Chapter 50 Cause for Complaint #2
“By convincing each man that he will eventually be paid. Several believed Wickham had expectations from his family.”
Darcy said, “He has no family.”
Mr. Bennet passed the papers to him as Forster continued.
“The debts are not my greatest concern. Harper found evidence that Wickham has been meeting young women without their families' knowledge. One girl is seventeen. Another was sent away to relatives after her parents discovered the meetings. There are rumors concerning others, but I will not repeat accusations that Harper could not substantiate.”
“Then Lydia was not the first,” Mr. Bennet said.
“It appears not. Harper could not establish that any of the young women were seduced. One father refused to discuss what occurred between Wickham and his daughter, and Harper did not press him. I will not draw conclusions the evidence does not support.”
“I am grateful for that. I have no wish to protect my own daughter by sacrificing another man's.”
“There have also been drunken disturbances, unpaid wagers, damaged property, and quarrels. Individually, most of these matters would have appeared little more than the misconduct of an irresponsible young officer. Taken together, they reveal a pattern I cannot ignore.”
Darcy read through the list of creditors. “Have any of these men begun proceedings against him?”
“Not that Harper discovered. Most still hope to be paid.”
“Some months ago, I began purchasing obligations from Wickham's creditors,” Darcy said.
“You purchased his debts?”
“Yes. He presently owes me nearly one thousand pounds and does not know that I hold them.”
Mr. Bennet looked from Darcy to the papers on the desk. “I assume you intend to purchase these as well.”
“If the creditors are willing to sell them. My solicitor can contact each man, verify the account, and purchase whatever lawful debts they are willing to assign to me. Once that is done, he can determine the proper proceedings to have Wickham arrested for debt.”
Forster considered this. “I presume you have a reason for gathering so much of his debt into your own hands.”
“I do. A single tradesman may hesitate to incur the expense and trouble of pursuing Wickham for an unpaid account. I have neither difficulty. I intend to prevent him from continuing to incur debts and leaving others to bear the consequences.”
“Will his commission protect him?” Mr. Bennet asked.
The two men looked to Colonel Forster for an answer.
Forster said, “I am willing to cooperate, but I must be careful not to use my authority as his commanding officer to enforce a private debt.”
“I would not ask you to. I ask only that Wickham not be permitted to use the regiment to evade lawful process. If my solicitor obtains the necessary authority to arrest him, I would be grateful for whatever cooperation your position lawfully allows.”
“You shall have it. His debts, however, do not dispose of the other matter. I intend to address what falls within my authority and make certain that his conduct is watched closely from this point forward.”
“I would prefer that Wickham not learn of Harper's inquiry until my solicitor has had time to act,” Darcy said.
“I can manage that for a short while. Harper has been discreet, but Meryton is not a large town. With this many creditors, someone will eventually tell Wickham that questions are being asked.”
“A short while should be sufficient.”
Mr. Bennet said, “Then I believe we have done what we can for the present.”
“You have done considerably more than that,” Forster replied. “Had you not come to me, I might never have known what was happening under my nose.”
Mr. Bennet regarded him for a moment. “I have recently learned the disadvantages of discovering too late what is happening under one's very eyes.”
Forster understood him.
Darcy indicated the list of creditors. “With your permission, Colonel, I shall give this to my solicitor.”
“Take it. Harper retained his notes if anything needs to be confirmed. I shall keep Wickham ignorant of our inquiries for as long as I reasonably can.”
“Thank you, Colonel.”
Darcy took the papers with him when he and Mr. Bennet left the office.
* * *
Several days later, the Bennet carriage drew up before Netherfield Park.
The family had accepted no invitations since Mrs. Bennet's death, but dinner with the Netherfield party was different from returning to society.
Jane had admitted that a few hours away from Longbourn might do them all good, and even Mr. Bennet had offered no objection when Bingley's invitation arrived.
When they were shown in, Bingley crossed immediately to greet Jane, while Georgiana welcomed Kitty with such evident pleasure that both Thomas Bennet and Elizabeth smiled.
The two girls settled on a couch and fell into conversation.
Caroline led Mary to a table near the window, where a workbasket and several skeins of embroidery silk awaited them.
Elizabeth had scarcely entered before her eyes found Mr. Darcy.
