Darcy in Want of a Wife

Chapter 4

The Gardiners’ House

Gracechurch Street

Cheapside

Two days later

“Charles!” Jane cried out as her fiancé entered the small entry room of the Gardiners’ house, bringing cold air in with him.

“Jane,” he replied, drawing her closer and planting a hasty kiss on her rosy lips. “How I have missed you!”

It had only been two days since Charles Bingley had left for Hertfordshire, but for Jane, it had been like a dream. She had woken up both yesterday and this morning wondering if she had imagined it all, whether the man she loved had returned and proposed, whether she was truly engaged to be married.

Now her beloved was back, and she relished the quick feeling of his lips on hers. She separated with some regret and tightened her hands on his, smiling up into his face. “I missed you as well, Charles.”

At this moment, her eyes caught the sight of her favorite sister, Elizabeth, who was standing to one side, her eyes dancing.

“Lizzy!” Jane gave her lover’s hands a final squeeze before she released him and ran to greet her sister. Elizabeth laughed as she was pulled into a warm embrace, which she returned with fervor.

“I am so happy for you,” she whispered into Jane’s ear before pulling back. Jane echoed her wide smile, but before she could respond, her attention was captured by a familiar face.

Sophia Cooper stood beside the door, her gaze flitting about in a nervous manner. Jane’s smile wavered slightly, and Elizabeth followed her stare.

“Oh,” she said. “Sophia is serving as my maid, as the Longbourn maids were otherwise occupied.”

Jane nodded, as that was a plausible explanation, but she knew her sister well enough to know that something else was at play. She was confident that Elizabeth would tell her the truth when she needed to know.

“Shall we go into the drawing room and warm up?” Jane suggested.

Charles smiled and offered his right arm to Jane and his left to Elizabeth, and the three of them made their way to the drawing room while a servant collected Sophia and took her to the servants’ quarters.

Mrs. Gardiner, who had been speaking with her cook, joined them as they seated themselves near the fire. Charles and Elizabeth were visibly chilled by their exposure to the London cold, and Jane could tell they were thankful for the warmth.

“Mr. Bingley, I take it you do not wish to wait long to wed my niece?” Mrs. Gardiner asked.

“Certainly not,” the gentleman replied, his gaze fixed lovingly on his fiancée’s sweet face. “Even now my solicitor is preparing the marriage settlements, and I will be purchasing a common license as soon as is convenient.”

“Excellent.” Mrs. Gardiner gave them both a warm smile. “Will you be married here in Town?”

“Oh, surely Mamma will not approve of that,” Jane said with a sigh. “She has always declared that we girls must be wed in Meryton.”

“My dear Jane, our mother is beside herself with joy at the news of your engagement,” Elizabeth replied. “As long as you married, she will not care much where the ceremony takes place, although I am certain she would prefer Hertfordshire to Town. Mamma is anxious about your wedding attire, of course. She insists that you have a proper dress for the wedding. I do not think it is of vital importance, but perhaps Aunt Gardiner’s dressmaker could be enticed to assemble something in time for the wedding?”

“If you wish it, Jane, I will pay for the most expensive gown in all of London,” Charles declared expansively. “But you will have to hurry, for I wish to wed you within the fortnight.”

Jane’s cheeks grew warm at the passion in his gaze, and she looked at her aunt and asked, “Is that possible, do you think? To marry so quickly?”

“Father called on Mr. Allen last night,” Elizabeth said, “and Mr. Allen has declared he will oversee the ceremony whenever you wish at the church in Meryton.”

“Oh, wonderful,” Jane breathed. Her heart was racing in her chest at the rapidity with which this had all taken place. Three days ago, she had been lonely and heartbroken, and now she was engaged to be married in a week!

Elizabeth could not help but beam at the delight on her sister’s face. She had never seen Jane so happy in her life, and she thought Bingley to be a fine and deserving subject of her sister’s affections.

She was reminded briefly of Wickham, but she shook the thoughts away. This was a time for joy and celebration, not to dwell on that cunning man and his lies. While Jane prepared for her wedding, Elizabeth would speak to her aunt about Sophia.

