Beginning, Previous Section, Section V
Chapter Nineteen - Importuned at Pemberley
Posted on 2011-11-18
Upon entering the pavilion, the expectant eyes of the ladies were immediately upon Elizabeth and Mr Darcy. Jane looked at her sister, raising an eyebrow. Elizabeth smiled, but shook her head slightly. Colonel Fitzwilliam and Bingley were either unaware of the expectations of the ladies, or too polite to hint that they shared them.
Julia, hopeful that Elizabeth had addressed her brother on the subject of herself and Captain Radford, took heart from Elizabeth's evident complacency, and continued to look often in her direction, in the hope of a more direct confirmation.
"Jane," said Elizabeth, with just the hint of a smile, "It seems like ages since Victoria Barclay and Captain Radford have waited upon us at Ashbourne. Why do you not send a note, inviting them to call upon us tomorrow?"
"What a delightful idea," said Jane.
"If you are eager to have a note sent to Hartington, Mrs Bingley, I would be happy to have a servant deliver it for you," said Mr Darcy obligingly; well aware of what the ladies were about.
"Thank you," said Jane, "I shall return to the house after tea and write it."
Julia was unable to hide her happiness at the obvious implication of the invitation; and when her eyes briefly met those of her brother, they could not help but exchange a meaningful smile.
When the tea was over, much to Bingley's delight, a plan was formed with Colonel Fitzwilliam to engage in some fishing. Mr Darcy declined, citing important business that required his attention. Georgiana had intended to return to the house with Jane and Julia, but Elizabeth begged her to join her for a stroll in the garden, as there was a matter which she was anxious to discuss with her.
"And I, too, have a matter that I am most anxious to discuss - with you, Miss Bennet," said Mr Darcy, smiling at her expressively. "If you would be so good as to oblige me, you will find me here, in the vicinity of the pavilion, when you are finished your stroll with my sister."
"But did you not just tell Mr Bingley, that you had important business to attend to?" asked Elizabeth playfully.
"Indeed I did, Miss Bennet, and I can assure you that I have no business that I consider more important than the matter I wish to discuss with you," he said looking at her earnestly. Elizabeth lowered her eyes, and, taking Georgiana by the arm, led her into the garden.
Georgiana looked at Elizabeth with an expectant smile, and when she said nothing, the younger lady said shyly, "I am hopeful that I might learn today that the sister I have dreamed of this past twelvemonth shall very soon be mine."
"To that I cannot answer, for a lady should never presume to know the intentions of a gentleman; however, I shall be indiscreet enough to say that our hopes are in accord. But if you hope to be my sister, then you must learn to call me Lizzy, for it is what all my sisters call me."
"Lizzy," said Georgiana, happily, "what is it that you wish to discuss with me?"
"Let us sit here, upon this bench, my dear; for it is something most strange and surprising, indeed; and I fear that when you first hear it, you may find it discomposing, and not a little shocking."
"Tell me, then," said Georgiana anxiously.
Taking her hand, Elizabeth said, "Georgiana, the mother and father whom you have your whole life long believed to be yours are not your actual parents."
Georgiana looked dumbfounded, and shook her head in denial. "No, I cannot believe it, how can that possibly be?"
Elizabeth proceeded to recount the abridged version of the circumstances of Georgiana's birth, which had been agreed upon with Mr Darcy.
Georgiana sat in stunned silence for many minutes. "It is shocking, and not a little unsettling, to learn that one is not who one always thought oneself to be - that the parents you believed to be your own, are not yours."
Elizabeth put an arm around her to give her comfort. "That is not quite correct, my dear; for while it is true that they are not your parents by birth, in every other way they are your parents; and although, unlike yourself, they were always aware of the truth of the matter, they loved you and treated you as their own daughter; is it not so?"
"Oh yes," agreed Georgiana. "Of my mother, my recollections are but few, for she died when I was only five; but what I can recall of her, is that she loved me, and treated me with the greatest kindness and affection. And as for my father - no daughter could have asked for a more affectionate and caring parent."
"If they were still alive on this day, when you became aware of their great secret, would you love them any less, or cease to think of them as your parents?"
"No," said Georgiana, shaking her head. "Though it is a great shock to learn it, my feelings for them are in no way altered - and my memories, and sense of belonging to them, remain unchanged. But how came you to know of it? Was it from my brother? Does he know?"
Elizabeth nodded.
"Does anyone else know?"
"Only three living people know your secret, Georgiana - your brother, yourself, and myself."
"Will he cease to love me, do you think?" asked Georgiana anxiously.
Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. "He has known of it for these past seven years, since your father passed away. Has his affection for you diminished in that time?"
"Oh, no," said Georgiana, "he has loved me, and taken the place of my father, as my protector; I could not wish for a better or kinder brother."
"And you, I think, will not love him any less?"
"No, of course not; for he and I are the same people we always were. I am still shocked, Elizabeth - I mean Lizzy - but I am no longer distressed at the news; and on the whole, I suppose it will change very little in my life. But I do not wish for others to know of it; for although I do not feel so very different about myself, others may feel differently about me, and treat me differently. Just imagine if my aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, were to find out!"
"Goodness!" exclaimed Elizabeth. "I overlooked your aunt when I said before that only three living persons knew your secret - for your aunt also knows - although I am certain that she will never acknowledge it to you; and I advise you to do likewise."
"She is the very last person in the world whom I should care to have such a conversation with. But who should I tell? Is there anyone that I must tell?"
"This is your secret, Georgiana; it is entirely up to you to tell it to whomever you wish. However, there is one person who you may feel has a right to know of it."
"Who? Your sister, Jane? You may tell her, because I know you enjoy each other's confidences, and I feel so very comfortable with her. Yes, I think I should like her to know."
"Thank you, my dear, I shall be pleased to tell her; but she is not the one of whom I was thinking."
"Then who? My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam?"
"Your brother."
"My brother?" asked Georgiana in confusion. "But he knows. What can you mean?"
"Georgiana, you have another brother."
"Another brother?"
"Yes, a brother who is the son of your true parents - and who does not know that you are his sister."
Georgiana looked at Elizabeth in astonishment. "I have another brother? Do you know who it is? Do you know anything about him?" she demanded eagerly.
Elizabeth smiled. "Yes, as do you. It is Captain Radford."
"Captain Radford!" exclaimed Georgiana. "I am utterly amazed to hear that it is he; for if I was allowed to choose, from all my acquaintance, the gentleman whom I should wish to discover to be my brother, it would most certainly be Captain Radford! Though I am always shy with gentlemen, he somehow puts me at my ease; and he treats me with such kindness; and takes a real interest in me - surely he must know my secret already?"
"He does not. It was not until he was about twenty, that he learned that the child of his mother, whom he had always believed to have died at birth, together with his mother, had, in fact, survived. The midwife, who confessed it to him on her deathbed, said that his sister had been adopted by a lady of means. It has been the great sadness of his life that she could furnish no further information that might assist him in finding her."
"Then he must be told!" exclaimed Georgiana, "It is his right to know; and it will be so delightful to become better acquainted. Oh, I am so eager for the moment that we may greet each other as sister and brother. But Lizzy, I should be far too shy to tell him myself. Do I ask too much if I beg you to tell him?"
"It shall be my pleasure," said Elizabeth.
"Oh, Lizzy, that will be so utterly delightful, I can hardly wait!"
"And you realise, do you not, that you now have three new cousins; you may wish to consider telling them, also."
"Oh yes, of course, Captain Radford's cousins - they are my cousins, also. I should like Mr Bingley to know of our relationship, for he is such a kind and amiable gentleman - but perhaps not his sisters," said Georgiana cautiously. "For regardless of my relationship to them, I do not enjoy their attentions, and I would not wish to give them reason for any greater intimacy."
"That is most wise, and entirely comprehensible. I shall ask Jane to tell your secret to her husband, and to request that he keep it in his confidence."
"Oh, thank you so much, Lizzy, I am so happy. But now I must return to the house - and allow my brother the opportunity of discussing his important business with you," said Georgiana, with a hopeful smile.
Elizabeth walked back towards the pavilion where she found Mr Darcy pacing up and down outside, evidently impatient for her return. She told him of her most satisfactory conversation with Georgiana.
"I cannot imagine that she would have taken the astonishing news concerning the truth about her parents nearly so well, had it not come from you, Miss Bennet; I find myself once more, greatly in your debt."
"It was my great pleasure to be of assistance, and it shall be greater still, when Georgiana and Captain Radford have the opportunity of speaking with each other as brother and sister."
