|
Upstairs Downstairs
There was no sound
in the room, save for the gasp that escaped from a very shocked
Jane Bennet. Darcy's incredulous gaze took in his beloved's face
and manner. He could not believe his ears. His response was on
his lips when there was a noise from the corridor without. Instinctively,
the pair drew apart before the door was thrown open.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner
were all concern. "Jane; Elizabeth - what has happened?
The parlor-maid…Mr. Darcy! You are here, too?" He took
in the countenance of his nieces and turned on the gentleman.
"Sir, I must ask you to explain yourself."
"Mr. Gardiner;
Mrs. Gardiner; forgive me. Bingley and I came upon your nieces
just as they received some distressing news from home. I have
only remained until your return; and I leave these ladies to
your most excellent care. I shall intrude no more, and wish you
and your lady good day; but sir, if I might have a few moments
of your time when your business with your relations is completed?"
Gardiner was no
fool; he saw the earnest look in Elizabeth's eye. "Very
well, sir."
"Excellent.
I shall be in the public room below." With that he took
his leave.
Mrs. Gardiner then
spoke to Miss Bennets. "My dears, what in heaven has happened?"
~~~~}+{~~~~
Darcy found Bingley
pacing the public room. He would not allow him to speak; and
he took his friend's elbow and led him to the table in the furthest
corner of the room.
Bingley could be
silent no longer. "What is this? What are we waiting for?"
Darcy gave Bingley
the most intense of glares. "Will you hold your tongue,
Bingley? Do you wish all of Lambton to know the Bennets' business?"
Bingley collected
himself. "Quite, quite…you are correct, sir. But I
do not understand this delay. You do mean to go with me, do you
not?"
"Charles,"
Darcy began carefully, "you are an admirable fellow, to
be sure, but I must say that there is no reason for you to be
involved in this business…"
"No reason!"
he hissed. "Darce, do you mean not to help?"
Darcy glared again.
"I was speaking of you, Charles, not me."
"I cannot see
that you have any interest in this affair that is superior to
mine."
Darcy sighed - he
would have to reveal himself. Well, I might as well get used
to it - concealment has been my downfall. "I am afraid
I do have a connection to this, Charles. I am well acquainted
with Wickham's infamous character, but I chose not to reveal
it to the world at large. I had my reasons - foolish reasons
- but they are such that I will not share with you now, in this
public place. Be assured that I will tell you all, later. It
is because I would not take the trouble to expose Wickham that…that
this incident has occurred. I am responsible. I must make amends.
But you have no injury…"
"Injury enough
for a gentleman!"
Darcy mouth contorted
into a lopsided grin. "You speak of Miss Bennet? Do you
have an understanding, then?"
Bingley looked down.
"No." He then looked at his companion. "But I
shall not see her in distress if it be in my power to relieve
her. Besides - I do not think I am alone in my admiration of
the Bennets." At Darcy's alarmed look, Bingley laughed.
"You are quite transparent, Darce. But do not despair -
it is my opinion that the lady does not look upon you with disfavor."
No, she does
not - but is it for the right reasons? Pushing those thoughts aside, Darcy returned
to the issue at hand. "Charles, is it your wish to aid me
in this endeavor?"
"If you mean
to be of service to the Bennets, then yes - with all my heart."
He looked hard at
his friend. "I will not say that I do not want your help;
it indeed would be a comfort. But I must make myself clear: this
is my task. The fault is mine and so must the remedy be.
I will brook no interference from anyone, no matter how dear
they might be to me. If you wish to help me, then you must be
guided by me - you must agree to follow my instructions to the
letter, without question. This is absolute. You must agree now
or we must go our separate ways in this matter."
Bingley sat back.
"You speak strongly, Darcy."
"Charles -
I know Wickham. I know his character. I know to whence
he will flee. I know what motivates him - what will work with
him. You, with no knowledge of the man, do not. You will never
find him; and neither will the Bennets. I am the only chance
at success in this matter."
"You say you
know where he is?"
"I know where
he will go, rather. If he is not there, he soon will be."
"How is this?
How do you know him so well?"
"This is not
the first time I have had dealing with that…gentleman."
