by Anna Harlow
“By that, I assume you mean her lack of a proper ring? I assure you, sir, once we reach Pemberley, it shall be dealt with directly. But for now, I should like to rejoin Mr. Bingley. We have had little opportunity to speak. If you will excuse me?”
“Of course, Mr. Darcy,” said the Colonel. “And I shall see you tomorrow for our reckoning.”
“The girls are sure to be quite pleased,” added Mr. Bennet, bowing to him slightly. Darcy returned the gesture and he turned to go.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Watching Jane and Bingley marry put Elizabeth and Darcy in mind that they had not yet had an official wedding of their own. While the companions traveled north, Bingley mentioned this fact as well.
“You know that your tenants will want to witness such an event, sir,” he reminded Darcy with a smile.
“Fear not, Bingley, I have something particular in mind,” Darcy answered cryptically. “Once a particular item is acquired, we shall plan the event quite soon. You know of what I speak, I believe. It is hidden in my rooms.”
His eyes widened slightly, and he glanced at Elizabeth’s hand. “Sir, I believe I do.”
Though she would never ask about her ‘surprise’ directly, Elizabeth could easily put two and two together. He must be in possession of a particular ring he wished to bestow on her once they reached Pemberley. Given the fact he was a wealthy gentleman, that sort of gift could not really be surprising. She could hardly fathom why he wanted it to be a secret.
She was unconcerned enough in it that she soon dismissed any thought on the matter, and simply enjoyed the scenery. There were three coaches in their group in total. One contained Bingley, his sister Caroline, and his new bride. One was for all of the Darcys. The last contained valets, lady’s maids, Mrs. Avery, and her son. With babies and a pregnant woman among the party, the pace the drivers set was somewhat leisurely, and it took three days instead of just two to traverse more than one hundred miles.
When the Bingleys branched off toward the house of his step-father, it was a small matter to obtain another coach for their servants. As Elizabeth had never seen the north country, the pace was even slower now as they were determined to enjoy themselves. He showed her trees, rocks, and mountains, with almost an equal fervor to Mr. Collins and his furniture. Yet eventually, they made their way to Pemberley.
As they approached, it was clear that no one had expected the arrival of their coaches, for the servants were not lined up, and there was even a couple of people standing with the gardener Darcy did not recognize. It was clear that Mrs. Reynolds must have opened up the house for visitors.
“My goodness,” Elizabeth exclaimed. “It cannot be!”
“What is it, my darling?” he asked her curiously.
“My aunt and uncle went vacationing in the north, husband,” she explained. “They were meant to see the Lakes and take in all the scenery. But for the two of them to come here? Today, of all days?”
“Those two are your aunt and uncle?” Darcy asked, somewhat incredulous.
“They are, sir,” she told him. “He keeps a shop in London, but closed up about three months ago for what my uncle terms ‘a well-deserved break’. I know that Mrs. Gardiner grew up in Lambton, and certainly they’d want to stop there at some point, but I did not think they would come here.”
“We must greet them immediately,” said Darcy. “Perhaps they would like to come in for tea? It is certain that they shall wish to meet me.”
“Sir, they do not even know I have married,” said Elizabeth, smirking. “What a greeting this shall be!”
Elizabeth soon got down, and crossed the large expanse of cobblestone, with Darcy behind her directly. Mr. Gardiner at first did not realize she was his niece, for he was looking most directly at the man accompanying her.
“Sir, we were told the Master of Pemberley was not expected home before tomorrow,” he said amiably, shading his eyes from the sun so he could see Darcy more clearly. “My wife and I did not mean to impose.”
“It is no imposition, sir, for my wife informs me that we are actually now related.”
Mr. Gardiner blinked, confused, but his wife did not suffer such a difficulty.
“Lizzy?” she gasped, and came to hug Elizabeth directly. “What are you doing here? And what does Mr. Darcy mean by calling you his wife? I attended no wedding, and you do not wear a ring. Yet, here you are, so you must be married, it seems. That child can certainly not be yours, though. Did I not hear, sir, that you had recently become a father?”
“I did, madam, but her mother did not long survive her birth. The other child belongs to Mrs. Avery, the wet nurse,” he explained. “Though now that we are at Pemberley, and Fanny shall soon celebrate her birthday, the poor woman shall soon be able to return home to her husband.”
Both Mrs. Avery and Elizabeth cast him quelling looks, which made Darcy burst into laughter.
“Have I missed the joke?” Mrs. Gardiner wanted to know.
“I have told Mr. Darcy I shall not need the services of a wet nurse when our child is born,” Elizabeth explained, bumping elbows with her husband. “Which will not be for another six months’ or more. Behave yourself, Will, remember that the Gardiners do not yet know you.”
“Not quite so,” said Mrs. Gardiner. “I believe I met young Mr. Darcy when he was but eight years old. Sir, did I not hear that you gained a sister sometime afterwards?”
“I am she,” said Georgiana, smiling sweetly as she came to join them. “But unfortunately, our mother was lost to us during the birthing. Our father, as you must know, died when I was not quite twelve, and Darcy was given the care of me, along with the help of our cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Together, they have managed not to make too much of a muddle of my upbringing.”