"Miss Bennet," he said, suddenly stepping closer and looking at her with such intensity that she was obliged to look away as she listened to his words. "A twelvemonth ago, when you were in Derbyshire with your aunt and uncle, I formed a resolution which I have pursued with unwavering determination, despite an apparently unending sequence of events that have perversely prevented me from acting upon it - until today."
Elizabeth looked up and briefly smiled at him encouragingly, before again looking away.
"You can have little difficulty in guessing the nature of my resolution, Miss Bennet; for my behaviour towards you last summer can have left you in little doubt that the affections and wishes that I had professed to you, in so regrettably an un-gentlemanly manner, in Kent, had - in spite of your well-deserved reproofs and the outright rejection of my suit - grown even stronger. I was hopeful, that having attended to those failings of character upon which you had so rightly admonished me, that after our extraordinarily fortuitous meeting at Pemberley, that you received my attentions with complaisance."
"I can assure you, Mr Darcy, that your attentions last summer were received with an emotion far warmer than complaisance."
"On the very day of your abrupt departure from Derbyshire, on account of the unfortunate news concerning your sister, Lydia, I had come to Lambton with the express intention of saying those words which I had long been rehearsing, but have, regrettably, been obliged to continue rehearsing for a full twelvemonth since. And in that time, although you had reason, on more than one occasion, to doubt my good character, yet you persevered in your faith in me, and most generously allowed me the opportunity to acquit myself of what must have appeared to be great failings, indeed."
Elizabeth looked up and smiled warmly. "Having once judged you too hastily, and entirely misconstrued your character, I was determined not to repeat that same mistake. But perhaps I should not flatter myself that my judgement and patience are so greatly improved; for I must confess to feelings which disposed me, through the many mysteries with which I found myself confronted, to earnestly wish to believe that an explanation existed that might somehow render you innocent of wrongdoing."
"Having so cleverly uncovered all of my secrets - none of which were of my own creation - I think you will understand why I was unable, on so many occasions, to disabuse you of the false impression that the apparent evidence, conjoined with my silence, must inevitably have suggested. I thank you, most sincerely, for your constancy. I can only say that all of your actions - even those that caused me great alarm at the time - have only served to increase the already high esteem in which I held you."
"And allow me to say, Mr Darcy, that although at the time I may have found some of your behaviour inexplicable - even vexing - when finally I knew the truth concerning what you had done for my sister, Lydia, and later I comprehended the great love and compassion you had shown to your own sister, Julia, and of your great efforts to bring her happiness, my high regard for you grew stronger yet."
Elizabeth looked up and smiled at him with unguarded affection, and saw upon his face an expression of heartfelt delight and joy such as she had never witnessed upon it before. He reached out his hands towards her, which she took eagerly in her own, and looking deeply into her eyes, he said, "My dearest, darling Elizabeth, I have waited so long for this joyous moment, and perhaps that long and seemingly eternal wait, has made it all the sweeter, now that it has finally arrived."
"I fear," said Elizabeth, looking over his shoulder at the figure of a woman hastening urgently towards them, "that you shall be obliged to wait a little longer yet."
Releasing her hands, Mr Darcy turned in alarm to see his aunt, Lady Catherine de Bourgh scurrying frantically towards them across the lawn. Upon reaching them she was exhausted, and obliged to lean upon her parasol for some moments, gasping for breath, before finally speaking.
"Tell me I am not too late, Fitzwilliam! Tell me that you have not already betrothed yourself to this unworthy woman!"
Her nephew stared at her incredulously, shaking his head in disbelief that this could be happening.
"Never mind!" she said. "When I asked the same question of your sister, she said you were not yet engaged, so if you have only just now become so, you can deny it all, for she can produce no witness to support her claim but herself - and her word would hardly stand against that of an honourable magistrate."
"We are not yet engaged, Aunt Catherine. However, if you would be so good as to return to the house and await me there, I fully intend to remedy the situation forthwith," he said firmly.
"You shall do no such thing!" decreed his aunt imperiously. "I have travelled all the way from Kent to bring you intelligence; which, when you have heard it, will most certainly disincline you to marrying this woman! You will thank me to the end of your days, for having saved you from a most imprudent and shameful marriage."
Mr Darcy stared at Lady Catherine coldly, and she refused even to look in Elizabeth's direction, whom she seemed determined to ignore - much as she might ignore the presence of a servant, as being of no consequence to what was going forth.
"You shall hear what I have to say - and you will thank me for it! I undertook the great trouble and expense of engaging the services of a Bow Street Runner on a private commission to investigate what had become of Miss Bennet's younger sister, Miss Lydia Bennet, who had apparently disappeared from all public notice after her failed elopement with that good-for-nothing scoundrel, George Wickham. Upon receiving a most alarming report, I determined to set out at once to acquaint you with its contents; and to save you from making a connection with a family whose shameful name shall for evermore be spoken of in terms of disrepute and disgrace," she said with a self-satisfied smile.
"According to my investigator's report, Mr Wickham had never intended to marry Miss Bennet; and when he happened to meet another young lady - a Miss King, who was in possession of ten thousand pounds - he abandoned Miss Bennet, and attempted to elope with Miss King. Unluckily for the rogue, Miss King's uncle very soon learned of the matter, and sent an express to acquaintances in the north of England, who succeeded in intercepting the fleeing couple before they could reach Scotland. What state the young lady was in, I do not know; only that she was detached from the company of Mr Wickham and locked away somewhere in the north.
"To whence went Mr Wickham, I know not, only that he did not return to Miss Bennet; whom, it seems, he abandoned without paying the landlord, who, to recoup his losses, passed her on, for a fee, to an even greater villain. This second gentleman - and I use that word advisedly - kept her for his pleasure, until, it seems, she ran off with a third gentleman - yes - can you believe it? That shameless young hussy gave her favours to three different gentlemen in a matter of weeks! I think we all know the appropriate appellation for such a woman - but it shall not pass my lips. The third gentleman, it seems, eventually moved her to a house in the country, somewhere in Suffolk, where she has recently given birth to a child - but who knows which of the three gentlemen is the father?" she said with a sneer.
"My investigator was unable to learn the name of the third gentleman, who, it seems, is the owner of the house; but he reported that it was managed by an older woman and that another young lady had been residing there, also. The investigator is of the opinion that the owner of the house is engaged in some manner of disreputable business - very likely providing the services of well-born ladies of ill-repute to other gentlemen; and that he uses the house when their inevitable confinement becomes necessary. God knows what he does with the babies! It is a most shameful and immoral business, Fitzwilliam; and were you to marry this woman, you could not escape being tainted by association with her younger sister, who, you may be certain, will very soon be back in service in London. Just imagine the shame when it becomes known to all the world!"
"I hope, Madam," said Elizabeth, finally forcing Lady Catherine to look at her, "that you did not pay a great deal of money to your Bow Street Runner for his report; for it is grossly incorrect."
"And what could you possibly know of the matter?" demanded Lady Catherine.
"I have visited the house in Suffolk that you refer to, on a number of occasions, Madam."
"You have not! I do not believe you!"
"And I have spoken with my younger sister, at length, on all that transpired after her abandonment by Mr Wickham," continued Elizabeth, ignoring Lady Catherine's interjection. "I know the name of the gentleman who brought her to the house, and to what purpose; and I can inform you that the truth of the matter does not resemble the fictions contained in your report, in the least bit. My sister intends to keep her baby, and I am able to assuage your ladyship's kind concerns, regarding her future, by assuring you that she will not be coming on the town."
"Lies! It is all lies!" exclaimed Lady Catherine, addressing her nephew. "Do not listen to her; she knows nothing of the matter! For the sake of your own good name, Fitzwilliam, and of all your relations, I implore you to banish her forthwith, and to demand that she never again returns to pollute the shades of Pemberley!"
"I have reason to believe, aunt, that the account you have just heard from Miss Bennet is entirely correct; and while I cannot divulge my sources, I shall tell you that they are impeccable, and beyond doubt."
"You dare to contradict me?" she demanded in high dudgeon.
"It is the report of the Bow Street Runner that I contradict, Aunt. And I may tell you, from my experience as a magistrate, and from conversations with brother magistrates, these privately commissioned reports cannot always be relied upon. It is not unheard of for an investigator, when he is unable to discover the information that is wanted - or sometimes simply to save the trouble of a long and difficult investigation - to simply make up a plausible story that will be acceptable, and find favour, with his client. I fear that you have been imposed upon."
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Lady Catherine, "No one would dare to trifle with a person of my stature, I am quite certain of it!"
