Chapter 11
While Mrs. Bennet loudly opposed being dismissed, Elizabeth glanced at Jane, then followed her father into the library.
“Close the door and sit down,” he said, gesturing to a chair.
He filled a glass with brandy for himself, then sat too. “You look well, Lizzy. The journey to the North obviously suited you. It must have been quite special.”
“It was. I am sure Aunt and Uncle told you all the details. Unfortunately, it did not end well at all. Please tell me what news you have, Papa.”
“I shall. However, your uncle and aunt gave me some details, though not all. So I should ask, what news do you have, Lizzy?”
“Me? No news, Papa,” she replied, feeling her cheeks warming.
“Then I might be in a state of utter confusion, as I understand nothing. Until recently, I was certain that you and Mr. Wickham shared a mutual admiration, that you grieved over the tragedies in his life, and that both of you also shared a deep hatred and resentment for Mr. Darcy!”
Mr. Bennet was sitting in his favourite chair, sipping from his glass repeatedly, and Elizabeth knew he was making sport of her.
“Now, imagine your father’s shock, Lizzy, when I found out that Mr. Wickham suffered a sudden change of heart and his preference switched from my second daughter to my youngest, inducing him to elope with her. Of course, there were also debts of over five thousand pounds and many creditors chasing him that added to his sudden desire to marry, but that is another discussion.”
“Five thousand pounds, Papa?” Elizabeth cried.
“Now, now, let us not be hasty. Let me tell you how my sanity suffered another shock, even greater, when I found myself facing Mr. Darcy — of all men — joining me and my brother Gardiner and offering his assistance and his support in the quest for Wickham.”
“I understand your astonishment and confusion, Papa. But I must insist that I have no news to share, other than what you know.”
“Apparently, I know nothing. Your uncle told me you and Mr. Darcy are good friends, which would explain his generosity towards them — and towards me. When did your opinion change so dramatically? When did you move from hatred to friendship?”
“My opinion of both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham changed when I was in Kent, and I discovered pieces of evidence concerning their true characters. But at that time, Mr. Darcy and I had some horrible quarrels, and we separated more as enemies than friends. It was only when we met at Pemberley, by pure accident, that we resolved our past misunderstandings and improved our relationship.”
“Yes, Mr. Darcy told me something similar. And Colonel Fitzwilliam jested at his expense.”
“Papa, what are you saying? You met Colonel Fitzwilliam too? When? Was he not in Derbyshire?”
“Yes, I did. Apparently, he returned to London a few days ago, and we made his acquaintance. A most excellent man and exceedingly pleasing company.”
“Papa, I do not understand! You sound like you spent your time in entertainment and amusement. Please be serious!”
“I am as serious as anyone. We had enough time between the day of the discovery to the day when Wickham agreed to marry Lydia and the settlement was signed. Which happenedyesterday. What better entertainment than to laugh at my own folly?”
“You should have written to us more often! We were sick with worry, Papa.”
“So was I, my dear. But there was not much to write about. I am embarrassed to admit that my daughter is marrying such a scoundrel, with no honour and no shame. And I am beyond mortified to confess how little effort and trouble I put into resolving this dreadful situation.”
“Papa, what do you mean? Please speak in earnest. What happened? How did you find them? Will they marry?”
“Mr. Darcy discovered Wickham and Lydia the same evening he arrived in London. We were fortunate that he knew the scoundrel’s habits and a certain Mrs. Younge. Regardless, he discovered them, we brought Lydia to your uncle’s house, and from that moment, we began to bargain with Wickham. He came to Gracechurch Street and declared he had all those debts, creditors chasing him, and had to leave the regiment and was unemployed. And he threatened that until those issues were resolved, he could not marry.”
“What a despicable man!”
“Well, he was your favourite, you cannot deny it. For that, you may join me in my embarrassment for many years, Lizzy. We each have reason to be ashamed of ourselves.”
“I am ready to admit my foolishness, Papa. Please tell me more.”
“There is nothing else from me, Lizzy. Your uncle and I negotiated with Wickham for two days, then — for some strange reason which apparently you wish to keep secret from me — Mr. Darcy came to ask us if we were determined to allow Lydia to marry Wickham. We were rather determined to do the opposite, but Lydia would not have it, and the uproar she caused wasbeyond sense. So, we had to let her have her way — as always. And then, Mr. Darcy stepped in.”
“Stepped in? What do you mean?” Elizabeth asked, her heart beating irregularly while chills ran down her spine.
“Well, you know Lizzy, now I am in a dilemma. Mr. Darcy specifically asked me not to tell you, but I did not promise him, I did not give him my word, so I am not certain whether I should respect his request or share the entire story.”
