Page 24 of Leave Her Wild
“I did,” she said simply.
He smiled upon her. “We do not actually know each other, Miss Elizabeth, but there are moments such as these that I feel we know each other better than we do any others in this world.”
She agreed, but Elizabeth kept her opinions close to her chest. “I shall not betray to others anything you share with me,” she promised. “What occurred that was so very painful for you?”
He studied her face for several elongated seconds before he continued. “I wish I could forget Mr. Wickham’s most odious betrayal. Only Fitzwilliam knows the full extent of the devastation. Yet, as you are soon to be my sister . . .”
“Whatever you are about to say,” she cautioned, “should it not be directed to Jane? She will be your wife.”
“Yet, it is quite apparent, this family bends or stands strong at your encouragement—guided by your hand and quick wit,” he stated in firm tones. “I hold no doubt Miss Bennet would keep what I am sharing a secret, but I wonder how she might react.” He paused and a slight shake of his head said he had reorganized his thoughts
“Permit me to explain Mr. Wickham’s betrayal and you will then understand my reticence. I possess a sister . . .”
“Georgiana?” she asked as a dawn of awareness arrived.
He nodded his response. “I must mention a circumstance which I would wish to forget myself, and which no obligation less than the present should induce me to unfold to any human being.Having said thus, I feel no doubt of your secrecy. My sister, who is more than ten years my junior, was left to the guardianship of Colonel Fitzwilliam and myself. About a year ago, she was taken from school, and an establishment formed for her in London; and last summer she went with the lady who presided over it, to Ramsgate; and thither also went Mr. Wickham, undoubtedly by design; for there proved to have been a prior acquaintance between him and Mrs. Younge, in whose character we were most unhappily deceived; and by her connivance and aid, he so far recommended himself to Georgiana, whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to her as a child, that she was persuaded to believe herself in love, and to consent to an elopement. She was then but fifteen, which must be her excuse; and after stating her imprudence, I am happy to add that I owed the knowledge of it to herself. I joined them unexpectedly a day or two before the intended elopement, and then Georgiana, unable to support the idea of grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as a father, acknowledged the whole to me. You may imagine what I felt and how I acted. Regard for my sister's credit and feelings prevented any publicexposure; but I wrote to Mr. Wickham, who left the place immediately, and Mrs. Younge was of course removed from her charge. Mr. Wickham's chief object was unquestionably my sister's fortune, which is thirty thousand pounds, but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me was a strong inducement. His revenge would have been complete indeed.”
Elizabeth buried her initial comment on any young lady being presented a dowry of thirty thousand pounds. Instead, she made quite a different observation. “Which means Mr. Wickham likely pulled himself together and went looking for another means to support himself. I understand from Captain Denny, who knew Wickham previously, that Mr. Wickham appeared purposely to have sought him out. Mr. Wickham had won enough in a game of cards to purchase a lieutenancy and, of course, he had a gentleman’s education. It appears he was waiting for the opportunity to latch onto a family that would hang on his every word. Unfortunately, Lydia was young and foolish enough to do so.”
Chapter Ten
“I appreciate your honesty, Mr. Darcy,” Mr. Williamson said as they finished their negotiations.
Beside Darcy, Miss Bennet had offered less than a half dozen opinions. He wondered if Miss Elizabeth had spoken to his betrothed already. The woman was proving quite useful. Last evening, as he fell to sleep, he wondered if he might convince Miss Elizabeth to come live with her sister and him. She was set to assist her mother, but that would be several years removed. Briefly, he had even considered the possibility of marrying Miss Elizabeth if he lost Miss Bennet in childbirth. Unfortunately, he could not, for marrying the sister of one’s late wife was against the law in England.
“Do you have anything to add, Miss Bennet?” Darcy asked his intended.
“All is agreeable,” she said softly.
Irritated by her mellow response, he summarized for the clergyman, “My cousin must return to London to report to his superiors. I will spend several days there organizing all the necessary paperwork, then fetch my sister, and return at the beginning of next week. The ceremony will occur at ten of the clock on Thursday next.”
“Everything will be as you wish, Mr. Darcy,” Williamson assured.
With that, Darcy stood and reached a hand down to Miss Bennet, who accepted his gesture without the show of revulsion that he half expected.
A few minutes later, as he assisted her into his carriage, he stated, “You were excessively quiet in Mr. Williamson’s office.I pray you have not changed your mind. However, if you feel strongly that you must withdraw, I will step away with as much grace as possible.”
“No, I could not do so, without my family losing honor. Yet, I admit I am quite fearful of disappointing you.”
“I must say,” he attempted to remove the caustic tones from his words, “I can more easily forgive the mistakes you may make than your inaction. My estate requires a mistress who is willing to roll up her sleeves and assist my tenants.”
“I shall follow your lead,” she assured, but Darcy wished to shake her. He did not know what else to do to express his concerns, for he feared if he said anything, she would withdraw further.
Instead, he turned to look at the scenery. “You will find the area about Pemberley not so flat. The mountains in the north of England will make your Oakham Mount feel like an ant hill.”
“You know of Oakham?” Miss Bennet asked. “It is Elizabeth’s favorite place.”
He would not mention his climbing the hill with her sister. “The colonel and I noted it when we walked into the village.” The scene of Miss Elizabeth’s anger remained vividly in Darcy’s mind.
When they returned to the house, they followed the sound of laughter coming from the sitting room. “What have we here?” Darcy asked as they entered.
The colonel looked up with a smile. “Mr. Bennet and I have taken on the Misses Elizabeth and Mary in Shove Ha’Penny.”
“Who is winning?” Darcy asked with a smile as he handed off his hat and gloves to Mrs. Hill.
“Miss Elizabeth and her father, but Miss Mary has claimed another bed for us,” the colonel continued to respond for the group.
Darcy drifted over to watch the game, while Miss Bennet crossed to sit beside her mother.