"Unfortunately, Lady Catherine, your nephew will act in accordance with what he knows to be the truth - rather than what you believe - or wish it to be. Sadly, it would seem that you have gone to a great deal of trouble and expense for nothing."
"How dare you address me in so disrespectful a manner, you insolent girl - I shall not allow you to marry my nephew - do you hear me?"
"I cannot think of any possible way in which you can prevent me from marrying Miss Bennet; although you have certainly succeeded in interrupting my proposal," said Mr Darcy crossly."
"You think I cannot prevent it, do you? Well listen to me! If you go against me, Fitzwilliam, I swear, I shall publish the report of the Bow Street Runner, and your name, as the brother-in-law of that shameful and disgraced Miss Lydia Bennet, will be irredeemably tainted. Now what have you to say?"
"Only that it is most patently an empty threat, Madam," said Elizabeth calmly. "For when your report is rebutted and ridiculed, you shall be the one whose name is tainted. And even were the report to stand unchallenged, if it succeeded in tainting Mr Darcy's name by association with my family, then it would taint yours to even a greater degree. Firstly, as his relation, you would be tainted by association with him; but, far greater would be the public disapprobation of a lady who would set out to deliberately destroy the name of her nephew."
Lady Catherine was livid. "How dare you speak in so insulting a manner to a great lady such as myself - disgraceful girl! Do you forget your place? Have you no regard for my rank? Oh, that my nephew should marry into such a family! He should not - and he shall not! Fitzwilliam, have I not told you since you were young, that it was the favourite wish of your beloved mother, that you should marry my daughter, Anne. How can you be so heartless, so callous upon the memory of your own dear mother, to deny her the fondest wish of her heart?"
"I never heard her once say it," said Mr Darcy.
"Well... yes... but of course she died unexpectedly young," retorted his aunt. "You were but fifteen or sixteen years of age at the time; I imagine she thought there would be opportunity enough to tell you when you were older."
Elizabeth, having tired of Lady Catherine's rant, and wishing to put an end to it, said, "I do not believe that your sister would have wished her son to marry his own sister - something which you must know is against the law, Madam; and I am astonished that you should wish for it, and indeed encourage it so assiduously."
Lady Catherine stared wordlessly at Elizabeth for some moments. Eventually recovering herself, she demanded, "What on earth are you about, Miss Bennet; have you completely lost your mind?"
Elizabeth smiled calmly. "I have not, Lady Catherine. Your accusation would, however, be merited by a childless lady, who pretended to be with child when she was not, in order that she might take her own sister's illegitimate baby, and deceive all the world, including her own husband, into believing it was her own daughter; and then, furthermore, schemed to have her supposed daughter marry her own brother. Such a lady, Madam, would be most wise, I believe, not to threaten to publish specious stories of lesser scandals, most especially when there are letters and other documents to prove it all."
Lady Catherine's face turned a sallow white as she gasped. Mr Darcy, fearful that she might faint, rushed forward, and taking her by the arm, he led her to a seat in front of the pavilion, where he helped her to sit. Lady Catherine had nothing further to say; and simply stared off into the distance, lost in thought, and perhaps her memories.
"Miss Bennet," said Mr Darcy, returning to where Elizabeth stood a dozen paces from where his aunt was now seated, "I am beginning to believe that fate has an endless store of distractions at its disposal; and I am not inclined to wait for the next one. Indeed, I am most eager to conclude the business in which we were engaged when my aunt happened upon us. Now, where were we?" he asked, with a smile. "Oh yes, I remember, I was holding your hands like this," he said, taking Elizabeth's hands.
"And you had just said, 'perhaps that long, seemingly eternal wait has made it all the sweeter'," said Elizabeth, looking at him lovingly. "I recall your words, for I was thinking the exact same thing; that although we have known for so long a time that we were destined for each other, there was always something to prevent us realising our fondest dream. And though it was most vexatious, it has increased our longing for each other, and the sweetness of the moment when finally we shall achieve our heart's desire."
"Yes, I could not have expressed my own feelings better; but let us not wait a moment longer. My dearest Elizabeth, tell me, I beg you, that you will be my wife."
"With all my heart, I will."
And with that they embraced and exchanged that eager kiss, which had waited so long upon their separate lips. When finally they released each other, they were surprised to observe Lady Catherine rising to her feet, apparently recovered from Elizabeth's reproof and looking tolerably composed.
"You are a fool, Fitzwilliam," she said disdainfully, "to sacrifice the wealth and splendour of Rosings Park for this disagreeable nobody, from a family of no account, whose only claim to notice is the scandalous disrepute of a daughter. She is wholly without the least sense of the respect and honour for what is owed to those above her - did you not just now witness her shameful arrogance, and refusal to show proper deference to my rank? And did you not hear the insolent rant to which I was so brazenly importuned? You will rue the day that you chose this headstrong, impertinent shrew. My Anne would have made you a proper wife - modest, obedient and docile. Well, I have done my best for you, Fitzwilliam, but you spurn my good advice - obviously, this artful hussy has you bewitched, and entirely in her power."
Darcy and Elizabeth exchanged an amused smile and shook their heads in disbelief.
"Clearly there is nothing more I can do for you, Fitzwilliam; where is your cousin, the Colonel? I have need to speak with him."
"You should find him in that direction, down by the river, Aunt," he said, eager to see the back of her, and devote his attentions to Elizabeth.
When she had gone, he said with a smile, "Now where were we?"
Elizabeth stepped up to him and embraced him. "You were kissing me, darling."
After a very long embrace, Elizabeth said, "I fear that your poor cousin is about to have that exquisite prize bestowed upon him, that you so ungratefully refused."
Darcy laughed. "At least Anne is truly his cousin, and not his sister; but regardless of their relationship, I doubt very much that he is any fonder of her, or more desirous of having her as his wife, than I."
"And there is another, of whom I suspect he is far more desirous," said Elizabeth.
"You speak of Miss Barclay?"
"I do; and I am inclined to believe that the preference is returned."
Darcy smiled. "I fear that our aunt will be exceedingly upset when my cousin, likewise, declines to marry Anne. Unlike myself, he has no independent fortune, and is greatly beholden to my aunt for her financial largesse, which she has not demurred to make him aware, depends upon his pleasing her. She will most certainly cut him off without a penny if he goes against her wishes in this matter; but I shall offer to make good any shortfall in his expenses."
"That is most generous, although I suspect that his need of such kind assistance is likely to be of but a short duration. I have great hopes that it shall not be very long before we hear happy news regarding your cousin and Miss Barclay; who, as you are aware, besides being the most charming and amiable of young ladies, is also a very wealthy one."
"Speaking of happy news," said Darcy, "I suppose we should keep ours a secret until I have applied to your father for permission to marry you. I shall send off an express immediately; come, let us walk to the house," he said, offering her his arm.
"Certainly, darling, you must ask my father, as is proper. However, I see no reason to wait another moment before sharing our joyful news with my sister and other intimate acquaintances; for I am entirely certain that my father will approve the match."
"I most earnestly hope so, and can think of no reason why he should not; but it would be disrespectful to reveal our betrothal until he has had the opportunity to sanction it."
Elizabeth smiled, as they walked arm in arm. "He already has."
Darcy stopped and turned towards her, astonished. "Were you so sure certain of my affections, my dear, and that I would beg you to marry me, that you solicited your father's permission even before I had paid you my addresses?"
Elizabeth laughed and placed her hands upon his shoulders. "Oh yes, darling; I have been persuaded of the constancy of your affections ever since you returned into Hertfordshire with Mr Bingley last September. I have only been waiting for you to acquit yourself of the suspicions raised by each successive mystery, that I might be certain that I wished to accept your addresses - before giving you the necessary encouragement to pay them."
And with that, she stood on her toes and placed a most welcome kiss upon his waiting lips.
"If my feelings have been so entirely transparent, my dear Elizabeth, it was not unintended; for I have been in love with you far longer than the period to which you allude; and although I knew that I was innocent of the unending suspicions that surrounded me, I knew not how to demonstrate my blamelessness. I was eager that you should know of the constancy of my affections while I attempted to clear my name."
Placing her arm through his and resuming walking, Elizabeth said, "How fortunate it was for us both, darling, that I was able to uncover all of your mysterious secrets and discover your innocence for myself."
"Indeed it was," agreed Darcy, smiling happily.
"I was not, however, so brazen with my father, as to ask his permission to marry a man who had not yet paid his addresses - nor indeed, did I give him the smallest hint that I expected to receive them. However, when he bade me farewell upon my departure for Ashbourne, he advised me that he held the very highest opinion of you; and that should I happen to receive your addresses while I was in Derbyshire, that I might assure you that you that your application for his permission would not be denied."
