Page 42 of The Talented Daughters of Longbourn
Colonel Forster’s Office
Meryton
Captain Carter glanced around, looking nervous. Colonel Forster could not blame him; he was feeling a trace uneasy himself. Both Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam were visibly displeased from their position at the end of his desk.
“Several eyewitnesses have reported Lieutenant Wickham declaring,” Captain Carter said, sweat shining at his temples, “that, ah, that Miss Darcy was, er, involved with a man of, ah, the lower classes. The, um, rumors have indeed spread, as the men within earshot did, uh, discuss the allegations, and several privates overheard. The rumors have spread throughout the entire regiment.”
In the corner, Josiah Bennet folded his hands but otherwise remained silent and still, observing the proceedings. Forster’s bewildered gaze flickered between faces.
“Why would Wickham say such things about his godfather’s own daughter?” he demanded. “The lieutenant has always acted the gentleman, but such behavior is anything but honorable! It does not reflect well upon him or upon the militia.”
“Wickham is no gentleman,” Mr. Darcy snapped, his eyes flashing with fury. “I demand that he be arrested at once; I hold the receipts for several hundred pounds of his debts.”
Forster leaned back in his shock. “That – gracious. Well, he is not here. He has taken leave to London to make a withdrawal from his bank, so perhaps he will pay you back upon his return?”
Darcy and Fitzwilliam exchanged grim looks, and Fitzwilliam said flatly, “He lied to you, Colonel. Wickham is impecunious – he has no allowance or income or savings. Indeed, Darcy gave him four thousand pounds several years ago, and it was all gone within two years. He lives off of fleecing merchants and friends before moving on to a new town. If he is in London, he has left Meryton for good.”
Forster was mindful of a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach as he turned to the captain. “Carter, send one of the privates to check Wickham’s room,” he ordered.
“Yes, sir,” Carter replied, dashing off.
The men in the room waited in grim silence. Forster became acutely aware of the clock ticking on the shelf behind him, the rhythmic sound swelling into the quiet of the room.
Carter returned shortly, paler than before. “It has been entirely cleared out; there is no sign of personal habitation or property.”
Forster internally cursed himself. How mistaken he had been about Wickham! How blind! He had been charmed by the young man’s amiable manners and engaging ways and utterly hoodwinked by the dissolute scoundrel that lurked beneath that gentlemanly polish.
Darcy and Fitzwilliam were conferring together in low voices. They suddenly turned, and Darcy said sternly, “We will see about Wickham, but I expect you to do something about these rumors your men are spreading. If they continue to impugn my sister’s good name, I will sue them for slander.”
Forster swallowed and nodded.
“Yes, sir, I will see to it at once,” he assured the angry gentleman.
“Or, if they prefer,” Darcy added grimly, “I would be pleased to challenge any man to a duel in defense of Miss Darcy’s reputation.”
Dismay gripped the colonel. Both Darcy and Fitzwilliam had influential connections, and if they decided he was not taking sufficient steps to address the situation, that would not bode well for him.
He thought of the rapidity with which the rumors had spread, the discipline quashing them would require, and squared his shoulders.
“I will address my regiment, sirs, and impress upon them the unacceptability of further discussing these scurrilous attempts to besmirch an honorable lady,” he declared.
“See that you do, Colonel Forster,” Fitzwilliam said coldly and spun on his heels in military fashion, with Darcy and Josiah Bennet following behind him.
Captain Carter stood at attention, waiting for instruction from his superior. Colonel Forster let him wait for a minute and then said, “Captain Carter, order the entire regiment to form on the village green in two hours time.”
“Yes, sir,” Carter returned smartly and retreated thankfully out of the office.
Colonel Forster stared at the closed door and groaned aloud, then he opened his drawer in search of his bottle of brandy. He needed a drink.
/
Dining Room
Longbourn
That Evening
Elizabeth chewed and swallowed a bite of potato without noticing the taste, prey to a peculiar amalgam of emotions.
Anger at Mr. Wickham, who had dared to say such cruel things about an innocent girl.
Appreciation for Mr. Fitzwilliam, who had immediately set aside his own plans in order to help protect the reputation of his young cousin; it boded well for Jane’s marriage that her husband was a gallant man, eager to assist and defend his womenfolk in any way he could.
