Chapter 21
The Youngest Bennets
As always seems to be the case, “The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley.”
The Darcys intended departure from London took an additional week to manage, but soon, they were prepared to depart.
Arrangements had been made for Mr. Livesay and the Darcys to stay at Netherfield, and a few other friends of Mr. Livesay would accompany them.
Several of these gentlemen would stay at Netherfield even after the wedding, hoping to take advantage of the cooler weather of the country to engage in sport.
Letters had been carried between London and Lucas Lodge, announcing the engagement and requesting that the wedding occur within a few weeks.
After another visit to the modiste, Charlotte returned to Lucas Lodge to work with her mother on the plans for the wedding and wedding breakfast, while the entire Darcy family, including George Darcy, Lady Anne, Georgiana, and the newlyweds, would travel to Netherfield the week before the wedding would take place.
Mr. Livesay would travel to Lucas Lodge with Charlotte at first, returning to finalise details related to the wedding settlement and their wedding tour.
Unbeknownst to the Darcy family, George Wickham had already arrived in Hertfordshire.
Upon discovering the residence of the newlywed Mrs. Darcy’s family, he journeyed there and initiated his mission to tarnish the Darcy family’s reputation in the village.
This campaign began once he learned that the Fitzwilliam Darcys had returned to London.
Regrettably, the only individuals receptive to his allegations were the Bennets, particularly Mrs. and Miss Bennet, who took pleasure in entertaining unfavourable opinions about Elizabeth’s new family.
Wickham was pleased with how effortlessly he could persuade these two individuals to view the entire Darcy family negatively.
Meryton was such a small village, and its inhabitants so enamoured of gossip, it had only taken Wickham a brief time to discover all there was to know about the Bennets.
The break between that family and nearly all the others in Meryton was frequently discussed at the pub, and Wickham quickly learned all he could about the family.
Learning the eldest daughter was jealous of the new Mrs. Darcy made it easy for Wickham to determine his path.
One evening, just before dinner was to be announced, a knock was heard on the front door of Longbourn.
A dusty and weary gentleman stood there, requesting assistance from the household.
He claimed to have been thrown from his horse and left stranded some ways away and that he had walked until spotting this house after what felt like hours.
After speaking with Mr. Bennet, several servants were sent out to search for the wayward horse, as the gentleman expressed concern that the horse may have been injured when he was startled and bolted.
“Well, sir, I am pleased to offer whatever aid I might,” Mr. Bennet said. “Would you care to join the family for dinner? It is nothing fancy, but I dare say that any food will taste good after all your exercise.”
Wickham smiled. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate the assistance and the offer of a meal. Will your family mind my rather dusty appearance?” He asked.
“Here, let me call my man,” Bennet offered. “He can brush your coat and help you wipe some of that dirt from your breeches. But first, I supposed I should introduce myself. My name is Thomas Bennet, and I am the master of Longbourn.”
“George Wickham, sir,” Wickham said with a bow. “Lately of London, but originally from Derbyshire.”
“Derbyshire, eh?” Mr. Bennet asked. “My second daughter just married a man from that county. Perhaps you know the family. She married a man named Darcy.”
“Darcy,” Wickham cried in pretend surprise.
“I am very familiar with the name, as the late Mr. Darcy was my godfather. His sons, George and Fitzwilliam, are well known to me, although we have not been in company lately. George Darcy is a rather dissolute gentleman, although his younger brother, Fitzwilliam, is often lauded as respectable. But who is to know what such a man is truly like, as it is rather easy to pretend to be respectable.”
Mr. Bennet frowned. “Are you saying my new son-in-law is not respectable?”
Wickham held up his hand. “I am not saying anything of the sort, sir,” he protested.
“I am merely saying that it is easy to appear one way. I attended school with Fitzwilliam Darcy, and we roomed together for one year, but then his father separated us in subsequent years. I have rarely been in his company since, but I know what kind of man his elder brother is.”
Mr. Bennet’s brow remained furrowed. “My brother is well acquainted with my son-in-law; I have only met him once, and he quickly took my daughter away after my wife …” he trailed off in thought before shaking himself and recalling their purpose.
