One Autumn with Darcy

by Rose Fairbanks

“I am afraid Miss Lydia’s future life may not be very content.” Mr. Bennet simply nodded in defeat.

  Darcy was saddened to have to deliver any lady to the hands of such a man. Before exiting to take care of the matter with Wickham, Darcy took one long glance at Elizabeth. I can never deserve her now. My admiration has only brought her pain and my pride allowed a villain loose upon her family.

  Elizabeth had watched as Darcy marched around the room. Her admiration grew tenfold when she heard his fixation on settling the matter. That he could conceive the fault lay with him instead of Wickham, Miss Bingley or even Lydia, was proof again of his superior character. He is too just a gentleman to become brother to a man like Wickham.

  *****

  George Wickham lingered in the officers’ common areas certain Darcy would be searching him out soon. Events went even better than he had planned. He had not taken Miss Bingley and her jealousy into account in his plot. Her zealous desire to be Mrs. Darcy served Wickham quite well. The news of his supposed compromise of Lydia Bennet at the Assembly the previous night had travelled fast.

  As the time grew late Wickham grew uneasy as he had expected Darcy hours earlier. At last his eyes alighted on a familiar frame entering the room and he schooled his features into calm disinterest.

  “Wickham,” Darcy growled out to the man.

  “Darcy. What brings you here to this fine establishment?” Wickham returned.

  “You know exactly what brings me here.”

  “My, I cannot seem to recall the last time you took such an eager interest in my affairs. Hmm…oh yes, it was last summer and you had just come to visit your sister.”

  Wickham delighted in baiting Darcy but knew better than to attempt to publicly smear Georgiana’s name or admit to anything.

  Darcy reddened and he unconsciously clinched his fists. “Wickham, do not test my patience.”

  Wickham could not resist going further. “Have you come to bring me news on your sister? Or perhaps just one you had hoped to make your sister?”

  In Wickham’s most extreme dreams his latest plot against Darcy would both cause the man extreme misery, as he could not marry Miss Elizabeth due to the scandal, and would also prove to be a profitable endeavour for him.

  He realized this was unrealistic, the whole point of the marriage was to hush up the scandal, and happily settled upon the notion of marrying Miss Lydia for a sizeable sum. If the scandal was avoided then Darcy would marry Elizabeth, and Wickham was hopeful that he would be able to drain more from the Darcy coffers through a lifetime as brother to Darcy. It would also serve as quite a blow to his nemesis’s pride and result in a suitable amount of revenge.

  Darcy let out an uncharacteristic chuckle which alarmed Wickham greatly but the man was a true proficient at masking his thoughts. Darcy leaned forward and looked Wickham directly in the eye causing him to gulp and look away in uncertainty.

  “I know your game, Wickham and you failed. It is true I have a care for the Bennet reputation and I am here to facilitate a marriage between Miss Lydia and yourself. But you will not find it very profitable. You see, since this summer my cousin, you remember Colonel Fitzwilliam, correct?” Darcy paused and Wickham merely nodded with a flash of fear in his eyes.

  “Well, he has been reassigned to the war office in London and actually trained with Colonel Forster,” Wickham closed his eyes realizing that all of his plans had turned to dust but Darcy continued. “A commission as an ensign has been bought for you in the _______ Regiment. You are to report to Newcastle by the 27th and should know the regiment has orders to depart for Spain in the spring. You have seen the casualty rates, yes? You have no alternative and will not receive any financial inducement to marry Lydia. If you flee now then you shall be facing charges of desertion and my cousin will personally lead the chase.”

  Wickham paled as soon as Darcy mentioned Colonel Fitzwilliam, and as Darcy continued his narrative a bead of sweat began to inch down Wickham’s charming face.

  “What of Lydia? Surely the Bennets cannot wish for her to be a soldier’s wife and for her to remain friendless in the North. How shall I support her on an ensign’s pay? You would send your father’s godson to battle? What if there are children left behind after my death?”

  Darcy laughed again. “Miss Lydia shall stay at Longbourn. I shall settle some money on her, my solicitor is drawing up the documents for Mr. Bennet. It shall be in her name and for her discretion alone should you survive the war and she ever seek to join your household. For now, there will be no possibility for children by Miss Lydia.”

  He gave Wickham a hard look and Wickham entirely understood there would be no traditional wedding night. Darcy clearly did not desire any loose strings attached to Miss Lydia.

  Additionally left unsaid was the fact that Wickham had several children by his conquests that he did not provide for and many more he had no knowledge of at all. Darcy and Wickham both knew that Wickham’s interest in money to raise a family with was fabricated; his only interest was for himself.

  *****

  Darcy travelled to London to prepare Wickham’s marriage to Lydia. He returned to Hertfordshire only to ensure the ceremony itself took place. Bingley was courting Jane Bennet and called constantly on Longbourn. Visiting Hertfordshire would mean spending too many hours either at Longbourn, torturing himself with the presence of Elizabeth, or at Netherfield with only the Hursts for company. Bingley had sent Caroline to an aunt in Scarborough for her part in the scandal.

