Saving Jane

by Martin Hunnicutt

  ++**++

  Immediately upon her return to Grace Church Street, Elizabeth was drafted to help Emily with a rip in her small gown while Mrs. Gardiner and Nanny were dealing with the baby who was colicky.

  “Lizzy, my gown tore!” Emily cried and her older cousin immediately comforted her and then led the little girl into the parlour where she pulled out the mending basket. She solicited Emily’s help to match the thread to the material of the small garment.

  By the time Emily was engrossed watching Elizabeth thread the needle with blue thread, the tears were forgotten and the rip was soon repaired with Emily helping to pull the needle through some of the stitches.

  “We must always be careful with the needle Emily,” Elizabeth repeatedly told the child. “It sticks little girls just as easily as it sticks into cloth.”

  As she finished the mending and put the basket with needles and thread away, Elizabeth heard the front door open and the voices of her uncle and Mr. Darcy filled the foyer.

  “I must interview Elizabeth and advise my wife,” Uncle Gardiner said. “They must know of the contents of the letter.”

  Taking Emily by the hand, Elizabeth walked to the parlour door where her cousin shouted excitedly, “Papa! Papa!”

  The little girl slipped from Elizabeth’s grasp and hugged her father around the leg. Mr. Gardiner bent over and picked up his daughter to hug her.

  “Emily, where is your mother this afternoon?”

  “Momma is upstairs with Nanny and baby. Henry not feeling good.”

  Mr. Gardiner glanced at his niece who expanded upon her cousin’s explanation. “Henry is colicky this afternoon. Aunt Gardiner is seeing to him with Nanny’s assistance while Emily and I mended a tear in her gown.”

  “I believe my daughter takes after you Elizabeth with this tendency to scrape her knees and tear her dresses,” Mr. Gardiner told his niece. He turned to his guest and further embarrassed Elizabeth by telling of torn dresses and scuffed shoes as recently as the previous summer.

  “Of course Elizabeth was only trying to teach Edward how to climb the tree faster but they both ended up with dirty clothes and displeased Mammas.”

  Mr. Darcy smiled. “Just this past summer?”

  “It was a beautiful day and Edward was not...” Elizabeth refused to say more when she saw that Mr. Darcy was only grinning wider with each statement.

  “Allow me to bring my wife into the parlour,” Mr. Gardner told his guest. “Elizabeth, escort Mr. Darcy into the parlour.”

  “Yes, Uncle,” Elizabeth replied. As Uncle Gardiner carried Emily up the stairs, she guided the dark-haired man into the now familiar parlour.

  “Would you care for some tea Mr. Darcy? Or some port?”

  “A small glass of port would be much appreciated, Miss Bennet.”

  ++**++

  When Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner joined them in the parlour, only a few minutes had passed and the parlour door had remained open with the footman outside at the door.

  “Mrs. Gardiner, Elizabeth; I asked Mr. Darcy to come to the house and share the contents of this letter with all three of us at the same time. When he explained today’s events and their possible relationship to past events, I wanted you both to hear all and give me your impressions.”

  “What events, Mr. Gardiner?” asked Mrs. Gardiner quickly taking Elizabeth in hand and turning her around as though to inspect her niece for wear and tear.

  “Now, my dear,” Mr. Gardiner said, taking his wife’s hand. “Let us hear what the man has to tell us.”

  “Very well,” replied Mrs. Gardiner and Elizabeth remained silent and Darcy’s mouth was a thin line as he began speaking.

  “This morning upon arrival at Darcy House, a woman dressed in widow’s garb and veil, approached Miss Bennet on the street and gave her a letter to deliver to me along with a cryptic message that someone named ‘George’ was to be hung if I did not assist him.”

  Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner looked to Elizabeth who nodded in agreement with Mr. Darcy’s words. Then Mr. Darcy continued, “I spoke at length with my footman and coachman, Miss Bennet and my housekeeper and butler. I believe that the woman dressed as a widow was Mrs. Young, my sister’s former companion. She approached Miss Bennet and gave her a letter that is an attempt to solicit my aide for George Wickham who has been arrested for poisoning his wife.”

