When Elizabeth rose a few mornings after the Bingley wedding, a maid was already busy packing her things. Caroline was to return to London with Elizabeth and her family for Jane’s wedding to Alec Buchanan.
She turned to the maid who always attended her at Netherfield. “Please have hot water sent up for a bath, Josie. I wish to wash the dust of Hertfordshire off my feet before we leave this morning.”
The maid curtseyed and left and Elizabeth retrieved her brush from the dressing table. She went to sit in the window seat overlooking the maze in the garden.
She brushed her hair as though trying to shake loose all her troubles and at last considered writing to Mr. Darcy so he would know the truth about Mr. Wickham.
Rising to gather paper and ink, Elizabeth began composing the words in her head. When she sat to write them down, her hand trembled. Breathing deeply, she calmed her nerves and wrote out an answer for all he held against her.
I did discourage my friend from his pursuit of your sister but only because I did not think she was in love with Mr. Bingley. The manner in which she treated Colonel Fitzwilliam caused jealousy to rise up in my friend and I simply acknowledged that she seemed much happier in his presence than in the company of my friend.
When it came to the matter of Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth paused to recall the details of his betrayal of her family. She was astonished to find how painful it still was to think of even after many months. She wrote quickly so as not to prolong her misery.
As for Wickham, I will not say that he was always so wicked for I have known him since we were children. He was always the one for taking a risk or planning an adventure. We were quite close once upon a time. But as he grew, something in him changed. He became greedy and foolish. He took advantage of two young maids in my family’s employ and left one with a child to raise alone. His own father had covered his debts and debauchery as well as he might on a steward’s pay before dying of a broken heart. His only son was a wastrel though he had been given every advantage.
Here, Elizabeth paused for her tears fell too greatly for her to see. George Wickham had been her particular friend. She had thought she knew him better than anyone growing up at Pemberley. They climbed trees together and competed for Mr. Bennet’s attention.
She had not known of his misdeeds as they grew older, not until her father explained why he could not give the living at Kympton to the young man who was still dear to her at that time. She had argued her own father on his behalf and had been tricked like everyone else. Wiping her eyes and turning her attention back to her letter, she focused on Mr. Darcy. She wanted him to understand.
When my father denied Wickham the living at Kympton, I argued in his favor, threatened my father with the removal of my affection, and behaved horribly. All for a young man who did not deserve my loyalty. My father was forced to tell me all that Wickham had done after he paid him to leave Pemberley and never return. Then, this past summer in Ramsgate, Wickham tried to elope with my youngest sister as a means of ruining her. My sister Mary overheard the plans he made with Lydia and came to tell Jane, my eldest sister, and myself. We devised a plan to stop them and carried it out perfectly. My father would not be kind were he ever to see him again or hear that I had been in the same room with him. I can add no more to this letter as the maid has come in to help me dress to leave Netherfield.
Elizabeth left the letter to dry on the writing desk and rose to take her bath. When she was ready to face the day, she would seal the letter and have her uncle take it to Longbourn when the carriages pulled away from Netherfield Park.
Mr. Darcy held the missive that Elizabeth’s uncle had brought in the afternoon before his party quit Netherfield. He thought of their conversation and Lord Stafford’s manner. The man was not pleased with him, but he was cordial and he urged Mr. Darcy to think hard about judging Miss Bennet too harshly. His parting words haunted Mr. Darcy. My niece is a beautiful and wealthy young woman. You must not think she will be without suitors for long.
There was a knock upon his door and Mr. Darcy sighed as he placed the letter in the top drawer of his desk. He would read it later when the pain of their parting lessened and he could think of her without regret.
Colonel Fitzwilliam entered and sat in the chair on the other side of his desk. There was one solace; having his cousin, who was more like a brother, at hand.
“I did not see our Aunt nor Anne in the parlor. Have they gone visiting?”
Mr. Darcy nodded. “Aunt Catherine is having a wonderful time crowing to all her friends about the marriage of Georgiana to Mr. Bingley.”
Richard sat and stretched his long legs out before him. “Well, at least she is happy to brag if not exactly happy for Georgie. Poor Anne, she must tire of it as much as you or I.”
“I do not believe Anne pays much attention to her mother nowadays for Lieutenant Wickham has been a regular since the day you first brought him to Longbourn.” Mr. Darcy stood and brought out his decanter of port and two glasses.
“Could you give your blessing if he sought it? Aunt Catherine would be apoplectic if it came to such an end. Best to turn his attentions elsewhere before it causes much rancor in your home,” Richard winked at his cousin and laughed.
Mr. Darcy pointed a finger at the colonel as he poured the port. “Aunt Catherine has already said as much. You know she would never allow Anne to marry a soldier, much less a young charmer like Wickham. He and Anne would make a terrible match.”
Richard’s countenance grew serious as Darcy handed him a glass. “I could marry her and see her well taken care of Darcy, for I do have tender feelings for Anne. But I could not for the life me take Aunt Catherine in the bargain. That woman…”
“You cannot be serious!” Darcy exclaimed as he leaned against his desk. “You and Anne! I admire your generous spirit, cousin, but she might never give you children or even be able to carry out her wifely duties. Forgive my blunt speech, but I doubt you wish to live the celibate life when you take a wife.”
Choking on the sip of port he had taken, Richard held up a hand to stop his cousin. When he was able to speak again, he shared the hope he had with Darcy. “Anne’s health has been much improved since seeing the doctor Miss Bennet sent to her. My father would provide a stipend for us as I will never work in London alongside my brother. I cannot stand to live in the Town. I could use that to fund that physician Miss Bennet sent to us.”
Darcy finally saw his cousin was serious. The mention of Miss Bennet caused him to pause for a moment before addressing his cousin’s offer.
“Am I to understand that you love Anne? Because if you truly do, I would be more than happy to have you as my steward. Mr. Givens is ready to retire in the next few months and I have not yet interviewed for anyone to fill his position. You would have a large cottage and plenty of land to farm if you like, or put in flower gardens for Anne. There is a smaller cottage Aunt Catherine could have that also sits on the property.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam swallowed the last of his port and motioned for his cousin to refill his glass. “Anne would have to accept me first and I still need to serve out my commission and speak with my father. I would be more than pleased to accept your offer if Anne will accept mine at some point.”
The men clinked their glasses to celebrate their understanding and drank together. When Mr. Darcy returned to his seat, Richard broached the topic of Miss Bennet. “Has she gone, then?”
Mr. Darcy nodded. “She is made for London and all its splendor. I was a fool to fall in love or think she might ever wish to remain in Hertfordshire.”
“But you argued with her, Darcy. You told her you loved her and then told her all the things you could never accept about her. I do not know what you were thinking. Any woman would have run away from such foolishness.”
“What would you have me do? Live a lie? She tried to ruin Georgiana’s happiness and interfered in Wickham’s life until he was left to soldier for his living. You know I despise a meddling woman,” Mr. Darcy said.
“Be that as it may, Miss Bennet would have made the perfect match for you, cousin. She could have helped you make Longbourn the estate of your dreams with her dowry.” Richard rose and sat his empty glass on Mr. Darcy’s desk.
“Her mother disowned her because she refused the proposal of her cousin. A duke. A duke could not win her hand, Richard. What chance do you think I have?”
“I suppose there is none and yet I see that you pine for her. That you wish you could offer for her and hear her say yes. Put aside your pride, Darcy. It goeth before a fall as the good book tells us,” Richard left his cousin with these words.
Mr. Darcy thought of the letter in his desk drawer and poured another glass of port. He told himself there was nothing she could say that would change what had passed between them.