Chapter 2.5 #4
Wickham demanded that Mr. Bennet pay his debts.
He had evidently lost his mind completely.
How could he imagine that was even possible?
He was even more stupid than he was reckless.
He attempted to blackmail Mr. Bennet, forcing him to put his entire fortune at stake.
Of course, Wickham had little to lose while Mr. Bennet had everything to fear.
If the deal were not sealed, Miss Lydia would return home, and the entire shame would fall upon the Bennets.
Nothing good would come of that situation —and they could not afford an even bigger scandal by telling the world how Wickham deceived them.
Of course, the idiot would remain without his commission, without a means of support, and with more debts to follow.
But that was his usual way, and he would surely find another victim.
The colonel —his cousin —furious after Wickham’s attempt to elope with Georgiana, had proposed finding a way to get rid of Wickham for good.
Darcy should have listened —a colonel in his majesty’s army surely knew better about these things.
But for the time being, it was his duty to make amends in a situation that was mostly his fault.
Darcy was certain the Bennets and the Gardiners together could not afford to pay Wickham’s debts and were even less able to ensure him a proper commission, which would cost at least five hundred pounds.
Even a partial attempt would mean a pecuniary sacrifice that would jeopardise their families’ futures, and it was not fair of him to allow it.
The entire Darcy family should have been more rigorous in curbing Wickham’s recklessness. They should have dealt more harshly with his faults and punished him accordingly before he succeeded in damaging more than one honourable family.
And when they met in Meryton, he —Darcy —should have warned Colonel Forster at once about Wickham’s true character before people fell victim to his dishonourable schemes.
Since that did not happen —since he was too proud and too careless of the feelings of others and of the possible outcomes of his indifference —it was now his responsibility to remedy his mistake.
And he had already found a way. He would repay Wickham’s debts; besides helping Mr. Bennet, it would be gratifying to hold the power of throwing the rascal into debtors’ prison at any time.
Wickham would be at his mercy, and he could demand anything from him.
As for the rest, it depended on Miss Lydia Bennet’s final decision.
Perhaps her relatives —and her older sister —might succeed in putting some reason into her head.
Again, his thoughts turned to Elizabeth.
A thought —cruel and selfish, he admitted without hesitation —troubled him.
He wondered how Elizabeth felt at that moment.
Did she blame herself, not only for being partial to Wickham and believing his lies but also for rejecting a marriage proposal that would have given her and her entire family a bright future?
Were she Mrs. Darcy now, the scandal would mean little to the Bennets.
She would have no worries —it would be her husband’s duty to settle the matter.
Did she feel any sort of regret? Was she suffering for her unwise decision not to read his letter?
Likely, yes, those things and many others probably tormented Elizabeth now. He knew he should be satisfied with the situation. Any man —any human being —would be. He finally had his revenge. Life itself had accomplished enough to satisfy his four months of rage.
Perhaps, this was the Fates telling him his proposal was a mistake.
He imagined what the scandal would have meant for the Darcys —and the entire extended family —if Elizabeth were now Mrs. Darcy.
Wickham would be his brother-in-law! Poor Georgiana would be forever troubled, Lady Catherine and likely the Matlocks would cut any connection with him, not to mention the gossips of society.
Yes, it seemed Elizabeth Bennet’s horrible rejection was a lucky one for him.
He was such a fool to have suffered all that time. He should be relieved. Pleased. Happy.
And yet, he felt nothing but a grip in his chest and a wave of ever-growing anger against Wickham.
There was something good in that anger, though.
The more he helped the Bennet family, the sooner he solved this matter.
Elizabeth and her father would return to Hertfordshire, and the turmoil of knowing she was in dangerous proximity would end.
Perhaps he would see her again a couple of times before then —if the situation required it. Would he? Should he?
Caught deep in thought, he entered his house, retired directly to his library, and then hurried to write several notes.
He had things to take care of, which was much better than sitting in the dark and suffering in solitude.
These two days were so different from the last four months that they seemed a breach in his life.
It was still related to Elizabeth; she was still at the centre of his distress but not in the same way that he feared a few days ago.
She was still ever-present in his mind —in his thoughts —and close to him in her presence; therefore, he could not possibly be at peace.
But he was content to have something to do —even if it meant unwillingly helping Wickham.