Darcy stopped again, and placed his arms around Elizabeth. "What wonderful news! I shall, nevertheless, send the express, and make my request in the proper manner; but I can see no reason why our intimate acquaintance cannot be told already; and it will be far more pleasant not to have to pretend - and we can be together, alone, as much as we like," he said, before pulling Elizabeth towards himself, and kissing her again.
"At the rate we are going," observed Elizabeth, saucily, when they had again resumed walking, "it will be evening before we get to the house to inform anyone."
When eventually they entered the sitting room, the three ladies guessed their secret at once, from their happy smiles and the way they stood so closely together. Elizabeth was hugged and kissed by Jane, Georgiana, and Julia in turn, and Darcy congratulated. The joy and happiness of the entire party was overflowing.
Before returning to Ashbourne, Elizabeth said privately to Georgiana, "As you know, Jane has invited Victoria Barclay comes to Ashbourne tomorrow, and Captain Radford is certain to accompany her. I am hopeful that your brother will wish to visit also, and very likely your cousin, too."
"Then I shall accompany them," said Georgiana.
"Yes of course," said Elizabeth. "But may I suggest that you arrive a little later than the usual hour? That will allow me the opportunity of informing Captain Radford that I have found his long-lost sister, and of her identity."
"Oh, that will be wonderful, Lizzy, and then perhaps we will have the opportunity of a tête-à-tête, as brother and sister," said Georgiana excitedly.
Posted on 2011-11-18
When Victoria Barclay and Captain Radford arrived at Ashbourne, they were delighted, although not in the least surprised, to learn of Elizabeth's engagement to Mr Darcy, and offered their warmest congratulations and sincere best wishes.
Julia was aware that Elizabeth was desirous of a private conversation with Captain Radford, that he might be informed that there was no longer any need for him to withhold the addresses that she hoped, very much, he wished to pay.
Jane, who, along with her husband, was now aware that Georgiana was in fact the sister of Captain Radford, and not Mr Darcy, knew that Elizabeth intended also to tell him of the discovery of his long-lost sister.
As soon as the greetings and congratulations were over, Jane suggested that tea be taken in the drawing room, that they might be entertained by Julia and Victoria on the pianoforte.
Elizabeth caught Captain Radford's eye, and he understood that she wished him to remain with her in the sitting room. "I have two pieces of wonderful news for you, Captain," she said, once the reminder of the party had withdrawn.
"Two?" he asked in surprise. "The only news that I care to hear is that there is no longer any reason that I should delay paying Miss Harrison my addresses; and that I may do so forthwith."
"You may."
"This very day?"
"Yes, this very day. But for tactical reasons, there is another young lady with whom you may wish to engage in a private conversation beforehand - for it might appear odd to do so after you have just paid your addresses to different lady."
"I cannot imagine that such a lady exists, Miss Bennet; to whom do you refer."
"To your sister, Captain Radford."
"My sister?" he asked confounded. "Do you mean sister-in-law, perhaps? Does Miss Harrison have a sister of whom I am unaware?"
Elizabeth suppressed a smile, for while Julia had no sister, she most certainly had a brother of whom Captain Radford was unaware. "I refer to you own sister, sir, to the daughter of your parents."
"Good Heavens! Have you found her? Do you know her name?" he demanded urgently.
"I do; and she is presently here in this house. It is Georgiana Darcy."
"Miss Darcy?" he said, uncomprehendingly. "But, is she not the sister of Mr Darcy, and the daughter of his parents?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "She is not; although until yesterday she most certainly believed that she was. Only Mr Darcy knew otherwise. While awaiting the birth of her second child, his mother went to Hampshire, to stay with an aunt for her confinement. The baby was lost and the aunt engaged the services of an agent to find a baby girl, whom Lady Anne might raise as her own daughter. That agent went to Portsmouth, where she met with the midwife who had delivered your sister. Mr Darcy's side of the story, which he learned from documents of his late mother, fits hand-in-glove with what you told me of the midwife's deathbed confession. Mr Darcy is in possession of your sister's birth documents, and though he had previously known nothing concerning your existence, when he met you in Hertfordshire, upon recognising the name Radford, he commissioned an investigation which confirmed that you and Georgiana are brother and sister."
Captain Radford shook his head in wonder. "It is so strange that it should be her, Miss Bennet, for I have felt drawn to Georgiana, since first we met - yet my feelings have always been most brotherly, akin to my feelings for Victoria. Now I comprehend Mr Darcy's inexplicable concern at our closeness - he was evidently afraid that we might fall in love."
"Yes, precisely."
"What amazes me the most, Miss Bennet, is that were I given the opportunity of choosing my younger sister from amongst all of my acquaintance, I would pick Georgiana without hesitation."
Elizabeth smiled. "Georgiana said almost exactly those same words when I told her of your relationship, yesterday. You will appreciate, that the information comes as a far greater shock to her than it does to yourself."
"Yes, of course, it must. May I speak with her on the subject of our relationship?" he asked tentatively.
"Of course you may. She will arrive shortly, with her brother and cousin, and wishes very much to speak with you, as brother and sister. But you must speak privately, for there are those who are unaware of the relationship."
"Who knows of it besides you and I; and of course, Georgiana and Mr Darcy?"
"Only Mr and Mrs Bingley. When I discussed the subject with Georgiana yesterday, I said that it was her secret, and for her to decide who should know of it. She will, I believe, need time to get used to the truth of her birth; but I think it likely that she will wish only to tell a few intimate acquaintances, and to continue her life at Pemberley, much as before."
"Yes, of course, I agree that would be best; and Hartington is not so far from Pemberley, and we are, all of us, good friends. We shall see each other often; and when I am married, Georgiana will, I hope, allow me to share her secret with my wife, whom I hope she will visit often."
"I hear a carriage," said Elizabeth. "You shall very soon have the opportunity of expressing those hopes in person."
When the party from Pemberley entered, Captain Radford and Georgiana exchanged the warmest of smiles, and when he congratulated Mr Darcy on his engagement to Elizabeth, the two gentlemen exchanged a glance and smile of acknowledgement of their peculiar relationship - although Captain Radford was unaware that it was soon to become more complicated, yet, when he married Mr Darcy's sister, Julia.
Elizabeth led Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam to the drawing room to join the others, leaving Georgiana and Captain Radford alone in the sitting room to greet each other as brother and sister. When they later joined the rest of the party for tea, their joy was evident.
After tea, Jane proposed a walk in the gardens, and Captain Radford wasted little time in detaching Julia from the remainder of the party, and they were soon out of sight. For Elizabeth, it was delightful to be able, at last, to stroll arm in arm with her betrothed - who was aglow with happiness. Elizabeth spoke of her most satisfactory conversation with Captain Radford, concerning both Julia and Georgiana.
"You know, of course," he said, "of the ball at Pemberley in honour of my sister, in a few weeks?"
"I do, darling, but to save confusion, it may be best, if in future, you specify of which sister you are speaking."
"Yes, I must remember," he said. "Georgiana's ball will be the perfect opportunity to announce our engagement to the local society."
"Indeed it will - and that of your other sister, Julia, also."
"Yes, of course. It will provide the perfect excuse for me to dance the second set with her; while you dance them with Captain Radford."
Elizabeth laughed. "I can remember a time when you were not nearly so eager to have me stand up with Captain Radford, darling. But with whom am I to dance the first? I do not believe that I am yet engaged for those two dances."
"My dearest Elizabeth, I hereby ask you for the pleasure of the first two dances - at Georgiana's ball - and at every other ball that we shall attend, for as long as we may live."
"It shall be my fondest pleasure. Obviously, I was mistaken in my earlier belief, when you first came into Hertfordshire, that you were not fond of dancing."
"That was only because I had not yet had the pleasure of dancing with you."
When the party, which had split into three, reassembled at the house, the last to join them were Julia and Captain Radford, whose faces were glowing with such delight, that it was hardly necessary for the Captain to announce their betrothal.
In the joy and excitement, with much embracing and congratulations that ensued, Georgiana whispered to Elizabeth, "Will you please tell Julia of my relationship to Captain Radford; for I should like her to know of it - now I shall have the two most delightful sisters in the world!"
Before they left, Victoria said, "Jane, you may recall that I was obliged to regretfully inform you that Captain Radford and I had a previous engagement which prevented us from accepting your invitation to dine tomorrow?"
