He was paid half of an agreed sum before setting about his allurement; it is thought to have been a substantial amount.That Lydia’s and our respectability was salvaged by their marriage infuriated Wickham’s employer and he was denied any further recompense.That he has revealed so much to Lydia is astonishing, but I can only conclude from what she says that he spoke of it in a further attempt to insult her. I do not know what to think, Lizzy, are we to be glad that our Uncle Gardiner sacrificed so much to pay for their wedding?
I wonder if it would not have been better to suffer the scandal, for now she is bound in a most miserable marriage.They suffer most dreadfully in cheap accommodation; it seems thatWickham’s predilection for gambling has not faded. I do not have the details of how much money he received for the job of polluting Lydia’s name, but whatever this fortune was, it is spent, likewise there is little to be said for the money our uncle provided.Wickham has replaced all his old debts with new ones. He is fond of the inn, not just for the liquor but the young girl with whom he betrayed our sister is employed in such an establishment.
I am ashamed to think of our own opulent style of existing now I am familiar with the destitution our sister endured. But what to do? We must be grateful that Lydia makes friends with ease, she was able to borrow the total fare to Longbourn from several of the officers’ wives, I shall, of course, deal with their reimbursement as soon as Lydia is well enough to give particulars. Have you ever known such distress, Lizzy? I am all anxiety about whose hand guided Wickham, but I am not to be taken up with it.There are more pressing matters that need attention; Lydia says she is a good way into her first confinement, that soon it will not be hid.The comfort is that as time goes on we may explain Lydia’s return to Longbourn with the idea that she rests here until the child comes.
I fear that she may not see her husband again and, as for the mystery of all his conduct, we may never uncover the truth. I must tell you I have withheld some details from our parents, so they concern themselves only with her health and assuring her that things can be resolved. I have not told them of the apparent corruption that lies at the root of this and have urged Lydia not to reveal it. I now have the distressing responsibility of speaking to Charles when I return to Netherfield tomorrow, you will not trouble yourself over this, you know he is discreet.
I deeply regret being the one to bring you this sad news when you are not so near as to be able to satisfy yourself of events but be assured I will write again.
I leave you now my dear sister. God Bless You.
Jane
Jane adhered to her vow of secrecy on the matter of Wickham’s revelation and tried to assure herself that Lydia could be silenced. Situations that depend so much on secrecy cannot be lightly borne and although Lydia’s loose tongue lay quiet in her mouth, it represented a risk that Jane was all too aware of. Even with the most distressing aspects of the matter withheld, Mrs. Bennet’s agitation was as if she had known them.
Longbourn had not seen a full quota of hysteria since the three married sisters had left, for Mrs. Bennet, although always able to rise to the occasion with a bout of the nerves, never performed so well without an audience.With just Mr. Bennet, Kitty, and the handful of servants for spectators, her attacks had lately taken on a more melancholic note which usually resulted in her retiring to bed early with an ill head. Lydia’s predicament gave Mrs. Bennet the happy opportunity to give way entirely to the palpitations whenever she saw fit.
Mr. Bennet reverted to his old custom of retreating to his library for hours on end. For what better way is there to obscure the evils of the world from unwilling eyes than to place a book in front of them? Little could tear him from his solitude apart from the increasingly frequent visits from Mr. Collins who seemed hungry to discover every detail of the scandals surrounding Lydia.
The girl herself improved slowly through rest and regained her voracious appetite quite rapidly but was still prone to tearful hours for, despite her husband’s cruel claims that no love existed between them, she fancied that she was nursing a broken heart and feared it would not mend. Mrs. Collins, whose practical nature prevailed above all else, called daily from Lucas Lodge to inquire about Lydia’s well-being. Her interest and concern were genuine, she seemed not to seek out the disgrace of the matter but merely offered the hand of friendship in case it should need to be grasped. Her husband’s philanthropy remained as transparent as ever and this did not go unnoticed by his wife.
Kitty tried her best to cheer Lydia’s spirits but found that talk of fashions and dances and officers no longer held any appeal for her unfortunate sister. It was as if the girl had grown old long before her time and was taking Kitty with her, never before were there two young girls less youthful. Mary, who had never seemed young, learned of Lydia’s traumas in a letter from Mr. Collins. She did not write to Longbourn, but replied directly to Mr. Collins quoting what she deemed some suitable bible excerpts. Jane came often to Longbourn but could not rest there or at Netherfield until she knew that Lizzy had her letter and its sad content.
A week passed before Elizabeth had the news of Lydia. It could hardly be believed, were it not true, that the arrival of two letters on the same day could be the cause of so much that is troublesome and wearying. But it was so, and on the morning that Elizabeth received Jane’s correspondence, Mr. Darcy received a letter from his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. While Elizabeth’s letter brought bad news Darcy’s was, if not a profusion of glad tidings, something a little more promising. There was, at least, no discernable sign of Lady Catherine’s famed resentment. She had consented that a reconciliation should take place and Darcy was relieved to hear of it. Discord of any sort troubled him, he was not a man who found it easy to put things to the back of his mind and his aunt’s absence from his life had been worrying him. After reading his letter he looked at his wife who was engaged in re-reading hers.
