You and I are not the only Darcy men to have that particular problem. My father and grandfather were very similar insofar as they also preferred writing to speaking their thoughts.
I need to beg your forgiveness. I will humble myself before Matlock and my nephews when I have the opportunity. I was wilfully blind when it came to George Wickham. Even his father tried to tell me that I was erring in the way I blindly believed my former godson, but I acted as if I knew better than all of you. I was very wrong.
I have not informed him that the bequest of money (it was only £1,000) and my recommendation that he be preferred to one of the livings in our advowson have been removed from my latest executed Last Will and Testament.
My decision not to tell him was to allow him to prove himself worthy of the last chance I have given him. If he does, I may add something to my will for him. Based on what I now know of George, two Sundays will come together[4]before that happens. I do not think this opinion reflects severity; rather, it is the reality of who George has become.
I know you will be a good master of Pemberley, and our other estates, as I can see you care for our people who depend on us as much as I do. I have no doubt you will do your duty in caring for the estates and all of those who make them what they are. As long as you are always honest and of good character, you will not go wrong.
If I ever need to, I will promote Chalmers tobe the new steward because he is a man in Lucas Wickham’s mould. I tell you this in case, when you are the master, you need a new steward. Wickham has trained Chalmers as an under-steward for some years now so I am confident, when the time comes, as long as he has not taken a position elsewhere, he will be a good choice to work at Pemberley. I of course hope that it will be many years before you are the one to manage the steward and the estate, but in case that is not the reality, I wanted you to know that if you need a new steward, Chalmers has my full confidence and trust.
There is something I must make clear in case I have not while I lived. You and Gigi have been the reason that made my life worth living after your mother was taken from us. My Anne knew me well, which was why she made me vow what she did. She was right, had I retreated into my grief I would have missed the wonders of watching you two grow. As much as I miss your mother, you, William, and Gigi have been a balm to my soul. A father could not love his children more than I love you two.
I charge you to judge by character and not wealth and rank. I know that your mother and I may have erred in having you think too well of yourself. However, I believe that with your character you will move past that and become the best of men.
William, before I close this letter, I need to clarify something. I realise you may misconstrue what I mean when I say that I want you to make a ‘brilliant’ match.
Ido notrefer to status, rank, connections, and or wealth. I am talking of a match like yourmother and I had. A felicitous one built on respect and love. You need the former to truly have the latter.
Your mother and I did not come together because of the things I list above, even though they were present on both sides. There were intangibles which led to us marrying. It all began with mutual respect. The love soon followed. I can tell you that for both of us, had I been a lowly country squire or your mother the daughter of such a squire without any dowry, we would have still married.
On that subject, your mother never promised you in marriage to your cousin, Anne de Bourgh, and more importantly, I never agreed. Unless you choose to marry Anne, you have no obligation to marry my niece.
In addition, it is my belief that first cousins should not marry.
Be the man your mother and I hoped you would be.
Father
9 November 1803
I am adding to this letter because Mr Lucas Wickham passed away on the 5th of this month.
Our local physician opines that Mr Wickham was poisoned, although there is no proof thereof. The Wickham’s cottage was searched when George was at the interment, and no bitter almonds were found.
Because of this I am contacting Kincaid in Lambton to add to my will. I had thought that I had until after your majority to show you the place in the wall where the letter regarding theline of succession of Rosings Park, those from your mother, and some from me are. Just in case the worst happens to me, the new clause will tell you how to find the secret compartment.
For his own reason, your great-great-grandfather Darcy had it added to the wood panelling near the sideboard.
Of course, I hope that I will see you when you turn one and twenty and be able to show you the compartment myself. It is not like I am ill, that I know of.
We do not have to concern ourselves that Chalmers will leave, I have made him my new steward.
William, a father could not be prouder of a son than I am of you, your improper pride and all.
Father
What he read about the suspicion Wickham had had a hand in his own father’s death confirmed what the doctor told him at the time. Once they found the cut-open sack near where his father had met his end, Darcy and Richard had been sure it was Wickham who was responsible. Unfortunately, with no proof, there was little they could do about it. This reminder of what the bastard had taken from him angered him all over again. It took some minutes before he calmed enough to think on his father’s words.
Like his mother, his father had seen improper pride in him, yet neither of them had corrected him.
Darcy knew that as an adult, he was responsible for his actions. It was his fault, not that of his parents. He was well pleased he had punched the wood where he had. Without it, he would not have been able to read his parents’ words, and he would not have been able to hand Anna her first letter.
He was well aware his sister would be so very pleased, as she had never received anything from Mother that had been especially meant for her.
Anna’s missive was in his valise along with the one which would identify the family of Eloise de Bourgh and lead to the discovery of the heir to Rosings Park. Darcy was on his way to Kent, where he would hand the epistle to his uncle. As he had not heard anything to the contrary, he believed that Anne yet lived, so he would be able to see her and say a proper goodbye.
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