Chapter 2 #2
As soon as Lizzy entered the sitting room at the parsonage, she was accosted by her bumbling, odiferous cousin.
“Little wonder that no one but me would be willing to offer for a penniless daughter of a father with an entailed estate with your wild ways. My offer was better than you deserved as you have again proven. I have told you to control your urges while you are under my guardianship.” He warned, his anger burning at the dismissive and disregarding tones she used with him.
“Excuse me, Charlotte. I need to write some expresses. May I use your private parlour?” Lizzy said, ignoring the now spluttering parson.
“But of course you can, Eliza. I trust that all is well?” Charlotte asked, enjoying the small instances of defiance Elizabeth used against her husband.
“It is. It is only that I have to get some information to my father and also to Jane in London, and it unfortunately cannot wait.” Elizabeth answered with the same sweetness as Charlotte used.
They had long talked circles around those in the same room, and it was a comfort that Charlotte was proving as much her friend as ever.
Without so much as a look at her cousin, Elizabeth, after nodding hello to Charlotte’s sister Maria, closed the door to the parlour and sat at the writing desk. First, she wrote to her father.
Hunsford Parsonage
Kent
5 April 1812
Dear Papa,
Please do not worry yourself; all is well, but there is some information that I must convey to you that needs to be acted on with great speed.
You, Jane, and others warned me that Lieutenant Wickham may not have been telling the truth, and you were surprised that I allowed him to impart such personal information on such a short acquaintanceship.
I am chagrined to own that I was completely and utterly misled by the man, who is in fact a profligate, a debaucher of young women, and wastrel.
Thank you, and the Lord above, that you chose to apply yourself to discipline my younger sisters.
Before I forget, please contact Uncles Frank and Edward to put a clause in our dowries that states that they will not be released unless proper permission and blessing for the match has been granted by yourself.
I posit that you consider requiring the permission of you plus one of our uncles for permission to release a dowry.
I will explain all when I return to you and Mama, but Mr Darcy revealed the true nature of the blackguard’s character to me today. And before you think me capricious or swayed without reason or cause, he has proof to support his claims.
Elizabeth continued to write, outlining the information that Mr Darcy had imparted to her. She continued her missive:
As part of our conversation, I revealed our true wealth to Mr Darcy.
I think that we cannot hide the truth any longer, nor should we.
Though I thank heavens that the truth about our wealth has not been revealed yet, as Wickham is a fortune hunter of the highest order.
I see his pursuit of poor Miss King in a whole new light now.
Please warn our neighbours of his conduct.
The merchants need to protect themselves and their families.
Speak to Colonel Forster, he seems like an honourable man.
If his unit cannot cover Wickham’s debts to the merchants, then we should.
As mentioned above, during part of my conversation with Mr Darcy I revealed the extent of our wealth and connections.
I will elaborate when we see each other.
Please give my love to Mama and my sisters.
Your dutiful daughter,
Lizzy
After writing the direction on the express to her father, she pulled out another sheet, mended her pen, then wrote to her sister Jane.
Hunsford Parsonage
Kent
5 April 1812
My dearest sister and friend Jane,
First, my darling sister, I apologise if any of what I am about to say pains you, but I cannot hide the truth from you, nor do I believe that you would want me to.
Mr Bingley is unaware that you are in London. As we suspected, neither Caroline Bingley nor Louisa Hurst are friends of yours. Friends do not lie to you. What Caroline wrote to you about Miss Darcy is a fabrication, and I have it from Mr Darcy’s own mouth.
This is the part that may give you pain, sister dearest, but I believe it is for the best that I am honest with you above all others.
Mr Darcy, Miss Bingley, and Mrs Hurst separated Mr Bingley from you.
Mr Darcy told Mr Bingley that you were not in love with him, and would be forced to accept him for his fortune given his lack of information regarding our situation. I have corrected his misconceptions.
I digress. Rather than return to you and ascertain the truth of your attachment for himself, Mr Bingley was easily persuaded that he should give you up.
This shows a very weak character; at best a lack of resolution, at worst a capriciousness.