  “Poisoning his wife?” asked Elizabeth, shocked to hear such a charge made against any man.

  “According to the letter written by Mr. Wickham’s own hand, he married a widow – Dora Harris – who died a mere thirty days after the wedding. And a few days ago, according to the letter, he married Mrs. Young though I doubt there will be proof from any clergyman in London.”

  “Is this the same George Wickham from Derbyshire?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.

  Mr. Darcy nodded his head once. “Two months previous, I had heard of the death of a ‘Mrs. Wickham’ and the subsequent demand for an inquest by the woman’s cousin – a man who lived in Bath. I made a few inquiries and prepared to go to Bath to meet with the cousin but before I leave London, the man vanished. It seems that Mr. Wickham reappeared in London and eloped with Mrs. Young the day she deserted my sister in the park.”

  “Why would he come to you for aid now?” Mr. Gardiner asked.

  “According to the letter, he has been unjustly arrested and expects my assistance for the sake of my father’s memory.”

  “And will you aid him?” asked Mrs. Gardiner.

  Darcy shook his head and said, “I shall go to visit Wickham in Newgate Prison with a reputable witness to all things that are said between us but I will not assist him. My fervent hope is that the court hangs him the same day he is sentenced.”

  “I appreciate you sharing this information with us Mr. Darcy – for my wife’s sake if for no other reason – but why have you told us?”

  “Because the woman knew Miss Bennet by name,” he explained. “I believe one of the maids from my household is meeting and telling Mrs. Young of the activities within my household. I fear Mrs. Young was in league with Mr. Wickham when I brought her into my household and I have avoided some scheme that the man wanted to inflect upon me and my family.”

  “Does Mr. Wickham harbour resentments against you?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.

  Darcy sighed. “As I explained before, my father thought very highly of Mr. Wickham and intended a valuable family living to go to him. The rectory of Kympton is a Darcy endowment and the parish serves the village and surrounding farms. But I knew George was unsuitable to be the pastor of a church and certainly not one within my estate. After my father’s death five years ago, Wickham came to me for his inheritance – a thousand pounds from my father’s estate and we discussed the bequest of the living at Kympton. He expressed disinterest in taking orders – to my great relief – and suggested the sum of three thousand pounds in lieu of the living.”

  “Three thousand pounds?” asked Mrs. Gardiner. “None of the shopkeepers in Lambton profit more than three hundred a year!”

  Darcy nodded. “I was willing to pay Wickham four thousand to save the living at Kympton for a more deserving man – someone who would shepherd and guide his flock – not prey upon the young women. With my agreement for the requested sum, Wickham signed away all rights to the living in legal documents witnessed by a clergyman from Lambton and was compensated with a cheque for four thousand pounds.”

  Elizabeth was greatly affected that a disreputable man could be handed such a sum of money so easily.

  “Mr. Darcy, if you knew he was a wastrel, why would you give him a fortune from your estate?” she demanded to know. She realized that her uncle and aunt were disturbed that she would ask such a question in such a tone, but Mr. Darcy was not offended. He rose from the seat near her uncle to come and sit beside her on the sofa.

  “Miss Bennet, you have asked a very difficult question of me. May I explain?”

  She nodded but did not say anything else.

  “I know that many men ca
ll themselves ‘gentlemen’ without understanding what the word truly means. To me, the word means that I am bound to do what is right and follow the law. Too many gentlemen use their wealth and position to their personal benefit without regard to their family or tenants. When my father left the bequest to Wickham in his will, I was bound to honour his wishes.”

  “Had Mr. Wickham taken orders and been awarded the living at Kympton, the bishop and church would have dealt with him eventually but many innocent lives would have been damaged. With the payment of funds the law said were his, I was able to direct his attention in another direction. Believe me, I would never pay him such a sum on my own without great influence, but the bequest was my father’s wish and as his heir, I was bound to follow his wishes.”

