Fate and Consequences

by Linda Wells

  “It is just little things that he has said through the years, how he looked forward to running the estate his way, without so many family members about. He said he would be sure to marry off Maria and me to have plenty of room for his children …” She looked up at her mother. “It frightened me.”

  Lady Lucas sat up. “I will speak to your father about this. I will make sure that he stipulates in his will that John must take care of his unmarried sisters. Will that reassure you? I have a feeling though that your brother was not thinking clearly of the impact of his words when he spoke.”

  “Thank you, Mama. Should I go and speak to Eliza?”

  Her mother shook her head. “No, I think that on this subject, Lucas Lodge should remain silent.”

  “THANK YOU so much for asking me to come with you today, Elizabeth.” Georgiana said softly when they all sat down for breakfast. “I was not looking forward to another day with Miss Bingley.”

  “Is she rude to you?” Elizabeth asked with concern. Darcy, sitting on Elizabeth’s right leaned closer to listen.

  Georgiana glanced at Bingley then said in a low voice. “No, not exactly, but she seems to be less friendly now. I hope that I have done nothing to offend her, but I can not imagine what it would be.”

  Elizabeth glanced at William whose eyes had narrowed. “I am sure it is nothing that you have done, but rather something that your brother has done.” She smiled and felt William’s hand creep onto her lap and take hers.

  “What do you mean?” Georgiana looked at him and saw his smile.

  “I chose Elizabeth, Georgiana. Miss Bingley need not fall all over you anymore. This is a good thing, is it not? I believe that she has been keeping much to herself of late.”

  Bingley smiled at Georgiana then at Darcy. “Indeed she has. If I knew that the way to silence her was to take away her funds and her object of prey, I would have done it years ago!”

  “Object of prey!” Elizabeth smiled up at William and he squeezed her hand. “How did it feel to be hunted?”

  “I hated it. I am delighted to only belong to you now.” He raised her hand to his lips and bestowed a kiss.

  “AHEM!” Mr. Bennet cleared his throat. “Not at my dining table, please Mr. Darcy. I suspect the purpose of your frequent assignations with my daughter, but I have no wish to observe them.”

  Elizabeth and Darcy blushed. “Forgive me, sir.” She caught his eye and winked, and he bit his lip.

  Mr. Bennet watched them and shook his head, then turned to Bingley. “Well sir, I was surprised to have you join our little family party this morning. Tell me is there a purpose to this or can you not bear to be separated from your friend?”

  Bingley’s eyes grew wide and he looked to Darcy, who was suppressing a smile. He glanced over at Jane then swallowed. “Yes sir, I hoped to speak to you privately this morning on a matter of great importance.”

  Mr. Bennet’s brows rose. “Indeed?” He saw Jane blushing bright red. “Well, sir, I look forward to hearing you, and might I add, it is about time.”

  This time Darcy laughed, which drew the attention of the rest of the table. “Mr. Darcy, what brings on your levity?” Mrs. Bennet asked indulgently.

  He looked at the pleading eyes of his friend and relented. “I am merely delighted with your daughter’s good humour, Mrs. Bennet, and I look forward to spending my life listening to her.”

  Elizabeth tilted her head and grinned. “Is that so, sir? Well, I will have to be sure to entertain you daily.”

  “Ah Mr. Darcy, you are a good man to wish to take on my Lizzy.” Mr. Bennet smirked.

  He smiled. “Yes, I am.” Elizabeth pinched his leg and he jumped.

  Leaning down he whispered, “Miss Elizabeth, I will exact my retribution for your behaviour.”

  She stroked his leg where she had inflicted the pinch, and he closed his eyes. “Oh, yes sir, I am certain you will.” Darcy’s hand lay atop hers and their eyes met.

  “Ahem.” Mr. Bennet coughed.

  When the meal was finished, Bingley followed Mr. Bennet into his bookroom and the rest of the family had only just taken their seats in the sitting room when the pair returned. “I am pleased to announce that Mr. Bingley has asked my permission to openly court Jane, and I have granted it. I assume daughter that this pleases you?” Jane blushed and nodded her head and Bingley immediately claimed a seat next to her.

  Mrs. Bennet crowed. “Yes, yes, it is all going as I planned. Did I not say this summer that Mr. Bingley would wish for Jane?” She looked around the room, and noticed that nobody was paying her any attention.