Admiration for Mr. Darcy, whose every word, every motion, indicated that he was concerned about his sister, not just his family’s honor.
Many a man would sacrifice his sister or daughter or wife to protect himself from societal disdain, but Mr. Darcy was not like that, not at all.
She chanced a quick peek at the gentleman, and she was not surprised to find his dark eyes fixed on her. He had stared at her often since arriving at Longbourn, and she did not think his expression was disapproving.
Perhaps it was an absence of mind, given that he had much to ponder, but probably not. She risked a smile, and he smiled back, and her heart fluttered within her. Was it possible that Mr. Darcy cared about her? Was attracted to her?
But no, given the situation, that Miss Darcy’s reputation was at risk, she ought not to even think about…
“Shall we?” Charlotte Bennet asked, rising awkwardly from her chair, and Elizabeth and Kitty rose with her, Elizabeth blushing a little from her thoughts.
“My dear, we will join you in a few minutes,” Josiah said, smiling at his bride.
Charlotte smiled back, and after collecting her nieces with a glance, left the dining room to the gentlemen.
“Would you prefer port or Madeira, Mr. Darcy?” Josiah asked.
Darcy, who had eaten steadily and mindlessly through a fine meal of roast chicken and herbs, potatoes, and various vegetables, took a moment to answer. “Madeira, sir, thank you.”
“And you, Mr. Fitzwilliam?”
“Port please.”
“Mr. Bingley? ”
“I will also have port.”
Josiah nodded to the footman who was waiting on them, and after the man had performed his duties, Mr. Bennet dismissed all the servants and looked at Bingley, who had been hastily summoned from Netherfield an hour earlier.
“My apologies for the peculiar invitation, Mr. Bingley, but as you have probably guessed, there is a crisis at hand. Mr. Darcy, would you care to explain?”
Darcy did so, finally explaining why exactly he had punched Wickham in Meryton – though not about Georgiana’s near elopement, as that was a secret meant for only Richard and himself – and was confused to observe the expression of guilt on his old friend’s face.
“I fear this might be my fault, our fault,” Bingley said when Darcy had finished speaking, and then turned to Bennet. “We ought not to have approached Colonel Forster regarding Wickham’s tendency to run up debts. It seems it provoked the man to retaliate by slandering Miss Darcy.”
“It is not your fault in the least,” Darcy said, and his stomach clenched within him. “It is mine, all mine. I knew that Wickham was a rogue, and I ought to have dealt with him long ago, but my father was very fond of him. I have been far too patient with the rascal. ”
Josiah said, “I confess that I am amazed at Wickham’s boldness in this matter. He is but the poverty-stricken son of a steward, and to defame the sister of a wealthy man who is already his enemy is foolish to the point of idiocy.”
“But that describes Wickham,” Richard said grimly.
“He is blessed with good looks, surface charm, and a certain degree of animal cunning, but he acts in the moment. What he wants, he wants now, and hang the future. Your warning to Colonel Forster meant that he could no longer prey on the good people of Meryton. He decided that Darcy was the source of the warning, and thus retaliated by smearing Miss Darcy’s name. ”
Bingley groaned and said, “I am sorry, Darcy. We ought to have consulted you first before taking action against the man.”
“No, you did the right thing,” Darcy said, and he meant it. “It was wrong of me to leave the area without dealing with Wickham, but again, my father’s great love for him stayed my hand. But no more!”
“What will you do?” Josiah asked.
Darcy and Fitzwilliam exchanged glances and Darcy said, “We will hunt him down in London and throw him in Marshalsea. As for Georgiana, well, I can only pray that these dreadful rumors do not penetrate to London. ”
He was aware that his voice wobbled at the end of that sentence, and he took a sip of Madeira to calm himself.
“I beg you not to concern yourself in that matter, Mr. Darcy,” Josiah said quickly. “My wife and Elizabeth have put their heads together, and I am confident that they will be able to squelch the rumors.”
“How?” Darcy asked baldly.
“I suggest that we join the ladies and let them explain.”
/
Drawing Room
Longbourn