Bingley winced;
never had he heard the word "gentleman' uttered with such
contempt. I wonder if I really wish to hear of his history
with Wickham. "Very well, Darce - it shall be as you
say. Here is my hand upon it."
Darcy grasped the
offered hand heartily. "You are too good - thank you, my
friend."
"So, my captain,
what is our first step?"
"We must speak
with Mr. Gardiner before we do anything else."
Bingley looked at
the stairs. "That might take some time, Darce. What say
you to a porter while we wait?"
~~~~}+{~~~~
The gentlemen had
hardly touched their drinks before Mr. Gardiner descended from
above. It took him but a moment to discover Darcy's table and
move towards it. He took the offered chair with a tired grunt.
"Would you
care for anything?" offered Darcy.
"I believe
something stronger than porter would not be un-welcomed, sir."
Bingley caught the girl's attention and soon a glass of acceptable
port was before Mr. Gardiner. "Well, sirs," be began
after taking a sip, "it seems you both are aware of our
troubles."
"It was quite
unintentional, sir," Darcy apologized.
"That is my
understanding. What I do not comprehend is your intention to
involve yourselves in this matter."
"Sir!"
cried Bingley, "as gentlemen we feel it our duty to offer
what assistance we may."
Gardiner looked
at the both of them closely. "So you say. You must admit
that it is unusual for men of your station to become a party
to such unseemliness…unless there are other motivations?"
He put down his glass. "Come, sirs - let us not bandy about.
What is your interest in this event? Do either of you have an
understanding with one of my nieces?"
"Mr. Gardiner."
Darcy spoke almost immediately, hoping to stop the blush he was
sure was covering his face. Did Elizabeth truly mean what
she said? I cannot - will not - hold her to it. "I will
not insult your intelligence. Both Mr. Bingley and I admire your
nieces. There are no understandings of that nature to
report, however. Our interest in this affair comes from another
quarter…" Darcy then explained his history with Wickham,
leaving out only the events at Ramsgate. "There are other
examples of Wickham's wickedness which I cannot go into here.
If you wish to know more, I will be willing to relate all to
you in more private settings. Be it as it may, I feel it is due
to my lack of judgment in not exposing Wickham to the world's
scorn that…the lady in question was not protected from that
man."
Gardiner was taken
aback. "Sir, you take too much upon yourself." The
two fell into an earnest discussion, to which Bingley was a silent
witness. Eventually, Mr. Gardiner gave way. "I say, you
are intent upon your purpose! It seems I cannot do anything but
welcome your assistance, and your friend's, too."
"I thank you,
sir. May we call on you when you reach town?"
"That would
be satisfactory. Here is my card. I take it you gentlemen plan
to leave directly?"
Darcy glanced at
his friend, who nodded. "As soon as we make our excuses
at Pemberley. We leave before nightfall." He picked up the
card. "'Gracechurch Street.' A lovely part of town."
Gardiner was again
surprised - he never thought a man like Darcy would ever enter
Cheapside. "You are familiar with it, sir?"
"I have been
through that part of London. That's where Beltbeck lives, Bingley."
Gardiner laughed.
"That old thief? Surely you are paying too much for your
wine, Mr. Darcy."
Darcy smiled. "Then
I shall have additional business with you as well, sir."
~~~~}+{~~~~
Eventually all was
packed and the three ladies descended from the rooms upstairs.
Elizabeth was grateful to see that Darcy had remained with her
uncle to escort them to the carriage. "Mr. Bingley is not
here?" she asked for Jane's sake.
Darcy talked to
Elizabeth but looked at Jane. "He has gone ahead to make
our excuses to our people at Pemberley. He sends his most earnest
complements. I will join him directly and thence to London."
Mrs. Gardiner glanced at her husband but said nothing.
Elizabeth turned
to her uncle once they were out of doors. "Sir, might I
have a few moments to speak with Mr. Darcy?" Gardiner looked
to his wife, who raised an eyebrow. Finding no objection, he
gave his permission. The two walked about ten paces distance
before Darcy spoke.