  “I am sorry Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth apologized. “Since my father betrothed my sister to Mr. Collins, I have taken a new look at my own future. My father discounted my abilities to manage our estate because I have not increased the income in the last year though he would not allow me to make any improvements – he just spends the income as he sees fit. During my visit to London, my uncle has been discussing trade with me – if I was a man, I would be working in his warehouses today to make a fortune to save my sisters.”

  They sat in silence for a moment before Mr. Gardiner asked, “Mr. Darcy, you have only told us how you have helped Mr. Wickham. Why does the man bear resentment against you?”

  Darcy continued to stare at Elizabeth for a moment before turning his attention to Mr. Gardiner.

  “Three years ago, the living at Kympton became available when Mr. Berwick died and Wickham came to my home in London, demanding the living to fulfil my father’s will. He had not taken orders and had spent every guinea of the four thousand. I refused to grant him the living and when he became agitated, I had my footmen remove him from the house. Since that time he has told anyone who would listen to him that I stole a living from him and refused to honour my dead father.”

  Mrs. Gardiner was affected by Mr. Darcy’s story.

  “The very worst man in the whole of England!” she murmured wiping her eyes.

  “I hardly know what to think, sir.” Mr. Gardiner held his wife’s hand and glanced toward his niece who was staring at Mr. Darcy.

  The man glanced at Elizabeth. “He knows that Miss Bennet is my sister’s friend. I want to make certain she is not approached by Mrs. Young, Wickham or any other person unknown to you.”

  “Do you think she is in any danger?” asked Mrs. Gardiner. “My niece is as precious to me as if she were a child of my own.”

  Darcy lowered his head. “I shall provide three trustworthy footmen to secure your home Mrs. Gardiner and if you will allow Miss Bennet to continue to visit with my sister, I shall have two more footmen on the coach.”

  The Gardiners exchanged glances and Mr. Gardiner said, “We shall consider allowing Elizabeth to visit Miss Darcy in two or three days. Elizabeth’s opinion will be considered and I shall be interested in what you discover from your meeting with Wickham.”

  Mr. Gardiner stood, signalling the end of the meeting and Mr. Darcy rose, bowing first to Mrs. Gardiner and then turning to Elizabeth, he bowed deeply before following Mr. Gardiner to the door.

  ++**++

  The coachman carefully directed the team of horses through the crowded streets of London on the journey back to Darcy House. Inside the carriage, Fitzwilliam Darcy was silent and the maid remained still – the master was a frightening when he was angry.

  “Mrs. Jones spoke to you?” he asked the girl suddenly.

  She bobbed her head. “Yes sir, Mr. Darcy. She told me to keep my mouth shut when we get back to the house sir.”

  He nodded once. “Your good service will be remembered.”

  For the remainder of the trip, Agnes watched her employer and by the end of the ride, she had decided that he was lonely and not as terrifying as the other girls whispered.

  The man’s thoughts moved in two directions – concern for plots and schemes by Wickham and the fascination that was Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

  ‘Why has Wickham reappeared in my life now? I must speak to Mrs. Young and find out her part in his plan for there surely was some scheme that fell apart.’

  ‘I must not allow anything to happen to Miss Bennet. Georgiana has found a friend who likes her for herself, not her name and position. And I should like to know her better myself. I had no notion that such a woman could exist – not obsessed with my wealth and position.’

  ++**++

  The morning following a night of much tossing and turning about the bed, Elizabeth made no requests to set foot outside of the house. She did not venture close to the windows but kept herself above stairs with her cousins in the nursery for most of the morning. In the afternoon, she remained in her uncle’s study where she found a copy of Shakespeare’s sonnets.

  The book had been a gift from Mrs. Gardiner to her husband in the first year of their marriage and Elizabeth found the pages worn from much reading and turning of the leaves.

  “I carry that book with me when I travel, Lizzy,” her uncle told her when she asked to borrow it. “It helps me when I miss your aunt.”

  “I shall treat the book well and return it to you when we have completed our study,” she assured her uncle.

  Elizabeth made her way to her room where she wrote a letter to her friend.

  ++**++

  Dear Georgiana

  I have been much affected by yesterday’s events and your brother was most kind to bring me home last evening.

