Page 11 of Drawn to Love
While Mrs. Bennet loudly opposed being dismissed, Elizabeth glanced at Jane, then followed her father into the library.
“Close the door and sit down,” he said, gesturing to a chair.
He filled a glass with brandy for himself, then sat too. “You look well, Lizzy. The journey to the North obviously suited you. It must have been quite special.”
“It was. I am sure Aunt and Uncle told you all the details. Unfortunately, it did not end well at all. Please tell me what news you have, Papa.”
“I shall. However, your uncle and aunt gave me some details, though not all. So I should ask, what news do you have, Lizzy?”
“Me? No news, Papa,” she replied, feeling her cheeks warming.
“Then I might be in a state of utter confusion, as I understand nothing. Until recently, I was certain that you and Mr. Wickham shared a mutual admiration, that you grieved over the tragedies in his life, and that both of you also shared a deep hatred and resentment for Mr. Darcy!”
Mr. Bennet was sitting in his favourite chair, sipping from his glass repeatedly, and Elizabeth knew he was making sport of her.
“Now, imagine your father’s shock, Lizzy, when I found out that Mr. Wickham suffered a sudden change of heart and his preference switched from my second daughter to my youngest, inducing him to elope with her.
Of course, there were also debts of over five thousand pounds and many creditors chasing him that added to his sudden desire to marry, but that is another discussion. ”
“Five thousand pounds, Papa?” Elizabeth cried.
“Now, now, let us not be hasty. Let me tell you how my sanity suffered another shock, even greater, when I found myself facing Mr. Darcy — of all men — joining me and my brother Gardiner and offering his assistance and his support in the quest for Wickham.”
“I understand your astonishment and confusion, Papa. But I must insist that I have no news to share, other than what you know.”
“Apparently, I know nothing. Your uncle told me you and Mr. Darcy are good friends, which would explain his generosity towards them — and towards me. When did your opinion change so dramatically? When did you move from hatred to friendship?”
“My opinion of both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham changed when I was in Kent, and I discovered pieces of evidence concerning their true characters. But at that time, Mr. Darcy and I had some horrible quarrels, and we separated more as enemies than friends. It was only when we met at Pemberley, by pure accident, that we resolved our past misunderstandings and improved our relationship.”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy told me something similar. And Colonel Fitzwilliam jested at his expense.”
“Papa, what are you saying? You met Colonel Fitzwilliam too? When? Was he not in Derbyshire?”
“Yes, I did. Apparently, he returned to London a few days ago, and we made his acquaintance. A most excellent man and exceedingly pleasing company.”
“Papa, I do not understand! You sound like you spent your time in entertainment and amusement. Please be serious!”
“I am as serious as anyone. We had enough time between the day of the discovery to the day when Wickham agreed to marry Lydia and the settlement was signed. Which happened yesterday. What better entertainment than to laugh at my own folly?”
“You should have written to us more often! We were sick with worry, Papa.”
“So was I, my dear. But there was not much to write about. I am embarrassed to admit that my daughter is marrying such a scoundrel, with no honour and no shame. And I am beyond mortified to confess how little effort and trouble I put into resolving this dreadful situation.”
“Papa, what do you mean? Please speak in earnest. What happened? How did you find them? Will they marry?”
“Mr. Darcy discovered Wickham and Lydia the same evening he arrived in London. We were fortunate that he knew the scoundrel’s habits and a certain Mrs. Younge.
Regardless, he discovered them, we brought Lydia to your uncle’s house, and from that moment, we began to bargain with Wickham.
He came to Gracechurch Street and declared he had all those debts, creditors chasing him, and had to leave the regiment and was unemployed.
And he threatened that until those issues were resolved, he could not marry. ”
“What a despicable man!”
“Well, he was your favourite, you cannot deny it. For that, you may join me in my embarrassment for many years, Lizzy. We each have reason to be ashamed of ourselves.”
“I am ready to admit my foolishness, Papa. Please tell me more.”
“There is nothing else from me, Lizzy. Your uncle and I negotiated with Wickham for two days, then — for some strange reason which apparently you wish to keep secret from me — Mr. Darcy came to ask us if we were determined to allow Lydia to marry Wickham. We were rather determined to do the opposite, but Lydia would not have it, and the uproar she caused was beyond sense. So, we had to let her have her way — as always. And then, Mr. Darcy stepped in.”
“Stepped in? What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked, her heart beating irregularly while chills ran down her spine.
“Well, you know Lizzy, now I am in a dilemma. Mr. Darcy specifically asked me not to tell you, but I did not promise him, I did not give him my word, so I am not certain whether I should respect his request or share the entire story.”
“Papa! Please tell me! I have already misjudged and misunderstood Mr. Darcy so many times and have accused him of all sorts of horrible flaws that I need to know the whole truth! If he asked you not to tell me, it must be because he did not wish to influence my opinion of him. I am sure of that.”
“Of course that is the reason. It is not hard to guess.”
“So please tell me!”
“I shall fill another glass, so I can blame the brandy. My dear Lizzy, Mr. Darcy claimed it was his fault that Wickham’s character had not been known previously, that he knew of Wickham’s dishonourable habits and should have exposed him long ago.
He claimed it was his fault that Wickham deceived an innocent young lady, and he demanded the remedy should be his too.
Briefly, Mr. Darcy took care of everything.
He paid Wickham’s debts, he purchased the licence — they should marry by the end of this week — and I believe he will purchase the scoundrel a commission in the North.
