Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Darcy,
I heeded your request not to fly to Hertfordshire, but my father has not. He arrived from the country this afternoon and insists we shall travel to you tomorrow, despite it being Sunday. Given his usual insistence on keeping the Sabbath, you understand how agitated he is. Expect us early.
Bramwell
D arcy crumpled the note, which had just arrived express, and wondered how much more he would be asked to bear. How was he to explain his uncle and cousin’s sudden visit to Mr Bennet, let alone anyone else? Was it not a confirmation that he was attempting to hide something of significance? There would be no stopping the earl once he had decided to confront Georgiana and Wickham himself, thus Darcy sought out Bingley to inform him that yet more of his family was about to descend on Netherfield uninvited and unwanted.
Bingley merely shrugged. “I console myself that my sisters and Hurst are not here. Our trouble would be tripled if they were.”
Darcy agreed. After they had discussed the matter, Bingley had written to his sisters to inform them that Georgiana was presently at Netherfield, as was Darcy’s old friend, Mr Wickham. Being more certain than not that the ladies believed the two men had fallen out years previously, Bingley had mentioned it, claiming they had met ‘a while ago’ and mended their differences. Knowing how little Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley would like to keep company with a steward’s son—friend of his or not—Darcy imagined the news would keep them away, which is exactly what he and Bingley wanted.
“How long do you think Lord Romsley will wish to remain?” Bingley asked.
“Less than an hour, if I had my way, but I doubt longer than one night, if that. I suspect Bramwell will do his best to convince him to return to town at once, provided they depart soon enough to avoid travelling after dark,” Darcy said. “You are a good friend, Bingley. Somehow, I shall repay you for your kindness.”
Predictably, the younger man waved this off, blushing as he was wont to do when embarrassed.
Darcy’s next task was to inform his sister. She had retired—as had Wickham, which brought him fresh horror—and so he wrote a short note and asked a servant to deliver it to his sister’s apartment. He then sought his own chamber and a large glass of the strongest wine in the house.
After a restless night, he rose early and took a walk in the gardens. The morning was lovely. The sky was blue and there was only a light breeze blowing, which made it ideal for his uncle and cousin’s journey. Elizabeth always claimed she felt calmer and better able to face the trials of everyday life after time in the open air, and he hoped it would work for him too. It did, especially upon hearing the sound of crushing dry leaves beneath his boots; it made him think of stepping on Wickham, figuratively destroying the cur.
Re-entering the house, he saw his sister, dressed for church, Wickham by her side. She took in Darcy’s appearance and asked, “Are we not to go to church today? Wickham said we would not, but it is Sunday, and we always go.”
“I anticipate our uncle and cousin will be here soon,” Darcy reminded her. A glance towards the other man showed he had been informed; he looked almost pleased, though why, Darcy did not know. “They will have left London at sunrise.”
“Never mind, my dear,” Wickham said. “One does not need to listen to some parson drone on half the morning to be a good Christian. I had much rather stay here and await our uncle and cousin. I am sure they will be eager to discuss our future. I deeply regret Fitzwilliam is not able to be at our little family reunion.”
“I am sure you do,” Darcy muttered, but Georgiana did not hear him; she was too busy gazing at Wickham, and if he had heard, he pretended not to. Darcy guessed the vile man expected the earl to either pay him to abandon Georgiana or insist Darcy and Fitzwilliam release her dowry. Frankly, if he could be sure Wickham would disappear from his sister’s life forever, Darcy would give him the money, even if it meant Georgiana hated him for sending away the man she thought she loved.
“If we had known they were coming, we might have asked your charming aunt, Lady Catherine, to join us. I believe she grew quite fond of me. Did we not have such delightful visits when we were in Kent?” Wickham kissed Georgiana’s hand, and she giggled.
Darcy spun on his heel and went in search of coffee.
Bingley had decided to spend the morning with the Bennets, assuring Darcy that he did not mind. “Your family should have a chance to discuss the matter in private. I shall return anon and will be at your disposal, should you wish to talk about it.”
That meant that it was just Darcy, Georgiana, and Wickham in the drawing room when the butler announced the arrival of the earl and viscount. The pair stood by the door, Lord Romsley’s expression thunderous, and Bramwell taking in the room, nodding curtly when his gaze met Darcy’s.
“I need to speak to my niece without you present,” the earl said, indicating Wickham.
The reprobate chuckled. “But I am her husband. There is nothing you can say to her that I cannot—should not—be told.”
Bramwell’s arm shot out, preventing his father from stepping towards Wickham, as he evidently meant to. “You know we will not leave until we do. I for one would prefer not to make this more disagreeable for my young cousin.”
Georgiana looked at each gentleman in turn, her lower lip pulled between her teeth and brow furrowed. Wickham shrugged, and without a word to her, stood and brushed past the earl and Bramwell. A heavy silence fell over the room for what seemed like a long period to Darcy but was likely less than a minute. Then his uncle spoke, his voice tightly controlled.
“What were you thinking eloping with any man, let alone that one?”
“I…” Georgiana straightened her spine before continuing. “I do not understand why everyone is being so horrible! Wickham says we did nothing wrong. I only wanted to make everything easier for my brother, and it is Wickham. I have known him all my life. You cannot object to him!”
Bramwell let out a strangled laugh, the earl looked dumbfounded, and Darcy sighed. He sensed Wickham’s words; no doubt he had told her exactly what to say.
Lord Romsley looked at him. “He has tricked her into believing his lies.” Turning back to her, he added, “And lie he did. He is the son of a steward, completely inappropriate to be your husband, even if you were a decade older and he had his own fortune.”