“My goodness, Mr. Darcy, you have faced an awful lot of death for a man of such limited years,” Mr. Gardiner commented sympathetically. “You cannot have reached thirty.”
“I am but twenty-eight, sir,” he replied. “Pray, Mr. Gardiner, will you and your wife not accompany us in and take some tea? The day is quite hot, and it is certain you have not yet seen the family wing.”
“We shall be quite delighted, sir,” he said appreciatively. “The day has grown hot, and left us thirsty. And we cannot be met with better company.”
“I must admit, you two have seen more of Pemberley than me,” said Elizabeth, blushing. “This is the first time Darcy has brought me.”
“Oh, my dear, you are in for a treat!” her aunt exclaimed. “And to think, this is now your home! I shall have a good excuse for visiting! Sir, I confess, though I grew up in Lambton I have no one there now. It shall be a great relief to know the next time I get homesick my darling niece shall welcome me to town!”
“You must come and stay at Pemberley whenever you like, Mrs. Gardiner,” said Darcy with a slight bow. “I insist upon it.”
“You are too kind, Mr. Darcy,” she said with a smile.
After a delightful afternoon, when her aunt and uncle prepared to leave, Darcy asked Mr. Gardiner, “Sir, do you care for fishing? My lake is well stocked, and the fish have not been meddled with for a time. Perhaps, if you come visiting tomorrow we could catch a few for our dinner.”
“What a wonderful notion, sir!” he exclaimed. “Do you know, I had heard something of your generosity from the people of Lambton, but I never knew it held no bounds. Splendid company; delightful grounds. And now Elizabeth’s husband, and the father of her upcoming child. I am amazed all the way around.”
“Will you be quite so eager if I ask you to come at dawn, sir?” Darcy teased him. “That is the best time to fish, after all. If you like, I could send my carriage around.”
“Yes, and return you briefly to the inn later, so you can dress for the evening and bring your wife along,” added Georgiana, smiling. “My brother must surely remember that Mrs. Gardiner will not want to spend so many hours here.”
“Yes, of course,” Darcy agreed. “I look forward to seeing you then.”
After that, it seemed that Pemberley had visitors almost every day for the next week. Darcy was quick to explain that owing to his ankle he still owed his wife a proper ceremony, but the ring which had been hinted at before was never again mentioned in her hearing.
Bingley and Jane, often accompanied by Caroline, and also the Gardiners. Learning that Jane had also married was met with complete delight, and the high spirits of the party even put Caroline into a better mood upon occasion.
At least, until they received the letter. It came from Mary, and very little of the paper was used, which immediately gave Elizabeth a bit of alarm. Her face fell as she read it, and then she soon broke into tears.
“Love, what is the matter?” Darcy asked her.
“Such horrible news!” she explained, wringing her hands and gasping. “Lydia has eloped with Mr. Wickham! She snuck out in the middle of the night, and Kitty swears she knew nothing of the plan. Oh Will, you know all too well what he is. We should never have sent the girls to Brighton without telling them too!”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Georgiana was quick to step over and hug Elizabeth. Darcy was so upset, he began to pace wildly within a limited space. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were both horrified and confused, while Bingley and Caroline looked positively ill. Jane, who also had no clue, stared at Elizabeth with consternation.
“Lizzy, what on earth are you talking about? Mr. Wickham has never been anything but kind to all of us,” she said. “What news could possibly need telling where he is concerned?”
“It is—difficult, sister, to describe it in language which would suit a full room,” said Darcy. “Suffice it to say, my dealings with the gentleman have given me much reason to distrust him. I cannot comprehend what inducements Lydia must have employed upon him, considering she has no money or connections, but I am sure the gentleman must have no intentions to marry her either. She is—not his type.”
“You mean because of her lack of dowry, I suppose?” Jane grumbled. “It is too cruel of you, sir, to marry my sister with no care for money, yet think ill of Wickham for not doing the same.”
“Our circumstances are in no way the same,” Darcy excused himself. “I have plenty of money, and Wickham cannot even keep what little he has wisely. He is a fortune hunter, and a gambler, madam. But these alone are not the worst of his crimes. The others, I will not trouble you with now. If he is too marry her, it will only be by force. And you’ve no idea how much I long to rescue our Lydia from such an evil. Has anything been done to recover her?”
“Our father has gone to London, where they are believed to be,” Elizabeth explained.
“Then they have not gone to Gretna Green?” asked Jane.
“It does not appear so,” Elizabeth explained. “They were spotted on the road to London. I can only suppose they have gone there to hide. I can only think they have not yet married. But, it does not follow that Lydia still remains a maid.”
“Oh, surely not, Lizzy!” Mrs. Gardiner complained. “She would never do such a thing.”
“I disagree, Aunt, I think that, without the guidance and care of her parents to prevent her from such an action, my youngest sister is quite capable of such a deed. And Wickham is quite capable of seducing a young, unsuspecting young woman. Before Darcy’s accident, the gentleman even had designs of seducing me.”
“Lizzy!” Jane gasped. “You cannot know that!”