/

Darcy House

Evening

Darcy sat in the high-backed mahogany chair in his office, his gaze drifting idly over the stacks of letters that lay on his desk. As the master of a great estate, he had a tremendous number of duties that required his attention, and he prided himself for the efficiency and financial acumen with which he addressed them. Today, however, he was finding it difficult to focus on the task at hand.

The situation with Bingley was one that still grieved and vexed him greatly. Darcy now knew that he had been a fool to interfere with his good friend’s love life. By not allowing Bingley to make his own decisions, Darcy had torn a great divide between him and his most treasured friend. He prayed and hoped that one day he would be allowed to mend the breach between them.

Darcy eyed the papers on his desk, arranged in neat piles based on subject and importance. Perhaps he should write to Bingley? He certainly owed his friend an apology. But did Bingley even want to hear from him at all? He was presumably deeply engaged in wedding preparation and marriage settlements; would a letter of apology merely be annoying and irritating? As Darcy mused over the upcoming marriage, his mind drifted once again to Miss Bennet’s sister, Miss Elizabeth. Ever since he had received Bingley’s letter, Darcy’s thoughts had fixed on the second Miss Bennet with renewed ferocity. He could not help but think of her fine eyes, her pleasing figure, and her soft lips that turned at the corners when she debated him so cleverly. If only she were not connected with trade!

Darcy knew he could not marry her. For the sake of his family name, and for Georgiana, he knew that he must wed a woman of status. But he could not bring himself to even consider the tittering, simpering women who fawned over him for his wealth and position.

Nor was he particularly excited to consider his cousin Anne de Bourgh, heiress to the great estate of Rosings, as his wife, no matter how much his aunt insisted upon it. While his cousin was obviously of fine status and upbringing, she was a pale, sickly girl who might or might not be able to bear healthy children, and Darcy rather believed they were not particularly compatible. He had not definitely made up his mind against his cousin Anne, but after experiencing genuine attraction, he quailed at the thought of offering for such a colorless lady.

While Darcy did not look forward to it, he did intend to take part in the upcoming Season. He was not fond of balls or dancing, but as Bingley had often told him, such events were an excellent way to meet people. Perhaps he would be able to find a woman as beautiful and intelligent as Miss Elizabeth Bennet, but with the proper pedigree for the mistress of Pemberley.

Darcy finally sat forward, taking his quill and a fresh sheet of paper. Matters of relationships aside, business matters sorely needed his attention.

/

The Gardiners’ Residence

Cheapside

Eleven O’clock at Night

“Are you ready to come up to bed, Lizzy?” Jane asked, setting aside the most current issue of the Ladies’ Magazine , which she had been studying in order to decide on her wedding dress.

Elizabeth shook her head. “I would like to speak to our aunt for a few minutes, Jane, but I will come soon.”

“Very well, but do not stay up too late; you have had a long day and must get your rest!”

“Yes, Jane,” Elizabeth said in an overly meek tone, which was rewarded with a smile and a chuckle.

With that, Jane left the drawing room, leaving Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner alone. It was late, and Elizabeth was tired, but she was determined to speak to her aunt about Sophia Cooper before retiring for the night.

“This is about the sweet girl you brought with you, is it not?” Mrs. Gardiner asked gently before Elizabeth could begin, and Elizabeth gave her a small smile and a nod. Her aunt was as perceptive as she was wise.

“I thought as much. Tell me what is on your mind.”

Elizabeth took a moment to gather her thoughts. This was a delicate situation, and she wanted to be able to explain as concisely as possible. “Do you recall, when you visited Longbourn at Christmas, meeting a lieutenant by the name of Mr. Wickham?”

Mrs. Gardener nodded. “I do. He is a very charming young man.”

“Indeed he is,” Elizabeth agreed. “Regrettably, it seems that charm conceals ill intent. Sophia Cooper is pregnant with his child, and he denies any knowledge of the affair and has entirely refused to have anything to do with her.”