He came to greet her with the same courtesy he offered her sisters, although the look they exchanged belonged to neither strangers nor new acquaintances.
“I hope you had a pleasant drive, Miss Elizabeth.”
“Very pleasant, thank you. Papa complained about the road twice, so I believe he enjoyed it as well as anyone.”
Mr. Bennet said, “Lizzy, a gentleman should be permitted some occupation during a carriage ride.”
The evening proved delightful. The company fell into easy conversation, and Georgiana played the pianoforte while Kitty sat companionably beside her.
When the gentlemen joined the ladies after dinner, a servant entered carrying a small silver tray.
“For you, sir.”
Darcy recognized the hand before he broke the seal.
The letter was from his solicitor.
He read it once before folding it and slipping it into his coat.
Elizabeth hoped it was good news concerning his dealings with Wickham, for Mr. Darcy had smiled while he read.
A short time later, he approached Mr. Bennet, and the two men stepped out of the room.
“Your letter brought news?”
“It did, sir. My solicitor has completed his examination of the accounts Colonel Forster provided. Most of Wickham’s creditors have agreed to assign their debts to me, and the accounts should be settled within a few days. He believes he will then have what he requires to proceed against Wickham.”
Mr. Bennet considered this. “I only hope the blackguard does not abscond before we can catch him.”
* * *
Darcy joined Elizabeth near the fireplace.
“You had a letter from your solicitor, sir?”
“Yes. We are very close to putting this matter behind us, Elizabeth. I know how heavily it has weighed upon you.”
“It does ease my mind, sir.” Elizabeth glanced toward her father. “Papa looks easier than he has for some time.”
“He has done everything that could reasonably be done.”
Caroline approached them carrying a sheet of paper. “Miss Elizabeth, I purchased an embroidery pattern in Meryton yesterday and have spent half the afternoon trying to decide which silks to use. Mary has already given me her opinion. Will you give me yours?”
“Willingly.”
Caroline led her to a table where Mary was examining several skeins of silk arranged beside the pattern. Jane joined them when Caroline spread the design before Elizabeth.
“I thought these for the larger flowers,” Caroline said, indicating three shades, “but I cannot decide whether the darkest is too strong.”
Elizabeth compared them. “I think you need the darker shade.” She drew out two lighter skeins and laid them beside the others. “Jane has been known to use as many as eight variations of the same color to give her flowers dimension.”
Jane selected another skein. “There. With these six, I think you will have what you need.”
Caroline considered the colors before her. “Yes, I see it now. They work very well together.”
* * *
“Miss Bennet, will you come and sit here? You have spent half the evening discussing embroidery, and I begin to think Caroline intends to keep you entirely to herself.”
Jane left the table and took the place he indicated on the sofa, while the others drew their chairs nearer.
Elizabeth looked at Mr. Bingley. “Have you gathered us together because you intend to regale us with ghost stories, sir?”
The suggestion brought laughter from several of them, but Kitty immediately said, “Will you humor us, sir? I should dearly like to hear a new ghost story.”
Bingley looked around the room. “I shall, provided I am not expected to furnish the entire evening's entertainment.”
“You began it, Charles, so now you must deliver,” Caroline said.
“Please tell us one, sir,” Kitty insisted.
Bingley considered the demand. “Very well, but Darcy and Mr. Bennet must each tell one as well.”
Kitty looked expectantly at Mr. Darcy.
Darcy regarded Bingley. “Charles, you have committed me to this without asking whether I know a ghost story.”
“You must know one.”
“I know several.”
Kitty laughed. “Then you must begin.”
Darcy took the chair opposite Elizabeth.
“I heard this story at Cambridge from a gentleman who insisted it had happened to a member of his family many years before.”
The room quieted.
“A young gentleman was traveling through the country late one winter evening. Snow had been falling for several hours, and the road was unfamiliar to him. He expected to reach an inn before the weather became worse, but some miles from the nearest village he saw a young woman standing alone beside the road.”
“Alone?” Kitty asked.
“Entirely alone.”
Darcy continued. “She wore no pelisse or cloak, and the gentleman could see that she was suffering from the cold. He stopped his carriage and asked whether she required assistance. She told him her name and said that her home was only two miles farther along the road.”
“Why was she outside in the snow?” Georgiana asked.
“She did not offer an explanation.”
Kitty looked at Georgiana. “That should have warned him.”