  Darcy could not bear to see Elizabeth. He once thought he would marry her but now he knew she deserved better. What type of honourable gentleman had he been?

  He knew what Wickham was! He dealt with Wickham many times over and yet he never considered the threat Wickham was to the greater public. To know that Wickham targeted Lydia Bennet because of Darcy’s rumoured esteem for Elizabeth broke him.

  In the past Wickham’s schemes always involved maligning Darcy’s name and reputation, but he firmly believed his character spoke for itself. Other than calling Wickham out, which was illegal and would jeopardize his family, Darcy had no recourse for Wickham’s slander.

  After the attempted elopement, Darcy desired to protect Georgiana’s reputation. There was little he could do about the matter without enlightening the whole world to the affair. Was his sister’s credit more important than that of innocent and respectable people everywhere? What of the tradesmen who offered Wickham credit? How many ladies were ruined at Wickham’s hand? How many families were destroyed and left grieving? Darcy had never considered it. He had cared only for his family name and anything that might taint that made the cost too high. He let a villain run free.

  Darcy had small hopes all of his efforts to ease Lydia’s pain at becoming Mrs. Wickham, in addition to time, would lessen his affront to Elizabeth but she would not meet his eye and was not encouraging during his visit to the area. They were not placed near each other during dinner or at the same card table later. Even while refilling his coffee Elizabeth remained resolutely silent and preferred the company of a gaggle of women to him. Darcy could not blame her in the least.

  Despite Mrs. Bennet’s best attempts, the wedding breakfast was a subdued affair. There was much subterfuge involved in the handling of escorting Wickham and Lydia to London where she would stay with the Gardiners while Wickham continued on to Newcastle. To Darcy, Elizabeth appeared even less receptive to his attention during the attempted celebration.

  When Darcy had met Elizabeth he realized quickly he was enchanted, bewitched even. On such a short acquaintance it was almost improper to ask for a courtship when he first intended, though his heart desired marriage even then.

  After he left Netherfield, rather than face her rejection, he had much time to give the situation more thought. The fact was, he fell in love with her that day in the park as she twirled little Michael Gardiner around, with her petticoat six inches deep in mud. Before she even spoke, her mannerisms said much of her character. Surely their conversation
s detailed more illumination of character than many couples face in months of courting in a drawing room.

  He thought back on Elizabeth’s words to Georgiana about love. If asked the day before the Assembly he would have declared there was nothing on earth to motivate him to face George Wickham again. And yet when the news of his plot against the Bennet family fell, Darcy barely gave any thought at all to dealing with the scoundrel just to give Elizabeth some form of peace.

  While he was not in a position to give constant friendship, his respect and esteem for her had remained the same even after the excitement of being in her presence, of being the recipient of her dazzling smiles, disappeared. It was love and not mere infatuation, Darcy was quite sure and his heart was utterly broken at the thought of living life without her.

  Georgiana saw her brother’s ill frame of mind. She attempted to persuade him to return to Hertfordshire and court Elizabeth but he refused to even speak with her about the matter. Darcy tried to hide it, but Georgiana easily saw that he felt guilty for Wickham’s actions and believed he was unworthy of Elizabeth’s esteem.

  Georgiana believed he had entirely mistaken Elizabeth’s character. She was too kind to blame Darcy for the situation and sensible enough to see that he was not responsible for the actions of Wickham or any others.

  After weeks of arguing with him, Georgiana took matters into her own hands with a timely letter to her cousin Anne. Not only was she certain Darcy and Elizabeth were a perfect match and in a fair way of being in love with one another, she was still determined to have Elizabeth as a sister.

  Chapter Seven

  Elizabeth had felt Darcy’s disapproving stare on her when he came to the dinner party before Lydia’s wedding. True, several weeks ago she had convinced herself that he admired her, was even humble enough to be interested in her when she had no lofty connections or dowry. Now she knew he was too honourable to stoop so low. Every just feeling must repel the thought of becoming related to Wickham, of attaching himself to a family now touched with scandal.

  Although Lydia did not actually engage in anything awful with Wickham, Elizabeth was not at all convinced her sister never would have if given the chance at a later date. What man of sense would bring such a stain to his family in exchange for her sharp words and wilful misunderstandings? She felt as though she could never speak to Darcy again.

  It was now six weeks since Lydia had married Wickham and Elizabeth had taken to solitary walks to Oakham Mount, even in the cold early December weather, so she could have the necessary peace required to imagine a life as Mrs. Darcy. It was not fine carriages and jewels of which she dreamed.

  For many weeks now she had comprehended that Darcy was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was a union that must have been to the advantage of both. But no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what connubial felicity really was due to the preceding marriage of Wickham and Lydia.

  Elizabeth was left only with bittersweet memories of a shortened acquaintance. Jane was recently engaged to Bingley and while Elizabeth rejoiced for her sister, she painfully realized that due to Bingley’s connection with Darcy she might be thrown into his path again. Pain seared her heart when she thought of witnessing him marry and have children. Unconsciously, tears began to fall on her face.

