thirty thousand pound dowry.” He sat down in his chair, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. “She will hate me, I think. I know I lost control of my temper. If I loved her less or hated him less, I might have been more composed.”
“She will more likely be angry with herself for falling for him. Mrs. Annesley will bring her ‘round.”