"Miss Elizabeth,
I…I must tell you…"
"Mr. Darcy,"
she interrupted, "You must permit me to apologize for my…unseemly
declaration in the upper rooms earlier." She closed her
eyes, her mortification was so great. How could she say such
a thing to him - to such a man - surely the best man in the world?
"I am afraid I have embarrassed you…and dishonored
your noble intentions. What you have volunteered to do for my
family! We will never be able to repay…"
Darcy could stand
for no more. "Miss Elizabeth, please. If you will thank
me let it be for yourself alone. That the wish of giving happiness
to you might add force to the other inducements which led me
on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your family owes me nothing.
Much as I respect them, I believe I thought only of you.''
Elizabeth was too
much embarrassed to say a word.
After a short pause,
her companion added, "You are too generous to trifle with
me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell
me so at once. Speak plainly and fear not - I shall not deviate
from my intended course of action, no matter the answer. My affections
and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence
me on this subject forever."
Elizabeth looked
up at him, for the first time in perfect clarity. She beheld
a tall, handsome man, graced by his Creator with a superb mind
and understanding, raked with fear and uncertainty. She knew
her own feelings at last, and she now knew as well that as excellent
a man as Fitzwilliam Darcy was, he was a person who needed reassurance
desperately. Only absolute truth would do for him. She closed
her eyes and with all the courage she possessed she answered
him:
"Sir, I may
give you pain with this undignified response; I am sorry. You
deserve better. But I must tell you that while I apologize for
the manner of my statement, I cannot deny the truth of
it. I meant every word I spoke upstairs…Fitzwilliam."
She opened her eyes
and looked at him though her lashes. She thought she was prepared
for his response, and she was very wrong. He did not touch her
- as they were in a public street in broad daylight such an idea
would be alien to either of them. He did not need to. His face
glowed with wonderment, then joy, then contentment - all flashing
across his countenance in a trice. But his eyes grew so dark
and intense Elizabeth could feel her very soul burn with feelings
never before experienced. She knew then she was lost; and that
her sanity, if not survival, depended upon being in his company
again, and very soon.
He pitched his voice
very low, just for her ears. "I would move Heaven and Earth
for you, Elizabeth…" - she thrilled at the mention
of her name - "…and I shall. I will not fail you."
She replied in the
same manner. "You cannot, Fitzwilliam. I do not say what
I do because of what you pledge to do for me. I say it instead
because you want to do it for me. I honor the man - not
the action."
At that his face
broke into a wide grin and his body seemed to relax. "Thank
you for that, but my mind is determined. I will succeed."
She smiled in return.
"I know." And somehow she did. She could not believe
how easy it was to converse with him, now that all illusions
were gone.
He glanced up. "Your
companions are eager to go; and I too must be on my way."
In a louder voice as he bowed over her hand, "I take my
leave of you, Miss Elizabeth. I shall write to your mother."
She knew all he did was right and proper, but she did feel a
pang of disappointment that he did not sweep her up in his arms.
By the time they had returned to the carriage, she recovered
her senses and was able to observe him complete his leave-taking
with composure and pride. Soon the party was in the Gardiner
carriage and Darcy was astride his horse. "Farewell and
safe journey! Mr. Gardiner, until London!" A wave and he
rode away.
The carriage was
moving for several minutes before Mrs. Gardiner broke the pregnant
silence. "Do you have any news for us, Elizabeth?"
"Not…not
today, Aunt," she replied, "but perhaps one day soon."
"He is a fine
man to be sure, Lizzy…"
"He is the
best of men, Aunt - as he will prove in the days to come.
And Mr. Bingley, too." She grasped Jane's hand as she said
this.
"Yes,"
said Jane in a low voice as she gazed out the window, "and
Mr. Bingley, too."
Mrs. Gardiner knew
she was not to get any more information out of her nieces, so
she turned to her husband. "Mr. Gardiner, would you please
tell me how Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley became involved in this
business?"
The story took some
time, and it would be at least two hours before the discussion
turned to what to do at Longbourn.
~~~~}+{~~~~
"Charles, what
has happened? Why must you leave so abruptly?"
Bingley was overseeing
his man pack his things. "I have told you, Caroline; urgent
business calls me to London - and Darcy, too."
"But you tell
us nothing!"