  She could not explain it at all. She had always been sensible and yet somehow she found herself in love with a gentleman she only knew for a matter of days. What started as a vague inclination and admiration for his intellect grew into a stout love.

  Recalling her words to Georgiana, which now seemed so long ago, she confessed her love for Darcy was not based at all on the excitement of his attention. She had not seen him in over a month, or heard a thing about him. She was certain she could not be further from his thoughts. With Darcy she had felt at leave to be her true self, a greater friendship she had never known. She felt cherished.

  Elizabeth had tried to stop her regard from growing. She knew he could never return it and even if he did matrimony would not follow. There were too many barriers between them and on such a short acquaintance. He owed his family name much more than she could ever bring, especially now. She loved him too much to ask that sacrifice of him. Sometimes it seemed the more she attempted to end her foolish fancy the more it grew.

  After a good cry alone on the peak, she resolved to think of it no more. Darcy was not to belong to her and there was nothing to be done for it. Melancholy and sadness would not change a thing. She was not some silly and ignorant girl to be so crossed in love to allow an acquaintance of mere days to affect her entire life.

  Upon her return to Longbourn she noticed a grand carriage in the lane. A tall and foreboding woman elegantly dressed, and who might have once been handsome, strutted angrily towards her.

  “You must be Elizabeth Bennet. They told me I could find out you outside as you scampered about the countryside like a wild hoyden!”

  Elizabeth was not in a mood at all to be so insulted by a stranger. “You have me at a disadvantage for you know my name but I have yet to learn yours.”

  “Such impertinence! I am Lady Catherine de Bourgh, of course! You must know I am not to be trifled with. A most alarming report reached me two days ago. I was told that your sister is to be most advantageously married and that you would soon be united with my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. I know it must be a falsehood and I insist at once upon having it universally contradicted. Has he, has my nephew, made you an offer of marriage?”

  “Did you not just declare it to be impossible? I wonder at you coming at all then.” Elizabeth recognized the lady’s name as her cousin’s patroness. Clearly the Lucases had written the Collinses and some speculation about Elizabeth and Darcy had been made.

  How dare they! They base this off of one well chaperoned carriage ride? The man stayed in the area for two days then left for weeks and returned only for my sister’s wedding.

  “You may have drawn him in with your arts and allurements. I am nearly the closest relation he has and am entitled to know all of his dearest concerns.”

  “You are certainly not entitled to know mine.”

  “I am not accustomed to being treated in this manner but I will tell you plainly. This match you desire cannot take place. Mr Darcy is engaged to my daughter.”

  Elizabeth felt a moment of discomfort at this information but recognized it was similar to what she was told by Wickham, who was entirely discredited. Her belief in Darcy’s honour, even if she had no reason to hope he would truly offer to marry her, prevailed.

  “If he is then you can have no reason to suppose he would make me an offer.”

  “The engagement is of a peculiar kind and has been arranged by their respective mothers since their infancy. Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends? To his tacit engagement with Miss de Bourgh?

  “Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy? Have you not heard me say that from his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin?”

  She testily replied. “Yes, and I had heard it before. But what is that to me? If there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to marry Miss de Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the marriage. Its completion depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make another choice? And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?”

  “Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest forbid it. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.”

  “These are heavy misfortunes but the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness that she could have no cause to repine.”

  Lady Catherine’s eyes bulged in rage. “If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you wer
e brought up.”

  “He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman’s daughter, so far we are equals.”

  The other woman sniffed. “True. You are a gentleman’s daughter. But who was your mother? Who are your aunts and uncles? I am not ignorant of their condition.”

  “If your nephew does not object to them they can be nothing to you.”

  Elizabeth’s companion seemed to have lost all patience and forthrightly demanded information. “Tell me once and for all, are you engaged to him?”

  And people call me impertinent! “I am not.” The woman heaved a great sigh.

  “And will you promise me to never enter into such an engagement?”

  “I will make no promise of the kind. You can have nothing further to say, I will consider this interview over, madam.”

  Elizabeth began walking back towards Longbourn but the lady called out after her. “I am no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister’s marriage. I know it all; that the young man’s marrying her was a patched-up business due to compromise, at the expense of your father and uncles. And is such a girl to be my nephew’s sister? Is her husband, is the son of his late father’s steward, to be his brother? Heaven and earth! Of what are you thinking? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?”

  Although incensed and insulted Elizabeth breathed a sigh of relief that Lady Catherine only knew the story explained publically about Lydia’s marriage, and that she and her informants did not know the truth of Darcy’s involvement.

  Not stopping for an instant she only called back, “You have insulted me in every possible method. I must beg to return to the house, but I will never bow to your whims.”

  “This is your final resolve! Very well. I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable; but, depend upon it, I will carry my point.”

  The woman talked on in such a manner until they reached her carriage. She turned to Elizabeth and declared, “I take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased.”