Chapter 9 #4
At this point, Elizabeth shook her head with a frown. “Thank you for trusting me enough to share your sister’s story, but I am frightened that Mr. Wickham will attempt to hurt you or Georgiana again. He tried to destroy you once—why would he not try again?”
“No need to fret. The Runners tracked him down, and he was arrested in the act of selling some of the Darcy jewels. Because he knew of my father’s misdirected affection for George, my uncle Lord Matlock asked that Wickham not be hanged for his crimes, and the judge agreed on one condition: Wickham is now on his way to Botany Bay.
We need never fear him again. Now that you know all about my sister, what of your family? ”
* * *
Elizabeth hesitated before divulging her news. How could she not be deeply saddened that no one from her family would be with her on her important day?
“I wrote to the Gardiners, but they are unable to come. My uncle has not been with his new firm for long, and they will not be able to travel at this time. I told my mother and Jane the good news but all I said was the man I was marrying owned an estate in Derbyshire which had recently had a fire. Mama has always told me that because my face was imperfect, no man would ever marry me. Whenever she does choose to come, she will see how she was very wrong about me. I shall have a tall, handsome husband and a beautiful house to live in. . .well, someday. If you approve, I plan to invite Mrs. Hopkins and Mrs. Murray—they know not to mention my short time in service. After all, Mrs. Hopkins is my relative, and I met Mrs. Murray through her.”
“Good idea. Until he knows you better, my uncle would not react well to your having worked, regardless of how brief that time was. You are a gentleman’s daughter and will always be one regardless of the circumstances.
You may invite anyone you please, but I was thinking more about your mother and sisters. ”
“I invited them to the wedding, and only Mama responded. She wrote of her desire to visit us at some time in the future. I am certain her expectations of anyone who would marry me are low, and she feels no obligation to travel to our wedding. Besides, she wrote that she cannot possibly travel at this time because an unmarried young man of considerable fortune has just let Netherfield Park, near Longbourn. She will not leave Meryton any time soon since she believes she must find wealthy husbands for my two mindless, frivolous young sisters before she can travel anywhere. There you have it. One of Napoleon’s cannons could not distract Frances Bennet from her only objective in life, marrying off her daughters, other than me.
I am disappointed but not surprized she will not be here.
I wrote to Jane about our engagement, and she sent us her best wishes.
She is in half-mourning and is not yet up to travelling. ”
“You will soon be wed, Jane is widowed, and Mary is married. How old are the others?”
“Kitty is eighteen, and Lydia is just sixteen.”
“There is plenty of time for them to marry, so why the urgency for them to wed at such a young age?”
Elizabeth was likewise bewildered. Why could her mother’s views on matrimony not concur with Mr. Darcy’s or society’s in general?
Her mother had behaved in such a way since Elizabeth was a young girl.
“All my sisters were pushed into society as soon as they turned fifteen. My mother has no reservations about telling everyone she meets that her only purpose in life is marrying off her daughters. Perhaps one day, when the manor house is rebuilt, she will visit us. When my mother attempts to manipulate people, she tells everyone around her she is ill from a nervous complaint. My only fear is that once she sees the restored Pemberley, she will never leave. She may take to her bed for months and months.”
“Have no worries. If she keeps postponing her departure, whenever she does visit us, we shall offer to buy her a house near Meryton. She would be better off living close to her daughters, her sister, and friends.”
“An excellent solution. You have not yet met my mother, but she is a woman of little information and an uncertain temper. She is quick to speak and slow to think, and that is all I shall say.”
“I was an only child for a long time. With so many sisters about the house, I am certain you never felt lonely.”
She shrugged. “I have learnt from experience that it is possible for someone to feel alone amongst others, particularly when the person you felt closest to is gone.”
“Without him, who will walk you down the aisle?”
“I have given that question a great deal of thought. I have been on my own since the day my father died. My uncle Gardiner cannot be here, so I plan to walk by myself at our wedding. I shall be content knowing you will be waiting for me at the altar.”
“Yes, I shall be waiting.” Was Darcy grimacing at the thought of their forthcoming marriage?
How could she believe that her betrothed cared for her when he behaved in such an indifferent manner? Perhaps Mr. Martin misinterpreted what Fitzwilliam said to him. Would his true feelings for her be revealed before their wedding day? If not, should she go through with it?