"I told you
all you need to know." He sighed. "Georgiana asks nothing;
she just sees to her brother's things."
Caroline was aghast
at the censure in her brother's words. Louisa leapt to her defense.
"Charles, that is unfair…"
Bingley could stand
for no more. "How is pointing out one's duty being unfair?"
When Bingley returned
to Pemberley, he found Georgiana and his sisters in the music
room. Waiting until Hurst could be found and brought to him,
he informed the group of his and Darcy's intention to leave for
London immediately. Georgiana was distressed, but asked no questions.
She and Mrs. Reynolds went to see about Darcy's things, planning
to ask her brother privately about it when he returned. Caroline
was not so circumspect.
"Charles -
you can not talk to me in that manner!" cried Caroline.
Bingley was silent.
He turned, strode out of his bedroom and walked downstairs, his
complaining sisters in his wake. Despite their entreaties he
would say nothing. Soon he entered the billiards room, where
he found Hurst lining up a shot.
"Hurst,"
he cried, "can you do nothing with these relations of ours?"
Hurst looked up
incredulously. "What do you expect me to do with
them?"
"Anything!
Take them to Scarborough; lock them in the Tower; put them on
a boat to Australia; just keep them out of my hair!"
Hurst considered.
"I do not think the Regent with allow me the Tower…"
"Mr. Hurst!"
cried his wife.
"Oh, hush,
Louisa."
"Perhaps you
can bully my sister," Caroline said as she pushed around
her brother, "but I will not stand for it! No one will tell
me to hold my tongue!"
"Caroline…"
said Bingley dangerously.
"This is all
very singular! You and Mr. Darcy ride into Lambton to retrieve
those…ladies from Herefordshire; and you later return exclaiming
your intention to remove to Town instantly, and without your
family! What has happened? I know it has to do with those Bennet
creatures…"
An incensed Bingley
suddenly smiled, while a horrified Louisa whispered, "Caroline
- stop!"
"I will not
stop! I will have my say about this! Does someone have need of
special license, I wonder? Has someone been caught by arts and
allurements…?"
"Whose 'arts
and allurements' do you refer to, Miss Bingley?" came a
voice from behind her.
Caroline's stomach
fell to her feet.
"'Arts and
allurements' - are you speaking of your own, Miss Bingley?"
asked a dusty Mr. Darcy, just in from riding from Lambton. "You
would not be so crass as to speak such of either of the Miss
Bennets in my house, would you?"
Caroline and Louisa
gasped.
"I see that
I will have to make something clear to you all. The Bennet family
is under my protection now." Darcy moved into the billiards
room, his hands clasped behind his back.
"And mine!"
added Bingley.
"Just so, Charles.
But what I wished to say was that as that good and honorable
family is under my protection, I will not brook any snide remarks
or unsubstantiated rumors within my hearing, or in any house
I own. This is absolute. Any violation of these most reasonable
requirements will subject the person in question to my displeasure."
He walked over to Caroline. "We would not want that, would
we?"
Caroline was so
horrified she could say nothing.
"I will make
something else clear. There is nothing to announce - either
for myself or for Charles. The Bennets and the Gardiners are
our friends, nothing more; and I take friendship very
seriously." Again he turned to Caroline. "It is my
earnest hope that nothing…untoward is spread abroad regarding
those fine people. For if I do hear of such things, I would be
displeased. That would be most unfortunate for the one spreading
such stories. They would lose my good opinion; and as you know,
once my good opinion is lost it is lost forever."
Ask George Wickham, thought Bingley.
"Are you ready
to leave, Charles?" He said while staring at Caroline.
"I shall just
see to it, old boy. I should not be a moment." With a grin
to his sisters, he left the room.
"Excellent.
Hurst, can you manage without us?"
Hurst looked Darcy
in the eye. "We shall leave for Scarborough immediately."
"There is no
rush, Hurst."
"Perhaps not,
but I think it proper. You will excuse us, I trust?"
"Mr. Hurst!"
cried his wife again.
"Louisa,"
Hurst replied, "see to our things. Now. Caroline, how soon
can you be packed?"
"I…I cannot
leave Georgiana!" she cried, looking for an out.
