Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
Mid-October, 1811
D arcy could do nothing but gape at his sister, who had just arrived at Netherfield. Five long days had passed since he went to Kent. He hardly remembered how he had spent the days and sleepless nights. There had been conversations with Elizabeth and Bingley, and long solitary rides as he attempted to escape his fear for his sister. Georgiana gleefully announcing that she and Wickham were married seemed to echo in the drawing room, the sound a shout in Darcy’s ears.
Slowly, he stood, desperately reminding himself to tread carefully when dealing with the couple who had just arrived at Netherfield. He glanced at Elizabeth, glad she happened to be there, and reflected how fortunate he was to know that he could always rely on her to support and understand him. At present, he must speak to both Georgiana and Wickham, but separately. His first priority was ensuring his sister was well. As little as I shall like it, I must do whatever is necessary to keep them nearby. How I wish I could toss the cur onto a ship bound for the farthest reaches of the world! But she has tied herself to him, and if I want to protect her from the grave error she has made, I must find a way to tolerate his presence.
He stepped to Georgiana’s side and kissed her cheek. “I am pleased to know you are safe.” Barely looking at his former friend, he jerked his head towards the door. “Let us talk away from the ladies.”
Once alone in the library, Darcy glared at Wickham, who appeared unable to meet his eye. The silence was heavy, but he was determined to wait for him to speak. Perhaps Wickham would give him a reason—more of a reason—to beat him.
With an awkward chuckle, Wickham said, “Surprised to see me, Darcy?”
“How did you know to find her at Rosings?”
His laugh was heartier this time. “Ah, the delightful Mrs Younge. We have been acquainted for many years. She knew of my connexion to your family and has an interest in ensuring I receive what I am owed.”
Darcy’s fists were painfully clenched; it kept him from saying or doing what he might later regret. Nevertheless, it was impossible to hide the fury in his voice or stance. He would dismiss Mrs Younge and, if he could manage it, see that she never worked with young ladies again. “You are owed nothing.”
“Thirty thousand pounds, if I am not mistaken.” Wickham smiled broadly.
“You are mistaken,” Darcy said with some satisfaction. “At least regarding when you might get your filthy hands on my sister’s dowry. You will not see a farthing of it until she is one-and-twenty. Fitzwilliam and I need not permit it, and we most certainly shall not.” He did not know how he would manage to ensure his sister had what she needed without it benefiting the worthless man she had eloped with, but that was a problem for another day.
Wickham cursed and paced about the room for a few minutes, muttering to himself, and several times pulling at his hair, before returning to stand across from Darcy.
“I suppose that means my darling wife and I shall have to stay very close to you so that you can pay our bills. I assure you, I am not capable of keeping Mrs Wickham in comfort, having been so cruelly robbed by you. I have not told the dear girl how you wronged me. Yet. She loves me excessively, you know, and if you force me into a position where I must use the meagre tools at my disposal to get what I want, I shall tell her such tales of your cruelty towards me. I assure you, she will believe me no matter what you say in response or what proof you supply her to contradict me.”
“I shall see her despise me before I allow you to harm her,” Darcy said, his voice low and dangerous. “Be very careful in what you do—to her and anyone else I care for—or I will not restrain myself or Fitzwilliam. You may not believe me capable of giving you the beating you deserve, but you know very well that he will.”
With this warning, Darcy strode past him, feeling a slight satisfaction at the other man’s ashen complexion. He returned to the drawing room and softened his tone when he asked Georgiana to come with him so that they might speak.
“Where is Wickham?” she asked. Her eyes were round, giving the impression that she was confused.
Glancing at Elizabeth, he saw her shrug; he was not sure what she meant to tell him, but he could not stop to converse with her. “You will see him soon,” Darcy said to his sister .
“I believe Jane and I should return to Longbourn,” Elizabeth announced.
How Darcy wanted to keep her there with him! But the afternoon was quickly becoming late, and they would be expected home. “I shall call tomorrow morning.”