"Yes," replied Jane, "and you requested that I give your most sincere apologies to Miss Bingley and the Hursts; and tell them how much you would regret being denied their society. Allow me to assure you, Victoria, that if, perchance, you should discover that your previous engagement is not to go ahead, after all, I shall be delighted to have you join the party."
"I think I can answer for Captain Radford when I tell you that we are most happy to discover that the previous engagement has been cancelled, and that we shall be delighted to join you tomorrow."
After their visitors had departed, Julia gave full expression to her ecstasy, and when she was alone with Elizabeth, she embraced her warmly. "How can I thank you enough, Lizzy? But for you, I should still be in Suffolk, where I would very likely have spent all my life - lonely and without society. I feel as if I have somehow fallen into a fairy tale - and you are my fairy godmother!"
"It shall be enough for me to be your sister, dear Julia," said Elizabeth affectionately, "even though it must remain the secret of our intimate acquaintances. And I have been charged with informing you that you have yet another sister."
"Who can you mean? Surely not Georgiana, for I already know she is my sister, although regrettably, I can never acknowledge it to her," said Julia sadly.
Elizabeth shook her head - this was all so complicated! "Indeed, I do mean Georgiana, but to learn how it is that she is your sister, you must first lose her."
"I do not understand you," said Julia, mystified.
Elizabeth explained that Georgiana was not, in fact born to Mr Darcy and Lady Anne; as she, herself, had only learned the previous day.
"Oh," said Julia, sighing sadly, "I had begun to love her as my younger sister, for she is so very charming and amiable. But, did you not say that she is my sister?"
"Did Captain Radford, perchance, ever recount to you the story of the sister he never knew?"
"Yes, he told me of it when we visited Hartington a few days ago. He seemed so sad, never to have known her."
"Until today; when he learned the name of his sister - which is Georgiana Darcy."
"Georgiana?" exclaimed Julia, excitedly. "How can it be?"
Elizabeth told Julia the abridged account of how Lady Anne came to take Georgiana as her own daughter.
"How very, very, strange!" said Julia, shaking her head in wonder.
"And fortuitous for you. For although she does not wish for it to be generally known that she was not, in fact, born to Mr Darcy and Lady Anne of Pemberley, she wishes her intimate friends to know it; and as soon as she learned of your engagement to her brother, Captain Radford, she charged me with the office of enlightening you."
"How wonderful, for now we can acknowledge our relationship and love each other properly as sisters."
"And you may speak quite openly upon that subject here at Ashbourne, for Jane and Mr Bingley, who is, as you know, Captain Radford's cousin, are also aware of Georgiana's secret."
"Lizzy, I know that I must keep the details of my own birth a secret, for my brother's sake, for he promised it to our father - but now that we are betrothed, I do so wish to tell the Captain. Though I know he would never press me for the information, it does not seem right to keep such a secret from one's own husband; and I would be unhappy to do so - yet I would be equally unhappy to go against my brother's wishes in the matter."
"Let me speak with your brother, Julia, for while I understand your sense of obligation, I think that an exception can be made in the case of your own husband. You should be able to tell him who is your father; and your mother also. I am certain your mother must wish to meet him."
"Oh yes, of course she will. I have written to her, telling her all about him and what a fine gentleman he is, and she will be overjoyed to learn that we are betrothed - I must write to her immediately. But she could never come to Hartington, could she, Lizzy - for she might be recognised?"
Elizabeth contemplated the question for some time, before answering. "Hartington is at some distance from both Lambton and Kympton, where your mother grew up. It is twenty-five years since she lived there. My aunt recognised your mother at Freston only because she had already guessed her identity, from her recollection of past events in Derbyshire, conjoined with present circumstances at Freston. I imagine that had my aunt been introduced to your mother with an unfamiliar name in the sitting room of an acquaintance, she would never have recognised her. I can think of no reason why your mother could not visit Hartington, or eventually even live there. But let us leave the matter for now, Julia, for there is no immediate urgency. After we are both married, we shall speak with your brother upon the subject. I am hopeful that he might be persuaded to give way before the both of us."
Jane had deliberately invited the party from Macclesfield to arrive for her dinner party a little after the other guests, that they might greet each other at their ease. When they arrived at Ashbourne, Caroline Bingley was delighted to see that the Pemberley party had also been invited, for it provided her with the society of a second prospective suitor; although it was immediately evident that Mr Darcy was not her primary object today. As soon as the greetings had been exchanged, and before they had even seated themselves, or any other subject could be aired, Caroline straight away embarked upon what was clearly a well-rehearsed address to Captain Radford.
"My dear cousin," she said, "it is so delightful to see you at long last; for you must be aware that we would not have come all this way to the north of England had it not been for our great desire to deepen our acquaintance with you; is it not so, Louisa?"
Mrs Hurst eagerly corroborated the assertion, and Caroline continued, "We were both of us, most distressed to learn that certain persons," and here she cast an accusing eye in Elizabeth's direction, "have mischievously misrepresented the fond feelings and high regard, in which we have always held you. You will, of course, appreciate that when first we were informed that we had a cousin of whom our family had never made mention, we thought it prudent to make enquiries; for obviously, anyone could make such a claim. If our behaviour was, for a time, somewhat reserved, it was not because we were not utterly charmed at your fine person and distinguished manners, my dear cousin; it was simply that we were awaiting confirmation of your bona fides. As an unmarried lady, one cannot be too careful - as I believe certain families may, to their own great regret, attest," she said, looking snidely in Elizabeth's direction.
"It is such a pity, Miss Bingley," said Elizabeth, "that it should have taken you a full nine months to establish your cousin's bona fides. For you might have established them far sooner had you been willing to speak upon the subject with him, rather than refusing all intercourse; or you might have directed your enquiries to a suitable office - such as Captain Radford's banker, for instance, whom I am quite certain could have given you immediate satisfaction. However, you may take some comfort in knowing that though it has taken you nine months to discover that Captain Radford is, indeed, your cousin, you have at least made the discovery in time to offer him your congratulations on his recent betrothal."
"Betrothal?" shrieked Miss Bingley, in shock and dismay. "To whom? Surely you are not betrothed, Miss Bennet?" she demanded, incredulously.
"Yes, Miss Bingley, I am - although not to Captain Radford."
At this point, Darcy, who stood beside Elizabeth, took her hand in his, and said, "You may congratulate me, Miss Bingley, for Miss Bennet has accepted my addresses, and made me the happiest of men."
Captain Radford smiled, and taking Julia's hand he said, "Mr Darcy, is, I fear, mistaken. He may only claim to be the second happiest of men - for I am quite certain that none could be happier than I - for to my great delight, Miss Harrison has agreed to be my wife."
"Miss Harrison?" exclaimed Miss Bingley in genuine surprise. That Miss Bennet had succeeded in ensnaring Mr Darcy, while greatly to be regretted, was not entirely unforeseen; but that her wealthy cousin, whom she considered hers by right, should be usurped by Miss Bennet's artful friend was too much to be borne! Nevertheless, she and the Hursts made a tolerable attempt at expressing their sincere delight, and were barely heard from thereafter. Most regrettably, Miss Bingley developed such a terrible headache that they were obliged to depart very soon after the meal, without having availed themselves of the opportunity of viewing their brother's delightful estate. Fortunately, the loss of their society in no way diminished the pleasure of the remainder of the party - on the contrary, it greatly enhanced it.
The very evident joy of the two newly-engaged couples seemed to cast an air of romance upon the whole company, and Colonel Fitzwilliam and Victoria Barclay, whom Jane had seated together at the table, became less reserved in displaying their evident preference for one another. When the gentlemen rejoined the ladies in the drawing room, the Colonel eagerly sought Victoria out.
Jane requested Julia to open the instrument, and Elizabeth was seated beside Darcy on a sofa, listening with delight to her superb playing, when the butler entered and quietly informed Darcy that an express had just now arrived for him, and that the rider had been instructed to hand it to him personally. Darcy immediately left the room. No one but Elizabeth had heard what was said, and Julia continued playing without interruption.
When Darcy returned a minute or two later, he looked most serious, and approaching Bingley, whispered something to his friend who looked at him with surprise, but nevertheless nodded his agreement to his request. When he came towards her, Elizabeth expected that he was about to excuse himself on account of some urgent business, but to her great surprise, he said, "Elizabeth, I am called away by most surprising circumstances, and would be most grateful if you would accompany me."
Elizabeth immediately rose and quietly left the room with him, for evidently it was a matter of some urgency, and he did not wish to wait to formally take leave of the others - nor, perhaps, to explain why he was obliged to make so unexpected a departure.
