Page 52 of A Prudent Engagement

“I shall save us,” Darcy said, “and state that I desire to marry as soon as is practical, so long as it does not make you unhappy. But, if you wish to wait the whole three months, I truly do not object.”

“I-I do not think that I wish to wait that long. No.” Elizabeth then smiled. “No, I certainly do not wish to wait longer to start the next stage of my life. I shall still be filled with sadness for Papa, but he would not have wished me to make a great show of mourning him.”

Darcy smiled at her. “We shall then marry as soon as is practical.”

Elizabeth said, “But practical includes Mama’s notion that you ought to seek a special licence—I see you make a face.”

“Using a special licence seems unnecessary to me,” Darcy said. “A sort of fashionable rushing about and a desire to show oneself as being above the bonds of society.”

“A pity,” Mr. Miles said. “I have never married anyone by special licence. Then, I shall expect to marry you in about six weeks’ time, with the possible addition of a week or two if there are delays in receiving the information from your rector in Kympton.”

When the three set off from the parsonage, Mr. Gardiner said, “I do not like Mr. Wickham’s presence near my nieces—I now have a greater responsibility to attend to their welfare, and if I see a matter I dislike, I cannot console myself with the notion that it is my brother Bennet’s duty.”

“I do not like his presence here either,” Darcy said with a deep frown, “but I do not know how to remove him.”

“You fear,” Elizabeth said to Darcy, “that he may say things harmful to persons other than yourself.”

Elizabeth had a thoughtful manner about her, and her eyes were full of concern when she looked at him.

“You mean to say,” Mr. Gardiner suggested, “that it would be best if he could be removed or warned off without requiring you to take the leading role.”

Darcy nodded.

“What are his vices?” Mr. Gardiner asked. “Does he tend to gamble? He dresses in fine fabrics, newly tailored attire—that must be difficult on such a small income as he receives from his position in the regiment. Do you know where he could get such funds?”

“He often borrowed money that he did not mean to repay. He also received three thousand pounds some years ago in compensation for a living that my father intended for him in his will. Then, only three years later, when the incumbent died, Wickham begged to receive the living after all on account of, at the time, being in most difficult circumstances. I assumed that he had spent it all.”

“Aha,” Mr. Gardiner said. “That you refused to grant it to him is a matter that was talked about a great deal when we visited at Christmas. That he received compensation for it was not. I may be able to make much of this.”

Darcy grimaced. “I do not like to have my business talked about.”

Elizabeth put her hand on his. “I also hate that Mr. Wickham is here. I am concerned about what damage he might do and what he may have already done if some of the tradesmen in town have lent to him on easier terms than they ought. I do not like him. The thought of seeing him again, after what I know—he abused my prejudices and my friendly feeling towards him.”

“Quite,” Mr. Gardiner agreed. “I hope that I can make it so uncomfortable for him that he will decide to no longer remain in the neighbourhood. That would greatly set my mind at ease. I think what you have already told me may be sufficient to achieve that.”

Darcy let out a long gust of air. “That he received compensation for the living is something that I can have no unhappiness in seeing spread about, nor do I imagine that my saying that much would lead to his retaliation. But he does have information that could do harm to those under my protection.”

“I shall keep any notion that you wished to have this matter spoken of out of the conversation.” Mr. Gardiner rubbed his hands together. “I still have a wide acquaintance in Meryton. You need not speak to anyone. I see that the thought of conversing about such matters makes you uncomfortable.”

Darcy nodded stiffly; he felt both gratitude and discomfort that such a preference was so easily seen. “I thank you.”

“Wickham has always seemed to be a fellow of little account to me. At his age, to not be settled in a professional line denotes a lack of some essential feature of character.”

“Uncle!” Elizabeth exclaimed, “I rather think you are judging me and the rest of us girls who admired him.”

Mr. Gardiner grinned at his niece with a twist to his expression that reminded Darcy of Elizabeth when she was in a mischievous mood.

“And now that we are returned to Longbourn,” Mr. Gardiner said, “I shall leave you two lovers to the chaperonage of my sister whilst I go into town to speak with auld acquaintance not forgot—a proper occupation for a Sunday.”

As they watched Mr. Gardiner walk with a sprightly step down the path, Elizabeth said, “I hope you will come to like my uncle Gardiner. I value him greatly.”

“Mr. Gardiner is always polite and civil,” Darcy replied mechanically, without considering how what he would say might sound to Elizabeth, “and I know he must be competent to succeed in business, but it still is a matter of some discomfort to me to treat a man in trade, no matter how respectable their line of business, as an equal. I dislike too much familiarity.”

“Are you frightened that he will spend all of his time trying to draw you into schemes financially advantageous to him?” There was a sharp tone of sarcasm to Elizabeth’s question.

“Yes,” Darcy replied simply. “And while I expect that my resources will be used by those who now find themselves connected to me, I shall always keep such seeking for advantage within tight bounds.”

Elizabeth grimaced.