She noted his stare and handed the letter to him, he took it and before examination of it said firmly,“I need not ask the theme of this, your frown tells me it is troubling news, Elizabeth.” She said nothing. When he had read the letter from Jane and considered its contents he stood up and paced about the room, his breath quickening. “Damn Wickham, I will not have him cast his curses over us anymore, I have done all in my power to rid Pemberley of his influence.”
Elizabeth was shocked by this outburst. “Pemberley is rid of him and let us hope Lydia will be also, I fear the shame of abandonment will be preferable to a reunion.”
Darcy could do no more than sigh for a moment, then he went on,“The mention of his name is like a poison to me.What of these further scandalous dealings, who can make sense of them?”
“I would imagine only Wickham himself, and this supposed conspirator of his could be prevailed upon to provide clarity but, as we are unlikely to have the opportunity of an address with either, it seems we are to be unfamiliar with all the facts.” Elizabeth was near to tears.“What to do? I dare not consider traveling too long or too far in my condition, my heart tells me to go to Longbourn where I could be of some use, but I know I must not go.”
“I would not have it, I cannot have you fatigued, Elizabeth, they must do without you.”
With sadness, Elizabeth acknowledged this to be true. “I know it must be so, but how do I explain myself? This is no time for us to reveal our happy news.” She thought for a while on the irony.“No indeed, how could I speak of my lucky situation when Lydia’s so contrasts it, it would not do.”
“You are all sweetness,” said Darcy, picking up his aunt’s letter from the breakfast table, “so sweet that even Lady Catherine may eventually succumb to you.”
Elizabeth tried a smile.“She has condescended to visit?”
“A fortnight today, she does not say for how long.”
“She will no doubt stay long enough to check my progress,” said Elizabeth wearily. “If I could only be in better spirits, I shall impress no one with my gloom, nor melt any hearts.”
“Only
mine,” said Darcy.
The two passed the morning writing in the drawing room. Mr. Darcy drafted a letter to his aunt confirming the arrangements for her visit and Elizabeth sent a letter to Longbourn.
Lady Catherine was due to arrive on the eleventh day of April.
CHAPTER 10
“But can you think that Lydia is so lost to everything but love of him?”
Keeping Lydia’s predicament hushed was not so easy a task. All at Lucas Lodge were aware of her return to Hertfordshire but not the reason for it, thankfully. Everyone at Longbourn, even Mrs. Bennet, thought better of informing Mr. Collins of the limited particulars known.
A small measure of speculative talk began to circulate around Meryton and there was gossip amongst the servants at Netherfield. News of Lydia’s unexpected homecoming had reached Rosings Park through Mary, but little was said of it there. Only once did Lady Catherine allude to the situation. “Such antics come as no surprise to me, a union that begins in an elopement must be doomed from the start. A man’s propensity to rush into marriage must also be balanced by an equal tendency to rush out of it.”
A week passed quickly at Longbourn, Netherfield, and Pemberley. At the latter, preparations for Lady Catherine’s arrival were in progress, but before she was to get there another letter arrived from Rosings; Anne and her loyal companion Mary were also to join Lady Catherine. She wrote with regret that Mrs. Jenkinson would not be amongst the party and would remain at Rosings Park until their return.
“It is so curious to hear of Mary as if she were a stranger to me,” said Lizzy thoughtfully. “Loyal companion! I wonder Lady Catherine could not refer to her as my sister, it makes Mary seem so remote.”
Darcy agreed but was distracted. Elizabeth went on,“Oh well, I look forward as best I can to seeing Mary, but I do not relish the idea of her moralizing, she had better save that for Anne. Poor Anne, how is she of late? I imagine Lady Catherine will have instructions for her care, I should like to see that everything is as it should be.”
“Yes of course, every detail will be attended to regarding my cousin’s health,” said Darcy, but this verification did little to ease Elizabeth’s disquiet. The dreaded scrutiny, the very idea of being closely observed by Lady Catherine set her mind to imagine, in that instant, at least ten of a thousand possible mistakes she was likely to make. But she was quick to remind herself, There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me.
At Longbourn Mrs. Bennet tired of Lydia’s slow progress and became increasingly aware of the idle talk that went on in the village. It was becoming a most unsatisfying drama for her.
“I wonder at people, Mr. Bennet, that they have nothing to concern themselves with but meddlesome talk of other people’s business,” she said one day at dinner.“I should be ashamed to have such an unvaried life that my only pleasures were malicious talk and gossip.”
“Ah well, Mrs. Bennet,” said Mr. Bennet, “not all are so gifted in their ability to rise above the temptations of tittle-tattle as you, my dear.”