Mrs. Gardiner’s hand flew to her lips in shock, and she cried out, “Dear Lord in Heaven! The poor girl! And what a despicable thing to do. I would never have imagined; he seemed like such a good man.”

“I agree,” Elizabeth said sadly, “but it appears that his genial manners and handsome face are merely a front for his scurrilous desires. I brought Sophia with me in the hopes that you will help me find a safe place for her during pregnancy and delivery. You know that she would be ostracized in Meryton, and her family with her.”

“Of course,” Mrs. Gardiner agreed immediately. “I will do what I can. I am certain that we will be able to find a place of refuge for her.”

“Thank you,” Elizabeth said in relief.

Mrs. Gardiner shook her head slowly and mused, “I can still hardly believe it. I spoke at some length with Mr. Wickham, you know, about Pemberley and Derbyshire, and we even have some acquaintances in common as I lived much of my girlhood in nearby Lambton. I rather pride myself on my ability to evaluate a man’s character, but I was altogether mistaken about Wickham!”

Elizabeth gulped and brushed away a wayward tear. “I was as well, Aunt, and I spent far more time with him than you. I feel like such a fool!”

“You are entirely certain that Sophia...?”

“Is telling the truth? I am. She has always been an honest girl and indeed, Aunt, I cannot imagine her giving up her virtue to any of the other officers. Mr. Wickham is by far the most handsome of them all, but more than that, he weaves images with his words. I am an intelligent woman, and I was completely taken in as well. I can imagine him promising her marriage, and speaking of her beauty, and oh, it is quite dreadful!”

“It is. But Lizzy, my dear, I suppose if this Lieutenant Wickham is such a reprehensible man, then his testament regarding Mr. Darcy of Pemberley is unlikely to be trustworthy.”

Elizabeth pursed her lips and admitted, “I have considered that. I still contend that Darcy is an unpleasant gentleman, if only based on my own experiences with him.”

“He was most definitely disagreeable to you,” Mrs. Gardiner concurred. “You ought to tell Jane, if you have not already, of Mr. Wickham’s behavior.”

Elizabeth’s face fell, and she pleaded, “Must I? She is so happy, and I do not wish to dampen her spirits.”

Mrs. Gardiner’s voice was firm. “Yes, Lizzy, you must. Jane is soon to be Mrs. Bingley and the mistress of Netherfield. She needs to be aware of Wickham’s proclivities so that she can help guard her servant girls and tenant daughters of Netherfield accordingly. I love Jane very much, but have long been concerned that she is overly trusting of others, and too inclined to excuse the poor behavior of others. She needs to know that Wickham is a villain.”

Elizabeth grimaced, but she nodded and said, “You are right. I wish I did not have to give her such sad news during such a happy time, but it is, as you said, necessary.”

“It is,” her aunt agreed. “Now, off to bed with you. You need not tell her tonight, but it will have to be before she leaves for Meryton for her wedding.”

“Very well.” Elizabeth said, already considering how she would break the news to her elder sister. “Goodnight, Aunt.”

“Goodnight, my dear Lizzy.”

Chapter 5

Darcy House

Two days later

The sky was bright and clear outside, sunbeams shining through the window of Darcy’s office where he sat bent over his desk writing letters. The scratching of his quill was the only sound apart from the crackle of the fire in the hearth and the occasional voice or footstep from an adjacent room or hallway.

The master of Pemberley had spent several days turning the matter with Bingley over in his head and had finally decided to set the affair aside in order to better focus on his duties as an estate owner. Even now he was writing to his steward at Pemberley with a recommendation for one of his tenant farmers, Jonathan Corwell, on which crops the man should sow for the coming growing season.

As he paused to ponder how to word a certain line, Darcy’s thoughts wandered to his sister, Georgiana, who was currently at Pemberley. He had just received a letter from her the previous day, telling him of her progress with the pianoforte and of her day trip into Lambton with Mrs. Annesley.

He missed Georgiana dearly and wished he did not have to remain in Town for the remainder of the Season, but if he was to find a wife, he needed to attend parties and dinners. In any case, he would write to her as often as his duties would allow.