Ask yourself this, dearest Jane. If you truly loved someone, would you allow anyone, even me, to persuade you otherwise without finding out the truth for yourself?
We both know, my cherished sister, that the answer is no.
You would not, nor would I, or anyone that was truly in love.
I hate to occasion you pain, but I am sure that when your tears have dried and you think about my words logically, you will agree with me.
I pray it is so and I have not hurt you without offering you some small solace.
There is but one other topic I will touch on for this express as it is truly as important, in some ways more so. Like you warned, Lieutenant Wickham is not as he seems. I have written to my father and asked him to take steps to mitigate his harm. I will tell you all soon.
Please ask Uncle Edward to send my carriage tomorrow; I cannot bear another day under our anything but benevolent cousin’s roof, even for Charlotte.
I hope to see you on the morrow.
Love your devoted sister,
Lizzy
After writing the direction and sealing the letter, Lizzy collected her reticule, slipped out of the back of the house to avoid her cousin, and walked into Hunsford where she found two express riders, not wanting to delay her missives by using one.
She paid them double the amount that they would receive upon delivery to make all haste to deliver her missives.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
At the same time that the missive was on its way to Longbourn, one George Wickham was happily making his plans to ruin the youngest Bennet.
‘I would prefer to have the delectable Miss Elizabeth, but she has rebuffed any attempt that I have made to intimate more than friendship. She thinks she is so clever, but I will not push her; I have seen how she is respected by the residents here, which has helped my cause to blacken that prig Darcy’s name and make sure that she hates him.
Thank you, high and mighty Darcy, for insulting her and leaving her open to believe my tale of woe.
‘I will get my revenge on him at last. I have seen how he looks at Miss Elizabeth so I will get Miss Lydia to lie with me. What an empty-headed flirt that she is. Then I will write to him and threaten to ruin the family if the prig does not pay me the thirty thousand that is my due. I came so close to getting that mouse of a sister of his to give herself to me. One more day, but the prig arrived early.’ He remonstrated at his bad luck that Darcy had spoiled the seemingly infallible plan that he and Mrs Younge were executing flawlessly.
‘How can what I do be wrong? I am following what Mama taught me, to take what is my due and not let others get in my way.
There is one line I will not cross, I have never, nor will I ever force myself on a maiden.
Lying and manipulation are fair game, but never that, even I have standards!
“Here comes the silly flirt now. Perhaps today will be the day.’
“Hello Wicky,” Lydia Bennet called out to the man in regimentals that had started to pay attention to her, “why did you want to meet here where no one can see how lucky I am to have such a future husband?”
“For now, my dear, I want you all to myself and not to share you with others.” He gave her one of his winning smiles that made her weak at the knees.
“I love you, George. When can we elope?” She asked very excitedly.
“There is some business that I must conclude, but soon my Lydia,” he felt like she was ripe for the seduction. “You said that you love me do you not Lydia?”
“I have told you that many times, George; do you doubt me?” She asked with a childish petulant look on her face.
“It is just, that you say you do…”
“What are you saying George?” the worried girl asked as tear started to fall from her eyes.
“You refuse to anticipate our vows, my love, and if you truly loved me, you would.” He shot the most effective arrow in the quiver of his manipulation.
“I will George, I will prove my love to you, in two days,” she got all embarrassed and added, “I am indisposed at the moment, but I will be well again in two days.”
He almost cast up his accounts as he thought about having relations with a lady while having her courses so he readily agreed to wait two days so they could ‘consummate their love.’ After some kissing and touching of her breasts, she left for Longbourn and he returned to Meryton.
From that afternoon on, he could not understand why neither of the younger Bennet chits were seen in Meryton on their own again.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
When she returned to the parsonage, Mr Collins, was once again about to lecture her but she had had enough.
“I apologise, Charlotte, if what I am about to say pains you, but there are some things that need to be made clear.” Elizabeth looked at Charlotte with honest regret.
“Say what you must, Eliza. I am his wife, and so I must obey him. However, you have long held my warmest regard as my best friend,” Charlotte shocked both Maria and Collins as she sat in her chair and smiled gently at her friend.