  “Congratulations, Bingley!” Darcy shook his hand. “Jane, I am happy for you. I assure you that my friend is a good man.”

  She smiled. “I have no doubt of that at all, sir.” Bingley puffed up like a peacock, and the four friends laughed.

  “I am sorry that we will be leaving soon Mr. Bingley, so your time with Jane will be short today.”

  “No, Miss Elizabeth, I will gladly relinquish her for such a good purpose. I understand that you are to purchase your wedding clothes today?”

  “Yes, and I think that I am very fortunate to have Georgiana here to help me. She knows what a lady needs far better than I.” She squeezed her hand. “I am counting on you.”

  Georgiana’s face broke out in a wide smile and she looked at Darcy who was nodding his head. “Really? Oh, why thank you, Elizabeth!”

  Darcy caught Elizabeth’s eye and mouthed, “Thank you.”

  Elizabeth was pleased to realize that with William and Bingley also riding in the carriage, there would be no room to include Lydia and Kitty on the trip to the dressmaker. Her sisters’ complaints fell on deaf ears, as Mrs. Bennet was so delighted with the chance to ride in such a magnificent carriage, she chose not to listen to them. Instead she granted permission for them to visit Maria Lucas and they immediately left the house. The rest of the party was just readying to depart when Mrs. Philips arrived in a breathless flurry, and visibly balking at the sight of Darcy and narrowing her eyes at Georgiana, grabbed Mrs. Bennet and whispered urgently in her ear.

  Darcy looked at Elizabeth who shrugged and continued putting on her gloves. Mrs. Bennet turned to her with a red face. “Lizzy, you just go on to the dressmaker without me. I am sure that you will be fine.” Elizabeth stared at her mother then at Jane.

  “Are you sure, Mama? I know how you were looking forward to this.”

  “No, no, you go on. I have more important matters that require my attention. Really Lizzy, you are always thinking of yourself!” She pushed them along and closed the door behind them.

  The group stood in confusion on the porch. “What was that about?” Elizabeth asked Jane. “I am always thinking of myself?”

  Jane shrugged. “Perhaps Aunt Philips has some news.”

  “Gossip you mean. It must be something very exciting to keep Mama from shopping.”

  “I do not know, but Lizzy, are you not grateful?”

  The girls smiled at each other and Elizabeth slipped her arm onto William’s. “It seems we have been given a reprieve from lace and ribbons, let us escape while we can!” Darcy laughed and handed her up into the carriage, followed by Georgiana. Bingley reserved the honour of taking Jane’s hand for himself. The group was on their way for the short ride to Meryton. The coach received a great deal of attention as it rolled into town, and Elizabeth thought that it was due to the fine quality of the equipage, rather than who was inside. They arrived at the shop and Darcy jumped out to hand the ladies down. He whispered to Elizabeth and rejoined Bingley. The coach would take them to Netherfield and return to await the ladies.

  Inside of the shop, all went as expected, fabrics were chosen, and not one argument over lace was heard. Georgiana made quiet suggestions, and Jane helped Elizabeth choose patterns. The dressmaker seemed to hover more than usual, and seemed very interested in Georgiana, but once she realized how many gowns were being ordered, she was all business. After hours of endless choosing they fin
ally emerged to enter the coach. None of the ladies noticed that upon their exit from the shop, fingers were pointing and heads were coming together in consultation.

  “COLONEL! Welcome, it is an honour to see you again, sir!” Colonel Forster smiled and shook Richard’s hand with enthusiasm. “Have you grown tired of the gentleman’s life and crave the company of soldiers?”

  Richard looked about the large tent that served as the militia’s office and grinned. “Ah, the smell of camp, it stirs one to battle.” The two colonels laughed.

  “Well, let us hope that neither one of us sees it very soon, me in particular, if my militia is truly called to defend England then we are in trouble.”

  “I can not but agree, sir.” Richard lifted the glass of brandy that a lieutenant set in front of him before disappearing. “May your skirmishes be limited to feuds between farmers!” Colonel Forster laughed and lifted his own glass, “And may yours be eliminated by Napoleon’s permanent defeat!”

  Downing the drink, Richard set down the empty glass and leaned back comfortably. “Tell me sir, how do you like your group of volunteers?”