Footsteps came down the hall outside, but Darcy did not look up until his office door swung open.

“Mr. Bingley is here to see you, sir,” his butler announced, and then stepped out of the way to reveal Charles Bingley with a bottle in his hand.

“Good morning, Darcy,” Bingley said with a bow.

“Bingley, good morning!” Darcy said in surprise, rising to his feet. “Do come in, please!”

The butler retreated and closed the door, and Bingley turned toward his friend, his expression grave, and said, “Thank you for your kind welcome. I know I sent you quite a fractious letter, and the more I have considered what took place, the more I am aware that this is truly my fault. I ought not to have let you talk me out of my pursuit of Jane, and that is my responsibility, not yours.”

Darcy felt his entire body relax with relief. He had, he realized, been extremely distressed by the break in the relationship between himself and his friend. “And I ought not to have given you such faulty advice. The more I reflect on it, the more I realize that I know little of the matters of the heart. Moreover, I am not a man who demonstrates my feelings, so it was especially foolish of me to imagine that Miss Bennet’s serenity indicated indifference. I am very glad that you chose to visit!”

“Thank you, Darcy. I must speak to you on a delicate matter, one which I hope you can assist me with. But it is not of vital importance that we talk of it immediately. Would you care to join me for a drink first?”

Bingley held up a bottle of fine brandy, and Darcy nodded, only too happy to oblige. Glasses were fetched, and the two of them retreated to a sitting room next to the study in order to speak further. The sitting room was well furnished and richly decorated, with azure drapery and seating and tall windows that let in the mid-morning sunlight. Bingley seated himself in a high-backed chair near to the hearth, where a fire was blazing merrily, and Darcy sat down across from him.

“So I know that you are now engaged, my friend,” Darcy said. “Do you have a plan on when you will marry?”

“We do not yet have a date, but it will be within the next fortnight.”

“So soon!”

“Yes! I have no wish to wait longer after so many weeks apart. I will purchase a license, and we will arrange the wedding settlements, and then we will wed in Meryton.”

He blew out a breath, took a sip of his drink, and went on,“The matter I came to speak to you about, however, concerns a man of your acquaintance by the name of George Wickham. I understand you have had unpleasant dealings with him, but I need to hear the full story.”

Darcy frowned deeply, swirling the brandy in his glass. “May I ask why?”

“By all means,” Bingley said, leaning forward as though offering a closely guarded secret. “I have been informed by Jane that Wickham has impregnated the seventeen-year-old daughter of one of the tenants at Longbourn and is refusing to take responsibility. The young woman is being cared for, but I wished to consult with you; is this common behavior for Mr. Wickham? If so, it seems that perhaps something should be done about the man.”

Darcy’s face had darkened throughout Bingley’s explanation, his fingers tightening on his glass.

“Indeed, it is all too common,” he gritted out. “Wickham has been doing this sort of thing for longer than I care to say. Even before my father’s death, he was running up debts and wiling his nights away with wenches and dairy maids. He traded the living in Kympton promised to him by my father for three thousand pounds, and now everywhere he goes, he sullies my name by claiming I stole the living from him. Yes, I think it is far past time that something be done about him.”

“I am pleased to hear that you agree,” Bingley said, “but if he has been engaged in such behavior for so long, why have you not dealt with him before now?”

Darcy took a sip of his drink in order to stall as he formulated a response. Bingley was a dear and trusted friend, but Darcy was hesitant to reveal Georgiana’s folly, even to him. On the other hand, Bingley would soon be brother to the youngest Bennet girls, who were exactly the sort of ladies liable to fall for Wickham’s lies.

“I tell you this in confidence,” he finally began, “and I trust you will not repeat it. You know, of course, my younger sister, Georgiana.”

Bingley nodded, his face grave. “I do. You do not mean to tell me that Wickham laid his hands on her?”

“No, but he meant to,” Darcy said grimly. “Last summer, Georgiana traveled to Ramsgate with a companion by the name of Mrs. Younge, in whose character I was most unhappily deceived. Mrs. Younge was in league with Wickham, who followed the pair to Ramsgate, and between the two of them, they encouraged Georgiana to believe she was in love with Wickham and to consent to an elopement. My sister has, as you know, a large dowry.

