Chapter 25
The next morning, Darcy found a note from Lady Kendal asking for a meeting with Elizabeth, Bingley, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Mr Gardiner.
He was oblivious to the object of such an encounter and so were the other three gentlemen.
Lady Kendal enlightened them when she revealed Wickham’s visit and his bold request.
“What are your thoughts, gentlemen? Mr Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam, we apologise for involving you in a delicate family matter, but both Elizabeth and I hoped you would be of help. We trust your confidence as close friends and your knowledge and judgment on this matter.”
Darcy glanced at Elizabeth, wondering how much of her knowledge regarding Wickham she had disclosed to Lady Kendal. She guessed his concern and answered the unasked question.
“Mr Darcy, we know that you are the best acquainted with Mr Wickham and his bad habits. So perhaps you have a suggestion. And if we agree to purchase him a new commission, maybe Colonel Fitzwilliam could advise us. We are trying to find the best solution for my sister Lydia.”
“I am stunned that Wickham had the audacity to request more, only one year after you spent so much on him,” Darcy uttered.
“Why would he not? He has done the same with you for a long time!” Colonel Fitzwilliam interjected. “As long as he receives what he demands, he will continue to do so.”
“The main issue with this man is that he appears to be shameless,” Bingley said. “I would rather die than to ask ladies to pay my debts and then to demand more from them!”
“An even greater problem is that he is actually a very clever man,” the colonel continued, becoming even more angry.
“And, thanks to Uncle Darcy, he was provided with an excellent education. He could be successful in any career, from the law to the church, or even the army. So being a worthless, poor excuse for a man is his choice! I apologise, ladies, I forgot myself…”
Lady Kendal laughed. “Do not worry, Colonel. Feel free to express yourself. You seem so angry that you might beat Mr Wickham,” she jested.
“Well, I have suggested that to Darcy on several occasions, but he dismissed my idea. To this day, I still insist that it would have been the inducement Wickham needed.”
“There is another detail that we only discovered last night, at dinner,” Bingley said with apparent unease, causing an embarrassing silence. “It seems Lydia is expecting a child.”
Dumfounded, Elizabeth looked at Lady Kendal, then stole a glance at Darcy.
It was only to be expected after a year of marriage, but the news would greatly affect their decision, and she wondered if Wickham had chosen not to reveal it on purpose.
Using his own child for his personal gain was as appalling as it was likely of him.
“Let us discuss this calmly,” Lady Kendal asked. “Being much older than you all and having seen more appalling things and people over the years, I tend to judge this young man less harshly. Yes, he is a scoundrel who tends to waste his life but no different from many others.”
“So, we should indulge him every time he requests something? I cannot agree with that! The amount of money we spent on his debts last year would have been enough to run the orphanage for quite a while.”
“This is true,” Mr Gardiner agreed.
“I cannot allow him to take advantage of your fortune, your ladyship!” Elizabeth continued. “It was my fault for trusting him when I first met him, and that helped him impose himself on my family and eased his way to marrying Lydia. We are now paying for my foolishness…”
“You are too hard on yourself, Lady Alveston,” Darcy said, comfortingly. “The guilt for not exposing him was entirely mine. I should have done that the moment I saw him in Meryton.”
It was a moment of intimacy between them, shared only by their briefly locked gazes, before Lady Kendal interjected again, with an understanding smile.
“Let us not argue about the share of blame. Our purpose should be to limit his demands and make certain Lydia has a safe and comfortable enough life.”
“Expecting a child will require her to take more care of herself,” Mr Gardiner said. “Perhaps staying in London would be the best choice for her.”
“I agree it would be safer for Mrs Wickham. But keeping Wickham in London would be dangerous,” Darcy replied. “With so many temptations around, he cannot be trusted even for a moment.”
“This is why we need your help, gentlemen,” Lady Kendal said.
“Strategy is always more successful than the impulse of anger. My dear colonel, do you happen to know how we can purchase Mr Wickham a commission somewhere in the North? With the war now over, the danger of a military career has diminished, and he might join any regiment.”
“Yes, of course,” the colonel answered. “Purchasing the commission is the easy part.”
“Excellent. As for Lydia, as much as she loves her husband, I am sure she will see the advantage of staying in London and everything she needs being taken care of. Winter will be upon us soon, and travelling long distances is not appropriate for a woman in a delicate condition.”
