by Kay Bea
“It was not as simple as your words suggest.”
“I do not doubt the difficulty of the task, Cousin. But I begin to question your sense,” said Anne.
“Pardon me?” He stood and began pacing the room in agitation.
Darcy felt as if he were being interrogated when Richard continued. “Since you do not seem to see the problem yourself, please allow me to assist you. You were supposed to return to Hertfordshire weeks ago and not once in all this time has it occurred to you to send word to Mr Bennet or the Bingleys of your change in plans! Did you ever consider how your sudden absence must appear to Miss Bennet’s family?”
Anne added, “Or to Miss Bennet for that matter!”
After Darcy offering no response, Anne continued. “She was compromised, in the presence of witnesses, by a man she knows you hate. That same man eloped with her youngest sister, and then you kissed her before vanishing from her life with nary a word.”
Yielding under their scrutiny, Darcy threw himself unceremoniously into a chair and dropped his head to his hands. “I have thought only of her in these past weeks. I wanted to kill Wickham for daring to touch her, but I knew the Bennet family’s reputation would never survive Miss Lydia’s shame, so I negotiated a marriage between them.”
Anne’s face brightened. “Then you must have contacted Mr Bennet at least! Miss Lydia is underage is she not?”
“She is not sixteen years old,” Darcy said, his tone defeated. “However, I did not want the family to know of my involvement, and therefore required Wickham to seek Mr Bennet’s consent. I have sent word to no one since I departed Hertfordshire.”
Anne’s face fell. “Oh. Well, this is a muddle then, is it not?”
Richard was less subtle in his chastisement and berated Darcy. “Of all the arrogant, officious, stupid things you have ever done, Cousin, this is the worst! ’Tis all well and good that you have helped Miss Elizabeth’s foolish sister, but you have done nothing to reassure the woman you profess to love that you have not forsaken her.”
“I thought kissing her made my intentions plain!”
“They might have done if you had not expressed your regrets and departed immediately after,” said Richard.
“You have made your point. Desist!”
Anne intervened. “Boys! Enough. It will not do to continue fighting. Richard, our cousin is now quite aware of his failings. There is no need to carry on reminding him. And Darcy, kindly do not take your temper out on us. We did not create the circumstances in which you find yourself.”
Darcy sighed. “No. The situation is entirely of my own making.” He then looked at her and said in an almost pleading tone, “I do not suppose you have any ideas of how I might extricate myself?”
Richard made a derisive noise in the back of his throat and might not have said anything more, but he felt a sharp jab to his ribs. “Blast!” He turned on Anne. “That was not necessary, Cousin!” She merely stared in response, and at last he relented. “Fine. Yes, Darcy, we will help you.” Then he muttered, “Little though you deserve it.”
Anne levelled a look at Richard that silenced him and said to Darcy, “First, go take a bath. You smell of Portsmouth. Then we shall formulate a plan.” She gave him a slight push. “Shoo! I am certain Stevens has already arranged for hot water.”
When Darcy returned to his cousins, he found Anne seated behind his desk with Richard hovering over her shoulder.
“It looks as though the two of you are planning for battle.”
“We are,” Anne replied. “You cannot appear at Netherfield after all this time and expect a warm welcome from all within its doors.”
“Indeed not, Cousin,” Richard added, “you must first scout the location, determine what weapons will be most effective, and then execute your plan!”
“Do not be ridiculous, Richard. Darcy is more likely to need armour than arms. Though I must agree, it would be sensible to try and gain some intelligence as to the current situation in Hertfordshire.” She turned her attention to Darcy. “I hope you do not mind. I sorted through your correspondence. While I did find an express from your friend, Bingley, there was nothing from the Bennet family.”
She handed him the message from Bingley. Darcy perused it and shook his head. “The letter was misdirected. It requests my aid in tracking down Wickham.”
“Then you have done as they asked. Would Bingley or Mr Bennet reply if you were to send a response now?” the colonel asked.
“I cannot think why they would not. Neither is so impolite as to ignore me entirely.”
“As you did them?” Richard muttered.
“Richard,” Anne admonished lightly.
“What?”
“You are not helping.”
“I did not ignore them!” Richard stared fixedly at his cousin and Darcy added, “I neglected to inform them of my intentions.”
Richard continued to look at him.
Darcy’s tone was insistent. “I did not and still do not wish for their gratitude.”
Richard did not look away.
Darcy finally conceded defeat. “Mea culpa. It was badly done. It appears as if I ignored them. But she was on my mind every moment of every day.” He sighed and lowered himself into a chair near the fireplace.
The cousins reviewed their plan for Darcy’s redemption. Foremost in the plan was that Darcy would write, in Anne’s words, ‘a long, detailed, and humble apology’ to both Mr Bennet and the Bingleys. His wish for his involvement in the recovery of Lydia to remain anonymous was overridden by Anne: “Darcy, what other possible explanation can you offer for your prolonged silence?”
He knew there was nothing to be said in his defence and eventually agreed that while he still found it distasteful, his part in finding the wayward couple and bringing about their marriage must be acknowledged. It offered the only moderately acceptable excuse for his behaviour. His cousins encouraged him to purchase a common licence.