“And I shall see the ladies to their carriage and arrange rooms for your sister and…” Bingley’s voice faltered.
Darcy nodded, mumbled a thank you, and led Georgiana out of the room and to his apartment, praying with each step that Wickham would not stop them. Upon reaching the chamber, he left her, saying, “I shall return in just a few minutes.”
If only he could use that interval to be with Elizabeth, but he was determined to dismiss Mrs Younge without delay. She was not willing to go until he informed her that Wickham would have to pay her wages—and for her lodgings, because she could not remain at Netherfield—and, unfortunately for them, Wickham would not be gaining from his marriage for over five years. Once she believed him and he gave her a small sum—enough to pay for her passage to London and then some—she departed. He had also agreed that he would not prevent her from finding future employment; privately, to protect other young ladies, he intended to ensure that anyone seeking a character spoke to Lady Romsley. The countess would know what to say to discourage them, and he would not have broken his word.
Darcy found Georgiana sitting in a wing chair, her hands clasped together. As soon as he entered the chamber, she spoke, her demeanour full of disappointment.
“You are not happy for me, are you?”
He cleared his throat and pulled a chair close to her before responding. “What led you to believe I would be?”
“Wickham and Mrs Younge assured me that since you are going to be married soon, there would be less bother if we eloped. You would appreciate it, because then you could think only of yourself and Elizabeth and not have to concern yourself with arranging my wedding. Otherwise, we would have had to wait until next year.”
“Would that have been so bad?” he interjected. “He could have spoken to me and Fitzwilliam to secure our permission, as is proper.”
“But why would that be necessary? You are all such good friends that there was no question of you refusing.” Her brow furrowed, and she continued in a rush. “I do not understand why you are displeased. Wickham was certain you would be glad for me, for us —that we had fallen in love and chosen to marry. You know there is no one you can trust with my happiness more than him. Is it not perfect? You and he were always like brothers, and now you actually are.”
It took almost more willpower than he possessed not to yell and storm about the room. “It is always necessary to obtain a guardian’s permission when the lady is not of age, and eloping is always wrong, Georgiana. How did you not realise—” He took a calming breath. “There is the marriage contract to consider.”
“Wickham said attending to it once we returned would be just as good as doing it beforehand.”
Darcy went to the window and took in the view of the park for a moment before returning to his seat. “Let us leave aside anything he said to you. Will you please explain to me how you could have married him ? Apart from the great disparity in your ages, he is the son of a steward. You are the granddaughter of an earl.”
“But you are marrying Elizabeth, whose own mother comes from trade! And you said affection was more important than connexions or fortune.”
“I am seven-and-twenty and capable of making a rational decision about my future,” he said, unable to keep vexation from his voice. “You are fifteen, Georgiana, fifteen! Our situations cannot be compared. Elizabeth is a gentleman’s daughter. Wickham cannot say the same, and he has no profession, no means of supporting himself, let alone a wife.”
“But I am rich. Wickham says we shall do well on my dowry until he finishes his studies. You know he is going to practise the law.”
Had his sister always been so gullible and obstinate? Did she not hear anything he was saying to her? It appeared that she had fallen completely under Wickham’s spell. If Elizabeth were here, she would say to be gentle and avoid driving her away. Accordingly, and before he lost all patience, he changed the subject. “What of the letters I supposedly wrote to you and him about going to Pemberley?”
“M-Mrs Younge suggested it. I believe it was her. Or perhaps…I recollect both of them explaining what I must say to my aunt and cousin. I thought it all seemed romantic, and they said there was nothing wrong with going to Scotland. We are married, after all, and it does not much matter where it took place. I am sorry you wish we had acted differently, but everything will be well, will it not, Brother? You and Elizabeth will be happy together, and so will Wickham and I. Our children will be the best of friends, just as you and he have been all your lives.”
What more could he say? He gathered his sister into his arms, kissed the top of her head, and said a silent prayer for wisdom and a better end to this disaster than he could presently envision.