"Bah!"
he said to her. "Georgiana is safe here with Mrs. Annesley
and the Pemberley staff. She has lived here for weeks at a time
while Darcy was in Town on business. You had no objections then.
Your place is not here. And if you wish to continue to reside
with me, you had best see to your packing!"
The sisters saw
defeat when it was before their eyes; they quit the room directly.
"Well said,
Hurst," said Darcy. "Please excuse me - I must to Georgiana
now."
"Whatever,"
the man replied as he lined up a shot.
~~~~}+{~~~~
Caroline Bingley
was in a fury over her brother's treatment of her. She stewed
as the maid packed her things. It was obvious to her that something
disastrous had happened to the Bennets; why her brother and Mr.
Darcy were involved was no mystery to her. It had to be for the
oldest reason in the world. Elizabeth Bennet had gotten to Mr.
Darcy before Caroline could.
Well, there was
more than one way to skin a cat.
"You, girl
- is there pen and paper in that desk?"
"Aye, ma'am,
there is," she answered. Of course there is, you witch!
Where do you think you are? This is Pemberley!
Caroline smiled
tightly, a plan coming to her. "Continue packing - I must
write a letter."
~~~~}+{~~~~
"I have been
thinking it over again, girls," said their aunt, as they
drove from the town; "and really, upon serious consideration,
it appears to me so very unlikely that any young man should form
such a design against a girl who is by no means unprotected or
friendless, and who was actually staying in his colonel's family,
that I am strongly inclined to hope the best. Could he expect
that her friends would not step forward? Could he expect to be
noticed again by the regiment, after such an affront to Colonel
Forster? His temptation is not adequate to the risk. It is really
too great a violation of decency, honor, and interest, for him
to be guilty of it. I cannot think so very ill of Wickham. Can
you yourself, Lizzy, as to believe him capable of it?"
"Not, perhaps,
of neglecting his own interest; but of every other neglect
I can believe him capable! Why should they not go on to Scotland,
if that had been the case?"
"In the first
place," replied Mrs. Gardiner, "there is no absolute
proof that they are not gone to Scotland."
"Oh!"
said her husband, "but their removing from the chaise into
a hackney coach is such a presumption! And, besides, no traces
of them were to be found on the Barnet road."
"Well, then
- supposing them to be in London," continued Mrs. Gardner.
"They may be there, though for the purpose of concealment,
for no more exceptionable purpose. It is not likely that money
should be very abundant on either side; and it might strike them
that they could be more economically, though less expeditiously,
married in London than in Scotland."
Jane said uneasily,
"But why all this secrecy? Why any fear of detection? Why
must their marriage be private?"
Elizabeth jumped
in. "Oh! no, no - this is not likely. His most particular
friend, you see by Kitty's account, was persuaded of his never
intending to marry her. Wickham will never marry a woman without
some money. He cannot afford it."
Mr. Gardner shook
his head. "All that Mr. Darcy has told me collaborates this.
And what claims has Lydia - what attractions has she beyond youth,
health, and good-humor, that could make him, for her sake, forego
every chance of benefiting himself by marrying well? As to what
restraint the apprehension of disgrace in the corps might throw
on a dishonorable elopement with her, I am not able to judge;
for I know nothing of the effects that such a step might produce.
But as to your other objection, I am afraid it will hardly hold
good. Lydia has no brothers to step forward; and he might imagine,
from my brother's former behavior, from his indolence and the
little attention he has ever seemed to give to what was going
forward in his family, that he would do as little and think as
little about it as any father could do, in such a matter."
Mrs. Gardner tried
again. "But can you think that Lydia is so lost to everything
but love of him as to consent to live with him on any other terms
than marriage?"
"It does seem,
and it is most shocking indeed," replied Jane, with tears
in her eyes, "that a sister's sense of decency and virtue
in such a point should admit of doubt. But, really, I know not
what to say. Perhaps I am not doing her justice."
Elizabeth cried,
"She is very young; she has never been taught to think on
serious subjects; and for the last half year - nay, for a twelvemonth
- she has been given up to nothing but amusement and vanity!
