Page 43 of The Talented Daughters of Longbourn
“It will not be difficult,” Elizabeth said reassuringly, looking first at Mr. Fitzwilliam and then at Mr. Darcy, though her gaze lingered long on Mr. Darcy.
“If Colonel Forster does his duty and silences his officers’ tongues, well, the rest is simple enough; we need merely to replace the story about Miss Darcy with a more interesting one yet.
Namely, with your permission, we will spread details of Mr. Wickham’s crimes – that he left hundreds of pounds of debts in Derbyshire that Mr. Darcy redeemed, that he has ruined servant girls at Pemberley, that Mr. Darcy gave him thousands of pounds to give up a church living and Wickham wasted it all within a short time.
Given that he has debts here as well, and that he has absconded to London, the truth and anger at the man will grow, and quickly, and drown away any rumors about Miss Darcy.
That is, of course, if we have permission to share those details about Wickham’s past.”
“Yes, of course,” Darcy replied, and he felt his shoulders relax. All should be well; Meryton was some distance from London and Miss Elizabeth was correct that the gossip about Wickham was sufficiently scintillating that it would spread like wildfire.
“What should I do?” Bingley asked.
“If you would be so kind as to tell your housekeeper that Wickham is a liar and a cheat, along with being a spendthrift and a seducer, that would be very helpful as well,” Elizabeth said, and smiled. “She is related to half the families in the district, and she will distribute the news with ease.”
“I must thank you all,” Darcy said and felt his throat clog a little. He cleared it and said, “It is very kind of you to work hard to assist us in this matter. ”
“Nonsense, Mr. Darcy,” Charlotte said warmly. “Miss Darcy is a delightful young woman whom it is our honor to serve, and moreover, we will soon be distant relations, after all.”
This, not unnaturally, provoked open confusion on Bingley’s face, and Darcy found himself explaining, with significant discomfort, that Miss Bennet had accepted Richard Fitzwilliam’s hand in marriage.
Elizabeth, who knew that Bingley had been rejected by her sister, could see the flash of hurt on the man’s face, but the master of Netherfield was well mannered, and he promptly turned to Fitzwilliam and offered his congratulations.
He would mourn alone tonight at losing any chance with the most beautiful lady of his acquaintance.
/
Drawing Room
Later
“My dear Charles, where have you been?” Miss Bingley demanded, peering at her brother. “The butler said that you received a letter and rushed away. Is something wrong?”
Bingley sank down into a chair, blew out a breath, and said, “Yes, there is something wrong. It develops that a certain Mr. Wickham, who is an old enemy of the Darcys, has been slandering Miss Darcy’s name locally, and Mr. Bennet asked me to dine so that I could consult with him, Darcy, and Fitzwilliam in the matter. ”
Miss Bingley, who had been listening with great attention, leaned forward eagerly. “Darcy is in Hertfordshire again? Shall I have the servants prepare rooms for him and Fitzwilliam?”
“They are staying at Longbourn,” Bingley said heavily, and he then lifted his hand to stay his sister’s anticipated protests.
“They spoke to Colonel Forster earlier today and discovered that Wickham fled for London only yesterday. Darcy and his cousin will be hunting down the rogue in Town and tossing him in Marshalsea for debt.”
“And what of Miss Darcy’s reputation here?” Louisa asked in concern.
“Mrs. Bennet and her nieces, along with the other local ladies of merit, intend to spread rumors about Wickham himself. They are quite confident they can bring a halt to the pernicious whispers about Miss Darcy. ”
“It is quite disgusting that the locals would propagate reports about dear Miss Darcy,” Miss Bingley said haughtily, and then at the fearsome glare from her brother, cringed a little and added in a placating tone, “though I suppose it is the way of the world that people enjoy a good gossip.”
“I fear that is true enough,” Louisa agreed. “Come, Brother, do let us help; what is the story about this Wickham individual?”
Bingley wanted nothing more than to retire to his bedchamber and lick his metaphorical wounds, but he owed it to Darcy to help as much as possible.
“George Wickham was Darcy’s father’s godson,” he began, “but he...”
/
Charlotte Bennet’s Bedchamber
Midnight
“Josiah?”
“I had hoped you were asleep, darling. ”
“It is difficult to sleep with this child kicking me.”
Charlotte’s husband chuckled and slid into bed with his wife, pulling her close to him, relishing the wiggling mass of the child not yet born.
“Did you speak to Mr. Fitzwilliam about the marriage settlements?”
“Yes. Jane told him about the sculpting and her fiancé is being eminently reasonable. Also, Mr. Darcy will be legally bequeathing Mr. Fitzwilliam a small estate in Sussex a few years from now. Jane will be well.”
“That is excellent.”
Silence fell, and Josiah, who was weary after a long, tiring day, snuggled closer to his wife.
“Josiah?”
“Yes?” he replied, though a trifle drowsily.
“If possible, Elizabeth should journey to London soon.”
The master of Longbourn raised himself onto one elbow and used the other to run his fingers through Charlotte’s hair. “Why, my dear?”
“Because she is in love with Mr. Darcy, and I am hopeful he is equally in love with her, and they ought to be within easy distance of one another. ”
Josiah blinked in the darkness, frowned, opened his mouth, and then closed it.
He had not noticed any such thing, but Charlotte was far more observant and intuitive than he was, and she had also spent much more time with their nieces.
If his wife said that Lizzy was in love with Mr. Darcy, then she was.
If his wife said that Darcy was showing signs of admiration toward his dear niece, he was.
He thought briefly of the tenants, and the estate, and all that he did not yet know, and then set it aside. He had no right to stand in the way of Elizabeth’s happiness, and he was an intelligent man. He would and could find his way without his niece’s assistance.
“Very well, my dear,” he said meekly.