“You do not care that my brother is marrying Elizabeth instead of an earl’s daughter?—”
“Enough,” Darcy interjected. “This is not about me or Elizabeth, who I will remind you— again —is a gentleman’s daughter.”
His uncle gave him a long look. “You might have set a better example in your choice of wife, but I suppose it serves no purpose to discuss that now.”
“Let us all try to remain calm and avoid arguing amongst ourselves,” Bramwell suggested. “I know it will be very difficult, but I have some small confidence we can manage it.”
Lord Romsley shook his head at his heir’s weak joke, but he sat near Georgiana, as did Bramwell and Darcy. He insisted on hearing her story, from Wickham calling at Rosings to their elopement. As well, he wanted to understand what Wickham had told her about his life and how they would live. She repeated Wickham’s claim that he was studying the law.
“Where does he say he is working, child?” the earl asked gently.
“In London. It is a very respectable firm, and he is doing so well and is sure to be a great success. Everyone says so.”
“I shall be very interested to know the name of this firm,” Bramwell murmured for Darcy’s ears alone. “If one exists.”
“I think you had much better return to Warwickshire with me,” Lord Romsley told her. “Lady Romsley would be glad to see you, and your cousin’s wedding is soon. Would you not like to celebrate it with us?” When Georgiana asked about Wickham, the earl said, “Let him return to his studies. Your brother and I shall…see to his future.”
Immediately, Georgiana began shaking her head, her curls swaying with the motion. “I could not leave him! We love each other dearly, and, as his wife, it would be wrong of me.”
She grew increasingly agitated as Lord Romsley attempted to convince her. Unfortunately, as a married lady, they had no right to compel her; indeed, her husband had a right to demand she remain with him. Soon, the earl indicated a desire to speak to Wickham; he sent Georgiana to her apartment to refresh herself. “One of us will send for you once he and I have completed our discussion.”
A servant found Wickham and recalled him to the drawing room. He swaggered in their direction, dropped into a chair facing the other men, who all stood, and smirked.
“What do you want to go away and leave my niece and nephew in peace?” Lord Romsley's voice was strong.
“A week ago, I would have said her thirty thousand—which is rightfully mine, if you have forgotten—but now I find I am simply too amused by seeing how much my old friend hates having me here.” Wickham winked at Darcy, who lunged at him, a curse on his lips.
Bramwell prevented him, saying, “Do not allow him to goad you into an altercation. Think of your sister.”
“Yes, let us discuss dear, sweet Georgiana. Such a charming, innocent wife I got for myself,” Wickham said. “Do you know, I am rather hesitant to give her up. Indeed, I do not believe I shall.”
“How much?” Lord Romsley demanded again.
Wickham shrugged. “The keys to Pemberley might do.”
Again, Darcy experienced an urge to beat the man senseless, but before he could act on this desire, his cousin pulled him to the other side of the room.
“I knew he did this to revenge himself on me,” Darcy snarled.
“No doubt, but you must think with your head. Permit my father to handle this. If there is anything to be done to extract Georgiana from this disaster, he will find it.”
Unfortunately, the conclusion after an hour’s debate was that the situation was impossible. For whatever reason, Wickham would not be swayed by money; Darcy supposed it was because he found it more diverting to watch Darcy suffer by keeping himself and Georgiana with him—at least at present. In time, Wickham would grow weary of his game and be prepared to move on and resume his life of dissipation without a wife to worry about. Then he would be willing to set a price to abandon her. The reality was that the earl was capable of ruining Wickham, but he was capable of ruining Georgiana’s reputation and her connexion to her family.
“I would not hesitate to take her far away, somewhere you would never find her. If you did, you would discover I had taught her to despise you so much that, should she find herself alone, even in need, she would not turn to you for assistance. Do you doubt that I could?” Wickham said. “Darcy will tell you that I am exceptionally talented at making her say and do what I like.”
He stood. “As charming as your company is, I have had enough of it. I intend to find my wife and allow her to amuse me for the rest of the day.”
The earl held up a finger to Darcy and Bramwell before they could respond. After Wickham left the room, Bramwell suggested Darcy ask for refreshments, saying, “I believe we could all use the fortification.”
While eating, they spoke candidly, eventually determining that there was little they could do currently.
“I know how difficult the situation is,” the earl said to Darcy. “But for now, the best option is to keep them with you, just as you had already realised. I am grateful to Mr Bingley that he has allowed them to stay here, since you are reluctant to leave Miss Bennet. I agree that Wickham will decide he would rather have money than my niece sooner or later. Be prepared for the first sign that he has reached that point and inform us. Bramwell or I shall come at once, if Fitzwilliam cannot.”
Before long, Lord Romsley and Bramwell took their leave, sending their regards to Elizabeth and Bingley; they would return to London that day and, by midweek, the earl would begin the journey north. Bramwell would remain in London for a while longer before joining Rebecca and her family in Shropshire for their wedding. Unless Darcy or Georgiana required the earl and countess’s assistance in Hertfordshire or London, they would also go to Frederick Darcy’s estate to celebrate their oldest son’s nuptials .
Bramwell mentioned that Rebecca had said she would write to Elizabeth.
“Like me, I know she wishes there was something she could do. I am sorry to abandon you, Darcy, but I do not believe our presence would help the situation at all. I shall have my father see what he can do to secure leave for my brother. Let him try threatening Wickham. You know how well Fitzwilliam can intimidate others. He might also manage to remind Georgiana that she is intelligent and can think for herself.”