When they arrived at the entrance, Darcy's carriage awaited them; they immediately entered and drove off in haste. "I have asked Bingley to give our apologies to the rest of the party and to make his own carriage available to conduct Georgiana and Colonel Fitzwilliam back to Pemberley."
Chapter Twenty-One - A Surprising Elopement
Posted on 2011-11-18
"Where are we going - and to what purpose?" demanded Elizabeth.
"To Stoke - a couple of hours to the west. And as to the purpose - you may read this," said Darcy, handing her a letter.
My Dear Nephew,I have a service to demand of you which is of the utmost urgency and delicacy.
Upon my return from Derbyshire, I was aghast to discover that my daughter, Anne, had been prevailed upon to elope!! With none other than that disgraceful blackguard, George Wickham!!
I immediately interrogated her maid and extracted the whole sordid story from her - you may be certain that she is no longer in my employ!
It would seem that during my stay in London last winter, that scoundrel, Wickham, managed to gain entrance to the grounds at Rosings Park (doubtless, he bribed a gardener - and woe betide that disloyal knave, when I discover which of them it was) and imposed himself upon the attentions of my poor innocent daughter, while she was out all alone in the garden - without her erstwhile companion, Mrs Jenkinson - whom I immediately sent packing for her dereliction of duty to my poor dear Anne.
The innocent naïve child must have fallen under the spell of that dastardly Wickham, for there were subsequent clandestine meetings in the gardens, and she was very soon persuaded to believe herself to be in love with him. But unluckily for the blackguard, I returned from town before he succeeded in convincing Anne to agree to elope with him.
Regrettably, he managed to carry on a secret correspondence, with the aid of my daughter's lady's maid - I should have known better than to have chosen a French maid for her - the French are not to be trusted!
The evil villain was only awaiting the opportunity, and as soon I left for Derbyshire, my poor besotted girl wrote to him, and he persuaded her to rendezvous with him outside the Park gates, from whence he spirited her away!
You cannot imagine the anguish and pain that have assailed me since first I learned the terrible news. Were I a man, I would go after him with sword and pistol and put an end to the miserable life of the most deceitful, damnable libertine who ever lived!
They were not very many hours gone when I arrived back at Rosings Park, and I am yet hopeful that they shall be apprehended before they reach Scotland. My coachman, Johnson, is tolerably sure of the route they shall take, and assures me that my postilion, on horseback, if he rides day and night, stopping only to change horses, will overtake them - very likely around Staffordshire, which is not so very far from Pemberley.
Since he would be unable to prevail upon my daughter to return, I have instructed the postilion that as soon as he discovers them, he should send you an express, giving their location and bearing this letter.
Fitzwilliam, only you can save the good name of my daughter, myself, and all of our family! You must apprehend them - it is your solemn duty!!
But a note of caution: You must attempt to ascertain, at once, if my daughter's honour has been compromised. If she is yet a maiden, then send her back to Rosings Park immediately. As for that wretched Wickham, you may do with him as you please. Were I a man, I would run him through with my sword!
However, if you are certain that the devil has had his wicked way with my poor innocent girl, then there is nothing for it, but to allow them to proceed to Gretna Green to be married; and I shall immediately arrange to have them packed off to America or one of the colonies, to spare the family from certain opprobrium, and the double disgrace of elopement and the connection to Wickham.
Yours, etc,
Lady Catherine de Bourgh
Elizabeth shook her head. "Your aunt will rue the day that she chose to come all the way to Derbyshire in her futile attempt at persuading you not to marry me."
"Indeed so. She would have much better stayed at Rosings Park and watched over Anne."
"Yes, for while your aunt was in Derbyshire attempting to blacken my name with her wildly inaccurate report of my sister's disgrace, beginning with her elopement with George Wickham, her own daughter was preparing to emulate it. Is your aunt aware of the identity of Anne's father?"
"That, I do not know. My mother may have informed her, but I saw nothing in their correspondence concerning Anne, to suggest that she had."
"What wrote the postilion, in his express?"
"That he caught them up at Stoke, where it appears they intend to rest for the night. He remains outside The Crown, keeping watch, and awaits me there. I hope he is correct, for it is some hours since the express was sent; for naturally, the rider first went to Pemberley, only to discover that I was at Ashbourne."
When they arrived at The Crown, the postilion immediately recognised Mr Darcy, and told him that Mr Wickham and Miss de Bourgh were within, and gave him directions to their room.
Darcy knocked on the door, and thinking it was the servant, Wickham threw it open. Before he had realised his mistake, Darcy and Elizabeth had entered a small sitting room. Anne looked utterly horrified at the sight of her relative, and appeared greatly embarrassed and discomposed.
"What is the purpose of this uninvited intrusion?" demanded Wickham weakly, unable to muster the authority his words demanded.
"I wish to speak with my cousin," said Darcy coldly.
"She does not wish to speak with you," said Wickham desperately.
"Anne," said Darcy, "I have a message from your mother, which she insists upon your hearing; I insist upon it also."
Anne was terrified; she looked from Wickham, who was shaking his head emphatically, to Darcy, who appeared most serious and determined. It was apparent that she was utterly confused and did not know which of them she must obey.
"Mr Darcy," said Elizabeth, "perhaps you will permit me to speak with Miss de Bourgh?"
Darcy nodded his assent.
"But I will not!" exclaimed Wickham. "Anne, I forbid it. Do not listen to her lies," he implored her.
Anne stood frozen and white-faced. Fearing that she might fall into a swoon, Elizabeth rushed forward and took her by the arm.
"Anne," said Darcy firmly, but gently, "please go with Miss Bennet and hear what she has to say."
Anne nodded timidly, and led Elizabeth into the bedroom, where there was a small sofa upon which they sat.
"Miss de Bourgh," said Elizabeth. "I speak not for your mother, but myself, when I tell you that I have known Mr Wickham for almost two years, and that he is unquestionably, a lying, deceiving seducer of innocent young ladies."
"I do not believe it; you must be mistaken, Miss Bennet. Though my own mother told me of the accusation that Mr Wickham had eloped with your younger sister, I now know that, like everyone else, Mother was deceived. Mr Wickham is the most honourable of gentlemen, who has been grievously wronged by the slander of others. It was not he, but another officer who ran off from Brighton with your sister. Mr Wickham heroically gave chase, and his reward was to have the crime wrongly attributed to himself. He has told me how he searched in vain for your sister, that he might prove his innocence, but sadly he was unable to find her."
Elizabeth shook her head sadly. "I am very sorry, Miss de Bourgh, but you have been imposed upon by a most skilful deceiver. My sister, Lydia, is presently secluded in Suffolk, where I have visited her on three occasions, and heard the story of her elopement first-hand. Although, in truth, it was not really an elopement, for though he deceived my sister into believing they were bound for Gretna Green, that was never Mr Wickham's intention - he never intended to marry my sister; for she was too poor, and it has always been his ambition to make his fortune by marrying a lady of wealth - such as yourself."
"I do not believe you! What, then, could have been his intention, in taking your sister from Brighton, if it was not to marry her?"
"You are rather naïve, Miss de Bourgh, in the ways of men. His reason was the same as that of gentlemen who visit ladies of ill-repute."
"You must be mistaken! Mr Wickham assured me that he was as innocent in such matters as myself. Is your sister quite certain that it was him?"
"Absolutely certain. Mr Wickham abandoned my sister without money or paying the landlord - in an attempt to elope with another young lady, a Miss King. In that instance, it was a genuine attempt at elopement, for Miss King had ten thousand pounds. But fortunately for her, they were apprehended by relatives in the north of England before they could reach Scotland."
Miss de Bourgh shook her head, not wanting to believe what she heard.
"If you do not trust me, Miss de Bourgh, your cousin, Mr Darcy, can verify everything I have just now told you. He can also inform you of a case, of which he has personal knowledge, in which Mr Wickham attempted - fortunately, again unsuccessfully - to elope with a girl of but fifteen years of age, who was in possession of a substantial fortune."
"But… he said that he loved me," she murmured pitifully.
"Miss de Bourgh, consider - how could he have been in love with you when he had never met you? What could possibly have induced him to go to such extraordinary lengths to meet with you surreptitiously in your garden at Rosings Park? The only thing he could possibly have known about you when he formed his plan, was that you were exceedingly rich."
Miss de Bourgh began sobbing into her handkerchief, and Elizabeth was so overcome with pity that she attempted to comfort her.
"I have been a complete fool," she said. "And I believed that he loved me; and I fancied that I loved him. Whatever am I to do, Miss Bennet?"