“Lydia would not agree to stay away from Wickham,” Mr Gardiner said.
“Well, that might not be accurate,” Bingley interjected. “She agreed rather easily to attend the theatre without him. Tomorrow, Jane will take all her sisters shopping for new clothes, and Lydia was very excited at the prospect. Wickham appeared to have other fixed engagements.”
Elizabeth shook her head in embarrassment, while Lady Kendal smiled in contentment.
“That is what I suspect too. Satisfying Lydia’s passion for shopping and entertainment would be the safest and most cost-efficient way of keeping her healthy and chaperoned for her and her child’s wellbeing.
Mr Wickham will have the liberty to pursue his military career and come to see his wife whenever he wishes and his duty allows him. ”
The others pondered her words carefully. The Wickhams’ flaws of character made the suggestions sound both tempting and possible.
“Separating a wife from her husband would be condemnable,” Lady Kendal continued. “And we shall not interfere in their marriage if they choose otherwise. If Lydia still decides to join her husband on his new assignment, nobody could oppose it.”
“Either choice would give Lydia a miserable married life,” Elizabeth said in a sad voice.
“She would be either with her husband, raising a child with a young, unwise mother and an irresponsible father, or she would be a young mother, safe and comfortable, but with no husband around and still trapped in this marriage.”
“Unfortunately, you are correct, my dear. And if you have another option, I will happily support you,” her ladyship assured her.
“I can see the wisdom in Lady Kendal’s proposal,” Mr Gardiner said. “I shall write to my brother Bennet too, but I am quite confident in his response.”
“Excellent, so we shall proceed further as soon as Colonel Fitzwilliam informs us who we may apply to for the commission.”
“Lady Kendal, I would suggest having a clear settlement written and signed by Wickham, to help you control him and his future demands,” Darcy added.
“You read my mind, Mr Darcy,” Elizabeth interjected, her cheeks slightly crimson. “I was about to ask our solicitor to prepare such a settlement immediately.”
“A wise decision, Lady Alveston. I expected no less from you,” Darcy replied.
“I have learned from my mistakes and from my friends’ advice, Mr Darcy,” she responded, their little exchange as intimate as it could be in the library full of people.
“Well, I am happy to call this a successful meeting, gentlemen, and I thank you for it,” Lady Kendal concluded. “Let us hope the outcome will be agreeable for everyone.”
Once the plan was established, the change in Wickham’s career moved in the desired direction with even fewer obstacles than they had anticipated.
At the beginning, Elizabeth felt guilty for their attempt to manipulate Lydia, but then, with equal sadness, she observed that Lydia’s claimed affection for her husband was quickly surpassed by her interest in London’s glamour.
The young Mrs Wickham was happy to hear her husband would be an officer again, but she readily accepted staying in town while she awaited the birth of her child, and her only concern was whether the babe would arrive before the next Season.
Wickham did not oppose the plan either. He declared his wife and future child’s wellbeing was his main concern, and they would be better attended to in London.
The letter sent to Mr Bennet was answered with his approval for any decision they made and with Mrs Bennet’s appreciation of how handsome Mr Wickham would look in the uniform.
Therefore, a commission was purchased in the North, in a regiment led by a colonel closely acquainted with Colonel Fitzwilliam.
In the settlement that was drawn up, Wickham admitted the debts he owed to Elizabeth and assumed the obligation to return the sum, which nobody acquainted with the situation imagined would ever happen.
However, the contract—also signed by Mr Gardiner and Darcy as witnesses—was meant to hold Wickham accountable.
It was a tool to control him if needed, a means to throw him into debtors’ prison should Elizabeth choose.
“I would never do such thing, but it is amusing and gratifying to know I have such power over him,” Elizabeth confessed to Lady Kendal once the deal was sealed.
“It is ironic that, after all Mr Wickham’s dealings with so many gentlemen, it was you who succeeded in keeping him under control,” she said sadly.
“If it has been successful, it is certainly due to Mr Darcy’s advice.
Lydia should not have married him in the first place, but she was stubborn and reckless and still has not improved in wisdom.
I am not comfortable with how we have manipulated them, but I know there was no other way than to fight Mr Wickham with his own weapons. ”