She has been allowed to dispose of her time in the most idle
and frivolous manner, and to adopt any opinions that came in
her way. Since the ----shire were first quartered in Meryton,
nothing but love, flirtation, and officers have been in her head.
She has been doing everything in her power, by thinking and talking
on the subject, to give greater…what shall I call it? Susceptibility
to her feelings; which are naturally lively enough. And we all
know that Wickham has every charm of person and address that
can captivate a woman."
"But you see
that Kitty," said her aunt, "does not think so ill
of Wickham as to believe him capable of the attempt."
Lizzy did not roll
her eyes. "Kitty! When has Kitty ever felt Lydia did anything
wrong, save when she be the victim? And who is there, whatever
might be their former conduct, that she would believe capable
of such an attempt, till it were proved against them? But Jane
knows, as well as I do, what Wickham really is. We both know
that he has been profligate in every sense of the word; that
he has neither integrity nor honor; that he is as false and deceitful
as he is insinuating."
"And do you
really know all this?" cried Mrs. Gardiner, whose curiosity
as to the mode of her intelligence was all alive.
"We do, indeed,"
replied Jane, coloring. "We told you, the other day, of
his infamous behavior to Mr. Darcy; and you yourself, when last
at Longbourn, heard in what manner he spoke of the man who had
behaved with such forbearance and liberality towards him."
She glanced at Lizzy. "And there are other circumstances
which I am not at liberty - which it is not worth while to relate;
but his lies about the whole Pemberley family are endless. From
what he said of Miss Darcy, I was thoroughly prepared to see
a proud, reserved, disagreeable girl. Yet he knew to the contrary
himself. He must know that she was as amiable and unpretending
as we have found her."
Mr. Gardner then
spoke of his conversation with Mr. Darcy.
"But does Lydia
know nothing of this?" cried his wife. "Can she be
ignorant of what you all seem so well to understand?"
"Oh, yes!"
said Elizabeth, "that, that is the worst of all. Till we
were in Kent and saw so much both of Mr. Darcy and his relation,
Colonel Fitzwilliam, we were ignorant of the truth ourselves.
And when we returned home, the ----shire was to leave Meryton
in a week or fortnight's time. As that was the case, neither
Jane nor I thought it necessary to make our knowledge public;
for of what use could it apparently be to any one that the good
opinion which all the neighborhood had of him should then be
overthrown? And even when it was settled that Lydia should go
with Mrs. Forster, the necessity of opening her eyes to
his character never occurred to me. That she could be in any
danger from the deception never entered my head. That such a
consequence as this should ensue, you may easily believe was
far enough from my thoughts."
"When they
all removed to Brighton, therefore, you had no reason, I suppose,
to believe them fond of each other?" said her uncle.
"Not the slightest."
said Jane. "I can remember no symptom of affection on either
side; and had anything of the kind been perceptible, you must
be aware that ours is not a family, on which it could be thrown
away. When first he entered the corps, she was ready enough to
admire him; but so we all were."
Elizabeth sighed.
"Every girl in or near Meryton was out of her senses about
him for the first two months; but he never distinguished Lydia
by any particular attention; and consequently, after a moderate
period of extravagant and wild admiration, her fancy for him
gave way, and others of the regiment, who treated her with more
distinction, again became her favorites."
"This is a
puzzlement that bodes ill," said the aunt. All in the coach
knew of what she meant: without affection, how was Wickham to
be convinced to marry Lydia?
~~~~}+{~~~~
Darcy embraced his
sister. "Do not cry, Georgie. I will write from London."
"Be careful,
brother," she sobbed. "I…I hate him, you know…"
"He will never
bother you again, Georgie - I swear it."
She kissed his cheek.
"All my love to Miss Elizabeth, brother." Darcy said
nothing, but hugged his sister tighter.
"Are you ready,
Darcy?" called Bingley from his saddle.
Without an answer,
Darcy mounted his horse. From upon it he saw the Hursts and Miss
Bingley move towards their carriage. He had not seen Caroline
slip a letter to the butler while he was bidding farewell to
Georgiana.
"Godspeed,
Fitzwilliam!" cried Georgiana.
Darcy tipped his
hat and the pair was away towards London.
|