  Forster rolled his eyes. “We make due with what we are given, a few are here as a career, the rest are simply here for an obligation. There is not a great deal to do. We require a bit of training everyday, just to keep the order and remind the men why they are here, but well, as I told you before, I try to keep the men busy during the day.”

  Richard nodded. “I understand; there is not really a great deal for the regulars at this time either.” He sat up and decided to come to his point. “Sir, I have become aware that you have a lieutenant in your militia who is of very questionable character.”

  “I daresay I have a great many of that description, sir. Is there one in particular to whom you refer?”

  He sighed. “Indeed, Wickham, George Wickham.” Richard watched as the colonel thought.

  “Ah, yes, Wickham, joined up about a month or so ago, when we were still in Brighton.” He frowned. “What is his offence?”

  “He makes a habit of running up large debts of honour, as well as leaving behind debts with local merchants.”

  “Ah, one of those.” He ran his hand through his hair. “And my superiors wonder why the coming of a militia into town is not met with open arms.” He returned his gaze to Richard. “I have a feeling though that there is more to it than debts?”

  Richard laughed harshly and stood. “Yes sir, there is.” He stepped to the entrance of the tent and looked out, then returned. He bent near Forster. “You met my cousin Darcy; Wickham enjoys claiming that my cousin cheated him of an inheritance from his father, a living. He does not tell the additional facts that he actually refused the living and accepted a generous compensation for it. He prefers to play on the sympathies of the populace.” Richard tilted his head. “Have you heard this story told? My cousin had it repeated to him recently, so Wickham is certainly at work spreading it about.”

  Forster shook his head. “No, I have heard nothing of it … let me call in some of the men, they are more likely to hear such things than I.” The colonel called for several men to be found and brought in. While they waited he watched Richard. “Sir, what else?” He asked quietly.

  “This is between officers.” Forster rose and shook his hand.

  “Wickham attempted an elopement with an innocent this summer, and was stopped before reaching Scotland.”

  Forster’s eyes narrowed, and he became angry. “Scum! I will not have him in my militia! Do you have sure knowledge of this?”

  Richard nodded grimly. “Yes, I was witness to his dissuasion.” He flexed his fist in the memory and Forster watched him with understanding.

  Three men arrived in the tent. “Denny, Marks, Jones, you are friends of Wickham are you not?” Forster demanded.

  “Yes sir!” The three replied, and then shot glances at each other.

  “Has he been telling tales of how he was cheated of an inheritance?” They all nodded. “Has he been successful at the gaming tables?”

  Marks snorted than straightened. “Sorry sir, he was caught cheating once so we all watch him now. Since then he’s been losing badly. He has quite a fair number of accounts to settle when the pay comes around.”

  Forster looked to the other men. “And what of in town? How is he with the merchants?”

  Denny’s brows furrowed. “Well we have not been here all that long, sir, I could not say. I think he owed some in Brighton, but I’m sure he cleared that up before we left.”

  Richard spoke for the first time. “And the ladies, how does he treat them?”

  Denny again spoke. “He likes them, enjoys the maids in the taverns, and he’s kind of sweet on the Bennet girl, Miss Lydia. I went with him to pay a call on her other sister, Miss Kitty a few days ago.”

  Forster saw the fire brewing in Richard’s eyes. “Very well then, you are dismissed.” They glanced at each other and quickly departed. Forster sighed and sat down. “It seems that your claims are correct. I will have to speak to him personally, of course, and check with the merchants in Meryton and Brighton, but I would say that it seems that Mr. Wickham does not belong in my militia.”

  “Good, I am glad that you see that, he would only become a black mark on your record.”

  Fixing him with a penetrating stare, Forster asked, “Was it your family that he hurt?” Richard returned the stare and nodded. “Too many times.” He bowed and left the tent. Forster called his lieutenant in to give orders that Wickham be sent to him as soon as he returned to camp. In the meantime, he would write to officers still stationed in Brighton.

  “OH MR. BENNET!!” Mrs. Bennet had no sooner seen her sister out the door than she was inside of the bookroom and had slammed the door shut.

  “What on earth is the matter?” He had been attempting to ignore the caterwauling from his wife’s sitting room, located just above his head and rejoiced when it stopped, only to be startled from his book.