He mentioned that Colonel Fitzwilliam will assist him with that. ”
Elizabeth stared at her father in disbelief, listening but not daring to admit the meaning of his narration.
“This cannot be, Papa! You cannot accept that!” she said, breathless from distress.
“Well, my dear, there is little I can do since everything is settled. I was already talking to your uncle and discussing how we could put together a large enough sum to negotiate with Wickham. You may imagine how I felt paying a scoundrel to marry my daughter.”
“I cannot imagine something more dreadful, Papa…”
“Then Mr. Darcy — seemingly together with Colonel Fitzwilliam — talked to Wickham, and he informed us when everything was completed. He asked Wickham to sign some papers, so apparently now Wickham is indebted to him for probably his entire life and beyond. I argued with Mr. Darcy for quite a long time, and your uncle supported me. But in the end, since we were in his library and were drinking his fine brandy, we were forced to surrender.”
Elizabeth’s astonishment was now complete, and a claw grasped her heart.
“Whose library, Papa?”
“Mr. Darcy’s, of course!”
“You were at Mr. Darcy’s house?”
“Of course. Did I not just mention that? A fine library that one could only dream of. My brother Gardiner told me that the Pemberley library is larger and richer, but I cannot imagine how that is possible.”
The mention of Pemberley’s library made Elizabeth quiver and her cheeks burn.
Recollections of her interlude with Mr. Darcy were painfully vivid, as well as her longing and grief.
Her father visiting Mr. Darcy’s townhouse was one more thing that she could never imagine and could hardly believe.
But any other feelings faded in comparison to her mortification over Mr. Darcy’s generosity.
Paying Mr. Wickham’s debts and purchasing a commission were certainly sums that could reach ten thousand pounds.
Her father and uncle together could hardly repay half such a sum.
And Mr. Wickham was not worth even a fraction of it, and yet, it would be given to him.
“So, all is done? They will marry? Should we attend the wedding?” she mumbled.
“Dear Lord, no! Your uncle and aunt will be there, unfortunately for them. It is more consideration than Wickham deserves. As for Lydia, I hope she will be miserable enough with him that she will return home to be protected by her family. At least she will be married, which should mend her reputation — and ours. I was reflecting last night that we could save Mr. Darcy all the expense if we paid someone five hundred pounds to murder that low-life Wickham.”
“Papa, please be serious!”
“I am very serious! I hope you do not feel sorry for that man.”
“Not at all, I assure you. But I do not wish you to be exposed to any trouble because of him. Nor Mr. Darcy.”
“Wickham’s luck is that Mr. Darcy’s honour is greater than his anger. Otherwise, Wickham would have been long thrown in debtors’ prison with his legs broken, as he deserves.”
“Mr. Darcy is an excellent man. The best I know, Papa. I hope to have the chance to express my gratitude to him, though I would feel too ashamed to speak to him again.”
“Both of us have every reason to be ashamed, Lizzy. And our entire family. Not only because of the generosity he has shown to us but also because of all the horrible things we said about him.”
“Papa, do you know…did Mr. Darcy happen to mention his plans?” Elizabeth finally dared to ask.
“Not really,” Mr. Bennet answered, looking at her intently. “Of course, I asked for no details, only enquired when I should have the pleasure of meeting him again. He said he was required to travel, as he has much unfinished business to complete urgently.”
“Oh…” she whispered, her spirits quite low. She felt disappointed, though she knew she should feel grateful and content. But her longing to see him again was stronger than her reason.
Her heart told her that everything he had done was mostly for her.
Probably for his own conscience and sense of honour too, but also for her.
She knew there was no way for her or for her family to repay him.
No other way than to love him, even without seeing a glimpse of his return, it if ever happened.
Later that day, at dinner, Mr. Bennet finally told the family that Lydia would marry in a few days and that the couple was expected to move to the North, where Mr. Wickham had a new commission.
“Oh dear, what joy! What happiness!” Mrs. Bennet said with rapture. “My dear Lydia married at fifteen! What could be more wonderful? And poor Mr. Wickham will finally be happily married, despite being so cruelly treated by Mr. Darcy!”
After a brief silent exchange with Elizabeth, Mr. Bennet spoke to his wife in a severe tone.
“Mrs. Bennet, I shall only tell you once. The only reason why your daughter will be married soon is Mr. Darcy’s generosity and support.
Without him, your dear Wickham would never marry your dear Lydia.
He would abandon her, ruined forever, very likely with child and an eternal burden to our family.
So the next time you meet Mr. Darcy, please have the politeness to be silent and considerate and deeply grateful to him, since he saved all of us from misery!
As for Mr. Wickham, I honestly believe that Lydia’s only chance of happiness is to become a widow at a very young age. ”
The statement was so powerful, so shocking, that Mrs. Bennet choked on her food and could not speak again for a while. Red-faced and struggling to breathe, she tried to respond to her husband but was silenced again.
For the next few days, the news of Lydia’s marriage to Mr. Wickham was widely discussed around Meryton. Some pitied the Bennets, others envied them, but everybody had an opinion.
The newly married couple was expected to come to Longbourn, but at the last minute their plans changed, and they travelled directly to Newcastle, where Mr. Wickham’s new regiment was stationed.
A week later, however, Lydia Bennet’s wedding fell in people’s interest, eclipsed by the news that Netherfield Park would be opened again, and Mr. Bingley would return to Hertfordshire soon.