“When you were in London, you should have told me you favored Lizzy. I made such a fool of myself talking about you andher. Lordy, I said she hated you—remember?”
“I recall your words, Mrs.Wickham.”
“It is odd—once my dear Wickham was a favorite of Lizzy’s—now I am married to Mr.Wickham, and you will marry our Lizzy.”
“I will marry Elizabeth,” is all the response he gave to her references to George Wickham.
“Oh, by the way, Mr. Darcy, my husband sends you his congratulations.” She slipped into his hand a letter addressed to Darcy, written in the distinctive script of George Wickham. He tried not to show the anxiety he felt at seeing it.
“Thank you, Mrs. Wickham.” Darcy slipped the message into his pocket to read later. Shortly, he excused himself on the pretense of borrowing a book from Mr. Bennet. Securing the book and stepping into the hallway, Darcy finally read the note in private.
19 October
Darcy,
News of your plans to marry Miss Elizabeth was both a surprise and a revelation. It appears you won the more sensible sister; she was once a favorite, but her lack of fortune decreased her worth for a man such as I. I preferred her conversation to anyone I met of late, but her exuberance will be lost to the solemnity of Pemberley. Oh, well, if that is the life Miss Elizabeth chooses, then she will just have to be happy with your wealth, will not she?
I wish I was aware of your real reason for saving Lydia’s reputation. I knew the story you offered did not make sense, but I could not quite make if right; maybe I was too desperate to see things clearly. I imagine now you would gladly pay the ten thousand pounds after all.
You won this battle, but the war is not yet complete.At least, we will once again be brothers.
GW
Darcy’s contempt at the audacity of such a note being sent shook his being. He literally shuddered with anger and disdain. Elizabeth, having missed his presence, came to find him. “What is it, Fitzwilliam?” she rushed to his side.
“A letter ofcongratulationsfrom Mr.Wickham.” His was a cold laugh.
“Please, Fitzwilliam, do not let this man ruin our time. We all have evil in us, but we all have goodness too. If you let Mr. Wickham cloud these last days of courtship, you allow the evil in, and he wins. I love you so much I would give up my life for you. Let that goodness in instead. Give me the letter; Mr. Wickham’s well wishes will make good kindling for my bedroom fire.”
He slid the envelope into her hand. “Elizabeth, how I earned your love I do not know, but I am blessed as no man is.” He pulled her close to him to escape the darkness he just felt.
She held him there briefly before saying, “Come, Love, Georgiana may need us.” She interlaced her arm through his.“Only five more days,” she whispered.
If Darcy realized Elizabeth’s anger at her sister he may not have left her that evening, but he, Mr. Bingley, and Georgiana returned to Netherfield in due time. Once everyone was to bed, Elizabeth found Jane and Lydia in Lydia’s old bedroom. Jane made her “good nights” when Elizabeth entered. “I will see you in the morning, Lizzy,” Jane said as she exited the room.
“Good night, Jane,” Elizabeth kissed her briefly on the cheek in parting.
Coming to sit across from her youngest sister, Elizabeth first forced Lydia to give her undivided attention, and then Elizabeth spoke in a stern tone, “Lydia, I plan to say this to you only once.You are my sister, and I love you, but Mr.Wickham willneverbe my brother nor will he be Mr. Darcy’s brother. Mr. Wickham willneverbe welcomed at Pemberley. If he would be foolish enough to try to come there, it would not beMr. Darcy’swrath he should fear. It would be the wrath ofMrs. Darcy.I would have him shot as a trespasser.”
“Lizzy, that is foolish; you know nothing about shooting a gun.”
“I am sure, Lydia, Mr. Darcy would be happy to teach me how to handle a gun if he knew my purpose was to rid our estate of your husband.”
“Lizzy, that is not fair to my husband. How can you think so harshly of my dear Wickham?”
“If you only knew yourdear Wickham.”
“Lizzy, I know you think me to be foolish, but I do know Mr. Wickham’s faults, but what can I do, I am his wife.”
Elizabeth pitied Lydia, but she would not let that cloud her resolve. “Thenbehis wife and not an instrument for plans of destruction. Lydia, you must grow up—you must as a wife be concerned with something more than balls and officers.”
“Lizzy, that is all I have. Jane is beautiful; you are smart; Mary is talented; Kitty is creative.What do I have besides my childish innocence—that is all the charm I have to offer?”
“Do not sell yourself as such, Lydia.You are a Bennet . . .”
“I am not valued as are you and Jane. I am sorry, Lizzy, but I have no head for reading or what makes women accomplished.”
“Lydia, Mr. Darcy did all he will do for you and Mr.Wickham. He paid Mr.Wickham’s debts, purchased for him a commission in Newcastle, and gave an additional two thousand pounds to Mama’s dowry for you.Youmustunderstand; Mr. Darcy will not bail out Mr. Wickham again just because you are my sister. I do not want you to suffer and end up in a place such as in which Mr. Darcy found you in London.”