"Has he... are you still a maiden, Miss de Bourgh? You do understand my meaning?"
"Yes, I understand your meaning. But no… I am not, he has…. Will Mother be very angry with me, do you think?" she asked fretfully. "She must have sent Mr Darcy a letter, or how else would he have known where to find us? What would she have me do? Mother always knows what is best to be done - if only I had not been so foolish and attempted to deceive her."
Elizabeth sighed. "Your mother did write a letter, and in it she said that if you were no longer a maiden then you should proceed to Gretna Green with Mr Wickham, to be married; after which she would arrange to have you both packed off to America, or one of the colonies."
"No!" exclaimed Miss de Bourgh, desperately. "Now that I know that he is only after my money, and is not truly in love with me, I do not wish to marry the horrible man! Nor would I wish to go off to some beastly uncivilized country. I want to go home, to Rosings Park, to Mother," she pleaded.
"And so you shall," said Elizabeth comfortingly, "for you can never marry George Wickham - it is not legal."
"I am very pleased to hear it; but I do not understand. Why is it not legal?"
"Because Mr Wickham is your half-brother - you and he have the same father."
Miss de Bourgh looked stunned as she contemplated this astonishing news. At length, she looked up at Elizabeth thoughtfully, and asked, "Who, then, is our father? Is it Sir Lewis de Bourgh or Mr Wickham senior?"
"I am sorry, I cannot reveal anything further. But if, when you return to Rosings Park, your mother should attempt to force you to marry Mr Wickham, please tell her what I have just said; she will understand. You may also inform her that Mr Darcy has papers to prove the matter, and which, would most certainly serve to overturn such a marriage."
Miss de Bourgh finally gave a faint smile. "Thank you, Miss Bennet. I think I should like to go home now."
When they re-entered the sitting room, Mr Wickham approached Miss de Bourgh with an affectionate smile. "Anne, my dear," he said.
But ignoring him, she said to her cousin, "I wish to go home, to Mother."
Darcy reassured her, "And so you shall, Anne; come with me."
When he opened the door, he was greeted by a constable whom the postilion had called, on Mr Darcy's instruction.
"Mr Darcy, sir," he said respectfully; for as a magistrate, his reputation was known throughout the district.
"I shall be back in a minute or two, constable; please ensure that this gentleman does not leave the room," said Darcy, before closing the door and departing with Miss de Bourgh.
"Very good, sir," replied the constable, resuming his post in the hallway, in front of the door.
George Wickham looked vexed, but unrepentant. "Do not think that you have thwarted me, Miss Bennet," he said testily.
Elizabeth seated herself, ignoring him.
"I do not know if Miss de Bourgh has revealed the shameful truth to you, but sadly for her, it is too late for her to return home, and pretend to be an innocent young maiden," he said with a self-satisfied smile. "I shall write to Lady Catherine, and make her aware of the circumstances, after which she will beg me to marry her daughter," he said smugly.
"I have information, sir, that I choose not to disclose to you, that makes me quite certain that she will wish for no such thing."
"Well, to be honest," said Wickham, "I really have not the least desire to marry Miss de Bourgh, anyway; for she is a lifeless little thing, who bores me to death. I will be more than happy to accept thirty or forty thousand pounds to keep my silence on the matter, and never trouble either Lady Catherine, or her daughter, ever again."
"In that case, I do not expect to hear about you ever again, Mr Wickham - which I cannot say will cause me the slightest unhappiness."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Only that Lady Catherine is a most ruthless woman when it comes to protecting her own interests. I imagine that it would not cost her more than, say, one or two hundred pounds, to ensure your permanent silence, Mr Wickham."
"What are you suggesting, Miss Bennet? That a lady in her position would behave so immorally as to have me murdered?"
"Unscrupulous behaviour is not the preserve of the likes of yourself, alone, Mr Wickham. Lady Catherine, though exceedingly wealthy, is a firm believer in the virtue of making economies; and would have little difficulty, I imagine, in persuading herself that it would be morally reprehensible to spend thirty or forty thousand pounds on something that she could equally well purchase for one or two hundred. And she might even consider herself to be performing an act of Christian benevolence, in saving other young ladies from the pain you have already inflicted upon several - not least of all, her own daughter."
"You must be joking with me, I think, Miss Bennet," said Wickham, attempting a smile.
"Am I?" asked Elizabeth, raising an eyebrow.
Their conversation was interrupted by Mr Darcy entering the room in the company of the constable.
"I have sent the young lady home, constable. I should be greatly obliged to you if this rogue could be locked up, for several days, to prevent him giving chase."
"Certainly, Mr Darcy, I shall do just as you say. Come along, come along, you," he said, taking Mr Wickham roughly by the arm.
Darcy escorted Elizabeth outside, and helped her into his carriage. "I have sent Anne back to Kent in a hired carriage, in the company of her mother's postilion. I must say that she took it all surprisingly calmly, considering the circumstances."
Elizabeth recounted her conversation with Anne de Bourgh, and Darcy was most impressed. "How very clever of you, my dear, to enlighten her as to her true relationship with Wickham, yet without giving away any of the details. Anne will give the information to my aunt; who, if she was not already aware of the true identity of Anne's father, will most certainly comprehend it now."
"And knowing that you are in possession of documents that prove the relationship, your aunt will not dare attempt to force her unfortunate daughter to marry Wickham; for she must know that their union could be challenged and invalidated."
"Wickham will most certainly attempt to extort money from my aunt in order to buy his silence, regarding Anne's loss of honour."
Elizabeth related her conversation with Wickham on that very subject.
Darcy smiled grimly. "You gave him very good advice, darling; for I can well imagine my aunt making exactly those economies to which you alluded, and justifying them in the manner you described."
"I imagine that your aunt will manage to convince herself that the whole episode never occurred, and that her daughter is still innocent; for she has an extraordinary capacity to convince herself of whatever she wishes to be true."
"Yes, very probably," replied Darcy.
"Unless…."
"What?"
"What if Anne is with child?" asked Elizabeth.
"I sincerely hope that it is not the case. Aside from the obvious reasons for wishing it, Anne's constitution is poor. She would have difficulty enduing the ordeal of childbirth."
"Given the frailty of her health, she would very probably lose the baby long before that point arrived," said Elizabeth. "But if she did somehow manage to bear a child, I imagine that your aunt would keep Anne hidden away, and the baby would be immediately given up for adoption in a manner that would conceal all clues as to its origins."
"Yes, I am certain you are correct. Regardless of whether Anne is with child or not, it would be difficult for my aunt to marry Anne off now, I think," reflected Darcy.
"I suspect, that having failed to marry her to either yourself, or your cousin, your aunt may well decide that there is no one else worthy enough; and, in any case, she would be lonely without Anne, whom I strongly suspect, will very likely wish never to marry."
"Yes, I think your conjecture is most likely correct."
"But what then will become of Anne when your aunt dies? She is so naïve. Does she inherit Rosings Park?"
"Yes, she does. And although the steward will manage the estate day-to-day, there will be matters that require the oversight of the proprietor. When the time comes, I shall be obliged to offer to assist Anne in that capacity, for she is incapable of performing the office herself."
"She will, doubtless, be very happy to accept your offer. But it must entail a considerable responsibility."
"Yes, it does; but, after-all, she is my half-sister. It will be my duty to look after her interests."
"Why do we not spend a few weeks, each year, at Rosings Park - perhaps after the season in town?" suggested Elizabeth. "While you are attending to the business of the estate, I shall have the opportunity to spend time with Charlotte, and to provide a little companionship to Anne, who will, I fear, be very lonely when her mother has gone."
"Yes; an excellent idea! You know, my dear, when I first received the express at Ashbourne, I immediately wished to have you accompany me - primarily because I knew it would be a most difficult undertaking, and that you would know what was best to be done."
"Thank you, darling, you may be sure that I shall treasure those words always - and remind you of them, if ever we have a difference of opinion. And now, I shall be so brazen as to ask for not one, but for two rewards."
"You know I can never refuse you anything, my dearest Elizabeth; tell me your heart's desire."
"The first, is that despite your promise to your father, you allow Julia her heart's desire; which is to tell Captain Radford who are her parents. It would mean so very much to her."
Darcy smiled. "That is easily granted, for I have been considering the matter myself, and have concluded that it is her right to do so. And what is your second request? I hope that it will be as easily satisfied."
"Oh yes, very easily indeed, my dear," said Elizabeth mischievously. "We have a long ride ahead of us, and being alone like this in your carriage, affords us a privacy that we will seldom enjoy before we are married. I think we should make good use of the time," she said, turning her face towards his.