When Darcy objected on the grounds that Elizabeth might never speak to him again, Richard said, “Assuming you are invited back to Hertfordshire, coming with the licence in your possession shows that regardless of what your actions have suggested, your intentions towards Miss Elizabeth have not changed.”
“And if she refuses me?”
“Then we shall strive to forgive you,” Richard answered without a trace of irony.
“It is a comfort to know I shall always have my family to turn to in my hour of need.”
Anne interrupted their bickering. “She rebuffed your addresses once before and you were able to overcome her objections. If she refuses you now, you shall have to do so again. I believe the more difficult task will be in gaining an audience with her. After all this time, it is likely she believes you have rejected her. In that case, she will not wish to subject herself to your scorn.”
“But I have not forsaken her! I could not!” Darcy exclaimed. Then his voice dropped to a bare whisper and he added, “She is everything to me.”
Anne laid a comforting hand on his arm and said, “Then we must make sure she knows that.”
The Wickhams’ hired carriage pulled up to Longbourn in the early afternoon, and Lydia descended with an expectation of being fêted by all her family. The effusive speech she had planned died on her lips when she saw only her mother at the door.
“But Mama! Where are my sisters? Where is my father? Not that I am not glad to see you, Mama. But I thought all my family would be here to congratulate me! For I am married second only to Jane, and since none of you could be at my wedding, I thought surely you would all want to wish me happy. Oh, I know, you have planned a dinner party for me! What a delicious surprise. Well, I promise to act completely shocked when it begins!” Lydia had scarcely drawn breath as she spoke.
Mrs Bennet burst into tears. “Oh, my dear, sweet Lydia! Come and hug your mama! And Mr Wickham, what has happened to your face? No matter, you must come closer so I may kiss your cheek.” Mrs Bennet continued speaking as she herded the coupl
e into the house. “Now, you must not be upset, but your father and sisters will not be joining us. I have been most used most ill by my family. But I never complain. Now I have ordered a wonderful dinner for this evening—”
“What! What do you mean my father and sisters will not attend me? It is an outrage!” Lydia flounced to the drawing room, carelessly tossing her outerwear aside as she went. For his part, Wickham feigned ennui. He was grateful to have a new audience for his chatterbox wife, and contentedly trailed behind the ladies. He glanced around the room, hoping to find some of Mr Bennet’s port unguarded. Faced with disappointment, he wondered how soon he could reasonably go to Meryton and visit the tavern.
Mrs Bennet was trying to soothe her daughter. “I know, my pet. We have been badly used, and it is all Lizzy’s fault!”
“Lizzy? What has she to do with anything? Surely she is in disgrace after her behaviour in Brighton?”
Wickham made a noise as if to protest but could not be heard over the two women.
“And well she should be, but your father has been most high-handed in all of this. No one understands how I suffer.”
“Well, my father might well keep you locked up at home, but he can have no such influence on me! Do not fear, Mama. I shall make sure all of Meryton knows what she has done!”
“You may not speak of Brighton to anyone. If you cannot speak of our marriage without referencing Miss Bennet, then you had best remain here with your mother,” Wickham said.
“But, how can our marriage be celebrated if we cannot visit?” Lydia pleaded.
“You may visit as you please, however you may not speak of Brighton. I believe our patron would appreciate discretion in this. I would not like to lose our situation before we even arrive.”
Wickham was loath to defend Darcy, but the funds provided by his employment were essential to one day reuniting with his beloved Arabella. He would have to content himself with the knowledge that their plans were at least partially successful. He doubted Darcy would have anything to do with the Bennet girl in the future and took comfort in knowing he had forever altered their lives for the worse.
The trio passed a listless afternoon in Longbourn’s drawing room. Wickham dismissed the injuries to his face as the result of his work, and Lydia and Mrs Bennet competed for the place of most ill-used. There was no variation in the tone, topic, or activity of the room until Mr Bennet arrived shortly before the meal was served.
“Papa!” Lydia flew across the room to her father. “Mama said you would not come, but I knew that must be a falsehood for who but my father should wish me happiness? Have you seen my ring? But where are my sisters?”
Mr Bennet set his daughter apart from him. Wickham noted his new father acknowledged neither himself nor his daughter’s speech when he said, “I see you have arrived safely, Mrs Wickham.”
“But surely you will have a party for me? For then I might be congratulated by all my friends and neighbours.”
“We shall host nothing from this house. I see no reason to celebrate your infamous behaviour.” Mr Bennet was firm in his refusal.
“Oh, Mr Bennet, how can you speak so? For here our Lydia is returned to us married and perfectly respectable. Of course, you would chastise my darling girl. But you continue to defend Lizzy—”
Mr Bennet did not allow his wife to continue. “That will be all Mrs Bennet, unless you prefer to retire to your chamber for the evening.”