“I only know what he made me feel, Jane, what he intended,” Elizabeth tried to explain. “He had clearly singled me out from the first. And the day he came to Longbourn, he insinuated himself at my side, when until that point Mr. Collins had all but declared that position belonged to him. It is what drove me out, to tell the truth. I wished to be far away from the gentleman.”
“I will go to London myself,” Darcy said decisively. “I will find that blighter, and put an end to all this nonsense.”
“Sir, in what way might you end it?” Elizabeth protested. “If Lydia has been defiled, then surely Wickham must be forced to marry her. Do you not comprehend that Lydia may have conceived a child in such a tryst?”
“Goodness, no!” Jane gasped.
“I shall depart immediately,” said Darcy. “Mr. Gardiner? Perhaps you would like to accompany me. I believe you might help your brother-in-law to remain calm.”
“I consider it my duty to do so, sir,” he replied. “My wife will be in good company here.”
“Yes, of course,” Mrs. Gardiner agreed. “I will not wish to get in the way. And I am sure my girls will all be overwrought with the wait. I can only imagine how Mrs. Bennet must be taking this little escapade.”
“Oh, our mother!” Jane exclaimed. “We must surely go to her, do you not think? For Mary and Kitty will be ill equipped to settle her nerves.”
“You may go, Jane, if you will. As for me, I will stay at Pemberley. I am much better to remain here with Fanny and Georgiana.”
Darcy knew enough of his former friend that, in the end, it took him but three days to determine his location. He had taken a gentleman’s daughter to stay with him in a brothel, and if he had not found him when he did, he was sure that Lydia may have soon been left there in disgrace.
“Sir, I did not think even you would sink this low,” he told him, practically snarling in his anger. “What possible motive could you have for taking Lydia in such a way?”
With a laugh, Wickham looked him in the eye. “You must know, Darcy, you are an open book. Sir, I have read every single page.”
“What do you mean?”
“I knew that duty would guide you in this matter, sir, regardless of feeling,” he said. “That if I took your wife’s sister, I could easily draw you closer. And, if you actually loved your wife, well, then you would only find me that much sooner. I am fully prepared to marry Lydia, Darcy, provided I am offered the right incentive to do so.”
“You bounder! You cad! You have no notion how to love anyone, sir—least of all my father. I cannot understand why he was so taken in by you.”
“Because I am so very good at what I do, Darcy,” he said with a mocking laugh. “You need not deny that. My skills have helped you out a time or two.”
“I’ll give you nothing that would not assure the comfort and safety of the girl,” Darcy told him sternly. “Every penny must go toward your housing, your food; none of it can make its way to gambling, sir.”
“No, no, sir, I cannot agree to such terms. What of my own amount? A gentleman must have pin money, you know.”
“You are a reprehensible creature, Wickham, and I am quite weary of you,” Darcy hissed. “Very well, I will secure Lydia her own amount, and settle another sum on you. And when this business is over, I wish never to hear from you, and never to lay eyes on you, ever again.”
“Sir, that may be difficult,” he said, his smile somewhere between happiness and a sneer. “You and I are about to become brothers.”
“Bloody hell!” Darcy groaned.
“I must ask, Darcy, by what manner you have been transformed,” said Wickham then. “I do not remember any time when you would have insisted on helping a young girl before.”
“It is for my wife, sir.”
“Miss Elizabeth?” he smirked. “I do understand that! I should never wish to cross swords with her!”
The marriage was soon accomplished, and the Wickhams headed for the north, where Wickham went to join the regulars. Lydia was just as silly and insipid as ever, more worried about whether or not her gown went over well than the fact that her reputation had been saved at such a high cost.
Darcy soon made his way home, to take his sensible wife into his arms.
“My darling, do you know? Since the day we met, that was the first time we have ever been apart,” he told her. “Funny how absence can reveal what is truly in one’s heart. I could not sleep for missing you. I could take no comfortable breath of air, nor concentrate on anything. I believe, my wife, that I have gone and fallen in love with you. I will understand i
f you do not feel it, too. But I simply had to tell you.”
Elizabeth chuckled. She backed up and tilted her face to look right into his eyes. “Mr. Darcy, everything you predicted about this relationship has come true. You said that we would marry, and we did. You said I would birth your heir, and, God willing, that prediction will come true. And you said that we might learn to love each other. In truth, I think even on that day, love between us had already begun. No young woman who is not attracted to someone would give her kisses so willingly. Nay, sir, the seeds were already there. And now they are quite grown. I worried that Lydia’s folly might sour your feelings for me completely, but it is not so. And perhaps that is why I love you, too. So very much!”
“I have something for you, which I have not managed to present before,” he added softly as he captured her hand. “It is the reason why I did not buy you any ring for your finger, but goes with a story. When my mother lay dying, she called me to her. She removed her wedding ring, and set it into my hands. ‘Son,’ said she, ‘you must keep this safe. This ring is meant to be slipped onto the finger of someone you love. Unless you really mean it, Will, do not ever give it away.’ And, when I married Anne, I never even showed it to her. Because somehow, my mother knew. This ring was meant for you.”
