Chapter 5

The following day brought Mr Bingley to call upon Jane, a visit which was extended into a long walk, with Elizabeth trailing behind them as chaperon. Returning to Gracechurch Street, she found waiting for her a letter addressed in Mary’s precise hand.

To my sister Elizabeth,

I have hastened to my desk to make you aware of the latest happenings in Meryton. I have no doubt whatsoever that you will hear of this from Mama and likely Kitty and Lydia also, and wished to ensure that you were in possession of the full and rational truth.

You will recall, of course, that you wrote to me from Kent to inform me that you had it from Mr Darcy, with such corroborating details as were not to be doubted, that Lieutenant Wickham ought not be trusted with credit or the reputations of young ladies, urging me to venture from home more often and ensure our younger sisters were behaving appropriately. You mentioned also that you had written to our father upon the same subject.

Although I was surprised you gave Mr Darcy credit for speaking the truth on any subject, much less that of Mr Wickham, and neither did you provide any of those details you mentioned, I chose to trust to your good sense and do as you asked, though it was highly inconvenient and often unpleasant to spend so much time with our very silly sisters. I was not able to effect any change in their behaviour, but was able to ascertain that, beyond a wholly unbecoming habit of flirting openly with any man in a red coat and a continued propensity to loudly display their utter ignorance to the world at every opportunity, they have been doing nothing that would lessen the credit of our family in the eyes of our neighbours more than was already the case when you left us in March.

Father, unfortunately, has not seen fit to act upon your information in any manner I have been able to discern. More recently, however, others have acted in his stead.

Some days ago, Sir William—from whom I have this account directly—received a long letter from none other than Mr Darcy, appealing to him both as a magistrate and the father of a young lady. In it, he detailed the past misdeeds of Mr Wickham, including a precise recounting of debts fled and merchants beggared, and more delicate but no less shocking accounts of young ladies of both gentle and common birth left ruined and even burdened with illegitimate offspring. Mr Darcy, it seems, apologised handsomely for keeping these matters secret when he was among us, stating that the memory of his former connexion with Mr Wickham was so distasteful he wished only to avoid both the sight and the mention of him as much as possible, but of late it had occurred to him that the good people of Meryton might be endangered by such frauds as the officer was wont to perpetrate before their acquaintance was severed.

While allowing for the possibility that Mr Wickham had reformed in the intervening time, he encouraged Sir William to investigate the man’s financial dealings and his interactions with young women of all classes. Further—and here, I will warn you that I intend to chastise you most thoroughly for your previous disparagement of Mr Darcy’s character, for he now proves himself to be uncommonly generous—he pledged himself to cover any debts of Mr Wickham’s that the man himself could not, provided only that they were discovered before the regiment moves on to its next posting and all reasonable efforts were made to extract as much as possible from the man who incurred them.

You may imagine what transpired. Sir William, conscious as only a former merchant can be of the potential effects of unpaid debts upon the tradesmen of the village, sprang into action and quickly determined that Mr Wickham had quietly amassed a monstrous debt, sufficient to disprove any notion that he might have intended to settle even a portion of it before leaving the area later this month. (I have in the days since also heard mutterings amongst the gentlemen of the man’s misbehaviour with certain of the daughters of the very men he owed, but I shall repeat no more than that, and this much only to you. I do not trust that gossip will have got it right; I pray for the souls of the girls I have heard mentioned, in case they did commit the sins of which they are accused, and I keep my lips shut and my pen still in case they did not.)

In less than a day the entire high street, indeed the entire neighbourhood, was roused against Mr Wickham, and none more so than Colonel Forster. He advanced two quarters’ worth of the man’s pay against the balance from his own funds; this, you must understand, was but a bucket from the full trough of his debts. Mr Darcy will be parting with an important sum to set this right, and his name is spoken with gratitude by everyone.

The lieutenant is now confined to quarters when he is not at his duty and watched very carefully at all times. There are whispers that he has been, or soon will be, flogged. Whether or not that is true, his circumstances are, I believe, most unpleasant and will continue so. Mother, as you may imagine, is overcome by the thought that she welcomed such a scoundrel into her parlour, while Lydia proclaims that it is monstrously unfair that such a handsome young man should be punished for enjoying himself. I trust you see the parallels between his actions and her habit of overspending her quarterly funds and begging or stealing from the rest of us. Kitty agrees with Lydia as always, but there is something in her expression when Mr Wickham is spoken of that hints she no longer admires him as much as she used to. One may hope a lesson has been learnt.

Sir William means to write to Mr Darcy, but he is at present much occupied by mediating between the merchants of the village and poor Colonel Forster, for it transpires also that Mr Wickham was not the only soldier spending beyond his means, though he was by far the worst. If you should happen to see Mr Darcy, which I rather think you must unless his friend has ceased to call upon Jane, please convey to him the appreciation of a grateful neighbourhood.

I must close now, lest I stray onto a third page and increase the cost to my uncle of receiving this. Give my greetings to our relations, and know that I remain

Your dutiful sister,

Mary

The next day, Elizabeth was back in the park near her uncle’s home, once again trailing behind Jane and her suitor. Now, however, she was accompanied by her own caller, and her aunt’s senior maidservant formed the end of their little procession. It was a fine sunny day, a trifle over-warm perhaps, but pleasant withal.

“I had a letter from my sister Mary yesterday,” she told Mr Darcy. “It concerned another letter, one sent to Sir William Lucas, and the events which arose from the revelations therein.” She glanced up at her companion, eyebrow arched.

Mr Darcy could not have looked more conscious had he wished to, but he replied evenly enough, “I hope all our acquaintance in Hertfordshire are hale and happy.”

“Oh, yes, for the most part. One person known to us both has suffered a great reversal of fortune, however—he has lost his friends, his funds, and the respect of his comrades and commanding officer. Those he sought to defraud, however, are safe and will soon be made whole.”

“That is well, then. It is to be hoped that no lasting damage has been caused.”

“We shall not know that for a few months yet, I think,” she replied delicately, knowing they were both concerned about the young women of the area. “But yes, let us hope that the intersection of our lives with Mr Wickham’s may soon and easily be forgot.”

“If further difficulties were to arise, arrangements might be made to protect those affected,” he mused. “Ought I write to Sir William again, do you think, to make plans for such an eventuality?”

“I think, sir, that you are an exceptionally good man. I only wish I had perceived it sooner.”

He stopped in the middle of the path and looked down upon her with astonishment. “Whatever merit you find in me, you may credit to my good parents, and to your own instruction.”

She blushed and ducked her head, then tugged lightly on his arm, setting them both in motion again. “I did little enough, only showed you how you sometimes appear to those who do not know you. If it was instructive, I am glad of it. If I feel the need to correct you in future, however, you may be assured that I will do it much more kindly.”

His hand came to rest atop her own, and she could feel its warmth even through their gloves. “You comprehend a future which includes me, then?”

“Yes, certainly. I expect we shall often encounter each other in my sister’s future home, at the least.”

“And at the most?”

She glanced up at him and smilingly replied, “Oh, I think it the gentleman’s role to determine what that might be and convince the lady that he is correct.”

“You will find, Miss Elizabeth, that I am not unable to be persuasive, with the proper inducement.”

“I depend upon it, Mr Darcy,” she declared.