"But, darling," said he, "I had only told you the first reason why I wished you to accompany me to Stoke," he said, placing his arm around her waist and drawing her towards himself. "This was, in fact, my second reason."
And neither of them spoke for a considerable time after that.
Eventually, Elizabeth said, "Darling, if Anne de Bourgh should remain an old maid, what will become of Rosings Park? Who will inherit it upon her death?"
Darcy considered the question for some time, before answering. "If memory serves me correct... yes, it would pass to our second son - for the first, of course, will inherit Pemberley."
"Second son?" asked Elizabeth archly. "You are aware, are you not, sir, that I am one of five daughters; and though he greatly wished for sons, my own father produced not a single one."
"He cannot have tried hard enough or for long enough," said Darcy, smiling. "I mean to try very hard, indeed."
Epilogue
Posted on 2011-11-18
What was intended as a birthday ball for Georgiana in August, turned into a wedding ball; for having received Mr Bennet's permission to marry his daughter, Darcy considered that, having been prevented from marrying her for more than a twelvemonth by an unfortunate and unending series of intrigues, that they had waited quite long enough; and should marry as soon as may be. Elizabeth was equally eager; as indeed, were Julia and Captain Radford. Thus was the double wedding set for the week following the ball. Georgiana was not in the least bit concerned that the ball was no longer in her honour, for she was to gain the two most delightful sisters imaginable. Nor was she in the least bit eager to contemplate marriage herself, now that Elizabeth would be living at Pemberley.
The brief season of courtship was filled with dinners, visits, and much gaiety. Miss Bingley and the Hursts, who found very little to celebrate in Derbyshire, returned to London, where they very soon found their own cause for celebration. Miss Bingley, who been much in the company of Captain Russell, while staying at Macclesfield, had apparently formed an attachment to that gentleman, and had deigned to accept his offer of marriage.
Captain Russell did not even trouble himself to ask for Mr Bingley's permission to marry his sister. He was evidently offended at being so rudely excluded from Ashbourne - not to mention Pemberley, and Hartington also - which, conjoined with Miss Bingley's wounded pride at being passed over by the masters of the latter two estates, and her own less-than-enthusiastic reception in Derbyshire, ensured that both the country, and its undeserving denizens, would henceforth be denied their esteemed society. In the event, the undeserving denizens of Derbyshire bore the deprivation with stoic good grace.
Captain Russell had evidently decided, after his failure to gain Miss Darcy's thirty thousand pounds, that Miss Bingley's twenty thousand might very well be the best he could hope for; while the lady, having failed to secure Mr Darcy after so many years of conscientious scheming, and then cheated of her rightful station, as wife to her wealthy cousin, decided that time was no longer on her side, and that Captain Russell's offer might be the best - or, perhaps, the only one - she was ever likely to receive.
At the Pemberley wedding ball, apart from the joyful announcements of the betrothal of Elizabeth to Mr Darcy and Julia to Captain Radford, Victoria Barclay and Colonel Fitzwilliam were also delighted to announce their own engagement. The first two happy couples were married in the picturesque and ancient church of Kympton, a few days after the ball, while the wedding of Victoria Barclay and Colonel Fitzwilliam was held in London the following month.
After their wedding, the two happy couples left together on a joint wedding tour to the south of England, which would take them through Suffolk, Hertfordshire, and then all the way to the western-most tip of Cornwell. They planned to be in London for the wedding ball and celebrations of Victoria Barclay and Colonel Fitzwilliam. Georgiana was so sad at the prospect of being left behind by her two brothers, and her two new sisters, that her fond wish to be included in the wedding tour was granted; and to save any awkwardness when they arrived at Freston, Mr Darcy agreed that she might be told the truth regarding Julia's parents.
They spent several delightful days in Suffolk, where they stayed at a hotel in Ipswich, not far from Freston. Lydia, they learned, was being courted by a young man who farmed nearby, and seemed untroubled by the knowledge that she had a child. At Elizabeth's request, Lydia brought her betrothed, Gerald Haversham, to Freston to meet them. Elizabeth found him amiable, but also serious and level-headed; and surprisingly well-informed for a farmer. He was from a respectable local family, descended from yeomen, and was very obviously in love with her sister, who returned his affections.
Mr Haversham spoke frankly with Mr Darcy of his hopes of starting a new life somewhere far away; for his older brother was to inherit the family farm, and Lydia's situation, which was well-known thereabouts, was a cause of some embarrassment. But if, after marrying, they sailed for America, it would be assumed that the child was his. Mr Darcy's opinion of Mr Haversham was favourable, and he determined to settle a generous amount upon the young couple, that they might establish themselves in their new life.
Lydia was eager to visit her mother and Kitty, and to show off her little girl - and her handsome husband - before they departed England. Elizabeth promised to speak with her father on the subject when they visited Longbourn in a few days' time. If they arrived married, since the neighbourhood was entirely ignorant of all that had transpired since Lydia's elopement from Brighton, it would be apparent to no one, that little Susan's father was anyone but Mr Haversham. Lydia was delighted and hopeful for the future. She confided in Elizabeth that she was most eager to leave England, for Mr Haversham, who was a strong and burly man, was incensed at the way his beloved had been misused - first by George Wickham and then by the second scoundrel, who was the father of her child. He swore that if he ever met with either man, he would not be answerable for his actions.
Luckily, he never did meet with either gentleman. In the case of George Wickham, nothing further was ever heard of him; and it may be safely assumed that he made good on his threat to demand a large sum of money from Lady Catherine de Bough - to purchase his silence regarding her daughter's disgrace - and that Lady Catherine evidently succeeded in obtaining it - in a far more economical manner.
As to the other gentleman, Elizabeth was stunned - although, upon consideration, not entirely surprised - when her sister revealed his identity (of which Mr Darcy had all along been ignorant) as none other than Captain Russell! Elizabeth obtained the Hurst's address from her husband and immediately wrote to Caroline, for she felt obliged, on account of her relationship to Jane, to warn her. Whether Miss Bingley simply chose to ignore the information, or to believe the Captain's certain denials, she knew not; but their wedding proceeded as planned, and Elizabeth knew not to which of them the greatest sympathy was deserved.
Julia and Elizabeth had little difficulty in persuading Darcy that allowing Julia's mother to visit Hartington presented very little threat to the secret he had vowed to keep. Mrs Harrison was delighted with Captain Radford, and could hardly believe her daughter's good fortune; and he was equally well-disposed towards her.
Over the course of the wedding tour, Captain Radford and Darcy became the very best of friends, and when the three ladies sometimes wished to tour the shops, or to engage upon subjects of fashion and suchlike, in which a gentleman finds little interest, they were content to enjoy each other's company. Having married together - and each one certain that his wife was the most charming and beautiful, etc, etc - a good-natured rivalry arose between them. And although the honours as to which of them would be the first to produce a son, was as yet unknown, Darcy was obliged to acknowledge that Captain Radford had taken the honours when it came to mothers-in-law!
After Lydia's departure to America, Mrs Harrison was overjoyed to be invited to live at Hartington, where there was no need to hide her relationship to Julia, whose father was assumed to be a long-deceased Mr Harrison, from somewhere in the south of England.
Not very long after becoming the mistress of Pemberley, Elizabeth invited her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner to visit; and through her aunt's good offices, a reunion was effected between Julia's mother and her sister Anne, who lived in Lambton with her three children. Though Anne may have suspected the identity of Julia's father, she neither asked, nor was she told. Understanding her sister's desire to conceal her true identity - of Catherine Norton, the teacher who had long ago disappeared from these parts - she agreed that they should simply pretend to be good friends. Thus did she become a frequent visitor to Hartington, along with her children, of whom Julia grew most fond.
Though Mrs Bennet was pleased to speak at length of her two eldest daughters, and of their fine estates in the north of England - to Lady Lucas, or her sister Phillips, or Mrs Long, or, indeed, to anyone who cared to listen - and to a great many who did not - in private, she regretted that they were settled so very far away; for her sensitive nerves and delicate health disinclined her from attempting so vast a journey.
And if this was not so very greatly regretted by her daughters - or their husbands - then they were always happy to welcome their father, who became a frequent visitor to Derbyshire, and who appeared to bear the long separations from Mrs Bennet with commendable equanimity. Having failed, himself, to sire a son, he was delighted with his grandsons. Bingley, in fact, was the first to produce an heir - but then he had a head start on his good friend Darcy, and his cousin, Radford; though they were not so very far behind.
The End