“No indeed,” said Mrs. Bennet firmly, adding, “Lizzy keeps herself out of the commotion, I wonder she could not take the time to visit and help out. She knows all the strain falls on me in these difficult times. What of my poor nerves? She makes no mention of them in her letter and she knows well enough my condition. No, she is to stay at Pemberley and that is that. Of course, I knew this would happen, she has no time at all for her own dear family, I daresay because she fancies herself quite high now. I hear from Mary that she is to accompany Anne de Bourgh and Lady Catherine to Pemberley in less than a week, so there is your explanation, Mr. Bennet; Mrs. Darcy, as she is lately known, is too busy planning enjoyment, I have no doubt she congratulates herself on escaping the burdens that we now bear alone.”
The husband, weary of his wife’s espousing said, “I sought no explanation, Mrs. Bennet, I can see no benefit in Lizzy’s returning here. Lydia has enough attention at present and dare I say, the less she has of it the better. A greater audience may encourage her to prolong the performance.”
“Performance!” cried Mrs. Bennet, “And where would she get these dramatic tendencies? I sometimes wonder at you.”
Kitty, who had been sitting wearing a sullen expression for the best part of the day, began to cry.
“It is not fair, now Mary is to go to Pemberley. Mary! Of all people. And I shall be stuck here with Lydia feeling sorry for herself.”
Mrs. Bennet glared at her husband. “There you see,” she said bitterly,“that is exactly what I mean.That is the result of Elizabeth’s selfish attitude for you.”
Mr. Bennet, who bore criticism of his little Lizzy with reluctance, retired to his library with the intention of staying there as long as possible.
CHAPTER 11
“Do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.”
At Pemberley the day of Lady Catherine’s arrival came. Every kind of instruction regarding poor Anne’s health had been adhered to on her ladyship’s insistence. Mrs. Reynolds had undertaken to ensure that all particular kinds of medicinal remedies were at hand, and sterile sheets were to be hung at the windows in Anne’s room.
“I have all the best herbals from the apothecary, ma’am,” said the housekeeper to Elizabeth that morning. “The master tells me that Lady Catherine has expressed that the young lady’s bedchamber be ‘just so’ for her arrival, she does not travel well I understand.”
“I believe not, Mrs. Reynolds.Thank you. Do you know Anne de Bourgh well?”
“Not so well as I know the master and Miss Georgiana, ma’am, she did come here on and off as a younger child, when her health permitted, but I saw less of her than I did of Colonel Fitzwilliam and his brothers.”
Elizabeth smiled, she had not seen Colonel Fitzwilliam since her marriage but apart from that it had been a year almost to the day since she had become better acquainted with him at Rosings. “I am fond of Colonel Fitzwilliam, I welcomed his company when I last really had the chance of it, he has a pleasing manner.” She felt herself blush and hoped her color went unnoticed by Mrs. Reynolds, for her embarrassment had been caused by the sudden recollection that she had once viewed the Colonel in a light more generally cast upon lovers than upon friends. Ever since her husband’s revelation that his cousin’s regard for her was notable, she had contemplated the situation with mild discomposure.
The housekeeper smiled fondly. “Oh yes, Mrs. Darcy, ma’am, Colonel Fitzwilliam is a good man, a very good man.” Checking the mantle clock she said,“I shall never be ready if I stand idle like this.”
Elizabeth thanked Mrs. Reynolds again and tried to steady her spirits in anticipation of Lady Catherine’s arrival.
By four in the afternoon a grand carriage drew to a halt outside Pemberley and it was with great ceremony that Lady Catherine and Anne were greeted, Elizabeth left her husband to welcome his aunt and cousin but she watched from a window—far better, thought she, to delay. Her sister Mary stayed close to Anne de Bourgh at all times and had about her the appearance of a subservient mouse.
“Oh my goodness, abasement suits Mary very well!” observed Elizabeth aloud.
There was a great commotion about the unpacking of clothes and the airing of rooms. Lady Catherine’s exacting tones reverberated through the house and when all her orders had been adhered to, she consented to take some tea with her nephew and his wife. She had informed Mrs. Reynolds that her daughter should take some bed rest before dinner and that Mary should sit by her and read should Anne request it and be silent if she should not. Elizabeth had no chance of seeing her sister.
Georgiana had the opportunity of accompanying Caroline Bingley to a recital, a distraction which she welcomed, for her Aunt Catherine had always rather frightened her, so she was content to delay seeing her again
.
Darcy and Elizabeth sat opposite Lady Catherine who scrutinized the room as if hoping to seek out some detailed change for the worse in its furnishings or atmosphere that Elizabeth might be blamed for. She sat quietly for a while but let her piercing stare engage the couple. Eventually she addressed Elizabeth, making no attempt to soften her tone.“Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” she said,“you are very lucky that my excellent sister had all these rooms so well furnished, are you not?”
“Yes ma’am,” Elizabeth said.
“Yes,” said Lady Catherine, nodding thoughtfully. “I cannot imagine that you would have found the task an easy one had you been faced with it.”
Darcy was quick to reproach his aunt.“My wife rises readily to any challenge.”
Lady Catherine sneered at Elizabeth.“Before we go any further,” she warned,“let me just say this, your sister’s appointment with me and my family in no way gives you license to assume inappropriate familiarity, I would like to make that quite clear.”
Mr. Darcy's Decision: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Page 8