“By chance, I came to visit earlier than expected, and I caught them before they could steal her away, but Georgiana had already agreed to marry him. I have been hesitant to take retribution against him for fear that he will use the incident to sully her reputation. I would like him dealt with, as he will never have his fill of ruining young women, but I feel my primary responsibility is my sister, who is still greatly distressed over it.”

Bingley’s face had darkened by the time he had finished, and his fisted hands shook with rage. “What a scoundrel! Last summer ... Miss Darcy would have been fifteen! For him to take advantage of the daughter of the man he claims to so revere, he is despicable! And this Mrs. Younge as well!”

Bingley stopped and took a deep breath, taking another sip from his glass before he continued. “I thank God that you arrived in time to put an end to their plot. It is a shame that he got as far as he did, but still, how was Miss Darcy to know that both her companion and her lover meant her harm? It is truly reprehensible.”

“Exactly. Wickham was her playmate when she was young, and I foolishly refrained from telling her of his evil character, so she felt she had every reason to trust him. Of course she is not at fault, but the ordeal upset her greatly when she realized how close she had come to marrying a man of no honor or kindness, who would have doubtless spent all of her dowry on gambling and wild living, and then abandoned her. And he would have, too. I truly regret not informing her earlier of his dissolute ways, but I had no thought that he would pursue her in such a way.”

Bingley nodded quietly, and the two men sat in silence for a moment.

“I will attempt to buy up his debts in Meryton,” Bingley finally said as he poured himself a second glass of brandy, “and have him sent to debtor’s prison. That will be a fitting place for him, do you not think?”

“I do,” Darcy agreed. “Against an abundance of receipts, even Wickham will not be able to charm himself out of his punishment.”

“Excellent,” Bingley said. “By the way, I will be marrying in the church in Meryton in early March. If you are available, I would be delighted to have you stand up with me as my groomsman.”

Darcy shook his head. “Thank you, but I would not wish to impose. I am afraid I made a very poor impression during my time in Meryton, and I would only dampen the festivities.”

“My dear friend, if there is anything I know, it is that the Bennets are kindly people, especially Jane, who is one of the most forgiving individuals I have ever met. If you prefer not to come, so be it, but I promise that you would be most welcome.”

Darcy hesitated for a moment, his thoughts immediately turning, not to Miss Bennet, but to her sister Elizabeth. It was stupid to consider returning to Hertfordshire; he was already dreaming of Miss Elizabeth. But to spend time with her again, in the flesh? Even the thought of seeing her, with her hair done up and dressed in fine clothes for her sister’s wedding, made his heart beat faster in his chest. Surely his only hope of recovering from this peculiar infatuation was to avoid the lady forever?

“I would be delighted to attend,” he said, his mouth moving in opposition to his thoughts. “Thank you, Bingley.”

“Wonderful! I will send you a message as to the particular date, and you are welcome, of course, to stay at Netherfield Hall.”

“Thank you,” Darcy said and then, inspired, continued, “I have the document at my solicitor’s office wherein Wickham gave up all rights to the Kympton living. Shall I bring that with me? I daresay he has been busily blaming me for his financial problems, and that is proof positive that he is a spendthrift of the highest order.”

“That is a superb idea, Darcy. Thank you!”

/

Drawing Room

Hurst House

London

That Evening

Mr. Hurst lay on the carpet, half asleep, enjoying the great pleasure which comes from a warm fire and a comfortably full belly. He was less pleased with the conversation of his wife and her sister, but he had plenty of experience ignoring his womenfolk.

“I have sent Thomas all over town, and Charles is not staying at the Clarendon, or Grillon’s or Grenier’s!” Caroline complained, pacing up and the down the rather tattered scarlet and blue carpet. “Where can he be?”

“Does it not seem likely that he has returned to Netherfield?” Louisa asked tentatively.

