Page 34 of Ever After End

CHAPTER 33

6 July, 1812

A few days later, Elizabeth and Darcy were on one of their early morning walks. Darcy had made a full apology to Mr Bingley for his belief in his inconstancy, and solicited his friend and Jane to accompany them on their morning walks for chaperonage. Bingley saw the sense in having time alone together to discuss important private matters pertinent to his future with Jane. Jane had not received an apology from Elizabeth, who was still suspicious of Mr Bingley, but was at length persuaded to agree.

Elizabeth’s exercise was curtailed slightly, for Jane had not her stamina, nor her enthusiasm for such early hours. They left a half hour later each morning than Elizabeth was accustomed to, and returned slightly earlier. Jane and Bingley would occupy a bench in the garden while Darcy and Elizabeth strolled another half hour among the verdure.

This morning, it was apparent that the house party would enjoy perfect weather later for archery on the green. The temperature was warm but not excessively so. The sun was shining, and there was not a single cloud in the perfect sky. Mrs Higglebottom waved to them from the edge of the lake as they passed, with a warning that Barnaby had predicted rain for the morrow.

Elizabeth and Darcy had already canvassed many topics since Darcy had asked to court her, but this morning, they were again speaking of Charlotte and Elizabeth’s Cousin Collins.

“I was thinking about your experience with your friend, and while your circumstances are very different, they remind me of troubles I have had with one of my childhood friends.” Darcy navigated Elizabeth around a stone sticking out of the path that he would remind himself to have someone remove later.

“How so?” Elizabeth inquired.

“I grew up with another young man at Pemberley. His father was a good man; an intelligent and loyal man, and he made himself so indispensable to my father as his steward that my father sought to be of service to his son. George was named after my father, who stood godparent to him, and paid for his education, first at Eton, then later, Cambridge.”

Darcy paused, looking for the words to continue. “By the time we left Eton, any friendship I had with George had withered and died. He resented me for my position as the master’s son and for my expectations. He often made trouble on the estate and blamed me. When we started Cambridge, he created debts in my name which I covered, not wishing to grieve my father.”

He continued, “My father was like me. His responsibilities weighed upon him, and he valued his friendships with lively, charming people who brought levity to his life. George is many things, but primarily, he is charming and exuberant. My father took great comfort in his company, particularly after my mother died. When George’s father died, he was invited to live at Pemberley as family.”

“It sounds like he was given a marvellous opportunity,” Elizabeth murmured.

“He was, but he saw the opportunity as a burden,” Darcy replied. “ George had no wish to work, not once he found a taste for living in splendor at Pemberley and running with a fast and well-connected crowd at university. Eventually, once he was at Cambridge, he began to show worse inclinations. His debts soon became far more than I could pay on my allowance, and there was no hiding the girls he ruined and left with child, but by this point, my father could not believe that George could do wrong. He made every excuse for him, insisting that the servant girls and tenant daughters accused George because he was a steward’s son, but with expectations. George even persuaded my father that he received poor marks in school due to the prejudice of his teachers because his father had been a steward. Even I was once blamed for his misdeeds, though my indignation and fury at his lack of trust in me quickly showed my father his mistake.

“My father never accepted George’s guilt, and when he died, recommended him for the church. He requested that I confer upon him a valuable family living, should he chuse to take orders. George made it immediately clear that he had no intention of entering the church. He wished to study the law and suggested pecuniary reimbursement in compensation for the living. I agreed without delay; I knew George ought not be a clergyman. He signed away all rights to the living, should it become available, and with three thousand pounds, in addition to another thousand left to him by my father, he left us.”

“Four thousand pounds! I do hope he made his fortune with such a sum!” Elizabeth looked up at Darcy in surprise. “Paired with even a position as a lowly clerk, the interest on four thousand ought to keep a man from penury. And if he chose to use it to pursue the law, he should do even better.”