  “Mr. Bennet! My sister has just brought me the most horrible news! Mr. Darcy, the very man who has plans to marry our Lizzy, Mr. Darcy is a cad, a rake, a man of disrepute, and oh, Mr. Bennet, a horrible violent man! I will not have my daughter go to a man who will beat her! No! I can overlook many vices to have my daughters settled, but violence, no! You must end this engagement immediately!”

  “WOMAN!” Mr. Bennet roared, and instantly Mrs. Bennet’s tirade stopped and she stood before his desk, twisting her handkerchief in agitation. “What foolishness has your sister told you?”

  Mrs. Bennet proceeded to expound on the litany of accusations against Darcy and Georgiana, from the cheated inheritance, to the elopement, to his amorous encounters, and finally, dramatically, to the regular beatings he delivered upon his sister in anger for ruining their name. Mr. Bennet closed his eyes, and listened; when Mrs. Bennet finally quieted he looked to his agitated wife, who was now fanning herself energetically. “Mrs. Bennet. It is fortunate for us that I am in possession of the facts of this case. I assure you that Mr. Darcy is none of those things that you describe. He is a good man, and Lizzy is fortunate to have found him.”

  “Do not be ridiculous Mr. Bennet! His sister is ruined, absolutely!”

  Mr. Bennet nodded. “I do not dispute that fact. Miss Darcy did attempt an elopement this summer; she is ruined in the eyes of society. There is no hiding from that. However the details that you describe are grossly incorrect. Mr. Darcy did not shoot the man; in fact he was in this very house, only days ago.”

  “Here?” She stared at him in shock.

  “Yes, Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Wickham, the soldier you so favoured for our Lydia is the man who was supposedly cheated of his bequest, and also attempted to elope with Miss Darcy. As you see he is very much alive. Also, for this reason he will never be allowed in this house again, and I will forbid any daughters of mine to ever speak to him.”

  “But … but what of the child?” She whispered, clutching her breast. “Mr. Darcy beat his sister!”

  M
r. Bennet stood. “No, there was no child. Mr. Darcy found them before she could be harmed by Mr. Wickham. Where did your sister hear this news?”

  “In town yesterday afternoon, all of Meryton must know by now! Why did I not hear any of this at church?”

  Mr. Bennet studied her. “I imagine it was because you were entirely occupied in telling Lady Lucas of Lizzy’s fortune in securing Mr. Darcy. I believe that you held her attention exclusively the entire time, and then we left the church before you could expound to any others.” He looked out the window, and saw a curricle pulling in and sighed. “It seems our cousin has arrived, Mrs. Bennet.” He turned to her. “Not a word of this is to be spoken. I will not tolerate it. Mr. Darcy is a good man, no matter what the gossips may say. I can only wonder what started the talk.” He bent down and put his arms on the chair where she sat. “You are aware Mrs. Bennet, of the effect of scandal on a family; it is in your best interest to keep this to yourself. I will not have my daughters suffer as my sister did. Do I make myself clear?”

  Mrs. Bennet nodded and sniffed. “Yes, Mr. Bennet. If you are satisfied, then I am sure that Mr. Darcy is a fine man. But will his sister’s ruin hurt our girls?”

  He straightened up and sighed. “I do not believe so. Mr. Bingley certainly knows of it, and he wants our Jane, so I am not in fear of the other girls losing opportunities.” He took her hand and helped her to her feet. “Now, wipe your eyes, and let us greet our guest. Perhaps he may be interested in one, and we will only have two left to worry over.” Mrs Bennet’s eyes brightened at the prospect and they exited the room to meet the effusions of Mr. Collins.

  JOHN SAT IN the tap room at the Meryton inn, listening to the buzz of conversation around him. Various friends came up to talk, and the only subject of interest seemed to be Eliza and how terrible it was that she would be tied to Mr. Darcy. Others talked of the sister, seen only at church and during the one dinner at Lucas Lodge. The talk of her was terrible, and the people seemed to relish it. John felt ill. He wanted to get Elizabeth safely away from Darcy, not to further disparage a young girl. He thought of his young sister Maria, and knew that she would never recover from hearing the words that were being thrown around about Miss Darcy. He was horrified to realize that Wickham had obviously taken matters into his own hands. John had not spoken a word about Darcy since meeting Wickham on Sunday morning. He waived off some more acquaintances and stared down into his empty tankard, things were spiralling out of control.