“Oh, Louisa,” Caroline replied, spinning to face her sister, “surely he has not already returned to the country; I am not there to act as hostess, after all, and the house was shut up, with a skeleton staff of servants and no cook. Charles likes his meals too much to do with castoffs from the kitchen!”

The door opened at this opportune moment, and Charles Bingley stalked in, his usually genial face rigid with disapproval.

Caroline was too pleased to have found her brother to notice his expression, but Louisa, less confident and more attentive, felt her heart sink while Mr. Hurst, who had been ignoring his wife and her sister, pushed himself to his feet and walked over to pour brandy for himself and his brother by marriage.

“Charles!” Miss Bingley cried out. “Thank God you are here! Where are you staying? It seemed as if you had disappeared off the face of the earth!”

“It does not matter where I am staying, Caroline,” Bingley said coolly, accepting the glass of brandy with a nod of thanks. “I will be returning to Netherfield on the morrow, and where I sleep tonight is of no concern to you.”

“Charles,” Caroline exclaimed, “I know that you think you are in love with Jane Bennet, but truly, she is not worthy of you. You could send her a letter ending the engagement and go to Scarborough for a time so that…”

“Do not be a fool,” Bingley interrupted. “The settlements are being prepared even now. I will be purchasing a license in the next few days, and the wedding is set for less than a fortnight hence.”

This had the desirable advantage of striking his sisters dumb with shock, and Bingley was treated to the doubtful pleasure of seeing both Caroline and Louisa lose control of their jaws, displaying even white teeth and quivering pink tongues.

“Congratulations,” Mr. Hurst said, walking over to slap his brother-in-law on the shoulder. “Miss Bennet is a charming young woman.”

“Thank you, Hurst,” Bingley replied in a surprised tone, although he kept his eyes fixed on his sisters’ horror stricken countenances.

“Charles, no!” Caroline finally managed. “No! You simply cannot...”

“Indeed,” Louisa agreed, though with less passion. “My dear brother, you have a responsibility to Caroline to marry well...”

“Louisa,” Mr. Hurst interrupted in a stern manner.

Mrs. Hurst stopped and turned to her husband in confusion; he was a genial and kindly spouse, and she had not heard that particular tone of voice more than twice in her marriage.

“Louisa,” Hurst said again, this time gently. “I must insist that you make no attempt to interfere in your brother’s engagement.”

“Mr. Hurst, this has nothing to do with you!” Caroline snapped.

“On the contrary, dear sister,” the gentleman replied with aplomb, “it has everything to do with me and my comfort. We all know our situation, that Louisa and I are moderately poor until my father dies, and we have been more or less been living off Bingley’s money and the interest from Louisa’s dowry. I have no intention of giving up my comforts by causing a break in the family, not if I can prevent it, anyway. Moreover, you ladies are both being very foolish, you know. Jane Bennet is the daughter of a gentleman, along with being kind, handsome, and honorable and is a perfect match for Bingley.”

“You never said such a thing before!” Caroline protested.

“I was not aware that we were fleeing Miss Bennet when we left for London, and by the time I was aware of what was happening, you and Darcy had already convinced Bingley that Miss Bennet did not care for him. Nor was I absolutely certain that she did love him. Also, I am lazy. But now, with Bingley and Miss Bennet engaged, it is stupid, pointless, and unkind to continue to protest that which has previously been decided.”

This long and unusual address rendered both ladies speechless, and Bingley said, “Thank you for your support, Hurst.”

“You are most welcome. I promise that Louisa will no longer cause any problems. Is that not correct, dear wife?”

Louisa breathed in and out and then, avoiding her younger sister’s eyes, said, “Of course, Husband.”

“Excellent,” Hurst said and then turned a beady gaze on his sister-in-law. “As for you, Caroline, I am quite tired of hearing you complain. If you wish to reside here with Louisa and me, I must insist that you stop whining about your brother’s engagement.”

Caroline was not the sort of lady to hold her tongue, but she was sufficiently amazed at the determination of both her brother and brother-in-law that she merely stood silent, her face bright red with outrage, her mind whirling with incredulity. How could such a thing be happening?