“One would think so,” Darcy said as they continued down the path. “But when the incumbent of the living in question passed three years later, George returned. The study of the law had been, he assured me, very unprofitable; he asked me to fulfil my father’s wish and distinguish him with the living. I cannot lie, the idea of entrusting him with the souls of the good people of Kympton, and exposing the young girls of the parish to him made me bilious. I refused him in no uncertain terms, and after abusing me terribly to my face, he left Pemberley. How he lived since then, I know not. Last summer, he attempted to impose himself on my poor sister at Ramsgate. Everywhere he goes, he tells his tale of woe to gain sympathy amongst good people, attempting to sow doubt about my honour. None of them ever think to ask themselves why a perfect stranger would tell such a tale, but he never hesitates to degrade my good name all over England.”

Elizabeth paused for a moment on the path. Something about his tale seemed oddly familiar. She could not put her finger on it. Darcy… Kympton… Pemberley… Godfather… George… Where have I heard all of this before?

“Are you well, Miss Elizabeth? I had no wish to upset you. I only wanted to tell you that I, too, have had friends that betrayed my trust.” Darcy looked down at her in concern as Elizabeth stared into space, attempting to order her thoughts.

Ramsgate… A man of honour could not have doubted the intent... Elizabeth thought. “I feel like I have heard all of this before. George… George… Wait! Is the man in the militia?”

“George Wickham? In the militia? I am sorry, but George Wickham is not synonymous with work,” Darcy laughed.

“That is him! Lieutenant George Wickham from Derbyshire!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “I met him in Meryton late last summer. He had just joined his friends in the regiment. He told me that story, but yes, he did make you sound like a villain. He named you as well, but I did not like him for speaking ill of your sister when she or her guardians were not present to defend her, and so I put the entire conversation from my mind.”

“What did he say? What did he say about Georgiana?” Darcy turned and grasped her hand in distress.

“Only that she was arrogant like her brother, and very, very proud. He claimed you had ruined her with spoiling, I think. It was nothing terribly bad, and quite obviously all falsehoods, but having four sisters of my own, I thought it ungentlemanly to discuss a young girl in the absence of her family. He left a number of debts with the merchants when the militia left the county. Poor Mr Wolcott, the tailor, nearly went bankrupt from the expense of Lieutenant Wickham’s uniform and other requirements.”

“He must have been desperate after the last time we saw him, to join the militia,” Darcy mused to himself. “My cousin is away at the front, but I believe I know a friend of his that can check in on Wickham for me, and ensure that he is not bankrupting the merchants of whatever village the regiment has moved onto. I will look into reimbursing the tradesmen in Meryton as well. I suppose I must do something about him. I own enough of his debts, and soon, I am certain I will own even more.”

“How strange. You are connected to the friend that harmed me through your aunt, and I am acquainted with the friend who harmed you. What an odd coincidence,” Elizabeth marveled.

“It does strain credulity,” Darcy agreed. “It is a smaller world than we think.”

Miss Caroline Bingley was in the garden when Elizabeth and Jane parted from her brother and his friend. Charles went inside a moment after the ladies, while Mr Darcy wandered about the roses a little longer, apparently deep in thought.

“What do you like about her?” Caroline asked out loud as he passed by her deep in his musings without even realising that she was there.

“Miss Bingley!” Darcy jumped nearly out of his skin at this. He looked around wildly to see if they were alone.

“Oh please. I thought we established last summer that I will not be compromising you, Mr Darcy.” Caroline smirked. “You said you hoped we might one day become friends, and I agree. So, in the spirit of friendship, I was wondering why you like her.”

Darcy considered carefully for a moment. “She is everything a gentlewoman ought to be,” he answered. At Caroline’s raised brow, he continued. “Miss Elizabeth has the kindness and ability to see the struggles of others and put them at ease with grace and compassion. She is good humoured and lively. Like your brother, she brings me out of my awkwardness. With a single arch of her brow and a well considered word she puts the impertinent in their place, or gives courage to those who need it. She is intelligent and improves her mind by extensive reading, both for edification and for pleasure. She is also fiercely loyal to those she cares for. So far, I have not found any reason not to consider her utterly delightful.”

Caroline nodded in awe, her mouth an ‘o’ of surprise as he bowed, took his leave of her, and returned to the house.