“Come, Mama, let us speak on other subjects. Tomorrow I shall visit all my friends and you may come if Papa will allow it, and if he will not, then I shall return and tell you all the news. Now, where are my sisters? For I do long to see Kitty and Jane and even dull Mary. They will be ever so jealous of me, for I have caught myself a handsome husband. Will there be an assembly while we are here? For if there is, then I might chaperone my sisters. Would that not be a fine joke for the youngest sister to chaperone her older ones?”
Mr Bennet put paid to her plans. “Your sisters intend to remain at Netherfield for the duration of your visit.”
“Well, that is not friendly of them. It is no matter, however, for I shall visit them wherever they may be.”
“You may certainly try, though I think you will be surprised when your efforts are in vain. If your sisters wished to see you, they would have remained at home.”
Lydia would not hear her father’s warnings. “Of course my sisters wish to see me. They have not seen me these many weeks and soon my dear Wickham and I shall be far away in Northumbria! I am sure I have no notion of when we might return.”
Mrs Bennet cried out with despair at the news. “Northumbria? You cannot go so far north! Why, I am certain the place is savage! Whoever heard of such a thing?”
Wickham decided he could no longer listen in silence. “It is a great distance, Mrs Bennet. But it must be done, for we have been abandoned by all our friends, and this is the best position we can hope for. I have no doubt we shall own the place soon enough, and then you may boast of your son and daughter who purchased an inn.”
“Oh, if only that terrible Mr Darcy had given you your due. But I suppose he is rich and may do as he pleases,” sniffed Mrs Bennet.
The rest of the Wickhams’ visit to Hertfordshire passed in relative peace. Mary and Kitty remained at Netherfield, and Mr Bennet kept careful watch over his guests. Wickham wondered whether his new father-in-law suspected he might steal the silver.
Wickham had first thought to spend his days in the tavern but quickly changed his plans on learning there was no credit to be extended to him. Thereafter, he had sulked about the estate and reluctantly accompanied his wife in calling on the neighbourhood.
Their reception was not all Lydia had hoped. Although no one was certain of the exact events in Brighton, it seemed everyone knew that Darcy had departed the neighbourhood in haste, Elizabeth had been retrieved by the Bingleys, and Lydia had been absent for weeks before she suddenly arrived on her husband’s arm. As they paid their calls, it was apparent to Wickham most of the town had decided on a story of their own and had no interest in hearing Lydia’s tale. The consensus was that Lydia, the wildest and most foolish of girls, had disgraced herself in Brighton and been forced to marry, and that Elizabeth had returned home before the rumours could include her. Wickham took comfort in the town’s belief that Darcy had abandoned the family rather than connect himself with such a scandal. Given all that was known and assumed to be true, the Wickhams were subjected to much tittle tattle, barely civil receptions, and many chilly glares. When the time came, it seemed only his wife and her mother were sorry to see the visit end.
“I had a letter from Darcy today,” Bingley said to his wife.
“Did you? Is he well? Does he say where he has been or why he has not returned?”
“He is well and has offered a reasonable explanation for his absence as well as his apologies.” Bingley opened the letter.
“But what has he been doing all this time?” Jane asked incredulously.
“It appears Darcy is the unsung hero in all of this. He tracked down Wickham and Lydia. He found them in Portsmouth, unmarried. He negotiated the marriage and the situation in Northumbria. He did it all.” Bingley shook his head.
“But why did he not reply to the express you sent if he planned to help all along?”
“He was not home the day it arrived, and he did not see it until his return from Portsmouth.”
“I do not understand. If he did not receive the express, then how did he know…any of this?”
“The day he left your father’s house for London, he changed his mind and went directly to Brighton instead.” Bingley relayed the story to his wife of Darcy’s change in plans and the subsequent events.
“So, we owe him the reputation of our family. Why would he not want to tell us? Surely, he must have known what comfort it would bring to all of us, especially Lizzy, to know he had not severed ties with our family.”
“He is so used to keeping his own counsel that I do not believ
e he ever considered that anyone might need to know what he was doing, and he would not want the family to feel indebted to him. He assumed we would all know that, whatever called him away, he would return and honour his commitments.”
“Foolish man.” Jane shook her head in reproof.
“I am inclined to forgive him.”
“Naturally, we shall forgive him. Does he have any words for Lizzy?”
“He asks that we say nothing to her. If we allow it, he will visit next week to speak to her in person.”
“Of course we shall allow it. But Charles, I do not think it wise to keep his visit a secret from my sister. Lizzy is unhappy, and knowing he wishes to see her might give her hope.”
“I am not certain of the idea either, but we shall honour his wishes in this,” Bingley said with finality. His wife gave him a disapproving look but ultimately agreed.
Two days later, Darcy received a reply from Bingley in the form of an invitation to Netherfield. Georgiana insisted on joining him. “Miss Bennet is my friend and, if you are to make her my sister, I insist on being of use. I shall inform them of our acceptance and impending arrival,” she said as she penned their reply.
Anne entered the room then. “Where shall you arrive?”
“Hertfordshire. We are going to see Miss Bennet,” Georgiana answered.
Anne’s face lit up. “Are you now? Then it seems our plans are already at work.”
“So it would seem. We received an invitation which we were most eager to accept.”
