Page 56 of A Life Diverted
Once the three couples were all comfortably seated in said parlour, Charlotte looked at them questioningly with raised eyebrows. Elizabeth explained the request to her friend and brother. “If this is not what you prefer, we will understand,” she assured them.
Charlotte and Barney put their heads together and spoke softly between themselves.
When they were done, they turned back to the other two couples.
“Barney and I would like to marry in the same ceremony with all of you,” Charlotte reported, “However, as I am sure you are well aware, I will need my parents’, or more precisely Mama’s, permission to marry from Longbourn.
My opinion is that I will be able to sway her, but until she agrees, we will not know.
Please remain here, and I will go speak to her.
She will be far more agreeable without an audience. ”
With that, Charlotte stood, smoothed her skirts, and exited the parlour.
About twenty minutes later, Charlotte returned to the parlour.
The smile on her face told the others of her success.
“Mama would have had me marry from Lucas Lodge had she had her choice, but she told me as it is my day, she is sanguine with whatever choice I make. Papa had no objections; he mostly agrees with what Mama decides,” Charlotte related.
“In that case, it seems we will marry our respective grooms on the tenth day of January,” Jane stated to nods from everyone.
“Charlotte, will you join us for the little season? Lizzy and I plan to acquire the clothing we need for our trousseaus. We will visit Uncle Edward’s warehouse in London to choose fabrics first, and afterwards, Aunt Elaine will introduce us to her modiste, Madame Chambourg on Bond Street. ”
“Unless my parents refuse their permission, I will,” Charlotte accepted.
“While you three shop, David, William, and I will partake in manly activities, so we do not have to hear about lace and the like,” Barney teased.
“If we had grown up together, I would have had you model gowns like Jane and I had James and Henry do,” Elizabeth teased her older brothers.
She could not but laugh at the abject horror she saw in their looks as, she guessed, visions of them prancing around in feminine clothing danced before their eyes.
“Could it be there was an advantage to us missing that stage of your growing up?” David jested. At the same time, David was well aware that if Ellie had been recovered soon after being taken, he would have happily worn anything she asked.
Not too long after, the five who had walked from Longbourn made the short walk back.
The Bennet and Wendell parents were informed that it would be a triple wedding. Fanny and Cilla would contact Sarah Lucas soon to begin planning everything for their daughters.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
“Ellie, Mrs Nichols sent me a note that your chamber is ready to receive you when we return to Netherfield Park,” Lady Catherine reported.
She looked at her younger nephew. “Carstens arrived with your trunks while you were at Lucas Lodge and has everything arranged in the chamber Fanny assigned you.”
“Thank you, Aunt Catherine,” Elizabeth responded.
“I am sure William will be very comfortable.” As much as she would not have objected to seeing her betrothed last thing before she retired for the night and first thing in the morning, Elizabeth placated herself with the knowledge she would be in William’s company for the bulk of each day until they departed for London, and thither William would travel along with David, Richard, and Barney.
Richard would depart London in less than a sennight after they all arrived in Town, and make his way to Granville.
“Did you not say you and Richard had something to tell us?” Elizabeth recalled.
Darcy looked at his cousin. “Richard, will you begin? It was you who saw the miscreant after all.”
Richard nodded and cleared his throat. “Wicky, otherwise known as George Wickham, is a Lieutenant in the Derbyshire Militia encamped just outside of Meryton,” he reported.
“I thought I saw him, but was not sure, so William and I tasked Thompson to send some men Wicky would not recognise into the town to make sure. It was him.”
“You do not think he is a danger, do you?” Wendell enquired.
“We are not sure, but it will not hurt to have him watched. According to Thompson, someone has forewarned the merchants and females in Meryton because no member of the militia has been awarded any further credit and were made to repay what they had already owed. Evidently, the ladies in Meryton want nothing to do with him. His honeyed tongue has gained him nought.”
“Who is this Wickham?” Bennet enquired. “I heard some vague warnings about militia members, but we have been somewhat preoccupied of late.”
“He is the one I used to call Icky, is he not,” Elizabeth verified.
“Yes, one and the same,” David confirmed. “You did not like him very much, although he never did anything overt to you. He was one of the only ones from whom you kept a safe distance.”
Those who knew Wickham answered Bennet’s query.
“Once my late father withdrew his patronage, other than Wicky coming to claim a non-existent bequest, and until he and that Miss Younge attempted to pull the wool over our eyes, I know not where he was or how he lived. I have no doubt he lived a life of dissipation and debauchery.”
“This man was at Willowmere when Lizzy was taken? Was he suspected of the deed?” Bennet asked.
“He was fifteen at the time, he was the tallest of us, but he was already afraid of Richard.” Darcy grinned as he remembered how Wicky would cower when he angered Richard.
“He remained at Willowmere, even participating in searches for Ellie until he was sent back to his father at Pemberley. Additionally, he did not object to his room being searched along with the rest of the manor house. So, although some of us had some suspicion at first, we dismissed it.”
“I do not believe he is here because he knew we would be here. In fact, I would guess that after William and I uncovered his scheme, he joined the militia to get himself out of London,” Richard opined. “Knowing Wicky, I am sure he had to escape some of his creditors.”
“As long as he does not approach us, we will let him be,” Wendell decided.
“I agree with what William and Richard have taken as a precaution. It is well that he will be watched at all times,” Matlock stated. “It is a prudent move given what we know of his character, or lack thereof.”
No one objected.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
Wickham had used some of his meagre funds to drink the night before, hence, he woke later than he had wanted to in order to make the ride to Hatfield to attempt to gain that which was unavailable to him in Meryton. Not even a serving wench was willing to warm his bed.
He made his way to the inn, met with the landlord and paid the fee to rent a horse for the day. The landlord sent a boy to the stables with word of the rental and suggested the Lieutenant wait a few minutes before going to claim the horse so it would be saddled and ready for him.
Ten minutes later, whistling a tune as he imagined the success he would have with the girls in Hatfield, Wickham sauntered into the stables.
He saw a saddled horse before him and a rather large groom holding it.
He was about to put his foot in the stirrup when someone grabbed him from behind.
Before he could protest. Wickham saw the size of the hands and the giant of a man who stood before him which caused him to shake with fear.
“Unhand me, I am an officer in the militia. I will have you arrested and hung,” he blustered, hoping the men would buy it.
“You promised me sister marriage an’ then scarpered,” Brian roared next to the useless man’s face. “Did you think you could defile Jenny and get away wif it? If we need ta, we will drag yer back to Dadlington!”
He froze, that girl Jenny had been serious.
She had sent her hulking brothers to fetch him back.
He had to think fast. “I will happily marry Miss Biggs as I always planned. I was planning to return to marry your sister as soon as my business here is completed. It is all done except for one thing. I need to complete a task which will get me the funds I am owed before I can marry your sister. I have a proposition for you…”