“Come, let me call my man to assist you with your clothing and then we can all have supper. I can arrange for my carriage to take you into town after the meal.”
So saying, Mr. Bennet pulled the bell cord.
Mr. Hill, who acted as the man of all work for the Bennets, serving as both butler and valet as needed, escorted his guest to a side room and assisted him in brushing his coat and pants to remove the dirt and dust. Something about the man unsettled Mr. Hill; however, he did as asked and showed him into the family parlour when he was done.
Mr. Bennet looked up when Mr. Wickham was shown in. “Mrs. Bennet, daughters, let me introduce you to Mr. Wickham. His horse unceremoniously deposited him on the doorstep, and he will join us for dinner. Mr. Wickham, my wife, and my daughters, Jane, the eldest, and then Catherine and Lydia.”
“And did you not say you had one other daughter married to a Darcy?” Wickham asked after acknowledging the introductions, watching the eyes of the three girls as their sister was mentioned.
The eldest looked piqued while the younger two narrowed their eyes at the question. Something about the way he asked made them wonder about his intentions.
“Yes, our second daughter married Fitzwilliam Darcy in the spring,” Mrs. Bennet answered. “And we have another daughter in London with my brother and his wife.”
“I believe I met your daughter in London,” Wickham replied. “I danced with her at the ball celebrating her wedding to my old friend.”
“You are friends with the Darcys?” Jane asked.
“I am not certain friends is the correct term,” he replied carefully. Other than at his wedding ball, we have had very little time together recently. And since university, we have found we have few things in common. After Fitzwilliam became a barrister, we went our separate ways.”
“So what do you do now, Mr. Wickham?” Mrs. Bennet asked.
“I was destined for a career in the church, but when my godfather passed away, his son denied my rightful claim to the church living,” Wickham falsely claimed.
While the late Mr. Darcy had indeed recommended Wickham for a church living, Wickham refused it and accepted compensation in return.
Even now, if the living were offered, Wickham would not have taken it as he had no desire to spend his life catering to old women or listening to the complaints of others.
“Who was your godfather?” Lydia asked.
“Mr. George Darcy,” Wickham replied. Just then, the housekeeper, Mrs. Hill, entered the room to announce that dinner was ready to be served.
The entire family started making their way toward the dining room, but Kitty and Lydia lingered in the parlour for a moment after the rest had departed. In a hushed tone, Lydia remarked, “There’s something not quite right about that man. I don’t trust him.”
“Neither do I,” Kitty whispered back. “He seems far too interested in the connection to the Darcys.”
“What should we do?” Lydia replied.
“We should speak to Maria the next time we see her,” Kitty suggested. “Perhaps she can mention something to Charlotte in her next letter. Charlotte can speak to Lizzy about him—he claims to have met her at the wedding ball hosted by the Darcy family.”
Just then, Mrs. Hill poked her head back into the room. “Best hurry up, girls, or your Mama will not be happy with the two of you.”
They agreed and followed the housekeeper out of the room to join the rest of the family.
Wickham was invited to stay the night, and both Lydia and Kitty watched him carefully as he appeared to cosy up to Jane. Mrs. Bennet looked on happily, convinced Jane’s beauty was again doing its magic with a gentleman.
Wickham posed numerous questions regarding the Bennet family, some of which were overly intrusive to Kitty and Lydia.
However, neither of them was inclined to voice their reservations about the gentleman in the presence of their mother and elder sister.
In addition, he subtly sowed seeds of discontent in the minds of Mrs. Bennet and Jane, especially concerning the Darcy family, particularly related to the character of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
His remarks were always artfully framed to avoid being overtly negative, yet they contained enough insinuation to foster doubt in the mind of anyone susceptible to negative perceptions of the gentleman.
They considered speaking to their father privately about their impressions; however, they were uncertain how Mr. Bennet might react.
In due course, the entire family retired for the night.
While Kitty and Lydia each had their own rooms, they shared Kitty’s room this evening.
Their decision stemmed from their apprehension regarding their houseguest and their desire to strategise on how they might expose the gentleman they suspected to be a fraud.