  My life has been much protected and persons such as Mr. Wickham and Mrs. Young have not been among my acquaintance. I am grateful for the friendship you offer and we must remain thus.

  This afternoon, my uncle has loaned me his copy of Shakespeare’s sonnets so when next we meet, we can begin our discussion of this work.

  Please thank your brother for his kind considerations.

  Your friend,

  Elizabeth Bennet

  ++**++

  Chapter 12.

  Mr. Darcy’s Visit to Prison

  Another day passed before Mr. Darcy made arrangements with the governor of Newgate Prison for an interview with George Wickham. On the arranged day, his coach left Darcy House early in the afternoon and joined a second of his carriages outside the old stone prison. Darcy stepped from his carriage in the company of his attorney and crossed to the second carriage where he opened the door and spoke for several minutes with the passengers. Then he entered the gaol with his attorney and the passengers of the other carriage following at some distance.

  Inside the building Darcy and his attorney met with the governor for a moment before the man led them deeper into his prison to a particular cell. Once there, the governor nodded to the jailer to open the door. The three men walked into the cell with two rough-looking guards in attendance.

  “Darcy! At last!” George Wickham cried. “I sent you word three days ago to come help me!”

  “I have been delayed Wickham,” Mr. Darcy replied as he looked about the cell; there was a cot, chamber pot and window with bars. Wickham also had blankets, a small table with scraps of food and drink in a pitcher – evidence that he had some funds on his person to pay the guards.

  “If you had delayed many more days, I would be dead. Have you arranged my release?”

  “We must speak on several matters before there are any arrangements,” Darcy stated. “It is always expensive to meet with you and this time, it is not a matter of debts to repay. Indeed, debtor’s prison would much more pleasant than your future prospects.”

  “It is all a misunderstanding,” Wickham insisted. “My wife died but her cousin is the culprit! The man was in Bath and he has disappeared!”

  “George, as I said, we must talk.”

  Darcy nodded to his attorney and the man pulled out several documents that appeared to be notes of conversations.

  “I want to know of your arrangements with Mrs. Young.”

  “What
do you mean?”

  “Why was Mrs. Young in my household as my sister’s companion?”

  George Wickham smiled. “It was an unforeseen happenstance. I had no contact with Mrs. Young for some time until this past summer when I happened upon her on the street and she divulged that you were her employer now.”

  Darcy examined the man closely; George was the consummate liar.

  “And you did not work with Mrs. Young to place her in my household with a scheme to approach my sister; to attempt to compromise my sister?”

  “I would never do such a thing. Miss Darcy is as dear to me as a sister!” Wickham protested but Darcy smirked.

  “George, what of your two sisters in Derbyshire? You stole their inheritance and left them penniless in Lambton when you took the coach to London with my cheque for four thousand pounds.”

  “I knew you would care for them, Darcy. You settle all my women for me,” George said.

  “Indeed I have cleaned up behind you each time you have ruined a woman,” Darcy agreed. “Now, what woman should I assist this time?”

  “My wife – Mrs. Edith Wickham will need help with a few minor bills – nothing more than two, three or four hundred.”

  “Mr. Wickham, in what church did you marry Mrs. Wickham?” asked the attorney. “I must have verification from the parson that you were married by special license or after the reading of the banns.”

  Wickham leaned back in his chair, “She’s a common law wife. Nothing licensed or registered.”

  “It requires seven years for such a marriage to be recognized,” the attorney replied. “And since your licensed wife died just three months previous, that nullifies any previous time spent with the lady and thus common law does not apply.”

  “Darcy, what game is this?” Wickham asked angrily. “There is no time for tricks and schemes! They plan to hang me in less than a week’s time!”

  “Wickham, everything you do is part of some scheme to lay hands on someone else’s fortune,” Darcy nodded to the governor who motioned for one of the guards to open the cell door. There two of Darcy’s footmen stood, holding a woman dressed in widow’s weeds with a veil over her face and a gag around her mouth. More importantly, the valise with the money from Rothschild’s Bank was in the free hand of one of the footmen.